Vol. 68, Issue 13
Est. 1981
April 23 - April 30, 2024
THE PAISANO
Independent Student Newspaper for the University of Texas at San Antonio Community /PaisanoOnline
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Local leaders speak out as Supreme Court lets protest liability stand
Dustin Vickers and Armin Suljovic/The Paisano
By Laynie Clark Editor-in-Chief
T
he Supreme Court has declined to hear a case that leaves in place a lower court decision that effectively punishes protest organizers with financial consequences if any participant commits an illegal act in Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. The case in point is Mckesson v. Doe, which questions DeRay Mckesson, leader of a 2016 Black Lives Matter protest in Louisiana. Previously in the case, the Fifth Circuit held that Mckesson could be liable under a negligence theory for serious injuries sustained by a police officer when an unidentified individual attending the 2016 protest threw a hard object at the officer. Now, after the Supreme Court’s decision, it is unclear how campus advocacy will be impacted. “I spoke with our chief legal officer and he indicated that this does not have a direct correlation to expressive activities we are likely to see on campus,” Joe Izbrand, UTSA chief communications officer, said in an emailed statement following the Supreme Court’s denial. “Mckesson is about the potential liability of a protest organizer if a protest turns violent. It sounds like this still has a journey to make through the legal process before there is a final outcome to consider.” In addition to UTSA administration, campus organizations felt it necessary to speak on the situation.
SGA closes out academic year
“This decision from The Supreme Court is contemptible but not surprising,” UTSA’s chapter of Young Democratic Socialists of America (YDSA) said. “In hindering the ability to protest peacefully for many constituents in multiple states, they mean to scare us all into inaction. This decision is just one of the many steps that we as a nation have taken on the road to fascism recently.” The chapter detailed the reasons behind their anger toward the decision and took a stance against previous government decisions. “Historically, popular movements have never been in the interest of the ruling and wealthy classes and we are witnessing the suppression of free speech and assembly as a result. The Young Democratic Socialists of America at UTSA sees and stands in solidarity with campuses across the U.S. like Columbia University, where peaceful divestment movements result in police arrests and arbitrary academic suspensions; like USC, where 2024 valedictorian Asna Tabassum has been silenced from speaking out about her experiences as a Muslim-American at her own commencement ceremony. Decisions like this happen because oppressive government regimes in the southern states get scared. Because they know our voices en masse are powerful.” On a broader scope, the Party for Socialism and Liberation (PSL) has many chapters in the U.S. and the San Antonio chapter is no stranger to organizing protests. The San Antonio protest organizers voiced similar thoughts while
previous Speaker, Karli Robertson. Through a video submission, Senator Madeleine Snyder made Following the spring general her case for the position. election, the last student general “As a PhD student, I have chosen assembly on April 18 confirmed to dedicate over six years of my life nominees for next school year’s to this university, and I care deeply election commission, committee about this community and seeing it chair seats, speaker of the senate become the very best it can for our and deputy speaker positions. student body,” she said. Snyder was Additionally, there was a brief unanimously confirmed as Speaker overview of the last events of the of the Senate for the Fall. semester. The position of the Deputy There were no inquiries during Speaker was also made the open forum, and available. Senator Speaker Ryan Faidley Gloria Tran selfproceeded to new nominated herself business. SGA for the position, has proposed citing her active new general membership assembly rules in other for itself listed organizations, a in documents recent showcase shared with during the Public senators “to Health Fair Week make meetings and her current more accessible for Cou rtesy of UTSA SGA position as Chair of the senators and to serve as a Internal Affairs committee as reference so that meetings can’t be reasons for qualification. manipulated. This will help [SGA] “I am applying to be the Deputy condense business and spend more Speaker of the Senate because I time serving students.” am committed to holding senators The current election commission, composed of Michaela Mgba, responsible for their attendance. Liam Bage and Ana Diaz, was re- I would ensure that our senate’s nominated and confirmed for the actions are documented accurately Fall semester. Next, nominees for and made accessible to all those who committee chairs were given an see them.” Tran was unanimously opportunity to speak for themselves voted in. For executive reports, President before a vote was passed. The assembly decided to vote on all Nepote remotely thanked the four nominees at once. All were assembly for a “great year.” unanimously confirmed: Paul Nepote will be presenting findings Gonzalez for Academic Affairs, and recommendations related to Christine Powell for Business graduate health insurance and Affairs, Giselle Torres-Villarreal for stipends to the board of regents. The Student Affairs and Alexis Segovia assembly closed with reminders of Día en la Sombrilla, Earth Day Fair for Sustainability. Faidley temporarily filled the on April 22, a Scantron giveaway position of Speaker of the Senate on May 1, the Tech Symposium on following the departure of the May 2 and Study Day on May 3.
By Faith Kouadio Staff Writer
emphasizing the clickbait surrounding the issue. “Headlines that say the Supreme Court ‘effectively abolishes’ the right to protest in Texas and other states are pure clickbait,” PSL San Antonio said. “Our right to protest has not been abolished, and we should keep protesting confidently. In actuality, the Supreme Court has only delayed reviewing the constitutional question raised in the important First Amendment case Mckesson v. Doe.” “The Supreme Court decided not to hear Mckesson v. Doe — yet — and Justice Sonia Sotomayor explained why in a statement. A few days after the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals made its anti-protest decision on Mckesson, the Supreme Court made a different First Amendment ruling — Counterman v. Colorado. Sotomayor asserts that as Mckesson continues moving through the lower courts, the lower courts are now obliged to give ‘full and fair consideration’ to the higher court’s ruling in Counterman, and she suggests that might lead them to reverse their decision on Mckesson. The implication is that if Mckesson is not reversed at the lower level after considering Counterman, the Supreme Court might then step in.” With uncertainties surrounding the possible infringement of the First Amendment, people are gearing up for possible political warfare. “The YDSA at UTSA is not interested in surrendering to half-baked tactics to repress our fundamental American right to free speech and
peaceable assembly,” a YDSA spokesperson said. “We believe this Supreme Court decision to be temporary — they will never overturn the First Amendment and so we will continue to be active on campus in whatever political actions our national student communities call us to.” Similarly, PSL San Antonio is prepared to follow the case and protect their rights as they continue to confidently protest. “PSL San Antonio believes that Mckesson is an important case which could potentially have significant impact on our First Amendment right to protest. However, headlines that suggest that the right to protest in Texas and elsewhere has been ‘effectively abolished’ is clickbait. We still have the right to protest and we should protest confidently. We urge everyone to try to understand this case, even though the U.S. has a bizarre legal system and uses a ‘legal language’ that is intentionally hard to grasp without training.” “The PSL will continue to follow the Mckesson case as it moves through the lower courts, with full knowledge that this matter is by no means settled, and that the Supreme Court has yet to hear or rule on any aspect of this case. As we follow the case, the PSL in Texas, Mississippi and Louisiana will continue organizing mass protests, as we have always done, in the great tradition of the Civil Rights and other mass movements for change.”
Lavender Graduation co-hosted by Womxn in Leadership By Elizabeth Hope Staff Writer
Senate Bill 17 (SB 17) was put into effect on Jan. 1, forcing all diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) offices to close at Texas universities and colleges. Through the DEI offices, the Multicultural Engagement Center hosted cultural graduations. Cultural graduations are “campus-wide events that honor all students’ achievements and academic excellence while incorporating traditions and practices that uplift our communities.” There are three ceremonies comprising cultural graduation including Lavender Graduation, Latinx Graduation and Black Graduation. However, because of the state-wide ban of DEI offices, universities have renounced their support for cultural graduations and can no longer adhere to the ceremonies. With spring graduation approaching, students have been questioning the future of cultural graduations and whether the ceremonies will take place. One ceremony will be held, Lavender Graduation, co-hosted by UTSA’s studentled organization, Womxn in Leadership (W.I.L.) and Prism. W.I.L. states they are “focused on building a community among students where we can support each other in sharing our experiences, creating friendships, and building leadership skills that will help each one of us thrive on and off campus.” PRISM is an LGBTQ+ focused social group. The Womxn in Leadership President, Sarah Skinner, has provided information about the upcoming event. “Lavender Graduation is a ceremony to honor LGBTQ+ graduates,” Skinner said. “We have seen a wave of homophobic and transphobic rhetoric, legislation and violence over the past few years in this country, particularly in states like Florida and Texas. So it’s important for us to come together, support each other and
recognize the hard work and accomplishments of people in our community. When our state government is seemingly working to erase queer people from public life, it’s important to make each other feel seen and appreciated.” Managing this event are PRISM Co-Chairs Idalis Lopez, Sam Potts and Sarah Skinner. “It’s been challenging to get this event together,” Skinner said. “This year, we decided the ceremony will be hosted by the three of us rather than Dean of Students LT Robinson, and we hope it will more accurately reflect the attitudes, community and values of the student population.” Despite the challenges of getting the event together, the event planning crew is “proud to do this work and determined to make this event happen.” The organization is an intersectional feminist organization that welcomes anyone regardless of gender identity. They were inspired to host this ceremony due to the large number of past and present officers who have identified as members of the LGBTQ+ community. “In the years I’ve been a part of W.I.L., a significant proportion of its officers have been queer, and topics of queer identity and acceptance are common in our meetings,” Skinner said. “W.I.L. is a queer organization and we have a responsibility to support the queer community here at UTSA.” Lavender Graduation registration is open and welcome to any LGBTQ+ graduate at UTSA. “You are not required to disclose your sexuality or gender identity on our registration form, though we do ask for students’ pronouns to avoid misgendering graduates at the ceremony,” Skinner said. “To learn more, register for the ceremony or nominate someone for our Lavender Leadership Award, please check out the pinned post on our Insta @wilutsa or search the event on RowdyLink.” Lavender Graduation will be hosted on Thursday, May 2 from 6 to 9 p.m. at the H-E-B Student Union 1.100B - Ballroom Galleria.