Vol. 68, Issue 7
Est. 1981
March 5 - March 19, 2024
THE PAISANO
Independent Student Newspaper for the University of Texas at San Antonio Community /ThePaisano
@paisanomedia
paisano-online.com
@ThePaisano
San Antonio gathers to mourn Aaron BUshnell
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Vigil in San Antonio commemorates Senior Airman who self-immolated
By Amber Serio News Editor
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ourners gathered Friday evening in San Antonio’s historic San Pedro Springs Park for a candlelight vigil to commemorate and mourn the loss of Senior Airman Aaron Bushnell, who self-immolated on Feb. 25 outside the Israeli embassy in Washington, D.C. Bushnell lit himself on fire as an act of protest against Israel’s war on Gaza. The vigil also aimed to mourn the rising death toll in Gaza, which currently exceeds 30,000 according to the Gaza Health Ministry. Bushnell served as a cyber defense operation specialist at Lackland Air Force Base. The 25-year-old Massachusetts native moved to San Antonio in 2020 for basic training. He was an active member of the communities of greater San Antonio, devoting some of his free time to advocating for the homeless. On the day of his death, Bushnell went live on the video-streaming app Twitch and prefaced what he was about to do and his reasoning behind it. In the video, he says, “My name is Aaron Bushnell. I am an active-duty member of the United States Air Force, and I will no longer be complicit in genocide. I’m about to engage in an extreme act of protest, but compared to what people have been experiencing in Palestine at the hands of their colonizers, it’s not extreme at all. This is what our ruling class has decided will be normal.” Bushnell then positioned his phone in front of him as he stood at the entrance of the Israeli embassy. He proceeded to douse himself in a flammable liquid and self-immolated. While his body ignited in flames, Bushnell chanted “Free Palestine” for about a minute before he collapsed. It was reported that Bushnell later died in a local hospital at 8:06 p.m. His death has received global attention, as there have been countless vigils and forms of commemoration to honor him in San Antonio and across the world. Friday’s
memorial saw a large turnout for Bushnell, with many different activists and close friends attending. The park was decorated with banners that hung pictures of Bushnell, as well as artwork depicting images and words of support for Palestine, such as “Free Palestine” and “Let Palestine live, end the occupation.” Mourners were also seen carrying signs and Palestinian flags as they attended not only for Bushnell but in solidarity with Palestine. Nate Masso, one of the many attendants within the crowd, spoke on the importance of the vigil. “It’s an honor to be able to go to the vigil here in San Antonio, especially as he lived here and did activism here. To me, it’s another reason, another martyr. Another reason to stand up and support a ceasefire to genocide,” he said. Julia Williams, another attendant, stated, “He was definitely a man who could see what a more free and just world looks like, and he was willing to give everything for that. And for that, we commend him and he rests in power.” A large group of people gathered a short walk away from the main area of the vigil, as a tree decorated with items such as candles, teddy bears and pictures of
Roadunner’s guide to graduation By Jake Mireles Opinion Editor
With graduation around the corner, many Roadrunners are anticipating walking the stage and receiving their diploma. This week, UTSA will hold Grad Fest — an event designed to help Roadrunners complete all the necessary steps of the graduation process. Below is a compiled list of additional resources for graduating Roadrunners. Grad Fest Grad Fest is an event offered by UTSA that helps prepare prospective graduates for their upcoming commencement. Attendees can learn more about ordering their regalia (cap & gown), consult with representatives from the UTSA Career Center and discuss loan repayment options with UTSA Financial Services. Grad Fest also offers opportunities to learn about attending graduate school and information about joining the UTSA Alumni Association. Important dates Grad Fest Main Campus: March 4 and March 5, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. in the H-E-B Student Union, room 1.100B. Downtown Campus: March 4 from 2 to 6 p.m. in the Durango Building, room 1.124. Commencement Spring 2024 Commencement will take place on May 17 in the Alamodome. Ceremony 1 (College of Education and Human Development, College for Health, Community and Policy, College of Sciences and University College) will be held at
Bushnell served as a silent area to mourn the Airman. The vigil began with allowing attendees to speak, whether about Bushnell or about their thoughts and feelings regarding the death toll in Gaza. One of the speakers, who identified himself as Moon, shared that he was a friend and comrade of Aaron’s. Moon began by acknowledging that Bushnell’s last message to the world regarded the “genocide in Gaza on Palestinians by Israel.” “The daily horrors by the Israeli occupation forces on Palestinians are unconscionable and morally reprehensible, but normalized in our society by our government,” Moon said. “Aaron himself was a strong-willed man. He was steadfast, and I respected that greatly.” Moon emphasized the importance of not forgetting his friend’s message and ended his speech by saying, “I love Aaron. He was my friend, comrade and I miss him a lot.” Another speaker was a former member of the U.S. Air Force, Armando Menagarcia. Although he did not know Bushnell personally, he spoke on how his death has affected him as a fellow U.S. Airman. “He and I never crossed paths, but when asked if I wanted to speak, I felt a responsibility to do so as other veterans have.” “Aaron courageously and tragically lost his life in the line of duty, but this was different from all the other stories I’ve heard about soldiers dying for our country. Airman Bushnell wasn’t killed by insurgents in a foreign land. He selflessly gave his life for something far more honorable. He gave his life for the truth.” “Aaron, I hope you’re at peace. I wish I could have met someone like you when I was still in [the military.] I could have learned so much from you,” Menagarcia finished. In a separate interview after his speech, Menagarcia was asked about what motivated him to attend the vigil and speak in honor of Bushnell.
10 a.m. Ceremony 2 (Alvarez College of Business, College of Liberal and Fine Arts and Kleese College of Engineering and Integrated Design) will be held at 4:30 p.m. Graduation checklist To help Roadrunners prepare for their upcoming graduation, UTSA One Stop has compiled a graduation checklist of necessary steps students must take before they walk the stage. The checklist includes important information about confirming graduation eligibility with academic advisors, applying for graduation and verifying the diploma address. According to UTSA One Stop, to apply for graduation, Roadrunners must have completed at least 80% of the required credits for their degree. The application process can be started up to a year before the expected graduation semester. Roadrunners cannot graduate without completing the graduation application before its assigned deadline. Additionally, graduates should ensure that the diploma address and name are correct in their MyUTSA account to ensure that the information printed on their diploma is correct and the diploma is sent to the right address. More information regarding verifying this information can be found on UTSA One Stop Enrollment’s website. Cap & gown One of the most important aspects of any graduation is the attire. Roadrunners can order their cap and gown during the Grad Fest event through Herff Jones — the designated regalia vendor of UTSA. Continued Grad Fest on page 2
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“I wore the same uniform as him. The very point of his protest was to have us in uniform to have a moment of selfreflection.” The former Airman of six years added that he feels the U.S. military should serve no role in addressing national conflicts such as the one happening in Palestine. “I don’t think we should have a role in the international stage at all. I don’t think we deserve it. I think we should focus on our issues at home.”
Since his death, Bushnell’s form of protest has been described as being extreme, resulting in many questioning his mental stability. Menagarcia responded to these claims, saying that those who criticize Bushnell “haven’t woken up yet.” “I think they either don’t know enough, which is not an excuse anymore, or they know and they don’t want to accept the responsibility for what [his protest] means.” For more information on Bushnell’s life and what led to his act of protest, several speakers and close friends of his recommended visiting the website “crimethinc,” as there are two articles regarding Bushnell, one being an explanation behind his protest and the other being a collection of memories recounted directly from his friends.
NW Loop 1604 ramps to close this summer for construction By Faith Kouadio Staff Writer Traffic around the main campus is expected to increase. Drivers will be directed to use detours as TxDOT closes two nearby ramps on Feb. 28 that will last through the summer. The entrance ramp east of Kyle Seale Parkway and the eastbound exit ramp on Babcock Road have been shut down as part of the Loop 1604 North Expansion Project. The project includes drainage work and a new exit ramp to Babcock Rd. There will be a temporary entrance ramp east of the old Kyle Seale Pkwy ramp. Drivers wanting to access the loop from Babcock Rd will use the Chase Hill Boulevard exit ramp, use the eastbound to westbound turnaround at Chase Hill Blvd and enter on the Loop 1604 WB frontage road lanes that will lead back to Babcock Rd. “We just ask for patience and understanding. But it’s going to be a really big benefit once it’s complete. And that first segment on the Northwest Side, it’s going to be complete late next year or early 2025, so we’re almost there,” TxDOT Spokesperson Jennifer Serold said in
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an interview with MySA. “It’s one of the most congested corridors in the state. Over the next 20 to 25 years, the amount of daily drivers is expected to double. So, this expansion project is to prepare for future growth but also to give benefits to drivers in the next few years. It’s bringing a lot of congestion relief to drivers by giving them more lanes to travel on. And then, of course, when you reduce congestion, you increase safety for the drivers.” For more information on TxDOT’s projects in San Antonio, visit their website.