Vol. 72, Issue 6
March 3 - March 10, 2026
Est. 1981
THE PAISANO
Independent Student Newspaper for the University of Texas at San Antonio Community
@ThePaisano
@paisanomedia
@paisanosports
@paisanosports
/paisano-online.com
Researchers establish first neuromorphic computing hub
Courtesy/Brandie Jenkins (From left): Jules Henry, Tej Pandit, William Severa, Eric Brey, Dhireesha Kudithipudi, Catherine Schuman, Stacy Cantu participate in ribbon cutting for newly established computing hub.
By Jaylee Paredes Staff Writer
U
T San Antonio is launching the nation’s first open-access neuromorphic computing hub, making cutting edge, brain-inspired computing technology broadly available to researchers nationwide. The new computing lab is a specialized research facility that is dedicated to designing computer software and hardware that mimics the human brain. The National Science Foundation funded the THOR initiative. The THOR initiative aims to allow researchers to request, co-develop, deploy and evaluate neuromorphic experiments on a heterogeneous computing system. The new hub is an open access large-scale neuromorphic research facility THOR was brought by the joint efforts of research partners from across the country, including CoPrincipal Investigators Catherine Schuman Ph.D. and Gert Cauwenberghs Ph.D., Lead Engineer Tej Pandit Ph.D., Senior Personnel Vijay Janapa Reddi Ph.D. and
Neuromorphic Algorithm Contributor William Severa Ph.D. Pandit, who is also an artificial intelligence research scientist for MATRIX AI Consortium, provided information about THOR’s development and detailed the neuromorphic computing lab and its impact on UT San Antonio. “Neuromorphic computing is a branch of artificial intelligence, or you can think of it as a precursor to artificial intelligence where we actually study the brain, and its capabilities and its processes, and try to figure out exactly what makes the brain special in its method of learning and figuring out the world around it,” Pandit said. “We try to abstract and recreate these processes inside commercial technology, or we try to build our own hardware to recreate these processes.” In the context of those who may be familiar with software similar to the neuromorphic computing hub, Pandit explained the possibilities that can be explored with the THOR initiative. “THOR is an open access research infrastructure
for neuromorphic computing, so those who are already familiar with the technology can apply for access directly from the THOR website. For students looking to get into neuromorphic computing, we offer a course at UTSA taught by Dr. Dhireesha Kudithipudi,” Pandit detailed. Furthermore, Pandit discussed how the lab can be an opportunity for researchers to visit the computing platform for their project initiatives. “What we’re hoping for is to bring together all these researchers so that they can have one common computing platform and also promote inter-framework research so that they can communicate and exchange models between each other,” Pandit said. “So it brings together neuromorphic building space rather than splits it up even further.” The official launch of THOR is slated for Feb. 23 in the UT San Antonio San Pedro I building, with plans of a live demonstration to showcase the hardware’s capabilities. Researchers and students interested in accessing the system or attending upcoming workshops can learn more via the project’s website, neuromorphiccommons.com.
Race, gender departments to merge with bicultural-bilingual
US Senate race early poll results
UT San Antonio will be merging its Department of Race, Ethnicity, Gender and Sexuality Studies with the Department of Bicultural-Bilingual Studies, effective Sept. 1. The San Antonio Express-News first reported the consolidation, stating that an email was sent to UT San Antonio’s College of Education and Human Development faculty and staff on Jan. 16 announcing the two departments’ consolidation. UT San Antonio College of Education and Human Development Dean Mario Torres, Ph.D., said in the email that “at this time, no changes to faculty or staff positions, reporting structures or job responsibilities are planned,” and that the move would be “an exciting opportunity,” leading to a “more prosperous future” for the college and its academic programs. In a separate email to students, Torres stated, “No action is required on your part,” regarding the university’s decision. According to the Express-News, UT San Antonio officials did not respond to questions about who made the decision, why it was made or what would materially change as a result of this decision. A faculty member who spoke to the Express-News anonymously stated that professors were informed at a faculty meeting before the start of the spring semester that the move to consolidate the departments was “already made,” and that faculty were not consulted before the announcement. UT San Antonio’s move comes after the UT System Board of Regents’ Feb. 19 vote to approve an initiative that restricts the teaching of “controversial subjects” in classrooms. The policy requires that faculty “not attempt to coerce, indoctrinate, harass, or belittle students, especially in addressing controversial subjects and areas where people of good faith can hold differing convictions.” The policy also prohibits syllabi from containing “unrelated controversial or contested matters.” Ellen Riojas Clark, Ph.D., a former professor in the Department of Bicultural-Bilingual Studies, discussed the history of the Department of Mexican American Studies and critiqued the university’s decision and its potential effects on students. “UTSA was established under the premise that it was going to serve South Texas. I think it’s crucial that UTSA was established to meet the needs of underrepresented
A recent poll from the Texas Politics Project at the University of Texas at Austin for the U.S. Senate race shows that U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett has a 56% to 44% lead over state Rep. James Talarico. For the Republican candidates, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is favored at 36%, followed by U.S. Senator John Cornyn at 34% and Congressman Wesley Hunt’s 26%. If no candidate from a race has above 50% of the vote after Election Day on March 3, a primary runoff will be held. Early voting for this runoff election would take place from May 18-22, and Election Day would be on May 26. Those who voted in the primaries must vote for the same party in the runoff election, but those who did not vote in the primary may vote for either party in the runoff. Voters can cast their ballot for whichever party they please in the November general elections, regardless of which party they voted for in the primaries. Polling also showed an overall 49% disapproval rate and 45% approval rate for President Donald Trump. The majority of Republicans approve of Trump, yielding an 81% job approval rate; however, this number is down from the 92% Republican approval rate that he started his second term with. Early voter turnout almost doubled that of the 2022 midterm primaries. The unofficial voting total for Bexar County is 183,287. Democratic votes made up 123,730 of these votes, and 59,547 early votes were Republican. According to Ryan Data and Research, a significant number of Democrats have voted in the primaries for the first time this year, while most Republican early voters have voted in past primaries. More than a quarter of early Democratic votes came from individuals who have registered in general elections but never in primaries. On Election Day, the Main Campus polling location is at the H-E-B Student Union in the Bexar room, 1.102. Voting is from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., and individuals can legally vote as long as they are in line by 7 p.m. and registered to do so. To prepare for Election Day, voters can download a sample ballot.
By Hallie Lott Web Editor
ethnic minorities,” Clark stated. “Mexican American studies was set up so that we, as ethnic minorities, as people of color, as Mexican Americans, as Latinos, as Chicanos, needed to know who we were and who we are.” Clark also emphasized that the decision to consolidate the departments into one is a political move by the UT System Board of Regents. “The regents are appointed by [the governor]. They’re all going to vote in whatever way that that’s perceived. That’s political, and [Gov. Gregg] Abbott is speaking to the White House. So it’s all driven this way.” When asked about the effect the move will have on students in the future, Clark highlighted the harm it will have on minority students. “I think that it will affect students of color. It will affect Latino students. It will affect women and especially people with special needs of whatever, in terms of
“People will not be able to learn about who they are, why they are, and why this is such an issue right now.” denying their identity development,” Clark said. “People will not be able to learn about who they are, why they are and why this is such an issue right now.” Clark further delved into the topic, emphasizing the effects the move will have on future graduates entering the workforce. “How can teachers work with primary students in public schools, who [are] largely ethnic [minorities]? Doctors, who do they work with? University Hospital, who do they work with? 67% of our community in San Antonio is Latino,” Clark stated.“The impact, I think, will be that students are not going to feel welcome in higher education if they don’t see a reflection of self in what they study, other than a partisan view of what is presented. “It’s going to have a negative effect, I think, on whatever discipline or career that students want to pursue, because they won’t be able to deal with the social, economic, socio-cultural factors of the real world.” This is a developing story that The Paisano will continue to update on.
By Amanda Fuentes Assistant News Editor