DiCaprio’s Oscar PG. 13

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Capital punishment PG. 6 Student boxer PG. 14Viral videos PG. 10

www.stmurattlernews.com February 19, 2014

Volume 102 Issue 2

89 t h Year of PublIcatIon

Feat

UreS

SPOr

tS

BUILDING CLOSING FOR LENGTHY RENOVATIONS

Broken pipes inconvenience administration, students

A two-phase process to address the

structural failure of Reinbolt Hall will

temporarily close down classrooms and

departments currently located in the

building and move them elsewhere until

completion of the project.

Reinbolt first opened its doors in 1908 and

is scheduled to close those doors on June 1 for

renovations that will bar its use during the

upcoming summer and fall semesters.

According to Rebeckah Day, Vice

President of Administration and Finance,

the overarching project will be completed in

a series of two phases—the first to address

exterior conditions, the second to address

interior renovations. The first phase will cost

approximately $2.5 million.

“The first phase of work is an exterior

project to stabilize the building. This phase

includes demolishing concrete around

the building perimeter, constructing new

retaining walls, installing piers under

Assumption Chapel, adding new exterior

utilities and updating the landscape,” Day

said.

The second phase of the project involves

updates to mechanical systems, interior

finishes and restrooms, Day said. As of yet, a

start date for project phase two has not been

solidified.

Repair crews have been working

through nights, outside operational hours,

to fix breakage in water pipes that have

necessitated short, but frequent, hot water

outages in University facilities.

“We literally have crews work through

the night sometimes, myself included. Our

management team is here on the weekends.

Whatever it takes from the minute an outage

starts to the minute it’s over,” Director of

Facility Services Aaron Hanna said.

But scalding hot water running through

pipes during repairs, Hanna explained,

endangers the workers dedicated to fixing

the ruptures as soon as possible. The hot

water that circulates through campus

pipes reaches between 160 and 180 degrees

Fahrenheit, according to Hanna, enough

to cause third degree burns. Such hazards

necessitate the cut off of hot water so that

workers may conduct repairs under safe

conditions.

The outages, which, according to

consistent email updates to the University

community, have been frequent ever since a

hot water line ruptured in October of 2013—

interrupting hot water circulation in the

Lourdes, Founders and Dougherty residence

halls—causing such inconveniences as

immutable heating regulation and cold

showers. While some students have

complained of these inconveniences, which

Hanna recognized, others, such as junior

music major Aaron Cook, were mostly

unbothered by the outages.

“It (the outage) was a minor

inconvenience, but it wasn’t bad at all. I’m

just glad we have water,” Cook said.

Junior biology major Alejandro Nevarez,

too, had few complaints.

“I’m not really upset about it,” he said.

“Just work around their schedules. They (the

repair crews) do what they can.”

Although Hanna could not quantify

the affect of outages on the University

community, he expressed understanding of

the complications provoked by the outages.

“Dean Bessler echoed an interesting

sentiment to me. Part of the foundation

of St. Mary’s and our Marianist Catholic

heritage, I think, is rooted in a larger sense

of community. I know it’s difficult because it

affects people directly,” Hanna said. “I know

it’s inconvenient, and I consider it’s the

premiere charge of my department to ensure

the level of service you all receive while here

meets your expectations.

However, in the greater sense of

community, at times, we must understand

these are uncontrollable. These are

occurrences due largely to environmental

factors. From a planning standpoint, we’ve

Reinbolt Hall will be temporarily closed beginning this summer, requiring students and faculty to adjust class times, and forcing three departments to reorganize operations.

briana perezMANAGING EDITOR@brianaperez27

alex eakinsCOPY EDITOR

SEE REINBOLT HALL PAGE 2

SEE HOT WATER PAGE 3

Photo by Aaron HannaWater shoots out of a broken pipe near Uni-versity Ministry and Pecan Grove.

Photo by Adriana AvilaJunior accounting major Elizabeth Leon sits outside Reinbolt Hall which, starting Summer 2014, will undergo renovations through a two-phase project.

NEWs iN briEf

policE blottEr

coNtact us

The RattlerSt. Mary’s University One Camino Santa Maria Box 83San Antonio, TX 78228Office: (210) 436 - 3401Visit Us: University Center Room 258Email: rattlernews@gmail.comWebsite: www.stmurattlernews.com

Policy on Newspaper TheftDue to high production costs, members of the St. Mary’s University community are permitted one copy per issue. Where available, additional copies may be purchased (for 50 cents each) by contacting The Rattler newsroom. Newspaper theft is a crime. Those who violate the single copy rule may be subject to civil and criminal prosecution and/or subject to university discipline.

2.1.14DWI was reported off campus. Case cleared.

Reform and respectThe President’s Peace Commission will host presentations on various topics such as criminal and immigration law, sexual assault, capital punishment, mental health disorders, treating drug addiction, and the incarceration rate among other topics. The presentations will take place Feb. 19-20 in UC A. For more information contact Clare Acosta Matos at cstrockbine@stmarytx.edu.

Double headerView some student-produced short films and cast a vote to help decide the winning film to be screened at the Texas State Historical Association Meeting after the O’Connor Lecture Series presented by Theresa Van Hoy. The event will be held Feb. 19 in the Media Viewing Room at the Blume Library. For more information contact Theresa Van Hoy at tvanhoy@stmarytx.edu.

Pub nightRattler Enterprises will be hosting Pub Night with a selection of beverages, free food and games for university students. The event will be held Feb. 20 at UC A. For more information contact Benjamin Underwood at bunderwood@stmarytx.edu.

2.3.14Burglary of motor vehicle was reported in CSLJ. Case closed.

2.7.14Minor in consumption at Dougherty Hall. Case cleared.

2.7.14Criminal trespass warning was given at Founders Hall. Case cleared.

2.7.14Possession of narcotic paraphernalia reported at Founders Hall. Case still active.

2.6.14Criminal trespass warning was given at University Drive and Rattler Drive. Case cleared.

2.7.14Theft reported at Founders Hall. Case cleared.

2.1.14-2.12.14

“The number of classes being

offered will not be impacted … we are

still working with departments on the

times that classes will be offered. With

the limited number of classrooms, early

morning and late afternoon times will

need to be considered. Also note that

other spaces around campus will be

used for classes that we have not used

before such as some classrooms in

the School of Law, the Media Viewing

Room in the Commons, (a) classroom

in the third floor of the (Louis J.) Blume

Library and Treadaway classrooms 200

and 300—these Treadaway spaces will

be new classrooms to be used effective

Fall 2014 regardless,” Villanueva said.

As a consequence of Reinbolt’s

closure, and the resulting loss

of classroom space, Monday and

Wednesday classes could be limited in

number, depending on departmental

needs forwarded to, and determined by,

the Registrar’s office, Villanueva said.

Tuesday and Thursday late afternoon

classes may be used to accommodate

losses in Monday and Wednesday time

slots, she said.

Megan Mustain, Chair of the

Philosophy department and director of

the core curriculum, thinks this may

be an opportunity for the University

to reexamine its scheduling norms,

as long as the interests of all involved

are considered.

“(The philosophy department has)

made an effort to spread out its course

offerings, and I know that the Registrar’s

office will be working hard to juggle the

scheduling needs of faculty and students

within the space available. There is talk

of using the temporary Reinbolt closure

as an opportunity to rethink our use

of space and our scheduling norms in

general and University-wide. As it is,

mornings, Fridays, and late afternoons

tend to suffer from low demand from

students and faculty alike. I think

a reexamination of our norms and

habits is a good thing, but hope that

the process is a genuinely consultative

one: sheer preferences do matter, as

do hard scheduling constraints like

family obligations, student work and

internship schedules, time for labs

and service-learning, time for on-

campus committee work, and athletics

schedules. The point is that any long-

term redesign of the university schedule

needs to consider all the variables,

which requires intentional and ongoing

conversation with students and faculty

members,” Mustain said.

The other major concern is

relocation of department offices housed

in Reinbolt Hall.

“All departments and labs will

be housed in other areas of campus.

Temporary locations will be announced

when plans are final,” Day said.

The Languages department,

currently housed in Reinbolt, will be

particularly affected by the closure.

“We are preparing for the move of

our offices and of the Language Lab to

the AT&T building. We expect most,

if not all, classes will also take place

in the classrooms at AT&T. None of

this should impact adversely any of

our plans, such as the St. Mary’s trip to

Japan this summer or for the Southern

Cone Studies Program trip to Brazil

for the summer of 2015,” Languages

professor Mark Lokensgard said.

For the theatre department, the

needed renovations in Reinbolt have

been seen as long overdue, and may

continue to affect the efficiency of how

the department can run. The theatre,

located in the basement of Reinbolt,

has been closed for over two years,

which Bernadette Brady, Chair of the

Drama department, believes has had a

detrimental impact on the department.

“We’re completely inoperable in

that space because of the renovation of

the (Assumption) chapel, that’s what

affected us. That pretty much got us

kicked out because of the concerns they

had with the weight of the altar … We

have converted the space into a scene

shop where we can build our sets. We

can do that in the house area, all the

chairs are gone and we just can’t be in

the stage area because that is directly

(under) where the altar is. We have been

given permission to be able to use that

area to build our sets, which we have

complied with, so everyone is safe. So,

we can no longer do theatre production

in the theatre I have been using for 25

years,” Brady said.

Re-opening the theatre for use will

not be addressed until phase two of the

project is undertaken, and the interior

of Reinbolt is addressed. Brady also

expressed concern that the closing of

Reinbolt for the upcoming summer and

fall semesters will pose challenges for

the department.

“We can’t use (the theatre) at all,

for anything. All our equipment, all

our tools, our set pieces, our props,

our costumes, all kinds of materials,

anything and everything that helps us

function, all that has to be moved out

and put into some sort of storage, and

we have to get access to that storage,

and that’s the question: What is that

going to be? So we have to find spaces

on campus to be able to do what we’re

supposed to do as far as our academic

requirements and providing those

kinds of activities for our students, and

to provide a presence of the arts here at

St. Mary’s, along with art and music,”

Brady said.

To deal with the loss of classroom

and building space, Brady foresees

the department will have to utilize

other spaces around campus, like the

AACC. The loss of performance space

has led the department to consider

employing other available avenues

for future performances, like the

Quad amphitheater. The recital hall

in Treadaway, used by the music

department, has been another solution,

though it has posed complications.

“They use that for their performances

and also for a classroom, so it’s pretty

much a logistics nightmare. Although

we’ve combined forces with the music

department, like we did last year when

we did RENT, so that was … a good

collaboration. But for us to be able to

do things the way we need to do things-

that’s a recital hall, there is no wing

space,” Brady said.

In other words, she concluded, the

Theatre department cannot properly

design a set without disrespecting

the space used by other professors

and the music department. The only

opportunities to use the space must be

collaborative, as the production of RENT

last year.

The importance of preserving

Reinbolt, however, did not go

unacknowledged by Brady.

“They have to preserve it. It’s a

historical building. You can do anything

you want with the interior, but you have

to maintain and respect the structure

itself,” Brady said.

Reinbolt is scheduled to reopen,

ready for renewed office and classroom

use, in the spring 2015 semester.

REINBOLT HALLFROM COVER

Class scheduling constraints

Department offices relocations

Theatre department limitations

Photo by Adriana Avila

Because of the renovation, Drama department work-studies, Marleyne Hernandez, Dillon Sutton, Mariana Sandoval and Desiree Garcia, will no longer be able to use the theatre workshop in the Reinbolt basement for creation and construction of sets.

NEWS02 WWW.STMURATTLER

NEWS.COM

University freshman programs

help first-generation college students

adjust to university life with an

upper-classmen peer mentor and a

faculty mentor.

Leticia Hart, Coordinator for

Retention Services, began the Faculty

Academic Mentor Program in Fall 2010.

“Some college students come into

post-secondary education without

some necessary connections that

other students may have, and the

Faculty Academic Mentor Program

program is an opportunity for them to

get connected to faculty and to other

students that can provide guidance, and

to connect to other students who are in

the same situation as they are.”

First-generation students have

the opportunity for guidance from

an upper-classmen who was also a

first-generation student and a faculty

mentor through the Faculty Academic

Mentor Program.

“The Faculty Academic Mentor

Program was (also) formed to provide

first-generation college students the

opportunity to get connected to peer-

mentors and faculty-mentors to become

comfortable with the faculty in order to

gain what we call ‘college capital,’ or an

understanding of the college experience

and how it works,” Hart said.

The aim, Hart said, is to pair

knowledgeable students with the first-

generation students.

As the coordinator for the Faculty

Academic Mentor Program, Hart

also hosts a class that peer-mentors

are required to take to give them

the skills they need to successfully

help their mentees and become the

liaison between their mentees and

their faculty-mentors and the rest of

the university.

Senior International Relations

major, Camila Acchiardo, moved up

the ranks beginning as a mentee, then

a peer-mentor for two years and is now

the student intern for Faculty Academic

Mentor Program.

As the student intern for the Faculty

Academic Mentor Program, Acchiardo

works directly with Hart in devising the

year’s events and decisions. Acchiardo

is also assists the recruitment process—

reading every application and matching

students with the appropriate peer and

faculty mentors, she said.

According to Acchiardo, the Faculty

Academic Mentor Program matched

mentors and mentees with students

based entirely on name and major.

But, as time progressed, the Faculty

Academic Mentor Program matured into

a detailed questionnaire process that

better matches mentors and mentees

such that the first generation students

profit more from the program.

“I’m really thankful for it (the

Faculty Academic Mentor Program).

Since a lot of us got such a positive

impression from our first year, we want

to give back; that’s a reason a lot of us

stick with it, so we can help other first

generation students.”

kind of done everything we can. I would

ask for a certain level of understanding

when it comes to these repairs.”

The ruptures, Hanna said, result from

the complex system of geographical

circumstances that accompany a South

Texas draught—low levels of water

content in the soils break down those

soils and turn them to dust, which

weighs less than moisturized soil after

rain. Even buildings are susceptible

to structural damages after soils

shrink and swell, a cause for some

structural damages in Reinbolt Hall. But

underground systems such as the water

circulation pipes for the University are

more susceptible, Hanna said.

Because the University’s water

system is primarily centralized, a small

rupture means a wider hot water outage

for the University. Ruptures, Hanna said,

are not ubiquitous among underground

pipes, but, rather, concentrated in one

area.

“In fact, the cluster of leaks has

been concentrated to one area not all

over campus. It happens periodically

throughout the year. It’s just the nature

of any infrastructure system,” Hanna

said.

The costs of such damages vary, and

are often small, Hanna said. Funding to

fix such damages lies within Hanna’s

general operating budget. The most

costly part of the process, Hanna said, is

the cost of labor.

“It’s not extensive damage, but,

unfortunately, the nature of the type of

damage,” Hanna said. “It’s like a flat

tire on your car. So, if you get a flat tire,

the car’s fine. It’s not damaged. Really,

even the tire itself isn’t damaged. It just

has a hole in it. But, in order to repair

it, you can’t drive it. So, unfortunately

in order to repair these systems—to

continue the analogy—you can’t use it.

So we have to interrupt the service, hot

water in particular.”

The need for hot water and heating

in University facilities during winter

exasperates the situation, a problem

that Hanna said the warmer weather

during the spring and summer should

resolve.

The most recent hot water outage

occurred Friday Feb. 14 between 9

a.m. and 5 p.m., during which time

a large crew assembled to finalize all

repairs. Lourdes, Founders, Dougherty,

Chaminade, Treadaway, Marian,

the Blume library and the Marianist

residence experienced interruptions

heating and hot water usage while all

other facilities were expected to be

unaffected.

HOT WATERFROM COVER

University program guides first-generation studentsHUBEL GONZALEZ

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Photo by Adriana Avila

Student mentors meet every Monday to discuss mentoring skills and plan future FAM events with their mentees.

The university’s two newest

undergraduate degree programs meet

the demands of students looking for

career opportunities in expanding fields.

The need to create a forensic science

program in south Texas prompted the

university’s initiative to be the first

institution to add the program in the

southern region in the fall of 2009.

Armando Abney, chair of the

Department of Criminal Justice and

Criminology, stated that “Forensic

science is the application of science

to the criminal laws that are enforced

by police agencies in a criminal

justice system. Forensic science is an

umbrella term that includes a variety of

professions that use their skills to help

law enforcement officials conduct their

investigations.”

According to Abney, who stated that

the forensic science program gears

students to “the gathering of evidence,

analysis, and legal testimony,” said the

program was created to fit the needs

of students looking to go into law

enforcement.

“Media portrayals of CSI have

nothing to do with forensic science; 99

percent is just Hollywood stuff. It is not

pertinent to the field,” declared Abney.

The program, according to Abney,

created the forensic science major with

an option of criminology emphasis.

The university now has close to

60 forensic science majors who take

numerous courses in biology and

chemistry, stated Abney, who explained

that internship opportunities for

forensic science majors have expanded

including internships at the Bexar

County Medical Examiner’s office, Bexar

Country Arson, San Antonio police

department and with the FBI.

Forensic science has created a

program for students that “hit on the

essential requirements students need to

workout in the field,” stated Abney.

The newest undergrad degree

program, the environmental science

program “began officially enrolling

students for the 2011 semester according

to David Turner, assistant professor

of physics, “began officially enrolling

students for the fall 2011 semester.”

According to Turner, the program,

which took about 18 months to put

together from fall 2008, grew from

“about six or seven students” to the 33

students that now identify themselves

as environmental science majors.

The program, which was put together

by Turner and his colleague Evelynn

Mitchell, associate professor of physics,

offers both a bachelor of arts and a

bachelor of science, the difference being

mainly in the math requirements.

“The administration at the time,”

added Turner, “really felt that St.

Mary’s should have an environmental

science program.” Last year in the

fall, the department welcomed its first

freshmen class, as Turner stated, “with

the purpose of being environmental

science majors.”

The curricula made its way through

a vote from the physics department,

through Winston Eirvelles, dean of

the school of science, engineering

and technology, who presented it to

the academic counsel, and finally got

approved by the accrediting organization

for St. Mary’s, stated Turner.

The administration also aided in the

renovations of their space in Garni hall

to “really nice high quality lab facilities”

where environmental science majors

take courses that can be either more

ecology or geology based, depending on

the focus the student chooses.

Turner added that while the program

is still new, the department feels

rewarded with the response they’ve

gotten. “I encourage our students and

I hope that they’ll tell their friends

about our programs. We’ve been very

fortunate. The students we have are

good students.”

ALONDRA GARCIACONTRIBUTING WRITER

New programs made available

03WWW.STMURATTLERNEWS.COM NEWS

ACROSS4. Triple-M.A.-holding St. Mary’s alumna and professor.9. Fights for sport.10. Science program focused on preserving the planet.14. Basic math class.19. First President of the U.S.20. Annual movie award ceremony.21. Executive head of Texas.22. Improve health and wellness.

DOWN1. Isaac Slade fronts his American rock band.2. Used for the best showers.3. Singing show starting a new season.5. Term in the U.S. for the Midwestern and Southern states.6. Share the same parents.7. Holds Assumption Chapel.8.Grammy winning multi-instrumentalist from the U.K.11. Harlem Shake, Gangnam Style, etc. are …12. Proper sense of pride in oneself.13. Excessive excitement.15. Law enforcement uses this to find evidence.16. Not lap bottoms.17. What you write in class.18. Place for confining law breakers.

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We invite you to considerlife as a Marianist brother,priest or sister.

Contact Bro. Tom Wendorf — twendorf@sm-usa.org or Sr. Nicole Trahan — ntrahan@gmail.com.

Welcome home to a life of community, service and prayer

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VocAdRattlerNov2013_Layout 1 10/29/13 4:19 PM Page 1

On Feb. 5, while

most people were

driving home from

work or sitting down

to enjoy dinner,

Suzanne Basso, who

had been convicted

of murder and

sentenced to death

in 1999, was executed

by the state of Texas.

And on Feb. 19, a convicted murderer will

speak at the University. Both occasions

warrant healthy discussion of the death

penalty, a discussion that calls for a fresh

take with focus on the humane, rather than

the political.

As she prepared for her own death, a

process few people can fathom, Basso had

a close spiritual advisor by her side: Sister

Elizabeth Riebschlaeger. A Sister of Charity

of the Incarnate Word, Riebschlaeger is no

stranger to promoting social justice. But,

contacted by a fellow nun to provide spiritual

guidance to Basso, she faced a new challenge.

Riebschlaeger visited Basso in Huntsville,

approximately 300 miles from San Antonio,

regularly over the past year and a half.

But it was not always smooth sailing for

Riebschlaeger, who, at one point was denied

visitation rights.

Still Riebschlaeger consoled Basso until,

and after, she received the letter notifying

her that the execution would take place on

Feb 5.

“Suzanne told me she was afraid, but the

fact is that we are all under death sentence,

though most of us don’t know the day or

the hour. We cannot take the gift of life for

granted,” she said. “I think that Suzanne

felt some companionship and comfort, and

she prepared for this journey.”

Riebschlaeger spent the last hour of

Basso’s life with her and, as Basso requested,

was a witness to her execution.

“To accompany another human being to

their death is a privilege,” she said.

Riebschlaeger was asked by Basso’s son,

James O’Malley, also convicted of murder, to

be his spiritual advisor, and Riebschlaeger

agreed.

Riebschlaeger advocates for expanding

the scope of the justice system to understand

inmates’ narratives. Her own narrative is

one of forgiveness and understanding that

the world can profit from.

“We need to humanize this process, we

only see death row inmates through the eyes

of the prosecutors, we don’t get to hear their

stories,” Riebschlaeger said.

Marianist brother and St. Mary’s

professor, Br. Brian Halderman works

toward social justice, especially as it relates

to capital punishment. He first became an

active dissident of the death penalty after

attending the vigil during the execution of

Wilford Berry as an undergraduate at the

University of Dayton.

“There were protesters there who were in

favor of the death penalty. I felt like there

was rage in them…a vengeance in them

that seemed so anti-The Gospel. How do we

transform that vengeance into forgiveness

and healing?” Halderman said.

Halderman’s effort is two-fold: to abolish

the death penalty and to help create a justice

system based on restoration rather than

retribution. Halderman has served as the

chair of the Death Penalty Issue Team of the

Marianist Social Justice Collaborative. His

work involves educating fellow Marianists

on the death penalty, raising funds to

support paid internships for Marianist law

students, working on the defense team for

murder trials and mediating the dialogue of

murder victims’ family members.

“These are people who have experienced

tremendous tragedy, tremendous loss,

but who recognize that the process of

the death penalty is really inhumane,”

Halderman said.

The discourse on capital punishment

should not center on politics, but on

humanity. St. Mary’s is a campus devoted

to an inclusive liberal spirit that prioritizes

promoting humanity in a way that transcends

historically Catholic terms. On Wednesday

Feb. 19 at 7 p.m. the President’s Peace

Commission will host guest lecturer Thomas

Trantino, an artist, author, activist and

convicted murderer whose life sentence was

commuted. St. Mary’s community members

of all religions and all political stances

should take advantage of this opportunity to

listen and relate to Trantino, not as a former

convict, but as a fellow human being.

Consider matters of life, death humanely staff editorial

StandardsThe Rattler upholds the Mission Statements of St. Mary’s University. The publication follows the Canons of Responsible Journalism, the Associated Press Stylebook and the Student Publication Policy. The Rattler is a member of the Associate Collegiate Press, the College Media Association and the Texas Intercollegiate Press Association.

Worthless. Manipulative. Scum.

Damaged. Evil. Remorseless.

These are only a few of the labels

placed on the over 2.3 million people

incarcerated in the United States.

Modern institutions push prisoners

further out of the public view. Early

American prisons and jails were

considered institutions to reform

convicts, rather than to house or hide

away criminals. Now the prison system

seems to function as a drain into which

its prisoners, staff and resources

are absorbed.

However, media has recently

brought the narratives of prisoners to

the forefront of discussion. Television

shows such as “The Wire,” “Locked

Up” and “Orange Is the New Black” give

ordinary viewers an insight into the

complexities of incarceration. While

the stories are fictionalized or slightly

dramatized to make them airtime-

worthy, they get the public to relate to

prisoners as separate individuals, not

simply a homogeneous group.

Anyone who has had a family

member or close friend imprisoned can

usually see the humanity of their loved

one, but tends to think that they are an

exception rather than a rule.

This year’s President’s Peace

Commission examines inequalities in

the criminal justice system, confronting

serious issues such as: sexual assault,

mental illness, drug addiction, issues

affecting the children of the imprisoned

and the intersection of criminal and

immigration law.

Crime levels in the Unites States will

not decrease as long as discourse on the

justice system remains a dichotomous

split between “us” and “them.”

editorial staff

Editor-in-ChiefStela Khury

Managing Editor Briana Perez

News EditorTamara Garcia

Layout/ Design Editor Rachel Grahmann

Copy EditorAlex Eakins

Web Editor Travis Bowles

Photo EditorAdriana Avila

Assistant Photo EditorKyra Littlejohn

Advertising ManagerKelly Carmona

Commentary EditorEmily Artalejo

Features Editor Daniel Perez

Entertainment EditorDaniela Garcia

Sports EditorSara E. Flores

Faculty AdviserBrother Dennis

Bautista, S.M., Ph.D.

Imprisoned individuals

Letter to the Editor PolicyThe Rattler welcomes letter to the editor. Letters should not exceed 250 words for print and 500 for web as space allows and must include writer’s name, classification, major and telephone number. Editors reserve the right to edit submissions for length, grammar, spelling and content. For more information, call the newsroom at (210) 436-3401 or email rattlernews@gmail.com.

Emily Artalejo

Incarnate Word sister served as spiritual advisor to executed woman, promotes human dignity

Editorial Statement The content published in the Rattler is the responsibility of each respective writer.

The views expressed in the staff editorial reflect the views of the majority of the editorial staff.

The following letter is published

as submitted:

As a faculty member of the St. Mary’s

community, one important role I play

is to teach students to think critically.

This role compels me to respond to the

article in the Rattler about the role of

St. Mary’s in the research currently

conducted at SeaWorld San Antonio.

Editorial space does not allow me to fully

critique the errors and inaccuracies in

Miss Espinoza’s article. For brevity I

will say that her claims that SeaWorld

mistreats the orcas and mishandles the

placement of orcas in a small tank have

no substantiation other then what she

heard in Blackfish. This film is filled

with misleading video footage paired

with leading comments by four former

SeaWorld trainers, most of whom did

not work directly with the orca that is

the subject of the film.

The claim she recites that Sea World

has claimed ownership of the majority

of orcas it has rescued and captured

is untrue. If Miss Espinoza had done

even a little independent research

through the websites that catalog all

killer whales in captivity, she would

have known that this statement was not

accurate.

Her claim that there is no need to

continue doing research on orcas or any

other marine mammal since we already

know all there is to know about their

behavioral responses is total nonsense.

Any credible researcher of marine

mammals in captivity would quickly

point out that our knowledge of animals

in captivity and in their natural habitats

is still very limited.

The research collaboration I have

established with SeaWorld as both

an independent researcher and a

collaborator serves the St. Mary’s

mission at many levels. Not only does

this research educate our students in

the practices of conducting objective,

empirically-oriented, and ethical

research, it also increases the students’

appreciation and awareness that marine

mammals are ultimately animals and

should be examined from their unique

animal perspective, and not from a

human perspective. This research

reinforces our ethical obligation

as humans to understand animals’

physiological, behavioral, and social

needs so that we may treat them as

ethically as possible and not cause undue

harm.

If I believed that the picture Blackfish

presented was accurate, I would be

ethically obliged to terminate my

collaboration with SeaWorld. However,

after more than 15 years of working in

the very small community of marine

mammal researchers with more than

six different facilities, my experiences

suggest that while the events portrayed

in Blackfish are tragic, they are not the

norm. SeaWorld does not mistreat or

harm their animals.

If we want to make a difference in

the lives of orcas and related marine

mammals and ultimately help improve

their lives, it behooves us to evaluate all

of the available empirical information

and not be swept away by an emotional

piece of cinematography that capitalizes

on a story of an orca that has been

implicated in the deaths of three people.

This, Miss Espinoza, is the difference

between scientific research and making

movies.

Granted Miss Espinoza’s piece was

a commentary, it should not have been

the lead story for our school newspaper.

Lead stories in all other quality

newspapers are reserved for feature

stories that are based on factual pieces

of evidence that have been checked

by credible sources. If Miss Espinoza

would like to write an objective piece

of journalism, I invite her to properly

plan an interview with me and write a

follow up article. If she would like to

conduct a more visible discussion of this

topic, I will be happy to participate in a

public debate with her on our campus

so that our university community can

form an opinion on the validity of our

research collaboration with SeaWorld

San Antonio based on facts, not on

emotional rhetoric.

Heather Hill

Associate Professor,

Psychology Department

letter to the editor

To read student responses to the Blackfish article scan

the QR code above

COMMENTARY WWW.STMURATTLER

NEWS.COM06

Illustration by Angela Engle

Future St. Mary’s

students will enter

college with limited

math proficiency.

House Bill 5 was passed

by the 83rd Texas

Legislature, and will

go into effect in 2014.

The law no longer

mandates Algebra II as

a graduation requirement for high school

students. HB 5 is a product of political bi-

partisanship: the measure passed the Texas

House of Representatives with a super

majority and the Texas Senate unanimously.

However, the law waters down curriculum

and hands public education to what the

bill calls “private partnerships.” Public

education should provide every student with

the tools to succeed in higher education and

promote academic success.

Mathematics professor Paul Uhlig

expresses concern over how the bill will

actually limit students’ options at the

university level.

“What my real fear is that students who

don’t opt into the STEM endorsement, will

then realize they want to go into a STEM

area,” Uhlig said. “Or need to know a higher

level of math and science as a business

person, or want to go into law and study

intellectual property rights as it relates to

technology. Students who didn’t think that

they needed Algebra II will have to complete

that coursework in college, which only puts

them further behind.”

The effects reach far beyond

career preparation.

“There is so much more to being a person

than just having a job,“ Uhlig said. “This

little world of mathematics represents an

enormous human achievement throughout

history. I am not asking people to run to the

frontiers of mathematics, just familiarize

themselves with the processes that were so

important to people like Albert Einstein.”

Other subject requirements are also

impacted. For example, students can fulfill

their fine arts and physical education credits

by participating in private or commercially

sponsored programs on or off campus, and

outside a regular school day. Also, students

can substitute social studies courses, if they

wish to enter the workforce after graduation,

by enrolling in technology, career

advancement and vocational training classes.

Internships sponsored by local businesses,

and approved by education boards, are also

eligible for class substitution.

The Texas education system is going

backwards. Texas legislators voted for a

bill that benefits the private sector and

discourages student exposure to academic

subjects. HB 5 is an example of academic

inequity because it tells students that it is

“alright” to see mathematics and science as

secondary subjects.

St. Mary’s is a liberal arts institution

that promotes the humanities and sciences

to students, regardless of their academic

focus. Texas students, who wish to enroll

at St. Mary’s, will enter the University with

a disadvantage because they may have opted

out of such courses in high school. Will HB 5

have a negative effect on the University? One

must simply wait until the freshman class of

2018 joins the University.

Wendy Davis, the

Texas state senator

who became famous

overnight last

summer, with her

11-hour filibuster

over the abortion-

limiting House bill,

and State Senator

Leticia Van de Putte, a

democratic candidate

for lieutenant governor in 2014 are seeking

to do the impossible in the State of Texas.

With the female duo running for governor

and lieutenant governor—the state’s top

offices—one might anticipate that while

history will be made, they will still fall short

in attempting to turn Texas blue.

Both Davis and Van de Putte are expected

to pass the primary election that takes place

on March 4, 2014. Van de Putte is running

unopposed for the primary, while Davis’s

opponent Reynaldo Madrigal, seems to be

nonexistent, as most Texans are not aware

that she has an opponent in the upcoming

primary. If Davis and Van de Putte win the

primary, it will be the first time in Texas

history that women have led a ticket for a

major party while running for the state’s

top offices. Not to mention that it will

be the fifth time in twenty years that the

democratic party has nominated two women

for both governor and lieutenant governor.

However, the democratic pairings have

never won both offices.

Many think that Davis will be the one

to turn Texas blue, but looking at the red

context in which Texas is situated, her

chances are slim. Currently, the Republican

Party holds the majority in both chambers

of the state legislature, and controls every

statewide office. Democrats haven’t won

a statewide race in 20 years, and the last

woman democratic governor left office

nineteen years ago. It is apparent that the

state of Texas is reluctant to change.

Change does not happen easily. However,

sometimes it takes one person to get it

started. “You won’t change things unless

you are prepared to fight, even if you don’t

win,” stated Wendy Davis in an interview

with Vogue in August 2013. While the

campaign of Davis and Van de Putte will

continue to be marginalized, their efforts

to do the impossible cannot be overlooked.

Texas may not turn blue in 2014, but it is

hard to deny that it is not headed that way in

the near future.

The recent

addition of the

campus Dickson

baseball stadium

campus serves

as a reminder for

students to root for

the home team.

Hundreds of

students, alongside

professors and

the hard-working staff of the University,

cheered the baseball team last Saturday for

the grand opening of the stadium, showing

support for the first double header of the

season on home turf. Or did they?

One would think that the opportunity to

see the award-winning St. Mary’s baseball

team would be enough to draw fans into the

stands. Add the excitement of a full tailgate

complete with inflatable bounce castles,

a rocking disc jockey, snacks and drinks:

picture perfect collegiate sports. But that’s

not all to the story.

While prizes and other cool freebies

are never a bad thing, one might question

whether or not these were enough to build

the intrinsic motivation to attract fans to

consecutive games.

What happens now that the spectacle

is over? Will Rattlers continue to

#packthestadium to show spirit for the

remainder of the season, even without the

same enticing prizes?

The Park at St. Mary’s was built for

students, so one should hope that it would

foster an extra sense of blue and gold pride

within the University community. The

t-shirt giveaways, in-game promotions and

outside sponsorships (like free ice cream

from Porky’s after every home game win)

will continue to be available throughout

the season, but students, faculty and staff

should show how much they care about the

athletics department regardless of freebies.

Wear blue and gold on “Spirit Thursdays”

and take advantage of the convenient, and

free, opportunity to support home games.

That’s Rattler pride.

KyraLittlejohn

Alfonso Pacheco

Share at @StMURattlerNews

What’s your view on the Governor’s race?

Democrats’ attempt to turn Texas blue, success unlikely

Stacey Mazuca

Student support insufficient at Dickson stadium opening

Students can choose from five curricular paths

Reduces the number of required standardized tests from 15 to five

Students can substitute off-campus sporting league participation for physical education credit

HOUSE BILL 5 SUMMARY:

Photo by Sara Flores

Students, faculty and staff at the February 8th game after the Dickson stadium opening festivities.

Decrease in Texas math standards leave students unprepared

COMMENTARYWWW.STMURATTLERNEWS.COM 07

Source: www.capitol.state.tx.us

WHO’S WHOat StMU

Have you ever wondered who makes some of the most important decisions here at St. Mary’s? Have you ever heard the name of a Vice President or Dean and were unsure of who they were or what they were in charge of?In honor of President’s Day this week, here’s a “Who’s Who” of the leadership at St. Mary’s University. See where they received their undergraduate degree (just like you!) and check out a fun fact about their lives.Now, when you hear “VP,” “Dean” or “Director” you’ll know exactly who the title refers to.

Infographic by Rachel Grahmann

The Social Justice League at St.

Mary’s University has taken strides to

be activists for social change. A small

group of students founded the Social

Justice League to decry social injustices

two years ago.

With the following mission

statement, Social Justice League

advocates for social change on both a

small and large scale: “We, the members

of the Social Justice League, strongly

believe in promoting awareness of

unjust social issues, and acting as

agents of change… at the local, national

and global level.”

Driven by frustration of the injustices

learned in her classes, junior marketing

major Crystal Castañeda is the Social

Justice League’s president.

Focusing on human trafficking, sex

trade, modern day slavery, immigration

issues and other socially controversial

topics, the Social Justice League educates

other students about the importance of

social justice activism.

According to Castañeda, Social Justice

League advocates for social justice on

campus in a variety of ways.

“We take action by raising funds

for Deferred Action for Childhood

Arrivals applications, signing petitions

against human and sex trafficking,

and attending annual marches like

the March of Dignity and Respect,

and the Martin Luther King March,”

Castañeda said.

As members of a predominantly

Hispanic community, Social Justice

League adviser and University Minister

for Social Justice, Clare Acosta Matos

said that Social Justice League especially

emphasizes the importance of

responding to issues found in the south

Texas area.

“The Social Justice League tries to

read and respond to the signs of the

times. Due to our culture, geography,

location and student population,

immigration reform and finding

opportunities for DREAMers have been

a big part of the work of Social Justice

League,” Acosta said.

Campus campaigns focusing on the

Dream Act are the organization’s most

apparent contribution to Social Justice

League’s mission to promote awareness

of unjust social issues.

Junior criminology major and

member of Social Justice League

Cheyenne Palmer promotes Social

Justice League’s campus wide support

for the Dream Act.

“EL DIA, standing for Dreamers

in Action, is a campaign that sells

t-shirts for “dreamers” on the St.

Mary’s campus. All profits from shirt

sales go to helping “dreamers” become

United States citizens. EL DIA is Social

Justice League’s big event on campus

to promote awareness of dreamers,”

Palmer said.

As a registered student organization,

the league addresses issues in spirit

with the Marianist Charism and Catholic

social teaching.

“Social justice and Catholic social

teaching are key components of our

Marianist Charism. By nature of being

housed in University Ministry, and by

nature of the mission to bring others

to a greater understanding of justice

in our community and world, there

is an inherent presence of Marianist

identity within the character of the

organization,” Acosta said.

Working to create a greater sense

of equality among many communities,

Social Justice League continues to

expand and invite other students in

taking action against social injustices.

“Student voices are so vital in the

fight for justice and peace in our world,

and I hope our student community

realizes what power it has to make

changes in our society,” Acosta said.

Students believe that the choice to

use laptops or pen and paper for note

taking should be solely up to them.

Acknowledging the diversity of the

student body of St. Mary’s, it is expected

that professors discover ways for

students to efficiently learn the material

presented in class lectures.

In a classroom setting, students learn

and process information in different

ways. One of the keys to success

in college lies in the ability to take

good notes

Junior English communication arts

major Alondra Garcia firmly believes

that laptops should be allowed in the

classrooms for note-taking.

“Laptops are better because they are

a fast and efficient way to keep up with

the professor,” Alondra said.

Using a laptop, students can create

clear and organized notes. There would

not be confusion in attempting to

decipher hasty handwriting.

Although this might be true, using

laptops can be a source of temptation.

Junior English and history major,

Maribel Garcia does agree that laptops

are effective for taking notes. However,

she believes that laptops should not be

allowed in classrooms.

“Laptops should not be allowed for

the only reason that I easily get distracted

by the fact that I have wi-fi, which then

allows me to surf the internet, get on

Pinterest and Facebook,” Maribel said.

Senior psychology major Melissa

Estrada agreed with Maribel.

“Laptops give many distractions and

even if I don’t mean to, I end up looking

at other things on the Internet,”

Estrada said.

Junior speech communications

major, Joshua Madrid, believes that

regardless of the drawbacks of using

laptops for note taking, students should

have the choice to use them.

“Students learn differently, and so

they take notes differently,” Madrid

said. “Personally, taking notes using

pen and paper is easier. Although

laptops allow a student to take notes

faster, they always become a temptation

to go to other websites.”

Madrid claims that, at times, he

has seen some of his classmates with

laptops using Netflix or YouTube during

class lectures.

Ultimately, however, students

encourage professors to continue giving

the choice between laptops or traditional

pen and paper for note taking.

“At the end of the day, students are

responsible for the material that needs

to be learned,” Maribel said.

Campus student organization decries social inequitiesMERCEDES KELSO

STAFF WRITER

Laptops for note taking: curse for some, learning tool for othersNATHALIE FARIAS

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Photo by Daniel W. PerezThe Social Justice League holds its weekly meetings every Thursday evening.

Photo by Bria Bell

Brianne Pardo and Bianca Pardo are sisters but they take notes different ways: one types on her laptop while the other prefers traditional ink and paper.

Social Justice League

v RSO Category:Political

v President: Crystal Castaneda

v Faculty Advisor: Claire Acosta Matos

v Mission Statement:“We, the members of the Social Justice League, strongly believe in promoting awareness of unjust social issues, and acting as agents of change… at the local, national, and global level.”

v Meeting Times: Thursdays at 5:30 p.m.

v Place: University Ministry

v Contact: ccastaneda3@mail.stmarytx.edu

FEATURES WWW.STMURATTLER

NEWS.COM10

At the end of the day, students are responsible

for the material that needs to be learned.

MARIBEL GARCIAJunior, English and history major

QUICK FACTS

As a 21st century technological

generation, computer wielding college

students have the luxury (or curse)

of near instantaneous media sharing

within their reach. As such, many of

those students find entertainment just

sitting back and watching a viral video

that everyone has been raving about.

“Viral Videos spread like a highly

contagious virus,” sophomore English

communication arts major Joshua

Madrid said. “If a video entertains

someone with humor or pure wonder

they share it with their friends.

People just want other people to laugh

with them.”

A share on Facebook, a reblog on

Tumblr, a post on a forum, and video

can spread like wildfire. But not every

St. Mary’s students is convinced that all

videos deserve to be viral.

Sophomore industrial engineering

major Joseph Ramos is one such student.

“I think a lot of them are just

ridiculous. Gangnam Style, Harlem

Shake, Never Gonna Give You Up, I hate

all of them,” Ramos said.

Some students don’t see the point

or like viral video references. It is

true that, over time, a video becomes

overused and the same jokes that were

once hilarious soon become stagnant.

Eventually fads die and popular

videos are replaced with others in a

seamless process.

“Viral videos have a unique way

of bookmarking time,” sophomore

computer science major Mara

Rivera said.

“You think of the video and what you

did around the time the video came out.

It isn’t just a video. It is a reminder of

all the fun things you do with friends,”

Rivera said. “For some people, these

videos help them categorize different

times of their lives.”

At St. Mary’s, many students have

invested time watching, creating and

parodying the videos they know and

love. Fond memories include time spent

making a Harlem Shake video in the

laundry room in Dougherty, dancing

Gangnam Style randomly in the UC or

even something as simple as seeing

social media sites flooded with things

that came in like a wrecking ball.

How did you find your way to St. Mary’s?I first came to St. Mary’s in the Fall of 1982. I grew up in Southern Illinois, and came to St. Mary’s because an alum recruited me (Tim Richards) and Sr. Ann Semel, who was the chair of the English department.

Favorite movie?The Lord of the Rings trilogy! There is no way I can just pick one!

If you were a villain from a movie, who would you be?Hans Gruber from Die Hard. If I were a bad guy, of course, I’d be Khan! Why not, right?

Star Trek or Star Wars?Both. I’m a both fan girl. Absolutely both!

Stance on twerking?I don’t have a stance on twerking. Why would I think about it? As a linguist, it is an interesting coinage of a term. Do I have to care about that? Aren’t there better things to care about in the world?

Origin of the word: twerking?It’s a portmanteau word! So it’s like a suitcase word. In this case it is a combination between twist and jerk.

What fandoms do you belong to?Lord of the Rings, Star Trek, Star Wars, Harry Potter, Downton Abbey, West Wing and Burn Notice.

Apple or Android?Apple

Favorite Author?Mary Doria Russell. She has written many novels and I just find her terrific.

Do you believe in aliens?I hope there is life out there. I really hope that we are not it.

Favorite books?“The Things They Carry” by Tim O’Brien. “Prince of Peace” by James Carol “The Lord of the Rings” by J.R.R. Tolkien

What is your spirit animal?It depends on the time in my life. I’ve had different ones. The most recent would be a salmon. That comes from a Celtic approach. Before, it was an owl.

Favorite recent song?“Home” by Phillip Phillips

Coke or Pepsi?Coke

Favorite band?The Who

Second favorite band?There is The Who, and then everyone else.

Viral video trends hit campus

BRANDON LEONARDCONTRIBUTING WRITER

Get to know a professor: Mary Lynn Hill, Ph.D.

Photo by Daniel W. PerezMary Lynn Hill, Ph.D.

v Associate professor of English

v Communication Studies

v Office: Chaminade Tower 416

v B.A. in English literature, Minor in political science

v M.A. in political science

v M.A. in anthropology

v M.A. in english language

v Ph.D. in linguistics

Suggestions for future professor interviews or questions to ask them are always welcome through email at rattlernews@gmail.com or by posting on our Facebook or Twitter page.

I’ve never had a class that I didn’t learn from, that I didn’t learn from the students. So often the class dynamics teach me not so much the topics at hand, but who I am as a person and who they are as a person. It is one profession that you can always be challenged.”

MARY LYNN HILL, PH.D.Associate professor

English and Communication Studies

FEATURESWWW.STMURATTLERNEWS.COM 11

From the absurd collection of sounds that foxes make to the knee-popping, wrist-twisting Gangnam style dance, college students consume viral videos. Love them or hate them, they are, if nothing else, memorable.

To view the videos mentioned in this article plus others, scan

this QR code

QUICK FACTS

from Arturo Osteguin

“Retaking courses builds character.”-Ryan Dunning (Mathematics)

from Kim Cruz @lovetofit

“Not a snowball’s chance in hell.”-Wayne Owens (Philosophy)

This cycle’s hastag celebrated the professors of the university by asking students to submit via Facebook and Twitter their favorite professor quote using the hashtag: #StMUProfSays.

from Gabby De La Paz

“There ain’t no such thing as a free lunch.”-David Turner (Physics)

Follow The Rattler on Facebook and Twitter to discover next cycle’s hashtag challenge.

Hastag Challenge: #StMUProfSays

Two exciting and different studio albums

are to be released Feb. 25, and March 3.

Alternative rock/pop band The Fray and

electronica/indie pop artist Imogen Heap

will both release their fourth albums.

The Fray’s “Helios” has eleven tracks,

one of them being lead single “Love Don’t

Die,” released Oct. 21 2013.

“I remember the first time I heard ‘Love

Don’t Die’ on the radio. I just couldn’t stop

dancing to it. It was stuck in my head for

days,” sophomore psychology major Duffy

Pittlock said. The track reveals a general

idea of what exhilarating new music the

band has in store for fans.

The British electronica musician

Imogen Heap is considered a digital diva.

Incorporating her songwriting, multi-

instrumental talent, creativity and unique

voice, Heap started working on her

upcoming album “Sparks” while fans sent

almost 900 “sound seeds,” or samples of

everyday sounds from a dishwasher to a

bicycle.

“The first time I ever heard her voice, was

in the song ‘Hide and Seek’ in an episode of

my favorite tv-show. Not only could I relate

to her lyrics, but I found her voice to be so

captivating that it made me want to cry,”

sophomore international business and

marketing major Nancy Rangel said.

Imogen Heap has been known for her

music in the digital world, and in the song

‘Hide and Seek’ Heap sings about love,

desire and loss inside that world.

The concept of this album was to produce

three-monthly tracks, recorded over a

period of 14 days and released with a video.

Heap gives her fans the opportunity to

pre-order her album, and upload footprints

to the official Imogen Heap website and

join her on the album cover.

This collection of songs will be released

March 3, in both a deluxe box set and a

standard edition with 14 tracks.

Deluxe box includes Sparks album on

CD, a special ticket that grants access to her

2014 tour, a 120 p.g photo book telling the

“Sparks” stories, and much more.

The album will include all of Heap’s

2011-2013 unique singles.

St. Mary’s students looking to listen

to music this weekend can support one

of St. Mary’s very own, as a member of

the community will perform at The White

Rabbit’s Bleeding Purple Show on Friday.

A member of the Marianist Residence’s

kitchen and cafeteria staff, Juan Patino

will perform with his throwback 1950’s

rockabilly band Good City Modern.

“I love the music and I enjoy creating

something people can vibe with. I would

love people from this St. Mary’s family to

come out for support and fun,” Juan said.

Several other bands will perform at

both The White Rabbit and Club Rio this

weekend, starting Friday Feb. 21 at 6 p.m.,

including the Dallas native Memphis May

Fire on Saturday night.

Friday at The White Rabbit, The Bleeding

Purple Tour begins at 6 p.m. There’s an $8

cover, but people of all ages can get in for $6

if they wear purple.

On Friday at Club Rio, the Candyland &

Kill Paris Killer Fro Tour begins at 9 p.m.

It’s 18 and up with general admission at $15

and VIP status at $30. On Saturday back at

The White Rabbit, University community

members can enjoy can enjoy Memphis

May Fire for $20 general admission and VIP

status for $40.

Ellen DeGeneres will host the 86th

Academy Awards this year on Sunday March

2. The nine diverse nominees for Best

Picture, some that portray pieces of American

history—from the story of a free man tricked

into slavery in pre-civil war United States to

the struggles of a Texan diagnosed with AIDS

during the 1985 epidemic. Throw in a space

adventure gone wrong and a trip across the

Indian Ocean gone awry and there are four

competitors for the most anticipated Best

Picture award of the year. The best picture

nominees for 2014 are “American Hustle”,

starring Christian Bale, Amy Adams, and

Bradley Cooper; “Captain Philips” starring

Tom Hanks, Barkhad Abdi, and Barkhad

Abdirahman; “Dallas Buyers Club”, starring

Matthew McConaughey, Jennifer Garner

and Jared Leto; “Gravity”, starring Sandra

Bullock, George Clooney and Ed Harris;

“Her”, starring Joaquin Phoenix, Amy

Adams and Scarlet Johansson; “Nebraska”,

starring Bruce Dern, Will Forte and June

Squibb; “Philomena”, starring Judi Dench,

Steve Coogan, and Sophie Kennedy Clark;

“12 Years a Slave”, starring Chiwetel

Ejuofor, Michael K. Williams, and Michael

Fassbender and “The Wolf of Wall street”

starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Jonah Hill and

Margot Robbie.

For the past 20 years, 85 percent of the

Golden Globe award winners also picked

up the Oscars, according to The Hollywood

Reporter. This would mean that the two

nominees most likely to win the Oscar

for Best Picture are the two Golden Globe

winners, “American Hustle,” which won

Best Motion Picture, Comedy and “12 Years

a Slave,” the winner of Best Motion Picture,

for Drama.

The film reveals a free African American

man living with his wife and children in

1841, tricked by slave traders into traveling

to Washington D.C where he is taken against

his will, sent to Louisiana, and sold into

slavery. He experiences violence and human

degradation and hopes to one day regain his

right to freedom.

Critics say that “12 Years a Slave” might

as well be the film with the clearest shot.

If it were to win the best picture award, it

would be the first film directed by an African

American to receive the highest Oscar award.

In terms of Best Actor, the Golden Globes

went to Matthew McConaughey for the drama

“Dallas Buyers Club” and Leonardo DiCaprio

for the comedy “The Wolf of Wall Street.”

The Best Actress Golden Globes went to Cate

Blanchett for the drama “Blue Jasmine”

and Amy Adams for “American Hustle.”

Lastly, the Best Director Golden Globe

went to Alfonso Cuaron for “Gravity.”

Although some only agree with the

prediction that Amy Adams will win

the Oscar for her sensational work in

“American Hustle,” others believe that

the Golden Globes predictions “The Wolf

of Wall Street” will bring in three Oscars:

Best Picture, Best Actor and Best Director.

Surprisingly, this would award

Martin Scorsese his second Oscar as a

director and Leonardo DiCaprio his first.

These powerhouses in the film industry

might as well be recognized for their

groundbreaking work on “The Wolf of Wall

Street” this year.

In terms of best actress, the 2014

nominees are Amy Adams, Cate Blanchett,

Sandra Bullock, Judi Dench and Meryl

Streep. The competition between these

talented women is stiff. They have all been

nominated and won countless awards

throughout the years.

In January of 2013, Cate Blanchetts’

performance in “Blue Jasmine” won a

golden globe award over Bullocks’ in

“Gravity” for best performance by an

actress in a motion picture-drama.

Amy Adams’ performance in “American

Hustle” won over Meryl Streeps’ in

“August: Orange County” for best

performance by an actress in a motion

picture-comedy/musical. Predictions for

the best actress award in the 89th Academy

Awards may be right on point.

The 2014 Academy Awards will be

broadcast live on 2014 Oscar Sunday, March

2, 2014, on ABC. The only way to know

whether these predictions are accurate is

to tune in and enjoy the Academy Awards.

LUKE VILLAFRANCASTAFF WRITER

New indie artists’ albums drop

Campus-affiliated band plays

Courtesy of: www.killermo.com & mindequalsblown.net

DANIELA gARCIAENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

@danigarcia6

JESSICA VALLESSTAFF WRITER

Courtesy of: www.cafeconfilm.com

Courtesy of: www.telegraph.co.uk

Cour

tesy

of:

www.

thef

ray.c

omCo

urte

sy o

f: ww

w.pl

edge

mus

ic.co

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Award season’s biggest night

Fri. Feb 21Club Rio

13307 San Pedro Ave. 210-403-2582

Sat. Feb. 22The White Rabbit

2410 North St. Mary’s St. 210-737-2221

ENTERTAINMENT12 WWW.STMURATTLER

NEWS.COM

University staff member opens with band downtown.

Fresh voices, fresh faces, fresh

excitement, American reality television’s

singing competition The Voice is back.. Cee

Lo Green and Adam Levine were the first

confirmed coaches in Feb. of 2011, followed

by Christina Aguilera and Blake Shelton in

March 7th. After judging for three seasons

straight the first time, Green and Aguilera

were switched with Shakira and Usher as

judges in season 4, and one season later

after returning, The Voice history seems to

be repeating itself.

Green and Aguilera will not be returning

this upcoming season. After not participating

for an entire season, Shakira and Usher will

take their place as judges once more.

The official 150-second trailer released by

NBC gives viewers a glimpse of the auditions

and the foolery of all the coaches. Shakira

dances for her team members, Usher shows

his shiny, golden shoes, Adam Levine

mimics Shak’s accent and Blake Shelton

tries to recruit anyone who lives within a one

to two-state radius of his hometown.

One thing that viewers definitely have

in store for this upcoming season is new

talent, and fun drama between coaches. It is

no secret that, in past seasons, the coaches

have consistently bickered. The judge’s

distinct individual personalities always help

keep the show interesting. Who can forget

when, in season 4, Adam Levine and Blake

Shelton argued about Taylor Swift’s role in

country music?

“I have been counting down the days

for this season premiere. It has so many

twists, and I am sure the talent is going to

be excellent. I am so excited about having

Shakira and Usher’s wild personalities back.

It’s going to make the show funnier than

ever.” sophomore psychology and criminal

justice major Isabel Ramos said.

Now that FOX has officially cancelled

the X Factor USA, NBC has even more wiggle

room to attract viewers who need to satisfy

their appetite for a fun competition of

talented every-day people.

The new season of the Voice premieres

Monday Feb. 24 on NBC.

MOVIESIN

BRIEF

“Barefoot,” a remake of Hollywood hit and German romantic comedy “Barfuss” that stars Evan Rachel Wood and Scott Speedman, is about a psychiatric patient (Wood) introduced to a world she’s missed in isolation. Release date: Feb. 21.

“Pompeii” is the well-researched, highly anticipated adventure drama and cinematographic display of Mount Vesuvius erupting in the year A.D. 79, starring Kiefer Sutherland. In theaters: Feb. 21.

“Repentance” is a thriller starring Forest Whitaker and Anthony Mackie, who plays an abducted author fighting for his life. Release date: Feb. 28.

Courtesy of:www.impawards.com

Courtesy of: www.impawards.com

Courtesy of: www.impawards.com

Judges Usher, Shakira return to competitionDANIELA gARCIA

ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR@danigarcia6

I have been counting down the days for this season

premiere. It has so many twists, and I am sure the talent is going to be excellent. I am so excited about having Shakira and Usher’s wild personalities back. It’s going to make the show funnier than ever.”

ISABEL RAMOS Psychology

ISABEL RAMOSCONTRIBUTING WRITER

Celebrate George Washington with barbecue

In the mood for some tasty smoked

meats, fried catfish, chicken fried steak,

hamburgers, salads and desserts? Celebrate

the United States first presidents’ 282nd

birthday with other St. Mary’s students and

George Washington University alumni from

7–9 p.m. on Feb. 22, at Grady’s Bar-B-Q and

Catering located on 7500 Bandera Rd.

Registration includes barbecue style

dinner, drinks for 21-and-older students,

and festive desserts. This event is sponsored

by George Washington University. Register

online, at gwu.edu, for a free, festive meal.

Courtesy of: www.salon.com

Courtesy of: www.telegraph.co.uk

Courtesy of www.salon.com

TELL US WHAT YOU

THINK

What fast food would you like to see on or around the StMU campus?

Tweet us! @StMURattlerNews with #Rattlerfood to give suggestions.

13WWW.STMURATTLERNEWS.COM ENTERTAINMENT

University snags first student boxer in school history

The University will hosts its first St.

Mary’s University sponsored boxer.

Senior, English major Luke

Villafranca, is an athlete of St. Mary’s

University, though not an athlete in the

conventional sense.

“I’m honored I’m humbled to be the

first person doing something like this,”

Villafranca said.

Villafranca has been boxing for two

years, and last spring, inspired by a

different culture, he travelled to Spain

as a part of St. Mary’s study abroad

program, and received more boxing

training there. Villafranca currently

boxes at the Zarzamora Street Gym.

“You walk in the gym and it’s a new

world. It’s like you’re stepping into

history, but you’re still able to affect

what’s going to happen in the future,”

Villafranca said.

His love of boxing began during

his freshman year, when he met

Derek Delgado, who at the time was

a visiting professor of English at

St. Mary’s University.

Delgado can be defined as

Villafranca’s inspiration and motivation

toward what he does in present time.

“I believe that we’re nothing without

trials, without tests, and I wanted to test

myself. I had a good English teacher my

freshman year who had boxed growing

up. I had never heard or even thought

about doing something like that. I had

always played conventional sports like

baseball, football, basketball. I wanted

to do something different,” Villafranca

said.

He also credits a book that Delgado

encouraged him to read called “The

Heart and the Fist” by Navy Seal

Eric Greitens.

Villafranca said of the book’s main

character, “this guy had learned how to

box in college and he believed that, in

order to be a good person, you had to be

a strong individual. You had to face your

fears and to show courage, and you had

to go where people don’t normally go.”

Villafranca loves boxing for the

challenges it provide him, as well as the

many lessons he has learned through

boxing. The discipline that boxing

requires contributes to his life outside

of boxing as well.

“I love it because of the stories, for

the purpose behind it, for what it’s

taught me. For me, it’s good for the

soul. I enjoy how spiritual it can be,”

Villafranca said.

In addition to boxing for the love of

the sport, Villafranca is also proud to be

able to represent St. Mary’s University

in such a unique way.

“Your goal in life should be to find a

noble cause to fight for—for example,

the fact that I’m representing St. Mary’s

University, that’s bigger than me. It

gives what I do purpose,” Villafranca

said. “I love the fact that I’m able to

connect my education here at St. Mary’s

to my education there at the gym.”.

Although Villafranca is currently

the only student boxer representing

the University, he would love to see

future students participate in boxing,

especially if it would include an

education at St. Mary’s.

Villafranca encourages students

to join in on the sport and contribute

to the image that he is resposible for

portraying of the University.

“If one person gets an education

here because of boxing, that would be a

beautiful thing. If you can tie boxing and

education together, that’s a beautiful

thing,” Villafranca said.

Villafranca also has his own words of

encouragement for any student thinking

of boxing, whether it be to represent St.

Mary’s, or for recreational purposes.

“To be a good fighter, you have to

be smart. It’s definitely an art. Twenty

seconds of courage can change your life.

If they want to go for it, always have

school first. Never let anything come

before God and education. That’s what

I was taught,” he said.

No matter what happens in his

boxing career and future, Villafranca

has no regrets about his boxing. The

tournament started on Tuesday, Feb. 18,

and ends Friday, Feb. 21 at Woodlawn

Gym.

“If this was the end, if it was this

fight and if the story was over, it would

be a great story for me. I would love it

because of what I learned,” he said.

AnAlissA cAntUSTAFF WRITER

Tennis

siblings provide mutual moral support on court, off court

While tennis player Briana Fellows

rallies with her opponent on the court,

a smile on her face, enjoying the game,

her brother cheers her on with a more

competitive spirit.

Sophomore exercise and sport

science major Jared Fellows and

freshman biology major Briana Fellows,

have an interesting family dynamic:

they’re siblings that both play on St.

Mary’s tennis teams.

But the two consider each other

like close friends, rather than merely

brother and sister, Jared explained.

“Jared and I began playing tennis

when we were about 10 years old at

the Dominion country club together,

(because) our parents put us into a

clinic,” Briana said.

Growing up together, tennis played a

huge role in the two’s lives.

“I was very excited. After watching

Jared continue to play collegiate tennis,

I realized that I wanted to continue as

well, and him being on the team was

even better,” Briana said.

Both played tennis for three years in

high school, earning positions as state

finalists in mixed double’s competition.

“I was really excited about (Briana

playing tennis with me). Both of us

grew up playing tennis together, which

I believe made us close friends as well as

siblings,” Jared said. “I was kind of sad

that we weren’t going to be able to play

on the same team together anymore.

It’s funny because, usually, whenever

she’s competing against another player,

she is smiling, and having a good time

on the court. Meanwhile, I’m the one

acting more competitively than she is

because I want to see her play well and

succeed.”

Even though Jared said that he

could see himself as a competitive

mentor to Briana, she sees him as a

positive support system whenever she’s

practicing or playing a game.

“He definitely supports me and

we can continue to cheer each other

on, even though we are on separate

teams. He gives me advice and we can

practice with each other, which is cool,”

Briana said.

Both Jared and Briana felt that

the head tennis coach, Lisa Dawson,

supported the idea of having siblings on

the team.

Dawson knew the two when

they played at a younger age,

Briana explained.

“We knew it was all a part of God’s

plan,” Briana said.

Jared believes that his sister and he

contribute to the already strong support

that the men’s and women’s teams

offer each other.

Aside from feeling that they have

Dawson’s support, both siblings also

feel they have their teammates’ support

as well.

“I feel like them being at the

same university, same practices and

same team has strengthened their

relationship even more throughout the

season,” sophomore political science

and English major Jamie Lee Denton.

Briana feels that her teammates

acknowledge the fact that she and

her brother are so close, but don’t get

treated any differently for it.

“They find it surprising that we get

along so well, since most siblings do not

get along when they are so close and in

the same school,” Briana said.

Briana expressed feelings that her

parents love the fact that she and her

brother play tennis together, and they

feel no struggle to attend marches.

“Overall, I’m glad she chose to attend

school here. There are some old friends

from high school that I always reminisce

about playing tennis with, but now that

Briana also plays for St. Mary’s, it feels

just like old times,” Jared said

sArA E. FlorEsSPORTS EDITOR@stmusarasports

Photo by Danielle Vargas

Senior, English major Luke Villafranca is a unique type of athlete at St Mary’s. Vilafranca represents the university in the boxing ring, and stresses how much pride he takes in it. He ties in his love for the sport with his love for his school.

I believe that we’re nothing without trials,

without tests, and I wanted to test myself. I had a good English teacher my freshman year who had boxed growing up. I had never heard or even thought about doing something like that. I had always played conventional sports like baseball, football, basketball. I wanted to do something different.”

Luke ViLLafrancaSenior, English

Photo by Danielle Vargas

Siblings, Jared and Briana Fellows have played tennis together since they were young. This is their first season paying collegiate tennis together. In high school, Jared and Briana were state qualifiers in mixed doubles play, and both plan to be as successful now playing at the collegiate level.

It’s funny because usually whenever she’s

competing against another player she is smiling, and having a good time on the court. Meanwhile, I’m the one acting more competitively than she is, because I want to see her play well and succeed.

jared feLLowsDesign Layout Editor

SPORTS14 WWW.STMURATTLER

NEWS.COM

team enters conference season stronger than eversofTball

Junior utility player and exercise

and sport science major Taylor Vidrine

christened Dickson Stadium with

two homeruns during the softball

team classic.

St. Mary’s (7-3) finished the St.

Mary’s College classic with victories

over the No. 10, No. 14 and No. 17 ranked

teams in NCAA Division-II.

“I don’t think I have actually

celebrated while running around the

bases, but I did that time,” Vidrine, a

two-time Heartland Conference First

Team Player, said. “I knew someone

had to hit the first homerun and I was

hoping it would be me.”

Vidrine’s homers didn’t sail past

empty stands either. The stands were

packed to commemorate the grand

opening of the stadium.

“The student organizations cooking

out and the stadium was everything

we hoped for,” Director of Athletics,

Elizabeth Dalton said. “We are

absolutely making more plans on how

we can get students out to the game.

We are working on planned events,

incentives and enticements to come

out to the games, but we hope that it

becomes habit that you come to a game

because it is a social event and the place

to be.”

The possible plans would give the

softball team, which is on campus for

the first time in two seasons, a welcome

home besides the grand opening of

the stadium. For the past two years,

they have had to juggle between playing

at the San Antonio Independent School

District and the Northside Stadium

off campus.

“It was hard to get fans off campus,

so it is really cool to have everyone come

out,”, senior pitcher and finance risk

management major Emily Brittain said.

“Our first game we probably had

more fans than we have had for the last

three years. Just having a place to go,

like the locker room, is really nice,”

Brittain said.

Brittain, who is a three-time

Heartland Conference Pitcher of the

Year, believes that the field will be

an asset to the team. The field and

the batting cages have allowed St.

Mary’s to get some much-needed

practice. Brittain’s head coach, Donna

Fields, agrees.

“It seems like so long ago since my

practice was the way I would organize

it,” Fields said. “These last two years,

our number of reps was limited because

of the amount of (practice) we were

getting at the facilities. Tears come to

my eyes when I think where we were,

and where we are now.”

The new field has provided dividends

for St. Mary’s so far. The team has

continued to knock off highly ranked

teams, including the No. 1 team in

the nation and last season’s national

champions, Central Oklahoma. The

team may very well find national

standing if their hot streak continues.

“Going into this season, I knew we

had our veteran pitchers back,” Fields

said. “When you have a great pitching

staff, that is probably half the battle. We

are having a couple of bumps in the road,

but if we can rally together and continue

to do what we are capable of doing, then

I believe we should be ranked.”

Should the team become nationally

ranked, home field could become a major

advantage as they would be battling for

yet another Heartland Conference title

and perhaps much more.

“I would hope the girls would have

the pride to perform well so that the

fans would get that hunger to come back

and watch us play,” Fields said. “We

have to be proud of what we have, and

respect the facility by taking care of it as

best as we can.”

The next home game will take place

Frb. 21. The team plays a doubleheader

against Western Oregon and Midwestern

State. They will then play Central

Okalhoma and Eastern Oklahmoa.

Vidrine also echoed her coach’s words

when it came to having pride while

playing at the new field.

“Having everyone come and be able

to watch you makes the game special,”

Vidrine said. “You want to perform for

your school, your team, your coaches

and your family. Having everyone there

is heart-warming.”

JoE rodrigUEzSTAFF WRITER

Photo by Danielle VargasFreshman, second baseman and exercise and sports science major Sydney Paredes practices her slap hitting during batting practice. The team has a total on nine cumulative homeruns on the season, after being only two games into the conference season.

The St. Mary’s softball team is currrently ranked No. 1 in the Heartland Conference, with a 2-0 conference record. The team finished 3-2 in the St. Mary’s classic tournament, and 4-1 in the Desert Stinger tournament in Las Vegas.

OPENING DAYMANIA

Going into this season, I knew we had our veteran pitchers back. When you have a great pitching staff, that is probably half the battle. We are having a couple of bumps in the road, but if we can rally together and continue to do what we are capable of doing, then I believe we should be ranked.”

donna fieLdsHead Softball Coach

Alejandra CastorenaSOPhOmORE

ExERCISE AND SPORTS SCIENCE

“I liked them, I thought it was a really neat way to bring out the enthusiasm

and school spirit within the university. I feel that, at times, we lack a lot of it, and (I liked) the way it was promoted and ad-vertised. I enjoyed it a lot, and I enjoyed being out there with close friends and sisters, it was a great time and I really

liked it.”

mario SaavedraJuNIOR

CRImINAl JuSTICE

“The baseball game was very fun right from the opening when we had the

cookout. It was nice to see a bunch of different organizations out there promot-ing athletes at St. mary’s. I always had

fun, it was an exciting game, the energy was up the entire time I was out there

and it was a great time.”

Benjamin BonnetJuNIOR

mARkETING

“For me it was awesome because it was my first baseball game. There were a lot of gifts and things like that. It was awe-

some, and there was a lot of music and a lot of people. It was good.”

Michelle KafieSENIOR

mARkETING/INFORmATION SYSTEmS mANAGEmENT

“I thought it was a great opportunity for students to go and show their school

spirit, and it was really fun.”

Compiled by and photos by Eric Rodriguez

Q: What were your thoughts on the opening baseball and softball games?

Photos by Sara E. FloresThis past Saturday students attended Rattler fitness day, which was sponsered by the Student Government Association. Activities such as Yoga and Capoeira were offered to those who attended.

RattleR FitnESS Day

15WWW.STMURATTLERNEWS.COM SPORTS

SPORTS16 WWW.STMURATTLER

NEWS.COM

When did you start playing tennis ?I started (playing) at nine. My dad played tennis at the collegiate level. It was never pushed on me in any way, but I was naturally curious because I knew that he played.

Have you played any other sport besides tennis?Not competitively, I played soccer from like five to eight but that’s really it.

What motivates you to push yourself in practice and matches?Several things really, there’s the inner drive to be the best that I can personally be. There’s the curiosity to know how far I can push my limits each time. There’s the external drive to be the best I can be for my team and coaches. And it is a part of our team chemistry to work hard every practice/match and to push those around us as well.

What has been your most memorable moment playing for the Rattlers?My most memorable moment was the Trinity Quad match from the fall semester when I could really feel the support of my teammates. Everybody was at one location, and therefore everyone had multiple teammates sitting by the court to cheer them on.

What are you most excited about this season?The prospect of winning the conference tournament in April and moving on to Regionals

Do you have any superstitions or pre-game rituals you practice?I always wear my cross necklace. It brings a sense of calmness to me when I play—Almost like a reminder that I’m playing for God a lot more than for myself.

What is the ultimate goal you hope to achieve during your collegiate career here at St. Mary’s? My goal is to be a part of a team that becomes ranked number one in the region.

MIChAel MACIelFreshman

Corporate Finance/ Managementmen’s Tennis

PITCh PeRfeCTHOTTHE

Compiled by Daniela Garcia

With a current record of 5-1, the St.

Mary’s baseball team has began on the

right foot, and works hard each day to

reach its main goals: the World Series

and a National Championship.

With a large student body and

huge fan base, the team is ready to

bring home another national title this

season. Opening day saw hundreds

of fans in the stands that were full of

life and excitement. These good vibes

contributed to the team’s first ever

win in Dickson stadium against North

Dakota’s University of Mary 7-2.

St. Edward’s continues to be the

team’s main rival. After shutting down

the Rattler’s road to a championship

last year, the men’s baseball team has

taken a new perspective.

Starting off the season ranked in the

top four of the Heartland conference,

the team is using this as fuel to move

ahead and climb the ladder of ranks.

The baseball team was the only team

in the region to have made it so far into

the last year’s post season and World

Series twice. This is used as a humble

reminder that it could certainly be

done again.

Practicing every day on the field and

hitting the weights six days a week is

preparing the team this 2014 season.

After the opening of Dickson Stadium

they now practice with lifted spirits

and motivation.

For the past two years, it had been

quite difficult to prepare, manage time

and practice.

“We have been taking full advantage

of our new facility. It has definitely

helped us, both as a team and

individually,” second baseman and

pitcher, junior business management

major, Mario Maldonado said.

Maldonado is currently leading the

team in runs scored (7) and is batting at

.321 this season.

Even though the facilities have

been the highlight of the semester,

the players and coaching staff can’t

stress how grateful they all are for the

upgrades to everything.

“The players are definitely loving the

new facility, especially playing home.

We hadn’t been at home for two full

years, and now we have all these new

facilities. It definitely is exciting to be

back here in St. Mary’s. We played at

nice parks, but logistically, the driving

back and forth was hard for the guys.

But now, we are home,” head baseball

coach, Charlie Migl said.

Still the team has had a good run

these last four years, despite the effects

of having to practice off campus.

Starting since his freshman year,

Rene Solis is living up to personal

expectations this season.

“Rene is such an outstanding person

and player. He is ultra competitive,

yet, he is a guy that would do anything

to help anybody on the team. He really

does a great job. And we’re also very

happy to have Matt McClain back. Both

guys made up really good numbers last

year,” Migl said.

Having a new team may seem like

a challenge. In fact, it is, but Migl is

making new changes for the better of

the team.

“Mario Maldonado is our second

baseman, but the first weekend, we used

him as our closer. He started since his

freshman year, and he has been a fine

player. We are going to use him in a dual-

role: pitching and playing second base.

We are definitely excited to see how this

works out. Another guy we had last year

is Alvaro “Al” Gonzalez. He played third

base for us, and will be playing some

shortstop. We think Al is going to be a

tremendous player before it’s all over

with. He didn’t have the best weekend,

the first week hitting, but we definitely

look for big things from him. We are

also very happy with our transfers, like

Scotty Jones, Drake Roberts and Brooks

Orton,” Migl said.

While many team members

are focusing on improvement and

opportunities, there are six seniors

that are slowly realizing that

their baseball collegiate careers

are slowly coming to an end.

Adding to their nostalgic journeys is

their drive to end their baseball years on

a high note, and gain one more chance

to earn a national title.

“I never hold anything back when I

pitch, and just because it’s possibly my

last season won’t change anything,”

senior left-handed pitcher and criminal

justice major Rene Solis, Senior said.

Solis is currently leading the team in

ERA with 2.25, and wins as a pitcher (2).

“I’ve enjoyed the journey I’ve taken.

Made lots of friends, grew as a ball

player and a person. I’m happy with the

fun I’ve had, but won’t really be happy

until we’re the last team standing at the

end of the year. As long as we win games

as a team, we’ll get there,” Solis said.

The team will play their next

game on Friday, Feb. 21 at Dickson

stadium against Rogers State, who

is currently ranked No. 2 in the

Heartland conference.

The team is currently ranked at No. 3 in the heartland Conference behind Oklahoma Christian and Rogers State. Pitchers, Nathan humpal, matt mclain and Rene Solis have been dominating on the mount, leading the team to success early on in the season.

Photo by Sara E. Flores

Senior pitcher and exercise and sports science major, Rene Solis is currently leading the team in eRA with a 2.7 per game. Solis allowed only two earned runs during the teams first home game of the season, where he pitched the entire game.

I’ve enjoyed the journey I’ve taken. Made

lots of friends, grew as a ball player, and a person. I’m happy with the fun I’ve had, but won’t really be happy until we’re the last team standing at the end of the year. As long as we win games as a team, we’ll get there.

rene soLisSenior, Pitcher

baseball

Photos by Sara E. Flores

Senior pitcher Nathan humpal is currently hitting 2.86 per game. On the defensive end, humpal contributed to the team’s 2-0 win over University of Mary Sunday on feb. 9, where he pitched his first shutout game of his career.

dEnissE zAmorASTAFF WRITER

Photo by Kyra Littlejohn

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