Recent news
Catch a wiff
Cassandra Bravo April 2014
SAN ANTONIO, TX- Absolem, the blue caterpillar from Alice in Wonderland, is seen smoking hookah throughout various parts of the movie. Low and behold it is a very popular trend among college adults.
Aside from Sultans, Karms, and The Raven, there is a new hookah lounge that doens't require driving to. Blue Hookah Lounge recently opened up right next to the Our Lady of the Lake Convent on 24th Street. It's a small dainty location with room and various comfortable space to enjoy the flavored tobacco substance.
There are over twenty flavors at Blue Hookah Lounge. They vary from drink type to exotic flavors. The owner, Jameel Alslaw, will make you feel right at home with his hospitality.
Upon your first visit to the lounge, you will get a complimentary free cup of chai tea. He also give a student discount with valid college ID.
Hours of opereation vary according to Alslaw. Give it a puff, you just might get hooked!
If you want to know more about Blue Hookah Lounge call, 210-452-1783 or at thebluehookahlounge@gmail.com. Blue Hookak Lounge is located at 619 SW 24th Street.
Higher than most
Alejndra Guzman April 2014
SAN ANTONIO—Our Lady of the Lake University, OLLU, student smokes two bowls of marijuana a day to alleviate her pain.
“I do not smoke to get high,” Jane said. “I smoke the amount I know I need to be able to work and function as "normally" as possible.”
Jane, the student who asked to remain anonymous to protect her identity, says her life has changed since smoking marijuana for medicinal purposes. Jane was born with a rare disorder known as venous malformation or VM. Her condition has caused a blood tumor on the arch of her right foot.
Jane’s life has been greatly affected by this rare disorder causing her to smoke constantly for the past five years in order to get through her days as a student.
“When I first smoked marijuana, at the age of 16, it was for social purposes. I then realized the effects it started to have on me and my nerve pain,” Jane said. “Once I smoke marijuana the pain starts to decrease immediately.”
Venous malformations are described as “a bluish lesion that’s the result of improperly formed veins,” according to Boston Children’s Hospital. The veins have a thin wall caused by a lack of smooth muscle cells. VMs can appear at any time of a person’s life: childhood, adolescence or adulthood.
Jane has undergone a total of twelve surgeries since she was 7 years old. These surgeries were supposed to remove the tumor as well as decompressing the nerves in her foot. VMs caused Jane her childhood.
“I had to sit out at PE and recess at school every day,” Jane said. “I could never play sports, go to school functions, or participate in extracurricular activities.”
Jane, a Corpus Christy native, was unable to receive treatment in her city since this is such a rare disorder. There is a limited amount of hospitals in the nation who have the proper training and technology to perform the required treatment.
Jane and her family soon moved to Colorado where she would begin the treatment. The tumor decreased in size over a two-year period with the help of these treatments. Soon Jane began with chronic pains.
“I couldn’t walk, sit, stand or do any physical activity without pain,” Jane said.
At the age of 9, Jane and her family searched for the one million dollar answer to their question. They did not understand why she was in pain constantly until new lab results were heard. The treatments in Colorado only complicated things once more. The tibial nerve in her foot was compressed by scar tissue caused by the earlier treatments. Another surgery would be required to undo the damage on the nerve.
“I couldn’t walk, sit, stand or do any physical activity without pain,” Jane said.
At this point the only hope for Jane and her family was Boston Children’s Hospital in Boston Massachusetts. Jane, now 12 years old, hoped this surgery would help her get better.
“We are studying venous malformations to learn why they grow and return after treatment and we are attempting to develop drugs to treat patients with these lesions.” Arin Greene, MD, MMSc, Boston Children's Hospital Department of Plastic and Oral Surgery.”
“It helped with my pain levels for about two years but then started hurting on a daily basis again,” Jane said. “I have been all over the country looking for doctors to help alleviate my pain.”
Not only has Jane looked for a doctor to cure or control her pain she has searched for medicines to help her get through her day. “I became immune to many medications very young that they ended up not helping me out in the long run,” Jane said. This is her biggest obstacle causing her to constantly update her medicine, empty her pockets and build a tolerance for them.
Jane, 21, with 3 semesters left to graduate from Our Lady of the Lake University with a Social Work degree plans on growing and learning from her experiences to help children who live with chronic illnesses and pain.
“As someone who has personal experience with pain, I feel as though I am more understanding and empathetic towards others.”
Jane is one of many examples in our country who suffer from chronic pains and depends on marijuana to help ease her pain but are limited to the use unlike other states that has already legalized the use of marijuana both socially and medically.
Jane continues to fight and search for a treatment or medicine that will help her live her daily life as normal as possible but for now she relies on marijuana to do the task and allow her to be higher than most.
Bill Me Later
Sydney Herrera April 2014
When it comes to college, every student knows how expensive tuition can be. How far would you go to make sure that you get into the college of your dreams and can afford every cent needed?
The story of a Freshman at Duke University caught the eye of many people around the world.
Belle Knox is a student at Duke University during the day, and a porn star at night. Her story goes to say that she does porn to pay for her tuition and other expenses she needs to contiune her education.
Scholarships, loans, and grants are the normal use for paying tution, but since the story aired many others have came out and said different things they do that help them pay for tuition or any expenses they may need during their college years.
A volleyball players at Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio, Tx has shared that she Go-Go Dances at night.
Briana Murray is currently a freshman at OLLU and has a scholarship to play on the volleyball team. At a prestigious university such as Our Lady of the Lake, much more funds are needed to fully cover her tuition. During an interview, she stated, "I make over $400 dollars a night and it sure helps in contributing to my expensive tuition." She also commented on the Duke University story by saying, "That's how she decides to pay for her education. I dance, no one touches me and I would never do anything I'm not comofortable with."
How do you feel about this story? How do you pay for your tution? Leave us a comment or reply on Twitter @SideTrackedSN
March 19th was no ordinary hump day at Our Lady of the Lake University (OLLU). Mass Communication students were excited when they heard their afternoon classes were cancelled to welcome a prestigious guest speaker to the university.
John Quinones visited the campus to speak to the communications students and offer some words of wisdom and encouragement.
“Journalists are the candles in the darkest corners,” said Quinones “to illuminate the truth.”
Quinones is a native of San Antonio and often visited OLLU as apart of the Upward Bound program. Currently he is the ABC anchor of What Would You Do?, co-anchor of Primetime and an eight time Emmy winner.
He talked about the obstacles he faced being a Spanish speaking Latino in an all American radio station. “At nighttime when everyone was out of the office I would go in to record my voice.” Said Quinones.
After speaking, Quinones open up the floor for students to ask the burning question on their minds. Student from all over the room asked questions pertaining to his career. Senior Alicia Barerra asked Quinones if he believed there was a good foundation for women journalists in society today.
“Definitely! The key to be a good reporter is being quick, short, concise, and effective. No matter your gender or ethnicity. “Don’t talk to the movers and shakers, talk to the moved and shaken.” said Quinones.
After Quinones finished his speech, the communication students quickly received their autographs, pictures, and videos from Quinones. Before taking his departure, Quinones took pictures of the group and added it onto his Twitter feed.
The mass communication students walked away receiving more than just a picture, they got the best advice from the greatest mentor. He helped sprout their dreams, the same ones he dreamed once, a long time ago.
What Would You Do? airs Friday evening's at 9/8c on ABC. Check your local listings and don’t miss out!
Worth a Tweet
Cassandra Bravo April 2014
San Antonio—Sultans Hookah Bar owner, Haitham Werfelli opened his doors on January 4, 2006. Werfelli’s roots played a dynamic role as he started his first family business.
“It’s part of our culture,” Werfelli said. If you go overseas we don’t have clubs or anything like that. It’s all coffee shops with hookah.”
A hookah is composed of a hose, the stem, the base, a bulb and a tray. Students are using hookah bars as a relaxation and focus zone.
“I bring something with me to do or I just sit here for a while,” hookah smoker Sunny Patel said. “On Fridays and Saturdays I’ll just come and hang out with friends.”
Werfelli offers a variety of flavors to choose from along with college discounts making this a more modern lounge and easier on wallets.
Students are using these modern venues as these water vapors include a variety of flavors at a cheap price but how many puffs can you really take? Master Certified Tobacco Cessation Specialist, Claudia Voges, talks about the health risks.
“Nicotine is the addiction problem and we know that it’s not the problem that causes death, Vogues said. “It’s the chemical substances that are in those products that are leading to cause diseases like cancer. The other thing that hookah has that cigarette smoking does not have is the use of sharing in a social environment think about the diseases that get passed along in that and you probably experience that your risk for diseases goes up. Where in smoking you’re using your cigarette yourself but because hookah is a lot of times shared in a social environment you’re at risk for getting herpes, tuberculosis and hepatitis.”
Flavored molasses is the second trend behind e-cigarettes making it 2014 society’s ‘it’ hobby.
Next time you’re at a hookah bar stop and think about your lungs.
Cancer, Tuberculosis and Herpes
Alejandra Guzman April 2014
Ever thought about studying abroad to exotic places like Barcelona, France or Japan?
Maxime Glorieux, native from Lille, France, is an exchange student at Our Lady of the Lake University. Glorieux arrived at OLLU January of 2014 as a Mass Communication major.
Traveling out of the country has its benefits. Glorieux and his friends envisioned Texas “for having horses, guns and Stetsons.”
Glorieux wanted to see what Texas was really like in comparison to the stereotypes formed in his native country.
Education is key. Getting the opportunity to study abroad broadens your horizons like it did for Glorieux. “I’m happy to be here at OLLU just for a semester,” Glorieux said. “It’s a very good school.”
Attending OLLU as opposed to the Institute of Communication Strategies and Technologies (ISTC) at the Catholic University of Lille has pushed Glorieux to new perspectives.
“The difference is we don’t have much homework and here you learn by yourself and I think that’s a good thing because you learn independence,” Glorieux said.
With independence comes professionalism a trait he said he learned from his professors and the atmosphere they teach in.
If your parents are concerned introduce them to Ellen and George, Glorieux’s parents. His parents encouraged him to leave and study abroad even though it meant their son leaving the house for the first time.
Parents are usually concerned with their son/daughter leaving the house for a few hours let alone to a new country. Ellen and George, on the other hand, allowed Glorieux to travel and study only to help him pursue his dreams with the goal to one day fulfill his career.
“Once I graduate in three years I want to work in music for bands doing communication for bands,” Glorieux said.
Education has its perks when encountered with new experiences. In Glorieux’s trip to OLLU he met the brothers of Sigma Theta Epsilon, (STE) during the university’s Club Rush event. Glorieux pledged for the fraternity throughout the semester and became a brother on April 6, 2014.
“Taking this back to France will be a great experience,” Glorieux said.
New experiences help shape and stimulate personality as education is enhanced. Glorieux is one of the many examples of how education in a foreign country can be an insightful journey.
If interested Study Abroad Programs/Study Abroad Opportunities visit the website at www.StudyAbroad.com encourages students by quoting “Search our directory of study abroad programs, find scholarships, follow study abroad student bloggers or use our student guide to help you prepare for your study abroad adventure.What are you waiting for? Take the leap and study abroad!”
You can read more at http://www.studyabroad.com/#ixzz2zdJQdtkL
What are you waiting for?!
Grab your passport
Alejandra Guzman April 2014
SAN ANTONIO, TX- April is a joyous month, one of sacrifice and celebration according to some churches. For junior Viviana Rodriguez, April is a reminder of the hurdle she was forced to overcome when she was diagnosed with papillary thyroid cancer in 2011.
What turned into a simple physical actual changed into a nightmare. The cancer began at her thyroid and spread to her lymph nodes.
“They did a sonogram and they didn’t know what It was.” Rodriguez said. “They did a scan, and finally they did a biopsy. The pathologist thought it was lymphoma and that’s what scared me the most!”
Papillary thyroid cancer greatly affects the metabolism, blood pressure, and heart rate in the body. With proper care, treatment and even surgery the cancer can be removed. Two weeks after her high school graduation, Rodriguez went into surgery to remove the abnormal lump, lymph nodes, and two parathyroids.
“I had the stitches and two drainage holes and I felt like I had to protect my right side. I was always covering it up because I didn’t want anyone to see,” said Rodriguez. “I had to have someone with me like all the time!”
After surgery she had to take a radioiodine pill to kill off any other possible cancer cells. For three days, Rodriguez was like a prisoner due to the strength of the radiation.
“Anything I took into the room with me those three days I had to leave in there because it was basically contaminated,” said Rodriguez.
It took Rodriguez three months to finally get back to her norm. Eight months later on February 2, 2012 she received the news that her papillary cancer was gone. She currently is still taking a medication to maintain her metabolism. She has a scar on the right side of her neck.
“I remember when my doctor diagnosed me; I was scared I wasn’t going to recovery in time for college. I didn’t want to stay in Laredo an extra semester. I was ready to move on.” Rodriguez.
She is finishing off her third year at Our Lady of the Lake University and studying to get a bachelors degree in special education.
“I forget I have a scar a lot of the time, but it’s a reminder of that chapter of my life I went through.”
Scar TIssue
-Cassandra Bravo April 2014
SAN ANTONIO, TX - April 24th is one of the most festive days for college students in San Antonio. Fiesta is here and in full swing, what will you expect and who will join you to this fun night? Janelle Solis gives us her insight on what this night will look like for her.
Fiesta is an annual spring festival held in San Antonio honoring the battles of the Alamo and San Jancito. Fiesta is the biggest festival in San Antonio. Night in Old San Antonio, better known as NIOSA is an event held by Fiesta.
A volleyball player, Janelle Solis, 19, had much planned for her Night in Old San Antonio tonight. Janelle stated that, “Tonight is college night for fiesta! My roommate and a couple of friends from St. Marys are all getting together so we can enjoy tonight!” She also went on to say, “It’s always a lot of fun when I go with my family so I’m excited to enjoy it with my friends. With finals coming next week and the stress hitting hard, this will be a well needed night”
As Janelle Solis plans to head out to NIOSA tonight, what are your plans? Will you take a break from these finals and explore a Night in Old San Antonio?
A Night in Old San Antonio
Sydney Herrera
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