the University of texas at El Paso · February 9, 2012
prospector the
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miners snap losing streak with 64 - 55 win over tulsa
SPortS 10
BACK On TRaCK
UTEP in full affect
Women’s basketball
redesign
lacy kicked off team
Miners return home to face Marshall
By WilliAm vEGA The Prospector
illUSTRaTiOn BY DiEgO BURCiaga/ The Prospector
By AdAm mArtÍNEz The Prospector The UTEP campus is in the process of receiving a facelift. The proposed projects of the university’s master plan are making headway as students, faculty and staff navigate through the construction. “About a year and a half ago we began the process of developing
an update to UTEP’s master plan,” said Cynthia Villa, vice-president of Business Affairs. “A whole lot of time was spent interviewing people across campus, a combination of faculty, staff, students, alumni and community members, so that we could get input from everyone. What they like, what they don’t like, what they’d like to see and what are
the problems? As a result of all that analysis we developed this plan.” The growing number of students and the need for more space and better facilities are among the issues addressed in the university’s master plan. With the new Chemistry and Computer Science Building slated to open March 2, the Liberal Arts building will be up for redesign, as well as a large facility to replace Bell
and Benedict Halls. In addition, pedestrian-friendly sidewalks and an abundance of open-green space are in the works. “UTEP needs to pay far more attention to the civil structure of the campus,” Villa said. “What that means is the open space between buildings such as plazas, parks, gathering areas and the pedestrian experience.
see PlAN on page 5
campus
Professor helps develop skin cells By AmBEr WAttS The Prospector For the last 10 years, Thomas Boland, professor of metallurgical and materials engineering, has been collaborating with several Texas health institutions to help develop new ways to grow skin cells for burn victims and those with foot ulcers due to diabetes. The project’s goal, Boland said, is to re-grow tissues outside of the body for implantation, which means donors or skin graphing is not required for this new treatment.
“What we do is we make the scaffold at the same time as we add the cells so we have cells embedded very deep inside this matrix just like it would be on your regular skin, and we add channels in there, which later develop into a vascular channel,” Boland said. The scaffold is what the new cells attach themselves to, allowing the cells to develop in the vascular channel, which are the blood vessels. This way the new skin cell will attach itself to the existing skin. Boland’s partners in the project are Providence Hospital, Texas Tech
see SKiN on page 5
Following a four-game suspension, freshman forward Chrishauna Parker will return to the team while freshman guard Ryah Lacy was kicked off, according to UTEP Athletics. Head coach Keitha Adams made the announcement Feb. 7 at practice. Adams originally ruled the suspension to the two of them as indefinite for breaking team rules. The two were allegedly involved in an incident along with senior forward Gloria Brown at Miner Village Jan. 20 but Adams never acknowledged that was the reason the two were suspended. Parker and Lacy were allegedly cited for drug paraphernalia in their dorm room but the charges were dropped by campus police because they said it was an improper search. At a Jan. 24 practice, when asked about the incident, Adams said, “the two players that were involved in the situation were suspended.” Parker was suspended for one game Nov. 19 against Houston Baptist for academic reasons. She has started in eight of the 17 games she has played in, averaging 5.8 points and four rebounds per game. Lacy played in 13 games and did not start any. She was averaging 1.8 points and 1.2 assists in 12.3 minutes each outing.
Next game
Special to The Prospector
Thomas Boland, professor of metallurgical and materials engineering, worked with several Texas health institutions to help develop new ways to grow skin cells.
Parker returned to practice Feb. 7 and may possibly make her return against the Marshall Thundering Herd Feb. 9 at the Don Haskins Center. While the Miners are on a 10-game winning streak, the Thundering Herd have lost six of their last seven games to stand at 4-5 in Conference-USA play. Still, UTEP is not taking them lightly and have revenge on their
see BASKEtBAll on page 10
PAGE 2
WHaT DO
you think?
perspectives February 9, 2012
This week’s poll question:
Does UTEP need more on-campus housing?
editor-in-chief Aaron martinez, 747-7477
vote at WWW.UTEPPROSPECTOR.COM
column
construction causing more trouble than its worth
—18—
Throughout high school, there was never a day that class was not interrupted by loud tractors or saws. For the sake of “progress,” construction was everywhere. When I graduated, I understood that UTEP had a lot of construction underway, but since it was a much larger campus I figured I would not have to deal with loud disruptions in class. I eventually learned that was not the case. Last semester, I had a class in the physical sciences building, and right next door there was construction going on in the engineering building. I felt so bad for my professor, because of the construction he had to yell over the loud machinery so that he could keep our attention. At that time the construction was very annoying, but it was still manageable. Now, I find myself being late to class because of the construction. One of the worst incidents occurred when I came back to the campus after lunch and had to be at my 1:30 p.m. class in the Liberal Arts Building. I
to class and got a lecture from my instructor about how rude it is to walk in 15 minutes late. Since that embarrassing incident, I find myself cutting my lunches short, getting up earlier and walking instead of relying on shuttles (since they go slower because of the construction) to make sure I get to class on time. I really hope all of the construction on campus will be worth it once it’s completed, but right now it doesn’t seem like it will, not for me at least. jasmine Aguilera may be reached at prospector@utep.edu
AccUrAcy WAtch
September 5, 2011
The prospector
was carpooling with a friend that day and he parked his car in the P-4 parking lot. As it turns out, one of the two entrances to the parking lot were under construction and we had to circle the campus again because we had just passed the open entrance. Once we finally found a parking spot, I had to walk up the stairs and I decided to turn right on Rim Road thinking I could cut through the buildings and walk up Hawthorne Street to get to liberal arts. I passed the Business Administration Building so that I could take a short cut through the physical sciences building, but the entrance I was looking for was closed because of construction. So then I had to turn around and take a different entrance into the engineering building (which I don’t know very well) and once I finally found my way to the other side, I exited the building thinking all I had to do was walk up Hawthorne. Instead, I found a fence blocking the street, again, because of construction. I ended up having to walk down Hawthorne Street towards the Academic Services Building to get around the construction, which was taking place on the entire street that day, and then all the way back up towards the Liberal Arts Building. I finally arrived
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jASmiNE AGUilErA
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letter to the editor
the math behind the tuition increase Me: What if we discuss tuition DECREASE? I think the university or SGA... B: Who is that again? A: Student Government Association. B: Oh, we have that? A: Anyway, the university or SGA should do a committee and public forums to discuss possible places where the university could cut back on spending without decreasing quality and make it PUBLIC. B: Like that’s ever going to happen... There will be lots of numbers in this article, but trust me some good old arithmetic is all that is needed to understand. Trust me, it is worth the read.
the
prospectorstaff Editor-in-Chief: Aaron Martinez Layout Editor: Diego Burciaga Copy Editor/Assistant Managing Editor: Jasmine Aguilera Photo Editor: JUstin Stene Entertainment Editor: Krystal Oblinger Sports Editor: William Vega Multi-Media Editor: Alejandro Alba Photographers: Greg E. Castillo, Veronica Chaparro Daniel Guzman, Candie Herrera, Audrey Russell Staff Reporters: Jasmine Aguilera, Adam Martinez, Krystal Oblinger, Daniel OrnelasFrankie Rodriguez Correspondents: Alejandro Alba, Celia Aguilar, Natalia Aguilar, Jerry Aldaz, Diana Arrieta, Rusty Burns, Christian Guerrero, Daniel Ornelas, Daniel Perez, Kristopher G. Rivera, Andres Rodriguez, Fernando A. Sanchez, Abril Ramos, Amber Watts Cartoonist: Blake A. Lanham Asst. Director-Advertising: Veronica Gonzalez
Let’s look at the current tuition increase proposal. I wanted to call it debate, but it’s not really a debate now is it?
Let’s look at the math: tuition is increased by 2.6 percent for undergraduates which amounts to $73 per semester for 12 hours. So lets say spring+fall=$146. Now let’s throw summer in there which makes it spring+summer+fall=$219. So for 36 hours at UTEP during 201213 students would pay $219 extra, but then there is a $250 rebate for the 2013-14 academic year. $250$219=$31. So student pays $219 in 2012-13 and university gives student $250 in 2013-14, right? The university just lost $31 for this one student, that is kind of odd isn’t it? Obviously, a senior would not see any of the rebate because he/ she graduated, UNLESS they go
vol. 97, no. 28 Ad Representatives Eric Bretado, Sal Guerrero, Cynthia K. Lopez, Abril Ramos, Fernando Sanchez, Student Ad Manager: Marissa Montilla Ad Layout Manager: Esteban Marquez Ad Designers: Esteban Marquez, Carina Sanchez, Javier Villanueva, William Vizcarra Accounting Specialist: Isabel Castillo Student Assistant: Denise Heredia Classifieds: Priscilla Apodaca Student Publications Director: Kathleen Flores Editorial Adviser: Lourdes Cardenas Administrative Secretary: Marcela Luna
to graduate school in UTEP, then they see 1% increase since graduate school went up 3.6% from 2011-2012.
Back to the numbers. So the student receives $250 rebate minus the $219 of the increase, leaving $31 dollars of “profit” for 2013-2014. Let us say this student does the 36 hours again. We add spring+summer+fall equaling $219 again. But the student gained $31 from the $250 rebate from 2012-2013. So $219-$31=$188. Wow, this student actually only paid $188 for these two academic years of 2012-13 and 2013-14. Reality check. Most students will not be able to follow this path. Most students that I know at UTEP can only afford about the 12 hours a semester and then only take about one or two classes in the summer because they work;
SPEaK YOUR MinD
keeping them shy of the 36 required to get the rebate. Students will not get a rebate and will actually pay a cumulative $292 extra for 48 hours at UTEP in the years 2012-14. Then in four years a student without the rebate will at least pay $584 for 96 hours. I’m going to go out on a limb here, but another sad reality is that there will probably be talks of an increase similar to this one in the year 2014 (notice that the current increase is for the academic years 2012-13 and 2013-14.) Maybe another 2.6 percent increase? Then a 2.6 percent increase in 2012 becomes a 5.2 percent increase in 2014 as compared to 2012. This becomes a slippery step fallacy; yes I just made it up (it’s kind of funny). In contrast, many students hold minimum wage jobs and the minimum wage has remained steady
since 2009. So an increase of any magnitude is significant. The university and, yes, SGA tells us the small numbers because, well actually I don’t know why SGA doesn’t tell us since they are our government, but the university doesn’t tell us the cumulative effect and ramifications of these “small” increases. If the push is to make students graduate in four years (which it might be), then there might be strategies better suited to motivate students to do so. But that takes time and effort and probably a deadline from the Texas Board of Regents. B: (Scoffs) Yeah, that’s not gonna happen. – Reyes Espinoza, senior double major in theatre performance and philosophy
Submit a letter to the editor!
letters will be edited for clarity and brevity. letters over 250 words are subject to editing to fit available space. Please include full name, street address and telephone number and e-mail address, plus major, classification and/or title if applicable. Address and phone number will be used for verification only. Write to 105 E. Union, e-mail prospector@utep.edu, call 747-7477 or fax to 747-8031. The Prospector (USPS 448-020) is published by the Student Publications Board, 105 E. Union, 500 W. University Ave., El Paso, TX 79968. During Fall & Spring semester The Prospector is published twice weekly: Tuesdays and Thursdays, except holidays and when classes are not in session, once a week on Wednesday during the summer session. Subscription rates: $20 per year, $4 taken from fees to pay for student copies. Periodicals postage paid at El Paso, TX. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Prospector, 105 E. Union, El Paso, Texas 79968-0622. The Prospector is not responsible for claims made by advertisers. Additional policy information can be obtained by calling The Prospector at 747-5161. Opinions expressed in The Prospector are not necessarily those of the university.
PAGE3NEWS
THE PROSPECTOR February 9, 2012
National
Food stamps can actually help, rather than hurt, the economy, advocates say By Elijah Herington Scripps Howard Foundation Wire WASHINGTON – Contrary to recent comments made by Republican presidential hopefuls about the overuse of food stamps, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) does serve both as an economic and social safety net. Or, at least that’s what those at Feb. 2 news conference, held by Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., said. Each of five speakers, who included one former participant, Tara Marks, agreed that without SNAP many more would be going hungry and more still would be unemployed. “Food stamps kept 14.5 percent of Americans from going hungry,” DeLauro said. “Let us not tamper with it, as it is in fact an economic safety net.” A Center for American Progress economics expert, Donna Cooper, told of the effects the program has on a community, including more income to local stores. Grocery stores that accept food stamps expand their reach – meaning they have more customers who pay more money. Furthermore, she said those who are interested in cutting spending for SNAP simply do not understand that it would hurt entire communities. “A cut in food stamps will reduce store hours in areas where people rely on food stamps,” she said. When store hours are reduced, weekly income is reduced. And when
Elijah Herington / SHFWire
Tara Marks speaks about her personal experiences before and after she began receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits. Listening are Donna Cooper, left, and Elise Gould joined her to support the program at a Feb. 2 press conference. income shrinks, it’s inevitable that more will fall under the poverty level and become eligible for food stamps. More applicants could mean more need for government spending. In addition, Cooper said hunger in the United States account for nearly $167 billion extra in medical expenses and lost productivity per year. While Marks, 36, of Pittsburgh, agreed food stamps play a vital role in community and national economics, she spoke more from the personal side of the aisle. “I went a weekend without food while my son ate,” she said of her time
before applying for SNAP. “I’m here to make sure that more families can access food stamps.” Marks was earning her college degree when she used food stamps. She now is co-director of Just Harvest, which works to end hunger. Other speakers included David Beckman, president of Bread for the World, and Elise Gould, an Economic Policy Institute expert. Elijah Herington, senior journalism major at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville, is an intern at the Scripps Howard Foundation’s Semester in Washington program. He may be reached at prospector@utep.edu.
PAGE4NEWS
THE PROSPECTOR February 9, 2012
Question of the week
Has the construction on and around campus affected your commute? Photos by Justin Stene
Rey granada
Alissa foster
“Yeah, definitely. It’s ongoing because of all the work on the streets, it has affected my parking lot.”
“Yes, Now I can’t ride my bike from the dorms down University Avenue anymore and that’s my easiest way to get to class.”
Junior education major
Junior nursing major
jonathan torres
samantha wells
“Not really, where I park in P2 its not affected by it, as well as where I go to class.”
“I live on campus and take the bus to and from the gym as well as to class and it slows down the bus route.”
Junior mechanical engineering major
Junior business marketing major
robert lucero
Freshman mathematics major
“No, not at all. Since Hawthorn Street has been finished it’s easier.”
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jorge viramontes
“Yes, it definitely slows it down because when campus backs up, every other route to school does.”
“No, I actually walk into campus because I park outside of campus.”
Senior nursing major
Freshman mechanical engineering major
Denise munday-melton
liz walsh
“It’s not affecting my commute because I live on the west side and come down N. Mesa (Street) nand turn on Sun Bowl (Drive) so I never see it.”
“No, but walking around campus has been affected by it.”
Senior nursing major
Junior special education major
PAGE5NEWS
THE PROSPECTOR February 9, 2012
Greg Castillo / The Prospector
Numerous construction projects can be seen around and on the UTEP campus. Many of the projects will aim to make the university safe for pedestrians. Plan from page 1 According to Villa, the plan also
What we heard loud and clear from
everyone on campus was that this is an asphalt jungle.”
SKIN from page 1 University and health professionals out of Austin, Texas are some of the. Boland predicts diabetes patients with foot ulcers are likely going to be the largest market for this therapy, but he also states that it will also prevent patients from having to receive so many treatments because the previous implanted skin cells die, as occurs in other treatments such as skin graphing. “We try to the use the patient’s own cells, that way they won’t be rejected and they won’t need as many treatments,” Boland said. Another part of this treatment is the use of a HP inkjet printer to precisely position plates to distribute the substances needed for nurturing the cells, then position those plates and then add cells to the mix. Laura Bosworth, co-founder and CEO of Tevido Biodevices, which is an early-stage start-up business that does technology research for medical device products, has also been collaborating with Boland on the project. She said that the printer is the same one a student would print school papers with, but the printer has been modified somewhat to use
calls for a core campus void of vehicular traffic; in order to facilitate a more pleasant and safer pedestrian experience.
proteins, gels and cells for wound healing. “Once we get to a place where we can get funding because it’s a medical device, it’s extremely expensive to bring it to market, you know multiple millions of dollars, and we have to go through full federal regulatory such as FDA,” Bosworth said. The complete process of evolving this therapy into something the FDA will approve of could take five to eight years, Bosworth said. “Right now, we’re planning on testing on mice,” Boland said. “After mice, let’s say this shows an improvement over existing technology, we’ll probably go into pigs.” Because a pig’s skin is very similar to human skin, in terms of the biology, Boland said that if pig testing looks good they might eventually go into human trials. Herman Castro, a sophomore civil engineering student, said that the treatment is great because there are no transplants or pulling from other sources. “This would be very beneficial for everybody because it would help a lot of people,” Castro said. “There’s just a lot of fires and just a lot of incidents
“We want to move them to the perimeter, which is the reason for the parking garages,” Villa said. “It (the master plan) suggests we need to widen sidewalks, provide shading devices, which are needed in this climate, especially during the summer months.” Hawthorne Street is currently undergoing this change. Soon a portion of the Hawthorne Street between Rim Road and University Avenue will be converted to a pedestrian pathway. The plan also suggests the same for Wiggins Road by creating a pedestrian street complete with a plaza connecting University Library and the College of Health Sciences building. According to Villa, this phase is expected to begin in March. “There are going to be challenges that come with it,” Villa said. “It’s going to require maintenance; we’re going to have to think about how you make it safe and secure. But it’s going to be something that we are going to embrace.” The main thoroughfare across campus, University Avenue, will remain open but a portion of
where people die because they don’t have the chance and then this kind of research saves lives.” Castro said that the skin cell treatment by Boland is “beneficial” because instead of killing animals for graphs or taking donors from anybody else, the technology and the individual needing the skin provides everything. Boland’s skin-growth printing treatment bridges current technologies to the future of technology in health treatments, as a new and possibly better choice for patients. “In our case, our skin growth would have a better option than what’s currently available,” Boland said. Amber Watts may be reached at prospector@utep.edu.
Hawthorne Street to Kerby Avenue will be removed for the expansion of Memorial Triangle. The Geology lawn will extend over to the Union Buildings and will be a space for students to gather and for special events such as Minerpalooza. Most students are enthusiastic about the changes, even though the construction causes congestion and delays. “I know it’s inconvenient for students sometimes but I think the ultimate picture is going to bring a lot to this university,” Ronni Friend, a senior majoring in psychology, said. “It’s tough to deal with now but I enjoy that we are growing and building.” Alexandra Rebollosa, senior computer science major, hopes the
all the construction will be useful to everyone on campus. “If it’s just to look pretty and they are going to be charging us more tuition, than it’s not worth it,” Rebollosa said. The 2014 Commission, a group of alumni, community and campus members in charge of planning the celebration of UTEP’s Centennial, have embraced the plan and taken the lead in raising funds for the various projects. Dubbed the “Campus Transformation Project,” the commission has pledged to leave a lasting legacy at the university. “The master plan has really opened our eyes to the possibilities. It’s exciting and a great vision,” Villa said. Adam Martínez may be reached at prospector@utep.edu.
PAGE 6
THE PROSPECTOR February 9, 2012
our view February 9, 2011
editor Justin Stene, 747-7446
Lute: Medieval musical medley Photos by Justin Stene
“LUTE!” follows Blondel on his journey to find the king and perform for him. On the way, familiar faces from past literature pop up left and right in attempts to bring alusion and comedic relief. Written by Sir Tim Rice, lyricist for films such as “Aladdin,” the musical takes place during the medieval times.
PAGE 7
TElEViSiOn nEWS: Producers of ‘House’ announced Feb. 8 that the show will see its final episode in May.
entertainment February 9, 2012
editor Krystal oblinger, 747-7442
Fashion
column
thE Art oF
Label Leasing rated XXX for Sex By KryStAl oBliNGEr The Prospector
Special to The Prospector
Websites offer frugal shoppers chances to rent designer labels Editors note: this is the last part of a three-part series examing fashion on a budget.
By EilEEN lozANo The Prospector Tuition, books, parking stickers, notebooks and the amount of gas add up even before the semester starts. Trying to juggle it all and still look fashionable can be a struggle. As college students have a tendency to buy first day of school outfits, first date outfits, they also need to look for friday night outfits and outfits that will help them to look professional to future employers. “I usually do buy new outfits for special occasions because I feel like I need to look especially good,” said Cynthia Cazares, senior digital media production major. “Nothing I’ve already worn feels like its good enough because I’ve worn it already.” The hunting begins from store to store in an attempt to score something phenomenal, but usually most people end up at a department store way out of budget and only have eyes for the $90-one-timewear outfit. However, websites such as WearTodayGoneTomorrow.com, RenttheRunway.com and BagBorrowSteal.com are bending the rules and bringing designer duds and accessories to the masses. According to “Bag Borrow Steal’s” website, the group is often referred to by their clients as the “Netflix for handbags” and offer their members “access
to over 3,000 styles of authentic luxury handbags and jewelry, including accessories from renowned designers such as Gucci, Chanel, Prada, Louis Vuitton, Coach, Vera Wang and Stephen Dweck.” “I would love to wear a Luca Luca dress for one night, I can show off to friends and impress people I don’t even know. I’m on a serious budget and this is a service I can afford.” said Iris Lopez, junior multimedia journalism major. Here’s how it works: all rental sites have a free membership that people are able to sign up for. Once registered an individual can immediately start shopping. Cazares said that with the pile up of all her expenses, she occasionally put her necessities aside so she can be well dressed, which she later realizes was a poor choice. “Sometimes it does get a little expensive,” Cazares said. “I know I should wear something I already have but I always end up wanting something new. I do make sacrifices for new outfits instead of buying something I need for school…I end up regretting that later.” After the selection is made, one can reserve a dress in two sizes, just in case the first choice doesn’t fit. These are designer outfits so sizing can run small, but these groups have a sizing chart available online. “Rent the Runway,” offers a 1-800 number that directs its members to a stylist to assist with any sizing needs. All garments are sent out cleaned and pressed before they arrive at the doorstep, after paying the standard shipping. Currently the site
caters to a female audience; men being able to rent designer threads are still a work in progress. Personal accessories such as earrings are guaranteed to be cleaned by professionals. Stephanie Correa, senior political science major, said she would not have a problem with renting outfits and accessories online. “I like trendy things and nice clothes but I am always on a budget,” Correa said. “I wouldn’t have any concerns. I think my hippie vibe would kick in and I would be like whatever, who cares.” Rental dates start the day that a dress or accessories are delivered. Members are able to keep them four to eight days upon arrival. Anything returned late will be charged five-percent of the retail price for everyday that the purchase is late. There is also a $5 to $10 insurance fee, for incidents such as tears, spills or anything else that may happen. Outfits pricing varies depending on the designer. “This is something I would definitely try, especially for a wedding or New Years Eve,” Lopez said. “Why Not? Sometimes I have so many outfits that I’ve only worn once and I wish I could sell them back.” The renting of particular garments is not only going to save money and closet space but it can also reduce one’s carbon footprint by saving a trip to Plato’s Closet or Goodwill. Label lust used to be only for the ones that could afford it, now at least for four to eight days, one can pretend they own a Anna Sui frock paired with a quilted Chanel bag. Eileen lozano may be reached at the prospector@utep.edu.
There is a greasy unattractive man, who has a Donald Trump comb over, sitting behind the counter of the Adult Bookstore as teenagers flash their fake ID’s to get through the door. The teens rummage their way though tightly packed spaces chuckling at the novelty sex toys and movies that are stuffed on the shelves of the store. One even takes hold of a rather limp dildo (personal massager in Texas) and slaps another teen in the face yelling “dick head!” After a few more laughs, the group ends up in front of a wall of videos. The neon light causes the video images to blur just enough for the audience to know that these kids are in awe of porn. This is probably the best description of how Hollywood depicts places like this. When I asked my mom to describe what she thought of these stores, she said places like this were dark, dirty and run by a guy with tons of piercings like Joaquin Phoenix in “8MM,” which I agreed with up until I actually went to one. There was this nagging anxiousness stuck in the back of my mind as the car pulled up in front of the Far East side adult bookstore for the first time. The car door squealed extra loud for some reason and I practically crawled out of my car and into the place. I averted my eyes and giggled like some sort of Catholic schoolgirl while we walked about the shelves of different sized dildos and costumes. My now significant other and I could not find the precious object we were seeking (its not like I was looking…I was too busy averting my eyes) and were forced to approach the counter where the salesman sat doing who knows what. In a mousy and giggly voice, I managed to ask if they carried the silicon wonder and he pointed. I had become Hermes; my feet flew me to the location and my hands reached for the can o’ vagina/fleshlight. Once in my position, I dashed back to
see SEX on page 8
PAGE8ENtErtAiNmENt
THE PROSPECTOR February 9, 2012
motion Pictures
SEX from page 7 the counter where, god forbid, I’d not pay for the thing, forcing my hubby to purchase the disgraceful product so we could leave that place. I did not give myself time to let the moment set in and really get a good look around. If I did, I would have discovered it was a much different place. One Christmas later I entered another store. ID in hand, I stepped in and was greeted by two rather attractive gentlemen who immediately asked if I needed any help. Shaking my head, I continued on through the novelty joke sex toys like 10-foot dildos and blow up dolls. Once I was in the belly of the sex whale, I studied everything. No dark purple neon lights lit this place and almost every “serious” toy was displayed in a professional manner. I could easily pick up the motorized ones and see what they felt like in my hand, but I was confused. What was each one for and why were they different shapes? Question after question rattled my brain until, maybe from the stress of realizing this was an alien world or if it was because my partner did not even know what to think, one of the guys from the counter came over and began asking me questions. It was like he was tailoring a suit for me or, as the people in Victoria’s Secret do, measuring me mentally to figure out the perfect product for me. I’m not going to say if I bought anything, but after this I had a different view as to what these places are really for: pleasure. According to a study by the McKinley Health Center, masturbation not only feels good, but it helps relieve stress and tension, so in retrospect, wouldn’t these stores be some kind of public service? I cannot say if that is true or false, but what stores like these do is collect everything that could help stimulate individuals sexually and puts it all in one place. The taboo arises because these places are outlets for something that, at least in the US, is still not something we discuss out in the open. In Texas under Section 43.21 of the Texas Penal Code the sale or promotion of “obscene device(s)” mean(ing) a device including a dildo designed or marketed as useful primarily for the stimulation of human genital organs” is prohibited. This provision does not deny ownership of these products and that is why many of the places in Texas sell these items as “personal massagers.” Just go a few miles towards Sunland Park and this changes. But that is a whole other issue to begin with. Movies have not helped the image of these places at all. After watching “This Film is Not Yet Rated” by director Kirby Dick, it seems that the MPAA is to blame for these odd depiction of pleasure stores in mainstream film. They regulate what is viewable by mass audiences and seem to regulate what we consider to be the norm. I’m sure there are places like what films depict somewhere out there, but from what I saw, this portrayal is a far cry from what adult bookstores really are: a little bit of this and a little bit of that, but nothing in between. Krystal oblinger may be reached at the prospector@utep.edu.
Film festival opportunities fleeting for movie makers By ANdrES rodriGUEz The Prospector The Sundance Film Festival, the largest independent film festival in the country, ended Jan. 28, having shown over 200 US and international films, 18 of which were somehow Latino and/or Hispanic in theme or craft. Local film enthusiasts regretted the fact that El Paso was not represented in the festival, which they attribute to several reasons, such as lack of knowledge and understanding of this border community. “I think El Paso does offer opportunities to be part of festivals, but sometimes filmmakers have to really look for them,” said Eli Portillo, senior electronic media major. “A lot of times events of this nature try to start up, but the lack of involvement can hurt the possibility for it to continue and grow. Word of mouth and community support are essential for events like these to keep happening, or even
for one of them to become prominent outside of the local sphere.” Roberto Avant-Mier, associate professor of communication and who attended UTEP in the 90s, has seen a local growth in interest for film. He questions why local students are leaving to film making programs elsewhere like NYU or UCLA. “Maybe it doesn’t have to be like that, maybe it can just be UTEP students making great films here,” AvantMier, who also teaches film theory at UTEP, said. In 2010 Ryan Piers Williams, an El Paso native, premiered his film, “The Dry Land” at Sundance. The film, which was partly shot in El Paso, has been the latest city-based movie to get a wide-release. Referencing the Borderland studies paradigm, Avant-Mier said the Borderland deserves more attention. “If we want to study culture, if we want to study literature, art, music or film, let’s assume borders are normal,” he said. “Why aren’t we studying that? Why isn’t that the norm in Hollywood
Special to the Prospector
The Plaza Theater, located downtown, puts on a week-long film festival that holds showing for many older films. The El Paso Community Foundation runs a parallel film festival for local filmmakers called ‘The good, the Bad and the indie.’ However, the series does not draw as large a crowd as the Sundance festival or others like it.
filmmaking? Why aren’t bicultural, binational, Mexican-American people, like El Pasoans making new films or leading popular culture.” Jessica Gruver, president of the Miner Movie Makers club, believes that the city’s failure to develop a wider support for filmmaking is a lack of confidence. “We have a bad rep, people look at El Paso in a negative way,” said Gruver, a freshman theater major. “That’s one of the reasons why the film scene isn’t getting bigger. But it’s a beautiful city and people should really take advantage of that and showcase that.” What Avant-Mier calls “selling ourselves short,” the Miner Movie Makers are addressing in their most recent production by exploring personal experiences that affect the borderland. “The film we’re doing this semester is about extortions from cartels in Mexico to bring awareness to that,” she said. “You can actually make a lot of good films if you use what you’ve got.” The Miner Movie Makers, founded in 2010, work on at least one film per semester. Gruver, who said she hopes to complete two or three films this semester, has been left with a crew of four people, limiting the possibilities of making more films. “It can be a very long process,” she said. “Sometimes you’re not really sure if you’re going to end up with a film but if you use what you have and put it in the hands of good people you can make some brilliant things.” Portillo said that focusing on stereotypes is another reason that El Paso films do fail. Focusing so much on what people expect of the area can easily hurt the image of films that come out of the city. “El Paso’s lack of visibility in major film festivals has a lot to do with the market for filmmaking,” Portillo said. “It’s no secret that studios mostly work out of Los Angeles and New
York, who have a big Latino/Hispanic community of their own, so in order for El Paso to be noticed we have to step away from stereotypes or easy subjects and really show what makes El Paso special. It’s a shame that such a diverse and growing city is mainly associated with negativity.” By submitting to festivals like Sundance, Avant-Mier believes, the El Paso filmmaker, and the city’s film scene can grow. “It’s hard,” he said. “But I do think that it’s a pretty standard route: make movies, start submitting into festivals and maybe try to make it into Sundance. Many people will get turned down but eventually we (El Pasoans) are gonna get one in there. It’s gonna happen, it has to.” According to Avant-Mier, festivals look for good screenwriting, and value theoretical concepts and depth, although he admits the assumption that independent films carry depth is not always true. Local organizations, have also taken the role of recognizing homegrown talent. The Plaza Classic Film Festival, also screen short and feature-length local films at the Plaza theater and at the El Paso Museum of Art. Avant-Mier uses examples like the subculture during the 1970s in Pedro Almodovar’s “Talk to Her” or Robert Rodriguez’s ascend as a filmmaker after his Sundance debut with “El Mariachi” to reinforce that the city has the potential to strive artistically. “My dream scenario would be watching a scene develop in El Paso, where you have this collective energy of people working together and helping each other with films and developing support in the community for art, music, film and writing,” he said. “Because whenever you have that sort of energized culture you’ll start seeing people doing great things.” Andres rodiguez may be reached at the prospector@utep.edu.
Food
‘Burritofication in process’ for new Chipotle restaurant
By ryAN PErry The Prospector There is a sign, next to the old 2900 restaurant that say’s “burritofication in process.” This location is where El Paso will house it’s own link in the Chipotle Mexican Grill chain that is strewn across 41 States and 1,100 restaurants. The date for the opening has not been released. Chipotle is known for its burrito’s as much as its “Food with Integrity” mission statement which outlines its efforts to use only naturally raised meat products and organic vegetables and ingredients. Chipotle’s Mexican Grill, which opened its first store in 1993, serves burrito’s, salads, tacos, burrito bowls and fajita burritos. Their burritos contain over 1,100 calories according to a recent study
and were voted both “20 Worst Foods in america” (MSNBC Health) and “Healthiest Fast Food Restaurants” (Health.com). A few of Chipotle’s neighbors seem genuinely excited. “It’ll be good, more people more business,” said Pierre Turner, a cook at The Pizza Joint. “It’s not competition because they make burrito’s, we make pizza. Plus, I like the food, it’s organic vegetables and grassfed animals.” Raul Gonzalez, the owner of Rulis, said that Chipotle’s will only help, bringing foot traffic and awareness to his restaurant. UTEP students do not seem against the idea of a new national chain arriving in El Paso, in fact, most are encouraged by the addition of a fast food store
gREg CaSTillO / The Prospector near campus that makes a conscious effort in its production and practices to propagating a healthy lifestyle and sustainability. Isaac Yanez, senior English major, has not yet eaten at Chipotle’s but has heard of its integrity mission and seems excited. “A burrito that is both filling and guilt free? I’d pay more for that,” Yanez said. Andrew McKay, junior psychology major, grew up in Los Angeles and has eaten at Chipotle’s Mexican Grill many times. “The burrito’s are huge, and very good,” McKay said. “I would not say that it is the same authentic mexican food that we are used to here in El Paso, it is more like Baja Mexican food.” ryan Perry may be reached at the prospector@utep.edu.
COnFEREnCE-USa/MOUnTain WEST COnFEREnCE MERgER ACCORDING TO AN ESPn REPORT, C-USa anD THE MWC Will MEET in THE nEaR FUTURE TO DiSCUSS MERging THE TWO COnFEREnCES in all SPORTS. THE TWO alREaDY agREED TO a FOOTBall-OnlY MERgER in OCT. 2011.
sports
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February 9, 2012
editor William vega, 747-7445
Softball
the avengers
Photos by Bob Corral
By dANiEl orNElAS The Prospector The memory of the 2011 season still lingers in the back of co-head coach Kathleen Rodriguez’s head, and she plans on making that the driving force for the 2012 campaign. “There’s a lot to be said for someone who has a lot of competitiveness. There’s a lot to be said for someone who still kind of hurts from last year. I guarantee you I haven’t forgotten any single game we played. That’s something we’ve been drawing off of every single practice,” Rodriguez said. “Absolutely forgetting about last year?
No. It’s a little bit of a payback tour. We have a lot to prove and to be overlooked is something that we take very personal.” The Miners finished 2011 with a 1637-1 record, the second-worst record since becoming a program in 2004. They lost 24 of their last 26 games of the 2011 season, winning just one game and tying one Conference-USA game. That one tie was their only result that was not a loss in league play. Getting the new season started brings excitement to both players and coaches. “We’re just really excited. We’ve been working really hard since the fall,” Rodriguez said. “They’ve given everything that they can possibly give in strength and conditioning
jR CaTCHER KaYlEigH WalTS
and with everything that they’ve done here everyday.” UTEP will get help from seniors Chelsea Troupe (utility) and Camilla Carrera (catcher) who missed time last season due to injuries. Troupe was able to break the program’s single-season record with 14 home runs, and added 31 RBIs in 104 at bats before being sidelined by a concussion. Carrera is coming off a back injury that forced her to miss 42 games and red-shirt for a fifth year of eligibility. The excitement of a new season has given her a new perspective to her approach. “(I’ll) take it one game at a time. It’s one of those things that I definitely want to cherish this season because it is my last season so I want to make sure I’m giving it my all,” Carrera said. “I always have my goals in my head, but I definitely just want to be out here and make sure I give it all for my team and that my team is doing everything they can to win.” Rodriguez believes the group has grown stronger during the offseason and is hoping the camaraderie can carry over to success in 2012. “I think they’re a really strong team, they get along really well and they’ll play for each other, which is something pretty neat for (co-head coach) James (Rodriguez) and myself,” Rodriguez said. “This is a sisterhood so it’s pretty cool, it’s exciting.” UTEP welcomes a trio of new transfer players in juniors Charissa Ballesteros (catcher/infielder) from Prima Community College, Cynthia Villastrigo (pitcher) from Mexico and
sophomore Colleen Hohman (pitcher/infielder) from Kansas. Rodriguez mentioned both Hohman and Vallastrigo as players who add depth and experience to the team. Hohman brings experience of playing in the Big 12 conference, while Vallastrigo carries over her experience with the Mexican national team. Carrera is looking for her younger teammates to apply what’s been practiced to the games and to simply play with more confidence in close games. “Just come in loose. When we get tight is when we get in trouble,” Carrera said. “The thing is all we have to do is make sure we do what we know. It’s just coming out here and applying it.” James Rodriguez said for the team to be successful this season, all sides of the game will have to give their part and overcoming the struggles of 2011 will consist of keeping a positive attitude. “It’s going to take offense, defense, pitching. Every aspect of the game to win,” James Rodriguez said. “We’re going to stay positive, take one game at a time and try to win every game we play.” The Miners’ first pitch of the 2012 season will come against the Santa Clara Broncos at 3 p.m. Feb. 9 at the Helen of Troy Softball Complex. daniel ornelas may be reached at prospector@utep.edu.
FR OUTFiElDER TaHia WaDE
Miners out for payback from 2011 record
PAGE10SPORTS
THE PROSPECTOR February 9, 2012
Men’s Basketball
UTEP snaps five-game skid against Tulsa By Frankie Rodriguez The Prospector The Miners took the early lead and never trailed, ending the Tulsa Golden Hurricane’s seven-game winning streak and halting UTEP’s four-game slump in a 64-55 victory Feb. 8 at the Don Haskins Center. Freshman guard Julian Washburn came out of the locker room, scored eight of his 13 points to begin the second half and put the Miners up 38-25. It was part of a UTEP 13-3 run in the second half. “We started the second half and Julian (Washburn) got us going offensively and I like the way the baskets came, by him driving the ball,” head coach Tim Floyd said. “Him getting the ball to the rim versus just settling and as a result, he shot five free throws. He has only shot 36 free-throws in 21
games and that is not enough for a guy with his athleticism.” Sophomore center John Bohannon and junior guard Jacques Streeter were not in the starting lineup, but provided UTEP with 23 points total off the bench. Bohannon finished with a team-high 16 points and four rebounds. Sophomore guard Michael Perez finished with 14 points, including 8-of-10 from the line. “Once again, our guys played like losing bothers them and that is really encouraging,” Floyd said. “Yeah we had lost four on the road, but we fought and have been on the road in tough places with quality teams that we have been playing and this is a quality win.” UTEP’s defense limited the Golden Hurricane to a 33.9 shooting percentage for the game. “This win means a lot to us because Tulane was on a seven-game win
streak and they are second in the conference right now,” Washburn said. “It is just a big win especially on the defensive end because we held them to 33 percent from the field.” With no 3-pointers for UTEP in the game, it ended their 366-game streak with at least one 3-pointer in a contest. “We didn’t have a plan to not shoot threes,” Floyd said. “I think they are
one of the better 3-point defensive teams in the league.” The Miners prepare to take on the Green Wave once again as they will host Tulane Feb. 11 at the Don Haskins Center. “We played them before and we know all they are going to do is drive, so we just have to be ready for that,” Bohannon said. Frankie Rodriguez may be reached at prospector@utep.edu.
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Freshman guard D’Von Campbell jumps for a running layup Nov. 19 at NMSU.
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basketball from page 1 mind against a team they fell to on the road last season. “It’s a big game because we lost to them last year and it was on national TV,” senior guard Baiba Eglite said. “So we’re preparing to play them hard and do what they did to us at their place. We just want to play hard and have the best game we can have.” Despite shooting better and committing fewer turnovers, the Miners lost the battle of the boards last year by 18, en route to the 6258 loss. Junior forward Kristine Vitola’s emergence this year has helped UTEP overcome that poor statistic from a year ago, as the Miners are outrebounding their opponents by a conference-best +9.2 “We’re just going to have to hook up and play some defense and think about the way we lost to them last year,” Vitola said. Rebounding is still Marshall’s strongest suit this season, with the league’s best rebounding defense and second-best rebounding margin at +6.2. No player is averaging doublefigure scoring for the Thundering Herd but three are at 6.6 points or better. Sophomore guard Erica Woods leads the way with 7.1 points, while starting in all 21 games she’s played in and leads the team with 6.3 rebounds a game. Senior guard Lateidra Elliott is averaging seven points while mainly coming off the bench each game and has a team-high 2.3 assists per game. Sophomore guard is the third-leading scorer on the team, averaging 6.6 points while also coming off the bench. UTEP is coming off a road win Feb. 5 at Rice and one day later, they received a total of 15 votes in the ESPN/USA Today and Associated Press top-25 poll. Adams has said she does not pay attention to those numbers and is just looking at the next game in hand. “It’s a big (game) for us. We’re going to have to play really well and we understand that,” Adams said. “Marshall has a good team. We’re just going to have to play really well for 40 minutes.” William Vega may be reached at prospector@utep.edu.
PAGE11SPORTS
THE PROSPECTOR February 9, 2012
Track and Field
Team set for final tune-up before championships
file photo
Assistant coach Scott Roberts talks with one of his athletes during a practice at Kidd Field.
By Daniel Ornelas The Prospector The Miners will travel to College Station to compete in their final meet before the Conference-USA Indoor Championships in hope of staying sharp and not overlooking the event Feb. 11 at Texas A&M. Head coach Mika Laaksonen is hoping the team stays focused but is
aware that athletes may look past the event and have the C-USA championships, which is Feb. 25-26 in Birmingham, Alabama, in mind. “From the past, usually it’s hard not to overlook the meet before the conference. We usually have a little bit of a let down on this meet,” Laaksonen said. “It happens almost every year. I don’t expect any great results. I see
some people already getting focused or mentally ready for the conference.” The Miners can benefit from a good performance at College Station as it can help seeding for the conference championships. But the main goal of this meet is to keep everyone ready up for the C-USA championships. “We’re trying to keep everybody healthy and make small advancements here and there and get everybody ready. That’s the number one goal for this meet,” Laaksonen said. “I’m hoping we make a little more progress in the field events and it will be easier going into conference.” Athletes are aware that the conference championships will be coming up soon, such as junior sprinter Anthony Wright who admits that it simply comes down to preparation. “Honestly I don’t think much about it because if you’re prepared, you’re prepared. If you’re not, you’re not. I hope I do well, of course. I hope for the best,” Wright said. “I’ve just been doing what I’ve done all along: don’t change your working formula, just going to the trainers more often to avoid any injuries.” Wright is coming off a performance Feb. 3-4 at the Frank Sevigne Husker Invitational in Lincoln, Nebraska that gave him the 10th-best 60-meter dash finish in school history clocking in at 6.78 seconds. The time currently has him fourth in C-USA. Wright also mentioned that everyone is aware that it is a big meet and national times are a factor this week,
but the most important meet is the CUSA championships. “If worst comes to worst, the meet in a sense doesn’t mean anything because conference is more important so it’s just a way to get you prepared,” Wright said. “If you don’t do as well,
you still have conference. If you do well, that’s just a confidence booster for conference.” All-American senior sprinter Endurance Abinuwa leads the women
see tune-up on page 12
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THE PROSPECTOR February 9, 2012
tune-up from page 11
competition. It will certainly prepare
into the meet as C-USA’s top sprinter and currently ranks 35th in the nation in the 60-meter dash with a time of 7.45. Others to keep an eye on are senior thrower Matt Dudley and sophomore sprinter Janice Jackson. Host Texas A&M, Albama, Baylor, Missouri, TCU, USC and CUSA foes Houston and Rice will be at the invitational. Sprinters coach Scott Roberts believes this array of competition, especially the C-USA teams, can help UTEP get a good look at themselves in the conference championships. “What’s nice about this meet is we’re going to have some really good
us for the conference meet,” Roberts said. “We can use this good competition that we’re going to see at Texas A&M to help us improve our seeding for the conference meet.” Despite possibly overlooking the meet at Texas A&M, coaches still hope all athletes can use the meet to remain focused. “We’re trying to sharpen ourselves and put our best foot forward leading into that conference meet,” Roberts said. Daniel Ornelas may be reached at prospector@utep.edu.
Column
Memphis was ‘too good’ for Conference-USA, anyways By William Vega The Prospector Some college programs have fans with a level of confidence that borders that dreadful term of cockiness. Whether it’s Texas, USC or Notre Dame and their historic football programs, Duke, North Carolina or UCLA and their basketball teams, these fans have every right to brag about their respective schools and their accomplishments. But when Memphis announced Feb. 7 that they were going to join the basketball juggernaut Big East conference, a new level of arrogance hit the college world, and was felt right here, at UTEP. When Conference-USA realigned in 2005, it not only marked a new transition for UTEP Athletics, but a nationwide domino effect, mainly in the Big East. Miami, Virginia Tech and Boston College all bolted to the ACC at that time, in order to complete a new 12-team super conference. The Big East then added Cincinnati, DePaul, Marquette, Louisville and South Florida from C-USA, resulting in the new C-USA format. From that point on, Memphis’ men’s basketball program continued to excel, making the NCAA Tournament Championship game in 2008, before falling to Kansas by a miracle shot and a slew of missed free throws. One year later, head coach John Calipari left for Kentucky in 2009
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(where they are currently ranked No. 1 in the nation in both polls) and Memphis has never been the same. According to multiple columns, Memphis fans considered themselves snubbed because they lost their biggest rival (Louisville) in 2005 and were stuck in a more mediocre conference. Then, they rejoiced when they heard they got the chance to rekindle that rivalry. Following the recent Big East announcement, Commercial Appeal columnist Geoff Calkins wrote a piece Feb. 7 that listed 14 reasons why it was “a fabulous day” for Memphis. In it, he calls out every current C-USA team (except for Houston, SMU and UCF as they will also be moving to the Big East in 2013) in some shape or form. First on the list: UTEP. His No. 5 reason said, “The men’s basketball tournament will be at Madison Square Garden;” No. 6 read, “It will not be at UTEP.” Two reasons later, at No. 8, he said. “Opposing basketball coaches will never be able to tell recruits, ‘Do you want to play your road games at East Carolina, Marshall and Southern Miss?’” He took his jabs at the final four teams near the end when he asked, “If you’re stranded on a desert island, you want to be there with Rice, Tulsa, Tulane and UAB? Or you want to be there with Cincinnati, Georgetown, Rutgers and Boise State?” But are these comments justified? If Memphis sees themselves as so high and mighty, their track record definitely shows it, right? Not exactly. UTEP broke Memphis’ 64-game C-USA winning streak in 2010 under new head coach Josh Pastner’s first
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season and have not won a regularseason title since then. So far this season, they have lost twice in league play and every year, their top-rated recruiting class has been ranked since 2005 in the pre-season poll. However, over the past four seasons, early losses have dropped them from the rankings by the first few weeks. Other than winning the C-USA Tournament against host UTEP last year, Memphis has not done much to really consider themselves that much better than the rest of the league. Granted, they lost just one time under Calipari but since then, they are no better than the other top teams in C-USA. Even after receiving the automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament last year, they fell in the first round to an Elite 8 Arizona team. They have not defeated a ranked team since Feb. 2009, going 1-11 against top-25 teams over the last four seasons. But if this is Memphis’ mentality that their program was always better than the rest, maybe it’s best they leave just in time for C-USA/the Mountain West Conference’s upcoming merger. These programs are run by rich traditions from Marshall to UNLV to Fresno State, not recent success that is slobbered over by ESPN. And so, UTEP and the rest of CUSA will no longer have to endure one pampered school who has hosted the C-USA Tournament five times and whining reporters who have to travel too far. Good luck, Memphis, it was nice knowing you.
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