February 12, 2009

Love Tips for Valentine’s; See page 9

Volume 65, No. 19

THE PAN AMERICAN

February 12, 2009

ADMINISTRATION

Interim president Sorber to arrive Monday

By Brian Silva The Pan American Dr. Charles “Chuck” Sorber will be arriving to the campus a week earlier than was previously set, due to a rearrangement of personal plans. The original date for his arrival was Feb. 23, but now is slated for arrival mid-Monday, Feb. 16.

The incoming UTPA interim president had previously scheduled vacation

plans that were set to start Feb. 7.

“Those (vacation plans) changed and, as a consequence, I was able to come sooner,” Sorber said. “The intent all along was for me to get there as soon as I could.”

In the UT System’s initial announcement, it was said everything would be done to expedite the process in getting Sorber to UTPA as soon as possible.

Sorber will hit the ground running Monday with a series of meetings with

the university’s administration already scheduled.

“The first few days, in fact weeks, will find me listening to people representing the broader campus community,” Sorber said. “I will be interested in the views of these folks about the university, its programs and their expectations.”

Currently, UTPA is led by acting president Paul Sale, the university’s vice president of academic affairs and

provost. He took over executive duties when Dr. Blandina Cardenas retired on Jan. 30 as UTPA’s 8th president.

Sorber will fill the top executive position while the UT System conducts a nationwide search for a permanent president.

The UT System has not yet formed the presidential search committee, according to information provided by Matt Flores, who is the UT System assistant director for external affairs. The

search process is said to take about nine months.

Accompanying him Monday on campus will be System Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs David Prior. Sorber is upbeat about beginning his interim task.

“There is no doubt in my mind that everyone at UTPA is doing everything in their power to make this transition as smooth as possible; and it seems to be going very well,” Sorber said.

STUDENT ACTIVITIES

Dashboard Confessional to perform in Edinburg

By Isaac Garcia & Laura Garcia The Pan American The big concert the University Program Board mentioned recently on BroncNotes but kept hush-hush as to details, is a secret no more, thanks to the power of new technology. The UPB granted The Pan American an exclusive interview and though members were a bit disappointed the event was leaked, they are happy now that they can start publicity on Dashboard Confessional.

The concert, scheduled for April 25 at Edinburg Baseball Stadium, was scheduled to be announced during homecoming next week but was leaked on the band’s Web site and eventful.com. It will cost UPB an estimated $125,000, according to Marisela Gonzalez, coordinator of student development.

“This is the first time UTPA is granted so much money to be able do this,” said Stacy Sanchez, chair of N2Tunes, a division of UPB. “You know, we kind of wanted to play with it and get people curious first and after that kind of bring it out and say ‘hey we’re doing this.’”

Alternative rockers Dashboard Confessional hail from Boca Raton, Fla., and have been together since 2000. Frontman Chris Carrabba is a former member of Further Seems Forever, and when he decided to pursue a side project, Dashboard Confessional was born. Other members include Scott Schoenbeck on bass, John Lefler on guitar and Mike Marsh on drums.

Their more popular hits among fans are “Screaming Infidelities,” “Hands Down,” and “Stolen.”

See DASHBOARD || Page 5

University Program Board

TRUE CONFESSION - Dashboard Confessional, an alternative rock band, is scheduled to perform at the Edinburg Baseball Stadium April 25. The concert was supposed to be a surprise for Homecoming Week.

ACADEMICS

HEALTH

College-based tutoring site opened Mold-like substance found in Coke machines

By J.R. Ortega The Pan American

Last week’s opening of the Shine Math Center on 10th Street, a mathematics and science-tutoring site, has already begun shaping up with the influx of elementary, junior high and early high school students. However despite the entry of primary and secondary school students, the center’s

INDEX

actual and initial target market was 19-to-35-year-olds.

With The University of Texas-Pan American and South Texas College close in proximity, Manuel Rodriguez, 30, owner and brainchild of the center, recognizes that math is a difficult subject for most students. He said he hopes to receive a more collegeage assemblage.

“Here in the Valley, math is a huge

OPINION PG. 2

crutch,” said Rodriguez, who taught for eight years at several high schools in Texas. “There is a huge, almost black hole because of math. I’d like to get a college crowd that will use this (center) as a resource.”

The center has three laptops for rent, free Internet access, books, one private study room, a copy center, and a networking area. The study area has

See TUTORING || Page 5

NEWS PG. 3

By Naxiely Lopez The Pan American It appears that an anonymous tip about mold-like stains forming inside a glass-front Coca-Cola vending machine in the College of Arts and Humanities building may have averted a

ARTS & LIFE PG. 11

potentially dangerous situation.

On Feb. 5 a University of TexasPan American student, who wished to remain anonymous, alerted The Pan American staff of possible growing mold inside a vending machine.

The brown stain on the trays located

See COKE || Page 5

SPORTS PG. 14

Page 2

THE PAN AMERICAN

February 12, 2009

Illustrated Opinion

Opinion

Personal attacks on celebrities self-induced Laura Garcia A&L Editor As an entertainment writer, I’ve become an avid reader of all the gossip magazines. Week after week I read about a new scandal about how the cat is let out of the bag, or how imperfect a celebrity really is. I must follow in true journalistic tradition and point out their flaws, but mine is constructive criticism, I promise.

I’ll begin with Ms. Jessica Simpson. All one has to do is pick up a magazine or look online at the pictures that sparked the “gasps.” While she may not be obese, it is very apparent that she has packed on the pounds. Not to say anything is wrong with that, but her PR tactics seem to be “deny deny deny,” and there is just no denying that a woman of that size should not pour herself into those hideous highwaisted jeans.

Moving on to my No. 2 on the Yankee line-up, Mr. Alex Rodriguez, (Jeter is my No. 1). Shame on you for lying to the “all-hail” Katie Couric herself. My problem with him has

nothing to do with his steroid use, that’s a whole other subject. Let us all pray they don’t banish chocolate chip cookies tomorrow, or all the people who’ve eaten them in the past million years would have to don a scarlet letter. My thing is that he shouldn’t have lied about it; it was so obvious in his nervous twitching and blinking during Couric’s interview that he wasn’t being honest, to himself or to anyone.

But anyway, I’ve got a bigger bone to pick with him. Madonna? Really? Can we say, “ewwww”?

The list goes on with Christian Bale’s diva behavior and Michael Phelps’ not so bright moment, which I must say to anyone who turned it into a big deal, think about this: if anything, marijuana use beyond that one time would have slowed him down and probably made him drown rather than give him gold medal times.

Hopefully, one day celebs will realize that these so called “personal attacks” on them are really their own fault; they chose to be in the spotlight, now they have to deal with it.

Vol 65, No. 19

Feb. 12, 2009

1201 West University, CAS 170 Edinburg, Texas 78539 Phone: (956) 381-2541 Fax: (956) 316-7122 EDITOR IN CHIEF J.R. Ortega / ortega.e.jr@gmail.com MANAGING EDITOR Brian Silva / brian.silva2@gmail.com ASSOCIATE EDITOR Ana Villaurrutia / parker687@hotmail.com A&L EDITOR Laura Garcia / laurad500@hotmail.com ASSISTANT A&L EDITOR Isaac Garcia / izek_el@yahoo.com SPORTS EDITORS Ramiro Paez / ramiropaez@aol.com Gregorio Garza / the_nataku@yahoo.com PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR Ben Briones / ben.briones.jr@gmail.com DESIGN EDITOR Roy Bazan / rbazanzz@yahoo.com ADVISER Dr. Greg Selber / selberg@utpa.edu ADMINISTRATIVE ASSOCIATE Anita Reyes / areyes18@utpa.edu ADVERTISING MANAGER Samantha Quintana / spubs@utpa.edu

**Delivery** Thursday at noon The Pan American is the official student newspaper of The University of Texas-Pan American. Views presented are those of the writers and do not necessarily reflect those of the paper or university.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR The Pan American accepts letters of 300 words or less from students, staff and faculty regarding recent newspaper content, campus concerns or current events. The Pan American reserves the right to edit submissions for grammar and length. The Pan American cannot publish anonymous letters or submissions containing hate speech or gratuitous personal attacks. Please send all story ideas to thepanamerican@ gmail.com.

Individuals with disabilities wishing to acquire this publication in an alternative format or needing assistance to attend any event listed can contact The Pan American for more details.

Illustration by Anthony Salinas

Opinion

Printing truth is quality Brian Silva Managing Editor The recent controversy stirred up by the Pinche Huevon sign placed on the front lawn of the university has brewed quite a few comments, praise and criticism toward The Pan American.

Although the comments of praise and support of our decision to print an expletive were more numerous than those that condemned it, it is important to accept and respond to criticism.

For a brief of the controversy, it all started when the organization displayed its Web address, www.pinchehuevon. com, on the aforementioned sign. The marketing move maximized the amount of eyes seeing it by displaying it on the front lawn facing University Drive.

Many eyes witnessing the sign translated the Spanish phrase into English.

The problem being that pinche huevon has multiple translations. The more harmless meaning, and intended meaning, is “stingy lazy.”

The other translation contains an expletive. For the sake of appealing to both sides of the issue, we’ll do an MTVstyle edit. The other meaning is “f**king

lazy.”

This sort of edit should be acceptable to all, since the Federal Communications Commission approves it.

I must firmly say that it is with the highest integrity that we made the decision to print expletives. I want the whole truth to be printed, and that is the golden ethical standard all journalists do and should hold close to their hearts.

We take seriously all comments on our work, and can readily see why some people were offended by the publication of the controversial phrase. But we wouldn’t be printing the whole truth if we had taken out the second translation, and we wouldn’t have been able to explain what the fuss was all about without using it.

There are many stories in publications all over the nation that contain sensitive and offensive information. Never, though, do they censor.

I refuse to let the truth be censored.

That is not what our forefathers fought for. They risked life and limb to be able to print information that the British found not only offensive, but intolerable.

In 1774, Thomas Jefferson wrote “A

Summary View of the Rights of British America,” which was printed in several colonial newspapers. His writing was perceived as radical, and thus was his perception by the ruling government: the British. This was not only offensive to the British, but it was technically treasonous.

This offensive language, which was punishable by hanging, brought an intellectual light to the plight of the American colonists.

Sometimes people don’t like to hear the truth, but in the 1700s case it propelled a people to seek out their independence and build a great nation. It is these instances, where our forefathers feared retribution, that caused our leaders to build in a provision to the U.S. Constitution that allowed for the unfettered ability to print the whole truth.

Our inclusion of the meanings of the pinche huevon phrase gave the story more quality, plus it gave our publication the prestige of being an open, honest and truthful newspaper.

If you don’t believe that people have the right to know the full truth, then listen to our forefathers roll in their graves.

a campus; many years ago in 1986 at UT-Austin, and they recanted and apologized via the editor’s comments the following paper for allowing this kind of bawdy, rank and offensive language in a professional campus paper.

Where does this road lead???

Not a good idea and I am personally offended. We can do better; much

better than this kind of perverse and offensive language on the front page.

I ask for a higher ethical publishing standard to be established immediately.

Letter to the Editor I don’t understand it; why did you allow a “Fu#$@!” to be printed on the front page of our school newspaper TODAY (“Outdoor Sign Sparks Freedom…”, 3rd paragraph)? And accompanying the cherished farewell photo and story of Dr. Cardenas??? What were you thinking?!

I have seen this happen ONCE on

Andre E. Dean Lieutenant Colonel, Infantry Chair & Professor of Military Science

Dates to Know: Yard art decorating Thursday, Feb. 12 8 a.m.

UTPA Quad February 12, 2009

Homecoming King and Queen voting Friday-Wednesday Online e-mail voting

THE PAN AMERICAN

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PROGRAMS

Counseling Center lacks funds, counselors

By Kristen Cabrera The Pan American For the past three years Counseling and Psychological Services has requested an increase in budget in order to hire another counselor due to a low counselor to student ratio, however the request has been declined year in year out.

With a significant increase in caseloads over the years and only three counselors and a licensed psychologist

to handle them, the office is overrun.

According to CPS Director Lisa Blankenship, there has been a rise of 1,000 cases in the last two years, with the same staff numbers trying to keep up.

“It is frustrating to ask every year and not receive,” Blankenship stressed. “I know everyone else is asking as well, it’s not like I’m being picked on.”

This year Blankenship asked for a total increase of $47,858 for the CPS

ACADEMICS

in order to hire a new counselor and relieve the workload. Part of that money was going to be used to expand their Titanium confidentiality computer program, which enables the staff to organize client and counselor schedules while keeping all information private; this software was specifically designed for counseling offices.

Other needs include buying assessments used to help diagnose students and getting more travel funds necessary for the counselors to maintain

counseling licenses.

According to Blankenship, the money would be allocated to a variety of expensive assessments, which are a series of tests used to help counselors properly diagnose a student with disorders.

Currently the staff includes Licensed Psychologist Christopher Albert, whom the office had hired three years ago after the first request for additional counselors was put in. Three masters level counselors are also on

staff, a licensed professional counselor, a licensed clinical social worker, and a certified school counselor.

“Every year I say, ‘OK, we’re going to purchase these…based on Dr. Albert’s request,” Blankenship said, “Every year I have to come back saying sorry we don’t have the money.”

Blankenship prepares new budget requests, submits them to the director of student support services who then forwards the requests to John

See COUNSELING || Page 6

SEEN AND CAPTURED

Research in border health at the forefront

By Ana Villaurrutia The Pan American Over the past few years The University of Texas-Pan American has looked to a future of research and scholarly works, but for some the process of conducting research can be costly and difficult.

In order to remedy this, the Office of Academic Affairs Research decided a center devoted to guiding professors in their potential projects was needed. Vice Provost for Research and Sponsored Projects Wendy Lawrence-Fowler said the center was a great step toward research for the university.

“I’m really pleased that we’re at the point where we’re able to build research centers like this,” Fowler said.

The South Texas Border Health Disparities Center was created in early fall and deals with research devoted to the investigation of inequalities and abnor-

malities in health, such as low health insurance rates and diabetes incidence along South Texas.

“The idea began because we decided to have a unit that would work on a common theme,” said Jose Pagan, director of the center and professor of economics and finance. “We can look at how the community has been impacted by health insurance or lack of quality care.”

Last fall the STBHDC was awarded a grant of $300,000 from the Centers for Disease Control, giving the center the ability to provide resources for university research projects, such as providing seed money and pay for workshops and conferences for faculty.

“We help faculty write their grants and take advantage of the resources offered at the center and the university,” Pagan said. “We got the funding to develop a center that would reduce health

See BORDER || Page 6

Gregorio Garza/ The Pan American

FALSE ALARM – Students wait outside the north side of the SBS building Friday, after the smoke detector near the first floor elevator was set off due to dust. Students were let back in shortly after the alarm.

ACADEMICS

COMMUNITY

Joint efforts raise nonprofit awareness Undergraduate science

By Ashley Riegel The Pan American In keeping with seasonal traditions, Love Your Community Day, a collaborative effort aimed at benefiting nonprofit organizations as well as the community, will take place today from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.

The Texas Association of Nonprofit Organizations, UTPA’s Southwest Border Nonprofit Resource Center, Social Entrepreneurs of the Rio Grande Valley, and the congressional offices of U.S. Representatives Ruben Hinojosa

and Henry Cuellar will be sponsoring the first Love Your Community Day in the UTPA Annex Building.

This free event was created to promote community awareness of nonprofit organizations in the area.

Booth spaces will be given to organizations free of charge and the public will be able to attend the event for free as well.

This half-day event will allow nonprofit organizations to spread the word about the services they offer to the community.

Director of membership and com-

munication relations for TANO, Mary Beth Harrington, hopes the event will draw partnerships between the community and the nonprofit organizations.

“I would just like to stress the fact that this is a community event. Many people hear about this fair and think that it is only for the organizations.”

Harrington said. “Love Your Community Day is open to these organizations as well as the public.”

Their goal is to gain membership because these organizations rely on public generosity to provide services.

program seek applicants

By John Gallagher The Pan American In the wake of America’s economic crisis, the Research Undergraudate Program at The University of TexasPan American still has budget spans more than $250,000.

Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) is a UTPA program aimed at students interested in scientific research. The program is funded by the National Science Foundation

(NSF), a government organization aimed at encouraging students to seek careers in the field.

The UTPA REU application for the 2009-2010 program is Feb. 27. It may be found online at www.utpa.edu/ programs/nsf/index.html. The application requires a 500-word essay and two letters of recommendation. This opportunity is not limited to biology majors; students interested in research

See REU || Page 6

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ADVERTISEMENTS

February 12, 2009

February 12, 2009

NEWS

TUTORING continued from Page 1

COKE continued from Page 1

Isaac Barrientes/The Pan American

SHINING A LIGHT - Manuel Rodriguez, owner of Shine Math Center, helps 12-year-old Michael Garza of McAllen understand his basic mathematics homework Tuesday afternoon. nine round tables seating three at each one. Rodriguez is currently the only tutor but said he soon hopes to employ helpers that share the same passion as he does.

Rodriguez, who graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2001 with a bachelor’s in mathematics and history, explained the target market is important because he has spoken to several students who are preparing to take or retake the Texas Higher Education Assessment test; the test is needed so that students can enter many Texas colleges and universities.

The test, which was approved by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board in 1989, evaluates a student’s college readiness through three subjects; reading, writing and 50 multiple-choice math questions.

UTPA currently teaches a contemporary mathematics course, a class designed as a substitute to college algebra that has a much higher passing rate.

The THEA is graded on a scale of 100 to 300. The passing score for the reading and mathematics portion of the test must be a 230 and the writing must be a 220.

The center also tutors graduating high school seniors preparing for TAKs, SAT and ACTs.

Abigail Garza, a 27-year-old single mother of two, has been out of school for more than five years and said the first time she took the THEA, she failed the math portion. She recently had her first tutoring session with Rodriguez.

“Math has always been my weaker subject,” the Hidalgo native said. “It’s more convenient than going to the actual college…it’s very comfortable.”

Garza added she had gotten so nervous during the THEA that she trembled with anxiety because of the math section. She continued by saying the THEA math standards are probably not that difficult, but being out of school put her behind.

Garza said she feels the center’s tutoring techniques will help her finally ace the math section.

“It’s his passion,” she said about Rodriguez. “Manuel is very positive; he showed me I was making a mountain out of a molehill.”

Rodriguez, whose zest for helping others began 12 years ago, said he has observed a growing trend of college students studying at bookstores like Barnes and Noble and coffee shops like Starbucks, another reason for his target market objective.

“You can’t ask your mocha frappuccino for the answer to X,” Rodri-

Page 5

guez said jokingly.

He said he has put $25,000 into the center in order to make it as comfortable and relaxing as possible. He said he would like to see students bring their homework, testing materials, plus food and drinks.

Rodriguez is also adding $10,000 in promotions for the center. One hindrance he said he’s encountered is UTPA’s free tutoring center. Though Rodriguez is not too familiar with the university tutoring services, he said he has heard some students are not benefiting.

“How good is free?” Rodriguez asked. “You are only getting how much you are paying for.”

Since last week, the center has signed up nearly 25 members, however few are in the target age area.

Rodriguez said depending on the center’s launch success, he would like to also create a reading, adult and business Shine center in the future.

“I want this to become an epidemic,” he stressed about the tutoring center. “Exponentially I want to grow.”

For more information, contact Manuel Rodriguez at 956-212-2684 or visit shine-education.com

beneath the bottles first caught the Reyna, 23, says he did not notice student’s attention on Jan. 10, but it the stains, but is concerned with the wasn’t until he realized weeks had health implications this might have on gone by without any action taken, that students.

“It’s our health that I’m concerned he came forward.

That same day, Feb. 5, Leticia with. There have been many cases in Benavides, UTPA’s director of auxil- the past where people needed medical iary services, was notified. She was attention because of mold exposure.

Some have even lost their homes.” surprised to hear of the problem.

But to business major Eugenio “We haven’t received any complaints about it,” she said. “We Reyna III, it is simply a nuisance that weren’t aware there was a problem. should be dealt with.

“It’s just a matter of getting someUnder contract, Coca-Cola is in charge of restocking and maintaining one to clean it, but I don’t think it’s really a hazard to students. The bottles the machines.”

She then explained that soda ma- are closed. Besides, mold is found evchines are usually restocked two to erywhere.”

Zarnowski says there are definitely three times per week by a Coca-Cola employee and said she would immedi- some health hazards when it comes to mold, as was the case in 2000 with ately notify them of the problem.

Less than 24 hours later, Coca- the Pharr-San Juan-Alamo School district. More Cola employees 1,600 arrived at the “The heat from outside and the cold than health claims COAS with a bio-degradable, temperature from the machine cause were filed by and environmental- condensation, which stimulates the students staff at P-SJ-A ly safe, germiMemorial High cidal foam and growth of mold.”

School after began cleaning mold was disthe machine. covered in the When ques- Robert Zarnowski building. They tioned about complained the stain, Coca- UTPA micology professor of allergic reCola field supervisor Mary Helen Esquivel said actions and respiratory infections that they too had not received any caused by the substance.

“It’s difficult to say whether it is complaints.

“There is a 1-800 number on every a hazard,” Zarnowski said. “It can be machine. Anyone with a concern or very dangerous to someone who is complaint is encouraged to call,” Es- immuno-compromised, or has an imquivel said. “The machines are bound mune system that has been impaired to get dirty. It’s no different than a car, by disease or treatment, but I don’t sooner or later dirt will manage to get think it’s a big problem other than inside, and Coke machines are just sit- that.”

As for Benavides, she says Cocating there.”

Esquivel says the dark stains on the Cola has been asked to inspect the trays were an accumulation of dirt and machines more thoroughly, and her condensation. However, when UTPA office will be keeping a close watch.

“Any complaints students may biology professor Robert Zarnowski was shown a picture of the stain, he have with vending machines can be directed to our office, and we will take immediately identified it as mold.

Zarnowski is a mycologist, a scien- care of it accordingly,” she added. tist concerned with the study of fungi and says environmental conditions The Office of Auxiliary may have caused the mold. and Print Services is lo“The heat from outside and the cated inside the Academcold temperature from the machine cause condensation, which stimulates ic Service Building in the growth of mold,” he says. “JudgRoom 1.102 and can be ing by the picture, I would say that reached at 381-2224. mold has been growing for at least a month.”

Theatre performance major Noel

DASHBOARD continued from Page 1 Carrabba and company are wellknown for popularizing “emo,” which is a genre of music with disputed origins. The more commonly accepted interpretation for “emo” is a shortened version of “emotional” characterized by sensitive lyrics and vocals. Music from My Chemical Romance, 30 Seconds to Mars, and Hawthorne Heights might be categorized as this type of “emo.” However, a musical movement rooted in the mid-1980s known as “emotional hardcore” is the historical interpretation. It was characterized

more by the bands’ performances than their lyrics. Lesser-known bands Embrace and Rites of Spring were prominent in this movement.

Unfortunately, unlike most UPB events, this one won’t be free since it is a larger scale concert, however students are guaranteed tickets over the general public. Prices for student tickets are not yet finalized but will more than likely range between $20 to $25 and after all student have been sold.

General admission seats will be sold for $30.

UPB went to great lengths to bring down a band that would satisfy student’s likings.

After conducting two surveys, UPB came to the conclusion that UTPA students wanted to see bigger names brought to the campus. Several bands came up and in the end it was between Texas natives Blue October and Dashboard Confessional. The former chose to jump aboard an East Coast circuit. A solo artist, Lil’ Wayne, was also thrown into the hat but the UPB later decided against it after hearing

at a conference that he was unreliable and at times had allegedly shown up to universities drunk or high.

“This being our first time, I didn’t want to deal with that, and I didn’t want my students to have to deal with that either,” said Gonzalez. “I wanted them to get a good experience of what a concert is and how to plan it.”

The board went to the Student Affairs Advisory Committee and was granted the funds to put the event together. SAAC is responsible for administering budgets for a number of

university departments and since UPB is a departmental organization that gets its money from student fees, it had to go through SAAC. The $125,000 will not solely go to the band, nor will UPB make any profit. Fees range from a middleman agent, to production costs, to security.

UPB is in the process of booking an opening act. Californians Hellogoodbye and Rooney were approached but negotiations fell through. At the moment no opening act has been decided on.

Page 6

REU continued from Page 3 and scientific careers are encouraged to apply.

The NSF began funding the program in spring 2007, awarding UTPA an approximate $285,000, divided into two packages, for three years of research. Zen Faulkes, a professor of biology at UTPA and drafter of the university’s grant proposal, remembers how difficult it was to acquire the NSF grant for the program.

“The proposal was rejected three times before it was finally accepted,” he stated. “We had to be very specific in framing our objectives and budget.”

The budget included wage hours, conference costs, class costs, and research supplies. Zen Faulkes is already preparing to send another proposal this summer to renew the pro-

February 12, 2009

NEWS

gram for the 2010-2011 year.

The program only accepts six students per year, a relatively small group considering there are approximately 1,400 biology majors at UTPA. Students are accepted based on a majority vote of the program’s committee, which consists of 12 biology professors.

“We usually receive about 25 to 30 applications a year; we’re looking for students who not only have good grades and work ethic, but those students who are also interested in longterm careers in scientific research,” states Faulkes.

The program has already had 12 students, with 2009’s students finishing in the summer. The third year’s batch will be the last of the three, and hopefully a fourth will be able to participate with the renewal of the grant.

BORDER continued from Page 3 disparities.”

Dejun Su, sociology professor and the center’s associate director for research, will help coordinate projects and develop workshops and conferences for faculty who are interested in learning more on how to conduct research. Su also believes through these workshops and conferences, the researchers will then start to interact.

“The center is helping Pan Am to better develop their research capabilities,” Su said. “We want to provide a platform and a network for faculty members.”

Building a network of faculty members is something the center believes will make research more efficient through collaboration on projects and exchange of funds.

“We know of the expertise of many

faculties, but we’re just starting,” said Pagan. “By building networks and interaction, that’s going to drive collaboration.”

The center has also provided the start-up cash for three faculty members.

The center awarded about $15,000 to three research projects, each expected to finish in August 2009.

Social work professor Sharon Pittman was awarded $11,900 for her project on the psychological-social variables that determine teen pregnancy among Latinas.

“Up until two months ago the Valley teen pregnancy rates were at the top in the country,” said Pittman who is conducting this research with Janis Feldman, an associate professor of social work. “We want to see what are the psycho-emotional factors that impact

these teens.”

Pittman believes that programs like STBHDC help the university accomplish scholarly works, help raise awareness for health disparities along South Texas.

Fowler said the center does not have a large enough budget to fund more research projects, but they are looking for more funding so that the center can be self-sustaining. Fowler hopes to get $2 million over the next couple of years for the center. Fowler hopes that by helping faculty write grants and exchange ideas through the center, it will raise enough awareness for more external funding.

“It takes awhile for a center to be self supporting,” Fowler said. “(The center) will help us help us increase public awareness of the work we’re doing here… it will help us leverage funding.”

the ratio of therapist to students at 1 for every 4,359. The survey was conducted by a member of the Texas University Counseling Center Director’s Association.

Director of Student Support Services Richard Trevino oversees CPS as well as advisement center, tutoring center, office of international admissions and supplemental instruction.

Treviño forwards all the recommendations of his departments to Edwards, whom handles the budget process. He speculates the reason the CPS requests was not approved was

because of limited resources university-wide.

“Every year all departments put forward their requested budget,” he stated. “It’s been real tight as far as the budget for the university in the last couple of years and there’s been some areas where very few people got an increase in their budgets and additional people. It’s unfortunate that we were not one of those who got additional personnel.”

The ideal maximum caseload is 23 clients a week per therapists, but toward the end of the semester it’s close

to 31 clients a week due to the extra pressures related to the end of the term.

“It is a concern to us,” Treviño said, “We will continue to ask and try to justify another counseling position because we need one or two more.”

There is a two-week waiting period at CPS per appointment unless a student is in crisis, which will be dealt with immediately.

According to Blankenship, there are a few cases where UTPA students have been hospitalized due to failure of immediate psychological assistance.

COUNSELING continued from Page 3 Edwards, the vice president of the division of enrollment and student services. The request is then reviewed in a presidential meeting.

“The VP goes into a room with all the other VPs and dukes it out to get money,” Blankenship explained.

The money used for CPS does not come from student fees or tuition; it comes from a stipend that the school has already set aside for the year. According to Blankenship, the year she assumed her position there was a total of four counselors, but the Student Support Services Grant - which paid

the fourth counselor - was lost.

Not only is CPS struggling to receive more funding, it is not accredited by the International Association of Counseling Services because of its low counselor to student ratio.

“We are not IACS accredited,” she said. “And one of the reasons is that we are nowhere near their recommendations of therapists to students, they recommend one to 1,000. And right now we are close to one to 5,000.”

Of 28 Texas universities that participated in an informal survey conducted in 2007, UTPA is dead last in

February 12, 2009

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Page 7

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THE PAN AMERICAN

February 12, 2009

TEXAS SUNSET From Red River to Rio Grande Piney wood to desert sand Big sky, distant horizon, Lot of wind, plenty of sun, Outdoor living expansive land Texas Sunset wonderful and grand.

Across the bay, far away Lots of color from crimson to grey Elegant and majestic, Makes you feel ecstatic.

Come visit to appreciate and understand Texas Sunset, wonderful and grand.

Sky a perfect canvas Something no one can surpass Using sunlight as colorful pastel, Creating scenes with magic spell; Patchy clouds drifting away, Gentle breeze, crossing the bay.

Inebriated with nature’s beauty Feel contended and plenty happy State of lone star this vast land Texas Sunset, wonderful and grand.

-Partha Ray Math Department instructor

DAWN’S TOKYO TRAIN Tangerine-blond Shibuya girl lifts her skirts, declares herself half virgin rebellion, in made up lipstick of peaches stale and faraway calligraphy ink. She laughs: Louis Vuitton rides double-barrel shotgun at her mast. She text-messages neighbors, or disenchants her boyfriend; he’s tweezing jet flecks off his chin, then sleeps at the foot of others, but Buddha’s insistent, wedged between wing-tipped leather and newspapers cast in wet pornish centerfolds. I ache; I lean my daze against foamy shoulders of strangers. Watch golden lines below windows, spray-painted neon concrete as impressionistic blurs.

Gaijin—You’re a foreigner aligned with no others, tentative about the step forward—but you do. Into my animal.

I admire you; love you for the pallid of your pilgriming skin, your green tinted stare, the suicidal cliff atop your head.

There’s banality in travel because I have not evolved. (Or: I remain unchanged?) Night chokes on morning’s passion fumes. Our end comes when my feet echo pavement. I curtsey rinds, or fistfuls of plastic uppers— at dawn’s (eventual) gutting of trains.

-Pam Perez, 20 Graphic design major

-Dalel Serda MFA student English instructor

WOMEN why must you be so frustrating? crying and wanting to be held while simultaneously yelling that you do not, in fact, want to be held. playing hard to get – what is that? there is no real point to doing it, you are just putting off your own happiness. if you like someone you should just be able to hit them over the head with your crush, drag them back to your car, and have your way with them. women, what is this getting mad about exes? everyone has an ex (unless you are a 30-yr-old dungeon master). so why can’t people talk about them? It shouldn’t be a big deal, but you women – whenever exes are mentioned go ballistic: smashing windows, breaking phones, hacking into email accounts, showing up at the bar. (i have done them all) i plan on sleeping with as many women as possible, and having one night stands without remorse or too bad of a hangover the next day. what is your obsession with babies? why must you touch each one that you see so that you don’t give it ojo? your envious eyes will not penetrate their newly minted skin. why do you need marriage like you need babies? bridal guide, brides, modern bride, martha stewart weddings, american baby, parents, family circle vs playboy, hustler, maxim – there are more baby/wedding magazines then there are naked women magazines (much to my discontent). there should be a rehab for your obsession, and dr. drew can be the therapist on your tv show: women’s rehab. oh, my, god, becky, look at her butt. it is so big. i can’t believe she’s wearing that. there is no way that it’s her real hair color. today on tyra: frenemies, when your best friend is your biggest competition. and tyra (really now, who gave her a talk show what she needs is a facial expression show) girl you do it this way, and the way it needs to be done is like this. why can’t you all make buñuelos like my grandmother? that way there will never be a shortage of memories. oh, and women, if you go to the pool, please remember to shave.

-Lauren Espinoza, 23 English major

February 12, 2009

THE PAN AMERICAN

Page 9

Page 8

THE PAN AMERICAN

February 12, 2009

TEXAS SUNSET From Red River to Rio Grande Piney wood to desert sand Big sky, distant horizon, Lot of wind, plenty of sun, Outdoor living expansive land Texas Sunset wonderful and grand.

Across the bay, far away Lots of color from crimson to grey Elegant and majestic, Makes you feel ecstatic.

Come visit to appreciate and understand Texas Sunset, wonderful and grand.

Sky a perfect canvas Something no one can surpass Using sunlight as colorful pastel, Creating scenes with magic spell; Patchy clouds drifting away, Gentle breeze, crossing the bay.

Inebriated with nature’s beauty Feel contended and plenty happy State of lone star this vast land Texas Sunset, wonderful and grand.

-Partha Ray Math Department instructor

DAWN’S TOKYO TRAIN Tangerine-blond Shibuya girl lifts her skirts, declares herself half virgin rebellion, in made up lipstick of peaches stale and faraway calligraphy ink. She laughs: Louis Vuitton rides double-barrel shotgun at her mast. She text-messages neighbors, or disenchants her boyfriend; he’s tweezing jet flecks off his chin, then sleeps at the foot of others, but Buddha’s insistent, wedged between wing-tipped leather and newspapers cast in wet pornish centerfolds. I ache; I lean my daze against foamy shoulders of strangers. Watch golden lines below windows, spray-painted neon concrete as impressionistic blurs.

Gaijin—You’re a foreigner aligned with no others, tentative about the step forward—but you do. Into my animal.

I admire you; love you for the pallid of your pilgriming skin, your green tinted stare, the suicidal cliff atop your head.

There’s banality in travel because I have not evolved. (Or: I remain unchanged?) Night chokes on morning’s passion fumes. Our end comes when my feet echo pavement. I curtsey rinds, or fistfuls of plastic uppers— at dawn’s (eventual) gutting of trains.

-Pam Perez, 20 Graphic design major

-Dalel Serda MFA student English instructor

WOMEN why must you be so frustrating? crying and wanting to be held while simultaneously yelling that you do not, in fact, want to be held. playing hard to get – what is that? there is no real point to doing it, you are just putting off your own happiness. if you like someone you should just be able to hit them over the head with your crush, drag them back to your car, and have your way with them. women, what is this getting mad about exes? everyone has an ex (unless you are a 30-yr-old dungeon master). so why can’t people talk about them? It shouldn’t be a big deal, but you women – whenever exes are mentioned go ballistic: smashing windows, breaking phones, hacking into email accounts, showing up at the bar. (i have done them all) i plan on sleeping with as many women as possible, and having one night stands without remorse or too bad of a hangover the next day. what is your obsession with babies? why must you touch each one that you see so that you don’t give it ojo? your envious eyes will not penetrate their newly minted skin. why do you need marriage like you need babies? bridal guide, brides, modern bride, martha stewart weddings, american baby, parents, family circle vs playboy, hustler, maxim – there are more baby/wedding magazines then there are naked women magazines (much to my discontent). there should be a rehab for your obsession, and dr. drew can be the therapist on your tv show: women’s rehab. oh, my, god, becky, look at her butt. it is so big. i can’t believe she’s wearing that. there is no way that it’s her real hair color. today on tyra: frenemies, when your best friend is your biggest competition. and tyra (really now, who gave her a talk show what she needs is a facial expression show) girl you do it this way, and the way it needs to be done is like this. why can’t you all make buñuelos like my grandmother? that way there will never be a shortage of memories. oh, and women, if you go to the pool, please remember to shave.

-Lauren Espinoza, 23 English major

February 12, 2009

THE PAN AMERICAN

Page 9

Page 10

ADVERTISEMENTS

February 12, 2009

Dates to Know: My Painted Valentine

Feb. 21, 7 p.m. to 12 a.m.

McAllen Creative Incubator February 12, 2009

LITERATURE

THE PAN AMERICAN

Music: LA Riots

Friday, 8 p.m.

Shine Terrace; McAllen Page 11

ART

IMAS hosts Grossology exhibit

By Marco Carbajal The Pan American

Texas thriller mixes mystery, comedy

By Russen Vela The Pan American

Best Mystery, which is given by the Horror Writers Association for superior achievement in horror writing.

Just when you think novels were However, “Season” comes off more starting to get a bit crazier and quirki- as a comedy than a horror thriller due er, somewhere, somehow, there is just to the crazy characters, which also inone novel that takes it to a whole dif- clude a 1960s radical (Paco) who was ferent level. “Savage Season,” writ- disfigured in a accidental explosion, ten by Joe R. Lansdale is a little gem plus and a chilling drug dealer named many probably haven’t heard about. It Soldier.

Overall, the book was highly entercomes off as a crime/comedy thriller that could easily have been made into a taining and will keep readers laughing, film by the Coen Brothers (“No Coun- and trying to figure out the mystery try for Old Men,” “Fargo,” “Burn after behind the back robbery. There are no rushed or confusing moments. EveryReading”).

The novel, published in 1990, thing is there. You just have to make personal assumptions starts off with two about the characters. Evbest friends Hap Savage Season eryone in the novel is eiCollins and LeonThe First Hap and Leonard ther good or bad. There ard Pine. Both enjoy Novel

By Joe R. Lansdale are some very, very bad learning martial arts people here, and they are in their spare time, and while Collins “Lansdale has a zest for not hard to spot; with the stroytelling and a gimlet eye first lines they speak, a is a conservative, for detail.” straight white man, -Entertainment Weekly reader knows.

Some of the gruePine is a gay, black Vietnam veteran. “A master at taking a simple some scenes (which You have to stop and everyday event and turning re- will not be spoiled in this review) are particuthink: could these ality upside down.”

-Mystery Scene larly graphic and once two ever be friends fans see them, they may if this were for real?

Then enter Hap’s ex-wife Trudy, want to re-read to make sure they saw who wears skimpy blue-jean mini- it right. The gruesome writing makes skirts and prances around as if she Lansdale’s writing unique, though were the reigning Miss USA. She asks also somewhat parallel to the wicked the men to help her find the money and twisted work of the Coen Brothers Lansdale derives a certain pleasure from a bank robbery committed by someone her current husband knew. in taking us through a journey filled From then on, however, of course, ev- with hateful and spiteful characters, characters unlike any the average pererything goes wrong.

Lansdale who was born in Glade- son would know. It’s as if he created water, Texas, has written many novels them from a dream, but his and not from westerns to horror, to mystery ours. This seems to be his trademark.

Hollywood must buy the rights to and suspense. His “Savage Season” is the first in a series of books and stories this book right away. The lead roles written with the characters of Collins might be tricky to cast, but one thing and Pine. The others include “Mucho is for sure, Emmy winner Jaime PressMojo” and “The Two-Bear Mambo.” ly (“My Name is Earl”) must land the In 1990, “Savage Season” was nomi- role of Trudy. Anyone who reads the nated for the Bram Stoker Award for book will picture her as this character.

Poop. Mucus. Gas. Body odor. That isn’t a checklist of symptoms for a crazy new disease; they’re the highlight of a popular new exhibit in McAllen. If one has ever experienced that not-sofresh feeling and wondered why, the International Museum of Arts & Science may have the answers folks have been looking for.

IMAS, located at 1900 Nolana in McAllen, presents “Grossology: The (Impolite) Science of the Human Body,” which opened Jan. 24 and has delighted and disgusted Valley patrons ever since.

Slated to run through April 26, the experience was built by designers and engineers with Advanced Animations, and is dubbed as “edutainment” for its highly interactive and educational nature. Design inspiration came from the best-selling children’s book “Grossology” by author, teacher, curriculum designer and microbiologist Sylvia Branzei.

Desiree Longoria, marketing officer for IMAS, says that attendance at the museum has increased as both the public and school groups have jumped at the chance to be “edutained.”

“People are fascinated by the animatronics and all the detailed information that’s included with this exhibit,” Longoria said. “It contains a

lot of things we don’t talk about and it’s interesting to see how and why our body does what it does on a daily basis.”

The tour is broken into three main sections, the nose, the gut and other gross stuff, and viewers are surrounded by large illustrated walls spouting gross facts, such as how the average human creates a quart of mucus per day.

Visitors can also spend time as a life-size booger inside of a giant nose as a sensor triggers a sneeze that sprays a gust of air. Elsewhere, a video game then requires one to remove waste from the blood and release it as urine.

Still not grossed out? Head to the Y U Stink table, smell a puff of air and guess whether it was arm pit, mouth, anus or foot odor that was whiffed. Or head to the fiberglass wall of skin and rock climb on pimples, moles, warts, and wounds.

Highlights also include the Burp Man. Pump a lever as his stomach fluid bubbles until he releases a burp, or learn about how the other end works as the sphincter’s function and the physics of flatulence are examined.

A pig, pinball and some poo are three delightfully disgusting elements in a game that teaches visitors what foods cause the most gas, while a giant 3-D gastrointestinal slide allows children to climb from the mouth to the digestive system.

Besides drawing many laughs, the exhibit leaves quite an impression

on everyone who gets to experience something they’d never encounter or be too embarrassed to ask about otherwise.

Zelda Guerra, an elementary school teacher from Falfurrias, says an experience like this will leave an impression on anyone because of the outrageous and interactive way material was presented. But she noted that it’s an especially useful as a learning tool for children.

“Kids are fascinated by gross stuff and always ask questions about their body,” Guerra said. “This exhibit answers funny things they have in the back of their minds. When they see and play with things hands-on, they will never forget about it. It’s called active learning.”

Lee Schachperle, who is retired and lives in Alamo, laughed right along with the kids as he took in Grossology trivia game questions such as one asking what percentage of a person’s feces is bacteria. (Incidentally: 50 percent).

“It’s a lot of fun for the kids to learn things about the body,” Schachperle said, laughing. “But it definitely teaches a thing or two to the adults as well!”

Museum hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. From 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday, and 1 to 5 p.m. on Sundays.

For more information on this exhibit contact IMAS at 682-0123 or visit http://www.grossologytour.com.

Ben Briones/THE PAN AMERICAN DISGUSTING - Grossology exhibit in McAllen educates visitors on the many gross functions of the human body. Design inspiration came from best-selling children’s book author Sylvia Branzei.

Page 12

ARTS AND LIFE

February 12, 2009

T A&L BRIEFS

T LOCAL

Smith heavily involved in community Battle of

By Andrielle Figueroa The Pan American To most of the Valley, Tim Smith is known for his broadcasts on the weather as the chief meteorologist from KRGV NEWSCHANNEL 5. Little do they know, Smith is more than a local celebrity. With his passion for education and science, his audience is able to see the repercussions of hard work.

Growing up in Batesville, Ind., Smith graduated from Batesville High School and soon after, received his degree in broadcast journalism from Indiana University. After finishing his studies, Smith found his way down to Texas in 1981.

Smith has been a part of the weather team at Channel 5 for more than 23 years. Though this seems like a lot of time, Smith is still engaged in the job that he does.

“It is a fun science, just knowing and understanding something that everybody talks about everyday is a pretty neat part of the job,” Smith stated.

Sometimes Smith can run into problems with his dream job. With his work hours running from three to 11 at night, it cuts into family time.

“During hurricanes or bad weather, I have to leave my family at home and hope that they can fend for themselves while I am at work,” added Smith.

Smith’s love for science has opened more opportunities aside from meteorology, for example his new position as the vice president of the Board of Directors for the International Museum of Arts and Science.

“I help with the overall direction of the museum,” Smith explained, “as well as the fundraising aspect. We are always looking for funding to bring the best exhibits to the children and adults of the Valley.”

Smith enjoys helping the community and getting involved in any kind of way, and he’s responsible for “Tim’s Coats,” a project that has brought in over 100,000 coats to the less fortunate.

“Kids You Should Know” is also under Smith’s wing; it is a program where local elementary-age students are recognized for their positive work by the community, families and schools.

The meteorologist also takes part in the Rio Grande Valley Partnership Board.

“We take care of the infrastructure of the Valley. To help the Valley get what it needs and to help get a spur on economic growth in the area,” added Smith.

The Rio Grande Valley Partnership Board is currently working on the Interstate 69 Corridor. The board would like for Interstate 69 to be built to run directly into the Valley.

With all of the community involvement Smith keeps his energy up by staying motivated, mainly by getting to know people in the community. He believes that even though people watch him every day on TV, they wouldn’t get a chance to meet if he were not active in the local lives of Valley residents.

“I like to meet the people so they can trust me as a person, and not as some guy on television,” Smith added.

One can imagine that Smith is one busy man. So what does the broadcaster

the bands Calling all bands!! Grab a hold of some inspiration with Battle of the Bands to be held Tuesday, Feb. 24 hosted by University Program Board’s N2Tunes Committee. Every student on campus will have the grand opportunity to express their musical performance on stage with a contest! Sign up with an application and a $40 deposit (check only), along with a demo, to be turned in before or by the deadline date Feb. 1, at the Office of Student Development Office. Demos will be reviewed Feb. 5 and 6 to choose the lineup. Make sure that your contact information is correct so that we may contact your band if it is chosen to participate in UTPA 09’ Battle of the Bands.

Winners will be announced by the opening 12-piece band Westside Band.

The Pan American Archives BIG HELP - Meteorologist and active community leader Tim Smith does the pre-game lineups at a recent Edinburg North basketball game. like to do in his spare time? Smith attends games at Edinburg North High School, where his wife is an assistant coach with the girls’ basketball team. He also likes to play golf, though he claims not to be very good at it. Smith jokingly admits to also having a Facebook profile.

“I started the group for former and current employees from KRGV NEWSCHANNEL 5. It’s a time consuming hobby, but it’s fun because we are catching up with people who worked at the station years ago,” Smith said.

With television and his vast array of social projects, Smith’s plate seems to be full and growing larger. The Indiana native is not overwhelmed, but has rather enjoyed his involvement and can’t wait to do more.

“When we go and visit schools, every one has a different story,” he commented. “When you meet these kids you see what they bring to the table and I get excited about it because I see our future. The future and the education for our kids, that’s what it’s really all about.”

T MUSIC

RGV music festival helps rake in funding

By Victor Ituarte The Pan American Born on a mountain in Arkansas during an era before television and in a radio-free area, it is easy to understand how 74-year-old Bill Dumboski developed a love for musical instruments.

“My folks played music and our entertainment was setting up on a front porch playing music,” said Dumboski, a board of trustees member of the Rio Grande Valley Music Festival, which begins next week. “My grandpa handed me a guitar, a fiddle, and went right up the line.”

The board consists of Winter Texans from Missouri dedicated to three goals: They strive to provide a venue for musicians of all levels of ability to perform in a professional setting; they offer an opportunity for Valley residents and visitors to enjoy music for a reasonable price; and they are geared toward helping support music education for young people in the area.

Now in its fifth year, the nonprofit festival will offer a variety of music such as country, bluegrass, folk, gospel, mariachi, and folkloric. The jamboree is set to take place Wednesday, Feb. 18 to Sunday, Feb. 22 at the RGV Livestock

Showgrounds, located at 1000 N. Texas “We give every penny to music in Mercedes. Admission is $5 per day scholarships.”

Edcouch-Elsa Independent School and $3 for parking. Children under 12 District, fresh from a run of layoffs in are admitted free. the past months, “We have six is the most recent stages for 12 hours In addition to the musi- recipient of a a day for four days,” $1,000 donation Dumboski said. cians, they [volunteers] do from the board.

“Sunday morning is “We started off gospel from 8 to 12 not get paid. The money goes with giving $1,000 and that’s open to the first year and anyone that wants back to the community. it’s grown to $8,000 to play or sing.” a year,” Dumboski Acts performing said. “We’re a small on those stages Gene McKenzie organization and include The every year we’re Canadian Twins, RGV Music Festival giving more money The George Epley Board member away.”

Band, Ruthie and Keyboardist Her Banjo, Jacob Smith Band, and Terry Smith and those Gene McKenzie, also a board member, said the group receives support from are only the tip of the iceberg.

“All these bands are made up of donations as well. H-E-B, Melhart Winter Texans from Canada and all over Music, the City of Mercedes, Magic the U.S.,” Dumboski said. “We come to Valley Electric, and Wal-Mart all sponsor the Valley in the winter and we put our one stage. Takamine, an international manufacturer of instruments that also bands together and play.”

Something the board wants known is sponsors a stage, donates an instrument that the organization is entirely nonprofit. for raffle every year.

“It takes about 100 volunteers to put “We don’t get gas money, we do not get one nickel,” Dumboski emphasized. this on,” McKenzie said. “In addition

“

”

to the musicians, they do not get paid either. The money goes back to the community.”

Another form their generosity takes is by offering their musical talent to help raise money for churches.

“This Saturday night we are putting on a show for the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Mercedes,” Dumboski said, noting that the group is of all denominations. “We’re going to put on a gospel show at their church. It’s for their music group so that their church can teach kids to play music.”

Dumboski takes on the project along with George Rogers, president of the board, who explained that musicians are selected based on popularity and availability.

“All the musicians volunteer their time,” Rogers said. “The emphasis is on music, but there are also vendors of arts, crafts, and food.”

The festival has grown from two stages in its first year to six in 2009, and plans are to keep expanding.

“The Showgrounds provides an excellent venue with plenty of parking,” Rogers noted. “The management has provided great support from the start.”

For more information, visit the festival’s Web site at www.rgvmf.com.

Deadline Application: Feb. 1 @ Office of Student Development Demo Reviews: Feb. 5 and 6 (5 bands to be chosen) Contest Date: Feb. 24 Prizes: 1st Prize: Trophy & $100 Bronc Bucks 2nd Prize: $100 Bronc Bucks 3rd Prize: $75 Bronc Bucks

“Sin” at Cine El Rey Sunday, Feb. 22 at 2 p.m., a dramatic reading of “Sin (A Cardinal Deposed)”

by Michael Murphy will be presented at the Cine El Rey. The production is sponsored by the Protecting God’s Children committee of the local activist group Call To Action, RGV, with the support of a generous donation from donors who prefer to remain anonymous.

It is directed by Rachel Saldana.

The play was constructed from the depositions of Cardinal Bernard F. Law, archbishop of Boston, in two civil suits involving priests of the diocese accused of child molestation. Additional material came from internal church documents that entered the legal proceedings. All of these materials are now a matter of public record.

Out of this wealth of data, playwright Murphy has crafted a powerful courtroom drama that takes place in the deposition room of the Suffolk Superior Court of Boston, in the year 2002.

The play is an interesting example of Reader’s Theatre, where the actors read the lines aloud to ensure total accuracy, and with the aid of a few props and set pieces re-create an interesting historical episode.

Admission to the production is free. Guests will have the opportunity to make a free-will donation after the performance, if they care to do so. No reservations are necessary.

The Cine El Rey is located at 311 S. 17th Street in downtown McAllen.

Dates to Know: Men’s Basketball vs. Longwood Saturday, 7 p.m.

UTPA Field House February 12, 2009

THE PAN AMERICAN

Track and Field

Texas A&M Showdown Friday College Station Page 13

ATHLETICS

Athletes succeed despite demanding work routines

By Sara Hernandez The Pan American When the majority of The University of Texas-Pan American students are getting ready to start their day, track athletes like Omar Doria, Luis Nava and Carolina Izaguirre have already finished their daily morning workout and are ready to attend classes.

Their day begins with a 6 a.m. workout and, for some of them, doesn’t end until they have finished classes and homework late at night.

“On Mondays I get out at 9:45 p.m.,” said Doria, a junior pre-med major from Edinburg. “I usually study in my breaks or just relax at the Pre-Medical Resource Room.”

In fact, athletes on campus have traditionally had better grades than the student body, and this week many were recognized for their success.

Chelsea Blakely, Marci Logan, Noelle Mayor, Kellie Phillips, Deanna Schneyer, Rebecca Tody and Itzel Trinidad from the volleyball program, along with the three distance runners, were announced as part of the 2008 Fall AllAcademic team by the Great West Conference.

In order to be considered part of this list, a student-athlete must obtain a mini-

mum 3.2 GPA and have participated in at least 50 percent of the sports competitions.

However, staying on top of athletic and school activities does not come easy for those student-athletes, who learn to fulfill the responsibilities of being a member of a collegiate sports team, and at the same time complete their educational obligations.

“I set datelines and goals,” said Nava, a senior from La Joya. “I try to finish as much as possible, but I continue to stay calm and try to finish it one part at a time; just like running a mile at a time.”

Nava also commented that although keeping up with his classes when competitions demand him to miss school continuously is complicated, he has learned to ease the pressure by maintaining a positive attitude.

“I generally ask the professor what’s gonna be covered and I try to do everything before or during the trip,” he said.

“When I get back, I ask my classmates for notes and try to get everything done as soon as possible.”

Although having a good performance on the track is crucial, they believe that doing well in school is their first and most important priority.

“Running is not everything in life,” Doria said. “You can only run for so long

and it’s very difficult being a profession- demic counselor, said that this struggle to al runner, so we should aim high in our find the equilibrium between school and sports helps build the student-athlete’s academic goals.”

In a similar situation, members of the character so they can one day become efvolleyball team wake up at 6:30 a.m. for fective professionals.

“They learn to incorporate dedicatheir weight training session before going to class day, which usually lasts until tion, devotion and commitment to their everyday life,” he said. practice at 2:30 p.m.

And it shows. Members of the vol“Most of us will have class after leyball team ex(practice) as well,” pressed that having said Logan, a sophI try to finish as much as to balance two of omore in physical the most important therapy. “We usupossible, but I continue to stay areas of their life ally get back by about 8:30 or 9 at calm and try to finish it one has taught them to manage time more night, then make and time for homework part at a time just like running efficiently focus on the esor just go to sleep.” a mile at a time. sentials of being a Student-athletes student. like to take advan“You plan tage of the scarce ahead, you know free time to relax, Luis Nava when your tests but with a day load- Track and field athlete are, so you try to ed with work, most of them find resting the best alternative step up with your plans and study,” said in order to pull through the physical and Mayor, a junior business administration mental stress that school, practice and major.

For an all-academic athlete, making competitions puts on them.

“I try to sleep to recover from prac- good grades is an expectation rather than tice,” Nava said. “After that I go to the an achievement, Logan said. Phillips, a park, walk around or go to the movies to senior marketing major, shares the same attitude toward demanding more from get distracted and relax.”

Andres Cantu, a UTPA athletic aca- herself and her teammates.

“

”

“Knowing that you have to make the grades, we’re already competitive people,” she said. “We already want do our best in anything we do.”

Although personal ambition is the main factor for seeking self improvement, Blakely stressed that the motivation to do well in school comes partially from coaches and athletic staff who require them to make good grades in order to play.

“I think it comes from the top,” Blakely said. “It’s expected that you have a 3.0 or 3.2 (GPA) or nothing else, so it pretty much set the standards.”

In order to promote academic success, the UTPA Athletic Department recommends tutoring for all studentathletes, and requires freshmen, transfers, and athletes with a GPA lower than a 2.75 to complete a certain amount of study hall hours according to their needs.

Cantu, who played baseball for Bowling Green State University, noted that these scholars convey the message he tries to get across: a student-athlete should strive for the best in all areas of life.

“They should be role models to their teammates, making other athletes believe that it is possible to be successful both on and off the field,” he said.

TENNIS

Tennis programs get back in action after monthlong hiatus

By Pedro Perez IV The Pan American This weekend members of The University of Texas Pan American tennis program will finally do what they’ve been expecting to do all semester…play tennis.

The Broncs match up against Texas A&M Corpus Christi while the Lady Broncs face off against Texas State on Saturday and The University of Texas at San Antonio on Sunday.

It’s been a difficult task, but interim head coach Chris Gill and interim athletic director Ricky Vaughn have been in negotiations to make up the five matches the program has missed in the last six weeks. Every time the team was supposed to play, some problem popped up, meaning that the netters are way behind the rest of the tennis world right now.

“My staff and I and the whole athletic department is working as hard as we can to make sure we do have a productive season and some home matches,” Gill said. “But unfortunately right now some of the home matches are in jeopardy and we’re trying very hard to fix that.”

The matches canceled include College of the Southwest, Oral Roberts Uni-

versity, Prairie View A&M University, Southern University and Monterrey Tech.

According to Vaughn, three fill-in matches have already been rescheduled against Texas A&M Corpus Christi, the first one will take place Tuesday, Feb. 17 and the other two some details are still being finalized.

One of the teams that had a cancelation against the program was Prairie View A&M; the team was to play here Jan. 31 at the Orville Cox Tennis Center.

John Cochran, fourth-year head coach for the Panthers, said a preliminary agreement between the two schools eventually fell through. After the terms weren’t satisfied, Cochran said, the Panthers found another opponent, and stressed he never signed a contract to come to the Valley and play the Broncs.

“We didn’t actually agree on the date,” Cochran said of the planned match that was agreed to in principle by former UTPA Coach Rob Hubbard, who resigned after the agreement and before it could be completed. “Basically for me to drive five hours from Houston, I needed two matches and he (Rob Hubbard) agreed to that but never got the two (teams) in a reasonable amount of time.”

In the future, the tennis program

will have contracts signed for all home matches.

“We didn’t have these teams on contract and one of the procedures that we’re going to carry out is all home matches, visiting teams will be issued contracts with penalties if they decide to pull out,” Vaughn noted. “Hopefully in the future this won’t occur anymore.”

Gill’s disappointment about canceled matches is almost irrelevant compared to how disappointed he is for his players. When he took the job as interim head coach at the beginning of the year, Gill knew some loose ends would come with the territory, but he feels that it’s unfair for the players to have to go through this mess.

“It really hasn’t been that difficult on me other than the fact I have to see how disappointed they (Broncs and Lady Broncs) are, and every time we have a cancelation you can tell that they just want to play,” Gill said.

Gill also commented about how proud he was of the team. He knows members could easily go to practice and not want to do anything, but they make the effort and it shows how strong they are and how much they enjoy doing what they do.

“They can completely blame this and

point fingers to someone that isn’t here anymore, but they haven’t,” Gill said.

“They’ve really gathered together, tried to keep their heads up and really work for something like going into the conference tournament and winning.”

On their posted schedules the Broncs have 14 matches before the Southland Conference Tournament. The Lady Broncs, who are still an independent team have 13 matches before the National Independent Tournament which will take place at the Orville Cox Tennis Center.

According to junior and Lady Bronc team captain Megan Bedeau, this situation has brought the athletes closer as a team, and now they just have to put the aborted start behind them.

“Regardless of how we’re feeling we need to put it behind us because we need to play these matches,” Bedeau said. “Those teams are not going to have any sympathy for us on the court so we just have to go out, play and not let that (cancelation of matches) bother us on the court.”

CANCELED GAMES The Broncs tennis program’s spring season has started out slow with five of their first six games being canceled due to various reasons.

Jan. 17 vs. College of Southwest Jan. 23 vs. Oral Roberts University Jan. 31 vs. Prairie View A&M Feb. 7 vs. Southern University Feb. 8 vs. Monterrey Tech The scheduled game for the men’s tennis against Texas Tech on Feb. 28 has also been canceled.

Page 14

SPORTS

February 12, 2009

February 12, 2009

SPORTS

Page 15

MEN’S BASKETBALL

Broncs nearing end of season, record drops to 6-16

By Kevin Stich The Pan American Intensity and passion make the game of basketball pleasurable for the fan to watch. And if you’ve never seen The University of Texas-Pan American men’s basketball coach Tom Schuberth on the court, then you’re missing out on a show.

Sure, coaches are supposed to exemplify a high-energy demeanor for their team, but Schuberth is quite the character. Against Chicago State University Saturday night, the thirdyear head coach was noticeable.

From the game’s tipoff, Schuberth was constantly shouting in his players’ faces as a way of trying to motivate his team to pick up the intensity level. He was the Broncs’ biggest cheerleader, enthusiastically running up and down the sideline every time his team made or capitalized on a superb play.

It’s easy to tell when he’s mad because every time the Broncs poorly execute on a play, he fiercely stomps his shoes on the hardwood, creating a bouncing echo that circles the entire Field House.

You rarely see a smile come out of the head coach’s face, but because of two dynamic plays by senior forward Emmanuel Jones, Schuberth, plus all those in attendance, couldn’t help but react.

The Broncs were in a back-andforth affair all night against the Cougars and at the 10-minute mark of the second half, things began to really heat up. With the visitors holding a tight 53-48 lead, Jones scored on a

ridiculous alley oop from sophomore guard Nick Weiermiller, which electrified the Bronc faithful.

Schuberth stood motionless for about two seconds before a small smirk was apparent, almost as if he was trying to hold back from laughing after witnessing the dunk.

However, the fireworks didn’t stop there.

With the Cougars still holding the advantage two minutes later, Weiermiller and Jones hooked up on the exact same play, but this time from a farther distance on Weiermiller’s pass.

Schuberth didn’t react but you just have to believe he was flabbergasted behind his tranquil demeanor.

At the end of the game, though, Schuberth witnessed his team fall to 6-15 on the season after a 78-72 defeat.

The Broncs couldn’t overcome two consecutive 3-pointers by the nation’s third-leading scorer, David Holston with under six minutes remaining, after the score was knotted up at 59.

“Well I’m disappointed we lost,” Schuberth said. “We put ourselves in position to have a chance to win.

It’s kind of the same old story; we haven’t been making the plays down the stretch but we played a good basketball team. They got a lot of seniors and they make big plays when it’s time to step up.”

Indeed, Schuberth couldn’t have said it better than that, “It’s kind of the same old story.” This is the ninth game this year that the Broncs have lost by fewer than 10 points. Nine games the other way and UTPA would boast a 15-6 record.

Jones, who was one of three Broncs

MEN’S GOLF

finishing in double digits, scored a team-high 27 points and collected nine rebounds. UTPA did hold Holston to well below his average of 26.3 points per game, as he netted 14 points on 5-of-18 shooting. Though, four of his five field goals came behind the arc.

Even with the young team’s obvious growing pains, Schuberth keeps motivating his men to remain positive, using the most conventional approach he knows.

“I tell them the truth,” Schuberth said. “If they play hard, I tell them that. If we don’t, I tell that as well. I think the worst thing you could do is lie to kids or to give them false hope.

I think we are a good team when we play with a lot of effort. We give ourselves a chance to win every night, regardless of who we’re playing, and we’ve proved that.”

The goal for a second consecutive winning season faltered when the Broncs lost a 64-58 home decision to Savannah State Feb. 2. Now, the team is working toward the objective of capturing double-digit wins for the third consecutive year under Schuberth, something that could boost morale entering next season.

“We got to improve because we got many seasons to come,” Schuberth said. “As long our guys stay positive, we’re heading in the right direction.”

NOTES: The Broncs took a hit to their hopes after suffering a 77-61 defeat at Longwood (Virg.)

Wednesday night. Jones churned out a double-double performance with 17 points and 10 boards. Longwood will visit UTPA Saturday at 7 p.m.

Isaac Barrientes/The Pan American

ALL AIR - Forward Julius Allgood makes his shot and scores big cheers from an engaged audience during the intense game against Chicago State. The Broncs dropped a close one,78-72.

TRACK AND F IELD

Broncs ready to swing away Meet gears runners for Texas A&M Invite at spring links competition

By Pedro Perez IV The Pan American

The Broncs couldn’t capture better than fifth during the first half of the season, claiming fifth-places finishes at the Some might consider it déjà vu but conference tournament Sept. 30 and Sam with the 2009 golf season set to begin Houston State Invitational Oct. 14.

Monday, The University of Texas-Pan UTPA will try to use last season’s American men’s golf team has a dif- spring opener as a motivation tool ferent attitude. Instead of believing in heading into the Schreiner Spring Clashistory, the Broncs sic but if history is will take a little molikely to repeat itself, Next Golf mentum with them then the Broncs must into the Schreiner try to avoid it. After Competition Spring Classic in the JBM title, the men Kerrville, Texas. struggled the rest of Last season, the Schreiner Spring the season, excluding Broncs opened the the National Minority Classic spring campaign with Championships.

Feb. 16 the Jack Brown MeThe Broncs placed morial Tournament Kerrville third out of 14 teams championship, placat the Minority Chaming first out of six teams. But then pionships, an annual tournament both they struggled during the fall season, programs have fared well in throughfailing to capture beyond fifth place out the years. UTPA will be led by 6-2 in three tournaments, including the senior Shane Pearce, who is averaging America Sky Golf Conference Cham- 74.0 strokes a tournament; in the fall pionships. he was the lone Bronc to garner a firstThis season, the Broncs have fol- place finish at the Nebraska Fairway lowed suit.

Club Invitational Sept. 9.

By Ramiro Paez The Pan American

At their second meet of the semester, The University of Texas-Pan American traveled to Houston to compete in the UH All-Comers meet where they captured one title in the men’s distance medley relay and 14 top-10 finishes.

“It was a nice tune meet for us to get ready for a bigger meet in College Station,” said first-year assistant coach Jennifer Leatherman.

Two local products had fine meets, as Wally Gonzalez placed fourth in the 800-meter run and Omar Doria finished in sixth place in the same race. Both attended Edinburg North High School.

Luis Nava took home second place in the 3,000-meter run with a time of 8:44.25. The men’s distance medley relay team crushed the opposition with a first-place time of 10:13.97, which was 20 seconds ahead of the pack.

Gonzalez, Nava, Gilroy Martinez and J.J. Hernandez competed for the relay team.

The track and field program, which has been without a head coach since Dennis Darling moved to the University of Texas Arlington before the season, have had Leatherman and Hugo

Cervantes at the helm trying to work with the athletes as much as they can to prepare them for upcoming meets.

“It’s a lot of work but I really enjoy what I’m doing and the kids are really working hard for me,” said Leatherman, a graduate of Penn State. “Their dedication and hard work I think will pay off.”

Leatherman also said she gives what the team gives.

“If they want to put in the work I’m more than happy to stay and do all the

extra stuff to help them be the best they can be,” she promised.

The Broncs and Lady Broncs travel to College Station this weekend to compete in the Texas A&M Invitational.

“It’s stiffer competition,” Leatherman said of the meet. “We’re just going to go in and try to improve on our marks so we go into conference with a lot of confidence trying to come out with at least some individuals as conference champions or at least a top-three finish.”

Men’s and Women’s Track and Field Spring Schedule Feb. 13 Feb. 28 March 7 March 13 March 21 March 27 April 1 April 11 April 18 May 1 May 15 May 23 May 29 June 10 June 24

Texas A&M Showdown Great West Championships Border Olympics Bobcat Open NCAA Indoor Championships Kingsville Invitational Tom Tellez Invitational Texas Relays Ty Terrell Relays UT Twilight Ohio Valley Championships Great West Championships Last Chance Meet NCAA Regional Championships NCAA Outdoor Championships AT&T USA Outdoor Championships

College Station Vermillion, S.D. Laredo San Marcos College Station Kingsville Houston Austin Beaumont Austin Richmond, Ky. Houston TBA Norman, Okla.

Fayetteville, Ark. Eugene, Ore.

Page 16

THE PAN AMERICAN

February 12, 2009

FEATURE

By Kevin Stich The Pan American Rewind to about 14 years ago, and eager true freshman guard Lalo Rios was being told he wouldn’t see much playing time, if any, during his career with the University of Texas-Pan American men’s basketball team. Four years later, he walked off the hardwood with his head held high -- at the time holding the UTPA career record for three pointers made with 207 (now second all-time) and the standing career record for most minutes played with 3,463 – a sweet piece of irony.

Today, Rios spends his time coaching and passing on his knowledge to the boy’s basketball team at Johnny Economedes High School in Edinburg. Rios is one of several former players to have gone on to embark on a coaching career in basketball.

Others familiar names, such as McAllen High coach Roy Swift, Weslaco High coach Gabe Valdez and Harlingen South coach Brian Molina, all slipped on the Bronc uniform at one time or another. Former Lady Broncs turned coaches include Economedes coach Kelly Garrett, Edinburg North coach Jenny Gaytan and Edinburg High coach Rachel Carmona.

Sports Commentary

They may be out of the college scene, but they haven’t forgotten being a part of UTPA history.

“Some of my fondest memories were the experiences of playing against topnotch Division I schools,” said Rios, who starred for Edinburg High before becoming a durable starter at the next level. “It’s a great honor. I was a guy coming out of high school, who, the coaches told me there at Pan Am, that I would probably never get a chance to play. So, I think it means a lot to know that, not only that I did get to play, but that I was able to do well enough to hold some records.”

A 6-10 center from 1984-1988, McHi’s Swift also reflected on some of the great moments in UTPA history that he experienced.

“Having the opportunity to watch Ray Meyer coach the DePaul team at the UTPA Field House, going out to play the University of Texas El Paso when Don Haskins was the head coach there -- I think they were ranked in the top 20 in the nation at the time, and we had an opportunity to beat them and we lost by five,” Swift said in a phone interview. “But my greatest memory is the year we went 20-8 under Lon Kruger.”

That club in 1985-86 had stars in Michael Anderson and Kevin Johnson besides the imposing Swift, in Kruger’s last season at Pan American University. Swift, who was at Weslaco before coming to McHi, has the Bulldogs ranked No. 1 in the Valley this season, so he’s been able to translate his winning college days onto the coaching turf.

A common theme among the former players who are now coaches is this: passing on their experiences to young players.

They preach seemingly archaic theories like teamwork not individualism, ball movement, defense and hard work.

Garrett, who has coached the girl’s basketball team at Economedes for three years, competed for UTPA from 19931997 and is second in lifetime assists (292), ninth in career three-pointers (59) and tenth all-time in free throws made (142). She explained how she moved from the court to the clipboard.

“I always wanted to be a coach,” said Garrett, who has led the Lady Jags to the playoffs twice. “After I graduated I got a job over in McAllen at a middle school, and then coach [Teresa] Casso from McHi asked me if I’d be interested in coaching her freshman team. That’s how I got into it

down here and I like it down here.”

From the fan base, to the role in the community, the players themselves said things seemed to be different “back then.”

“I think – and I had this conversation with a couple of ex-teammates of mine -- I think back when I played there, and the players that played before I even attended the university, here in this area, we were faces in the community,” Swift said. “We would go out and put on clinics at the Boys and Girls Club and we would practice at local high schools. And we were just so approachable.”

Swift expressed that it was all about coming together. With fewer resources, the ‘80s Broncs had more obstacles to overcome.

“We just had that mindset that we were just going to be tougher than our opponent and that’s the way we played,” the Mac leader said. “We just wanted to uphold that tradition of just trying to being a tough independent at that time and it just came out.”

As UTPA basketball has grown in popularity, so has the Bronc legacy. Former players turned coaches like Swift, Rios and Garrett are living testimonies to that history and pass on what they learned every day to the players they now coach.

Special Collections Archives

LALO RIOS

KELLY GARRETT

Ben Be n Br B io ones nees/T /Th he P he Pan an Ameri rica can ca an

Isaa Is aacc B Baarr rrie ien nttess//T Thee Pa an n Ameri meeri m rica can

Stop blowing smoke, no stoner here

By Ramiro Paez The Pan American You’re either with him or against him.

That’s the way people have felt since learning about the Michael Phelps bong situation last week. In a tabloid photo, Phelps was caught smoking from a marijuana pipe at a University of South Carolina dorm, when he visited the campus for a football game Nov. 8.

The photo resulted in a three-month suspension by USA Swimming.

It’s no doubt that people quickly began to judge Phelps for his wrong doing, but seriously, who are we to judge? C’mon this is Michaels Phelps, a 14-time gold medalist.

This is the same guy who humbly poured his heart and soul out for his country and himself during last year’s Olympic Games in Beijing.

Anyone who watched the 23-year-old prosper toward becoming the greatest swimmer in the world would admit that they will remember him for success rather than his regrettable mistake. We all make careless errors. It’s just about learning from them and moving on.

Yes, it was a stupid choice for Phelps to make. He knew he was taking a risk of the photo reaching the media and creating an uproar in the public, which is exactly what happened.

Also, what was a camera doing there? Was he not aware of it? If he was, that should have been reason enough to refrain from the act.

But like they say, “What’s done is done.”

If there’s anything that we learned about Phelps from the past two weeks is that this guy is human after all. People began to look at him as some sort of superhero who magically powered his way to eight gold medals in Beijing, showcasing an absolute ridiculous performance.

Phelps has sincerely apologized to his fans and family, saying that he ‘acted in a youthful and inappropriate way.’ He is now contemplating whether he wants to compete in the 2012 Olympic Games in London because of all the media and public scrutiny.

The only reason Phelps feels extremely depleted is because of what people are making him out to be. He was supposed to serve as a role model not only to aspiring athletes, but especially the youth. Once that trust was betrayed, people have begun to alter their outlook.

There’s no way to prove whether Phelps has tried marijuana before but it’s not likely that we have another Ricky Williams on our hands. At least he’s not that much of an idiot to walk into a nightclub with a loaded gun, then accidentally shoot himself in the thigh after forgetting to hit the safety. We won’t mention any names but we all know we could go on and on with athletes making poorer decisions.

If you think about it, no one in the national spotlight these days can serve as a reliable public figure. Unless you are really naïve, there’s not one person who is oblivious to the fact that people sometimes try drugs. That’s it.

Get over it. If anything, we’re the ones who should be more forgiving of a poor choice a kid made.