March 26, 2009

SXSW coverage; See pages 10 & 11

Volume 65, No. 24

THE PAN AMERICAN

March 26, 2009

LOCAL

Forum discusses media coverage on drug war

By J.R. Ortega The Pan American In mid-February, the scene in Reynosa was violent and bloody with a shootout that made international headlines. However, it was just one act of drug cartel violence in recent times along the U.S.-Mexico border.

In response to the ongoing crisis, a border forum was held Wednesday

as part of the university’s annual Pan American Days celebration addressed the drug war and its coverage in the media, with several local and Mexican media dignitaries and the effects it has on border cities.

In attendance from the local media were Sergio Sanchez, director of KURV-AM 710 Talk Radio; Jeremy Roebuck; a reporter from The Monitor; Octavio Saenz, anchor for

KHRIO Fox 2; and Will Ripley from KRGV-TV NewsChannel 5. Mexican media reps included Hector Jimenez, editor of Hora Cero newspaper; Meliton Garcia De la Rosa of Expreso newspaper; and Fernando Lopez from Radio Xtrema 95.3. West Coast-based border blogger Deborah Bonello was also in attendance.

The Office of International Programs sponsored the event, with

help from the departments of modern languages and communication.

The event lasted for nearly two hours with a crowd of 150 listening intently to the back-and-forth and weighing in with their own comments.

Though on opposite sides of the border, both U.S and Mexican media outlets said at the 2nd annual border forum that narco-terrorist violence has already spilled over into the Val-

ley and United States.

“We need to avoid falling into a false sense of security,” said Saenz about the Valley’s comfort zone. “Ladies and gentlemen, there already is a spillover.”

A more muscular response to the violence pitting drug cartels against law enforcement has been made since Mexico President Felipe Calderon’s

See BORDER || Page 5

ADMINISTRATION

Chancellor Cigarroa visits university

By Brian Silva The Pan American For the first time since taking office, University of Texas System Chancellor Francisco Cigarroa visited the university March 13. While here he toured the campus and participated in several discussions with faculty, staff, students, and administrators.

Alongside the chancellor were 10 administrators from the System office who also led and participated in conversations about UTPA issues, concerns and aspirations. However, the discussions were behind closed doors and were largely billed as private conversations between the chancellor and faculty, staff and students, according to System administrators.

System administrators arrived at around 8 a.m. and departed around 4

p.m. In the only public event of the visit, Cigarroa and his fellow System administrators were introduced at a breakfast with university and community leaders at the International Room of the ITT2 building.

During the breakfast Congressman Ruben Hinojosa, D-Mercedes, and UTPA Interim President Charles “Chuck” Sorber commented about the future of the university and System’s new leader.

Hinojosa offered Cigarroa a personal welcome to the Valley and noted the latter’s hometown of Laredo and Hispanic heritage as a connection to the Bronc community.

“Your election as chancellor is a point of pride for South Texas,” Hinojosa said, adding that in tough economic times worldwide, the uni-

See CHANCELLOR || Page 8 & 9

Ben Briones/The Pan American

WARM WELCOME - UT System Chancellor Francisco Cigarroa meets and talks with Jaime Ramon, UTPA Foundation Chairman during his visit March 13.

MEMORIAM

PROGRAMS

International Programs faces change Alumni, teacher among

By Naxiely Lopez The Pan American The Office of International Programs at The University of TexasPan American is dealing with major changes, including integration into the university’s new information system, higher tuition fees, a faculty salary increase, and the resignation of Director Marilu Salazar.

The main administrative change

INDEX

came when Salazar, who helped the Office develop for 17 years, resigned Friday after receiving what she felt was a better offer.

“I’m a commuter,” she said. “I drive from Corpus Christi every week, and this new job will be closer to home.”

Each year close to 400 students experience the world through three types of programs organized by the OIP. Of those, says Salazar, an average of 250

OPINION PG. 2

students participate in faculty-led programs taught abroad by UTPA professors during the summer.

Before fall 2008, students participating in faculty-led programs could enroll and receive financial aid without having to register for classes online. They would register directly through OIP in what Glenn Martinez, executive director for international programs and professor in Modern

See INTERNATIONAL || Page 5

NEWS PG. 3

those killed in accident

By Ana Villaurrutia The Pan American

Sabina Martinez could no longer fight back tears as she wished Alberto Garza Jr. a happy birthday in a speech at his memorial held at the Johnny Economedes High School gym Monday. The posthumous wish was all the crowd of mourners could give to a beloved friend

ARTS & LIFE PG. 10

who met his untimely death in a Mexican bus crash March 16.

And as the senior wrapped up her speech, Martinez’ fellow classmates, who sat in the first three rows, were also overcome with emotion and shared a box of tissues.

“I spoke from the heart,” said Martinez, who would go straight from the

See GARZA || Page 5

SPORTS PG. 13

Page 2

THE PAN AMERICAN

March 26, 2009

Opinion

Opinion

Dorm policies not Violence is an American issue conducive to campus life Brian Silva Managing Editor

Gregorio Garza Co-Sports Editor

For a university that is trying push itself away from the image of a commuter campus, they are not doing that great of a job.

For those living in the dorms, a long holiday or break from school is not merely a time to relax, but a time to look for other lodgings. When Spring Break came around last week, the school closed down along with its services, among them the dorms and food services.

If wanting to remain in the dorms, you found yourself facing a fee to stay in the very place you already paid for before the semester. And this is not the only slap in the face; since the cafeteria was also closed, there was no food to be served for those that choose to stick around on campus.

Heritage Hall, which was once the women’s dorm, had a complete kitchen with stove and all, but after renovations, all that is left to cook with is a microwave. So unless you are a wiz with the microwave and cook with it,

you were left with cold cuts and TV dinners for good ol’ home cooking.

Yet still, there is more insult to this injury. Anyone living in the dorms must purchase a meal plan depending on how one chooses to eat, ranging from 10 meals a week to 14 meals or the full 21. If you miss one meal of the week, and don’t use it, well, sir, you have just lost your money. The meals you buy are only good for one week and do not carry over, nor can you offer one of your feasts for one day of the week to feed a friend in need of nourishment, since they can only be used by the person buying them. This means that if you don’t eat lunch one day, that same day you cannot offer that meal to a friend for dinner to eat with you.

But for those not living in the dorms, purchasing a meal plan allows one to carry meals over, and feed a famished pal.

Other big universities allow this for those living on campus to make living on campus more attractive, but I guess Pan Am didn’t get that memo.

Vol 65, No. 24

March 26, 2009

1201 West University, CAS 170 Edinburg, Texas 78539 Phone: (956) 381-2541 Fax: (956) 316-7122 EDITOR IN CHIEF J.R. Ortega / eortegaz5@utpa.edu MANAGING EDITOR Brian Silva / basilva1@utpa.edu ASSOCIATE EDITOR Ana Villaurrutia / alvillaurru@utpa.edu A&L EDITOR Laura Garcia / ldgarcia2@utpa.edu ASSISTANT A&L EDITOR Isaac Garcia / izek_el@yahoo.com SPORTS EDITORS Gregorio Garza / ggarzaz26@utpa.edu Pedro Perez IV/ pperez@utpa.edu PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR Ben Briones / ben.briones.jr@gmail.com DESIGN EDITOR Roy Bazan / rbazanzz@utpa.edu 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.

The violence in Mexico that has dominated national news lately is a multifaceted problem that requires a solution just as complex.

Although it is simple to see the events and judge them as they are, thousands of vicious killings mostly related to cartel affairs, it is not as simple to dissect the causation of them and understand the media’s fascination with violence that has brewed for many years now. Even since I can remember I’ve known violence was a commonplace in Mexico.

Yesterday a panel of members of local media at Pan American Days discussed the continuing carnage and its coverage by the media. It was enlightening to see the disparity in views between press representatives from Mexico, the Valley and the nation.

To note some background, violence was ramped up two years ago when Mexican President Felipe Calderon took office and promised to crack down on the cartels. The people of Mexico were seemingly tired of the cartels’ death grip on the nation.

When news of military and police action against the narcos came down the news wires there was barely a mention of it by national media outlets. The general attitude back then was: we’re not affected thus we don’t care. It was Mexico’s problem.

I must make mention that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, visiting Monterrey this week, said the violence is an “American problem.”

A couple of years ago when Calderon’s administration was well into its offensive there were some blips on a few of this nation’s cable media outlets when the fighting started bubbling up. Most notable were the rivets of gunfire between cartels and federal police in Nuevo Laredo. The gun battles were bloody, taking their toll on both sides of the conflict.

Amid the coverage of these battles, journalists were bound by their duty to bring the news to the people. But, any coverage that had depth and identifications also brought them death threats. The cartels made true their threats and gunned down several journalists.

A year ago I went to Nuevo Laredo with my reporter pad and tried to let my curiosity overpower fearfully quaking knees and pounding heart. I was hoping all along the phrase “curiosity killed the cat” only applied to cats.

I went to the city’s daily newspaper El Manana, where the lobby and newsroom had been shot up by cartel members upset with the paper’s coverage of the conflict.

A concrete wall stood in front of the entrance.

A cautious editor told me about the violence while tiptoeing around any details

that may have endangered his staff. Those who stayed at the newspaper felt a sense of duty to report the information to their community, but were very mindful of the consequences of any misstep in reporting.

They faced down danger to cover the cartels.

It is abundantly courageous of them to swallow fear and be dutiful toward reporting the truth to the public.

I went by the radio station where a reporter was gunned down on its grassy lawn while entering for the day’s work. The view had to be quick, though, as Mexican troops passed by on both ends of the streets, with machine guns pointed outward to confront a sudden moment’s trouble.

Hours earlier the gunned down reporter had been reporting on a crackdown federal police were conducting on the region’s cartel. There are many more of these instances of journalists being killed, but the truth must be reported.

Across the river in Laredo I interviewed the city’s mayor, Raul Salinas, who had an interesting view. He claimed the violence is all journalist hype and that reporting of it was just Yellow Journalism and screaming headlines.

On Feb. 18 CNN’s top story was headlined “drug violence spins Mexico toward civil war.” We have now entered into a period where violence in Mexico is daily news, and second in the headlines only to the economy.

After the small blip of violence in Laredo faded when the cartels were choked out of the city, news from Mexico faded as well. However, we are now faced with additional surges of strife as Calderon’s administration pushes its offensive further.

The atrocities the killers commit have begun to mirror the sort committed by insurgents in Iraq.

Remember the ferocity we had when the American contractors were burned alive and hung on a bridge in Fallujah for all to see? Was this all that different from the hangings in Mexico that are displayed as a warning to people? Or the beheadings? Or the kidnappings? Or the tortures filmed on video and posted on the Web? Though the action is mostly in Mexico, and cartel-induced, why do we have the mass news coverage?

We are at a moment of a great awakening to the realization cartels are inside the United States. People who once lived comfortably in Middle America now must face the reality that cartels are entrenched in their cities.

It was thought that drug lords only lived on the Mexican side of the border. Now we know they have houses here. They live in America.

President Obama is now referencing this as a national concern, and is taking action. But, in the previous couple of decades before there was no concern, by national

politicians and or media.

The simple reason lies with the answers Mayor Salinas gave me. His answer is the same type of reply I heard Valley politicians give reporters; the problem is mainly media rhetoric.

Those affected by violence before were thought to be mainly those Americans who lived closest to the border. However, the border leadership never complained.

KRGV reporter Will Ripley said at yesterday’s forum that when he talked to McAllen Police Chief Victor Rodriguez about violence spillover, the chief was more concerned about business and dismissed the crisis as media hype.

Now, Rodriguez has sufficient reason to paint a peachy picture. His bosses, the McAllen City Council, want a danger-free image for McAllen. If people knew about cartel presence in the area, commerce to the city might be significantly impacted.

This is the same philosophy I intuited from Mayor Salinas.

The border regions depend on the commerce Mexico’s wealthy provide. Thus cartel activity and presence was kept hushhush. If local leaders don’t complain, then the Valley’s leadership in Washington won’t complain to the nation’s leaders.

Now it is much more than just Valley leaders faced with cartel-related danger.

Such violence is emerging in the interior of the United States, as Obama said recently.

As dealing with the situation has become a concern for local law enforcement across the nation, it now becomes a concern for the leaders who represent them.

Now that Washington has raised the red alert, the media have simultaneously raised awareness and coverage as well.

Congress is grappling with an economic crisis, but now ideas are brewing on how to deal with a spillover of violence from south of the border.

To rid ourselves of the crisis, we must rid ourselves of the causation.

It is simple to say it, but it is a difficult thing to implement. The fact is, violence is deeply rooted in American society. Plus, cartels supply the drugs we use, and we pay them billions for it.

Every blunt and block of weed in this country has the blood of the 6,000 police, troops, men, women, and children that died last year in Mexico to get that drug to an American’s hand.

Our addiction will never cease. The violence will thus never abate.

We can talk till we’re blue in the face about border walls and adding troops and police, but unless the billions in funds we give to the cartels is cut off, they won’t stop sending the goods.

It’s going to take a comprehensive plan by a group of very intelligent leaders not only in Mexico, but in the United States as well, to find a way out of this vicious circle.

Dates to Know: FESTIBA presents Sandra Cisneros Saturday, March 28 4 p.m.

Student Union Theater March 26, 2009

THE PAN AMERICAN

Social Justice/Peace Conference submissions due Wednesday, April 1 email justiceconference@ gmail.com Page 3

STUDENT ACTIVITIES

Congressional roundtable to discuss media

By Kristen Cabrera The Pan American This Friday as a part of FESTIBA (Festival of International Books and Arts) The University of Texas-Pan American and U.S. Congressmen will host a roundtable discussion in the Student Union Theater at 10 a.m. The topic is titled “Stimulating Engagement In Literacy Through Cultural Expressions In the Arts and Media.”

The panel will be discussing how lit-

eracy, especially in the Valley, is being affected through the culture in the arts and media.

Participants in the discussion are Rep. Rubén Hinojosa, Rep. Solomon Ortiz, Hidalgo County area coordinator Froy Garza representing Rep. Henry Cuellar, President of Reading Is Fundamental Carol Rasco, and Juan Carlos Frey, director of the independent film “The Gatekeeper,” which deals with border relations between the United States and Mexico. Also

joining the panel is literary director for the Texas Book Festival, Clay Smith, who is looking forward to the discussion with his fellow participants.

“I’m excited about being involved. It’s an impressive group of people,” he said.

Smith was interested in being a part Friday’s panel because of his role in the Texas Book Festival and how he feels illiteracy affects the community.

“Literacy rarely gets the attention that it needs in our culture,” he argued.

“And it’s nice to have not just one…

congressmen that are interested in the most effective way to get people involved in books. A lot of funding goes to science and that’s great but literature has lessons to teach us that science doesn’t.”

At the event, participants will each remark on a certain sub-topic having to do with the overall subject. Then a conversation among attendees will follow. One subject that is vital to Smith is about media, in regard to the public and economy.

“When we have an economic downturn like we do, you see that a lot of newspapers are closing, things are pretty dire in the media world,” Smith said. “One of the things that happens is art coverage is the first thing that’s cut.”

Smith went on to express the importance of arts in the media.

“It’s unfortunate that it happens it may be hard to put numbers on that, but it does enrich the community, as a former journalist it is always sad to see that go,” he said.

SEEN AND CAPTURED

STUDENT ACTIVITIES

Renowned author to visit university for FESTIBA

By Laura Garcia The Pan American Sandra Cisneros is coming to town. For those actively involved in literary circles, Cisneros conjures up thoughts of “The House on Mango Street” or “Caramelo.” For those not familiar with Cisneros, she is a Mexican-American author who writes of what she knows: her culture and womanhood.

As part of her national tour for the 25th anniversary of “The House on Mango Street,” which also coincides with The University of TexasPan American’s FESTIBA Community Day, she will visit the campus Saturday at 4 p.m. at the Student Union Theater she scheduled appearances at local libraries prior to the weekend.

When Virginia Haynie Gause, UTPA’s web and marketing librarian, was contacted by Cisne-

ros’ publisher Vintage Books, about bringing down the highly acclaimed author, Gause quickly jumped at the chance.

“She is same caliber as the influential people who normally come here as part of the Distinguished Speakers Series,” Haynie Gause said, adding she was more than happy to get the ball rolling on hosting one of the best known Latina authors. “She has been someone Hispanic teenagers could identify with.

She loves her culture and values creativity. She has taught and inspired many other creative writers.”

Cisneros was born in Chicago in 1954, the third of seven children.

She received her B.A. in English from Loyola University in Chicago in 1976 and an MFA in creative writing from the University of Iowa in 1978. Since then, she’s been a teach-

See FESTIBA || Page 6

Ben Briones/ The Pan American

SAVE A LIFE - Donor Care Specialist Everardo Vela preps Annel Zamarron’s arm with alcohol before she donates blood Tuesday afternoon at the UTPA Library.

ACADEMICS

SAFETY

SCIT goes online for marketing aid Recession makes engineering

By Nadia Tamez-Robledo The Pan American

Of the thousands of students who walk the hallways of college campuses every year, one out of every four will suffer from an episode of depression by age 24, according to statistics from Healthy Minds, an online resource provided by the American Psychiatric Association.

The Student Concern Initiative Team, a cooperative program comprised of several campus support services, tried to make it easier to get students the help they may need by

posting its referral form on The University of Texas-Pan American web site homepage March 6.

“This is putting (support services) in place to link students to those services when they need it,” said Lise Blankenship, advisement director of Counseling and Psychological Services and one of three members of SCIT who are in charge of reviewing the reports.

Anyone who sees signs that a student may be at risk of hurting themselves or others can make an anonymous report online by clicking “Concerns About A Student?” under

Announcements and Information.

The report is then reviewed by Blankenship, Assistant Director of the Office of Student Life and Transition Services Christine Carruthers, and Sgt. Delma Lopez of the UTPA Police Department.

“The best thing a friend can do is report,” Blankenship said. “The bottom line is they’re doing their friend a favor. We’ll do everything in our power to help the student.”

SCIT was created in October 2005 by former Dean of Students Jerry Price after a similar program he

See SCIT || Page 6

job opportunities more scarce

By Abby Flores The Pan American

Since fall 2008, people around the nation have been affected by the economic downturn. And it’s not just the exiting workforce that has been hit by the credit crunch and its aftershocks.

Students planning to graduate in 2009 may find the hiring climate a bit daunting, as those who have already left the university are finding out.

This year, students at the Univer-

sity of Texas-Pan American majoring in engineering have struggled to find job opportunities after graduation. For many students, plans have changed and they have chosen to continue education toward a master’s degree instead.

The reasons are tricky. First, more and more people enter the field of study. While the average number of graduate applications increases approximately 3 percent each year, many

See CAREERS || Page 6

Page 4

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March 26, 2009

March 26, 2009

NEWS

Page 5

INTERNATIONAL continued from Page 1 Languages, described as a shadow system because students who traveled abroad were not technically UTPA students.

“The old system worked in a way where you really weren’t a UTPA student, even though you were in a UTPA class, with a UTPA faculty member abroad,” he added. “When you came back, that credit transferred to UTPA. The same way it would if you were at UT Austin or UT Brownsville.”

However, when the university switched from Assist, the student information system that enables online access to records and personal information for students and faculty, to a similar system called Banner; the way OIP dealt with enrollment had to change.

“If we continued to do Study Abroad the way we were doing it before, students were not going to be eligible for financial aid,” he said. “And

if we took financial aid away, I suspect at least half of them would not be able to go.”

According to Martinez, before the software switch was made, registration, enrollment and financial aid were all separate systems. Under Banner, however, they were all placed under the same system, which meant only students who were registered were eligible to receive financial aid. In order for students to register for those classes, however, the classes had to be offered through Banner, meaning OIP had to migrate to the new system as well. Otherwise, everything would have to be financed from the student’s pocket or from scholarships.

Integration, however, brought more changes, some which have been met with disdain. Student fees were added to the overall tuition for faculty-led programs beginning this year, increasing the cost an average of $206 per

BORDER continued from Page 1 decision to raid the cartels in December 2006 and send military troops to northern Mexico. These actions have escalated the feud between the drug cartels and federal government, prompting a larger local and even national media spotlight on the U.S.Mexico drug war.

Numerous reports have cited at least 6,000 people, both U.S. and Mexican, that have died since 2008 as a result of the troubles.

The street battle on Feb. 17 in Reynosa killed at least five people and raised concern from residents, as it involved innocent bystanders and not just people engaged in illegal activities as was the norm in the past.

“It’s the first incident that we covered in Mexico that I was really concerned about,” said Roebuck, who covers courts and border issues for the McAllen paper.

Ripley stressed the fact that violence on the Mexican side has already affected the Valley. He mentioned Channel 5’s interview with two members of the Zetas drug cartel, and numerous other acts like kidnappings and even a grenade that was tossed into a Pharr nightclub earlier this year.

“People are burying their heads in the sand,” said Ripley about people’s lack of awareness about spillover.

“It’s our job not to scare people, but make to them aware…this is not just a Mexico issue.”

The increasing number of reporter deaths and threats against journalists has led to self-censorship, whereby reporters, especially south of the border, have been intimidated into either not covering the situation or soft-pedaling the coverage they do engage in.

Several students at the forum asked why Mexican journalists seem to shy away from the tough stories, but the representative from Mexico had a ready explanation.

“To do investigative journalism and go after it is certain death,” Jimenez said.

program. Martinez notes, however, that a student who is studying abroad will not pay the same fees a student studying on campus would.

“If a student is not reasonably able to use a service, the student is not going to be charged that fee,” he said.

Fees that will be dropped for summer 2009 include the $125 student service fee, $35 recreation fee, $15 student union fee, and $10.60 medical service fee – an amount totaling $185.60 that study abroad students will not have to pay.

However, OIP is still trying to ease the cost on students.

“International programs will help bridge the cost gap,” Salazar said, “at least for this year.”

According to Martinez, the office will use money accumulated from the $1 international fee that every student is charged each semester, to help pay for this difference. This fee is usually

used to provide scholarships for students wishing to study abroad.

The good news is that an increase in faculty salary is expected as well.

“Before integration, a professor who chose to teach abroad would make less than a professor who chose to stay and teach on campus,” Martinez added. “To go abroad and teach is probably twice as much work and you’re getting half the pay. Now, they will receive the same amount.”

Martinez says a professor teaching a summer course on campus normally earns one-twelfth of their nine-month salary. To handle this expense, formula funding, or money given by the state to the institution, will be used. Before Banner, study abroad courses were not generating this type of funding, but because they have integrated into banner, this will change as well. OIP will now generate an estimate of $100 per credit hour per student enrolled in

a faculty-led program.

“I think it’s a positive move,” said Salazar, in reference to the integration. “It will definitely help the study abroad programs grow.”

That goal is shared by Martinez.

“I want us to be a magnet for study abroad,” he added. “And this is one thing Marilu helped do. She took us from no study abroad 17 years ago, to UTPA being number two in the UT System.”

For now, the Office currently seeks a new director, and is hoping to become no. 1 among international programs in the state. So far, there is no interim director, but Martinez is confident the Office will manage.

“I think a transition always affects the operation of the office,” he said.

“I’m trying to do what I can to step in, but it’s a very committed staff, who have been there for a very long time, so I think they will be able to step up and fill the gap.”

GARZA continued from Page 1

He and his colleagues added that though journalists may have the desire to do in-depth reporting on the drug war, they must weigh the risks that are attendant, and very real.

According to Saenz, much of the local media just scratch the surface of the border violence story. There are root causes of the problem that speak to elements such as poverty, corruption and lack of education, he suggested.

“You can cut the top of the weed as much as you want but unless you pull at the root you aren’t going to get rid of it,” Saenz said.

POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS While an exact solution to this thorny problem cannot be pinpointed, Mexico journalists at the forum argued that that a decrease in American demand for drugs would lessen the violence.

“Drug leaders are caught every day in Mexico. Who is being caught over here?” De la Rosa questioned.

Roebuck, however, said stronger ties with Mexico can help battle this cross-border drug war which has been raging at a high pitch for the last 18 months in cities from Tijuana to El Paso and occasionally the Valley, or at least in locales such as Reynosa, Monterrey, and Matamoros.

“The real solution outlined is communication on both sides,” said Roebuck.

Saenz also said the idolization of drug dealers in popular culture has made the illegality almost seem glorified. He cited Forbes magazine’s editorial decision to place one of Mexico’s most wanted drug dealers, Joaquin Guzman, on its list of billionaires.

He reiterated that as long as people continue to make good money from the trafficking of drugs across the border, there is no end in sight.

“I don’t care if you have a doctorate. You will not make as much as a drug dealer,” he said.

Ben Briones/The Pan American

IN MEMORIAM - Nancy Gonzalez (middle) a senior student at Johnny Economedes High School, breaks down when speaking about late teacher Albert Garza, who died in a Mexico bus accident last week. service to performing in a UIL play Garza had directed her in before his death. “You can’t really write something like this…he had taught me well.”

Garza’s students also wore sashes reading “He’s still our daddy,” a name Martinez said Garza would give himself when he was directing his students.

As the procession continued, many colleagues made their final goodbyes, and soon the entire room had expressed grief. Many knew Garza for his dedication to students and his keen ability to direct plays, and others remembered his love of cooking, especially his “legendary” cakes, and his love of traveling.

But now these attributes are only a memory. On the eve of Spring Break the JEHS director for theater arts and University of Texas-Pan American alumni became one of 11 Americans and Canadians who died while traveling on a tour bus to Zacatecas, Mexico, after a tractor-trailer collided with the bus outside of Saltillo.

News of the tragedy trickled quickly through RGV news sources that day, and sent Professor Emeritus of Theater

Marian Monta scrambling to find out whether her old student was on the bus.

She got a call early Tuesday from a former student about the accident.

“We all went online, but the stories would either get the wrong age or city,” said Monta, adding that as the day wore on she learned out that Garza and four other Valley educators had died. “I was shocked (when I found out) about someone I’ve known this long…he was so alive and vibrant.”

Monta noticed his dedication and ability to understand the art of drama, especially when he gained the role of Oedipus in “Oedipus Rex.” “Oedipus is a very tough role, and everyone expected someone else to gain the role, but he worked hard at it and got the part,” she said.

Over the years she said Garza found his experience come in handy.

“He wasn’t the kind of guy who came in to get his paycheck,” said Monta. “He spent the extra time and energy because he knew it was better for the kids.”

After graduating with his bach-

elor’s in theater from what was then Pan American University, Garza, originally from Brownsville, went to the Old Globe Theater in San Diego, where he studied costuming, which Monta said was his passion at the time.

Once he returned to the Valley, Garza earned a master’s in theater, and directing became his main interest.

Garza began teaching for Edinburg Consolidated Independent School District in the mid 1980s. In 1991 he developed a theatre program for Edinburg North High School before settling at Economedes in 2000, where he started the new school’s theatre program.

His youngest brother, Severo Garza, said he was happy to see the community pay their last respects.

“It’s incredible, to see the turnout and hear from the people,” Garza said.

“I wish he could have a look at how much he meant to everybody.”

Garza leaves behind his father Alberto Garza and four surviving sisters: Diana Nelson, Ruth Garza, Norma Parker, Lupita Garza, plus his brother and 11 nieces and nephews.

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March 26, 2009

NEWS

FESTIBA continued from Page 3 er, a counselor, an arts administrator and a visiting writer at other universities across the nation. Other books include “My Wicked Wicked Ways” (1987), “Loose Woman” (1994) and “Vintage Cisneros” (2003), a compilation of her works. “The House on Mango Street,” written in 1984, has been translated into over a dozen languages, including Galician, French and German. The story is of a young girl and her struggles grow up on Mango Street in an impover-

ished Chicago neighborhood.

Whether one has read her books for fun or because a chapter analysis was due the next day, it is evident in her writing that the towns she speaks of could easily be in South Texas.

According to the Texas in Focus report from the State Comptroller, South Texas is 81 percent Hispanic, making the situations her characters find themselves in or the conflicts they grapple with instantly relatable.

This is why Dr. Robert Johnson,

who teaches South Texas literature at UTPA, says local students take interests in her books.

“Many of my students have read this book and found an early love for literature in it,” Johnson said.

“I think they also saw themselves and their family members in the book, and that’s a very important experience for young readers - to know that they and their family and friends matter enough to be written about, too.”

CAREERS continued from Page 3 universities have seen a jump from 10 percent to 20 percent since last year, according to the Council of Graduate Schools in Washington D.C. In peak hiring times, no problem.

But it has meant more applicants for fewer jobs, given the economic climate. In many past cases, students at UTPA with engineering degrees were given several offers to mull over, and had time to think. Now, the offers are more scarce, but there is still room for optimism.

It is indeed a mixed bag, and a complicated environment. According to NACE (National Association of Colleges and Employers) research, colleges hiring in all fields has dropped by 22 percent since September 2008.

But large companies such as Lockheed, Boeing and others in the areas of logistics, transportation, and utilities expect to hire more college graduates as full-time employees from the Class of 2009 than they did from the Class of 2008.

Another option is to get work before work, so to speak, in the form of internships, where part-time toil can lead to a full-time gig down the road.

“Internships help a lot. One thing is having study habits and another is having good work ethics,” said mechanical engineering graduate student Eleazar Marquez, who served an internship with the Texas Department of Transportation.

But again, many students are reading the signs of slowdown as a chance to keep on going on the educational road.

“I’ve received one job offer. I turned it down; it wasn’t what I was looking for. I’d rather continue my

education and have a secure job,” said president of the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers Pedro Gonzalez III, set to graduate in mechanical engineering this summer.

Like many peers, Gonzalez took the advice given about employment while in school, interning with Cooper Cameron, a company that designs oil wells.

“Companies want someone who is involved and with leadership positions, rather than someone who has a 4.0 GPA and no experience,” he said.

For Marquez, working toward his doctoral degree was always a plan.

But with the economic downturn, it only made sense for him to continue with his master’s, then go out and look for a job.

“There’s always someone who knows more than you do,” Marquez suggested. “The best advice is to finish your master’s or doctorate. This will help you in making you the best qualified for the job.”

Defense companies, which build missiles, weapons and satellites, aren’t as affected either; according to Ramirez, this year they’re looking to hire anywhere from 300 to 400 engineers nationwide in 2009.

“Government agencies weren’t affected, they’re still hiring engineers, but there aren’t as many opportunities as there were before,” Ramirez said.

“I encourage students to make themselves flexible, take what is offered to them now, gain the experience and later take the job they want.”

This year’s UTPA Career Fair also experienced a downturn in the amount of companies that participated in the

Cisneros currently resides in the King William Historical District in San Antonio and is famous for having painted her home purple, despite cit regulations.

She is also a writer-in-residence at Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio and is currently working on several projects including a collection of fiction “Infinito,” a children’s book, “Bravo Bruno,” and another about writing titled “Writing in My Pajamas.”

SANDRA CISNEROS SATURDAY STUDENT UNION THEATRE Her speech starts at 4 p.m. and is open to the public. The speech is part of FESTIBA’s community day. She is best known for her book “The House on Mango Street,” which celebrates its 25th anniversary.

SCIT continued from Page 3 search for 2009 graduates. An estimated 80 companies attend the fair every year; this year, only 50 came, reflecting a situation happening nationwide in many industries. Of the 12 companies that attended to look for engineering help, only five were interviewing students on campus.

Halliburton, a U.S.-based oilfield service with operations in more than 70 countries, canceled interviews with engineering students at UTPA, due to a job hiring cut-down. Halliburton attends the career fair each year and hires approximately 6 to 10 students each semester.

“Halliburton received a call from headquarters, and we had to cancel the interviews. It’s getting tough out there, and companies are looking for the top students. They’re going to hire those who have done internships,” Ramirez said. “GPA is a huge factor; they want the cream of the crop.”

Private industry companies have become more competitive, and due to location most job offers are located up north. Students need to be willing to adapt to change to stay marketable.

And in the past, they’ve done so and done it well.

“I believe that there is a strong sense of intellectual capital as the important source of creating new wealth,” said Edwin W. Lemaster, dean of the College of Science and Engineering. “Many companies will take the long view and see this as a chance to get some very talented students at moderate salaries. Our students have proven themselves to be hard workers, loyal to their employers, and well prepared.”

worked with at Drake University in Iowa. Organizations involved include the Office of the Dean of Students, Counseling and Psychological Services, the UTPA Police Department, Student Judicial Services, Student Health Services, and Residence Life.

“It’s a way for departments with a lot of interaction with students to communicate about students who have lit the radar in one of our areas,” Carruthers said.

Carruthers said in the past SCIT was promoted primarily to faculty and staff, but the school shooting at Virginia Tech in April 2007 reaffirmed the importance of support services to the university and led to a “shift in philosophy” about advertising the program to students.

After a year of nationwide discussion to identify what led to the shooting, it took an additional year to develop a solution that would best serve the campus.

“Most of the reports come from faculty and staff, but our hope is to get more students involved,” Carruthers said. “In reality, you have more contacts with your peers than I would even if I did nothing but walk around campus.”

After Carruthers, Blankenship and Lopez determine that a student needs immediate attention, the dean’s office will contact the student and refer them to the services best suited for them.

“In general, students are very receptive,” said Carruthers. “It makes most students feel better knowing there is someone who is concerned.”

Blankenship said that students are referred to Counseling and Psycho-

logical Services for issues ranging from depression to paranoid schizophrenia and risk for suicide.

If a student shows they are at immediate risk of harm, the UTPA Police Department may be asked to conduct a welfare check for a student located on campus or contact the Edinburg Police Department for off-campus students. Signs that someone may need a welfare check include making statements that they want to take their own life or want to hurt others.

“Depending on the situation, we should be able to track down the student, but that’s only if there’s an emergency that needs to be addressed,” Lopez said. “Maybe it’s not something we can take care of at that time, but at least the person would be on our radar.”

Notifications made to SCIT are reviewed 24 hours a day, seven days a week and on holidays. Carruthers recalled that she, Lopez and Blankenship even contacted each other on Christmas Eve last year to discuss a report sent that afternoon.

“Each member takes their role very seriously,” she said. “All members of the team have mobile devices so we can stay on top of it. Our goal is to get to it as soon as possible.”

She stressed that no one should hesitate to speak up if they feel that a student is in need of help.

“We don’t want students to think that any concern is too small to report,” she said. “The more information we have and the longer we have it, the more we can work with someone to make their college experience a success.”

March 26, 2009

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UT Chancellor visits Page 8

THE PAN AMERICAN

March 26, 2009

March 26, 2009

THE PAN AMERICAN

Page 9

(TOP) MEET AND GREET - Chancellor Cigarroa meets with several other university officials.

(TOP RIGHT) UNDERSTANDING - University officials get to talk and know more about UT Chancellor Cigarroa.

(TOP) STANDING TALL - UT System Chancellor Francisco Cigarroa speaks to university adminstration March 13.

(TOP) MEET AND GREET - Chancellor Cigarroa meets and talks with University Relations Director Sandra Quintanilla.

(TOP RIGHT)GOOD TIME - Chancellor Cigarroa meets with VP of University Advancement Janice Odom.

CHANCELLOR Continued from page 1 (TOP)POWER TEAM - Chancellor Cigarroa meets with (left)Bruce Reed, dean of college of health sciences and human services, Dahlia Guerra, dean of college of communication and Van Reidhead, dean of social and behavioral sciences.

POWER TEAM - Chancellor Cigarroa meets with (left) Felo Guerra of the UTPA Foundation, Vice President of University Advancement Janice Odom Photos by: Ben Briones Layout by: Roy Bazan

versity is vital to the Valley economy.

“These are challenging times for our nation and university community,” Hinojosa said, and went on to reiterate that the university serves as an economic engine for South Texas.

Offering a note of hope, Hinojosa looked toward the new leadership in Washington D.C. and at System as an opportunity for progress. Hinojosa chairs the House’s subcommittee on higher education.

“With your leadership and support we will thrive,” he said, looking toward Cigarroa.

In sync with Hinojosa’s message about the university’s impact on the Valley, Cigarroa acknowledged the influence of UTPA. “We all understand what type of value Pan American has… it is a tremendous asset to the Rio Grande Valley,” he said. “A university such

as Pan American can provide those opportunities to grow and expand (people).”

Cigarroa explained to the crowd of local leaders that this visit wasn’t the first time he’s set foot on the campus. He acknowledged that when he was a boy, his school in Laredo took him to the planetarium at this university, marking the first time he’s even stepped foot on a college campus.

He said that this university had an effect on him and to this day affects other youngsters.

“You never really realize the power of influence a higher education institution has on youngsters,” he said. “It inspires our children.”

Like Hinojosa, Cigarroa referenced the downturn, explaining that education is a key to sustaining America’s economic stature in the world as well as advancing the economy.

“We need to see how we can fundamentally do things better,” he said. “The UT System will be a leader not only in the U.S. but also in the world.”

In Hinojosa’s comments, he briefly mentioned where he’d like to see the university go in the future.

“We will make this a research institution someday soon,” he said. “There’s hope, and I think we can do it.”

Throughout his remarks, Cigarroa emphasized the university’s impact on the young people of the Valley.

“Think about how important it is for young students today to expand their intellectual horizons,” he said. “At the end of the day, the greatest gift you can give is an education.”

UT Chancellor visits Page 8

THE PAN AMERICAN

March 26, 2009

March 26, 2009

THE PAN AMERICAN

Page 9

(TOP) MEET AND GREET - Chancellor Cigarroa meets with several other university officials.

(TOP RIGHT) UNDERSTANDING - University officials get to talk and know more about UT Chancellor Cigarroa.

(TOP) STANDING TALL - UT System Chancellor Francisco Cigarroa speaks to university adminstration March 13.

(TOP) MEET AND GREET - Chancellor Cigarroa meets and talks with University Relations Director Sandra Quintanilla.

(TOP RIGHT)GOOD TIME - Chancellor Cigarroa meets with VP of University Advancement Janice Odom.

CHANCELLOR Continued from page 1 (TOP)POWER TEAM - Chancellor Cigarroa meets with (left)Bruce Reed, dean of college of health sciences and human services, Dahlia Guerra, dean of college of communication and Van Reidhead, dean of social and behavioral sciences.

POWER TEAM - Chancellor Cigarroa meets with (left) Felo Guerra of the UTPA Foundation, Vice President of University Advancement Janice Odom Photos by: Ben Briones Layout by: Roy Bazan

versity is vital to the Valley economy.

“These are challenging times for our nation and university community,” Hinojosa said, and went on to reiterate that the university serves as an economic engine for South Texas.

Offering a note of hope, Hinojosa looked toward the new leadership in Washington D.C. and at System as an opportunity for progress. Hinojosa chairs the House’s subcommittee on higher education.

“With your leadership and support we will thrive,” he said, looking toward Cigarroa.

In sync with Hinojosa’s message about the university’s impact on the Valley, Cigarroa acknowledged the influence of UTPA. “We all understand what type of value Pan American has… it is a tremendous asset to the Rio Grande Valley,” he said. “A university such

as Pan American can provide those opportunities to grow and expand (people).”

Cigarroa explained to the crowd of local leaders that this visit wasn’t the first time he’s set foot on the campus. He acknowledged that when he was a boy, his school in Laredo took him to the planetarium at this university, marking the first time he’s even stepped foot on a college campus.

He said that this university had an effect on him and to this day affects other youngsters.

“You never really realize the power of influence a higher education institution has on youngsters,” he said. “It inspires our children.”

Like Hinojosa, Cigarroa referenced the downturn, explaining that education is a key to sustaining America’s economic stature in the world as well as advancing the economy.

“We need to see how we can fundamentally do things better,” he said. “The UT System will be a leader not only in the U.S. but also in the world.”

In Hinojosa’s comments, he briefly mentioned where he’d like to see the university go in the future.

“We will make this a research institution someday soon,” he said. “There’s hope, and I think we can do it.”

Throughout his remarks, Cigarroa emphasized the university’s impact on the young people of the Valley.

“Think about how important it is for young students today to expand their intellectual horizons,” he said. “At the end of the day, the greatest gift you can give is an education.”

Dates to Know: “Wait Until Dark” play Fri. and Sat. 8 p.m.

Sun. 2 p.m. CAS 107 Page 10

THE PAN AMERICAN

FESTIBA Community Day Saturday 3 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Across campus March 26, 2009

ENTERTAINMENT

Austin festival introduces audiences to new sounds

By Victor Ituarte The Pan American AUSTIN – Every spring for the last 22 years, Austin has been home for the South by Southwest (SXSW) festival, which features an interactive media conference, a film conference and festival, and a music conference and festival. Unlike the Austin City Limits Music Festival, which is held within the confines of a temporarily gated Zilker Park, SXSW is more of a city-wide celebration of music with venues all over town holding their own showcases for no admission fee during the day, while there are official SXSW shows at night; the true essence of a festival.

The festival’s original goal at its inception in 1987 was to “create an event that would act as a tool for creative people and the companies they work with to develop their careers, to bring together people from a wide area to meet and share ideas,” according to SXSW.com.

In 1994, the event evolved, adding its film component and interactive media, which includes anything related to technology or the Internet.

A group from The Pan American obtained courtesy wristbands for the popular gathering of artists and musicians, and blended with the crowd while trying to capture the essence of the festival.

Ben Briones/The Pan American

PERCUSSION - A percussion band performs a spontaneous set on 6th Street as a group of an estimated 20 festival-goers dance in front of 50 spectators.

This year there were literally over 1,000 artists uniting in the “Live Music Capital of the World” to share their music. Whether one walked into venues during the day for free shows or decided to pony up the dough for a wristband or an all-access badge, with at least 20 performances at any given moment, the experience was particularly unique.

The most exciting part of the SXSW Music experience is discovery of new music when it is least expected. We discovered The Ferocious Few while trying to find the other half of our party. A walk across from the bookstore Book People to kill time before a Perez Hilton book signing led to out witnessing a performance by The Pains of Being Pure at Heart at Waterloo Records.

THE FEROCIOUS FEW San Francisco myspace.com/ferociousfew They were barely visible to passing cars being set up in the gravel next to a sidewalk along the stretch of stores and restaurants on busy South Congress. But once within earshot, we found it hard to escape the quick beats, high energy, and the lo-fi sound of the Bay-area band.

The duo visited SXSW with hopes of making connections, networking with people, and finding a booking agent, but

mostly to practice a quirk they developed at home: they continuously play in random locations to promote their music.

“We have a compact unit and play all over the place as much as possible,” said guitarist/vocalist Francisco Fernandez as he connected his Crate Limo amplifier to a power source for another performance after its batteries drained.

Vigor exuding from the petite amp, an eclectic audience formed. Some tossed one-dollar bills, fives, or cigarettes into the empty drum case that also held copies of a demo, on sale for $5.

Drummer Daniel Aguilar, 28, appeared to be possessed as his body rumbled while performing. Fernandez jokingly called him “Thumper” (after the “Bambi” character) for the way he dug a hole in the dirt with his foot while drumming.

A woman in her late 20s walked by and hardly gave them a glance, but returned several seconds later with a $20 bill in her hand. She dropped it in the case and picked up a copy of the CD humbly contained in a paper sleeve.

Before departing, a blonde child of about 4 with shades, jeans, and boots separated from his mother to stand in front of the duo as they cranked out more tunes. The enthusiast swayed and jumped and bobbed his head taking in the live music; Fernandez smiled at him encouragingly.

Ben Briones/The Pan American

QUAFF - Seiya, lead vocalist for Tokyo band Quaff, reaches at a video camera as his band performs to a backtrack on 6th Street.

March 26, 2009 THE PAINS OF BEING PURE AT HEART New York City myspace.com/thepainsofbeingpureatheart With outfits straight out of an indie flick, The Pains of Being Pure at Heart possesses qualities that would make the NY group fit perfectly in a prom setting.

The soft vocals, gentle synthesizer, romantic tone, were fine with sweet song titles such as “Everything with You” and “Teenager in Love,” the latter very fitting for a last dance.

It became evident during betweensong banter that the band’s name reflects member personalities.

“Thanks to Waterloo Records.

They’re great, they gave us T-shirts,” vocalist Kip Berman said. “We’ve had a wonderful week. We’re sad we have to go back to New York.”

The ensemble performed on a tiny stage to a snugly packed music store, all eyes watching.

Discovery is only part of the festival experience. Arguably the best scene is seeing several of your favorite artists in the same location during the same couple of days. Here are some acts I was looking forward to and how they fared.

BROOKE WAGGONER Nashville myspace.com/brookewaggoner Classically trained at Louisiana State University, 24-year-old Brooke Waggoner took the stage at a calmly crowded Maggie Mae’s Thursday with her keyboard, two violinists, cellist, and backup vocals.

What sets Waggoner apart from other female pianists is that her orchestration is arranged solely or largely by her.

The extremely talented songstress care-

THE PAN AMERICAN fully crafts her music to carry and build up emotion with catchy solos and confounding crescendos. She commands beautiful music with every stroke on her piano.

The highlight of the performance was when a SXSW volunteer approached Waggoner as she was introducing the last song of her set, to let her know her time was up.

“I guess we’re done,” Waggoner said to the crowd, which started chanting for one more song. The SXSW volunteer, after hesitation, asked Paper Route, the next band, if they were okay with allowing her one more tune. In true Austin fashion, they agreed.

Fortunately for fans, Waggoner closed with “My Legionnaire,” a sixminute-plus tale of a soldier that she’d go to the end of the world for.

TINTED WINDOWS New York City myspace.com/tintedwindows Most people would be surprised to learn that pop rock group Tinted Windows is comprised of one member from Smashing Pumpkins (James Iha), Cheap Trick (Bun E. Carlos), Fountains of Wayne (Adam Schlesinger), and Hanson (Taylor Hanson). But when the Big Apple-based band took the stage, they carried their own zesty pop sound.

Despite buzz they’ve received from music blogs and Web sites, there was hardly any way to sing along as they only have one song (“Kind of a Girl”) on their MySpace page and nothing available for download or purchase elsewhere.

“I appreciate you all receiving so well songs you’ve never heard,” Hanson said to a crowd of about 450 as they performed one of their first shows at Pangaea on 4th Street. Spectators peered over shoulders trying to get a better view while others stood on fancy couches.

Ben Briones/THE PAN AMERICAN FUNNY GIRL - Comedian/actress Janeane Garofalo performs at Esther’s Follies to a packed house Friday during SXSW.

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Although the mega group is comprised of obviously seasoned musicians, it was a shame to see awkwardness fester between songs when Hanson didn’t have much to say while the rest of the band tuned for the next number.

Regardless, Tinted Windows is sure to impress when they release their debut record April 21.

Honorable Mention QUAFF, Tokyo Performing on 6th Street with unconnected guitars, to music blasting out of a giant boom box, this six-piece group drew much attention. They combine traditional Japanese music with pop and rock.

DANANANANAYKROYD, Glasgow, Scotland A fun name with a more fun high energy rock sound, this band mixed two drummers in a live show, one of whom doubled with screaming backup vocals.

LIAM AND ME, Philadelphia Channeling ‘80s synth pop, Liam and Me’s presence exceeded the tiny stage at Thirsty Nickel. Lead vocalist Matt O’Dowd sports a faux cockiness, which makes it a treat to watch them as much as dance to their music.

RA RA RIOT, Syracuse, NY This group injects pop and catchy riffs into the music flowing out of their violin, cello, keyboard, and other rock band staples. They’ve performed on several late night shows and graced the stage at Rachael Ray’s party at SXSW as well as Cine El Rey in McAllen two weeks ago.

Ben Briones/THE PAN AMERICAN CHO IS FUNNY - Friday comedian Margaret Cho tells the crowd at Esther’s Follies of her raunchy preferences. This is the second year SXSW has incorporated stand-up comedy into the festivities.

Ben Briones/THE PAN AMERICAN SIDEWALK SHOW - San Francisco band The Ferocious Few plays an impromptu set to passersby in the gravel beside a sidewalk on South Congress Avenue Wednesday.

Page 12

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March 26, 2009

Dates to Know: Women’s Golf

UALR Women’s Golf Classic March 30 Hot Springs, Ark. March 26, 2009

THE PAN AMERICAN

Track and Field Texas Relays April 1 Austin

Page 13

MEN’S TENNIS

Broncs defeat nationally ranked Texas A&M-Corpus Christi

By Kevin Stich The Pan American After opening with a loss to start March, The University of Texas-Pan American men’s tennis team has established some consistency as of late, going 3-2 during Spring Break.

The Broncs had lost eight of their last 10 events prior to the break, but found some good fortune at home against rival UTSA March 14. The weather conditions less than favorable, with the rain and cold forcing two location changes; the match eventually commenced at McAllen Country Club.

The Green and Orange defeated the Roadrunners outright, winning 4-2 to take the event without a win from sophomore Aswin Vijayaragavan who, despite winning his first set 6-4 lost in two subsequent sets, 6-3 each time.

“Here and there I got a point out because of a line call,” Vijayaragavan said. “That cost me the match I would say, but that’s alright…the ref made some mistakes, it happens. We forget the past and go on with the present.”

Notably, New Zealand native sophomore Andrew “Kiwi” Irving was given Southland Conference Men’s Tennis Player of the Week honors to become the first UTPA player this season to receive the distinction.

“I think it’s an amazing achievement to get that award,” Irving said. “It’s a big honor because I’m the first (Bronc) this season to get that award and it’s

Isaac Barrientes/The Pan American

DYNAMIC DUO - Junior Bret Bernstein (left) and sophomore Aswin Vijayaragavan celebrate with a chest bump on their 8-6 win against doubles team Mikhail Pavlov and Dmitry Novikov, the nation’s 80th-ranked duo. just amazing that I could do that.”

Four days later the Broncs dominated Southeastern Louisiana University at home March 18, winning 5-2.

Vijayaragavan faced off against big server Stepan Siska, but easily defeated him 6-1, 6-4.

“I played pretty good I felt,” he said.

“I did this basics right, so I’m happy about it. Mainly my motto was to hold

serve. I’m sure he was going to miss a couple of serves here and there.”

With a day of rest behind it, the team set off to The 51st Annual Hampton Inn Galleria Rice Invite in Houston. Friday and Saturday UTPA lost the first two matches to Rice and San Diego State respectively, falling 4-0 in both.

However, with a steely determination the Broncs rallied on Sunday to

earn a victory over nationally ranked No. 39 Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.

“I’m certainly excited by the fact that we played so well against them,” Interim Head Coach Chris Gill said.

“It’s something the guys really deserved and that we knew was coming.

We just took a while to get there.”

As if beating a ranked team weren’t enough, Nirvick Mohinta garnered

Southland Conference Men’s Tennis Player of the Week honors after defeating Mikhail Pavlov 3-6, 6-3, 6-4. It makes for the second time in March a UTPA player has received conference POW honors.

“He’s probably the one I’m most proud of. There was a chance that he might not have been on the team if the old coach had his way,” Gill said. “And then coming back to play the guy who is usually No. 1 player at Corpus, and coming back from a set down to win it against the best player on a highly ranked team, he really deserves it.”

Despite former head coach Rob Hubbard’s exit in December and the team’s erratic schedule earlier this year, Gill said that the Broncs have leveled off and can now focus on the rest of the season.

“A lot of it has to do with getting back in a routine,” he said. “With the beginning of the season, from one day to the next our schedule was changing due to cancellations and things like that. The guys would prepare themselves to play a match and then they’d find out that they weren’t playing that weekend and it’s really tough not to know what to expect… Now we’re at a part of the season where we do know what to expect, we know who’s coming and we’ve played these guys before, and so now it’s just a matter of going out there and playing our best.”

The Broncs will look to keep on that steady pace as they go on the road March 29 to face UT Arlington.

VOLLEYBALL

Lady Broncs face worldly foes as they travel Italy during Spring Break

By Ramiro Paez The Pan American Not too many people ever get to say they’ve traveled across seas. The rare trip across the Atlantic Ocean often gets labeled as “an opportunity of a lifetime,” and The University of TexasPan American women’s volleyball program got to experience one.

While most spent their Spring Break under the sun, the Lady Broncs traveled to Italy last week to face some of that country’s elite volleyball teams.

“We saw some of the best volleyball in the world,” said head coach Angela Hubbard, who’ll enter her third year this fall. “We had some of the best competition and really enjoyed touring the areas that we did.”

The Lady Broncs played three professional teams from the Italian Volleyball League, facing off in four sets against each team, claiming just one set of the 12. Hubbard noted the

competition was a good challenge to prepare the team for the upcoming season, which is surely to see yet another demanding schedule.

Some of the toughest opponents the Lady Broncs saw during the regular season in 2008 were Miami (Fla.), Texas Tech and Stephen F. Austin, according to Hubbard. But she suggests those U.S. squads probably would have suffered losses in Italy as well.

“European style of play is a lot different than over here in the States,” she said. “It’s a lot more relaxed.

They’re very smart players; they read really well and when they go up to hit, they hit extremely hard. We probably haven’t and probably won’t ever face hitters that hit as hard as they did.”

This was the first time the program has participated in an international tour, which was arranged by Bring It On Promotions, a professional agency specializing in preparing tours for university volleyball squads. The trip

was funded by team’s fundraising, but players mostly financed their own expenses.

The Lady Broncs also got the opportunity to tour some of Italy’s finest cities for five days and see its culture. Players wrote about their experiences while they visited the cities of Venice, Pordenone, Verona and Milan, all which were posted on the UTPA official athletic Web site (www.utpabroncs.com) during Spring Break.

“It was a lot different than what I expected, I would have to say,” said Kellie Phillips, an outside hitter from Arizona. “But I thought the overall experience was a blast and definitely once in a lifetime. They were really good. You know how soccer is real big in Europe, the No. 2 sport is volleyball there, so it was really big deal.”

A trip of this kind can only take place every four years per team, according to NCAA rules, but Phillips says it is something the

program should continue to do for future players, because it can aid recruitment.

“You get to see how they live and

how their lifestyle is like in Italy,” she said. “If you were to get recruited, go play there, you get a good taste of what it would really be about.”

Laura de la Fuente

MAMMA MÍA - UTPA’s volleyball team visited Verona’s famous amphitheatre, the Arena, during its travels around Italy.

Page 14

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March 26, 2009

March 26, 2009

SPORTS

Page 15

WOMEN’S GOLF

Baylor Invite brings siblings together; Lady Broncs place 12th

By Sara Hernandez The Pan American Last week was the first time Haley and Natalie Hocott encountered one another at a college golf tournament.

“It was interesting,” said sophomore Haley Hocott. “I’ve played tournaments with her, but there’s nothing like a college tournament.”

Natalie, Haley’s sister, is a senior at Baylor University, which hosted the Baylor Invite March 16-17, where The University of Texas-Pan American women’s golf team finished 12th of 14 teams with 978 strokes in three rounds of 18 holes.

The sisters are from San Antonio, and learned golf together with the influence of their parents, Richard and Brenda Hocott, who were part of the Texas and Texas A&M golf teams in the 1970s, respectively.

Richard Hocott is a 20-year PGA member, while his wife played on the LPGA tour from 1980 to 1984.

“My parents taught us,” said Haley, who like her sister is a MacArthur High School graduate. “We were practice buddies and she made me be in the high school team when I was a freshman.”

According to Haley, being raised playing together fostered competition between them, but also caused them to inspire each other to excel.

“We’ve always had a competitive side to us, but at the same time we’re each other’s bigger supporter,” she

said. “I love to see her do well and she means the same for me.”

Haley Hocott, who led UTPA tied in 32nd with 83-78-78 for a total of 239, noted that being able to see Natalie before playing was special, since the sisters usually call before matches to motivate each other.

“I got to hug her and wish her good luck in person, and I saw her a couple of times when we were passing by,” she said.

Natalie Hocott tied in 14th with a score of 233.

The Lady Broncs finished day one of the two-day competition in 14th with a score of 660 and concluded the remaining 18 holes climbing up two spots in the last day of activity.

“The first day was a real struggle, it was challenging, it was what a golf course should be and they had a little bit of an eye-opener,” said second-year men’s and women’s golf director Ofelia Lopez. “We had obviously an unsuccessful round; however we refocused for the last day and they played well.”

The Lady Broncs completed 318 strokes in the third round, improving the first and second by 16 and eight points respectively.

Senior Mariale Camey tied in 47th with 245 (82-81-82) followed by freshman sister Maria Jose three strokes behind with senior Bronwyn Sandberg, both tied in 59th at 248.

Freshman Sarah Kothny recorded a couple of 89s and an 81 to finish tied

in 74th among 82 participants with a score of 259.

Lopez commented that although UTPA had a rough start, the team managed to keep its spirits up and fought until the end.

“They played with their heart and they came back and dug their dignity and their pride and they can leave respectfully,” she said. “The last day… we were in contention, so I commend them for coming back and not giving up.”

Haley Hocott mentioned that participating in big tournaments like the Baylor Invite last week and the UALR Women’s Golf Classic is going to get the Lady Broncs ready for important tournaments as the Great West Conference Championship, and the Minority Collegiate Golf Championship next month.

“All these are baby steps to what we want to do for Conference and Minority in a couple of weeks so we want to have a good show and boost our confidence,” she said.

With the last stretch of the season ahead of them, the Lady Broncs prepare for the University of Arkansas Little Rock Women’s Golf Classic March 30-31, and then will travel to Houston for the Great West Conference Championship.

“I’m just looking to stay in contention,” Lopez said. “I’m looking for them to be on their A-games because we’re getting ready for conference.”

Roxy Solis/The Pan American

WATCH THE BIRDIE - Sophomore Haley Hocott jumped 11 spots on the last day to finish the competition in 32nd place with a total score of 239. The Lady Broncs head out March 30 for the UALR Classic.

BASEBALL

Mantrana admits team injuries, lack of depth continue to plague team

By Pedro Perez IV The Pan American The Green and White took to the diamond most of last week having only two days off the entire Spring Break.

The 5-19 Broncs had a decent outing during the week, recording two wins against Prairie View A&M. Unfortunately for the Broncs though, Notre Dame and Jackson State added five more losses to their record.

First-year head coach Manny Mantrana knows his players are strong but even the toughest gladiators suffer from wear and tear.

Injuries have been plaguing the Broncs this month. Most recently centerfielder Billy Donaho broke his wrist, and it will cause the Houston native to miss the rest of the year. Shortstop Andrew Perez just got back from a strained elbow, second baseman Abe Garcia has a hurt shoulder, and third baseman Jose Garcia has been grinding it out for a month now with a strained shoulder.

“You know the injury bug has hit us, and to begin with we weren’t very good as far as depth,” Mantrana said.

“We are definitely paying a price in not having depth.”

The lack of backups is a problem Mantrana inherited.

“There is a reason you have eight

Roxy Solis/The Pan American

OUTTA HERE - Junior first baseman Garrett Bivone stretches for a catch during last week’s matchup against Jackson State March 16. The Broncs return home today to host New Mexico State for a three-game series. straight losing season,” he said. “And that reason is poor recruiting.”

He explains that there is no way a team would have eight straight losing seasons if recruiting were done correctly. When Mantrana was brought on board he knew the problems the

Broncs had and so it has come as no surprise that so far the season hasn’t turned out well.

On paper the Broncs are struggling as the records provides the proof. It hasn’t been terrible at the plate, with a .285 team average. Garcia leads the

group hitting .373 and Mission native Iradier Hernandez is at .360.

On the mound, though, the Broncs are 255th in the nation with an 8.13 ERA. Marcos Martinez leads the Broncs with a 5.87 mark. They have not been able to get hitters out and

have surrendered 222 runs this year, an average of 12 per game.

With half the season under their belt the Broncs continue to work tirelessly to try to improve one game at a time. “(We) continue to work with the boys,” Mantrana said. “(We) teach them and work with them so they can develop the abilities.”

Hopefully for the Broncs, the win column can grow and if it doesn’t Mantrana said it isn’t going to be because of lack of work ethic, intensity, or wanting to win.

“When you win it’s a lot better than losing, and myself and my coaches are used to winning,” Mantrana said.

The players Mantrana feels for most are the seniors on his squad.

Players like Austin native Nick Spears, Weirmar native Shane Janecka and Waxahachie native Jordan Rutenbar are in their last season of collegiate baseball.

“In the future, the underclassmen will have the taste of victory a lot more often,” Mantrana said. “I just feel bad for the seniors because they didn’t get a taste of what it’s like to be on a championship team.”

Up next for the Broncs is a threegame home stretch against No. 24 New Mexico State. The first pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. tonight at Edinburg Baseball Stadium.

Page 16

THE PAN AMERICAN

March 26, 2009

WOMEN’S GOLF

WOMEN’S Cactus Cup Results 1st Place Overall 1st in 400-meter dash Cici Lott 1:01.98 2nd in 400-meter dash Sara Hernandez 1:02.15 4th in 400-meter dash Karla Garza 1:08.99 1st in 4x400-meter relay UT-Pan American 4:13.21 7th in 800-meter run Melissa Martinez 2:34.36 9th in 800-meter run Daniella Estevene 2:39.04 2nd in 1500-meter run Diana Galloso 4:59.71 7th in 1500-meter run Lariissa DeLeon 8.53 9th in 1500-meter run Melissa Martinez 5:31.91 11th in 1500-meter run Daniella Estevene 5:43.78 1st in high jump Melinda Sariemento 1.58m 5-2.25 3rd in high jump Abby Garza 1.53m 5-2.25 1st in pole vault Kate Shannon 3.35m 10-11.75 2nd in long jump Lili Cavasos 5.29m 17-4.25 3rd in triple jump Lili Cavasos 10.97m 36-00.00 1st in shot put Amanda Ferris 14.53m 47-8.00 2nd in shot put Stephanie Perez 13.41m 44-00.00 3rd in shot put Michelle Elizondo 12.75m 41-10.00 1st in discus throw Stephanie Perez 47.10m 154-06 2nd in discus throw Amanda Ferris 35.96m 118-00 3rd in discus throw Michelle Elizondo 33.45m 109-09 1st in hammer throw Amanda Ferris 54.94m 180-03 2nd in hammer throw Michelle Elizondo 48.50m 159-01 4th in hammer throw Stephanie Perez 38.90m 127-07

Sports Commentary

Women place 1st as the men take 2nd at Cactus Cup

By Pedro Perez IV The Pan American Last weekend, as students were slowly starting to turn the gears of their brains for the start of the final stretch of the semester, some athletes were already performing at top levels of competition in Kingsville.

The men’s and women’s track and field teams competed in the Cactus Cup hosted by Texas A&MKing Ki ngsville, along with host TAMUK andd Te an Texa xass A& A&M M-Co M-Co Corp rpus rp us C Chr hriis hr isti ti. i.

Thee Lad Th Lady dy B Bro ronc ncss ea earn rnedd 6600 p ints po t wit ithh firs rstt-pl plac lacee finiish shes hes iinn th the 400-metter da 40 dash sh, 4x 4x40 4000-me mete terr re rela lay, y, high jjuum ump, pole ump, l vaul ult, t sho hott pu put, t, pplus the di disc s us andd ham amme merr th me thro rows ws.

“II’m m extremelly plleased ed on on ho how w th thee enti en tire re tteam pe perf rformed on S Sat atur at urda day in Kin ings gsvi svill lle, e,”” firs rstt-ye year ar hhea e d coachh Dave Hartman said id. “Th Thee wo women’s team captured the Cactus Cup Title in the he co comp mpet etit itio ion. n.”

In the 4400 00,, Ce 00 Ceci cili ci liaa Lo li Lott tt aand nd Sar araa Hernandez finished within a second of each other to gain the two topp spotts, sp s, wit wit ithh Lott Lott marki king 1:01 01.98 98 andd Hernandez in at 1:02.15.

In the mile relay the Lady Bro roncs fini nish shed ed w wit ithh a time of 4:13.221, whi hile le sophomore an soph andd Pr Proggreso nat ativ ivee Meliindda Sa Sariimi mien ien entto to mad ade de hi high ighh jum ump of 5-22.225 ttoo win in the prize.

Senior Se or S San an Antonio native Amanda Ferr Fe rris added two more first-place rri fini nish shes e to he es herr re r sume in the shot put

and hammer throw. Her 47-8 throw in the shot and 180-3 effort in the hammer earned her a qualification for the NCAA Regional Championships May 29 in Norman, Okla.

“Amanda qualifying for regionals in the shot put and hammer throw was tremendous for us,” Hartman said. “There are some minimum marks they (throwers) attain to qualify for regionals, she threw over those Saturday.”

The Bronc men tallied 42 points for a second-place finish, behind TAMUK with 88 points. The Broncs had top performances in the 800-meter run, 1,500-meter run, 110-meter hurdles, and 3,000-meter steeplechase.

UTPA dominated competition in the 800-meter with Wally Gonzalez placing first with a time of 1:54.08.

Omar Om ar D Dor oria ia, Gi Gilr lroy oy M Mar arti tine nez andd Andr An drew ew L Lop opez ez ccam amee in ssec econ ondd, tthi hird rdd andd fift an fthh pl plac acee re resp spec ecti tive vely ve ly.. ly The Bron Th Bron oncs css allsso so do domi mina mi nate na tedd th te thee fiel eldd inn th the he 150 15000-me meteer run as Luis Navaa, Martinez, Doria and Loope pezz finiish shed hed e iinn the top four spo pots ts of the race.

“W Wit ithh it being Spring Break I’m m extremely pleased th ex that at a llot ot of of ou our ur athletes cam me ou out to perform wheree theyy lef eftt of ef off during the indoor season,”” Hart Ha rtman said id..

The track an Th andd fielld te team am hhit itss th thee road agaainn Friday F to com compe pete te iinn thee Toom Tellez Inv th nviitat itatio iona nall at Ric Ricee Un niver iv sity i in Ho Houston.

Hartman is ooptimistic on hhow o thee team is goingg to t perform at the event..

“I th think we’ we re going to do well,”” he said. “I’m look okin ingg fo forw rwar ardd ho how w wee h ve hhad ha ad rrea eall so soli lidd we week ek ooff pr prac acti ticce s ffar so ar aand nd tthe he athletes aree gett getting backk ge sttri ring ing of thhin ings g aft fter S Sprin ingg Breaak and I expeectt gre gre reat pper erfo er form form rman man ance cess fr ce from from m everyb ybbod o y.”

MEN’S Cactus Cup Results 2nd Place Overall 7th in 100-meter dash Jonathan Chapa 11.35 7th in 200-meter dash Jonathan Chapa 23.61 3rd in 400-meter dash Isai Pena 51.86 6th in 400-meter dash Eliud Rodriguez 53.13 1st in 800-meter run Wally Gonzalez 1:54.08 2nd in 800-meter run Omar Doria 1:54.14 3rd in 800-meter run Gilroy Martinez 1:54.45 5th in 800-meter run Andrew Lopez 1:56.65 13th in 800-meter run Jose Granados 2:08.13 1st in 1500-meter run Luis Nava 4:06.89 2nd in 1500-meter run Gilroy Marinez 4:08.06 3rd in 1500-meter run Omar Doria 4:08.99 4th in 1500-meter run Andrew Lopez 4:10.36 6th in 1500-meter run Wally Gonzalez 4:14.13 8th in 1500-meter run Angel Ramirez 4:18.40 9th in 1500-meter run Vidal Ruiz 4:21.10 1st in 100-meter hurdles Noel Reyna 16.53 1st in 3000-meter steeplechase JJ Hernandez 9:29.78 2nd in high jump Noel Reyna 1.88m 6-2.00 3rd in shot put Oscar Barrera 41.78m 42-6.75 2nd in hammer throw Oscar Barrera 45.03m 147-09 2nd in javelin throw Jose Sciaraffa 48.17m 158-00

LILI CAVASOS LUIS NAVA

AMANDA FERRIS

WALLY GONZALEZ

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Why outdoor is different than indoor

By Sara Hernandez The Pan American It’s like a fresh start, but not really.

After two months of not having to worry about wearing sunscreen for indoor track meets, track and field’s outdoor season is finally here. And with it come longer distances, new events, further throws, and higher jumps.

Indoor season, the winter part of the track and field routine, takes place on a 200-meter track, so sprint events are shorter than they are in outdoor; the 100-meter dash becomes a 60-meter dash, the same as the hurdles, which is a 60-meter run for both the men and the women. The average outdoor track is 400 meters long.

The switch to outdoor running is one with complications as far as training is concerned.

The 400-meter dash plays tricks on one’s mind because runners are used to going one lap to complete the quarter mile; now they have to go twice around with tighter curves on flat tracks, making it impossible to go full-speed for more than 50 meters. This affects times drastically because it’s hard to maintain the equilibrium in sprint events such as the 400 and the 200, though some indoor tracks have banked curves that help runners balance when going full speed.

Several athletes say they get claustrophobic with all the events happening in a relatively small facility, while others prefer the shorter events and being able to cheer for several teammates from the same location.

“Everything seems faster in indoor,” said freshman sprinter Karla Garza, biology major of Sharyland. “It was a lot different from what I was accustomed to all through high school.”

But it is now March; spring just started, as well as the spring part of the season: outdoor.

“In outdoor, more people get to come and compete, they either need to pick up another event or get left home in indoor,” said kinesiology major Amanda Ferris, a senior of San Antonio. “Plus you get to work on an awesome tan.”

Athletes don’t have to worry about tight or banked curves anymore, but natural factors like the sun and wind play a role in competition. The sun tends to absorb energy, but it may be cold as well…

I have always found funny how we feel the gust blowing with all its might when it’s against us, but suddenly we turn in the curve and it’s gone for the next 100 meters.

Or at least it feels so.

Although the wind can affect the runner, jumper, or thrower, the elemental challenges are the same for everyone, and in the long jump and the throws, it can be that extra push that helps the athlete go that extra inch…or quarter of an inch.

Personally, I like outdoor season because it’s what we’re used to. We practice under these conditions all year and have learned to deal with the pros and cons of performing outdoors.

Plus, outdoor events embrace what track and field is all about: wind, sweat, dirt and heart to undertake it all.