UTPA’s League of Legends club Game takes world, campus by storm
Pages 4-5
April 2, 2015
Volume 71, No. 24
ONLINE CONTENT
panamericanonline.com
Anime Blog
The Tale of the Princess Kaguya
UTRGV begins email migrations
Bronc baseball loses series to Seat t l e U ni versi ty
Baseball
Action against Incarnate Word
ONLINE CONTENT utbcollegian.com
Stargate
Show attracts technology giants
By Marco Torres The Pan American Home cooking did not do much to change Bronc baseball’s fortunes. The UTPA baseball team lost three times against the Seattle University Redhawks at Edinburg Baseball Stadium March 27-29. The team is now 0-6 in the Western Athletic Conference after defeats of 9-6, 16-6 and 4-0 in their home conference opening series. In Game One of the threegame series, the Broncs outhit the Redhawks by eight, led by junior and Troup, Texas native Correy Davis, who went 4 for 4 with a triple, double, a walk and an RBI. Through the previous four games he had been 11 for 16 at bat. But they still went down.
The Broncs (11-14) trailed for most of the day but rallied in the ninth inning, down by six runs. Logan Landon beat out the grounder. Two batters later Victor Garcia Jr. singled to load the bases for Scott Mercer. Mercer then hit a two-run single followed by Davis’s RBI single, bringing the score to 9-6 and the tying run to the plate. Unfortunately, Sharyland alum Alexis Hernandez hit a ground ball to shortstop which ended the game. Taking the mound in the first matchup against the Redhawks was senior right-handed pitcher Blake English, who faced the minimum nine batters during the first three innings. He eventually allowed six runs - three were earned - on five hits and three walks while striking out
two in six innings of action. Head Coach Manny Mantrana knows that slumps will occur, but the athletes have to keep working to eventually get those wins, where the Broncs’ record stands at 1-9 over the past 10 games. “Like I told them, when you are struggling like we are now, things will happen,” Mantrana said. “It is going to feel like we are not getting any breaks. So it is just a matter that we keep grinding and keep working because basically the entire season won’t go this way.” In the second game of the series, the Broncs lost in eight innings as the Mercy Rule came into effect. UTPA lost 16-6 March 28 and was behind by
Clayton Haltom
Sarah Carvajal/ The Pan American 10 runs after eight, causing the premature stoppage. They were led by senior Jesus Garcia, who had his second straight three-hit game and scored twice. In the previous six games he had been 13 for 25 at bat. The infielder currently has a
slugging percentage of .316. Seattle University started the second game on fire, scoring eight runs in the first inning. In the second the Broncs started to chip away at the lead as they scored twice and added three more runs in the fifth.
CONTINUES ON PAGE 7
2
April 2, 2015
All about that stream Why music streaming isn’t as bad as everyone thinks Alicia Rangel
Graphic Design Editor Since before 500 A.D. music has been an art form depicted by sound. Through a series of music styles from the prehistoric era to the present, music has captured a vast audience for each genre. With music streaming sites such as Spotify, Rdio, Tidal and Google Play, music has become
increasingly more accessible to download directly to your computer. According to the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) paid subscriptions for on-demand music streaming services have more than tripled since 2011. During this time streaming revenues grew from 21 percent in 2013 to 27 percent in 2014 and physical shipment revenues shrank from 35 to 32 percent. In 2014 physical copies accounted for 32 percent and digital downloads accounted for 37 percent. Taking statistics into consideration, late last year American singer and songwriter Taylor Swift pulled
her music from Spotify. Spotify has an average of 40 million monthly active users but she removed her music because she felt it was taking value away from it. Swift’s argument was that listeners should “pay enough” for
by day and soon physical albums may not exist. Music streaming users will continue to gradually rise in numbers and will not be going anywhere any time soon. The bigger issue here might not be music streaming,
Perhaps other artists should ... invest their time producing music they don’t have to worry about selling. artists’ work. Artists make less money by having their music on streaming sites as opposed to selling digital albums and songs on services such as iTunes for an
but rather an artist’s opinion on whether the music or the money is more important. Foo Fighters’ Dave
ing your music? They’ll go see a show. To me it’s that simple,” Grohl said in an interview with Digital Spy. Perhaps other artists should take this into consideration and rather than blame sites like Spotify for hurting their sales, they should invest their time producing music they don’t have to worry about selling. If a fan truly supports an artist, they will do anything possible to obtain the music, whether it be a physical copy, a digital copy or through streaming. Music streaming sites provide a place where you can listen to old music and discover new music
opinion
The Pan American
thepanamerican@gmail.com 1201 West University, ARHU 170 Edinburg, Texas 78539 Phone: (956) 665-2541 Fax: (956) 665-7122
Editors-in-Chief: Andrew Vera May Ortega
Sports Editor:
Marco Torres
Arts & Life Editor: Nerio Celaya
Photography Editor: Jon Nutt
Design Editor:
Alicia Rangel
Multimedia Editor: Michael Aguilar
Social Media Editor: Nathaniel Mata
Copy Editor:
Andy De Llano
Adviser:
Dr. Greg Selber
Administrative Associate: Anita Reyes
Advertising Manager: average of $1.29 each. But from the listener’s perspective there are benefits to music streaming. Technology is growing day
Grohl doesn’t care if someone pays $1 or $20 for a song, he just wants them to listen. “You want people to (expletive) listen to your music? Give them your music. And then go play a show. They like hear-
so it’s a friend to the avid listener but a foe to the artist. The artist’s pocket may hurt a little, but discovering music through streaming leads to curiosity and in turn, the investment in albums. So is music streaming really a foe?
Verónica Rodríguez
Webmaster:
Sharath Kumar Aitha 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. We cannot publish anonymous letters or submissions containing hate speech or gratuitous personal attacks. Please send all letters to:
thepanamerican@gmail.com
Vol. 71, No. 24
PHOTO OF THE WEEK
Sarah Carvajal/ The Pan American Manuel Cantu, a pre-med biology major, cooks burgers and hot dogs during a fundraiser for the Student Association for Medical Spanish March 30. The organization was raising money for their end-of-the-year trip to Nicaragua.
news
April 2, 2015
The Right club for you? By Denise Garza The Pan American
While UTPA students have a historically Democratic political inclination, Texas has not elected a Democratic governor since Ann Richards more than 20 years ago. In preparation for next year’s presidential election, the College Republicans at UTPA have launched an effort to help gain party support and attract young Republican voters in the Rio Grande Valley. The College Republicans is one of six student organizations under observation by faculty of the University’s political science department. The group is advised by lecturer Edward Jackson, a graduate from California State University, Sacramento. It stands out amongst the rest because it is one of the few student organizations to advocate for traditionally conservative values such as anti-same sex marriage. According to the president of the UTPA chapter Joshua Rojas, the College Republicans aim to raise awareness, encourage, train and mobilize college students to support Republicans and their party platform. The group currently has 13 members and requires an annual fee of $20 or $10 per semester for membership. While the organization allows opposing political views from its members, supporting the party platform is a must. “Our number one goal is to be the alternative voice on campus for political issues (and) to provide another perspective,” the finance major said. Vice President Gabriel Martinez hopes the group will moti-
3
College Republicans challenge the Left
vate UTPA students to participate in local, state and federal elections to achieve their political mission of electing Republicans for such positions. Last October the group helped host the George P. Bush Bus Tour with the help of the McAllen Tea Party as part of their effort to promote the party platform. “We encourage leadership, individualism, free thought, as well as supporting our party identity,” 18-year-old Martinez said. The group is one of more than 30 chapters of the Texas Federation of College Republicans, a branch of the National Committee of College Republicans. Originally established as the American Republic College League in 1892, NCCR has more than 250,000 members across all 50 states and the District of Columbia with more than 1,800 college chapters. The goal of the NCCR, who call themselves “the unions of the right,” is to shape future generations of Republicans. In a campaign to expand their base of young supporters, the NCCR will host the 2015 TXFCR State Convention this month in Austin. College Republicans favor topics such as limited government spending, pro-second amendment, legal immigration, pro-Israel and fiscal conservatism. They also advocate for fiscal responsibility and job creation. College Republicans do not support abortion access, same-sex marriage and do not believe global warming
is an existing issue. The group also opposes Affirmative Action, a product of the Civil Rights Movement and set of policies that guarantees equal labor and education opportunities to minorities and women. Rojas believes the media actively misinforms the public about these political issues, giving root to the misconception that Republicans are anti-Hispanic. “A lot of us in the Hispanic community have conservative values and we don’t know it,” the 22-year-old said. “The problem is that we have
two out of 10 people going out to the booths. Rojas argues that these poor numbers combined with a lean toward Democrats has caused major local problems. “There’s a monopoly on our politics down here by the Democratic Party and there is so much corruption here as a result,” Rojas said. “It affects our law enforcement
n e v e r been exposed to this.” According to a study of Hispanic voting trends by the Pew Research Center, 27 percent of eligible voters in Texas last year were Hispanic with about 25 million registered to vote nationwide. However, according to the Advocacy Alliance Center of Texas, the RGV had one of the lowest voter turnout rates in the nation last year with only
(and) o u r rule of law. L o o k what happened with Sheriff (Lupe) Treviño, and he’s not the first one.” He refers to the former Hidalgo County Sheriff, Lupe Treviño, who was convicted last year for money laundering and accepting bribes from cartel members. His former employees at the Hidalgo County Sheriff’s office are under investigation for tampering audits. College Republicans believe Democratic control of politics is the stem of other issues in the RGV as well. During the November 2014 elections, they coordinated with the local Tea Party in a successful campaign against Proposition 1. It pro-
the 59-year-old predicted that if House Bill 937 passes, which would allow people to possess guns on college grounds in Texas, schools would have to install metal detectors and perhaps issue badges to armed students allowing them to gain access to certain parts of campus. Even though he jokingly proclaimed himself as having “more guns than any one man ought to have” and having directed SEAL Team 6, which killed al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden, his new position in the education system has altered his thoughts on the role of weapons in a college setting. “As I look across students, faculty, administrators and staff, their concerns ... about creating this unsafe environment with more guns on campus, it’s hard for me to support campus carry,” he said. “Any time you introduce guns onto campus, the potential for more problems is going to be there.”
One worry presented by a UT Dallas reporter pertained to mental health issues among college students. In 2011 the American College Health Association–National College Health Assessment found that
each one of the campuses - are in a position to help the students, that we have (somebody) to help, that the faculty recognize the signs of depression or anxiety,” the North Carolina native said. “It is critical to make sure we catch those prob-
posed the creation of a hospital district that would provide medical services to destitute local residents and help fund the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine in exchange for a tax hike. “It’s not our fault the border is insecure. We have a lot of indigents using our emergency rooms, that’s not our fault,” Rojas said. “It’s the fault of the federal government and we should not be forced to foot the bill for their mistakes.” The issue of illegal immigration, he argues, is tied to a wider expanse of issues. He feels that the Democratic Party is working against preventing illegal immigration to undermine freedom. “They are trying to bring people here that have no concept of liberty,” Rojas said. If unaddressed, he believes American Credo, a belief in American exceptionalism, will come to an end. “Americans feel like the Democratic Party is encouraging illegal immigration to change the demographics of our country so that they have a monopoly in our political system,” said Rojas, who suspects a hidden socialist agenda is in play amongst Democrats. It is for the sake of this freedom that College Republicans overwhelmingly support preserving the Constitution, which they believe President Barack Obama is out to dismantle. Rojas believes returning to the ways of the founding fathers by limiting federal regulation of economic and social issues is the solution to its preservation.
“We have the greatest Constitution that has ever been written. It is the second greatest document, after the Bible, in the history of man,” he said. “This is their agenda, (Democrats) don’t like the Constitution because it protects liberty. Their agenda is the opposite; it’s state control, it is Communism, Marxism. The old reds are here ... in the environmental movement (and in) the LGBT movement.” However strong the mistrust between both parties, there is still hope for partisan cooperation. The College Republicans believe there are some issues in which Democrats and Republicans can meet half way on, such as immigration. Rojas believes that if Democrats commit to securing the border, Republicans would support some form of amnesty. The group’s counterpart, the Young Democrats, is advised by Jessica Lavariega-Monforti. The two participated in last year’s race for governor, supporting opposing candidates. Students hoping to attend the 2015 TXFCR State Convention must register no later than April 10 to attend the event and there is a $15 fee for all non-members. The convention will take place on the 11th in Austin at 1100 Congress Ave. from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. To learn more about the College Republicans at UTPA visit facebook.com/CRUTPA.To attend the 2015 TXFCR State Convention, register at http:// texas.crnc.org/rsvp.
he seeks to improve the System in the wake of former chancellor Francisco Cigarroa. McRaven explained that after he gained his title in January, the Valley was his first stop. “Frankly one of the reasons I took this job is I saw the potential for the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley and all the University of Texas System can do in South Texas,” McRaven told The Pan American. “I’m incredibly excited about it.” During his Jan. 14 visit to both UTPA and UTB campuses, he said he expected to find a sharp divide about the merger coming from the communities, but he was pleasantly surprised. “On my first visit as I met faculty and students and administrators, I expected a lot of these issues on ‘We like Bucky’ or ‘We like the Ocelot’ or ‘We don’t like the merger,’” he said. “I thought all of this would come out, but not
a single person talked to me about those issues. The reason (I think) they didn’t is … they accepted the fact that UTRGV was going to be a game-changer for the Valley.” He explained how the “superb” leadership at both campuses impressed him and complimented the vision of those involved with the new university. “There is a whole lot of excitement about where this is going and frankly I haven’t seen any major stumbling blocks,” he said. “I think we had some when I got here in January. We have overcome all of those and now we’re moving in the right direction. I’m very pleased with what I’ve been seeing.” At the end of the half-hour session McRaven thanked his guests, both near and far, then made his way back to the Capital Building to take care of more business.
Hearing from McRaven UT System chancellor talks to student journalists By May Ortega The Pan American
Tuesday morning the University of Texas System Chancellor Bill McRaven let student journalists from every school in the UT System ask him questions, which included his insight into issues such as the campus carry policy and mental health. He also shared his enthusiasm about the pending birth of the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. While he sat before a webcam in Austin, the former Navy SEAL was joined by students both in-person and via live video feed. Attendees included pupils from the University of Texas at Dallas, the University of Texas at Brownsville and UTPA. As a University of Texas at Austin graduate with a bachelor’s in journalism, he welcomed questions from each campus. When it came to gun rights,
As I look across students, faculty, administrators and staff, their concerns ... about creating this unsafe environment with more guns on campus, it’s hard for me to support campus carry.
- Bill McRaven UT System chancellor
about 30 percent of college students surveyed felt “so depressed that it was difficult to function” within the last year. McRaven responded with suggestions to help people cope with such issues and discussed making help as readily available as possible. “We need to make sure we - at
lems before they occur. If the students have concerns about their mental well-being, (the administration must be sure) that there are services out there that they can immediately go to.” Ensuring those resources is just one of the goals on the list of the newly-appointed chancellor as
Page 4
THE PAN AMERICAN
Extraordinary summoners Nathaniel Mata The Pan American
In a crowded classroom with more than 30 computers in heavy use, it got hot quickly. Most of the heat was not from outside weather, but rather from the competition between League of Legends players during a March 27 Local Area Network (LAN) tournament in UTPA’s engineering building. League of Legends, known as LoL or simply “League,” is categorized as a multiplayer online battle arena, or MOBA. Initially released in October 2009, a strong selling point for League and other MOBA games is that they are free-to-play (F2P). This aspect allows players to download the game to their computer at no charge as long as their computer can run the program. Requirements include one gigabyte of RAM and a two gigahertz processor. The sheer number of real-time opponents is virtually limitless with 7.5 million concurrent gamers worldwide. Teams of five players from around the globe select fantasy warriors called
“champions.” All players from every corner of the earth, known as “summoners,” compete against other realtime opponents. League of Legends can be played solo by searching for a match in an online lobby. Players also team up with friends, speaking through headsets in order to optimize all five members as a unit. Gamers fight with different attacks using combinations of mouse clicks and keyboard patterns. Each champion possesses unique strengths and weaknesses that can be used or exploited in battles that last 30-45 minutes on average. Players fight for bragging rights and experience points used to level up. Championship prize pools have exceeded $2 million at the highest level of competition. More than 27 million players worldwide power up, log on to their accounts and select their best champion to play, according to a 2014 statement from Riot Games, the title’s creator. The international phenomenon, with pro-
I can go on (about what I enjoy) forever. The game for me has so much to learn and it’s never the same. - Joseph Fuentes Club president
April 2, 2015
April 2, 2015
League of Legends entertains international, local communities fessionals and amateurs in every continent, also has a presence on the UTPA campus. The League of Extraordinary Summoners is the official League club on campus and despite some students choosing to play as lone wolves, there is strength in numbers. After less than 12 months of existence, League of Extraordinary Summoners has more than 100 members, according to their treasurer Tomas Ream. Approximately 35 members have paid their $10 annual fee, which gives them access to more prizes, perks and discounts when a tournament includes a sign-up fee. A competition with an entry fee allows the club to award prizes to winning teams. Tournaments are a vital part of the local League’s activities, giving members a chance to get together, show off skills and compete as individuals or teams. The first tournament, held in February, was completely online and open to members and non-members alike. League of Extraordinary Summoners President Joseph Fuentes has been playing the game for almost four years. The senior started the club summer 2014 and has since received official status as a club on campus from the Office of Student Involvement. It was difficult for the 22-year-old to single out one aspect of the game that hooked him, but he claims the game’s evolution through updates known as patches is important. “I can go on (about what I enjoy) forever. The game, for me, has so much to learn and it’s never the same,” the computer science major said. “I started off three years ago playing the game just because I had a laptop and I had nothing else to do on campus during my breaks. It evolved to me showing friends. Eventually all the people that I knew were doing it, so I took it upon myself to start the club.” The Extraordinary Summoner’s next goal following their initial tournament of the semester was to host a LAN tournament. These events consist of players being in the
same location at one time and plugging their computers wired directly to Internet connection for faster speeds as opposed to exclusively wireless matches across different locations. The club co-hosted their second tournament of the year their first LAN tournament, March 27 in conjunction with the Association of Computing Machinery chapter of UTPA. All 40 gamers were vying for bragging rights and Riot Points, which are in-game experience points awarded to the winning team of the single-elimination contest. After a first-round win, computer engineering major Carmina Edrozo spoke about teamwork. “If you play with your friends, you know their play style,” 20-year-old Edrozo said. “You’re confident (and) you know what they are going to do instead of playing with strangers where you have no idea.” Putting time into each match creates vested interest in every win and loss. Players also experience highs and lows in their online battles. Accounting and computer science double major David Garza points to an emotional connection that brings enjoyment as well as frustration out of League players. “I have had some really good matches where the game was so neck and neck for a while and when the game ends in a victory, it feels like a rush of relief and adrenaline,” the 20-year-old said. “Even when I lose those games like that I feel amazing. Playing with friends was just the icing on the cake and the cherry on top.” League is in its fifth official season, each lasting a year and concluding with the League of Legends World Championship every winter. Some players have been veterans of the online action for more than four years. However, the game’s develop-
Page 5
THE PAN AMERICAN
I have had some really good matches where the game was so neck and neck for a while and when the game ends in a victory, it feels like a rush of relief and adrenaline. - David Garza
Accounting and computer science major ers do not alienate those who are new to the world. “League has a steep learning curve but I think (Riot Games) has lessened the curve a bit by introducing the intro mode, which guides the players in what they should do, but in a more general sense,” said Garza, an Alamo resident. League of Legends has gained such a strong international fanbase that tournaments at the regional, national and international stages have turned it into a spectator sport, known as an “eSport.” It is common for arenas to be completely sold out with fans waiting to have the professional matches broadcasted to them on screens. In 2013 the Staples Center in Los Angeles sold out 11,000 tickets in one hour when they hosted the League of Legends World Championships. In addition to those viewing parties, millions more streammatches through their computers. “When I gather with my friends and we watch together, we’re just shouting, chanting and cheering on teams,” said Fuentes, a Pharr resident. “Amazing things can happen during these professional games.” The Extraordinary Summoners hosted a viewing party March 28 to spectate the North American League Championship Series, which is an officially-sanctioned competition held in Los Angeles. Players from the region play the best in the area to claim the title as the best NA team. Based on the results top teams will advance to the World Championship. The club covers all the bases when it comes to the full League experience, from playing
and spectating professional tournaments to talking strategy at meetings. Fuentes said that despite it being a competitive game, the club is focused on inclusion and getting players to join the League of Summoners so they can be with students who have common interests. “Our club is about getting anybody and everybody. It’s for fun,” he explained. “I know it has the appeal that we do a lot of tournaments, so it might feel more competitive, but we also do other stuff like the viewing events.” The club meets every other Thursday on the second floor of the Student Academic Center (STAC) in room 2.129. For safe measure, meetings are announced on their Facebook page. While the club’s size is impressive, officers say there is always room for more members. They encourage League players to join the group where they can make friends who can quickly turn into powerful allies on the virtual battlefield.
Alicia Rangel/ The Pan American
Page 4
THE PAN AMERICAN
Extraordinary summoners Nathaniel Mata The Pan American
In a crowded classroom with more than 30 computers in heavy use, it got hot quickly. Most of the heat was not from outside weather, but rather from the competition between League of Legends players during a March 27 Local Area Network (LAN) tournament in UTPA’s engineering building. League of Legends, known as LoL or simply “League,” is categorized as a multiplayer online battle arena, or MOBA. Initially released in October 2009, a strong selling point for League and other MOBA games is that they are free-to-play (F2P). This aspect allows players to download the game to their computer at no charge as long as their computer can run the program. Requirements include one gigabyte of RAM and a two gigahertz processor. The sheer number of real-time opponents is virtually limitless with 7.5 million concurrent gamers worldwide. Teams of five players from around the globe select fantasy warriors called
“champions.” All players from every corner of the earth, known as “summoners,” compete against other realtime opponents. League of Legends can be played solo by searching for a match in an online lobby. Players also team up with friends, speaking through headsets in order to optimize all five members as a unit. Gamers fight with different attacks using combinations of mouse clicks and keyboard patterns. Each champion possesses unique strengths and weaknesses that can be used or exploited in battles that last 30-45 minutes on average. Players fight for bragging rights and experience points used to level up. Championship prize pools have exceeded $2 million at the highest level of competition. More than 27 million players worldwide power up, log on to their accounts and select their best champion to play, according to a 2014 statement from Riot Games, the title’s creator. The international phenomenon, with pro-
I can go on (about what I enjoy) forever. The game for me has so much to learn and it’s never the same. - Joseph Fuentes Club president
April 2, 2015
April 2, 2015
League of Legends entertains international, local communities fessionals and amateurs in every continent, also has a presence on the UTPA campus. The League of Extraordinary Summoners is the official League club on campus and despite some students choosing to play as lone wolves, there is strength in numbers. After less than 12 months of existence, League of Extraordinary Summoners has more than 100 members, according to their treasurer Tomas Ream. Approximately 35 members have paid their $10 annual fee, which gives them access to more prizes, perks and discounts when a tournament includes a sign-up fee. A competition with an entry fee allows the club to award prizes to winning teams. Tournaments are a vital part of the local League’s activities, giving members a chance to get together, show off skills and compete as individuals or teams. The first tournament, held in February, was completely online and open to members and non-members alike. League of Extraordinary Summoners President Joseph Fuentes has been playing the game for almost four years. The senior started the club summer 2014 and has since received official status as a club on campus from the Office of Student Involvement. It was difficult for the 22-year-old to single out one aspect of the game that hooked him, but he claims the game’s evolution through updates known as patches is important. “I can go on (about what I enjoy) forever. The game, for me, has so much to learn and it’s never the same,” the computer science major said. “I started off three years ago playing the game just because I had a laptop and I had nothing else to do on campus during my breaks. It evolved to me showing friends. Eventually all the people that I knew were doing it, so I took it upon myself to start the club.” The Extraordinary Summoner’s next goal following their initial tournament of the semester was to host a LAN tournament. These events consist of players being in the
same location at one time and plugging their computers wired directly to Internet connection for faster speeds as opposed to exclusively wireless matches across different locations. The club co-hosted their second tournament of the year their first LAN tournament, March 27 in conjunction with the Association of Computing Machinery chapter of UTPA. All 40 gamers were vying for bragging rights and Riot Points, which are in-game experience points awarded to the winning team of the single-elimination contest. After a first-round win, computer engineering major Carmina Edrozo spoke about teamwork. “If you play with your friends, you know their play style,” 20-year-old Edrozo said. “You’re confident (and) you know what they are going to do instead of playing with strangers where you have no idea.” Putting time into each match creates vested interest in every win and loss. Players also experience highs and lows in their online battles. Accounting and computer science double major David Garza points to an emotional connection that brings enjoyment as well as frustration out of League players. “I have had some really good matches where the game was so neck and neck for a while and when the game ends in a victory, it feels like a rush of relief and adrenaline,” the 20-year-old said. “Even when I lose those games like that I feel amazing. Playing with friends was just the icing on the cake and the cherry on top.” League is in its fifth official season, each lasting a year and concluding with the League of Legends World Championship every winter. Some players have been veterans of the online action for more than four years. However, the game’s develop-
Page 5
THE PAN AMERICAN
I have had some really good matches where the game was so neck and neck for a while and when the game ends in a victory, it feels like a rush of relief and adrenaline. - David Garza
Accounting and computer science major ers do not alienate those who are new to the world. “League has a steep learning curve but I think (Riot Games) has lessened the curve a bit by introducing the intro mode, which guides the players in what they should do, but in a more general sense,” said Garza, an Alamo resident. League of Legends has gained such a strong international fanbase that tournaments at the regional, national and international stages have turned it into a spectator sport, known as an “eSport.” It is common for arenas to be completely sold out with fans waiting to have the professional matches broadcasted to them on screens. In 2013 the Staples Center in Los Angeles sold out 11,000 tickets in one hour when they hosted the League of Legends World Championships. In addition to those viewing parties, millions more streammatches through their computers. “When I gather with my friends and we watch together, we’re just shouting, chanting and cheering on teams,” said Fuentes, a Pharr resident. “Amazing things can happen during these professional games.” The Extraordinary Summoners hosted a viewing party March 28 to spectate the North American League Championship Series, which is an officially-sanctioned competition held in Los Angeles. Players from the region play the best in the area to claim the title as the best NA team. Based on the results top teams will advance to the World Championship. The club covers all the bases when it comes to the full League experience, from playing
and spectating professional tournaments to talking strategy at meetings. Fuentes said that despite it being a competitive game, the club is focused on inclusion and getting players to join the League of Summoners so they can be with students who have common interests. “Our club is about getting anybody and everybody. It’s for fun,” he explained. “I know it has the appeal that we do a lot of tournaments, so it might feel more competitive, but we also do other stuff like the viewing events.” The club meets every other Thursday on the second floor of the Student Academic Center (STAC) in room 2.129. For safe measure, meetings are announced on their Facebook page. While the club’s size is impressive, officers say there is always room for more members. They encourage League players to join the group where they can make friends who can quickly turn into powerful allies on the virtual battlefield.
Alicia Rangel/ The Pan American
Page 6
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April 2, 2015
The University of Texas-Pan American
An Evening with
AMERICA FERRERA Emmy Award-Winning Actress and Activist
NEW DATE: Monday, April 13, 2015 UTPA Fieldhouse, 7:30 p.m.
America Ferrera is best known for her fearless portrayal of “Betty Suarez” on the hit comedy “Ugly Betty.” This breakthrough role earned her many accolades including an Emmy, Golden Globe, and Screen Actors Guild Award. One of Hollywood’s most vibrant young talents, Ferrera was featured on the PBS series “Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide.” Shot in 10 underprivileged countries, the series focused on women and girls living under some of the most difficult circumstances imaginable — and fighting bravely to change them. Ferrera also joined Voto Latino, the leading non-partisan national youth empowerment organization, for “America4America,” a grassroots and online campaign that discussed issues related to voter ID laws, education, and immigration. Doors will open at 7 p.m. for UTPA students, faculty and staff with a valid UTPA ID, and at 7:20 p.m. for the general public.
FREE ADMISSION. SEATING IS LIMITED. View the program live at www.utpa.edu/live. For more information or if special accommodations are needed, call (956) 665-7989.
sports
April 2, 2015
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 The Redhawks would eventually close out the game with five runs scored in the fourth and one in the eighth. In the final game of the series the Broncs kept the game close until two Seattle runs in the seventh and two in the eighth completed the sweep. The Broncs struggled against Redhawks pitcher Tarik Skubal, who retired 21 of 22 batters at one stage. “Their kid did a nice job,” Mantrana said. “As hitters we have to adjust. You can’t just sit on one location. If he is pitching you in, then you have to look in and if he is pitching away, you have to look away.” Freshman Nikki Rowe alum Ryan Jackson held the Redhawks scoreless through six innings of action. He went seven innings, allowed seven hits, one walk and struck out one. “Well, this game I was keeping my pitches low. The last few games I’ve been keeping them up,” the business accounting major said. “Just two little hits got those two runs, can’t do anything about it. They were good pitches and they got the best of it.” “Unfortunately for us it is
going to be a short week,” Mantrana said March 29. “We got a game on Tuesdays and Easter is on Sunday, which means we fly out on Wednesday and play Thursday, Friday and Saturday. So we have to get some good work in … because we need to get home, get some rest because we got an early flight.” The Broncs’ next game was against Incarnate Word March 31 at the Edinburg Baseball Sta-
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slugging percentage is .369. “Those are two key arms that we expected to have in the beginning,” Mantrana said. “Now I think that gives us a little more debt in the bullpen. Also it will allow us to move some guys around by having another quality arm or two in the bullpen, where the name of the game is pitching.” The Broncs’ next series is against Grand Canyon University April 2-4 in Phoenix.
It is going to feel like we are not getting any breaks. So it is just a matter that we keep grinding and keep working because basically the entire season won’t go this way. - Manny Mantrana Head Baseball Coach dium, where they lost in extra innings 7-3. UTPA did get some good news according to Mantrana when the news of pitchers Alex Henson and George Lamb have been cleared to play for next game. They have not pitched a single inning this season. The Broncs are currently allowed 224 hits, 139 runs and opponents
“Grand Canyon has a very good team,” Mantrana said. “They can swing it and they have some pretty good arms. But we have to get better and it’s about grinding through this little low of the season. It is like I told the team: I rather not get the breaks early then later on in the year.”
Sarah Carvajal/ The Pan American Head Coach Manny Mantrana talks to his outfielder Correy Davis during the 9-6 loss March 27 at the Edinburg Baseball Stadium.
Spring friendly gives chance at first impression By Nathaniel Mata The Pan American The women’s soccer team has been training during the spring semester, mainly on fitness and conditioning. Now the members are also working on tactics with a ball in front of them, a welcome change. Sophomore Frida Farstad-Eriksson was eager for action to start. “We’ve been doing a lot of fitness the first half of the spring,” the sophomore defender from Sweden said. “We’ve only been running and doing weight room. Now we can finally start playing with the ball and having fun. It feels amazing to put all the effort we put into running out on the field. Last season in the fall we got to know each other. Now we know each other and we know we can push ourselves. It’s just exciting to see how far we can go.” Women’s soccer was back on the field March 28 in Corpus Christi, in interscholastic competition for the first time since their elimination from the Western Athletic Conference Tournament Nov. 11. After the team’s historic inaugural season, the spring matches allow competition to begin for a short period of time with returning players getting back
onto the field. The Broncs won their first of four spring friendly matches 2-0 against the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Islanders at Jack Dugan Family Soccer & Track Stadium. Goals in the match were tallied by last season’s leading offensive force, freshman midfielder Andreya Barrera - who scored nine goals last fall - and freshman defender Hadlie Tucker, from McKinney, Texas, who
Spring matches are scheduled to create continuity in the long break before next fall’s regular season. The games do not count in any standings, allowing a chance for coaching experimentation and keeping the athletes fit. Play for the next season begins in August. Coaches strive for full focus from their players year around, but also understand there will always be extra excitement for
more on fitness and now we get to practice more with the ball. And obviously the games are always fun for the players.” Work now is an effort toward growing the team with continuity year to year and preparing for the fall. The Broncs will tackle a second WAC season after an 8-9-4 overall record last season, but only 2-7-1 in conference. The latest recruiting class includes local players such as
McAllen Memorial’s America Martinez and other newcomers including Abington, Maryland’s Evelynn Powell and international talent in Anna Felixson, a graduate student from Grimsås, Sweden. The team’s 12 returning players are now part of a core group that will welcome these new teammates in August. “Absolutely we are ready to take them in, take them under our wing and develop with them
to make this program better,” said Farstad-Eriksson, a Swedish national who plays defense. When the fall semester begins the women’s soccer team will only have three weeks to prepare before the start of the season. In the meantime, players are competing in friendly matches but still aim for on-the-field success.
Now we know each other and we know we can push ourselves. It’s just exciting to see how far we can go. - Frida Farstad-Eriksson Sophomore defender started 18 games last season. The Broncs next match will be home against St. Mary’s University at the Soccer and Track & Field Complex April 11. There will be no admission fee to see the team as the Broncs compete in the friendly. They will also host University of St. Thomas April 19 before rounding out the action in the spring April 25 in San Antonio against Our Lady of the Lake University.
competition. Assistant Coach Silviu Telespan offered insight on any difference between preparing for a game during training leading up to the matches. “We’re always focused even if we have games or not,” the New York Institute of Technology’s former soccer captain said. “On-season or off-season, we’re always focused. They’re exciting because the first part of the spring season the focus has been
Fernando Gracia/ The Pan American Sophomore Marcela Ramirez brings up the ball during the 2-1 victory against Huston-Tillotson University Aug. 27 last fall.
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