June 18, 2015 by UTRGV Student Media

Baseball continues

Playing summer leagues, professional ball

Pages 8-9

Volume 71, No. 28

June 18, 2015

McAllen abortion site may be able to keep doors open By Andrew Vera The Pan American A federal appeals court ruled June 9 that 2013 laws and requirements for abortion clinics will remain intact. The 2-year-old law states that abortion clinics must have hospital-like structural requirements and says doctors must have hospital admitting privileges. While the ruling will close all but eight clinics in the state, McAllen’s Whole Women’s Health Clinic, located on South Main Street, will be allowed to keep its doors open after nearly 11 years of service for the time being. In 2011, Texas had 62 abortion providers, according to Guttmacher Institute, a health and sexual reproduction research organization. Now, based on the upheld law, there will be an 87 percent decrease in abortion availability in Texas. The exception for the local clinic was made because of its distance from other such facilities. The court noted that the McAllen clinic is more

Although the clinic closed in March 2014 due to an inability to meet the mandated requirements of the initial court ruling, it reopened six months later. The overturning of the original mandate requiring hospital-like conditions helped the clinic reopen its doors. Today, the clinic is being threatened because of similar mandates. Although allowed to continue offering services to Valley residents, further ruling in July may render the McAllen office unable to continue abortions. “It is a near-total loss,” the Whole Women’s Health Clinic blog posted June 9. “At this time we are still analyzing the decision to see if the relief granted to Whole Woman’s Health of McAllen will allow us to keep our doors open.” Despite the hard times, the clinic also receives a great deal of support from locals who volunteer their time to walk patients to their car, and protect them from pro-life protesters.

UTRGV becomes second highest funded university in UT system By Erika Landeros The Pan American The pending new University is rapidly becoming a place of opportunities, though it technically doesn’t exist yet. Back in April, the Performing Arts Complex opened its doors at the Edinburg campus. In May, plans for an additional $70 million science building on that campus were approved. Now the merged universities, to include UTPA and The University of Texas at Brownsville and be called UT Rio Grande Valley, will receive $253.5 million once UTRGV opens in August. These funds make the merger product in line to become the second highest funded university in the UT system. A group of more than 100 alumni and supporters from UTB and UTPA gathered at the Weslaco Business, Visitor and Event Center June 12. Weslaco was UTRGV President Guy Bailey’s last stop on his Tour of Texas during which he visited Houston, Dallas, Austin and San Antonio. Bailey had been traveling throughout the state since March to meet professionals to discuss UTRGV and his vision for it. Bailey saved the good news for his final stop. Everyone present cheered as he an-

nounced UTRGV as the second highest funded university out of the nine institutions in the University of Texas System. At number one is UT Austin with $612,201,469. Following UTRGV is UT Arlington with $234,647,356, UT Dallas at number four with $223,619,403 and UT San Antonio takes the fifth spot with $202,159,769. According to The Monitor reporter Michael Rodriguez, Bailey explained UTB and UTPA’s ranks in funds from the UT system in past years. The growth is significantly notable. “UT Brownsville used to be next to the last and UT Pan American was fourth from the bottom, so we no longer are second fiddle to anybody,” the University of Alabama alumnus said. “We take our place at the table. What’s going to happen in the next decade is going to be absolutely remarkable and I feel really privileged to be part of it.” Current UTPA student Vanessa Hernandez is excited for the future of the university she attends.

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Jon Nutt/ The Pan American Front view of the Whole Women’s Health Clinic. The clinic was one of the last remaining abortion clinics in the Rio Grande Valley and was forced to close its doors March 6, 2014; however, recent legislation has allowed the clinic to reopen its doors and remains open as of June 18. than 200 miles away from the nearest clinic, in San Antonio. The clinic has been beset with much opposition from community members. A rally held in January 2015 to celebrate the 42nd anniversary of Roe v Wade, the landmark ruling that legalized abortion, was met by anti-choice ralliers. Signage by protesters at the rally read, for example, “Pray for babies that will die here today.” A poster also hung on the adjacent building, reading, “Take my hand, not my life” alongside a photo of a baby.

Ortega’s Vegas

CONCA

Gaming Blog

Editor writes blog on internship experience

UTPA writers publish original works

The wait for Fallout is almost over

The clinic’s blog thanks those who have helped and said they will not stop providing services to Valley women who need it. “We are invigorated by the outpouring of support that we continue to receive not only from Texans, but from people across the country,” the blog notes. “We are more determined than ever and will stop at nothing to preserve Texas women’s access to safe abortion care— and that includes taking this battle to the United States Supreme Court.”

ONLINE CONTENT

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opinion

June 18, 2015

Who are you, really?

The Pan American

thepanamerican@gmail.com 1201 West University, ARHU 170 Edinburg, Texas 78539 Phone: (956) 665-2541 Fax: (956) 665-7122

Editor-in-Chief: Andrew Vera

News Editors: Angela Cantu Erika Landeros

Sports Editor:

Marco Torres

Arts & Life Editor: Ena Capucion

Photography Editor: Jon Nutt

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Social Media Editor: Nathaniel Mata

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Webmaster: Sharath Kumar Aitha

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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

Identifying your identity

Andrew Vera

Editor-in-Chief

The nation’s emotions about race and racism have taken a front seat in the past few years, and especially recent months after police brutality has become more common. Going back as far as 2012 when Trayvon Martin was shot and killed by police volunteer George Zimmerman, to the infamous McKinney pool party raid of last month where black youths were forced to the ground by police, the issue of racial inequality is more vexing than ever. Emotions have been running even higher with the recent news that NAACP spokeswoman Rachel Dolezal misrepresented herself as an African-American. Social media and news outlets have been inundated with photos of a young, blondehaired, blue-eyed Dolezal. Questions about whether she is wrong for doing this, or if she should be reprimanded for dishonesty have surfaced. The answer is, yes.

No matter their race, any individual should have the opportunity to support, or advocate for the advancement of any group or race. While that person may not fully understand the struggle or plight of the group, being close to a person who is associated with that group can be enough to inspire you to help them. But is it OK to lie? An entire website is dedicated to straight people who advocate for LGBT rights, all of whom do not misrepresent themselves as gay or lesbian. In addition, companies like CDW, a software and technology based company, have created an advocacy group to support the advancement of women within the business. The group is open to both women and men. Again, there is no need to pretend to be a woman to support their advancement. Dolezal has the background, however. She has an adopted brother, Ezra, who is biracial. Working

really got it and that I really didn’t have the personal agency to express it,” Dolezal told NBC. Part of the black community is now bothered by her lies, saying that she misrepresented herself in order to advance as a civil rights activist and ultimately the president of the Spokane, Wash. NAACP chapter, a feat she could have accomplished as a non-colored woman. Comedian Dave Chappelle spoke about the issue to a group of George Washington University grads, saying “there is not one thing that woman accomplished that she couldn’t have done as a white woman.” This issue only perpetuates racism. It says that people feel they can’t support a group or race different than their own. If Dolezal truly identifies as black, that’s OK. But being honest with the NAACP and with people she advocates for could have saved us all a great deal of grief.

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thepanamerican@ gmail.com Vol. 71, No. 28

for the NAACP for his advancement (while not lying about her own race) would have given her the voice she needed to be a great leader within the organization. Dolezal has done the legwork. According to CNN, she attended Howard University, known as a traditionally black college, and even teaches AfricanAmerican culture courses at Eastern Washington University. Her connection to the black community is established, which further begs the question; why lie? Larry and Ruthanne Dolezal, parents of Rachel, are the ones who started this controversy by alerting NAACP officials about their daughter’s dishonesty. The parents, along with Dolezal, mentioned her long-time connection to the black community, including the four biracial children they had adopted. “I felt very isolated with my identity virtually my entire life, that nobody

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blogs

June 18, 2015

E3 Roundup Gaming’s biggest week of the year doesn’t disappoint

By Nathaniel Mata The Pan American The annual Electronic Entertainment Expo, or E3 conference, took place in Los Angeles this week from June 14-18. Members of the video game industry from developers to artists to fans converged upon the Southern California event to hear news about their favorite games, consoles and technologies. Here’s a rundown of announcements from some of the industry’s heavy hitters.

that plays into that stealthy steampunk world. The original game is also getting a new-generation remastered edition for gamers that might never have played it or want to experience it in the highest resolutions. Along with all the great details that came with Fallout gameplay the company also released a mobile app that stands alone from the story that many will appreciate. You’re in control of the dwellers of a vault that are from that series.

BETHESDA Bethesda showed a lot more than just gameplay of their (great looking) new Fallout 4, that you can read about in it’s own post online. Their two hour conference was packed full of content, with lots of reason for excitement. Gamers got a long look at DOOM, a classic game pioneer of Player vs Player and horror gaming. The reimagining of that game looks brilliant, gorey and you don’t have to be a fan of the series to say “damn that looks like I’d have a blast.” Only a blast if you can handle hoards of undead, alien zombie-looking foes of course. Dishonored 2 was announced which is the sequel to a game that was released on last generation consoles. The game puts a premium on stealth and provides gameplay

MICROSOFT On June 15, Microsoft makers of the Xbox console started the show off with a bang. Their first announcement was that their Xbox One console would be able to begin playing games from the last console, Xbox 360. It will launch this holiday season with 100 select titles. This is a service that PS4 and Xbox One did not offer at launch, meaning you would have to hang on to your old system if you wanted to play their own games. It’s a big deal to gamers and Sony and PS4 might be forced to respond. They also showed gameplay for some of their iconic exclusives in Halo 5: Guardians and Gears of War 4. Xbox’s racing title that you can’t play anywhere else, Forza 6, will be available Sept. 16. Minecraft fans and non-fans alike were

wowed when an augmented reality version of Minecraft was shown with a 3D rendering of the worlds you love to create. The amount of times the words “Xbox One Exclusive” were spoken really emphasized to viewers that a lot of content is headed to that console soon. ELECTRONIC ARTS EA is a company that has a ton of pull in the industry. They are known for their annual sports games that always sell really well, which were all on display at their conference. A legendary soccer player introduced FIFA 16. Basketball and hockey were represented as EA tries to remain relevant in those two sports. But sports games did not make up the most interesting moments of the show, they were expected. It was games like Star Wars Battlefront which showed a dazzling view of the online multiplayer on the famous fantasy planet of Hoth. This game will be a big deal when it is released in Novemeber. A new version of the wildly successful Mass Effect series was also previewed with a loose release date of holiday 2016. As well as sequel to the familyfriendly but still very fun, Plants vs Zombies: Garden Warfare was announced. Electronic Arts gave fans a lot to be excited about

as many genres were represented onstage. Fans can rest assured that one of the biggest

come from rival survivors. A new Rainbow Six shooter and Tom Clancy

publishers and developers in the industry is working hard for fan favorites galore. UBISOFT Ubisoft started their show strong by showing a follow-up of their surprisingly successful South Park video games. While they aren’t everyone’s cup of tea, fans of the series will be relieved they are not finished making these. They moved next into a completely new game from the company that presents a medieval battlefield called For Honor. It looked like a different type of multiplayer where the focus is on sword fights, which is something rarely seen. Ubisoft followed that up with several shooters. One that stood out to me was The Division, a title that puts gamers in the middle of Manhattan which has been abandoned long before you enter and danger can

s h oot er were announced -two series that have a following with hardcore squad/ strategy fans. SONY Despite outselling Xbox One since release following the Microsoft conference, it really felt like the first time Sony would be forced to play from behind in the neverending console war. Their major competitors in the console landscape from Microsoft dropped some major bombs during their 12:30 p.m. conference. Sony, who presented at the end of the day, had the opportunity to wow their crowd. Sony did fire back with original intellectual properties, or IPs, that are only available

on their consoles. A game that had been long in development and was becoming a curious topic for Sony was finally shown with The Last Guardian, a game with a young person and a fantasy creature companion. Another new IP called Horizon: Zero Dawn was shown and is third person adventure game with a beautiful landscape and unique weapons. Your enemies are machine-like, but still very alive. It was a world that I’d like to see more of and can’t wait to learn more about. They also made an announcement of a remake of Final Fantasy 7, a game released back in 1997 that fans had been asking for years now. Sony ended their conference showing gameplay of one of their most popular exclusive franchises, Uncharted 4: A Thief ’s End. Those last two got huge roars from the crowd as PlayStation loyalist get rewarded. ALL-IN-ALL…. Whether you are a big console fan or just want to see some great video game experiences, there was a ton to get excited about out of Los Angeles this week. This abbreviated list is barely scartching the surface.

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June 18, 2015

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 “Great things are sure to come with this merger. I hope that because of these funds more people know about UTRGV,” the 21-year-old said. “This new university must be put on the map. We need more students to come to the Valley because it’s a great place to get a degree.” Mayra Vaquera, a dietetics major, also has high hopes for the new university and the Valley. “The channels of opportunity finally connect here in the Rio Grande Valley,” the Mission native said. “More Hispanic students now have the ability to obtain a high

quality education within the reach of their hands.” During Bailey’s MidValley stop he showed great enthusiasm as he said “we are one.” “We are going to implement new programs... we’re going to be the best and our students are going to be the best,” said Bailey, whose comes to the school after a stint as president of Texas Tech for four years. “This is what happens when the Valley works together, when we work together as one. That’s where we are and that’s the opportunity that really lies ahead for all of us.”

Rates for UTRGV’S tuition plan By Erika Landeros The Pan American

UT board of regents approved the plan that sets a student’s tuition rate based on when they enrolled in a higher institution May 14. The purpose of a fixed tuition plan is to encourage students to graduate in four years. Undergraduates who started college in the 2014-2015 academic year will have guaranteed tuition and fees locked at $3,605 per semester for four years. Students who enter the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley in the fall of 2015 will have a $3,665 four-year guarantee for each

semester in which they are enrolled as full-time students. Students who began attending UTPA or the University of Texas at Brownsville be-

fore fall of 2014 will have different rates. Undergraduates entering UTRGV with 30 to 59 credit hours will have a three-year guarantee of $3,545 per semester. Students who enter with 60 to 89 credit hours will pay

$3,425 for two years, each semester. If a student enters with more than 90 credit hours, they will have a oneyear guarantee of $3,305 for the remaining semesters. If a student graduates before their guaranteed tuition plan is over, their remaining time may be transferred to a master’s degree program at UTRGV. Undergraduates who don’t complete their bachelor’s degree within their planned rate, will have an increase in tuition. The exact increase rate has not been decided. Each year, incoming freshmen will see an increase in their guaranteed tuition rate.

Writing Histor y UTPA professor publishes book on Texas history By Angela Cantu The Pan American Lino Garcia Jr. has been a resident of the Rio Grande Valley for the past 81 years and in his time has witnessed many things such as misinformation he was given about the contribution of Hispanics toward the development of early Texas . He decided to write essays about the Valley and has now published a book called “Colonial Spanish Texas and other Essays.” Garcia has been working at UTPA for 48 years. His book contains 26 essays and the time period ranges from the first public schools built in Texas to Pre-1836 Colonial Spanish Texas. He even included a story about his own LongoriaChapa lineage. The book was con-

ceived when Garcia wrote his first newspaper article for the McAllen Monitor in 2007. After getting numerous responses about his ar-

he worked for the Mcallen Monitor but he has also published stories in the Brownsville Herald, the Hebbronville Enterprise, the San Anto-

“It took me approximately eight years since I first wrote my first newspaper essay called ‘Hispanics Have Been in Texas Since

praising my work and encouraging me to continue telling the Tejano Story,” the Brownsville native said. Garcia drew inspira-

Jon Nutt/ The Pan American ticle, he decided to keep writing. The book has been in the making for eight years. Not only has

nio Express News and an online newspaper known as the RioGrandeGuardian.

November 6, 1528’ for the McAllen Monitor, and I began to receive a great number of letters

tion from a want to educate locals on the true

history of the area, rather than what is taught in textbooks. “Texans of all persuasions need to know who we are; where our ancestors came from; what we have contributed toward the making of Texas. Hispanics/ Tejanos did the heavy lifting, the sacrifices in taming the West, Christianizing the Native-Americans, erected roads, they had schools in Texas since 1690, established most institutions we all take for granted such as farming, cattle raising/drives, first hospitals, first laws, first haciendas, but regretfully all of these activities are sometimes ignored in the pages of history,” the professor of 48 years said.

CONTINUES ON PAGE 6

news

June 18, 2015

ATexas new meaning for ‘Texas oil’ legalized low-THC cannabis for medical use By Andrew Vera The Pan American Flashback to 1952 and one will see federal laws being enacted that would criminalize any use of marijuana, including jail sentences for all drug-related offenses. Fast forward more than half a century later and only 12 U.S. states currently mandate total prohibition on the plant. As of June 1, Texas is off that list. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed Senate Bill 339, authored by Sen. Kevin Eltife (R-Tyler), on the last day of his inaugural legislative session. The bill allows for low-THC cannabis oil to be used legally by individuals suffering from epilepsy. The bill passed with seven ayes and one naye in the senate, marking the first marijuana bill to pass in favor of its use in Texas history. THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, is the psychoactive ingredient found in cannabis, or marijuana. This substance gives the body a feeling of euphoria and happiness. With low levels of THC, but high levels of CBD, or cannabidiol, medical patients who suffer from nausea, seizures and loss of appetite can benefit greatly. Those eligible for the oil treatment must be referred by a neurologist or epileptologist and have symptoms that are not responding to legal medications, The Texas Tribune reported. WHO IT HELPS The bill was created

to help the Davises, a North Texas family whose daughter, Karley, suffers from more than 100 seizures a day, according to NBCDFW. Dravet Syndrome, her illness, is treated by myriad medications that her parents feel are affecting her liver. Other families have suffered from the same issue of children with epilepsy, and their efforts have tried to shift the national attitude toward legalization of

in some shape or form, from full recreational use, including states like Washington, Oregon and Colorado, to limited medical use, similar to the new law in Texas. Alaska kicked off the legalization trend in 1996, which continued into 2014 with Colorado, the most recent state to fully legalize the substance. Currently, 15 states allow the use of medical CBD while 19 states allow the complete use

of marijuana generally does not lead to jail time or a criminal record for first-time offenders, or those carrying less than an ounce. UTPA junior Jorge Gonzalez agrees that decriminalization is important for the U.S. to consider as a sweeping law. “I think (decriminalization) is a better way to handle the situation, unless someone becomes violent,” the environmental science

recreational. Presidential hopefuls for 2016 have also weighed in on the subject of marijuana legalization. Democrat Hillary Clinton has shown support for legalization for medical purposes, but opposes the decriminalization of the substance for personal use. “I think we need to be very clear about the benefits of marijuana use for medicinal purposes,” Clinton told CNN. “I don’t think

low-THC cannabis oil, a drug that can alleviate pain. The National Institute of Drug Abuse states on their website that the use of CBDs can lead to a reduction in pain and inflammation, control seizures and help with muscle control issues often found in Parkinson’s Disease patients.

of medical marijuana, according to Governing. However, each state allows treatment for a different combination of illnesses. Some states allow the use of medical CBD for post-traumatic stress disorder, HIV/AIDS, cancer, glaucoma and Parkinson’s disease. Senate Bill 339 in Texas will allow its use for epilepsy, but no other illnesses. Eighteen states currently have decriminalization laws, which means that possession

major said. “Then you can prosecute them for being violent, not for having marijuana.” In 2013, nearly 700,000 Americans were incarcerated for marijuana charges, 88 percent of which for possession only, according to DrugPolicy.

we’ve done enough research yet, although I think for people who are in extreme medical conditions and who have anecdotal evidence that it works, there should be availability under appropriate circumstances.” U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) thinks that the legalization of marijuana could cause more harm than help. “We live in a country that already has problems with substance abuse,” he told ABC

WHERE IT’S LEGAL In the U.S., 23 states and Washington D.C. have legalized marijuana

LAWMAKERS’ VIEW Although he signed Senate Bill 339, Abbott still opposes the legalization of marijuana for any other reason, including medication and

News. “We already see the impact that alcoholism is having on families, on drunk driving, on all sorts of things. And now we’re gonna add one more substance that people can use?” THE FUTURE In the last 20 years, the nation has gone from complete prohibition to two-thirds of states having at least some laws allowing marijuana use for one reason or another. UTPA student Gonzalez says that the use of medical marijuana is beneficial to those who need it and that he hopes Texas opens up the law to help individuals with other illnesses. However, he thinks the state may stop there. “I think that Abbott is playing it safe by only allowing its use for epileptic people,” the Weslaco native said. “Maybe if it goes well he’ll open it up a little more, but I don’t think Texas would legalize marijuana use across the board until the federal (government) did it. I think the federal government will do it first.” The bill, according to The Texas Tribune, requires the state to regulate the distribution of the drug, saying that no less than three dispensing organizations must be approved and fully operational by Sept. 1, 2017. These pharmacies, of sorts, will provide the medicine necessary for Karley Davis and other children suffering from epilepsy across the state of Texas.

news

June 18, 2015

Grading proposal for UTRGV

New policies in works for university By Gabriella Urbina The Pan American As UTPA and the University of Texas at Brownsville unite as UTRGV, the grading policy may be redefined. A proposal is still being revised and is pending approval from the appointed committee, according to Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs Ad Interim Cynthia Brown. “This becomes an establishment of a grading policy for the new university, not a change to a current policy,” Brown said. UTB’s current grading policy falls under a decimal system. GPA points are as follows: A+ = 4.0, A = 4.0, A- = 3.67, B+ = 3.33, B = 3.0, B- = 2.67, C + =2.33, C = 2.0, C- = 1.67, D+ = 1.33, D = 1.00, D- =.67 and F=0.00. This system dif-

fers from UTPA’s current grading system, where a high A or low A would grant GPA points of four per credit hour, B’s would give three points, C’s would award two GPA points and D’s, one point. Comparing the differences and percentages, these changes can concern satisfactory academic progress and academic standing, which determines who is on the dean’s list. Although the decision is still in the making, it is either one of the two options presented that would be implemented. Zenett Bernal, a graphic design major, shared her concern due to her pending graduation in fall 2015. “It makes me feel

like ‘yay, I got an A,’ but not a good enough A,” Bernal said. “It would be terrible.” The current UTRGV recommendations on the grading policy are done by the Academic Policies Committee, handed to Havidan Rodriguez, UTPA president ad interim. Guy Bailey, president of UTRGV, proceeds to hand over the revisions of the policy and final decisions to The University of Texas System for approval by Bill McRaven executive vice chancellor of academic affairs, for publication in the new universities catalog, according to Brown. This grading policy will generate a system, which professors will implement. The registrar’s office

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4 Knowing how many Americans felt about immigrants, he decided to tell how the immigrants really got here and how their story began. “America’s obsession with undocumented immigrants has clouded attitudes and recognition of the huge contribu-

tions made by Hispanics/ Tejanos via many years in Texas,” the professor of Spanish literature said. “Many Hispanics/ Tejanos did not recently cross the Rio Grande, the river crossed them. They are not recent arrivals, they have been on Texas soil since

November 6, 1528; they are not takers, they have made unnamed sacrifices, and have made untold contributions toward the making of Texas.” He went on to explain how his background played a large part in the development of this book. “My experiences

will then generate computed GPAs for advising, classification and transcripts. Brown mentioned

that the final decision to recommendations and revisions will be finalized in the weeks to come,

students will then be informed of the UTRGV’s final details on the grading policy.

growing up in Texas, my residing in the large ancestral haciendas that gave me perspective of the old Spanish Grantee families, whose Spanish Land Grants on Texas soil go back to 1767, nine years before the American Revolution,” he explained. “My ances-

tors, the LongoriaChapas, were already on Texas soil, clearing the land, doing cattle drives, and other vaquero activities.” Garcia’s book was published by Lagos Ediciones de Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico, in September 2014. He en-

courages anyone who wants to know more about the history of Texas to buy it. To receive a signed copy, email him at drlinogarcia@sbcglobal. net to get more information.

news

June 18, 2015

By Erika Landeros The Pan American

On May 14 officials presented UTPA’s new building final plans at a board meeting in Austin and got approval to proceed with construction. The funding for the $70 million project had been approved by the UT Board of Regents back in November. According to University of Texas Board of regents, it will be the most modern building in the University of Texas System, to include 16 research labs, four teaching labs, 11 workstations, a biosafety levels laboratory and 42 faculty offices. The 115,000-squarefoot, four-story structure will add to the

272,000-square-foot science building located next to the engineering edifice. The p u r p o s e of this addition is for research and education in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (or STEM) fields. Once the University of

Texas at Brownsville and UTPA merge to become the University of Texas

Rio Grande Valley, highend telecommunication

will allow students and professors from both campuses to easily comm u nicate w i t h e a c h o t h e r. N e w technology will allow students to be better prepared for careers in the STEM fields. According to research student Itzel Flores, new

resources and equipment will allow for more efficient science research. “With an extended research facility other research students (will) be attracted and that will allow the chance for collaboration,” the 19-yearold said. “UTRGV can accept more graduate students for chemistry or biomedical research.” Renovations on the current building will occur in order to accommodate the new addition. Construction of the 115,000-square-foot building will begin at the end of this year and will be completed by December 2017.

sports

June 18, 2015

By Nathaniel Mata The Pan American They were Broncs in the spring and they are major league prospects now. Outfielder Logan Landon and left-handed pitcher Alex Henson became members of Major League Baseball organizations last month. In early May, the two Broncs, who just completed their last collegiate season, found out their next steps in baseball will be playing to try to make MLB rosters. Manny Mantrana, head coach of both athletes for the last four years, spoke of their accomplishments and what they mean to everyone involved. “Any time you get players drafted (and signed) with the ability to play professional baseball it’s always a privilege and an honor,” said Mantrana, who had been drafted

Photo by Sarah Carvajal

four times in his playing career and spent time in the organizations of the New York Mets and Milwaukee Brewers. “Everybody wins; obviously the players, their families, the University and of course our baseball program.” Landon’s path is by way of the MLB draft. He was selected in the 10th round by the Los Angeles Dodgers, making him the fourth UTPA player to be drafted in the last four years. He joins right-handed pitchers Sam Street and Dusten Knight, drafted in 2014 and 2013 respectively, as well as third baseman Angel Ibanez (2012). Landon spent the first three years of his time at UTPA on the pitching mound before making a transition into being a position player. During his single season of playing every day, he was

a standout, near the top of the conference in many offensive categories. His batting average was third in the conference, and 19th in the nation at .382. His on base percentage of .476 was the best in the Western Athletic Conference and 26th in the country. Mantrana, stated that his transition into the field might play right into his hands at the next level. “I think the longer he plays a position the better he’s going to get. He gets more at-bats, he gets more repetitions,” said Mantrana, the seven-year Bronc coach. “It had been three years since he swung a bat. I think the more he plays on an everyday basis he’s going to develop his eye, he’s going to get more comfortable with offense, better on the bases and better defensively. So I think it’s going to play to his

Logan Landon

advantage.” A few days later it was Henson who got the call from the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. He was signed onto the team as an undrafted free agent. Henson pitched 95 innings as a Bronc, striking out 72 batters. Opponents batted .249 when he was on the mound. Mantrana spoke about the road to a roster spot for Henson, one that included a roadblock in his last season. “Alex had a great junior year, was on the radar with a lot of professional scouts,” Mantrana said. “Had a great fall with us. When he went home he had an accident, broke his pinky on his throwing hand and was basically out for the first two months of the season. You never want to see a player get hurt, but in particular you never want to see a

Photo by Vanessa Luna

senior because it’s their last year. But again he worked hard, he stuck with it and now he signed with the Angels.” The two athletes will join Street (Pittsburgh) and Knight (San Francisco) as former Broncs in the ranks of a major league organization trying to work their way to the bigs. Both are pitching at the Single-A level. Street owns a 1.84 earned run average, while Knight’s ERA is 2.25 In program history, four Broncs have made the journey all the way into the majors: George Williams, a third baseman who played from 1995-97 and 2000; infielder Dan Firova (1981-82 and 1988.); Outfielder Jim Tyrone, who was up for four seasons in the 1970s; and his brother Wayne, who wore a major league uniform in 1978.

NEXT UP The program will remain under the direction of Mantrana as the school and athletic teams transition to University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros in the fall. The coach says the addition of a medical school will be a good selling point to recruits. “Once the university is able to get a medical school the prestige goes up, it helps recruiting,” Mantrana said. “And obviously now that we are able to play in the WAC also has helped. You put those two things together. The WAC and the prestige of having a medical school on campus, recruiting should be a lot better than it has been.”

Alex Henson

sports

June, 18 2015

By Estefani Carrasquedo The Pan American Three UTPA base- pretty good competiball players - senior tion.” outfielders Cole LonLoncar will be car, Correy Davis plus playing for the Medsophomore infielder ford Rogues of the Isaac Gonzalez - will West Coast League be playing in the col- in Medford, Oregon. legiate wooden bat The general studies 2015 summer leagues. major will continue to Head Coach play the outfield posiManny Mantrana tion that he has bebelieves the summer come accustomed to. league action will As a senior at help them succeed at Olympia High School a higher level. Joining in Olympia, Wash., the league is a player’s Loncar earned Allchoice but is highly State honors as he recommended by the led his team to the coaches because doing championship. He so is great experience. was also selected Most Mantrana discussed Valuable Player of the the benefits these three 2011 All-State Basewill have because they ball Series. During his are field players and freshman year at Mesa not pitchers. Community College “We are sending in 2013 he led the them to get better, not Thunderbirds team to get hurt,” Mantrana in hitting with a .353 said. “Everyone is dif- average and scored 43 ferent, but they all runs. advance, the position In his first year players get a lot of reps with the Broncs, Lonon offense because car set several career they’ll play against highs, hit his first

Photos by Sarah Carvajal

Cole Loncar

grand slam, drove in four runs in a game against New Mexico State and hit his first career home run at Sacramento State. Loncar started all 52 games in center field and ended the season with a .348 hitting average, 38 runs and 34 RBI. Loncar now hopes to contribute to the Rogues, although he has not gotten a piece of the action yet. After ending the preseason game against Klamath Falls Gems at Harry & David Field June 5 with a loss, the Rogues beat the Gems with a three-game sweep June 10, starting their summer league with a five-game win streak. The Rogues will be on the road for nine games beginning with the Kelowna Falcons and ending with the Kitsap Blue Jackets before returning home

to face Top Speed June 21 and June 22. Davis, also a general studies major, will play for the Northwest Boom, a team in Tucson that is part of Sun Belt Collegiate League. In his high school years, Davis led Whitehouse High (in East Texas) to a district championship in 2012 and was selected as First Team All-District as a pitcher. He ended his sophomore year with 42 RBI playing first base and earned All-WJCAC Honorable Mention. Since joining the Broncs as an outfielder, Davis posted several accomplishments. He had a 4-for-4 game and also went 3 for 4 against Sacramento State. In 2015, Davis hit .273 with 19 RBI. Although younger than his other two teammates, sopho-

Correy Davis

more Gonzalez won’t miss any opportunities to improve his career. The business major joined the Chillicothe Mudcats of the Missouri Iowa, Nebraska and Kansas Collegiate Baseball League in Chillicothe, Mo. In his senior year at Valley Vista High School, Gonzalez ended with a .412 on-base percentage and a .355 average, scoring 25 runs. In his freshman year with the Broncs, Gonzalez had his moments. He was 3 for 4 with two runs against Arlington Baptist. For the season he compiled a .184 average and scored 22 runs and will now get to work on his skills during 48 games with the Mudcats. Although the summer leagues have been a part of the college baseball experience for

several years, Mantrana focuses first on the player himself. Some will profit from it and some won’t. “We ask at the beginning of the year and if the grades are good and everything is fine and they’re healthy, then we put them in a league where their skills are comparable to that league,” he said. “The guys who don’t go will follow the strength and conditioning program.” Still, having three athletes on the travel circuit means publicity for the program and Mantrana feels that it will help recruitment because prospective Vaqueros know they will get a shot to improve their skills in the summer.

Isaac Gonzalez

arts & life

June 18, 2015

By Ena Capucion The Pan American While McAllen might be a city with one of the highest obesity rates in the United States according to Forbes magazine, UTPA alumnus Robert Lopez is doing his part to counteract the trend. He will be competing in this year’s Men’s Health Ultimate Guy Search. Out of 818 contestants, the 2005 graduate is currently in third place with 12,861 votes. According to the Men’s Health website, the magazine is on the scout for a citizen who is fit and fearless, a doer who gives back and leads by example. The man on the cover will be revealed in this year’s November issue. In terms of judging criteria, 35 percent will account for physical fitness, 25 percent for living a healthy lifestyle, 20 percent on giving back to the community, 10 percent of professional success and the final 10 percent for reader’s choice. Online voters base the mentioned criteria on each contestant’s photos and the four essay questions that were answered in 100 words or less. Further in the competition, the judges will take it into their hands to decide and narrow down the remaining contestants. Along with being featured on the cover of Men’s Health the winner will receive a year’s supply of Isopure products such as protein shakes and nutritional drinks. Isopure is a company that provides their custom-

: UTPA graduate competes for

Men’s Health magazine cover

ers with the purest protein around. Lopez’s road to fitness began in November 2010 when he wanted to join the Border Patrol. However, one prerequisite was the ability to run a mile and a half in 15 minutes. Though he had been an active athlete during his time at Sharyland High School, Lopez turned to three-time track and field Olympian Dennis Darling for advice. Lopez met Darling when the two worked at the University in 2005. Lopez was the assistant sports information director during what was Darling’s first year as a Bronc track and field coach. After Lopez interviewed him in 2005 to write Darling’s biography, the two remained friends. And part of the friendship was advice for Lopez on how to get fit for the Border Patrol. “He said, ‘You just gotta put in the miles, Lopez. Just put in the miles,’” the 33-year-old said. “This guy’s a ... world-class athlete and he tells me to put in the miles. That was the worst advice ever. But at the end of the day, he was right.” In August 2012 Lopez was rejected in an attempt to become a Border Patrol agent despite two years of physical training. Fortunately, he already had a job with the McAllen Chamber of Commerce that he’d grown to love. “I was a little sad about it because you invest two years of

your life,” the director of sports tourism sales said. “(But) I realized maybe the fitness thing wasn’t put in my life so that I could become a Border Patrol Agent, but it was put in my life so that it could change my lifestyle and that’s what it did.” Since the rejection, Lopez focused on his job to keep the image of McAllen alive and manages to maintain his physicality. Earlier this year Forbes released statistics showing that the MSA of McAllen, Edinburg and Mission is the second heaviest area in the nation with an obesity rate of 38.3 percent compared to the national average of 27.7 percent. Part of Lopez’ job with the Chamber is to enhance, maintain and protect the image of McAllen. “That’s not who we are,” the McAllen resident said. “Obesity’s a nationwide problem; it’s not a McAllen or Rio Grande Valley problem. I have a lot of pride in this (city), so I thought we should get a good story out there.” Lopez has had a subscription to Men’s Health magazine for a couple of years and learned about Search competition in an April issue. Although the entry period began March 10, he submitted his application May 2. Applications are given until June 21 to apply, however the only downside would be the amount of time the online community has to vote.

“It was really scary because you put yourself out there like that,” the 2005 mass communication graduate said. “I’m not a model, I’m not a fitness competitor, I’m not a trainer. I’m just a guy who has a messy office and works. I just work hard at whatever it is that I’m doing.” ‘FROM ME TO WE’ Since his entry, Lopez has attracted many of locals to his participation in the Search. His Facebook profile went from having several hundred friends to almost 4,500. When he’s in public there is rarely a time where Lopez goes unnoticed. He described an instance when he went for a run and some ladies inquired about his participation in the competition. “They wanted to take pictures with me and I thought it was kind of weird because I’m just a regular guy,” the Mission native said. “Then it happened again later that day. My friends mess around with me (saying I have) ‘local celebrity status,’ but it’s not like that.” Along with the public attention, the Valley has been fully supportive of Lopez’s attempt to win the competition. Not only has word of his part in the competition spread through Facebook, but The Monitor wrote a Q&A article on Lopez in May. Following the release of the story, Lopez’s votes

for that day rose by about 450. The votes count towards entry to Phase One, where the current number of contestants are narrowed down to the top 100. Votes are counted by visiting Lopez’s entry profile on the Men’s Health website and tweeting #MHGuycontest #522. “It’s really amazing how the community has gotten behind it,” he said. “It started off with me saying, ‘Hey, vote for me, vote for me.’ and then it turned into, ‘We can do this together.’ It turned from me to we real quick. Now I feel like it’s our competition. I just feel like I’m the guy in the pictures, really. It’s more of a Valley thing than a Robert Lopez thing.” THE CONTEST The 2015 Ultimate Men’s Health Guy Search Contest consists of an entry period and four phases. The entry period began March 10 and men from all around the nation and Canada - except Arizona and the Province of Quebec - can apply by submitting up to three photos and answering four questions in 100 words or less. At the same time, the online community is given the chance to determine who makes it into Phase One and have until June 21 to lock in their votes. Phase One, also considered the Quarterfinalists Community Judging, will narrow down the 818

contestants to the top 100. The online audience will then have until July 6 to again lock in their votes. Phase Two narrows the quarterfinalists to the top nine where the judges will determine the semifinalists. The judges, include the editor-in-chief of Men’s Health Bill Phillips, designer Kenneth Cole, actress Sofia Vergara, anchor of CNN’s morning show New Day Chris Cuomo, and last year’s winner of the Men’s Health Ultimate Guy Search Noah Galloway, an Iraqi war veteran and double amputee. Phase Three will run from July 7 to July 24 when the judges will determine the three finalists. Phase Four will occur from Aug. 2 to Aug. 4 when the judges will choose a single winner. When the contest concludes in September, Lopez has his heart set on devoting himself to his job whatever the outcome. “If it all ended today, it’s been nothing but positive publicity,” Lopez said. “And I think it tells people that you can make a change and it doesn’t have to cost you anything. You can’t put a price on creativity. You can’t put a price on thinking outside of the box. I don’t know what it’s going to mean for me, but it’s inspired other people.”

arts & life By Astrid Gonzalez The Pan American RGV Millennials is a non-profit organization working to inspire, educate, empower and unite the millennial generation in the Rio Grande Valley. The millennial generation, also known as “Generation Y,” is the newest classification of individuals, those typically grouped by having been born between 1980 and 2000 or being approximately between the ages of 18 and 34. This generation is categorized as self-confident multi-taskers who are success-driven. Even though it’s designated for millennials, the organization seeks to benefit immigrants, city governments, inhabitants and tourists, seeking solutions to important political issues such as education, economy, women’s rights, health care, civic rights, environmental issues and immigration. Salvador Murillo, public relations administrator for RGV Millennials, said the group strives for exceedingly ambitious goals. “This organization was created because of a dire need for knowledge to prevail in the face of misinformation, bias and an odd listlessness concerning civic engagement in our Rio Grande Valley communities,” the 24-year-old said. “RGV Millennials wants to be the organization that makes it possible for everyone to understand and be-

June 18, 2015

Giving local millennials a voice

come involved in the multitude of issues that are changing the face of society in the local, state and national levels.” The core team plans on achieving this by identifying an issue, setting a goal, strategizing a plan and assessing goals. The organization was co-founded by Blanca Davila, a University of Texas at Brownsville graduate, and Alberto Espinoza, a UTPA graduate. The organization consists of a core team of six people. The co-founders spent summer 2014 as Archer Graduate Fellows in Washington, D.C. and attended the University of Texas System Archer Center Graduate Program in Public Policy. “The Archer Program is a UT Systemwide program designed to give students the opportunity to intern fulltime in Washington, DC on a policy-related internship,” said Espinoza, who graduated fall 2012 with a bachelor’s in political science. When they returned to the Valley last summer they noted the absence of an organization promoting millennials in the region, and decided to establish one. They started by initiating social events where people concentrate on everyday life problems such as healthcare and economy. The team also created a Facebook page to inform, educate, inspire, and interact with millennials in the RGV.

According to the Texas State Data Center, the Generation Y population in the Valley will reach 333,321 this year, close to a quarter of the total population. Most are found in Hidalgo and Cameron Counties with 208,839 and 101,733 people, respectively. About 94 percent of members of this generation in the Valley are Hispanic with 5 percent identified as Anglo. The remaining 1 percent is African-American or other. The RGV Millennials plan on having social events in order to intensify knowledge in local communities. “RGV Millennials’ socials and annual summit will increase awareness of critical issues affecting the RGV,” Davila said. “The group will have the oppor-

tunity to learn about organizations and how they can take action and create change in the community. RGV Millennials’ efforts will inform, encourage and inspire attendees on the importance of voting, mentoring, becoming active members of organizations and connecting education to employment. (Generation Y) will also reinforce a culture of learning and provide opportunity to explore RGV challenges and solutions.” In order to attain these goals the organization has held five social events in McAllen and Brownsville. These events are designed to inform the millennial generation on topics such as education, women’s rights and civic engagement. They usually feature one of

RGV Millennials’ team members presenting on key issues such as sexual assault. June 17, Millennials volunteered in the 4th Annual Girls Just Want to Have Fun, a makeover glam event for anyone over the age of 21, hosted by Communities in Schools Cameron County at the Brownsville Event Center. The event included shopping and indulging in makeovers. Eva Garcia, a city planner for Brownsville, assisted at the event. The millennials want to be able to engage other generations by sharing their thoughts and ideas. RGV Millennials benefits members of other generations such as Generation X, or the Baby Boomer generation. Baby Boomers are

the generation born in an 18-year period after World War II from 1946 to 1964. Anyone born after that time period and well into the late 80’s, usually his or her children, are known as Generation X. In the future, Generation Y will reap the benefits of this organization. “RGV Millennials will become the voice of the millennial generation in the Rio Grande Valley,” Espinoza said. “We will advocate and strive for progressive change and solutions to foster empowerment and unity here in the Valley.” For now, the next event will come when RGV Millennials host an Environmental Issues Social, directed by Murillo, June 27 at Cobbleheads in Brownsville.

arts & life

June 18, 2015

Progressive organizing UTPA student receives scholarship for Netroots Nation convention By Jacqueline Arias The Pan American Ismael Melendez came to the U.S. from Mexico when he was only four years old. From a young age he said he was exposed to the inequalities immigrants and lowincome families face in the U.S. He’s seen the financial instability minimum wage jobs and a lack of education can cause a family. He wants to be the first in his family to achieve a higherlevel education, and for this reason, he’s pursuing his studies at UTPA. He is also a part of the Texas Freedom Network, an organization that works with getting the community and other Hispanics involved in issues such as education, reproductive health rights and Lesbian-Gay-Bisexual-TransgenderQueer equality. But Melendez has gone even further. He recently received a scholarship from Democracy For America to attend the 10th annual Netroots Nation convention in Phoenix, an event that works on enhancing organizational skills for progressive, people with liberal ideals. This organization holds a convention every summer in various cities across the country. This year’s will be July 16-19 and there, at-

tendees will choose from 80 speaker panels and more than 40 training sessions. College students, soldiers, newsmakers and organizational leaders come together to discuss issues and learn methods for organizing. Melendez’s story is at the core of what Netroots Nation is about -- bringing diversity and progressive voices together to engage on important issues. “I come from a low-income family; I’m also a first generation immigrant to the United States and a first generation college student,” Melendez said. “It’s a great opportunity to attend this amazing convention where I’m going to be able to network and learn the latest organizing techniques being used in the field of organizing - which is getting people together to work on issues to solve all over the community.” The convention promises workshops about immigration, border security, infrastructure and trade agreements such as NAFTA and CAFTA, and on how to get the community involved. Each year, there’s a guest speaker to talk about progressive issues. One of the most pressing in Arizona

is immigration. In 2010 Arizona passed the Senate Bill 1070, which allows police to determine one’s immigration status when detained if they suspect they are not here legally. Since then, there have been copycat laws across the country in states such as Alabama, Indiana, S o u t h Carol i n a , Ut a h a n d Georgia. Re-

c e n t l y, Texas has tried to pass Senate Bill 185 that has similar qualities. Melendez is ready to learn and contribute. “I’ll be participating in workshops where they teach and go over issues that are affecting our community now,” he said. “Also in the workshops they go over the latest strategies in getting people involved. The great

thing is they usually have guest speakers and this year they’re going to have Senator Elizabeth Warren. Saturday morning of that weekend they usually have a big dem-

onstration or a protest going on in t h e c i t y, which I think is going to be about the immigration law here.” Warren, Democratic senator from Massachusetts, was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2012. She is a progressive leader who advocates for tougher bank regulation, LGBTQ equality, women’s reproductive rights, immigration reform and student loan reform among other items. These are the problems that con-

cern Melendez, too. He’s passionate and driven not only by the controversial immigration issue, but other concerns that affect many lives across the Rio Grande Valley.

Im m i gration affects our community here in the Valley; it’s a huge issue. A lot of those laws passed in Arizona (have) tried to pass here in Texas, but they haven’t been successful,” the Pharr resident said. “But I also care about reproductive justice and public education. So I’m involved in … (the Texas Freedom Network) on campus and in the community to bring more awareness to these issues and get more people involved.” Education is an important issue for Melendez. He’s seen the change it can bring to communities like his. His parents were not able to attain the education he is working for and the student

knows that schooling can be a factor in fighting inequality. “My parents didn’t get a formal education in Mexico. They were always struggling with their jobs, minimum wage or working in the fields,” the computer science major said. “So on some days they would take me to the field when I was young and I know how much hard work it is. So there’s a huge struggle because it’s more difficult for us to be successful with the impediments that come with being low income.” Melendez firmly believes education can mitigate inequality in a society. As a college senior, he’s made his own transformation and is giving back to the community through vocal networking on Twitter and Facebook, and works with the Texas Freedom Network to bring public awareness on a variety of issues. “I want more people in my community and in the Valley to be able to have access to higher education,” Melendez said. “Because I believe higher education is a way to get out of poverty, and they can contribute back to society.”

sports By Nathaniel Mata The Pan American The women’s basketball team was a win short of its first 20win season in program history when their playoff run was cut short in Lafayette, La. March 19. In the first round of the Women’s Basketball Invitational tournament the Broncs were knocked off by the eventual WBI Champions Louisiana Lafayette University Rajin’ Cajuns. The final score was 7856, despite the Broncs leading for most of the contest. The season saw them become the first in program history to reach the postseason and appear in the first Western Athletic Conference Championship game. Program

June, 18 2015

records were rewritten as they averaged 12-point margins in their wins. They achieved the most wins in a season with 19, most conference wins in a season, nine and most home wins in a season, with twelve coming at the UTPA Field House, all school records. “Historic” is the best word to describe their run. The guidance of Head Coach Larry Tidwell during the 2014-15 season earned him statewide recognition. He was named Texas Association of Basketball Coaches Division I Coach of the Year. It represented the second time he was given the honor. The first came five years ago when he was the bench boss of

Lamar University. “It’s been a total commit from the coaches, the players and the staff,” the Bronc coach of two years said. “Now one of our main goals is to fill the Field House up.” Tidwell expressed an attitude that the work was not quite done and the season can be improved on. He said the key to improvement is on the quality of the players. “The thing I like to do as a program, I don’t like to rebuild, I like to reload,” Tidwell said. “And we’re going to reload with some really good players. Our recruiting class is going to be ranked in the top 60 in the country and we’re going to have some good

players coming in.” Players that are returning have “bought into the program,” as Tidwell phrases, and will continue to be the centerpiece of his teams. Over the last three season there was an increase in winning from 12 wins during the 2012-13 season to 19 wins in the most recent season. Tidwell mentioned All-WAC first team junior guard Shawnte’ Goff, All-Newcomer member sophomore forward Hildur Kjartansdottir and junior guard Rickell Preston as returning players he’ll count on. “It’s always nice to get to the postseason,” the graduate and former basketball and football player at Austin College said.

Women’s basketball head coach aiming even higher

“When you post the first winning season that they had in 32 years it’s a good feeling. You feel good about yourself when you get one of your goals accomplished.” The pressure to repeat the success however, doesn’t sit too heavy on the Broncs compared to the conference winner Tidwell explained. The target of the entire conference is not on their back just yet. This is when it becomes evident that the performance last year is not what he wants his players to be satisfied with. “We went to the postseason, and that’s all good,” he said. “But we didn’t win a conference championship. New Mexico State is

the person with the target on their back. We’re pursuing the conference championship. Since the first day I stepped on this campus that was my number one objective, to win a WAC conference championship, a conference tournament championship and go to the NCAA tournament.” The road to a WAC success, an National Collegiate Athletic Association Tournament berth and any goals outlined by Tidwell will consist of 18 road games from a schedule of 29. The Broncs will become Vaqueros this fall but the team will remain in the same conference and retain eligible.

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June 18, 2015

IS LOOKING FOR : summer Volunteers campus wide Design, WRITING, PHOTOGRAPHY

sports By Marco Torres The Pan American The UTPA Department of Intercollegiate Athletics announced May 21 that former baseball athlete Robert Kelly Casares died May 17 at 1:30 a.m. in a motorcycle accident in Houston. The former Bronc pitcher, 31, hit the back of a car that was stopped in the right lane of Highway 290, according to KPRC 2 News. The car could not pull over to the emergency lane due to construction. After his death, the family decided to make a scholarship in his name for UTRGV. Head Coach Manny Mantrana feels the loss is tragic, but he is glad that a scholarship

June, 18 2015

Death of Kelly Casares leads to scholarship in his name will result from it. “It is a great thing, (but) it is a very sad thing obviously,” Mantrana said. “But it is to pay him homage … so it’s a great thing in what (the family) are doing. We are here to help them and service them.” Born Oct. 7, 1983, the Missouri City native attended Elkins High School for two and half years before moving to Corpus Christi. He earned All-South Texas honorable mention as a senior in high school and went on to pitch for McLennan Community College in Waco before joining the Broncs in 2005. During his final season (2006) with the Broncs, the lanky

Casares had a record of 1-2 with one save, a 5.15 ERA and 40 strikeouts. He was one of the most active pitchers during that season as he tied for fourth most appear-

out 31 and allowed 19 hits in 26.2 innings. Casares went on to pitch in the American Association with Sioux Falls for two years then returned to Fort Worth for the start of

But it is to pay him homage … so it’s a great thing in what (the family) are doing. We are here to help them and service them. - Manny Mantrana Head baseball coach ances in a single season in program history, with 25. After Casares completed his collegiate career in 2006, he pitched in United League Baseball for the Edinburg Coyotes. He recorded seven saves and a 0.67 ERA, struck

2009 before coming back to Edinburg to play for the Roadrunners. For his second opportunity in Edinburg, Casares went 2-2 with 15 saves, posting a 3.54 ERA and 25 strikeouts in 28 innings pitched. He went on to

pitch one more season of professional baseball, splitting 2010 between Maui of the Golden Baseball League and Shreveport-Bossier of the American Association. In his professional career he went 8-7 had 22 saves and a 3.41 ERA, fanning 143, allowed 142 hits walking 62 batters in 145 innings. The family has created the scholarship in his name, although the details of the scholarship are still undecided. Mantrana believes that since Casares was a former pitcher, the scholarship should go to fellow pitchers. “It would be deserving to keep that lineage and give it to a pitcher,” he said.

“But again, whatever the family decides, whatever they want to do. Whatever certain requirements, whether it be a pitcher or a position player or the certain requirements. We are willing to do whatever they want us to do.” Casares is survived by his parents, Bob and Karen, his brother Casey and his nephew, Charlie.

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