December 5, 2007 by UTRGV Student Media

58th Year No. 14

Thursday Dec. 5, 2007

SERIES

Winding down: By LEZETTE VILLARREAL The Pan American

uring finals week at The University of Texas-Pan

American, students scrambling to get a jumpstart on studying and finishing big projects are common sights. An exam in itself is stressful enough for some people, but add life

For students, finals often mean stress, studying and sleepless nights

outside of school and you’ll find yourself balancing a full plate. Maria Castillo, a sophomore nursing major, agrees that an exam is stressful, but with a 1-year-old child on board,

Veronica Gonzalez /The Pan American

THIS WEEK

RELAX - Jacqueline Adams (left), fitness and wellness coordinator, and Mercy Rentena, yoga instructor, gave free yoga classes provided by the Wellness and Recreational Center on Monday. The program aimed to help students unwind for finals.

things get even more difficult at times. “I have a baby so that brings more stress,” said the Weslaco resident. “I stress out a lot when I have an exam. I try to go relax by myself and try to take a time out.” According to psychology professor Grant Benham, stress is a physiological reaction the body has when it perceives a specific incident. “It is a healthy reaction. When we think about stress we think of it as being unhealthy, but the reason for that is that our bodies aren’t really set up to deal with long-term stress or what’s referred to as chronic stress,” Benham said. “Unfortunately that’s what most of us are dealing within this 21st century; a sort of relentless stress that we’re exposed to.” Reactions are individual, no two are alike, which makes any event difficult to place on the stress meter. But despite the various levels of tension, there are tips that can help any stressed student relax a bit. Benham suggests creating a timemanagement strategy to limit procrastinating and give students better control over their schedules. “One way to deal with stress is to come up with a list of priorities. There

See STRESS page 12

IT expert: Schools will impact innovations By BOBBY CERVANTES The Pan American As part three of a three-part series on technology and education, The Pan American uncovers new education-aiding gadgets in the works. Part one examined the evolution of technology in education. Part two examined the effects of technology on the learning process. Nearly 50 years ago, most people had the perception that the future would i n t r o d u c e humans to hovering cars and robotic house cleaners after the year 2000. While we don’t live in a Jetsonslike reality just yet, the technology boom of the post-Y2K years has proved outstanding growth, especially in education. Everything from technology infrastructure to how it fundamentally affects what happens in the classroom and the changes on the surrounding community

See TECH page 11

STUDENT GOVERNMENT

NEWS Experts: natural energy methods best See Page 3

A&E Winter break full of fun activities See Page 8 & 9

SPORTS Killer Bees host UTPA night See Page 13

SGA president resigns, VP to assume post New, old leaders respond to senator controversy By VERONICA GONZALEZ The Pan American Tony Matamoros is expected to step down tonight at the Student Government Association’s midterm ceremony, following an eight-month run as the group’s

president, handing executive powers to Tony Villarreal, current vice president. Matamoros, who was accepted to the Bill Archer Fellowship, is one of several students from the group leaving for the internship in Washington, D.C. on Jan.5. The fellowship, which was established by The University of Texas System and former U.S. Rep. Bill Archer, has been providing students with hands-on experience in politics since 2001. Matamoros is grateful for the experience he’s gained through his years in

SGA and admits he had to learn how to negotiate and get along with administration — a skill he used a lot during the term as president. “It’s a gradual process when dealing with administration.” he said in reference to the number of meetings he’s had to go through. While in office, Matamoros admits that the executive position brought with it added stress and often disagreements with counterpart Villarreal. But the two Tonys — as they were often referred to

among senators — worked out their differences along the way; debating over budgets, fees and proposals, always managing to work it out professionally, Villarreal said. “A lot of the time, we don’t take ourselves as serious as we need to and don’t recognize the honor that it is to be in SGA,” Villarreal said. “He’s been great at bringing back that professionalism.” Villarreal is nervous but excited about the new challenges before him.

See SGA page 11

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O PINION

December 5, 2007

THE PAN AMERICAN

STAFF EDITORIAL

Tuition rising, UTPA still good deal n recent years, students from Texas colleges have been plagued with mounting tuition and fee rates. But at a time when a college diploma’s worth is valued more highly than ever, most are willing to make adjustments — even if that means falling into debt. At The University of Texas at Arlington, a resident undergraduate taking 15 hours can expect to pay $3,500 per semester. In 2005, this number was only 2,900. At The University of TexasPan American, the same number of hours costs $2,413 — a nearly $700 difference from 2005. Nobody likes to pay more for school. And it would be very easy for us to jump on the collegiate bandwagon and complain with the rest of the state. But the truth of the matter is we have lit-

tle to cry about at UTPA. In fact, we think the school has, for the most part, benefited from higher tuition costs. Over the past five years, UTPA has built two massive new additions to the campus, and more are on the way. The school’s new recreation sports complex and dorm hall have greatly enhanced the school’s aesthetic appeal, and more importantly, its student life. A prettier campus encourages students to spend more time here, and it helps build a sense of camaraderie among them. It pushes many out of their parking lotclass-parking lot mindset, and, hopefully, makes them proud of their university. The price boost doesn’t feel like such a blow to wallets. You get what you pay for, right? Not to mention that most students at UTPA pay for college —

sometimes partly, sometimes entirely — with state and federal grants. And with increases in fees and tuition come increases in financial assistance set aside for students, thankfully. This is certainly not to say people should become complacent about the swell in college costs. It’s not due to stop any time soon, and while money seems properly budgeted for now, this could easily change due to failed oversight or fiscal irresponsibility. It is up to the student to know where her money goes. We encourage everyone to attend meetings and presentations held by the Cost of Education Committee and to offer the organization input so that they know where to allocate funds. According to information released by COEC, UTPA students should expect

to see tuition rates rising. Next year, the cost per credit hour is expected to be $79.15, up $16 from this year. Why not attend a meeting and find out why? It is especially important to stay on top of those pesky little fees—which seem to pop up out of nowhere each semester. If you don’t want a random charge tacked on to your UTPA bill, speak up. The process is much more complex than it seems. Students have a bigger input in the process than many are aware of. On that note, we’d like to applaud administrators for appropriating school funds adequately and for keeping the price tag of a UTPA diploma at a reasonable level. We’d also like to encourage students to get involved in the school’s budgetary process and ensure the same administrators keep it that way.

SOCIAL COMMENTARY

Lazy grammar officially an epidemic BY: SANDRA GONZALEZ

don’t understand young people; not because their minds are so complex, their actions so immature or their ability to act responsibly so subpar. While those are valid grievances, it is not why I don’t understand young people. I can’t understand them because...well, I can’t. Observe (all excerpts actual statements. No one was hurt in the writing of this column, except maybe the English language.): “I put a lot of time on that and I think [professors’ name removed to protect the innocent...and guilty] will think that I did it good.” — Student walking to car. “I don’t get you sometimes. You just think you’re like all that. (pause) No, no. Escuchame, you don’t listen.” — Student on phone “This is different than the one I saw, but I like this ok.” — Student sit-

DECEMBER 5, 2007 THE

PANAMERICAN 1201 West University, CAS 170 Edinburg, Texas 78539 Phone: (956) 381-2541 Fax: (956) 316-7122 www.utpa.edu/dept/panamerican

ting outside Social and Behavioral Sciences Building “It was broke, but I fixed it.” — Student in hallway “You drunk from it didn’t you? I can tell it.” — Student in Union. “I got a lot less fries than you.” — Student off campus at Whataburger “I’m real tired today, so I think I’ll go to Burger King. I feel like fries anyway.” — Student pondering dinner I know it is easy to make grammar mistakes. I make several and often have to stop and ponder the difference between “wary” and “weary” before giving my grammar Nazi of a sister a chance to correct me. But there is a large difference between making a mistake and just being lazy. Sentence structure is important, too, but I tend to give a little creative flexibility in that regard. In journalism style, for example, you can have a sentence that

begins with the word “but” or “and.” (I feel it important to make that point because I think that is a fact little known to the common reader. And while I’m on this subject, when writing journalism style you CAN have a paragraph with less than three sentences, thank you.) I’ll even give a few of the offenders the benefit of the doubt. Maybe you can like something “ok.” Maybe something that isn’t totally broken is just “broke.” And maybe, just maybe, the hungry student really did feel like a piece of fried potato. But for the sake of surrounding students, who may overhear these errors, don’t spread the disease. As one fellow student pointed out to me, lazy grammar, much like other bad habits, can interrupt your everyday life. Imagine for a moment a scenario (this one is for the upcoming graduates): Two people. One job. Equal degrees, qualifications and skirt length. One was

“real excited” to get a call for an interview. The other was “really excited.” Who will get the job? Don’t be a smart ass, you know who. Unlike with smoking, there is no patch for poor grammar. Unlike drugs, there is no rehab for it (unless you count Hooked on Phonics). And unlike obesity, there is no surgery (unless you want to have your tongue removed). With no quick cure, it is an epidemic. Blame pop culture. Blame television. Blame the student next to you. But we all know the only responsible party is the speaker. If we don’t hold ourselves accountable, it is quite possible that we will one day sincerely not understand the words that are coming out of our mouths.

Editor-in-Chief Sandra Gonzalez................................................. sandra_panamerican@yahoo.com

Designers

Secretary Anita Casares..........areyes18@utpa.edu

News Editor Ana Ley....................analey23@yahoo.com

Rick Gamez Greg Garza Reporters and Photographers

A&E Editor Jeanette Perez.........fae_myst@yahoo.com

Brian Carr

Sports Editor Erick Quintero................................................. erickquintero4@hotmail.com

Onydia Garza

Photography Editor Veronica Gonzalez........................................... vdgonzalezz@gmail.com

Lezette Villarreal

Design Editor Roy Bazan......................rbazanzz@yahoo.com

Adviser Dr. Greg Selber..........selberg@utpa.edu

Leslie Estrada Ramiro Paez

Laura Garcia

Does this editorial make you “real mad?” Email me about it: sandra_panamerican@yahoo.com

Advertising Manager Samantha Quintana.....spubs@utpa.edu Assitant Advertising Manager Jacqueline Iglesias................................... jiglesiasz@broncs.utpa.edu *** Delivery Thursday at noon The Pan American is the official student newspaper of The University of Texas-Pan American. Views presented are those of the writers and do not necessarily reflect those of the paper or university.

Savethesedates December

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The University of TexasPan American Mariachi will be peforming at 7 p.m. in the Fine Arts Auditorium

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The University of TexasPan American Alumni Association will be hosting a New Year’s Eve Casino Night. Tickets are $100 per person until Dec. 20. They will be $125 afterward. Contact the UTPA Alumni Relations Office at (956) 381-2500 or (956) 624-6263 for more information

Newsinbrief ADMINISTRATIVE Norma Dryer, former contract coordinator for Materials Management, has been named interim director of the office, Vice President of Business Affairs James Langabeer announced Tuesday. The position has been vacant since last week, when then-director Frances Rios was promoted to assistant vice president and director of human resources. Langabeer said in an e-mail that Dryers’ two degrees in engineering and her certification as a purchasing manager made her “eminently qualified” for the position.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR The Pan American accepts letters of 300 words or less from students, staff and faculty regarding recent newspaper content, campus concerns or current events. The Pan American reserves the right to edit submissions for grammar and length. The Pan American cannot publish anonymous letters or submissions containing hate speech or gratuitous personal attacks. Please send all story ideas to thepanamerican@gmail.com. Individuals with disabilities wishing to acquire this publication in an alternative format or needing assistance to attend any event listed can contact The Pan American for more details.

December 5, 2007

N EWS

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THE PAN AMERICAN

TestingTips

t’s happened to everyone. It’s like writers block...except for your entire brain. But these people have been there, too. So here are some studying and test taking tips from the ultimate experts; fellow students and professors.

“Exercise before studying to relieve stress.” -Unam Nasir sophomore biology/pre-med

“Use social probation…I punish myself. I’m not going to eat until I learn my stuff. And then I reward myself.” -Aaron Alvarez junior biology

“I listen to music and it helps me study, once I incorporate it into the song.”

-Brenda Rodriguez freshman social studies composite

“Study groups help a lot. And it’s a scientifically proven fact that studying right before you go to sleep can help your brain consolidate info better than the day.” -Sandra Hansmann assistant professor rehabilitative services

“Set blocks of time every week and use them for studying program is a winwin situation.” -Shawn Saladin assistant professor rehabilitative services

Can you kick the can? Students Experts speak on alternate ways to gain energy By J.R. ORTEGA The Pan American If students find themselves stuck in a never-ending loop of studying and exams, they know finals week is just around the corner. The solution for most college students: popping open that can of caffeine. For some, dependence on these beverages helps keep a person awake, while leaving others unable to concentrate. For Myra Infante, 34, it is quite the opposite; she drinks Red Bull at least once a day, if not more. “I’m always drinking it,” the junior English major said. “I get very little sleep at times so drinking it really helps me get through my day.” Infante has never experienced bad side effects from her constant caffeine intake. In fact, the McAllen native is a self-proclaimed advocate for the drink. She simply asks friends to try it if they are feeling down. She added that three of her closer friends have taken her advice and have drank Red Bull to boost up their energy and it has worked for them as well. Infante sees no real harm in her caffeine-need since it works for her and it has never impaired her in any way. No matter if its finals week or any average week she said she drinks Red Bull consistently to keep alert.

See ENERGY page 12

recall test horrors By ABIGAIL MUNIZ The Pan American

Nick Dodd /The Pan American ENERGIZED - Amp, an energy drink product of the Mountain Dew brand, is a popular choice of studying students like Zeke Barrera, a senior sociology major.

As Jonathan Alanis rushed to class, he tripped, fell and ripped his pajamas. He was already late for his midterm since his alarm clock didn’t go off. As a passerby stared, he gathered his book bag and calmly made his way to the classroom. If this sounds vaguely familiar, you are not alone. Test-taking horrors happen to the best of us and it seems as if everything manages to go wrong that day. Forgetting a Scantron or a pencil, or suffering a wardrobe malfunction while running to class to make it on time to the exam, are all a part of it. Alanis, a sophomore undeclared major, learned to prepare for tests in advance because of the incident, which happened during his freshman year. “Next time, I’m just not running with pajamas on campus,” the Pharr native said. “I did OK on the test but now, the night before I put post-its on my bathroom mirror of things to do the next day.” So far the method has worked well for him. “I feel better when I see those notes

See HORRORS page 12

Looking back, forward University moves past fall filled with shock, speakers, toward new semester SEMESTER IN REVIEW By LUPE A. FLORES The Pan American As another semester comes to a close at The University of Texas-Pan American, reflection serves as a reminder that it was a fall punctuated by important milestones in the university’s development, shocking events and special guests. The semester began on a positive note, with the opening of the university’s Wellness and Recreation Sports Complex, a 156,000-square foot facili-

ty. The center opened to rave reviews. “These are services every student who attends UTPA should take advantage of,” said sophomore English major Diana Escamilla, now a regular at the new facility. “The place provides a good opportunity to get or stay fit, with friends or without. It is very convenient, and impossible to say no to a good chance in becoming healthy now.” The upbeat tone of the semester beginning was short-lived, however, when President Blandina Cardenas announced in early September that she would be taking a leave of absence to

See REVIEW page 12

SPRING PREVIEW By BOBBY CERVANTES The Pan American As the fall 2007 semester ends, students’ lives at The University of Texas-Pan American are filled with late nights and frantic study sessions in preparation for their finals. Most students are looking forward to a long Winter Break with spring semester being the last thing on their mind. UTPA, however, has already started planning for campus activities in 2008. According to Jerry Price, associ-

ate vice president and dean of students, there “are quite a lot of things going on the first few weeks students return for [sic] spring semester.” UTPA has also secured another speaker as part of their Distinguished Speaker Series which brings worldrenowned guests to speak on the campus. On Jan. 30, Paul Rusesabagina, is bringing his tale of courage as a seemingly ordinary hotel manager that saved the lives of thousands during the Rwandan Genocide in 1994, is slated to open the 2008 series. Marvin Boland, architect and

See SPRING page 12

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December 5, 2007 NEWS

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ARTS&ENTERTAINMENT

December 5, 2007

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THE PAN AMERICAN

I SEEN AND CAPTURED

Edinburg lights up the holidays By RUSSEN VELA The Pan American

Nick Dodd/The Pan American SEASONʼS GREETINGS - The annual “Festival of Lights” started off the month of December with the community-involved and festive, winter wonderland for all to enjoy, especially young childlren.

The City of Edinburg and the University of Texas-Pan American, along with the Edinburg Economic Development Corporation and the Edinburg Chamber of Commerce, presented “Night of Lights” Nov. 29 in the Quad. The celebration, which is famous for its festive parade, converted the popular campus event space into a winter wonderland of sorts by covering surrounding buildings and palm

trees in Christmas lights. Drinks, dancing, live bands, and food ranging from classic American hotdogs to hot brisket sandwiches made the event a crowd-pleaser. “I took my daughter Katelyn, and she was just in awe of everything,” said Carolyn Guzman, a sophomore communications disorder major and McAllen native. “She was really excited to see Santa, but when she got to sit on his knee she was just so star-struck, that whenever he asked her a question she didn’t answer.”

I MUSIC REVIEWS

Calm the nerves, anxiety with music By BRIAN CARR The Pan American

Elliot Smith

Pink Floyd

ead week: brief, disheartening and grotesque. The moment of actualization – you’re not as good of a student as you should be. You could have kept up. You could have followed clean and stringent outlines, which would have navigated you genially through the workload of the course. But chances are, you did not. Cram. In a fit of surreal brain activity you force knowledge upon your grey matter, as though the bludgeoning of foregone material could somehow leave facts stuck to your synapses. Then the pain. The dull ache of confusion. Eyeballs ache from left to right. Temporal lobe swells tight against your skull. You need auditory relief. You need albums to study to. ELLIOT SMITH Most Elliott Smith fans were not surprised when the artist killed himself in 2003. His music seemed to pulse through him in a gentle yet melancholy tone. He had a penchant for songs written in minor keys, and his trademark double-track vocals were at once wispy and masculine. The result is a delicate auditory experience. For this reason, Wes Anderson chose to use Smith’s “Needle in the Hay” as the background score for the attempted suicide scene in his 2001 dramatic comedy “The Royal Tenenbaums.” In his 1997 Kill Rock Star debut “Either/Or,” Smith crafted beautiful working class-influenced ballads that resonate with delicate musical harmonies while delivering brilliant lyri-

cal offerings and ingenious guitar arrangements. At its core the album is a garage tape. Smith co-produced the album on an analog 4-track, while playing all the musical instruments in the process. Because of this the album is tender, haunting and beautiful. Minimalistic and intrinsic, Smith’s offerings play like auditory Van Gogh. Delightfully textured, and powerfully simple, “Either/Or” seeps like wallpaper through radio speakers, and falls like feathers of warmth. Take for instance, “Angeles.” The staccato guitar work melts over a steady waltz while Smith lips the cautionary observation: “Someone’s always coming around here trailing some new cure.” Only this time the prescription is accurate, so dial it up on your iPod, and swallow the medicine.

Campus abundant with areas of relaxation By LAURA GARCIA The Pan American

PINK FLOYD Pink Floyd might be quick to dismiss 1970’s “Atom Heart Mother” as a grotesquely self indulgent studio album, but retrospectively the album was a brilliant segue from the Syd Barrett-fronted mod act that the band originated as, to the dark-sided head band it would become. The five-track masterpiece is part rock orchestra, part folk happenstance, and all brilliance. The opening track “Atom Heart Mother,” pulses along for over 23 minutes, and is broken up into six movements. Each movement is grandiose and Wagneresque, with French horns and timpani drums meshing brilliantly with traditional rock instrumentation to produce a moving, neo-orchestral experience. The finale of the album “Alan’s

Psychedelic Breakfast,” is similar in construction, however here we see more of Richard Wright’s piano virtuosity as Floyd unleashes several heady piano vignettes linked together by psychedelic mood changes. Sandwiched between these two larger works are three folk-inspired rock jingles that melt away beneath the weight of the bookends. But as a musical offering to rest your mind to, the album as a whole is soothing and maternal.

DID YOU KNOW?

I A 2005 study done by British and Italian scientists discovered that listening to music with a slow or meditative tempo has a relaxing effect on people, slows breathing and heart rate.

With finals just around the corner most student stress levels will reach an all-time high. Let the panic attacks, nervous breakdowns and late-night cram sessions begin. However, there are ways to make it through finals minimizing trauma, including taking time to relax and making the most of stress-free zones on campus. One place University of Texas-Pan American students frequent to get away from it all is the new Wellness and Recreation Sports Complex. The complex not only offers gyms, weights and a rock climbing wall, but lounge areas outfitted with modern furniture, WI-FI (Wireless Internet connection) and vibrant colors suitable to study or to simply nap. The complex café, “Energy Zone,” is another plus, offering healthy drinks and snacks for post-workout consumption. For Santos Moreno, the gym proves to be very soothing. “It keeps my mind off troubles that

See RELAX page 10

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Holiday season has much to offer

hen the fall semester is over, millions of college students as well as professors are stumped as what to do over the break. Sure, some will travel to exotic locations such as Aspen, Col., or take a luxurious cruise to Alaska, but for the rest of The University of TexasPan American students and staff, many will end up staying at home and seeking amusement around the area. Have no fear of Jack Frost spoiling your Christmas break, there is plenty of fun and joy to go around.

CONCERTS Alternative rock takes center stage this weekend as the internationally acclaimed band The Cranberries performs at McAllen-based club Metropolis. “When I heard the band was coming, I couldn’t contain myself,” said Sandra Sanchez, a junior political science major, adding that it has been a “life-long dream” of hers to see the band. The band, whose hits include “Linger,” “Dreams,” and “Salvation,” is set to perform on Friday, tickets and start time have yet to be posted on the club Web site.

The factory offers a large array of exotic chocolate and pastries, from Chocolate covered strawberries to white chocolate covered apples. Junior Psychology major Linda Ortiz was excited to hear about the opening of the chocolately domain. “I dreamed of having a Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory here in the Valley. It makes life so sweet and gooey to know that I will have one near my house,” the Mcallen native said. The store will be located at 3300 Expressway 83, Ste. 170 at the Palms Crossing Shopping Center in McAllen.

FUN AT DODGE The Dodge arena has been known for its sensational ice shows, to its involvement with some show stopping concerts from performers such as Ricky Martin, to Evanescence. And this season they will not disappoint. The arena in McAllen Texas has officially been called the Land of Disney shows. With such tours such the “Princess Dreams” which features various Disney Princess’s on Ice, The Dodge arena is proud to present “Playhouse Disney Live!” from from Dec. 21 to Dec. 23. The ice show will feature numerous Disney characters from Mikey, Minnie, and their good friend Donald Duck. Based on the popular TV show on the Disney channel, the ice show will consist of many outrageous plots and story lines which feature the all Disney cast. Jenah Perez, a sophomore communication disorders major, is considering taking her 8-year-old son Caleb to the show. “My son and I both love Disney cartoons, and I think it would such a great experience to see them perform on ice,” Perez said excitedly. Prices for tickets vary due to seating. For those who want an event for an older audience there is Monster Jam, taking place Jan. 25-27. Monster Trucks will go toe to toe in the highly anticipated competition. “Monster Jam is hilarious and awesome at the same time,” Adrian Sandoval, a sophomore rehab major and McAllen resident. “You can’t help but laugh at the cars that get crushed, and end up losing the competition.“

TRADITIONAL CELEBRATIONS Among the barrage of new events and happenings in the Valley over winter break, the Valley will also play host to more traditional events. McAllen’s Chamber of Commerce will also holding their annual Candelight Posada, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary. The Posada will kick-off with a lighted Christmas parade on Friday night at 7 p.m. The event will culminate with a Saturday evening procession and the re-enactment of Mary and Joseph searching for an inn. Both of the evenings will include more than 30 food booths will offer tastetempting delights such as funnel cake. The celebration will be held on Friday and Saturday, December 7 and 8 at Archer Park in McAllen. Admission is free.

GRAND OPENINGS The Valley will continue its economic growth as well over the winter break, with the opening of the “Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory” Dec. 13.

MOVIES Stage productions of Christmas stories vary with some students and staff, but one thing is for sure: there is nothing like a good movie to watch at theaters during the Christmas holidays. “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street,” “Atonement,” and “The Golden Compass” all seem poised and ready to claim the holiday box office throne. “Sweeney Todd,” based on Stephen Sondheim’s Tony award-winning horror musical, will be re-imagined with the genius of director Tim Burton, plus actors Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter. The musical about greed, revenge and redemption will no doubt shock audiences with its gory scenery and “oh-so-Tim-Burton” style. “I cannot wait to hear Johnny Depp sing,” said sophomore art major Lisa Arzola. “The musical may not be for everyone, due to the whole plot of revenge and greed, but to me it is going to be a

bloody good Christmas,” the McAllen native said, laughing. The film is selected to open in limited release on Dec. 21 and go nationwide on Christmas Day. “Atonement,” is a film based on the critically acclaimed and award-winning novel; it is the sophomore effort from director Joe Wright, who two years ago made the critically acclaimed sleeper hit “Pride and Prejudice” with Keira Knightley. Again, he directs his leading lady with passion and drama alongside James Mcavoy and Vanessa Redgrave. The film, which has already been receiving raves from critics, is certainly going to be the frontrunner for this coming Oscar race. The story focuses on the characters of Knightley and Mcavoy as they are torn apart by lies, war, and social class differences. The film opens Dec.14 in wide release. “The Golden Compass,” which is also based on a number of books like “Lord of The Rings,” seems poised and ready to claim the throne of its predecessors. Starring Oscar winner Nicole Kidman, and newcomer Dakota Blue Richards, it tells the tale of a magical compass of gold that will answer any question if one is skilled enough to read it. Once that person reads it, they are thrust into a parallel universe where animals talk, witches are good instead of evil, and the villains are not what they seem to be. The film has already stirred some controversy due to perceived “anti-Catholic” undertones, but the producers and writers have stood by the film, and say that the supposed undertones have nothing to do with the story about courage, love, and power. “If this is good as ‘Lord of the Rings,’ I am so there,” said Janet Rivera, a sophomore art major from Edinburg. “I have not read the books, but I didn’t read the ‘Lord of the Rings’ either, so I know I will understand it.” The film opens Dec. 7. With all these festivals, concerts, and shows to attend, who would want to leave and seek Christmas cheer elsewhere? Sure, none of these things are as glamorous as a luxury cruise, or a trip to Aspen, but to many they’re just the things to start the holiday break with a Christmas bang! So don’t be Scrooges just because you cannot go out of town, enjoy what is here. Who knows, it may be better than those cruises or long trips.

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December 5, 2007

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Holiday season has much to offer

GRAND OPENINGS The Valley will continue its economic growth as well over the winter break, with the opening of the “Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory” Dec. 13.

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December 5, 2007 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

RELAX

Movies to unwind, inspire By JACKYLN ALVAREZ The Pan American While studying for upcoming finals may help garner a good grade in any given class, sometimes it’s hard to find the initial inspiration to pick up that book. For some students, however, they need not look further than their local video rental store for the motivation to study, in the hope that life imitates art. Alejandro Morales, a public administration master’s student, recommends viewing “Stand and Deliver,” a movie about a Hispanic math teacher who teaches his students calculus in a year’s time. “It’s a very good movie,” said Morales, 35. “Based on a true story, it shows you that if you put your mind to it, set some goals, you can accomplish anything no matter what anyone says.” Spoiler alert: the students take the calculus AP exam and pass. Business major Jose Garza suggests watching “Freedom Writers,” a movie about an idealist teacher who begins teaching in a racially diverse school whose students come from all walks of life. She uses their own experiences to show them they are not much

different from each other and that there is a possibility for a better life after graduation. “Its a great movie that can reach a lot of audiences,” said the 23-year-old. “Allowing you to see how people from different lifestyles can relate to one another and how applying yourself can help you accomplish anything.” Other lesson-heavy movies worth noting during a study break: “Lean on Me,” a movie based on a true story, is about an unorthodox principal who takes charge of a school that is overrun by drugs, violence and urban despair. The school is close to being taken over by the state because of its poor test scores. The lesson: A good teacher can make the difference. The principal goes to great lengths because he believes in his students, eventually getting arrested in support of his kids. In the end, students pass the basic skills exam. “The Perfect Score,” a movie not based on a true story, focuses on a group of high school students who conspire to steal the answers to the SAT exam and obtain a perfect score. The lesson: Don’t cheat. In the film, all six students decide not to cheat and do well on the test,

without the stolen answers. “Finding Forester” is a story about a child from the Bronx who scores well on a standardized test and is recruited by a prestigious prep school that only wants him for his skills on the basketball court. The lesson: Just do the work. Helped along by a Pulitzer-prize winning author, the boy manages to overcome several obstacles and purses his dreams on and off the court.

IMDB.com TEST TIME - “The Perfect Score,” is a comedic film portraying the less intense, laid-back side of exam-taking.

continued from page 7 come from being a college student, everyone in there has the same goal and same mentality with these actions, creating a comfortable atmosphere for others with the same expectations,” said the 19-year-old rehabilitation major from Edinburg. “The outdoor swimming pool is very appealing when we’re still reaching 90s in midNovember, and doing a couple of laps is definitely a stress reliever.” Feeling sleepy? Thanks to the University Program Board and what representatives call “passive programming,” during finals, students can head over to the ballroom, pick a spot and take a nap using one of the mats provided. “We noticed people sleeping in different places and it’s kind of hard to nap anywhere else on campus,” said Cruz Rios, president of the UPB. “We encourage students to come in and take advantage of the ballroom.” UPB people will also be handing out candy during the week, along with motivational messages to give students an extra boost. For those who need a quiet place to study, the library will remain open until 2 a.m. giving students the opportunity to cram until the last minute. The extended hours are part of a pilot program that was lobbied for by the Student Government Association.

SGA will also have a table set up in the lobby on Dec. 10 where members will hand out muffins, Powerade and energy drinks from 8 p.m until midnight. “We just want to make students aware of the extended library hours and we know how stressful exams can be and we want to be available to help,” said Tony Villareal, president of SGA. Ace the Test program is another service provided by the SGA, which gives students two free Scantrons for going into the office and leaving comments or suggestions about anything concerning the university. As for those who choose not to stay on campus, there are surrounding places to grab coffee or catch up on some studying. The fairly new Java House Café, located down University Drive next to Papa John’s, offers an extensive menu of Espressos, Cappuccinos, blended drinks and free Wi-Fi. The café is open Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Sunday from noon to to 6 p.m.. Live music is another great addition, maybe not such a good choice while trying to get some serious studying going on, but a better choice for celebrating that hardearned “A.” Wherever you choose to pass the time, keep in mind, finals are only a week long and it’ll be over before you know it.

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December 5, 2007 NEWS

TECH continued from page 1 involved were key focal points. Whether in five years all classrooms in America will resemble “smart classrooms” is still largely debatable, but what seems apparent today is the surge of a different, more popular technology breakthrough in education. Apple Inc., the makers of the popular iPod brand, have led the trend in putting technology in the hands of college students and professors. From videos broadcasting documentaries or foreign language lessons, to

photos bringing science experiments to the student, Apple Inc.’s Education Department has revolutionized the educational technology field by making delivery of this information to a broader audience easy access. Apple Inc. predicts that the project could reach a total student population of more than 6 million with colleges in the United States and Canada. Julio Cutaia, a senior international business major at The University of Texas- Pan American, said that this is a

good use of technology if used correctly. “Its like anything, if you know how to use it in a good, positive way it just gives students more options,” Cutaia, from McAllen, said. An interesting idea that remains in the “research stages” at UTPA, is having a virtual campus, or creating a “second life.” Created by Linden Labs in 1999, this virtual campus would provide “a revolutionary new form of shared experience, where individuals jointly inhabit

a 3D landscape and build the world around them,” according to its Website. This new technology would provide a great change in how the traditional classroom is structured. “The nursing department can be presented with a virtual patient and can diagnose what is wrong with them, too,” Edgar Gonzalez, assistant director for Instructional Technology at UTPA said. “It’s a great tool for simulation that you can use to create everything,”

Gonzalez said. While many companies are now vying to produce the latest and greatest technological advancement in education, much of the development will be determined by universities –students and teachers especially – as they are the only ones who can truly asses how technology in today’s world helps or hinders their education goals. Gonzalez stressed that the university is still not sure about the technology effectiveness and they are currently researching whether a value exists.

“If they [IRB] say its good to go, your research is good to go,” he said. What Escobar didn’t understand was that research representing SGA needs a different approval first. According to that group’s policies, any measurement that the student government wants to take needs support from University Relations Committee support and the senate. Committees within SGA must meet on a topic, and then go through the process for methods to be approved. According to Villarreal, the graduate senator took it upon himself to conduct the survey without going through the proper SGA authorization. “It was a survey that SGA had been

talking about, but it hadn’t been discussed to say, ‘yes go to that office and have them put the survey up for us,’” Villarreal said. “We didn’t find out until after it had been put up on Bronc Notes. We were very confused about it.” Matamoros said he was never against the survey, but that it didn’t go through the correct process to get authorized. “If this is something students think is important, then we’ll support it,” Matamoros said. “My thing is that this was distracting from bigger issues.” An ethical conduct violation, stemming from a separate incident, also prompted a committee meeting on Escobar, Villarreal said. The meeting

eventually resulted in his removal from SGA on Sept. 20, by a vote of 13 to 0, with 4 abstaining from voting. But the matter didn’t die there. Escobar appealed the senate’s decision, saying there was no removal process in the constitution: he said that it states a senator can be removed only if they have an excessive number of absences, or they resign. The university Supreme Court ruled in favor of Escobar, reinstating him on Nov. 29. Villarreal said that they have moved on from the incident and while in office he will support all research and surveys, as long as they are properly conducted.

SGA continued from page 1 He’s ready to do the job. “I want to contribute a lot more energy for the issues…I want to coordinate a lot more events through SGA, and make sure the campus community is involved,” he said. Part of his plans, on top of continuing those Matamoros started, includes having more events for the student body. “It’s going to be a busy semester. I have a lot on my plate, but I hope I can continue to enhance the reputation of SGA,” Villarreal said. CONCERNS But as a new president’s story begins, SGA is quietly closing a separate matter,

involving a semester-long disagreement with graduate senator Noel Escobar. Earlier this year, The Pan American wrote about the university’s controversial subscription to Playboy. Shortly after the article, Escobar, a loud opponent of the subscription since the matter first surfaced, felt like he needed input from his constituents and released a survey to students. However, he was quickly told he could not do so, since he didn’t follow survey protocol. Escobar vouches that the research was done accurately and correctly. He said he presented his survey to the Institutional Review Board which is a part of the Office of Research and Sponsored Projects.

December 5, 2007

Page 12 NEWS

HORROR continued from page 3

ENERGY continued from page 3

on the mirror the next day and I don’t have so much on my mind,” he said. Alanis is not alone with his share of test-taking horrors. Victoria Villarreal, a junior English major from Edinburg, had an experience that left her running home to cry. “It was for a college algebra class, and it was a midterm,” Villarreal said. “The exam was more based on the second part of what we had covered, and I went over the first. I only knew one question out of 13.” Instead of answering one question on the exam, Villarreal simply left the test blank and turned it in. “Now, I need to pay more attention to the syllabus,” she said. “It was right in front of me.” A senior biology major who wished to remain anonymous had a car accident the day of her Anatomy 1 midterm. “I hit a car from behind and my headlight was gone, the fender was dented and I got a $190 ticket,” the La Joya native said. “I called my T.A. and explained. She was really nice about it.” “It was the worst thing that happened to me on a test day,” the student

“I will probably up it up during finals week by a can because more than likely I’ll be getting less sleep,” said Infante. According to Jimin Yang, dietician professor at UTPA, different types of Vitamin B found in energy drinks break down proteins that help increase energy. The substance itself isn’t necessarily bad, but the effect on each person is different. Before many items hit the market they must first be approved by the FDA, but Yang said that even then these drinks should be consumed in moderation. “Even if you keep drinking coffee and stay up all night long for six or seven consecutive days... it wouldn’t help,” she said. “Our brain needs rest to function continuously to remember things.” According to Yang, energy can be obtained in a healthier, natural way as opposed to artificial energy. By getting an adequate amount of sleep (8 hours), drinking plenty of water to keep hydrated, eating foods high in protein, getting 30 minutes of exercise and having at least six ounces of carbohydrates can

said. Kenneth Summy, associate professor for the biology department, has heard too many of the same excuses on test days. “[The excuses] are mainly about oversleeping and car trouble. If [the excuse] is not legitimate, I don’t buy it,” Summy said. “If they just forgot to come or overslept, that is not legit.” Summy remembers a student’s experience that was genuine enough. “A guy couldn’t take his test because he was in jail,” Summy said. “I believe he was calling from jail too.” “He ended up dropping the class, but he was honest about it though.” Nallely Lozano, a junior nursing major, has learned to never be under-prepared for a test, keeping her backpack well stocked. “I’ve heard that people bring a Scantron (on a test day) and notice they don’t have the correct one. [So] I have all types of Scantrons in my back pack to be honest and I carry about three mechanical pencils and two regular ones along with a sharpener, hole-puncher and a stapler” she said.

STRESS continued from page 1 are times where we can’t really deal with everything at once; we try to balance all of these different tasks at once,” he noted. “At some point you have to say, ‘What are the most important things that I have to get done?’” Patti Koo, a physician’s assistant at the school’s Student Health Services department, said people also need to exercise to burn off stress. “I sound like a broken record in the clinic…exercise, exercise, exercise!” she said. “It really helps. …Having deadlines and feeling the burden of that

final big test or project due brings on all kinds of self-doubting, the kind that we all feel, but it seems to pronounce our ever-present fears of failure. Like anything in life, we must keep a balance.” Koo said that for some, stress may be overwhelming. And that’s when it’s time to visit the school’s counseling department. “It is recommended NOT to wait until finals time,” she said. “Listen to your body — sleep, rest, don’t skip meals, don’t overeat.”

SPRING continued from page 3 director of planning and construction for the Physical Plant said there will be no major construction occurring after the winter break but the remodeling of buildings will continue. “We will continue our facility renewal projects that include the replacement or repining of brick on older buildings,” Boland said. These include buildings that were constructed in the 70s. “The Business Building will be in progress and we will be starting some work on HPE I during that time frame so some of the areas around these buildings might be fenced but should not impair student movement,” Boland said. The old Computer Center located in front of the student union will also be completely remodeled. The new construction on campus will begin mid-late 08. “That will be the Academic Performing Arts Complex presently

scheduled to go near Jackson Road and Highway 107,” Boland said. He added that the good news is the construction will provide 800 new parking spaces adjacent to Jackson Road with direct access to shuttle services. As for the planned fine arts complex, one year of planning still awaits. Dahlia Guerra, dean for the College of Arts and Humanities, said that next year will be a year of preparation. “We will be gathering input from the community all year and will be holding town hall meetings,” Guerra said. “I think at the end of the year we’ll break ground.” Guerra said it is still not certain what the fine arts complex will offer UTPA students but says that it will be an academic and performing arts center. Construction may start as soon as the end of 2008.

help provide natural energy along with a healthier lifestyle. According to Yang, exercise is one of the most important factors when it comes to obtaining energy. A HEALTHIER APPROACH Jacque Adams, fitness and wellness coordinator for the Wellness and Recreational Center, said seeing the physical and mental change in people is what that she loves most about her job. Adams, who started working at the center this semester, sees the importance in both doing great in classes while doing your body at the same time. “That‘s why I got into this business because I love helping these people in a personal way, being part of the change,” she said. “I think everyone has their own niche in fitness...racquetball, basketball, going on a walk; it’s just a matter of finding it.” According to Adams, exercising regularly can help lower the risk of high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels along with preventing diseases like

diabetes and heart disease — all while increasing energy. Adams said she understands that time is scarce during stressful times, but wants students to know said they don’t need a “five-mile run,” or a trip to the gym in order to lose weight and increase stamina. Simple home exercises like walking the dog, jumping jacks or yoga can help keep a person fit and energized. Johnny Nieto, a 20-year-old CIS major from Port Isabel has been working out since he was in junior high and said that the exercise alternative is much better then drinking an excess amount of any type of energy drink. “I’m really active after working out,” he said. “I usually get this high energy for four or five hours after my work out and then I begin to get sleepy.” Nieto, who works out twice a week, encourages anyone who is looking for that boost in energy to get a well-balanced exercise, consisting of cardiovascular exercise as well as weight lifting.

REVIEW continued from page 3 recover from major heart surgery. On Sept. 11, Cardenas released a memo naming VP/Provost Paul Sale acting chief financial officer while she recovered from the bypass surgery. Recovering from major surgery can take months, but for Cardenas a little over six weeks was enough to get her moving just in time for the dedication of the Wellness and Recreation Sports Complex Oct. 30. Cardenas, who sported workout wear along with other administrators, showed the campus community that her strength was in full throttle as she cut the ribbon to the $1.5 million wellness center. The celebration was dedicated to UTPA students for their insistent effort in requesting a new wellness center, and for the students of years to come. “This is a real celebration for the students of UTPA who initiated the effort that made this building a reality,” said Cardenas. State Sen. Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa and State Rep. Aaron Pena also attended the celebration, as they were contributors who made the realization of the facility possible, according to Cardenas. But that was not the only instance where political figures appeared for events on campus this semester. This fall a number of prominent national and world leaders, including a Nobel Peace Prize recipient and a contemporary environmental activist, came to Edinburg to promote education, globalization and consideration of environmental issues. During Hispanic Engineering Science and Technology Week, the first

female U.S. Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi recognized the university’s attempt in making this nation a better place to study, work and live for Hispanics. “I’m here to tell you how important what you are doing is to the security, economic strength, the health and wellbeing, and preservation of the beautiful environment of our country,” she said. “Science is the key.” She also mentioned her Innovation Agenda; numerous proposals introduced to keep America at the top as the world’s best economy. One proposal is to generate scholarships aimed at benefiting 100,000 up-and-coming scientists, mathematicians and engineers in the “It is very important that, as we go forth with any science agenda, that we do so involving all the children of America,” Pelosi said. “This region, because of HESTEC, has become a hotbed, a place that reverberates, one that we hear across the country -- a leader for the future.” Contributing to the roll of important and influential people visiting the South Texas corner of the earth was Mikhail Gorbachev, who came in early October for the Distinguished Speakers Series. His speech concentrated on the importance of adopting globalization for a chance for countries to live in peace and agreement. Gorbachev, the last leader of the Soviet Union before its collapse in 1991, briefly stated his opinion regarding the border wall when asked about his views toward its necessity. Political science professor John Bokina thinks having Gorbachev as a

speaker this semester was something definitely honorable to the university. He drew a crowd of approximately 1,400 people, Bokina noted. Although the Russian politician drew 200 people more than the keynote speaker for International Week, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., Bokina said the latter seemed to have a bigger impact on his students. “Many of my students who attended were energized by (RFK Jr’s) speech to become more actively involved in environmental issues,” he said. In Bokina’s opinion, Kennedy anchored the most successful International Week in the history of the Office of International Programs. Students tended to agree. This is “something to be proud of,” junior anthropology major Julio Vargas said. “Now, we should focus on getting more respected people here to speak to us, to surpass our growing standards in terms of getting renowned, [nationally and internationally].” Robert Hays, a lecturer in political science, said the Distinguished Speakers Series line-up this semester was excellent, and above all, beneficial for students. “The series offers an excellent opportunity for students, faculty, staff and the general public to hear perspectives by individuals who have made a difference in this country or abroad,” he said. “I believe the series will enhance our university’s stature, in the sense that it is being recognized nationwide as a leader for the growing successful Hispanic community.”

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December 5, 2007 SPORTS

HOCKEY

Killer Bees host UTPA night, lose 2-1 to Laredo Hockey team gives 200 tickets to UTPA students By DANNY GARZA The Pan American It was The University of Texas-Pan American Night at the Dodge Arena, as 200 students watched their local hockey team, Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees, take on their Central Hockey League rival Laredo Bucks in what was an exciting grudge match in front of 5,220 fans Friday. On Friday, representatives for the Killer Bees were on hand at UTPA’s Student Union to hand out 200 free tickets to students for the much anticipated rivalry match. One such student, Jacqueline Garcia, stood at the front of the line for 45 minutes as she patiently waited to get her hands on a ticket; for her it was more than finding something to do on a Friday night. “It’s pretty fun, I’ve been to some of their games. I just like it when they fight, that’s why a lot of people go. It’s a free night so I’m going to take advantage,” said the mechanical engineering sophomore who received notice for the event through Bronc notes and several signs on campus.

But the heated match fell into the hands of the Bucks as Laredo defenseman Paul Elliot’s game-winning goal at 17:31 gave the Bucks a 2-1 lead that sealed the deal for the Killer Bees for the evening. With the win, the Bucks pulled ahead in the Southeast Division standings by 16 points. The Bees maintain the No. 2 spot in the division by a nine-point margin over Corpus Christi. “This is always an exciting matchup between these two teams,” said Nathaniel De La Cruz, a pre-med biology major. “I’ve had a great time tonight with my friends and I would like to thank UTPA and the Dodge Arena for making this possible for all of us.” RGV coach Paul Fixter believed his team played hard but would not go into much detail why his team seems to get the short end of the stick against its CHL foe. “We’re fine. We lost another hockey game,” Fixter said. “We played a hell of a hockey game, and we lost. You know there’s going to be a winner and loser. We want to be the winner. Tonight we weren’t.” Elliot’s game-winning goal was his second this year and couldn’t have come at a better time as he crept up from the blue line and received a pass from Laredo forward Jeff Bes. Elliot beat RGV goaltender Jeff Van Nynatten who

had 29 saves in the game. “I thought we deserve better. I think it was pretty clear who the better team was,” said Van Nynatten. “A guy who doesn’t score a lot of goals for them is in a position he’s not usually in for whatever reason, and they just got a lucky one. We controlled them all night. They were getting nothing against us. We were right in the game, and you can’t ask for much more effort from those guys.” The Bees desperately tried to tie the game with little less than two minutes to work with until the final buzzer went off. RGV sent an extra man to press the action in front of the Laredo net, leaving their goal exposed. The strategy almost worked with 18 seconds remaining, but the Bees were stopped after a right-leg save by Laredo goaltender Dustin Traylen, who made 25 stops in the game. Despite the effort, it wasn’t good enough to get over the hump of defeating their nemesis and it seems that recent history has shown that Laredo Bucks have gotten the Killer Bees number, having gone 7-5-2 in the regular season last year and 5-0 this year. The Killer Bees will have another shot at redemption when they travel to Laredo to snap the losing streak against the Bucks on Dec. 31.

REKINDLED RIVALRY - Killer Bee left wing Dennis Maxwell gives the puck some airtime as a Laredo defender watches it go by during Saturdayʼs 2-1 home loss to the Bucks. Laredo is in first place of the CHLʼs Southeast division with 33 points and the Killer Bees are second with 17 points.

Photos by Onydia Garza/The Pan American UTPA NIGHT RIDER - Esmer Rodriguez, senior chemistry major, cleans the ice while riding a zamboni during the Killer Beesʼ UTPA night Saturday.

ELLIOTʼS WAY - Laredoʼs Paul Elliot charges at Killer Bee center Nick Warrier during the Killer Beesʼ UTPA night on Saturday. Laredo won the heated rivalry 2-1 on Elliotʼs game-winning goal at the 17:31 mark, solidifying the Bucksʼ place atop the CHLʼs Southeast division.

December 5, 2007

Page 14 SPORTS

December 5, 2007

Page 15 SPORTS

NCAA MEN’S BASKETBALL

Broncs lose second home tilt this season, to Bulldogs Broncs took third at Montana State Tournament By RAMIRO PAEZ The Pan American

Onydia Garza/The Pan American BALANCING ACT - Senior shooting guard Dexter Shankle keeps his balance on a lofty fade away. Shankle led all Broncs scorers with a season-high 17 points in a 71-69 losing effort to Western Illinois University Monday in Edinburg.

When the University of Texas-Pan American men’s basketball team traveled to Western Illinois last Wednesday and defeated the Bulldogs on its home court, the purple and yellow had one thing on their mind heading into Monday’s rematch: revenge. Indeed the Bulldogs exacted paybacks for their 72-59 loss to the Broncs a week ago, but only after a total meltdown by UTPA. The Green and Orange played a solid game for 34 minutes, holding an 11-point lead late, but could not hold on to stave off the pesky Bulldogs the rest of the way, losing 7169 at the Field House. “I’m real disappointed in my efforts out there,” Coach Tom Schuberth said. “I don’t know what happened; I’m speechless really. I was apologetic for the fact that I really didn’t know what happened in that we were just outplayed tonight…” Still, the Bulldog’s revolt was expected, Schuberth said. “Good teams fight back and Western Illinois did; they never quit,” he

said. “They were playing like they had an 11-point lead there…We just couldn’t get a stop when we needed to.” With 5:51 remaining in the game, UTPA (5-4) held an 11-point lead over WIU and seemed well on its way to its sixth victory of the season. Up to that point, the Broncs had played a sound game, responding with key baskets after every time the Bulldogs tried to cut into their lead. But the Purple and Yellow never let down and went on a 21-8 run to finish the game. “We gave the game away,” UTPA guard Dexter Shankle said. “We couldn’t get a stop on defense and we didn’t make any shots. That’s the way it goes when you don’t play defense.” Shankle led all scorers with 17 points on 6-of-10 shooting, including 4 of 8 from behind the arc. Zach Trader recorded 15 points and four rebounds, while Brian Burrell added 11 points to go along with eight rebounds. Guard David Jackson led the way for Western Illinois with 22 points and seven rebounds on 8-of-11 shooting. Jackson was a key factor in the late surge by the Bulldogs as he recorded eight of the team’s last 21 points. UTPA’s shooting percentages decreased from the first half, which is starting to become a usual routine every home game. They shot 46.2 percent from the field in the second half compared to 50 percent in the first.

Unlike the Broncs, Western Illinois shot 50 percent in the second half compared to 44 in the first and also connected on 17 of their 19 free throw attempts in the second. “I got to give credit to them,” Trader said. “They came in here and keyed on a couple of our players. They wanted it and kept fighting. It was a tough loss. They were taking the ball off a lot of our hands and that’s the time we got to make plays. We got to get the ball in our players’ hands to make plays, but we just didn’t do it.” MONTANA STATE TOURNEY After the 13-point win over WIU last Wednesday, the men traveled to Bozeman, Mont. to take on Pepperdine and Alcorn State University, where they claimed third place. On Friday, the Broncs lost a heartbreaker and came up just two points short versus the Waves, 86-84, after Malcolm Thomas scored on a lay-up in the paint with just four seconds remaining. Burrell was the leading man for UTPA with 21 points, five rebounds, two assists and two steals. The Green and Orange made up for it on Saturday with an 88-74 victory over Alcorn State. Trader was one of five Broncs in double-figures with a team-high 18 points, five rebounds and three assists.

NCAA WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Lady Broncs improve to 4-2, buck Tennessee-Martin 62-56 Gray’s seasonhigh 24 points key UTPA victory By ERICK QUINTERO The Pan American It’s easy to look ahead when things are going well. Still unbeaten at home, and riding a slim two-game win streak, the University of Texas-Pan American women’s basketball team (4-2) could very well make it four in a row. Given the games on deck it would be easy to slip into the ‘what could be’ trap, where teams get ahead of themselves and eventually drop the ball, but don’t expect that from the Lady Broncs. After posting a conventional beat down and overwhelming University of Tennessee-Martin for 38 minutes with hot shooting, the women held on for another home victory, 62-56, on Tuesday at Sam Williams Court. In that victory, LeKeisha Gray led all scorers with a season-high 24 points on 9 of 17 attempts from the floor,

including 6 of 13 from beyond the arc. Tamara Vaughn added 13 while Robin Garrett looked solid in the low blocks with 8 points on 4-of-6 shooting. “I think we established the tempo very early in the game, we wanted to run their legs because we thought it would affect their shooting and it did,” said UTPA women’s basketball head coach DeAnn Craft. “I think it was simply our defense that caused them to be short on some shots; sometimes they couldn’t figure out our zone pres, credit that to our defense.” Gray had her shooting stroke on auto pilot early and hit timely shots, including a trey from the top of the key off a Vaughn assist as the clock ran dry for a 39-21 halftime lead. “Conversely we shot the ball dramatically well in the first half, luckily it built a big enough lead because roles reversed in the second half,” Craft said. From a fan’s point of view, the women - with a methodical offense, blue-collar defense led by senior point guard Gray - have outshined their male counterparts early in the season. Up next the Green and Orange-clad

women travel to Wichita, Kan., to face off against Wichita State (3-4) on Dec. 8. But unless the Shockers pull off the improbable, they should come off a drubbing at the hands a very solid Oklahoma State, giving the Lady Broncs the edge. After that it would be back to the friendly confines of the Field House where the UTPA remains perfect for a date with McNeese State (1-8) and it’s easy to get excited about women’s hoops with the prospect of going 6-2. Still, despite the probable success, the women’s games are still lagging in attendance. Last year around this time, the women had little to advertise or brag about, reeling from a six-game losing skid. Tennessee-Martin reminded the Lady Broncs that games are 40 minutes long, not 38, making a push in the final two minutes of regulation. A 14-0 run fueled by a couple jumpers and treys courtesy of Marie Goyette’s hot hand cut the lead down to 60-56 with 24 seconds left. But Tiona Wilson iced the game at the charity line as she connected on both free throws for a 62-56 final.

UTPA shot 47.1 percent from the field for the game, starting on an 11-2 run which set the tempo for the remainder of the game. In the first 20 minutes

the Lady Broncs wreaked havoc on the defensive end, holding Martin to 26.7 shooting percentage and 20 percent from beyond the three-point arc.

Roxy Solis/The Pan American AND ONE - Junior guard Teshay Winfrey draws contact on a baseline jumper during UTPAʼs 91-33 rout of Schreiner University Saturday at the Field House.

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S P O RT S

December 5, 2007

THE PAN AMERICAN

StatsAtAGlance

The number of losses LSU (11-2) has. They play Ohio State (10-1) for the National Championship Jan. 7 By GABRIEL SALDANA The Pan American Several Fall athletic campaigns have come to a close for UTPA and with finals fast on the approach some athletes are feeling the pressure. Replacing class time with sports has been a trying experience for some students but most claim to be keeping afloat. “It’s going pretty good right now but I’ve had to manage my time and look for time to study,” said junior cross country standout Luis Nava. “I’ve already taken my lab final which was the most important one. I think I did ok.” According to Nava, study time has been rare on the road and athletes with extensive traveling schedules have felt the strain. “I’ve studied on the road during the trip and at the hotel after we’re done running,” said Nava. “The coaches usually reminded us to take our books on the trips so we could look over our stuff for class.” According to Bronc team members coaching and advising staff helped out on road trips and encouraged students to maintain focus on their studies. “Our coaches have to keep us in check but it’s mostly the academic adviser,” said golfer Kyle Tudi. “He’s always on us about keeping up [grades] and he calls us if we have a problem. If we fail, we’re not able to play in the next semester and golf is a year-round sport.” Coaches at UTPA have seen students taking active participation in their courses on the road. And they claim to encourage it. “They want to make the grade and do well in school,” said Head Golf Coach

Ofelia Lopez. “They know they have to study to play.” During traveling, student athletes are known to miss class time. This can create friction between professors and pupils. Most professors, according to athletes, have been supportive of the time spent away from class. But others have taken issue with absences. “The teachers here are pretty good about working with [us],” said Tudi. “Last semester I had a problem with a teacher about attendance and it definitely affected my grade but that’s really the only one I’ve ever had with missing class for sports.” Added Lopez, “Teachers want them in class and they know that’s the only way they’re going to learn and get the help they need. It becomes a push and pull where the instructors are right and the students are right.” Barring jam packed schedules and student teacher issues, most athletes remain confident in their academic abilities. “Finals are definitely going to be tough,” said Tudi. “But it’s going to be fine. We’ve got a lot of stuff to do right now but we just need to learn how to budget our time.” When compared with the rest of the student body, the UTPA athletic department has less to worry about in terms of grades. According to a release by the university, “the UTPA Department of Intercollegiate Athletics GPA (2.938) is higher than the UTPA undergraduate GPA (2.61) for the 2005-06 academic year and 89 student-athletes earned Dean’s List Honors.” 25 student athletes earned perfect 4.0 grade point averages in the same academic year.

Number of home wins the Lady Bronc basketball team has. UTPA remains unbeaten at home

Number of wins the New England Patriots have after winning against the Ravens Monday night, 27-24. They need four more wins for a perfect 16-0 season

The season-high point total LeKeisha Gray scored Monday night against Tennessee-Martin

TheySaidIt BASKETBALL

“This team has very lit-

tle room for error. Our combinations are not there yet because of ineligiilities and things of that nature.” - Tom Schuberth UTPA menʼs basketball head coach on Mondayʼs 71-69 home loss to Western Illinois

“Both Keisha and TV, I never want them to turn down a good look.” - DeAnn Craft UTPA womenʼs basketball head coach on LeKeisha Gray and Tamara Vaughn