April 8, 2010 by UTRGV Student Media

Volume 66, No. 24

The Pan American

April 8, 2010

VP Langabeer to retire after 22 years of service By Roxann Garcia The Pan American

Vice President of Business Affairs James Langabeer will punch into work for the last time Aug. 31, just before fiscal year 2011 is set to begin. The “day of terror,” as he jokingly called it, is still some time away, but the long-time administrator can already anticipate the transition. “I’m conflicted about the whole thing,” he commented. “I’ve been working for 50 years and am used to working every day of my life. I keep

asking myself, ‘What is going to fill up that all that extra time now?’ It’s exciting yet scary all at once.” The Air Force veteran especially enjoys a book or two and is looking forward to spending more time doing leisurely reading and perhaps fishing off his boat in Port Isabel. Another activity he has planned is to play some golf or start up a creative project, especially since soon he will have time to finish it without UTPA getting in the way. “We just had a recent addition

but I’m hoping my daughter doesn’t me happy.” Langabeer, who c o n t i n u e initially began with b e c a u s e the university as vice children can be president in July 1988, costly!” The will conclude his 22-year VP continued tenure as chief business jokingly, “All officer. His job entails in all, I’ll providing oversight definitely have to number of campus more time to entities including: spend with my the Budget Office, children and Payroll, Grants and grandchildren Contracts, Accounting, and that makes James Langabeer

Sustainability, Institutional Compliance, Environmental Health and Safety, Human Resources, Physical Plant, and the Police Department. At the time the position became available, Langabeer was unaware of where Pan American University stood. Dr. Miguel A. Nevarez, university president from 1981 through 2004, interviewed the young man in Austin before awarding him

See Langabeer || Page 6

CIA motives questioned at Pan Am Days panel By Alejandra Martinez The Pan American

Alma E. Hernandez / The Pan American

Testy Topic - Dr. David Carlson from the department of history and philosophy led the first half of a panel discussion Wednesday on the history of the CIA

As part of the series of events taking place for Pan American Days, The University of Texas-Pan American presented a panel discussion Wednesday titled The Intelligence Community and Integrated Global Knowledge and Understanding Collaboration at UTPA led by David Carlson from the department of history and philosophy and Phillip Zwerling of the department of English. The moderator was David Anshen from the department of English. The first half of the discussion led by Carlson focused on some of the inner workings and history of the CIA, including interrogation methods and experiments like the code named MK-ULTRA experiment in the 1950s that involved mind control through the application of drugs, and use of torture like exposing prisoners

to extreme weather conditions, isolation, electroshocks, and so on. Carlson noted the fact that people do not tend to think about history prior to 9/11, and so many of the things that have occurred in the country before that time, including acts done by the CIA, tend to be forgotten. “One thing that troubles me as a historian is that people make the claim that history is irrelevant,” Carlson said. “After Sept. 11 it’s like we’re in a new world, everything is different, there’s new security threats; why bore us with this old, ancient history?” The second part of the discussion led by Zwerling touched on the presence and role that the CIA and other intelligence agencies play on university campuses. According to Zwerling, what the CIA is looking for is to recruit some of what they call the best brains in the United States.

See CIA || Page 6

SGA elections to be decided by tonight, results on Friday The university edged closer to new student leadership this week as the runoff election for president of the student body neared conclusion. Round Two voting, done strictly online through students’ preferred e-mail accounts, began Monday and was to wrap up at midnight Thursday, in the battle between the teams of Brian Silva/Erika Perez and Alex Rodriguez/Mark Allen. The latter pair garnered 43.2 percent of over 1,343

Page 2 - Big business might Commentary: Pondering have packed their bags, but thenever obsession of fitness they left

total votes cast in the general election held March 29 through April 1, with Silva/Perez at 35.1 percent. Dropping out was the third-place group, Daniel Lopez and Eric Torres, which gained 21.7 percent of the caucus. The results dictating who will replace the regime of current president Rughuveer Puttagunta will be announced Friday, ushering in a new era of student-led governance for the Student Government Association.

Page 3 - Jobs after Big textbook saving on tap graduation becoming scarce

First Ballot results last week saw five new Senators at Large elected: Pamela Garza, Amy Ann Davila, Anna M. Garcia, Gustavo Grajales, and Benjamin Abbott, listed in order of number of votes received. Etinosa Edionwe is the new representative from Science and Engineering, while Edgar Torres (Business), Rigoberto Gutierrez (Arts and Humanities), and the duo of Darien Fernandez and Andria

Monique Parkarimi (Social and Behavioral Sciences) join a new-look SGA group. Candidates were by rule not allowed to campaign in campus buildings, leading much of the canvassing to take place via posters and social networking sites such as Facebook. The winners of the runoff for executive ticket will be sworn in some time next week along with the other new SGA electees.

Ragland explores deeper Page 11 - Holiday gift guide

About sex, golf with and volleyball addictions Page 14 - Q&A

meaning of border music

player Rebecca Toddy

Elections *Voting ends Thursday at midnight. *Results will be announced Friday. *Winners will be sworn in next week.

Pan American interns: Noche de Arte gallery

April 8, 2010

Illustrated Commentary

Letters to the Editor Dear Pan American, Imagine this: a stereotypical Tea Partier (older, white people) and a “Tea bag” (or “tea bagging” which is a term used to describe –never mind, just look it up). Now good luck trying to erase that mental image. Last week, in your newspaper, I was called a “tea bag” by someone on your staff and it was approved by your editors. This wasn’t the first time this had happened, but it was the first time it had happened to me, so I finally took action. I spoke to Mr. Greg Selber, on Monday, April 5, 2010 and explained to him how insulting this term is and how a newspaper that just won “honors” should not resort to such classless, derogatory remarks about one of its readers. Nobody on the Panamerican would use the term “darkie” or “n*gger” to describe an AfricanAmerican, or “f*ggot” to describe a member of the LGBT community, so then why, would you use

“tea bagger” to describe a Tea Party member? Your journalistic integrity is on the line because as a journalist, you should present the facts without injecting any personal bias. The newspaper should pride itself on being non partisan and tolerant to all viewpoints and not petty and rude. When asked why I was insulted by this term, I simply replied “because it could very easily be considered sexual harassment”, and I know this University does not take that lightly. I don’t want any trouble for either the Panamerican or UTPA, I simply want a retraction, an apology and for the staff at the Panamerican to refrain from using this derogatory term to describe a Tea Party member again…and if they do, I hope the mental image pops up, in full color, and never leaves. Sincerely and Respectfully, Andrea Casas

Editor’s Note

Adding to last weeks Editor’s Note: Top Honors at the Texas Intercollegiate Press Association conference were also won by Bronc Radio/TV.

Vol 66, No. 24

April 8, 2010

1201 West University, CAS 170 Edinburg, Texas 78539 Phone: (956) 381-2541 Fax: (956) 316-7122 Editor in Chief

Brian Silva / brian.silva2@gmail.com News Editor

Roxann Garcia/ nevaeh09@msn.com

**Delivery** Thursday at noon

Multimedia Editor

Kristen Cabrera / kristenmichellecabrera@yahoo.com Arts and Life Editor

Andrielle Figueroa / j27ig@yahoo.com

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.

Sports Editor

Sara Hernandez/ sarahdzm@hotmail.com Photography Editor

Alma Hernandez / alma.e.hdz@gmail.com Senior Designer

Roy Bazan / rbazanzz@utpa.edu Adviser

Dr. Greg Selber / selberg@utpa.edu

Administrative Associate

Anita Reyes / areyes18@utpa.edu

Advertising Manager

Mariel Cantu/ spubs@utpa.edu

Webmaster

Jose Villarreal / josemvillarrealcs@gmail.com

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.

Anthony Salinas / The Pan American

Commentary

Who are we working out for? Pondering the fitness obsession

By Sara Hernandez Sports Editor

It seems to be in our nature. We all want to look good – flat belly, toned muscles, sleek hair, perfect smile, silky skin, delicious smell. Well, no worries, right? There are tons of products and services that take care of this. Just go to a department store and see a vast variety of “fat free” and “high-fiber” labels, as well as bars, shakes and food programs promising to take you back to the “perfect weight.” In addition, there are all kinds of exercise equipment to help the bravest of us get in shape to look hot as the sun. We may be losing the point at times. Yes, it’s important that we maintain a good physical image with a healthy organism inside. But who can guarantee us that the “healthy” the media promotes is actually the way we’re supposed to look…maybe it’s just making us more and more obsessed with our looks? And do we want to maintain this appearance for the sole purpose of feeling good, or do

we actually do it to show people we can be like that, too? I believe that the best reason to commit to being a healthier person would be for oneself, not because we expect other people to acknowledge our efforts to feel (and look) better. The results, in my opinion, would be the same, while taking a safer approach. For example, if a person decides to modify their diet in order to increase wellbeing, have a better academic or professional performance, or to prevent illness, then having a good appearance will come on its own. This doesn’t mean that the person will look like a magazine model, but then again, who is to say that’s the way we should look? On the other hand, if we decide to change our habits exclusively to satisfy other people, yes we will look good, but we run the risk of becoming obsessed with appearance; it’s a slippery slope from there to well-known eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia. Then there’s muscle dysmorphia, a person’s obsession with the belief that

he or she is not muscular enough, that leads to excessive exercise. Also, what products like the ones mentioned earlier prove is that we are willing to do everything in our power to look like a television star. But sometimes we forget the very basic stuff, things that have an effect on the way we perform daily activities. We are willing to spend a lot of money following the Slim Fast plan, but we can’t just quit eating the foods we all know are highly harmful to our bodies. More than $100 doesn’t seem like a lot when we’re going to invest it in the P90X workout program, but we are not willing to give the elevator a break and take the stairs. However, if utilizing products is what it takes for people to get motivated to move around a little bit, it can’t be that bad. It’s better than doing nothing at all. But I still think that going for a jog, playing ball with your friends or kids, exposing yourself to fresh air from time to time, and trying to eat foods that are good to your body are the best ways to have a healthier body and mind.

April 8, 2010

Paperless books on horizon through e-books By Rick Hinojosa The Pan American Every student is always looking for a way to save a little money. Textbooks are expensive enough and the bookstore doesn’t really give students much value in terms of the buyback amount versus original purchase. But there appears to be help on the way. Anne Toal, technology assessment officer with the Division of Information Technology, has succeeded in bringing

e-books to UTPA. In 2008, Toal read an article on electronic textbooks being offered for certain classes at UT Austin. Bob Lim, the VP for IT, was able to land incentive funding for the program, a type of financial support given to projects that augment student success. Here’s how the paperless system works: The program has been funded through the spring 2011 semester and

students who participate in classes that are enrolled in the e-books learning study will be provided an electronic copy of the book at no cost. These students are asked to answer a series of questions at several points throughout the semester. “Participation in the program is dependent upon professors’ and departments’ willingness and ability to take part,” Toal said. “For example, a professor may want to be in the

program, but if the textbook he/she uses isn’t supported, then he/she might not be able to participate.” By support, Toal suggests that if a professor is using a specific textbook but the text is not offered on e-books, then the professor would not be able to enroll in the program. Ryan Hernandez, a sophomore at UTPA majoring Pre-Pharmacy from Harlingen TX, likes the idea, especially from the financial standpoint.

“E-books seem like a cool and unique way to learn and save money at the same time,” he said. “Having an e-book is more efficient because students can save money and not have to worry about the bookstore giving the student less than what they paid for when they bought the book.” Students who are worried about reading textbooks on their computer should be aware that if they feel

See books || Page 7

Fed job information at workshops Friday By Sonia Leija The Pan American

Daniel Flores / The Pan American

Winners - Yvonne Quintanilla organizes the winners of the 2010 Provost Awards in the field of Latin American Studies for a group photo in the ballroom Wednesday afternoon.

Students interested in federal careers are encouraged to attend Friday’s Federal Opportunities Day, sponsored by the Integrated Global Knowledge and Understanding Collaboration (IGkNU) and UTPA Career Services. It will be held in the University Ballroom from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Roundtable discussions, keynote speakers, and panel discussions will be held throughout the day. A light breakfast and lunch will be offered to those participating. According to Nick Weimer, the manager for the Center for Academic Excellence, this opportunity will come in handy for students who need help building their resumes, want more information on job opportunities, and seek preparation for interviews with employers.

The IGkNU is funded by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, and is hosting this event for the first time. The group helps prepare students from the university for a career in the federal government, the fastest growing job sector in the country. Career Services helps students at UTPA find internships and careers before and after they graduate. It also hosts many other career fairs throughout the school year. Rene Gonzalez, executive director of student services for Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU), will kick off the day after opening remarks by giving a review of federal opportunities. The roundtable discussion includes prominent government organizations such as the FBI, National Reconnaissance Office

See Federal || Page 7

Seminar explores unique job challenges for LGBT graduates By Alejandra Martinez The Pan American Together with career services, the GayStraight alliance at The University of TexasPan American conducted a seminar titled Pride at Work: Sexual Orientation and Career Decision-making March 30. The focus was to talk about career opportunities and what the Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgender (LGBT) community needs to know when looking for a job after college. The panelists were Daymion M. Montanez, director of employee relations at Time Warner Cable, and J. Lori Stuart-Carruthers, market controller for Clear Channel Radio. Montanez and Stuart-Carruthers shared some of their experiences in the work world and gave advice to a group of 32 students regarding career moves. During his presentation, Ronnie L. Garcia from Career Services talked to students about the issues that the LGBT community must consider when interviewing for a job. He mentioned that it is important for students to do a self-assessment and decide how much of themselves they wish to disclose to potential

employers at the time of the interview. “You must do what is comfortable and decide what is important in managing your career path,” Garcia told students. “You need to find the right culture that makes you feel comfortable. The decisions are going to affect you for the rest of your life.” Panelist Stuart-Carruthers told students about how important it was for her to be honest about her sexuality when she was interviewing for a job 10 years ago. Although that was not the main focus for her, she felt she had to let know people know who she was from the beginning. “At that point they had a very generic harassment policy. There was nothing about sexual orientation, but I felt I was the right person for the job and for the industry,” she said. “However, I made sure they hired me for my abilities before I added the frosting on the top about being gay.” Montanez, who has been working for Time Warner for 23 years, told the students about the importance of remaining true to oneself and finding a career that they feel passionate

See WORK || Page 7

Tammy Ayala / The Pan American

Pride at work - Daymion M. Montanez (foreground), director of employee relations, and J. Lori Stuart-Carruthers, market controller, answer questions March 30 from students about issues they face as in the workplace as part of the LGBT community.

Page 4

Advertisements

Page 5

Page 6

April 8, 2010

News

Career info on insurance field at April 15 seminar By Naxi Lopez The Pan American

An insurance symposium will be held at The University of Texas-Pan American April 15 to inform students and the public about the benefits of insurance, as well as available job opportunities in the field. The symposium headed by UTPA Finance professor K. Steven Lovell is a two-part event starting with a session designed for students during the university’s activity period from noon to 1 p.m., and an evening session geared more toward the public from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Lovell says six speakers will be present during the sessions to discuss various topics and answer questions the public might have. Among the speakers are UTPA

graduates Danny Saenz, senior associate commissioner for the Texas Department of Insurance, and Jonas Saenz, claim team manager for State Farm Insurance. Danny Saenz will cover consumer protection and regulation, while Jonas Saenz will speak about rates and actuaries. Other topics up for discussion are sales and marketing, claims adjusting, underwriting, and job opportunities. “We have been told by a lot of insurance companies that they really need people, especially Hispanics,” Lovell said. “Many insurance companies are interested in working with Pan Am to develop students.” He added that the recent passing of the health care bill will create even more job opportunities in the industry.

“Right now the heath care bill requires all of the new people to get their medical policies from insurance companies,” he said. “This will mean there will be much more job opportunities in health insurance companies from policy sales to underwriting to communications and claim administration.” Lovell says that companies are not just hiring insurance agents or students in math and business fields. They are looking in areas like psychology, communication, and even education. He says companies need help in coming up with ways to advertise and market to the Hispanic community, which Lovell says has a tendency to rely on family and friends to help them out during an emergency because

According to Zwerling, UTPA has created classes for studying the intelligence community as well as a summer school enabling what he called “spies” to bring high school students on campus. A certificate program was created to develop a minor in intelligence and global collaboration, as well as a master’s program. “Over 63 years the CIA has continually aimed at finding ways into the academic world of the United States to use it as a base for recruiting agents,” Zwerling added. Representatives from the IGKNU program, as well as the dean of the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences college were contacted and

asked to participate in the discussion, but said that due to scheduling conflicts they were not able to attend; some just declined the invitation. The problem with the CIA recruiting students, Zwerling claimed, is that they don’t inform students of the real reasons behind the recruitment. After a student decides to join the agency he or she cannot tell anyone on campus he is part of the organization and come graduation, is fully committed to it. “This university is about sharing research, it’s about honesty and openness and this is violated at the most basic level by the CIA,” Zwerling suggested.

with high-powered degrees as well.” Other clear indicators of UTPA’s success include the expansion of programs and buildings. Upon arriving in ’88, he was part of the effort to add buildings like the Wellness and Recreation Center, new buildings for science and engineering, plus new structures for health sciences. Though he has thoroughly enjoyed his tenure near the top of the Bronc food chain, Langabeer will be the first to admit that there have been some notable hardships to endure along the path. He has struggled to properly portray the complicated realities. “From what I have experienced from my time here, there is a lack of understanding among students and faculty that we are a low-cost institute because we are in a low economic area,” he said. Trying to run a university and paying the bills with less and less revenue every year from the state and System has been tough, the vice president of business affairs said. Even though the budget is always

tight, he’s learned that the requests for new things never stop. He mentioned additional parking as something the majority of the university community has clamored after for decades. They usually do not understand that money for that miracle doesn’t grow on trees. “At times my job can be very difficult and often emotional because someone’s has to get their eye poked with the finger and it always seemed to be my eye,” Langabeer joked. Nonetheless the VP has had an overall wonderful experience at UTPA. “I find that the student and faculty quality is far more polite and friendlier than other universities I’ve been around,” he said. Often faculty and student administration are known to bump heads, but Langabeer has found that the UTPA faculty group only wants to be heard and allowed to explain its views. Frances Rios, assistant VP for business affairs and director of Human Resources, has worked closely with Langabeer since the beginning of his tenure, 22 years ago.

many are uninsured. He speculates that one of the reasons there are so many uninsured is because they don’t understand the concept of insurance. He hopes the symposium will help provide more knowledge as well as remove stigmas associated with insurance. The event is being put together by the College of Business Administration in conjunction with several insurance companies, including New York Life, and Aflac. State Farm Insurance and New York Life are offering internships for students, while the Insurance Council of Texas is offering five $1,000 scholarships for students in the COBA. “All of these sponsors are starting to see that Pan Am is a good place to

come,” Lovell said. “And that’s good for our students because they can get jobs out of that.” Lovell hopes to make it a yearly event, and notes that it has already caught the attention of the Federal Reserve as well as the Financial Literacy Task Force for the state of Texas, an organization aiming to help peeople make better financial decisions and increase their networth. Lovell says both will be in town speaking to local superintendents about financial literacy for high schools, but they will also be meeting with professors and observing what UTPA is doing to further financial literacy. “They will not be speaking but observing if there are ways we can work together,” Lovell said.

CIA

continued from Page 1 “They have spent a lot of time shaping and molding our intelligence and they continue to do so today through their presence here on this campus,” he said. The panelists explained that when the CIA decided to diversify personnel earlier in the decade, it spent millions of dollars at majority women’s colleges, majority native tribal colleges, historically black universities and Hispanic-serving institutions like UTPA. Eleven colleges across the country were targeted and offered money: UTPA responded and won a grant for $2.5 million for a period of five years. After this, the IGKNU was created.

Alma E. Hernandez / The Pan American

Stressing a point - Phillip Zwerling discusses the CIA’s role on college campuses, Wednesday in the SBSC Building.

Langabeer

continued from Page 1 the position. “When I arrived there was nothing here,” Langabeer noted. “This place became an orange grove and just kept growing.” At the time Staples or even Wal-Mart did not exist; back before the switch to the UT System in 1989, the university community was excited to even have a McDonald’s, the Illinois native noted. Since then the university has only continued to grow, moving from status as a regional teaching institution to finding a balanced role combining the traditional approach with one more predicated on enhanced research capabilities and training of tomorrow’s leaders. “Not only are we an institute for teachers, but now we have an engineering school, Ph.Ds in business, education and rehabilitation, and are producing medical graduates as well,” he noted. Proud of what the university has accomplished thus far, Langabeer continued, saying, “In other words, we’ve grown from mainly producing educators for the high schools to graduating those

“He’s a great boss,” she said. “We’re happy for him that he’s retiring but at the same time, as selfish as it may seem, we’re very sad to see him go.” Another colleague is Marco Saenz, assistant to the vice president, who has worked for Langabeer as an administrative assistant since graduating from UTPA’s business school in 1994. “He’s been a great mentor to me over the years and I will greatly miss him - both personally and professionally,” Saenz said. “Mr. Langabeer has definitely earned the right to take a break, and I wish him nothing but the best!” It would appear Langabeer not only handled the business affairs of the university but touched the hearts of many individuals along the way. “Mr. Langabeer is a great supervisor. Ultimately when it’s time to retire, you look back at your achievements and I know he will be highly noted for his work with business affairs,” said Richard Costello, director of Environmental Health and Safety.

Costello continued to note that Langabeer has affected many lives but has had a significant impact on him. “He has always been supportive of our programs but ultimately he was the one to push me to attain my doctorate,” he said. “He will be a tough act to follow.” Langabeer began his 20-year career in the Air Force after completing one year of college at Bradley University in his hometown, Peoria. The soon-to-be officer was oblivious to the importance of an education at the time. Life was different then, he noted. School was not the priority on people’s minds. The momentum changed drastically upon entering the service, however. Langabeer earned an associate’s degree at American River College in Sacramento, Calif., before entering Syracuse University, where he graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor’s in business administration and personnel management. He then received his master’s degree in concentration and accounting at Michigan State University.

April 8, 2010

News

Page 7

Your turn: UTPA administrators evaluated by faculty By Pamela Morales The Pan American As the semester comes to an end, UTPA will get into the hustle and bustle of graduation plans, advisement, the stress of final exams, plus semester evaluations by students AND faculty. Yes, faculty are getting into the act of constructive criticism. Between March 22 and April 2, the Faculty Senate completed a 3-year evaluation of academic administrators. The Senate is composed of professors and librarians throughout campus, and faculty filled out a survey of standard questions pertaining to the job performance of president, vice-president and provost. These questions give results on administrator efforts to follow university policies and improve the overall welfare of the institution. Each faculty and librarian member is elected by the current Senate, with candidates coming from all six colleges; the possibles are then approved by the vice president/ provost for service. In his 30-year tenure at UTPA,

political science professor Samuel Freeman has put in 12 years on the Senate. He says that the current parliament of the Senate finds the evaluations to be a burden almost like students find professor evaluations tedious. Although evaluations take place every three years, Freeman doesn’t find them to be of much help toward monitoring and improving the quality of work for administrators. “I wish they were more helpful than they are,” he said. “Historically, administrators have had a negative attitude about faculty evaluating which is. . .extremely intellectually dishonest on their part because they stress that students should evaluate faculty in the classroom which I agree with totally . . .but I find it hypocritical and intellectually dishonest, if not immoral . . .not all administrators think and feel that way but that’s sort of the general attitude.” The evaluations are anonymous and shared only with the administrator being evaluated. Only

Books

member’s personal comments if he or she feels the need to express more. Overall, the evaluations are judgment on their performance as leaders rather than based on their teaching or research activities. It is not a perfect exercise, for several reasons, one of which is unfamiliarity. “When I got mine (survey),” said Timothy Brush, professor in the biology department, “there were some administrators that I don’t have much contact with and I just said ‘no information’ or ‘no opinion.’ ” Brush said that the surveys are indicators for administrators to use in making improvements in certain performance areas. The evaluations may not be used depending on the senate or the

president attitudes of integrity of the comments but both Brush and Freeman agree that the evaluations should be taken seriously. “I believe the results/feedback from the survey do help,” said Ana Maria Rodriguez, interim provost/ vice president for academic affairs. “Speaking personally, in the past and in the present, I pay attention to the feedback and use it together with other feedback to make improvements in my administrative behavior. I believe that is how we grow, either as faculty or as administrators.” Until then, the results will be kept confidential and public information will be at hand within the week, depending the process used by the Office of Institutional Research and Effectiveness.

Monterey, Calif. Two breakout sessions after the lunch hour will cover Student Assistance and Professional Education Awareness. The Student Assistance session will help students in resume writing, interviewing, and obtaining internships for jobs and scholarships. The Professional Education Awareness sessions will be held in the Ballroom and the Union’s Cenizo Room. Weimer also emphasizes the importance of students attending if

they are interested in federal careers, because of heavy competition in applying for jobs, scholarships and internships. This workshop is to help students and any others interested in government positions to network with representatives from federal agencies, so they too can be assisted in the application processes, he continued. For more information on registering to attend the conference, contact Career Services at 956-3812243 or to register, visit www.utpa. edu/federalopportunitiesday.

friendly to the LGBT community and that he has never suffered any kind of discrimination. “Harassment is something I don’t tolerate, whether it’s a straight person, a gay person, or a transgender, we just don’t tolerate it and the company takes it very seriously,” he noted. “For me, I have to remain true to myself. I would never go back in the closet for an employer.” Montanez also noted the importance to educate people and break the stereotypes people have about the LGBT community. “I want people to know I’m gay because I feel that I have a responsibility to show people that you can be professional and you

can be tough,” he said. “I like to show them that side of me so they don’t just think I’m the stereotype that comes on TV.” On Monday the Gay-Straight Alliance will be hosting an allday event at the quad called the National Holocaust Remembrance Day to honor the victims from the holocaust. For more information contact Ricardo Rios at (956) 2222549 or at rrios20@gmail.com. “As members in the LGBT community I think it’s imperative that we be a role model for all young people, not just gay youth. We are going to UTPA to hopefully get a degree and make something with our lives,” Rios added.

Federal

continued from Page 3 they need a printed version of the text, one will be provided; however, students will be encouraged to use the electronic version to the fullest of its capabilities. In the age of electronic reading devices such as Kindle, and a largely video-literate college-age population, this should not be a problem Still, despite its potential plusses, some students feel that e-books will be a disadvantage to the learning process. Joseph Cabrera, a sophomore at UTPA Majoring in Music from Harlingen, TX is one of these students. “E-books are a complete and total waste of time because they depreciate textbooks and force students to become lazy when it comes to studying for classes,” he insisted. The IT department will continue to give information to the faculty regarding e-books along with periodic

the rating of individuals is made public. The results of the most recent survey are currently still at the Office of Institutional Research and Effectiveness undergoing a process to write a public report. The idea is to allow faculty to share in the decisionmaking a university makes. “It lets the supervisor know when there are problems with the individual,” said Rajiv Nambiar, manufacturing engineer professor and current chair of the Faculty Senate. “It raised the morale of faculty members because their voices are heard. This is part of the faculty member’s important role in governing the university.” Linda Matthews, professor in the College of Business and chair-elect of the Faculty Senate, says that an improvements for the survey would be a 100 percent response rate. Among the survey questions are how administrators contribute to the duty of the university and support the development of other faculty, students, and staff. Also, a section is devoted for a

continued from Page 3 updates to the Student Government Association. The IT group wants to make the campaign a success in bringing e-books to UTPA. Any students or professors, who have any questions regarding e-books, can contact the Information Technology department. On Friday, April 9, UTPA will be hosting a Faculty Network Master, Dr. Rob Eby, Professor of Mathematics at Blinn College, in Bryan, will present a seminar at the Student Union Palmetto Room at 9:00 a.m. on how to use WileyPlus to engage students and enhance teacher effectiveness. The personnel behind the program are Jesus Tanguma, head of research, Tina Fang, research assistant, and Anne Toal. Students can also look up information at www.catalog.wileyplus.com/help/ students/register.html

(NRO), National Security Agency (NSA), USDA, United States Government Accountability Office (GAO), Army ROTC and Border Patrol; the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is also expected to participate. The roundtable discussion will last approximately two hours. The lunch keynote speaker for the day will be Vicente Garcia, professor of electrical and computer engineering from the Naval Post Graduate School in

Work

continued from Page 3 about. However, there was a time when he had to keep his sexuality under wraps. First when he was part of the U.S. Marines and later when he went to work for Time Warner in Brownsville. “I didn’t tell anyone I was gay, I didn’t feel comfortable doing so,” he recalled. “And then after while I felt I was back in Boston again, I was in my 30s and I said ‘What am I hiding from? I’m not the one with the problem.’” He stressed that letting people know about being gay is a personal decision and it’s something each person must to come to terms with depending on their situation. He said he has been lucky to work for a company that is tolerant and

Page 8

THE PAN AMERICAN

April 8, 2010

THE PAN AMERICAN

April 8, 2010

Page 9

ne’s body is the same from the instant we are born to the last moments of life. Maintaining a healthy mind and body is not as hard as it seems, it just takes being conscious of everyday activities that have an effect on the way we look and feel. Good actions become good habits and it’s never too late to start striving for a healthier self.

HERE ARE SOME HANDY HINTS Neurological system:

Oxygen, glucose and complex B vitamins are crucial for the proper functioning of the brain. These nutrients can be found in animal proteins such as fish, beef and milk. Getting good sleep, exercising, and practicing good eating habits as well as avoiding the consumption of alcohol, tobacco and street drugs are ways to take care of the brain.

Eyes:

Vitamins A, C and D are key for sharp eye health. Watching TV too close or too far from the screen, reading with out proper lighting, these may harm one’s eyes. Wearing glasses or goggles when performing outdoor activities protect the eyes against external bodies. Also, avoid staring directly at the sun (duh).

Heart:

In order to maintain a healthy ticker, one must consume plenty of vegetables, avoid products with excessive fats, and flour-based food. In order to prevent being overweight it’s recommended to practice daily aerobic exercise to strengthen the heart.

Lungs:

Having healthy lungs is based on not smoking, doing aerobic exercise, and avoiding places highly contaminated by smoke and dust.

Digestive system:

Eating at scheduled times, chewing food properly, and avoiding irritating, spicy foods can lead to a regular digestive process that promotes a healthy system.

Reproductive system:

Hygiene first, and also protecting oneself from sexually transmitted diseases can be achieved by the use of condoms and/or avoiding promiscuity by limiting the number of sexual partners.

Muscles and bones:

Eat plenty of proteins (meet, fish, eggs, soy, milk), mineral and water, they are very important for having a healthy musculoskeletal system. Regular exercise and proper warm-ups promote stronger muscles and bones. The consumption of products rich in vitamin D like fish, soymilk and enriched cereals and milk help calcification and preventing osteoporosis.

Joints:

Avoiding overuse or forced movements, that is the key to healthy joints.

Feet:

In order to have healthy feet, washing and drying them thoroughly is very important. Proper cutting of nails and wearing shoewear proper for the activity, as well as avoiding being overweight, also help guarantee healthy feet.

Ears:

Do not expose your ears to extreme noises or introduce objects into the ears. Try to keep music and television at a reasonable volume; when wearing headphones, if you can’t hear a person talking to you, it’s probably too loud. Practice good cleaning habits. Q-tips are only for external cleaning.

Skin:

Your skin is the most extensive organ of the body. Drink water, keep it moisturized and eat fruits and vegetables. Do not expose skin to solar rays for a long period of time and restrain from touching excessively hot or cold objects.

Mind:

Sleep well, avoid stress and focus on positive thoughts. Make smart decisions; think that every action will have a short- or long-term consequence. Avoid addictions. Love, smile, listen. Reading is like exercise to your mind.

By: Sara Hernandez

Photo By: Alma Hernandez

In Photo: Alexia Frank

Page 8

THE PAN AMERICAN

April 8, 2010

THE PAN AMERICAN

April 8, 2010

Page 9

HERE ARE SOME HANDY HINTS Neurological system:

Eyes:

Heart:

Lungs:

Having healthy lungs is based on not smoking, doing aerobic exercise, and avoiding places highly contaminated by smoke and dust.

Digestive system:

Eating at scheduled times, chewing food properly, and avoiding irritating, spicy foods can lead to a regular digestive process that promotes a healthy system.

Reproductive system:

Hygiene first, and also protecting oneself from sexually transmitted diseases can be achieved by the use of condoms and/or avoiding promiscuity by limiting the number of sexual partners.

Muscles and bones:

Joints:

Avoiding overuse or forced movements, that is the key to healthy joints.

Feet:

Ears:

Skin:

Mind:

By: Sara Hernandez

Photo By: Alma Hernandez

In Photo: Alexia Frank

April 8, 2010

New professor sheds light on forgotten major

“It’s really looking at music brought scholars Josh Kun from the Charlie Gillett’s book, “The Sound of the City: The Rise of Rock and Roll,” and culture, how music functions University of Southern California, in culture,” she explained. “What Alejandro Madrid from the University as an influence on her music writing. She was getting closer to the career meaning it has for people in a of Illinois at Chicago, and Margaret Ethnomusicology is defined she’s eventually embrace. While at the society, how it’s tied to belief Dorsey of UTPA’s anthropology as, “the study of music in a socio- Express, Ragland became interested systems, its connection to the department together to discuss traditional and popular U.S.-Mexico cultural context” according to the in Tejano music, convinced the paper community and culture.” She added that some schools may border music. Merriam-Webster online dictionary. to let her write about the topic, which Ethnomusicologists conduct was basically have ethnomusicology programs While the term nonexistent in in their anthropology, folklore or fieldwork to learn how societies may be unfamiliar function says Ragland. Which music departments. those days. to some, it’s the In May 2009 Ragland released consists of documenting lives and “I started “ [Ethnomusicology is] basis of a graduate really becoming a book titled, “Musica Nortena: experiences, conducting interviews, program in the really looking at music interested in Mexican Americans Creating a Nation attending live performances, learning music department Texas and San Between Nations,” which focused on about history and culture and the at the University and culture, how music Antonio and Nortena music, explaining the split in meaning of music. of Texas-Pan functions in culture. According to Ragland graduates my community, the late fifties between Nortena and American offers. of the program pursue many varied and how people Tejano music. T h e What meaning it has “The book is really about looking careers. They can work in museums responded to Ethnomusicology for people in a society, it,” Ragland at what happened to Nortena music conducting research, creating exhibits program is not said. “And that’s as it was transformed from being this or developing programs relating to new but its how it’s tied to belief actually how I border music to being the music of music and culture. They can work trajectory has been systems, its connection wrote my articles, the migrant experience,” she recalled. as educators in elementary schools uneven. Manuel when I worked for “I talk about how the music is the through community colleges. They Pena started it to the community and the Express-News. music of this sorta Mexico in between work in community-based, city, state in 2002 when culture. ” I really wrote from Mexico of the migrants, especially and government-run arts organizations here working this perspective those who are undocumented, because and agencies, provide consultant as a visiting of not being so if you’re undocumented you can’t services and work as music and art professor from critical but being really assimilate into American critics in various media. the University “Many ethnomusicologists have more, ‘Why is this society, you don’t really assimilate of CaliforniaDr. Cathy Ragland into Tejano because that doesn’t really produced numerous books, festivals, music important?’ Fresno. Since Ethnomusicology professor “I was really reflect who you are, so where are you? films, documentary videos, CDs, and his departure the looking at music And the music reflects that experience. computer software that present and program has been “I was seeing that all over the U.S. interpret music and culture that are already as an lacking faculty with a degree in the somewhat ethnomusicologist but I didn’t know and I was only seeing Tejano music widely in use today,” says Ragland. Graduate student Cora Durian esoteric field. However, expertise anything about it, I hadn’t studied it. here. I think it’s an interesting way UTPA for Raglands’ has since been added in the person But my interests was really always to look at how music really evolves chose of Cathy Ragland, hired by the looking at music as a way in which and becomes transformed, and how it ethnomusicology program, “I moved university as program director in people construct their identity and who becomes the voice of this community down here because Dr. Ragland is working here. I moved from August 2009 to bring experience and they are, and meaning for themselves that really doesn’t have a voice.” Last month at the annual FESTIBA Houston to study ethnomusicology, in life and local culture so that’s how I leadership to the program. celebration, Ragland moderated a I looked at different ethnmusicology Ragland earned her undergraduate was writing.” Ragland describes ethnomusicology border music panel titled “Conflict, programs across the world and I degree at the University of TexasIdentity and Resistance,” which picked this one.” Austin, a master’s degree in as an anthropology of music. ethnomusicology at the University of Washington-Seattle, and a Ph.D. in ethnomusicology at The City University of New York in Manhattan. As an undergraduate at UT, Ragland was interested in studying music and art but was dissuaded by her mother, choosing international business and Russian instead. She began to write for The Daily Texan, the student newspaper and found a home in journalism. She went on to become entertainment editor at The Daily Texan and eventually editor of the student arts magazine “Images.” As entertainment editor she worked with writers who went on to start The Austin Chronicle, an alternative weekly newspaper in Austin, Texas. Upon graduation from UT, the San Antonio native began as a music critic at the San Antonio Light, a longrunning local newspaper that was on its last legs and would eventually die in 1992. After working there a year, Ragland moved to the San Antonio Alma E. Hernandez / The Pan American Express-News where she spent the next eight years covering mostly country What’s up, DOC? - UTPA has been without staff to teach ethnomusicology. Cathy Ragland, pictured in her and heavy metal music. Ragland cites graduate class, received her Ph.D. in the major from The City University of New York in Manhattan.

By Alma E. Hernandez the pan american

Gleeks rejoice! April 13 marks the return of Fox’s runaway hit “Glee” that will air after “American Idol.” The new season will hold a Madonna-themed episode and a cameo from Neil Patrick Harris.

Two of America’s fave comics, Tina Fey and Steve Carell star in the romantic comedy that covers an eventful “Date Night.” The film will make its run in theaters April 9, directed by Shawn Levy.

MGMT will release their second effort “Congratulations” April 13. The album is said to be a “no singles” album, the band is pushing listeners and radio stations to play songs that stand out to them.

Don’t be fooled by the image above, the person and furniture you see is REAL. Artist Alexa Meade paints actual people and things to look like they are in a painting.

April 8, 2010

Arts and Life

Dance ensemble goes mod By Cecily Saldana the pan american

The University of Texas-Pan American Dance Ensemble will present Spring Concert 2010 beginning Thursday through Saturday at the UTPA Fine Arts Auditorium. The recital will feature modernbased work by UTPA faculty Melinda Blomquist and Fred Darsow as well as guest artists Mary Fitzgerald, Satu Hummasti and Kelli Brown. “Each piece has its own concept,” says Melinda Blomquist, co-artistic director. “It benefits the students more that way.” This Spring, the Dance Ensemble participated in a residency with guest artist Kelli Brown. Her piece, “Working with Difficult People,” humorously explores the sometimescomplicated relationships we have when working with peers. “Intertwining” is a large group work that has been created as part of a collaborative choreography project with Northwest Vista College in San Antonio. Also, UTPA Associate Professor Fred Darsow has created a dance entitled “They Kept Swirling,” In which he chooses movement that brings back physical memories from certain experiences in his life. Blomquist has been working on material for the concert since last fall and the 16 advanced level dancers have been learning the new choreography since the start of the spring semester. The Dance Program at UTPA includes dance curriculum in Ballet, Modern Jazz, Mexican Folkloric, Modern, and Spanish/ Flamenco but the focus for this show will be Modern. Sarah Almaraz, 22, a dance major who will be performing this week, hopes to bring more attention to Modern dance in the Rio Grande Valley through this showcase.

Noche de Arte ushers in cultural awareness through mixed media By Marc Solis the pan american

UTPA Dance Program UTPA’S BEST DANCE CREW - The University of Texas-Pan American Dance Ensemble will sashay onto the stage with dance styles like Mexican Folkloric, Ballet, Spanish/Flamenco and Modern Jazz. “Folklorico is huge here,” says Almaraz, who wants people to know “it’s okay to see something different.” She is also working on a personal project in which she hopes to bring modern dance to other venues around the Rio Grande Valley in order to allow local dancers to display their skills and express themselves. “That’s the whole reason you perform in the first place, to show off your talent and entertain people,” says fellow dance major Isela Gomez. Gomez, 31, originally from the Alice/Corpus Christi-area, fell in love with ballet when she began dancing at the age of 13. She has been dancing off and on since and is looking forward to sharing

Pat & Rowley Illustrated by Anthony Salinas the pan american

Page 11

the stage with her peers this week. “I know it’s cliché but we are actually like a family. Everyone really likes each other genuinely,” says Gomez. “It’s a very sisterly organization. We all love what we do.” Bianca Renteria, 19, agrees, “We come here to work but it doesn’t seem like it.” Renteria, a sophomore in the dance program, has been dancing for five years. The self-proclaimed “late bloomer,” enjoys the family-like atmosphere. “It’s comfort,” she says. Performances will be Thursday and Friday at 7:30 pm and Saturday at 2 pm and 7:30 pm at the UTPA Fine Arts Auditorium. Admission to all performances is free. For more information, contact the Dance Program Office at (956) 381-2230.

The university now has its own version of McAllen’s popular Art Walk. “Noche de Arte” took place Wednesday as part of Pan American Days 2010. The concept of this year’s Pan American Days is for students to discover art and culture around them. Kelley Haime, public relations coordinator at the Office of International Programs, was very enthusiastic and proud about the event. “We felt that an art walk would not only help to showcase the incredible artistic talent here on campus, it would also be a great way get students excited and involved in Pan American Days,” she said. “When we realized that this was UTPA’s first art walk, we knew it was something that needed to be started as an annual event.” In addition to showcasing student work in the Quad, Haime and her team are also incorporating the UTPA group, Artists Unanimous, and their exhibit “Green Works” which is being shown in the Library, 1st floor. The theme for Pan American Days 2010 is “Austerity, Prosperity & Justice” with a special focus on Latin America. “Noche de Arte” had a featured artist as well, Carlos Barberena de la Rocha, who is

showing his two exhibits “Master Prints” and “Anos de Miedo” in the University Gallery in the COAS Building. He was brought down by art department chair Reynaldo Santiago, the curator for his exhibits. Barberena de la Rocha is from Nicaragua and his art work is heavily influenced by Latin American roots and culture. For the student artists, much of their creativity has echoes of social struggle. In addition to the art, “Noche de Arte” also boasted an impressive entertainment lineup beginning with Arzalez, an up-and-coming Spanish rock artist from the Valley who writes and performs original music that has won several radio contests and gained considerable airtime. Gye Nyame is a capoeira group that gave a demonstration, and Highway 7 is another group that performed, with Haime a part of that gruup. “We are a duo from Canada and we play modern country music,” she said. “We played this past HESTEC and more recently FESTIBA for the university. We have performed covers and original music, and we’ve even done a country cover of Beyonce’s ‘If I Were a Boy.’” Registered student organizations in good standing with the university were allowed to sell their art to fundraise for their organization.

Alma E. Hernandez / The Pan American fLIPPIN’ FOR ART - Stestfan Molejo of the Grupo Capoeira Gye Nyame performs at the Noche de Arte event in the Quad Wednesday evening.

Page 12

April 8, 2010

Arts & LIFE

Collective brings interactive experience to ArtWalk

By Victor Ituarte the pan american

The patch of grass outside the Douglas Clark Gallery in McAllen last Friday was transformed into a miniature celebration of the arts. The location may have been small, but the welcome was big as 22-yearold Dulce Navar greeted patrons of the monthly ArtWalk and invited them to crouch through the entrance tent filled with the overwhelming scent of incense. Once through the tent, visitors were met with the options of adding to the brown paper mural with the available chalk, sitting down and watching a musical performance, or perusing the handmade jewelry for sale made by Cecilia Cantu, a theater-TV/ film senior at The University of Texas-Pan American. “A lot of people were actually crowded around it. It stood out from everything else,” said 24-year-old McAllen resident Nabila Salazar. “The fact that they had a teepee that you had to go through and the music itself made it stand out. The music does draw you in and it makes you want to sit and relax and be there for a while.”

The event was organized by the Nepantla Art Collective, a group of artists comprised of students and alumni from UTPA and South Texas College. Roberto Collado, a 25-yearold theater alum at UTPA, played music and sang at the event, which was called “Un poco mas cerca,” which translates to “a little bit closer.” “When we went to the ArtWalk and we looked around and we noticed that, number one, nobody was doing art as a performance or for the hell of doing it, doing a sculpture or a painting,” Collado explained. “The public that goes to the ArtWalk, they just get to be witnesses of the end of the process. Why don’t we make them participants? Why don’t they explore their artistic side too?” Aside from offering an interactive experience, another motivation for the event was to promote affordable and/or free art. A balloon artist and a face painter stood outside the scented tent creating balloon hats and animals for people, working only for tips. Earrings were available for a suggested price, but the jeweler was willing to reduce that in order to have someone walk away with a piece of art. “Right now, the majority of the people that come to the ArtWalk are teenagers or early 20s. There’s also

Alma E. Hernandez / The Pan American BEJEWELED - Katheryn Villa (left) purchases hand-made jewelry from Dulce Navar (middle) and Leonardo Collado (right) of the Nepantla Art Collective April 2 at the McAllen ArtWalk. the older crowd, but most of the people, especially at this economical crisis and all this stuff going on,” Collado said. “They don’t have the money to spend $1,500 on a painting or $500 on a photograph. We figured, hey, we have the means to do it, we can really do something that’s more accessible to the audience.”

Freddie Martinez / The Pan American bring it on - UTPA cheeleader hopefuls try out for a spot in the lineup at the Wellness and Rec Center. The 2010-2011 team will be announced April 18.

The group gets its name from a word borrowed from the Aztec language Nahuatl meaning “space of the middle,” “neither here or there,” or “no man’s land.” They used the name to describe the Rio Grande Valley and the border culture. When Salazar learned of the group’s objectives, she agreed.

“It’s true. A lot of the art is the same thing you see. I hadn’t been to the ArtWalk since it stopped in the winter and it’s the same thing, the same art. I really liked the little setup that they had. A lot of people drew on the paper so you kind of feel like you’re a part of the experience. I would suggest doing more of that. I’ll go again next month if they’re there.”

April 8, 2010

THE PAN AMERICAn

Page 13

April 8, 2010

THE RUNDOWN

About sex, golf and addictions By Alvaro Balderas The Pan American

Is it logical for a rehab program to encourage a recovering addict to moderately continue doing the act that got them sick? If one is a heroin addict do you think a counselor would tell him it be OK to hit the needle only if he did it once a month? Or perhaps a doctor telling a chain smoker to at least switch to Lights? Golfer Tiger Woods is being labeled a sex addict for his serial and selfdescribed transgressions. More than 10 to be exact -- allegedly. He’s been going to rehab for his “addiction,” but does sex addiction even exist? Sex rehab encourages an individual to have healthy relationships once out of treatment, which includes sex, even though they are recovering “sex addicts,” therefore sex addiction cannot be an addiction. It is more of a compulsive action. Woods’ infidelities are being blown up by the media and Tiger has opted to go to rehab…but for what? To clean his image or perhaps to be seen as a victim of his so-called disease. Addiction is a destructive behavior. I doubt that the act of sex, a driving force that makes us human, is a destructive behavior. The wrongdoings that Woods has done point more to an obsessive compulsive disorder than to an addiction. Or maybe just selfishness, ego, or bad judgment. I am not saying if one grows up in a household where he or she experiences deviant sex acts that individual won’t be more likely to grow up with a psychological disorder because that may be the case. But I doubt Woods experienced such cases as a child. He clearly lacked discipline and self-control, which led him to indulge his fantasies. Woods’ implosion also brings out other topics such as double standards in society. I doubt he would be judged or labeled the same way if he were single. He would be looked at as a sort of Casanova with the ladies. So as Woods makes his return to golf today at The Masters, he will look to add to his 14 major championships in an atmosphere like no other. He is four championships away from tying the all-time record of 18, held by Jack Nicklaus, which is perhaps why he chose to come back this tournament. Woods, age 34, shouldn’t apologize to me or you, but to his wife and the major sponsors he deceived by portaying a false image. Currently the debate on whether sex addiction exists is still up in the air, but ultimately, if one day it is classified as an addiction -- I am sorry, guys.

Bronc track shows off at Texas Relays

By Neena Hernandez The Pan American

The University of TexasPan American track teams are back from a four-day run at the prestigious Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays in Austin. To boot, on April 1 each of the teams was ranked fifth in the Great West Conference Outdoor preseason poll. With such a high ranking, Coach David Hartman is not allowing the respect to take over the team’s concentration. “We do not focus too much on the polls,” he said. “We are focused on improving from week to week so we will be prepared come champion time.” At Austin, the results were good. Coming in 11th place for the UTPA women’s distance medley were freshman Daphne Payton, sophomore Alexia Frank, junior Mekka Edwards-White, and freshman Cinthia Adame. A large number of universities and high schools from around the United States competed in the Texas Relays, bringing a case of understandable nerves for freshmen runners like nursing major Adame of San Benito. “We were all really nervous about the competition because considering that for all four of us, it was our first time running together in the Texas Relays,” Adame said. “As far as the Great West Competition goes, this is preparing us. A lot of the girls ran faster times than usual so obviously it means that we’re improving.” Junior and javelin thrower Wendy Wells finished in ninth place with a recorded throw of 141 feet. “Wendy Wells had a great competition in her second meet back. To perform like she did in a high pressure situation was truly

impressive,” Hartman said after reviewing the meet. Wells missed three-plus seasons after three years of knee, ankle and shoulder injuries. The women also placed in several other categories such as 34th out of 38 in the 4x400-meter relay with a time of 3:57.65. Junior Sylvia Alboniga placed 21st out of 52 in the 400-meter hurdles competition with 1:03.51. The Lady Broncs competed in the 4x800 relay finishing eighth with a time of 9:26.02, led by Payton, White, Adame, and junior Shayna Parker. In the men’s division, running the distance medley were sophomore Andrew Lopez, junior Jameson Strachan, senior Gilroy Martinez, and junior Omar Doria; they came in a solid 15th with a time of 10:20.96. In the men’s 1,500 Doria was third with a career-best time of 3:52.66. “Omar Doria had a great run in the 1,500 meters Friday night and is poised to defend his Great West title,” Hartman said. The conference championships will be run in Yankton SD May 13-15. “I feel I can improve a lot because we went out slow in the beginning of the race and then in the last 800 we just started shifting gears,” Doria explained about the race. “In the last 600 I got into position and I was with the guy in the last 100 meters until I lost first by a second and lost second place by half a second. It showed me that I could, in the upcoming races, lower my time. I was satisfied but there is a lot more room for me to improve my time. My coach said I played the race very smart and the results show.” UTPA also gained a 13th in the men’s 1,500 with Lopez clocking in at 4:01.74.

Alma E. Hernandez / The Pan American

that’s what’s up - Destiny Schulze from La Grange is the first leg of the women’s 4x400 relay. The freshman is one of the most valuable additions to the team this season. The teams have a two-week break before they compete in the three-day Drake Relays from April 22-24 in Des Moines, Iowa. Hartman described what will be taking place at practice during the interim.

“These next two weeks will allow us to get some serious training in,” he said. “We have had three meets in a row and we have seen significant improvement from indoors. This minor break will be used to correct mistakes we may have seen and to get stronger.”

Kirakossian Brothers lead Broncs at TSU Intercollegiate

By Sara Hernandez The Pan American

The end is near for the Broncs, with only one more tournament before the Great West Conference Tournament, after The University of Texas-Pan American men’s golf team finished eighth out of 15 teams Monday-Tuesday at the TSU Big Blue Intercollegiate in Nashville. After concluding the first round in third place with 287 strokes, the team fell five spots on the second and closed out with a score of 583. Although the Broncs improved five strokes in the last round, when they hit a 291, the effort wasn’t enough to move up and their final total of 874 was one point behind the University

of Evansville, which came in seventh. “The numbers look pretty good, there’s a couple of things we can improve on for next week,” head coach Santiago De Larrea said. “The guys are looking good; they’re looking better, they’re very confident and know they could’ve done better, but it was good practice and they looked good after one month.” The meet marked improvement, as UTPA had finished in 14th of 17 teams at the Wexford Plantation Intercollegiate in February. This week, freshman Kevin Kirakossian led the Broncs tied in ninth with rounds of 70, 73 and 68 for a final score of one-overpar 211. One stroke behind came older brother Armen; the senior had

rounds of 68, 71 and 73 for a 12thplace finish. “I felt good going into it, I didn’t do too well in the first two rounds but then I was able to make some good shots in the last one,” Kevin Kirakossian said. Freshman Brandon Reyna finished tied for 42nd with a score of 223. With 228 strokes, sophomore Orlando Reyna tied in 63rd, and junior High Wongchindawest came in 76th with 234 hits. The individual winner of the tournament, which had 90 competitors, was Neal McCarty from SIU-Edwardsville with 204 strokes. Murray State University won the event with 856 while Tennessee State University, the host, finished tied for second with John A. Logan Country

Club with 862 shots. Next week, the team heads to Victoria for the Jim West Intercollegiate hosted by Texas State. “We’re getting ready for the next tournament, I think we’re going to come out shooting well and we’ll be able to have a good showing at conference,” Kevin Kirakossian said. Larrea added that this tournament and the next one are meant to help the team gain more confidence to prepare for the GWC Tournament, which will be hosted by UTPA at Los Lagos Golf Club April 25-27. “We’ve been working hard… hopefully we’ll win conference, especially this year that we’re going to host it,” he said. “We’ll be ready for this.”

April 8, 2010

March 4, 2010

His bat’s on fire, his heart’s at home

Broncs vs. Northern Colorado

Home Events

though winning and losing are part of the game, the team is attempting to go back to the positive momentum it maintained at the beginning of the season. At one point, the squad was 7-3; a close 3-2 early loss to perennial dynasty Texas shocked the state and let folks know that UTPA was a group to be reckoned. “That’s baseball; that happens to any team at any level,” he said. “You see you’re high at one minute and then you really struggle the next. The key for us right now is to get past these struggles and go back to where we were playing at the beginning of the season.” After yesterday’s losses 10-4 and 3-1 in a doubleheader against Stephen F. Austin at Nacogdoches, the team comes back home to start conference play against Northern Colorado this weekend for a three-game series at the Edinburg Baseball Stadium. This could be the perfect occasion to regain momentum and start making a statement at the conference level in order to accomplish the team’s goals. Northern Colorado is a Great West Conference foe. “Our main goal is to win the conference and to win the conference tournament,” Bivone said. “After that we’ll see if we have enough wins to get a bit in the regional tournament, but right now what we’re looking at is winning conference and winning the conference tournament.” But the Broncs learned that accomplishing their goals will be tricky, Norma Gonzalez / The Pan American as the Houston Baptist series showed. Good and plenty - Garrett Bivone came from Temple College last year “We’re pretty confident going in, we played HBU as a non-confer- and is the most effective hitter for the Broncs so far this campaign. ence game and got beat so that kind of opened your eyes to that this con- and heading into the crucial part of August and pursue an MBA at Texas State) his family remains an inspiraference isn’t going to lay down to the campaign. “Teammates and coaches are tion, if not a physical presence. His us,” he said. “We’re going to have to show up and we’re going to have definitely my biggest support, espe- father’s example in the sport only cially with the way things are go- motivates him to strive for excelto play hard to beat these teams.” For this reason, Bivone men- ing you have to rely a lot on your lence, and Sam’s guidance will altioned that team support is the key own team for support, you have to ways be the first resource when things to maintaining a positive attitude, go to your teammates for support,” don’t go smoothly on or off the field. “I try to do well for my dad; he’s especially because for him, as for the slugger said. “When you’re domost of the players, the support ing bad you go to them and they can the biggest motivation I have,” he of his family is not as constant as pick you up. When you’re doing said. “You always talk about what it used to be in his early baseball well you’re hoping to do the same kind of coaches you go to with quesyears. Mainly because of the dis- for other people, that’s definitely tions, and I always go to my dad. Anything I have to worry about, any tance, the surrogate support unit is the support I have around here.” Still, for Bivone (who plans to questions I have… he’s always the more important now that the team is going through difficult times graduate with a marketing degree in first person I go to.”

Friday, April 9 at 6 p.m. Saturday, April 10 at 1 p.m. Sunday, April 11 at noon

Men’s Tennis

ARRIVING AT UTPA After Temple College, Bivone transferred to The University of Baseball has always been part of Texas-Pan American to complete Garrett Bivone’s makeup. Raised in his last two years of eligibility. In Round Rock in Central Texas, the his first year, 2009, the 6-foot-4, senior grew up among baseball dev- 240-pound righty swinger had a otees as his father Sam had played .251 hitting average and scored 28 ball for Abilene Christian Universi- runs in 195 at bats. He also hit four ty in the late ‘70s and brother Chris home runs. But things have gotten way betis a lifelong fan. “I have a baseball family… so ter for Bivone. This season, he’s obviously I’ve been around it my ranked first on the team with a entire life,” said the Bronc outfield- .500 hitting average after 20 games er. He’s the team’s leading slugger heading into the weekend, with 35 this season, after taking a round- hits and 14 runs; he paces the improved club in total bases and has about path to the Valley. Although Bivone, the third of been an effective first baseman with four children, tried different sports the most putouts (124) and double at McNeil High School, his dedica- plays (21) so far. Showing how much he has tion slowly focused onto playing pushed the envelope in 2010, the family game exclusively. He played football and basket- Bivone was recognized as Great ball his freshman year, but didn’t West Conference Player of the follow through with the hoops as a Week for the week ending March sophomore. Still, he continued being 21. During that stretch, the husky hitter went part of the foot12 for 17 for ball team until he left to dedi“ When you’re doing bad a .706 batting average, cate his senior with three year completely you go to them and they can doubles and to baseball. eight RBI as After gradpick you up. When you’re doUTPA went uating from 2-2 in what high school, he ing well you’re hoping to do included a completed two three-game years at Temple the same for other people.” 2-1 series College, an inwin against stitution of a Garrett Bivone Big 10 conlittle more than Senior outfielder tender Iowa. 4,000 students So it’s been located in a Central Texas city 50 miles north a super season for him, but the team has hit the wall a bit lately. After startof Round Rock. The college’s location, along ing the season 4-0 and later claimwith the type of people he was ing two victories over Notre Dame, able to meet during the two years the Broncs dropped to 10-10 after he was part of Temple’s program, a five-loss streak that began with a gave Bivone the opportunity to doubleheader against Houston Bapbalance two very important parts tist University March 26, continued of his life – family and baseball – with a defeat at the hands of Texas while providing the chance to build A&M-Corpus Christi last week, and camaraderie with his classmates dragged on with two downers last weekend against Centenary College and teammates. “I loved it so much, it was like on the road in Shreveport. The team won just 14 games last 45 minutes from home so I got to see my family a lot and I meet some year, so having 10 already is a step great people, some friends for the up. But the new-look Broncs think rest of my life,” he said. “I enjoyed they have what it takes to be a winner. To this, Bivone said that even every single day of it.”

By Sara Hernandez The Pan American

Saturday, April 10, vs. Lamar at 10 a.m. Tuesday, April 10, vs. UT-Arlington at 1 p.m.

Page 16

the pan american

April 8, 2010