April 29, 2010

Volume 66, No. 27

THE PAN AMERICAN

April 29, 2010

Future of faculty workload brings uncertainty FUTURE OF THE UNIVERSITY: Part 3

By Naxiely Lopez The Pan American

It keeps getting more interesting, more confusing, and perhaps more controversial. Budget cuts and a growing student population might lead to a change in faculty duties at the University of Texas-Pan American, and the possibility of implementing a heavier teaching load

Survey will give voice to students on Series

By Nayeli Mireles The Pan American Anyone walking down any of the halls or sidewalks of the university has probably seen flyers announcing an upcoming installment of the Distinguished Speakers Series. The yearly series has brought such keynoters as former president George Bush Sr., tech whiz Steve Wozniak, and popular journalist Lisa Ling since its commencement in 2004.

A committee, whose members are all from the UTPA community, perennially chooses guests to bring to campus each year. Generally there are four speakers per semester. The committee consists of two or three faculty members, the Series staff, and seven students (one from each college and a graduate representative). The members try and invite compelling speakers that the campus population will be interested in.

The lynchpin of the drive to get more feedback is a survey that has been distributed online and will be available until Friday. The survey is accessible through the following Web site: http:// broncnotes.utpa.edu/displayBulletin. aspx?bulletinID=5023.

“It’s very important that we have students at the table when we choose speakers because we want students to have input,” explained Edna Zambrano, director of the Student Union. “Sometimes names will come up that maybe we hadn’t thought about

SEE SPEAKERS || PAGE 7

Page 2 - Big business might Commentary: Editor’s have packed their bags, but final note they never left

has some professors worried, while others remain unfazed.

According to Ana Maria Rodriguez, interim provost and vice president for academic affairs, faculty work in three main areas; tenuretrack faculty must balance their time teaching, doing research and providing service to the university.

Three years ago, faculty were required to teach a total of 24 semester

hours during a nine-month period, which meant they were under a 4/4 teaching load, doing four classes in the fall and four in spring. This heavy teaching load meant that professors had little time to work on research.

In the past, if a professor wanted time to write scholarly articles or do experiments, he or she would have to request it before permission for a release time was granted. However, after a recommendation from a task force set up to review faculty workload policy in 2004 by former President Blandina Cardenas, a shift

in policy changed everything.

At that time, neither the state nor UTPA were facing the economic crunch that began with the 2008 recession. The long-term institutional goal became to transition toward becoming a “research-centered teaching institution,” as the phrase went. Thus, the teaching load was reduced from 24 semester hours to 18, meaning professors would only have to teach three classes per semester. Some were even granted permission to teach fewer. The implication was that professors would take those extra six

hours to produce more research and/ or grants.

However, in a memo dated March 31 of this year, President Robert Nelsen announced the appointment of a 16-member task force that will once again review the current workload and promotion policies for faculty. The group is to submit recommendations in the form of a report by Dec. 4, and was asked specifically to review the teaching load, or the number of classes per semester professors are

SEE FUTURE || PAGE 6

Tea Party rallies for voices to be heard

By Pamela Morales The Pan American The weather put a damper on its initial attempt at being heard, but the Valley’s version of a national conservative social movement finally had a day in the sun recently. The McAllen Tea Party held a rally, “It’s Not Just About Taxes,” at the Rio Grande Valley Speedway off South 10th Street in McAllen Saturday.

Although the rally had been cancelled a week before due to rain, this time party members did not let the blazing hot sun stop them from voicing their beliefs about the current direction of the United States. After a power failure, the rally started after 2 p.m. but all the while, group activists had mingled under white tents looking at souvenirs such as small pamphlets of copied U.S. Constitutions and printed blue, white and black T-shirts.

One read, “Don’t spread my wealth...Spread my work ethic!” One individual said softly after a discussion that the government is taking over her life and the rest of the country.

Sandy Propst, secretary of the McAllen Tea Party, said, “We believe the government is overstepping by taxing -- overtaxing -- and the more the government takes, the less freedom we’ll have.”

The 64-year-old Edinburg resident also further clarified the party’s main goal. The McAllen Tea Party Association’s mission is to bring the Constitution back into the lives of every American. One noted that, “The constitution does not change and it’s our God-given right to pursue life, liberty and happiness. Man gave rights to the people and since that happened, the government becomes God.”

Page 3 - Jobs after Mexico UT-Austin recalls graduation becoming scarce

study abroad program

Tammy Ayala/THE PAN AMERICAN

BANDING TOGETHER - Local Tea Party supporters gather at the RGV Speedway in McAllen April 24 for a Tax Day Tea Party Rally that drew 150 people.

The stands facing west slowly filled up as people began to show. Among the people festooned with red, white and blue was a middle-aged man holding a black-and-white striped umbrella on one hand and in the other, a neon green-yellow sign with a hand-written quote: “When injustice becomes law, resistance becomes duty. – Thomas Jefferson.” He said he was waiting for his daughter to come back from buying a soda. A few minutes later, 18-year-old Carly Hooper joined her father with a drink at hand.

“This is not my first rally,” said

The11 Pan American interns’ Page - Holiday gift guide premiere article

Hooper, who is home-schooled by her father in Edinburg. “My first one was last year. I’m here to show support and say we are tired of the tyrannical government and economic downfall.”

A few moments later, the Association opened its rally with Sergio Sanchez, a broadcast personality from KURV-AM 710 radio, who introduced Evelyn Garza to sing the national anthem, “The Star-Spangled Banner.” Soon, most of the crowd of about 150 began to sing along with their tiny or huge U.S. flags flapping against the wind.

Although many guest speakers such as politician Javier Villalobos were unable to attend, there was Soraya Zamora, a former Venezuelan citizen and now, U.S. citizen.

Zamora, who came to the country in November 1979, spoke about Hugo Chavez, whose name was booed by the crowd. She said the authoritarian’s original platform to win the people over in Venezuela was based on hope and change.

“Doesn’t that sound familiar?” she asked the crowd, which responded

Wendy Wellswith wins UTPA Page 14 - Q&A volleyball player Rebecca Toddy indoor track & field MVP

Story: University Scholars weather changes

SEE PARTY || PAGE 7

April 29, 2010

Commentary

Editor’s last words: procrastination, masturbation and graduation Andrielle Figueroa ARTS & LIFE EDITOR “Procrastination is like masturbation. At first it feels good, but in the end you’re only screwing yourself.” - Anonymous author There is a lot of truth to this first sentence; procrastination is a well known subject to most students on this campus. When you are up late playing Farmville rather then working on homework, shooting pool at Fast Eddie’s, or even cleaning your room just to not have to crack open a book, you are best buddies with procrastination.

It is already the end of the semester and times are getting tough, especially for those who are just a few days shy of graduating. As one of these seniors, I am guilty of doing all of the above.

Focusing comes as easily to me as it does to a two-year-old, so to make me study for exams, finals and presentations? You may as well feed me Gerber and check if I went poo poo.

I wasn’t always like this, and I am sure you weren’t lazy in the old days either. Let’s take a look at the education timeline. First off, most of us have been in school since pre-

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Illustrated Opinion

kinder and I wasn’t cool enough to take breaks in between schools. So I have been in school for 19 years.

Wow, I just shocked myself…really?

Studying used to be fun, sort of.

In elementary and middle school they would give out bikes, money, candy and all sorts of stuff for TAAS testing and Accelerated Reader points.

By the time you get to college, though, there is finally freedom …but you are no longer pushed to succeed.

You have to want it, otherwise why pay thousands of dollars for a wasted education?

Unfortunately it has gotten to the point where graduation is in two weeks and I have lost interest in everything school-related, except for Karate class (I love karate). It isn’t the professors’ fault or the content, because honestly all the information is extremely interesting.

I’ve just lost it, working two jobs and going to school while juggling a decent of social life is hard. So if you are battling the disease of procrastinitis, don’t worry: you are not alone.

The best thing to do is find ways that effectively help you work. Don’t do your work around distractions, set realistic goals and try to follow through. This Gerber baby is walking for graduation no matter what it takes.

Anthony Salinas / The Pan American

April 29, 2010

Vol 66, No. 27

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

EDITOR IN CHIEF Kristen Cabrera / kristenmichellecabrera@yahoo.com NEWS EDITOR Roxann Garcia/ nevaeh09@msn.com ONLINE EDITOR Kristen Cabrera / kristenmichellecabrera@yahoo.com ARTS AND LIFE EDITOR Andrielle Figueroa / j27ig@yahoo.com

**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.

SPORTS EDITOR Sara Hernandez/ sarahdzm@hotmail.com

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR Alma Hernandez / alma.e.hdz@gmail.com

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.

SENIOR DESIGNER Roy Bazan / rbazanzz@utpa.edu DESIGNERS Jennifer Tate / jmtate88@gmail.com Alexis Carranza / alexis091@aol.com 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

Note for the Reader

New features for The Pan American readers As the semester comes to a close, The Pan American wraps up another period of hard work and transition in fulfilling its duties as conduit of news and information for the university community.

New leadership has taken hold in the past few weeks, and a number of innovations are on tap for the summer. The newspaper will produce

four issues in the summer, helped in large part by the latest crop of high school and junior high interns, who will assist in production between semesters as Student Publications continues its outreach and recruiting efforts in the Valley K-12 realm.

In our Arts and Life section this week, material created by the intern group is featured, and we expect our

New Pan American editor in chief Kristen Cabrera (left) and Lisa Cantu, editor in chief of the La Joya H.S. paper and high school intern.

youngsters to have a huge impact on the paper and Web site in the coming months. They are the future.

The web site will keep the daily flow of news, sports, and entertainment going during the summer, with more Spanish-language videos planned. There will also be a pilot program administered from June to August that will experiment with a bilingual format, taking note of the vast number of students, faculty, and staff who speak both languages.

Another special feature for the summer months is a return of the showcase of art, poetry, and photography from the university community beyond that produced by budding professionals working for Student Publications.

We encourage people to submit their original work in this area; submissions will be published in the paper editions and online.

As always, the newspaper staff appreciates the steady readership of the university community, encourages feedback and suggestions from all quarters, and advises readers to be looking forward to a comprehensive Readership Survey to be circulated at the beginning of the fall semester.

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April 29, 2010

Mexico Study Abroad courses remain in flux

By Erin Menendez The Pan American

As summer school approaches, dozens of students prepare to study abroad in Guanajuato and San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. The Summer I trips are scheduled to take place from early June through mid-July.

But given the current state of affairs south of the border, many trips might be in jeopardy. The Texas Department of Safety recently warned against travel into Mexican border cities in March, advising their safety could not be

guaranteed. The U.S. State Department has issued similar reports.

After a series of such warnings and news of several kidnappings of Americans, the University of TexasAustin recalled all faculty, staff, and students studying in Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo Leon, Sonora, Tamaulipas, Baja California, and Durango. The university is considering suspending travel to any location with a U.S. Department of State travel warning.

Locally, the situation is under review and many students are concerned.

Roman Garcia, a Mexican citizen,

expresses concern about escalating violence and dangers in Mexico.

“This is not the right moment for Study Abroad in Mexico,” Garcia said, originally from Reynosa, Tamaulipas, and is an electrical engineering sophomore at UTPA. “My parents are in Reynosa and I have family in Monterrey and I hear stories about people getting killed. I can say travel into Mexico is not a good idea right because the mafia is getting involved.”

Still, Garcia suggested the ongoing cartel wars that have killed 22,000 people in Mexico since 2006 will

eventually simmer down.

“But this is not going to be forever,” he said. “Studying in Mexico is a good idea especially for people in the Valley in order to get to know their neighbor.”

On the other hand, Daniel Cuevas, felt the option to travel into Mexico should be left to the student’s discretion.

“Violence is only in certain areas and I don’t think students should be afraid to go into big cities,” said Cuevas, a senior broadcast journalism major at UTPA. “The north and south border regions should be avoided. Otherwise, I wouldn’t discourage students to study in Mexico. The campus

should provide information about the dangers and students should be allowed to decide to leave the country or not.”

According to Cuevas, students who decide to venture into Mexico should avoid traveling by car or bus because the roads are sometimes blocked by cartels; he said that travel by air is considered safer.

To protect students, the UT System has ordered each campus to review Study Abroad programs in an effort to avoid putting students in unnecessary danger.

For more information, contact the UTPA Office of International Programs at (956) 381-3572.

UTPA ROTC program celebrates 30 years of producing officers

By Kristen Cabrera The Pan American

Alma E. Hernandez/THE PAN AMERICAN

CELEBRATIN’ - Cadet Izalia Sanchez (left), Cadet Sgt. Adrian Guerra II and Cadet Major Imelda Rodriguez mingle at the Bronc Battalion ROTC 30th anniversary party Friday.

UTPA’s Bronc Battalion ROTC program celebrated its 30th anniversary with a party in the ballroom last week. On hand were some new faces and some familiar ones. Lieutenant Colonel Maricela Alvarado, once a cadet with the program from 1985 to 1987, came back to her alma mater in June 2009 to be its director.

“I wanted to come back and make a difference,” Alvarado said. “I felt that the Rio Grande Valley really had a lot of students that could be great officers and I wanted to help in recruiting those students. It has been a great opportunity for me and I wanted to show other students that this can be a great opportunity and a great learning experience to build your character and leadership qualities.”

The program first came into existence in 1980

as an extension center of Texas A&I in Kingsville, now part of the Texas A&M System. To date the ROTC has been responsible for commissioning 218 lieutenants since the first in 1982. Currently the program in conjunction with The University of Texas-Brownsville has 64 cadets, but the road to 30 years of effort has sometimes been bumpy.

“There were many instances when our program was close to being closed,” Alvarado said. “In the early ‘90s, late ‘80s we weren’t commissioning enough officers and LTS. But over the years we have improved, we’ve met our mission numbers and so we are still in existence.”

The commissioning of an officer means that when a student in the program goes through training and graduates from the university, they receive a ranking of Second lieutenant in the U.S. Army. The interest areas students SEE ROTC || PAGE 7 bring to the program are

MAS program, club rally support for increased funding

By Pamela Morales The Pan American

Despite budget cuts throughout campus, a club is seeking student support to increase funding for an academic program of study that is not part of the university’s line-item budget list. The Mexican-American Studies Club recently created a petition that calls for a thousand signatures to make the president of UTPA aware of student concerns.

The Mexican-American Studies program has received some financial support from the history/philosophy department, its home base, but representatives say they need more money to survive. Comparatively low numbers of students involved in the program could be at the root of its struggle to find money to advertise the classes and attract more interest.

Representatives of the group have formed a task force to investigate ways to augment revenues, stressing that the classes offered within the program are of great cultural value to students. Administrative officials close to the situation sympathize with the club and its degree plans, but are looking at the situation from a purely financial perspective.

Michael Faubion, chair of the

history/philosophy department, explained that the university is in a difficult financial period because of budget cuts, so all departments will be affected; he suggested that money that was there before may not be there anymore. Faubion notes the department will try and help MAS reach its goal and also offered some good for thought.

“Certificate fees are a possible way of raising revenue,” he said, mentioning an idea hat has become increasingly popular these days.

“Doing that means charging a little more to a student getting a certificate, but that money will not go into a general funding. It will only be for MAS. So in other words, it’s paid for by MAS students but only goes to MAS students. It won’t end up anywhere else. So for now probably raising revenue is probably the best way to go.”

Meanwhile, Glenn Martinez, chair of modern languages and literature and professor in several Spanish classes, said that MAS is under the department of history and philosophy. Therefore it is not a lineitem in the budget but that doesn’t necessarily mean it is not being funded by the university.

“In terms of the money that is available to them to publicize their

program,” he said. “I don’t see how it’s any different than anything else.

In fact, they probably have one of the nicest brochures in the college.

It’s pretty nice and they have a nice Web site.”

Meanwhile, supporters of the Mexican-American Studies major insist that the classes offered therein have a value that should not be overlooked.

“It should concern us,” said Terry Hernandez, co-chair of the MAS club. “Even if students aren’t of Mexican-American heritage, or any kind of Hispanic descent.

It’s such a huge part of our culture so it should be a huge part of our education because it’s as important as say, philosophy or learning about Shakespeare.”

WHAT’S AT STAKE The curriculum currently offers major, minor and graduate certificates for all students. Mexican-American classes range from the study of art to its people. Learning the language is also required but it is not enforced to pursue advanced Spanish-learning classes. Before its revision in 2009, more classes were required to be taken than that of students seeking engineering degrees. The curriculum was revised in accordance with the

new degree hours mandated by the state so students seeking a major will complete a total of 121 hours, 51 hours must be advanced.

The troubles with finances have led to the establishment of a Mexican-American Studies Task Force, composed of assistant professors throughout the College

of Arts and Humanities, including Sonia Hernandez, Emmy Perez, Edna Ochoa, Petra Guerra, Stephanie Alvarez, and Marci McMahon. The latter weighed in on the matter.

“We believe and believe it firmly,” said McMahon, who joined UTPA and the task force two years

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MEXICAN-AMERICAN STUDIES LOGO EXHIBIT

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MAS Committee in collaboration with Dr. Leila Hernandez’s design class.

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Competition for a new logo

Library 1st Floor Gallery

April 29 from 6 to 9 p.m.

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April 29, 2010

NEWS

FUTURE

continued from Page 1 required to teach. Rodriguez says increasing enrollment and a need for more faculty teaching, among other things, prompted the review.

According to Human Resources, 659 full-time faculty members and 195 temporary were employed from 2008 through 2009. Current data was not immediately available. Total enrollment for fall 2008 was 17,534 and 18,337 for fall 2009.

“There may be faculty, and or departments, and or deans who believe that there needs to be more productivity in terms of research, and with a 3/3 teaching load some faculty have been more productive, others have not, even with the reduced workload,” Rodriguez said.

According to a December 2009 memo sent by former Provost Dr. Paul Sale to faculty, from academic year 2006-07 through 2008-09, refereed publications increased by more than 33 percent, and approximately 33 percent more external grants proposals were submitted.

“We need to take a look at it again,” Rodriguez said about the workload. “That doesn’t mean that we’re going to change it necessarily, but we need to revisit it. We need to look at, ‘is this giving us the most for what we’re investing in it?’

THEREIN LIES THE RUB According to Rodriguez, who has been with the university for 35 years, faculty members are usually hired as assistant professors under a probationary system. Those who

seek tenure, or a permanent position intent on producing research will with the university, are given a 5-to- leave, but the vast majority will stay.

6-year probation period in which Many long-time professors who they must prove themselves worthy came to UTPA when it was strictly of indefinite employment. To gain a teaching university with research tenure and promotion from assistant receiving less attention may find that to associate professor, they must meet their original situations have been recertain criteria established by each instituted.

Dr. Irmo Marini, professor and college, which are heavily influenced by professional accomplishments in coordinator in the department of rehabilitation, says that if he were terms of research. required to teach S o m e more classes he professors, “ We need to take a look would not be however, see a happy about it, possible increase at it again. That doesnʼt but wouldn’t in the teaching load leave. He currently as an obstruction mean that weʼre going teaches two to tenure and to change it necessarily, graduate courses, promotion. but is vigorously “It’s provoked but we need to revisit p r o d u c i n g a lot of frustration research. and fear in faculty it. ” “The workload about what’s Ana Maria Rodriguez issue doesn’t going on. If you’re Interim provost/VP bother me,” he not producing said. “If I had to research, you will go to three classes not get tenure” said an assistant professor who is on from two, it would probably affect tenure-track and wished to remain the number of publications I have anonymous for fear of ramifications. each year. I typically average about She was hired in 2005 under a 3/3 four a year not including books, but I teaching load, and doesn’t know if still would publish a minimum of two the potential change would affect her studies a year without difficulty.”

He adds that research is what because of the terms she agreed to separates the university from a when being hired.

However, both Rodriguez and the community college. At the latter style memo state that if there is a change, of institution, faculty do not have to publish; they primarily teach. everyone would be affected.

The need for teaching faculty She speculates that if the teaching load is increased straight across however can be clearly seen in the the board, some professors who are biology department, where lecturer

Cindy Martinez-Wedig takes on more work than she would like. MartinezWedig, who has been with the university for 17 years, does not do research, and is classified as part-time faculty and part-time staff. Because she heads the Baylor Medical Program, she only has to teach half of what full-time professors are required to teach. This semester however, she chose to teach almost double the requirement because there were not enough professors to man courses in the program that students needed.

“I am all in favor of a reduced workload for those faculty who have research as the primary emphasis,” she said. “But the big problem the department runs into is there is student demand for courses and insufficient faculty members to cover all the courses that need to be taught to meet the needs of the students.”

Dr. John Abraham, tenured computer science professor, has been with the university since 1976 and has seen it go through many changes.

He remembers teaching up to 15 hours per semester when the school was strictly a teaching university and says the workload should reflect the school’s mission.

“If the mission of the institution is to teach, then we should have excellent teachers who do a lot of teaching. If our mission is research then we should have excellent researchers,” he said.

“That’s something that the university has to decide. Which direction are we going in?”

Abraham suggests having a

workload that is not too rigid, but defined by certain guidelines.

The ideal situation is a staggered approach in which teachers teach and researchers do their research. Without standards, he believes, people will abuse the system.

Faculty will have an opportunity to voice their opinions through various outlets including Faculty Senate, the College Council, and representation on the task force, which has two faculty members from each college.

Nelsen also started meeting with various colleges to address these issues more thoroughly. The first meeting was held March 4, and he expects to finish meeting with every college by the end of next month.

Rodriguez says she sees tremendous future growth for graduate programs at the university and said that for the last 20 to 30 years the university’s goal was to provide access to higher education for Hispanics in the community. She noted that the percentage of Hispanics with undergraduate degrees 25 years ago was very low compared to the national rate.

“I think we have now accomplished that goal to some extent,” she said. “But the next level of need is graduate programs. The number of people with graduate degrees in the Valley is very small.”

She says only 10 to 12 percent of Hispanics in the nation have a master’s degree, and only 2 percent holds Ph.D.’s.

See related story online

April 29, 2010

NEWS

PARTY

ROTC

continued from Page 1 with a firm “Yea!” “When I heard it two years ago from Obama,” said the first-grade teacher from Edinburg, “I thought, hey, wait a minute…he sounds just like Hugo Chavez. They ran like centrists and promised many things.”

This was also emphasized by Orlando Perez, who came to the United States from Cuba when he was 7 years old.

Perez, who now resides in Edinburg, explained how Cuba was a country where the rich and famous went to enjoy paradise in the 1940s and 1950s. He then placed a U.S. flag around his shoulder, saying, “It was a nice little island until one guy promised one funny thing: change.

Coincidence?”

Soon, Fidel Castro took Perez’ family’s possessions to share with other families. Then one day, the regime of Castro took the title of his home, gave his family one extra set of clothes, and flew them out of Cuba to Miami, Perez said.

“My family never asked for anything,” Perez recalled to the crowd. “We worked for everything we owned. Never asked for help. Why? We don’t want the government intruding. This is a free country. This flag stand for freedom.”

Paul Hunter, 46, from Mission also agrees with Perez’s view of the government taking over people’s lives.

“I’m just not happy with the direction the current government is taking,” Hunter said.

“They’re raising taxes on all of us and before passing the healthcare bill, they should have secured our borders because we are on the midst of two wars. One being the Middle East.”

Hunter, a father of two and a truck driver, hopes that his two daughters, whom he brought along, will understand and be proud to be Americans because it is a place for opportunities.

Many guests such as Mike Allen and Gary Gurwitz spoke; they are both candidates for STC Board of Trustees. Rebecca Cervera, candidate for state representative, sang “River of Jordan,” by Kelita.

“River of Jordan is the last obstacle before going to the promise land,” said the mother of four. “I’m not going to allow power and principalities take my freedom. I’ve crossed

continued from Page 3 the River of Jordan and I ain’t going back.”

MORE FESTIVITIES A small skit narrated by the MTPA’s president, Scott Carroll, was performed. It outlined the taxes imposed by the government from 1913 to 2010 and parsed the possible future. A “Not so free ride: Government wagon” was pulled by an older generation throughout the 1900s but at the end of 2010, a small boy not much older than 10 was trying to pull the wagon. This melodrama implied that “our children and our children’s children will pay for the United States’ trillion-dollar debt.”

To conclude the rally was Lawrence Gelman, an occasional guest on KURV’s radio talk show diet. Gelman said that it’s not about being a conservative or a liberal, but how rights given to the citizens of the United States by the Founding Fathers are slowly being stripped away.

“You’re in the Tea Party,” Gelman said to the crowd, “because of the dissatisfaction with the way things are and maybe ‘cause we can’t put our finger on it. We know there’s something wrong and it’s not the way it’s supposed to be.”

Gelman went on to support his ideas by recalling the famous 1803 case Marbury vs Madison that established the principle of judicial review, discussing contradictions of the U.S. Constitution such as the Commerce Clause, which gives the government the right to regulate laws of any organization from car companies to small businesses.

At the end of it all, Jude McCusker, 72, who moved to the Valley from Chicago, suggested everyone should read William F. Buckley’s classic tome, “Man and God at Yale,” which he suggested explains the way religion has been marginalized in educational institutions.

“I think every student should read that book before he or she graduates from a university,” McCusker said.

For further information on the McAllen Tea Party Association and its events, a meeting will be held April 29 at the Christian Fellowship Church, located at 2201 Trenton Road (off 29th Street in McAllen) starting at 7 p.m. Or visit www.mcallenteaparty.net.

MAS

continued from Page 3 ago. “Based on years of study, research, and teaching, our Latina/o students have the right to be academically validated and educated in terms of who and what they are and that both Latina/os and non-Latina/os must be presented with the tools to create culturallybased solutions in their professional and personal lives.”

This is also stressed by another cofounder of the MAS Club, Orquidea Morales, a graduate student seeking a master’s in interdisciplinary arts with a concentration in Spanish. Morales says that by not properly funding MAS, the university is not helping bring a sense of worth to the area or its students.

“I know not all Mexican Americans, or Latinas for that matter, are the same, but we all share a history of conquest and colonization,” Morales said. “Acknowledging this history and becoming aware of our current status as secondclass citizens can only be good. Only with this awareness can we expect to create any change, be it economic, social or political, not only at UTPA but in the Valley as whole.”

The program has deep roots in the university academic community. In 1970, a group of students visited Lino Garcia, now Emeritus professor of Spanish Literature, to ask for help in starting a program of Mexican-American courses. Garcia

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and other professors formed a committee that eventually, with the help of outside professors, created core Mexican-American courses such as history and literature; it later transformed into a major. At the time, student interest was sketchy because of the perception that such a degree would be difficult to use for getting a job after graduation. But Garcia had an idea.

“My thinking when I was on the committee,” he recalled, “was to develop a course whose content would be available to any student who wanted to take as an elective. To make people aware, not necessarily those who wanted to major or minor, just people who wanted to know about it. That was the thrust I wanted to have. I didn’t think it would ever get to the BA or master’s degree because we don’t have an interest in it for whatever reason, but we should have courses available.”

The task force agrees that the publicity campaign has done well so far, but members insist that they need more funding to keep the effort going. McMahon noted that they have taken the administrative advice to heart.

“We are supportive of Faubion’s ideas and in fact, in a recent meeting with him, these ideas came up and they are good ones,” she said. “And these are ideas we will continue to look into as we work with Interim Provost Ana Rodriguez on ways to fund MAS.”

varied, according to Alvarado.

“We have all types of student that come through our program,” she noted. “We have engineers, medical, communication and education fields.

We don’t look for a specific field, we just make sure that students graduate from college and get a degree in order for them to receive commission.”

Forrest Taylor, a 21-year-old graduating senior who will be commissioned this May, was inspired to join the ROTC program from an early age.

“When you’re a kid you always get inspired by some odd thing that happened in your life,” said the political science major. “And mine was watching those movies and seeing the glory battles and stuff.

So I thought, you know what, that looks kind of neat maybe I would like to take part in that.”

Taylor, who enlisted in the Army right out of high school and then went for his basic training, said that

being an officer had always been the plan for him.

“I made a mistake by enlisting instead of first coming here (to the ROTC) and checking with them because they do the same thing,” he admitted. “But I joined the program over here because my goal was to always be an officer if I was going to be going into the military.”

One of the good things about being in ROTC is that while in the program and in college, a soldier is undeployable, according to 25-year-old Angelica Gamez. With hundreds of thousands of U.S. troops embroiled in two foreign wars right now, that matters.

“Being in the program is a good opportunity to finish school,” said the Mercedes native. “Because I am in the National Guard and right now my unit is in Iraq. So being in the program means you are undeployable; you can finish school instead of having to leave school or leave work.”

SPEAKERS

continued from Page 1 or maybe a topic and we’ll start to see a pattern and that’s something we need to consider.”

Although the speakers will continue to be chosen by the committee, the series will now ask for survey feedback every spring semester to give students the chance to give their input for the following installment. Suggestions will then be debated according to who’s “hot” at the moment and what the series can afford. Not only that, it must also be someone who has a story to tell.

“With Lisa Ling, people were really surprised because she was so polished, she brought people to tears, it was very, very emotional and I think that’s what we’re looking for; somebody who’s going to really, really deliver,” Zambrano commented.

Zambrano asks that people take advantage of this opportunity to be inspired by keeping in mind the reason the Distinguished Speakers Series was created.

“It’s about making a very good memory of our students’ college experience,” she said.

“You’re college experience is not just a book or just in class or just in the professors, there are so many other things and people we can expose you to and this is a really great way to do it.”

The results from the survey will be discussed by the committee over the summer and be finalized by July. The next series begins in August and Zambrano said that by the time students return to school, they will see posters revealing the next featured speaker.

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10

La Joya High seniors headed for college

By Melissa Guerra & Francisco Javier Perez the pan american interns

Boy Scouts can now earn a merit badge…in gaming? Youngsters are currently able to earn a belt loop and pin that is considered equal to a merit in accomplishments.

Photos for the allegedly new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle film to be released in 2012 have leaked. The film will be liveaction. After filming, expressions will be added through CGI.

Gleeks are showing their love through TV ratings and now albums sales. Glee’s “The Power of Madonna,” an album inspired by their recent Madonna-centric episode, jumped to number one on the charts.

Jordan Goldklang is an Indiana University student who designed his own curriculum to become the nation’s only magic major. Goldklang, or the Great Jordini, was inspired by a student who majored in puzzles and later became the puzzle editor for the New York Times.

The halls are filled with anxiety.

The air is tense. The senior students at La Joya High School are extremely close to entering the realm that is the real world. Applying for college, financial aid, scholarships…all in a day’s work. Besides that fact, senior students also have tough coursework to complete i.e. Advanced Placement, and Dual-Enrollment college courses.

The fear of not being able to afford a college education is written all over these students’ faces. La Joya High School students come from one of the poorest parts of the country, so it is imperative for them to succeed and better themselves. And it is exactly what they plan to do.

I. MENTORING AND RESOURCES Counselors such as Mrs. Lorie Loya have been a great help. She among other counselors has made scholarship packets available for seniors. In August 2009 the counseling department hosted an event called Journey to College Success. It was one of many efforts made in the past year to help the kids get ready for the next step.

“It was a very helpful event to ensure that all students had an opportunity to apply to universities; we were able to register over 90 percent of senior students for college,” Loya said, adding that at the event, they encouraged each student participating to apply at both South Texas College and The University of Texas at Pan-American.

The counselors also hosted a College Awareness Campaign to encourage all Coyotes to plan for college before Dec. 1, 2009. For its three high schools, La Joya ISD also put on various financial aid fairs, with Jan. 19, 2010 as the designated night for LJHS. There were two presentations available for parents, in English and Spanish. Later in the spring the school initiated the first Journey to College Success FAFSA Application Drive.

The effort that both La Joya educators and faculty have shown to students has been tremendous. For example, during TAKS testing for underclassmen, senior students were taken to UTPA for an educational tour. The high school also has a “Go Center,” at which students have resources available to work on college applications and apply for scholarships. Fernando Salinas manages and operates the facility. He is wholeheartedly committed to helping students succeed, saying that, “It’s not a job for me, it’s something that I do.”

CLASSROOM EFFORTS La Joya High takes great pride in its commitment to excellence. The school offers Dual-Enrollment classes in partnership with South Texas College that are free of charge to students. There are also Advanced Placement courses such as: Environmental Science, Biology, Physics, Calculus, Statistics, Government, English, and Literature.

These programs are designed to introduce high school students to college-level work, and many of them end up entering the university world with up to 25 or 30 college credit hours already under their belt.

In addition, Todd Steckler, head of the mathematics department, initiated a process concerning adding a Calculus 3 course to his lesson plan. After much struggle, he was able to do this and notes that the addition has been a success.

“Senior students are doing an excellent job, they are getting a head start by receiving college hours while enrolled in high school,” he stressed.

Along with these programs, there are a number of other ones in play at La Joya High. Avid, GEAR UP and the Migrant organization also help students excel. Oralia Gonzalez is the Migrant strategist for LJHS and as such oversees the progress of seniors students.

Through the College Assistance Migrant Program, also known as CAMP, senior students have been able to attend universities such as St. Edwards and Michigan State; Gonzalez, who reported that approximately 100 alums are are currently attending Michigan State, said that without CAMP, going far away to a Big 10 school would not have been an option for migrant students.

SOLID LEADERSHIP LJHS is under the administration of Melinda Flores, a 1989 graduate of the school who notes that back then instructors taught her the required life skills to succeed in life. After graduating, she attended The University of Texas at Austin, earning a degree in history. In 1997 she became a history teacher for LJHS. “I had to come back to my roots,” she said.

In the process of teaching, Flores also earned a master’s degree, and in 2009-10 the La Joya ISD hired her as interim principal. She became the official principal in January 2010.

“I am very fortunate to have wonderful staff and students,” Flores beamed.

Her most important advice to students is for them to become readers.

She stresses that “reading is the key to success,” and models that behavior herself. Flores is currently working on her doctoral degree at UTPA. Adding to the already rich variety of student prep classes at the school, Flores has begun to offer the following additions: An ACT prep class was added to the curriculum. In addition, the school also hosts ACT and SAT testing on Saturdays. As of this year the Accuplacer test is now available each week for students to take, along with the Texas Higher Education Assessment, also known as the THEA exam.

Daniel Flores/The Pan American College Bound - Francisco Javier Perez and Melissa Guerra of La Joya High School are now working with The Pan American.

Perpetual educational achievement is inevitable for graduating senior students of this campus, if they take advantage of all the available resources.

The halls are filled with super achievers who have defied the odds to move closer to their goals.

II. PERSONAL TALES BUILDING FAITH One of the most faithfully committed senior students at LJHS is Melina Mendoza, who is currently volunteering to help build a new assembly hall for her church, The Assembly Hall of Jehovah Witnesses in La Feria. She has been committed to the project since May 2009. Last summer she participated practically every day, but since her senior year began she’s had to tone it down to work on weekends. Her job at the construction site is to build cabinets, library shelves, and help with any project involving woodwork.

Mendoza calls what she does “actual work” and said that her main reason for volunteering was because “it is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

The assembly hall will be a place for learning about religion as well as a sanctuary for people living in the Rio Grande Valley that have nowhere to go during hurricane season. Mendoza’s plan for the future includes becoming a pharmacy technician.

LADY COYOTE STAR Sports is written all over senior Clarisa Navarro’s face. The All-Valley player feels excited that this is her senior year as the playoffs began recently.

But looking ahead, she admits to being heartbroken about leaving her father PERSPECTIVE GRADUATING SENIOR STUDENTS: 500

and the Rio Grande Valley. She plans to attend a junior college in Kansas for a year, then transfer to The University of Arkansas to play softball. Navarro had eight different scholarship offers but ultimately chose Arkansas because she thought it offered her a “good deal.”

She plans to major in criminal justice and minor in English and future plans on the field include vying for a spot on the U.S Olympic Team, playing shortstop for the Razorbacks, and becoming a role model for students back at LJHS. LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION Crystal Villarreal is a senior student at LJHS and an actress. She notes she thought senior year “was never going to happen to me. It’s overwhelming, Iam worried about financial aid, she said.

Still, she is dedicated to completing scholarship applications, because she knows she will not receive as much governmental aid as other students due to the fact that both her parents are educated. Villarreal, the president of the LJHS Academy Coyote Theater admits that fear is something also present in her chosen area.

“It scares me, every time I go onstage, I work with the fear,” she says about acting. Villarreal is also a member of UIL and plans to enroll at Stephen F. Austin University in the fall to study communication or fine arts.

MAKING HIS WAY Leonardo Silva is the normal LJHS senior. He is stressed about college applications, and has college on his mind constantly. During high school,

See la hoya || Page 11

SENIOR STUDENTS WHO HAVE APPLIED FOR UTPA: APPROX 500

SENIOR CLASS FOR 2010: APPROX. 633

SENIOR STUDENTS WHO ARE IN THE TOP 10 PERCENT: 63

DIPLOMAS ORDERED FOR SENIORS: APPROX. 500

MALE TO FEMALE RATIO OF GRADUATED 48 TO 52

April 29, 2010

LA JOYA

continued from Page 10 Silva has been intermittently active, as secretary for the Digital Graphics Club, making him an interesting student. During his senior year, Silva applied himself in Dual Enrollment English IV, AP Spanish, and Pre-Calculus and the diligence paid off: his future education at The University of Texas at San Antonio is covered by financial aid; he plans to major in business.

ARTS AND LIFE MUSIC MAKER Ricardo Garza Jr. is the epitome of a true vocalist. He is currently in the Chorus Club at LJHS, headed by Eva Guerra. He plans to attend the University of TexasPan American and focus on music and vocal performance.

He chose UTPA because it is a “great school,” and has “great teachers.” Garza is nervous and excited as his senior year ends, and he’s mostly concerned about having enough selfdiscipline in college to avoid making too many mistakes.

Pat & Rowley Illustrated by Anthony Salinas the pan american

So far so good in that area, as he has received a full ride from UTPA, with aid from the Texas and Pell grants. His later plans include being able to teach music as chorus director, and eventually starting a barbershop choir.

THE BRAIN The senior class valedictorian for LJHS is Carylssa Villarreal, who is soon to leave the Valley to attend Rice University in Houston, with a major in neuroscience and Spanish. Villarreal is excited about her senior year, though she says that leaving

Page 11 high school gives her a “bittersweet” feeling. She received a full ride to Rice.

“I am very grateful for financial aid and scholarships,” said Villarreal, who plans on attending medical school, and coming back to the RGV to begin her practice in an area that is desperate for medical professionals.

Villarreal says she will always be a “Coyote for life.”

THE SUM It is apparent that at La Joya High School, the combination of

first-rate academic resources and motivated students willing to take advantage of them has spelled a banner year for the senior class.

From the classroom to extracurricular activities, students get a boost from their mentors and then take that momentum and run with it.

As they prepare to enter the world of higher education, a large number of Coyotes can say they got the most out of their high school experience, at a school that has prepped them well for future achievement.

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ARTS & LIFE

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13

April 29, 2010

Reyna, Broncs line up conference victory

By Sara Hernandez and Benny Salinas The Pan American

The America Sky Conference Tournament hosted by the University of Texas-Pan American was a

success for the Broncs. The men’s team finished first Tuesday with a score of 917.

Freshman Brandon Reyna stayed in first place throughout the two-day competition and won the conference title with rounds of 64, 74 and 75.

Daniel Flores/The Pan American

on the edge - Freshman Brandon Reyna from Sharyland obtained a first-place finish at the America Sky Conference Tourney Tuesday.

Senior Armen Kirakossian finished in third with 223 strokes.

“He is a very confident guy,” head coach Santiago De Larrea said about Reyna. “He knows he still has to reach his full potential and had worked a lot in the last couple of weeks to feel more comfortable and things started coming together for him and he’s now more confident.”

Although according to De Larrea, the Mission native struggled to gain confidence in the first stages of the season, it seems like things worked out for Reyna when they mattered the most.

“It feels great,” Reyna said. “I’ve been expecting to do well all year and it finally came together, I felt very comfortable.”

The Broncs now prepare for the last event of the season, the National Minority Collegiate Championship that will take place May 7 in Port St. Lucie, Fla. LADY BRONCS Despite being unable to repeat last year’s first-place finish, the Lady Broncs took away a satisfying second at the second annual Great West Conference tournament on Tuesday, held in Edinburg at Los Lagos.

“I’m very proud of my team,” said Ofelia Lopez, director of men’s and women’s golf. “We had a great tournament and I’m thankful to everyone involved. Even though we didn’t get the first-place finish, I still look at them as winners.”

The Lady Broncs finished the tournament at 995, 22 strokes ahead of Utah Valley at 1017. UTPA finished its first day of competition only nine strokes behind HBU.

Given their prior comeback at last year’s GWC tournament where they got first place, victory was not out of reach. However, HBU continued pulling ahead during the second day, winning the tournament with a final count of 974.

“Right now we’re still a young team,” Lopez explained. “We’re still learning.

But we gave it a good run this year.”

After the first day and two rounds of play, junior Haley Hocott was the overall leader at 157. Behind her was sophomore Sarah Kothny at 163. Four locals finished in the top ten in the first day, with junior Melinda Uriegas and sophomore Majo Camey rounding out the list. Hocott finished the final round in second place, three strokes behind HBU’s Gaia Olcese. Uriegas was fifth at 248 and behind her was Kothny with a 251 seventh-place finish.

Despite the team being well accustomed to the Los Lagos course, the advantage did not come without setbacks.

“Because we play this course so much, it’s really easy for us to overthink things,” Lopez said. “It gives the girls nerves because they’re trying to do really well because of the advantage.

That sort of works against us.”

Now the Lady Broncs will head to Port St. Lucie, Fla., for the 24th Annual PGA National Minority Collegiate Golf Championship held May 7-9, an event they won last year.

The Lady Broncs are already looking forward to next year, when all five current players will be returning for another season.

“We’ve got a few new girls coming in next year,” Lopez said. “We’re going to be a younger team. We’ve got a lot to look forward to. We’re excited.”

Conference Award Winners: Great West Conference

First Team All- Conference Haley Hocott Melinda Uriegas

Second Team Sarah Kothny America Sky Conference

First Team All-Conference Brandon Reyna Armen Kirakossian

9

Mohinta bids farewell to Bronc tennis at SCT

By Sara Hernandez The Pan American

Hurricane Katrina was a tragedy that affected the life of millions of people. But for Nirvick Mohinta, this catastrophe in 2006 led him to the University of Texas-Pan American.

Four years later, the senior played his last match as part of the UTPA men’s tennis team last weekend at the Southland Conference Tournament, where the Broncs lost against UT-Arlington in the semi-finals.

Mohinta was recruited by the University of New Orleans in 2005, which he described as a tough transition; but it got even worse when Katrina hit the coast of Louisiana two weeks after his arrival from India.

“I had to call the cops on the morning of the hurricane and they came and picked me up,” said Mohinta, who

was born in Calcutta, India. “I was in a church for four days with the Red Cross with no food or water, sleeping on the floor with no electricity and no nothing, with other students who didn’t have a place to go.”

Once he was able to move out of the area of disaster, Mohinta stayed in Tennessee for a few months with a friend. During that time, he took classes at Tasculum College before going back to New Orleans. In order to further his education in a more prosperous place, Mohinta applied to several universities and that’s when former head coach Rob Hubbard invited him to become part of UTPA’s tennis program in the spring of 2007.

“I was very sad because everything got pushed away and my tennis program in New Orleans got cancelled,” he said. “After a few months I was okay, I started making friends and the

people in the team have always been there ever since.”

Now that his collegiate career is over, following the journey from India to New Orleans and then to Edinburg, Mohinta looks back to his four years in the Valley as a good experience.

Besides bringing him back to tennis, it gave him the opportunity to meet teammates who became a pillar of his well-being for the past four years.

“It’s happy and sad,” he said of wrapping it up. “Happy because I got to be part of this team and made very good friends over the years, and sad because it has to come to an end.”

One of his biggest supports has been doubles partner Aswin Vijayaragavan, also an India native.

Vijayaragavan came to UTPA in the spring of 2008, a year after Mohinta, and the two countrymen have built a

bond that goes beyond the tennis court.

Mohinta considers Vijayaragavan one of his best friends in the Valley.

The connection showed when Mohinta and Vijayaragavan were announced as members of the AllSouthland Conference First Team last week. The duet won all its matches in conference play and finished with a 13-5 record in 2010.

“Nirvick and I had a lot of fun playing doubles together; I felt like I was playing with my bigger brother,” Vijayaragavan said. “Yes we won, but the main thing is that we had fun.”

SCT ACTION Last weekend the men’s tennis team headed to Corpus Christi for the conference tournament. Although they were not able to win the event as they planned, the Broncs put on a good show.

UTPA beat Lamar 4-1 on the first round of the tourney and came out the following day looking for revenge against UT-Arlington, a team it has lost to April 18. Unfortunately for the Broncs, the duel came down to Vijayaragavan’s match against Dmitri Minkin. Vijayaragavan, number one player of the team, lost the game in the third set, which took UTPA out of the championship.

“It’s disappointing to lose there, since we could’ve made the finals,” Vijayaragavan said. “The most disappointing thing is that we couldn’t win it in Brett (Bernstein)’s and Nirvick’s senior year.”

As the team finished the spring season 8-5, Mohinta seemed to be at peace with the way things turned out.

“We fought really hard; I’m really proud of the way we played, everybody stepped up,” he said. “You win some and you lose some.”

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April 29, 2010

Sports

UTPA student lifts up world-champ ambitions good in competition so it made me want to do the same,” said the younger sister.

From there, as the sisters were the only two female power-lifters and the coach focused mainly on the boys, Melissa took her under her wing and taught what she had learned by practicing and attending competitions.

At the end of her sophomore Tammy Ayala/The Pan American year, Jesse Vilheavy duty - Stephanie KIng started power-lifting when she was a freshman of Hidalgo larreal became High School; she won the National Collegiate Powerlifting Championship last week. the power lifting lifting National Collegiate Championcoach at HidalBy Sara Hernandez ship in Orlando last week. There, she go and has been King’s trainer ever The Pan American squatted 442 pounds, bench-pressed since, along with Robert Jackson, At first sight, Stephanie King seems 249 pounds and dead-lifted 435. who guides her at Extreme Fitness to be a regular student at the University Power-lifting includes these three Gym in McAllen. of Texas-Pan American. The junior ob- events, in which each competitor is alWhen asked what her motivation tained her associates degree in criminal lowed four attempts per event. King’s has been throughout the six years she’s justice at South Texas College last May history with the sport dates back to been practicing this sport, King says and is now pursuing a bachelor’s de- her freshman year at Hidalgo High that the key to success is setting hergree in the same major at UTPA. School, where her sister Melissa, then self benchmarks that keep her focused She is friendly looking, but the pow- a senior, had practiced the sport since on accomplishing them. erfully built 5-foot-1-inch 20-year-old her sophomore year.

“I set a lot of goals and that really from Hidalgo placed first at the Power“She started out and she did very does motivate me,” she said. “First it

was to win state (in high school)…that keeps me motivated because I stay focused on that goal.”

As a 2007 senior in high school, King broke a state record that still stands in the squat, lifting 405 pounds.

That year, the Hidalgo native set herself an even higher goal – she said she would win a world championship.

And she’s not far from accomplishing it. Last year, King attended the Junior World Championships at Ribeira Porto, Brazil where she earned second overall place overall, winning the dead lift competition with a 407-pound heft.

“It was amazing, it was a different experience, you get to compete against people from all over the world,” she said. “I feel like I already accomplished some of my goal... but I really believe my goal was an overall medal and I want that.”

BREAKING SCHEMES Although power-lifting is not a typical activity for females, King said that knowing that many people didn’t believe that she could or should go forward with the sport motivated her further.

“I see myself as somewhat of a feminist and that’s part what keeps me going. It honestly makes me happy to be someone that stands out to do something different and doesn’t just stick with the norm,” she explained.

“Even knowing that I can prove peo-

ple wrong motivates me.”

For this reason, King said that if a woman decides to go beyond the standard and practice a “male sport” like power-lifting, she should go ahead and give it a try, keeping in mind that although the challenges may be tough, rewards at the end are intangible.

“If they want that type of a sport, go for it,” she said. “It’s difficult, but I think it’s rewarding in the end. It’s an amazing experience.”

King added that the situation is somewhat different now that more girls are deciding to break gender barriers and try different sports. In addition, she said that it’s important to focus on the people, like her family, who do support her and encourage her to strive for higher goals.

King mentioned that she plans to continue practicing power lifting for eight to 10 years, and at some point, she may consider joining the military.

Once she leaves her athletic career behind, she said she’ll be proud of never quitting the sport that she loves despite challenges encountered along the way.

“I’m gonna be very proud and very happy that I stuck with it even though it’s been a long, hard road,” she concluded. “Happy that I stayed motivated, that I stuck to my goals and I did what I wanted. I didn’t let it go. I didn’t get my dream go.”

April 29, 2010

15

Get better, lead others, make the mark After undergoing recovery from several injuries, Wendy Wells returned to the UTPA track and field team hoping to qualify to regionals in her last season as a Lady Bronc.

“I’m focused on doing my best and taking all my abilities and I try to excel as much as I can and I take it as it comes,” Wells said. “I try to keep going for more.”

Alma E. Hernandez/THE PAN AMERICAN

ONE LAST CHANCE - Weslaco native Wendy Wells was recognized as the school’s indoor track and field Most Valuable Player April 19. She is now looking to qualify to the NCAA regionals in May.

By Sara Hernandez The Pan American Fighting through injuries and determination has enabled one athlete to stand out from all the rest.

Wendy Wells, a senior javelin thrower for The University of Texas Pan American women’s track and field team, has toughed it out against the odds, fighting through a serious injury to return to the team after more than three years away from the sport.

Refusing to let setbacks sideline her for good, Wells came back in 2010, and won first place at the team’s latest meet in Houston and could manage to qualify for the NCAA Regionals in the coming weeks. Wells will not know if she qualified for the event until May 18. It’s been a super season of redemption, but it almost didn’t happen at all.

Since she was 10 Wells has been involved in track, as in elementary school she learned that she could run more swiftly than most of her peers.

“I was the fastest kid in school and I had fun beating everybody at races and stealing bases in little league,” said Wells, a Weslaco High School graduate.

At age 12, she joined the Junior Olympics and continued track in high school along with six other sports including basketball, soccer, and softball. Wells graduated with 15

varsity letters for the Panthers and was high-point scorer at the District 32-5A track meet as a senior.

She began throwing the javelin her freshman year of college, discovering natural ability she never knew she had.

“Ricky Vaughn is the one that recruited me and told me that I had talent,” she said, of the former track coach now in administration. “He taught me how to do javelin. He just knew that I was going to do well. Even when I was hurt he still had confidence that I would work to come back.”

During her first meet as part of UTPA’s women’s track and field team, Wells broke the school record and qualified for the Regionals.

She then went onto the USA Junior Championships and placed ninth.

But after coming back from Christmas break that year, she dropped her arm on a throw and tore a ligament in her right elbow.

“I had to go to rehab and try to get treatment on it instead of surgery but I eventually went ahead and did the surgery which caused me to be out for 18 months,” Wells said.

If it wasn’t one injury, it was another. Prior to the elbow problem, Wells had a motorbike accident in high school in which she tore the back of her heel. It required surgery and left her on crutches for weeks and facing much rehabilitation. Wells said that after her elbow felt like it was back to normal, her heel would give her

problems, but throughout all the pain and frustration of injuries, she always found a way to continue throwing.

“The rehab process felt long at the time,” she recalled. “For my elbow, I had to be very patient because I wanted to be strong. My foot acted up when I was done with the elbow injury. It was the hardest part because the pain was really strong and I felt like the doctors couldn’t help me. No matter what I did I still had pain but I pulled out all the energy I had mentally in order to focus on getting better and making it out on the field again.”

The problems she’s had take a while to recount.

“I also have bicep tendinitis in my shoulder but I’m still able to throw,” she said. “It’s caused me to focus on my form. If I get too far out of my form I could definitely hurt myself.”

Injuries have not kept her from excelling. Throughout Wells’ career, she has won numerous awards and recognitions. She was named Newcomer of the Year in her first year of college. In 2006, she was selected for the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Academic All-American team.

Despite the long layoff, Wells’ penchant for success has been renewed, as she was recently named Most Valuable Player for outdoor track and field at last Monday’s athletic banquet.

of the organization have lifted up not only her but others in the organization, helping them stay focused and not let worries get the best of them.

After college, Wells plans to attend the University of Florida to pursue a master’s degree in tourism and recreation.

“I’ve learned a lot about myself through my time here,” she said. “We have a lot of international students and I’ve gotten to know some from Mexico and France so with that, I want to learn Spanish and French. I also love to travel. I might even continue track when I’m there.”

GIVING BACK Wells not only focuses on her own training, but on the training of her teammates. As of now, she is assisting Abigail Garza of Edinburg on throwing the javelin.

“I’ve coached a few people through my time here and it helps you think about throwing in a different way because you think about how to break it down,” Wells explained. “I encourage them like the coaches have LATEST TRACK RESULTS encouraged me. They’ve told me that I Last weekend the men’s and can do it and it’s allowed me to believe women’s track and field teams traveled that I can. If you see something in an to Houston on April 24 to compete athlete that is good you just work off in the J. Fred Duckett Rice Twilight of their energy.” hosted by Rice University.

Coach Dave Hartman has seen Wells claimed first for UTPA in how well she’s performed during the javelin with a personal beat of 147 competition during her comeback feet, 6 inches. year, and believes strongly that she is a “When I go into a competition, I major contributor to the team. want to at least improve during every “Since I’ve been here, Wendy has competition by at least one meter. My been a tremendous student athlete,” goal for this year is to qualify for the Hartman said. “It’s been fun to watch national meet,” Wells said.

Wendy progress within the last year Placing in the women’s 800-meter from someone who thought she Run was Mekka Edwards-White who would never throw again to probably grabbed 12th place with 2:16.48. qualifying for the NCAA Regional Junior Diana Galloso hit a new Championships in Austin next week. personal best of 4:48.26 for 17th She works well place in the with the team and 1,500-meter “ Iʼve had to learn to have Run. In the is also doing very well with helping hurdles, Sylvia Abby train for her the right perspective all the A l b o n i g a competition.” finished in Aside from time ... I just focus on what the top 10 in track and field, seventh place in Wells is majoring Iʼm capable of doing and the 400-meter in kinesiology and hurdles, running is hopeful that taking all that I have and try 1:03.71. she will graduate For the in the summer of to make the best of it” women’s high 2010. But with all jump, Melinda her training and Wendy Wells S a r i m i e n t o dedication, it gets a recorded 5 feet, Senior bit frustrating and 3 inches to finish stressful at times. in third place.

“I’ve had to learn to have the right In the men’s competition, Junior perspective all the time and whenever Jameson Strachan ran 48.21 in the I get down I just focus on what I’m 400-meter dash, giving him an eighthcapable of doing and taking all that I place finish. have and try to make the best of it,” Omar Doria took first place in the Wells said.

3,000-meter steeplechase, running One thing that is keeping Wells 9:17.63. focused on her school work and For the men’s field events, freshman athletic work is her dedication to one Barclay Scott Bann threw 45 feet, 2 of UTPA’s religious organizations, inches in the shot put, good for 13th.

Baptist Student Ministry. She is an Joseph Sciaraffa threw 153.18 feet in active member of BSM who leads the javelin to come in seventh. a Bible study Tuesday nights. She The teams now move on to the says that BSM has helped her keep Texas Twilight in Austin hosted by perspective, adding that the members UT-Austin next weekend.

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THE PAN AMERICAN

April 29, 2010