November 11, 2010

Volume 67, No. 10

THE PAN AMERICAN

November 11, 2010

The votes are in Campus turnout increased 41.4% for early elections; site’s future still unknown.

By Kristen Cabrera The Pan American

said. “I think we can make a really good case (for keeping the polling station). If it is taken, of course we In the end, the controversy in are going to be appealing it.” early October surrounding the Of those who voted at the University polling site brought an Wellness and Recreational Center increase in voters toward the end of two weeks ago, the Youth Vote (18 the month for early voting Oct. 25 to 29 year olds) accounted for 43 -29. percent.

Throughout the week that the Rodriguez said he was satisfied early polling site was re-activated, with the early voting turnout but it garnered 1,087 votes, an increase still thinks 1,087 is too low with a of 318 since the primary election campus community that has a total of 2010, according to the Hidalgo number of 20 County Elections times that.

Department.

“It is good, it Despite the looks like we are 41.4 percent in- “ It has to become a part of moving forward,” crease in voter he said. “But I who we are. To understand turnout, the do not consider it overall number the importance of our vote, the best considerstill leaves the ing there are a lot future of the we say it all the time that more students on polling site uncampus. Just for certain and open ʻour vote is our voice,ʼ but one week I think to negotiations, how many people actually it was fairly good said Yvonne Racompared to other mon the Hidalgo believe that?” years.”

County election Various efforts administrator. were done to try “Now that and get students the lines of comto take advantage munication are of the revived Yvonne Ramon polling site, inopen,” Ramon said, “I’m sure Election Administrator cluding ConDr. Nelsen’s ofgressman Ruben fice and my ofHinojosa voting fice members will alongside Nelsen and a campus-wide meet to make a decisions as to what’s promotional ad campaign by the best for the county of Hidalgo and President’s Office and SGA. UT-Pan Am.” Ramon thinks there are other Student Government Association more hands-on ideas that can be President Alex Rodriguez said that done to get more young people to SGA wants be in communication the polls. if the Office of the President and “One of our goals,” she said, “is the Elections Department meet to --and I will be talking through to discuss the future of the polling the President’s Office-- to possibly site, which was in danger of being get some professors to assist us in eliminated before concentrated reaching some students that could protest effort from the University possibly help us as part of their community saved the day. class assignments, as part of their “We need to have that polling civic mindedness that is always so station here, I think that they need prevalent in our young students. So to look at our efforts,” Rodriguez I’d like to get involvement more so

than just the vote but involvement in our student population.”

Making a voting a more visual on campus and starting sooner is what Rodriguez thinks will also help.

“I think that there are a lot of things that we can still do to make sure students know about voting. There was a big push this year with cooperation from IT and the Presidents Office, Dean of Students and SGA students going and putting fliers all around. But I think next time we can start sooner and get the word out there more, I think we still need to do better.”

E l e c t i o n s administrator Ramon suggests, however, that though advertising helps, it’s the will internally to make the decision to vote that gets people to the polls.

Nationwide, voting turnout Nov. 2 was down among young people and minorities.

“It has to become a part of who we are,” she said. “To understand t h e importance of our vote, we say it all the time that ‘our vote is our voice,’ but how many people actually believe that?”

Photo by Freddie Martinez/THE PAN AMERICAN PageThe 2 - Bigpros business of might have packed their bags, but procrastination they never left

Page 3 - Jobs Enrollment andafter Student graduation becoming scarce Services transitions

UTPA grad wins in LA

Page 11 - Holiday gift guide

Presentación delvolleyball libro Page 14 - Q&A with player Rebecca “Escarlata” enToddy galería del COAS

Former basketball Bronc returns

2

November 11, 2010

Commentary

How to procrastinate correctly

O K , breathe… not for too long.

Just long enough to catch y o u r breath and look forward.

You don’t Benny Salinas have much time for breathing.

A&L Editor And if you’re reading this, you should probably be doing something better with the time.

That dark cloud at the end of the semester is getting more intimidating, a little stronger, and steadily closer and closer.

It’s just that time of semester, where you’re close enough to the end to make out the monster of final projects and tests rolling and crashing together into a ball of stress and anxiety, but still far enough away that you don’t have to begin working on anything in earnest.

This is a dangerous time. We’ll inevitably spend this time on Facebook or YouTube, or partying, or some variation of lying around doing nothing. This is the time we’ll

Correction: In

last

week’s

issue

of The Pan American the Center for Online Learning Teaching and Technology

eventually end up regretting, at four a way of not feeling so bad for not in the morning the day of finals, when having a thing done two days before we’re cramming two weeks of work the project you had half a semester to work on is due. into a few hours.

But a funny Still, there’s a sort thing happens of beauty to it, similar to that of a car crash.

“Itʼs become an almost kind of often, it works.

The screeching brakes universal way of Maybe it’s of procrastination the adrenaline, trying their hardest to understanding work: ʻI or the fact that keep from sliding into your first ideas the intersection, only work well under pressure.ʼ are often your to meet with a truck Really itʼs probably best and when doing 60. The tangled it’s the night mess of metal, smoke just a justification for before, there’s and broken glass of only enough our sleeping habits procrastination...” time for first and final projects thought; but during the last week pressure has of the semester take almost miracuover our lives. lous qualities.

It isn’t unheard It allows for of to find art made tunnel-vision of scrapped car parts focus and fearor twisted metal of automobile accidents. The molded, induced creativity. It leaves us gasping torn, punished and sweeping curves for air at the end of Finals Week, wonof metal have a way of looking like dering just how we pulled it off. And graceful waves. In some way I think yet it also leaves us oddly satisfied.

Now I’m not advocating we do, too.

It’s become an almost universal way procrastination, though I am an avid of understanding work: “I work well practitioner of the art (and it is an under pressure.” Really it’s probably art). A vast majority of my projects just a justification for procrastination, would have probably been a bit better

(COLTT) was misnamed the Center for Online Learning and Technology. The Pan American regrets the error.

had I had just a day, or even an hour more, in some extreme cases, to work on them. But there are good lessons to be learned from working under pressure.

It teaches us that we need to know our topic well enough to work quickly, efficiently and with the certainty that the work flowing out of us as four in the morning is correct. It teaches us that we need to be able to visualize the next step in process while working on the step that precedes it.

The laziness that feeds into procrastination isn’t always indicative of intellectual ability.

Almost everyone lets the projects build up into that ball of stress and anxiety. By the second semester of college I’m pretty sure it gets burned into our DNA. It’s just a matter of how the stress is handled and how responsible we are about our procrastination (if that’s possible).

We need to go into the night of the project with the know-how to do it well. And that implies doing a few things: Knowing the topic, knowing how to work the software required, and most surprisingly… wait for it…going to class.

Agree? Disagree? Tell us what you think! Leave a comment online at panamericanonline.com

Vol. 67, No. 10

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

EDITOR IN CHIEF: Kristen Cabrera kmcabrera22@gmail.com NEWS EDITOR: Roxann Garcia roxx.gar11@gmail.com ONLINE/SPANISH EDITOR: Denisse Salinas dns_145@hotmail.com ARTS & LIFE EDITOR: Benny Salinas 9_benny_9@live.com SPORTS EDITOR: Sara Hernandez shernandez261@gmail.com PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR: Alma E. Hernandez alma.e.hdz@gmail.com SENIOR DESIGNER: Jennifer Tate jen489@gmail.com DESIGNERS: 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 Selvino Padilla selvinop3@gmail.com DISTRIBUTION MANAGER: Steven Kennedy srkennedy56@yahoo.com

Delivery:

Thursday at noon Letters to the Editor

Elias Moran/THE PAN AMERICAN

The Pan American accepts letters of 300 words or less from students, staff and faculty regarding recent newspaper content, campus concerns or current events. We reserves the right to edit submissions for grammar and length. We 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.

November 11, 2010

3

Division transitions toward new name and vision

Post-Edwards era begins with emphasis on students

By Alejandra Martinez The Pan American

With the retirement of VP John Edwards, the president’s cabinet and other stakeholders on campus have decided to rename the Division of Enrollment and Student Services to the Division of Student Affairs.

The decision was reached at a recent cabinet meeting, says Lisa Prieto, chief of staff for the Office of the President.

“We felt we needed to emphasize the student part,” Prieto said. “We did a bit of research on the other UT System institutions and most of them have a division of student affairs, so we decided that it was the best fit to show that we were student-focused.”

The division will remain the same, so far no changes have been anticipated within the departments, and they all have been very positive about the switch, says Prieto, who worked directly with Edwards before moving to the Office of the President two months ago.

“We hope that with Student Affairs we’ll be in line with the other institutions,” she said. “And reinforce that our role is really to be here for the students.”

Some of the departments under the division are athletics, the Office

of the Dean of Students, GEAR UP, Admissions and New Student Services, the Office of the Registrar, Student Financial Services and Scholarships, and Student Health Services.

According to Prieto, this will be a slow transition in terms of leadership. A search is underway for a new VP of student affairs to replace Edwards, who will retire at the end of December.

strong background in enrollment management,” she said. “And at that time, enrollment management was crucial to the university.”

Although enrollment is still an important aspect and will remain as part of the division, the new title will place an emphasis on the university’s commitment to students, Prieto reiterated.

She also added that enrollment management will be emphasized in

“We wanted someone on board

by Jan. 1, we had an ambitious goal,” Prieto said. “We realized we had to push it back a couple of months, so we’re hoping someone will be on board by March 1.”

According to Prieto, UTPA had a Division of Student Affairs before Edwards took over the VP position in 2001; he then renamed it Enrollment and Student Services.

“He [Edwards] had a very

the job description for the new vice president. The change will be become effective with the appointment of the new VP. “The Division of Enrollment and Student Services has always played a crucial role in development and retention through collaborations across the university,” Prieto stated.

“This will continue to be important under the Division of Student Affairs.”

Council’s proposal on CIA opens wider university discourse

By Pamela Morales The Pan American

The CIA’s presence on campus has been a hot topic among the College of Arts and Humanities faculty since 2006.

But when the CoAH College Council went from discussing the Parking Lot B/B-1 dilemma to requesting a halt on funding for a program linked to the CIA in the College of Social Behavior and Sciences, there was elevated discourse.

“To me, this seemed to come out of the blue,” said Fred Mann, a lecturer in the Communication Department and member of the CoAH College Council.

“We were talking about parking for a long time…but we went solely from parking to CIA. I have no idea how they got to that topic…that’s what surprised me.”

The focal point of the situation

is IGkNU, the Integrated Global Knowledge and Understanding Collaboration program that filters into Global Security Studies in the College of Social Behavior and Sciences. It is a 5-year external grant program now up for renewal, funded through the National Geospatial Agency. It is also part of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, which is linked to the CIA. This linkage has irked some CoAH faculty members, leading to a resolution passed recently to officially protest IGkNU’s presence on campus.

A similar resolution in 2006, which sought to keep the program off campus, failed.

David Carlson, assistant professor in the Department of History and Philosophy and member of the College Council, voted for opposition based on

his research of the CIA’s activities in Latin America.

“As a Latin A m e r i c a n i s t ,” Carlson said, “I’m opposed to the presence of the CIA on a university campus because of my sense of the injury that the CIA has played in U.S.Latin American relations.”

Meanwhile Sandra Hansmann, p r i n c i p a l investigator of the UTPA Intelligence Community

“ Iʼve

spoken

to

some

faculty that are not on the council. Theyʼre very

upset. They fell like they were kind of brushed over

and nobody really seemed to

like

care...weʼre a

kind

of

mini-congress...

and we canʼt ignore our departments. ”

Fred Mann

Lecturer

Center of Academic Excellence, says she is concerned about the proposal. She notes that the center in question provides training and job opportunities for UTPA graduates.

“It is upsetting that some faculty members on this campus want to take away student opportunities due to their own personal opposition to one area of the ODNI,” she said.

“We hope that our

university can continue to be a place of opportunity for students that is not damaged by faculty seeking to force their personal politics upon others.”

THE DECISION IGkNU was secured on campus through a vote passed by CSBS College Council during the 2005-2006 school year. Now, as the process to renew funding begins, faculty members who were not part of the council wrote a resolution opposing the renewal and brought it to the attention of the group at the Oct. 14 meeting.

Nine members in attendance voted unanimously on the resolution to oppose further ODNI funding, which has totaled $500,000 annually since 2006. Four members were not present

SEE COUNCIL || PAGE 7

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November 11, 2010

NEWS

International Days event set for kickoff OIP promotes new culture, ideas, and experiences to campus community

By Pamela Garza The Pan American “Not so many years ago there was no simpler or more intelligible notion than that of going on a journey.

Travel -- movement through space -provided the universal metaphor for change. One of the subtle confusions -- perhaps one of the secret terrors -- of modern life is that we have lost this refuge. No longer do we move through space as we once did.”

-- Daniel J. Boorstin This quote addresses a dilemma that younger generations are facing due to the new digital and social networking era. At a touch of a button they can connect with loved ones around the world or even take a virtual tour of the Louvre Museum without leaving the comfort of home. But what would happen if students never left their homes?

At The University of TexasPan American, the Office of International Programs (OIP) believes that every student should be exposed to new cultures, ideas and experiences, not just in abstract but in reality. Monday marks the beginning of a threeday event, International Days, which will feature artwork by Pablo Picasso, presentations from university professors, and cooking demonstrations by a Moroccan Chef Jay, as well as an appearance by keynote speaker retired Maj.

Gen. Alfred Valenzuela.

Valenzuela will kick off the 12 th annual International Days event with an address to students and staff on achieving Global Peace, Monday at 11:45 a.m. in the Student Union Theater. He has been named one of the “100 Most Influential Hispanics” by Hispanic Business Magazine and awarded many honors such as the Bronze Star of Valor, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, and the Humanitarian Service Medal. He advocates for full military burial rights for Hispanic soldiers who are not U.S. citizens because they made ultimate sacrifice fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Between classes next week, there are several panel discussions and lectures that will be presented by professors. The presentations offer a better understanding on current events as well discussion on how political and social environments shape a nation and can cause friction with other countries.

There will be a panel discussion on Tuesday at noon in SBCS 207 titled “Peacemakers: Carter, Gandhi, Gulen, and King,” presented by professors in the College of Social and Behavioral Science as well as a lecture by UTPA’s Greg Selber in the Media Theater adjacent the Library titled, “The Anamoly of Peace: the Unlikely Dream.”

Wednesday at 11:45 a.m. in SBSC 125, Christie Maloyed will present,

Noon-

“The Christian Legacy of Just War Theory: Is Secular Peace Possible?” and Dr. Arturo Vasquez and Miguel Sahagun will speak on, “How Prepared are Mexican College Students to Confront Future Moral Challenges?” at 4 p.m. in BA 110.

One of the best ways to appreciate and understand another culture is to view its different forms of expression through the arts. Thanks to the International Museum of Art & Science (IMAS), Picasso’s lithographs titled “The Suite of Imaginary Portraits” will be on display free to the public in the University Gallery Tuesday through Friday. Thursday starting at 5:30 p.m. in the Quad there will be dance performances of Argentinean Tango, Hawaiian Huki-lau, Israeli Hora, Taichi as well as live music and food tastings from around the world.

Jawad Essadki, better known as Chef Jay, from California, will prepare Moroccan cuisine for the public to enjoy.

Yvonne Quintanilla, international programs director, understands that many students are skeptical about traveling because they may not be prepared for the environment or culture of the country they are visiting.

“By bringing the ‘mountain to Mohammed,’ so to speak, we are able to expose students and faculty to different parts of the world and hopefully peak their curiosity and

give them that sense of awe one experiences when seeing something new,” Quintanilla said about International Days.

She also believes that “looking at pictures or seeing something on a computer screen is nice, but it can’t replace the wonder and excitement one feels when traveling or the tastes and smells of authenticity.”

Quintanilla hopes that through this three-day event, students and faculty will build an interest in studying abroad, and perhaps attend the Study Abroad Fair Thursday at noon in the Student Union.

The number of students taking advantage of Study Abroad programs has leveled off recently, mainly due to ongoing drug cartel wars in Mexico. Travel warnings from the U.S. State Department this year led to the cancellation of a number of UT System trips to Mexico. This decision affected nine academic and six health institutions in the System.

One of the most popular programs offered at UTPA was the San Miguel de Allende trip which had to be canceled and affected over 60 students.

The OIP office was forced to create a new program to visit New Mexico or send students to other programs offered in Spain, Germany, France and Brazil.

For more information on events visit the OIP webpage www.utpa.edu/oip or call (956) 665-3572. All events are open and free to the public.

11:45 am

Panel discussion: “Peace- Christie Maloyed: “The makers: Carter, Gandhi, Christian Legacy of Just War Theory: Is Secular Gulen and King” SBSC 207 Peace Possible?”

SBSC 125

UTPA’s Greg Selber: “The Anamoly of Peace: 4 pm the Unlikely Dream” Dr. Arturo Vasquez & Media Theater Miguel Sahagun: “How adjacent to the Prepared are Mexican Library College Students to Confront Furture Moral Challenges?”

BA 110

Graphic by Jennifer Tate/THE PAN AMERICAN

Adviser workshop focuses on legal issues

By Karen Antonacci The Pan American

The Office of Student Development hosted a workshop Thursday aimed at student organization advisers. Faculty and staff representatives ranging from the Astronomy Club to the Beta Xi Chi fraternity were in attendance for the workshop taught

by Christine Stuart-Carruthers, associate director of Student Life and Transition Services.

The main topic was legal liability associated with advising a student organization, with a focus on reducing the risks of a lawsuit in relation to student organization-sponsored events or trips. Specifically, Stuart-Carruthers emphasized to the advisers how they must meticulously plan events and trips to minimize the risk of a lawsuit. To illustrate, she provided the example of a student organization-hosted event held in the quad.

If for instance, the organization makes the decision to fuel the grill with propane instead of relatively less dangerous charcoal, and someone is injured, that initial decision could come back to bite the university or the organization in a lawsuit, Stuart-Carruthers said.

“Most of the time advisers don’t realize that there actually is liability tied to being an advisor,” StuartCarruthers said. “We try to have at least one of these workshops a year to at least bring it up to advisers, that here’s some of the things you need to think about when working with your student organization.”

Edna Zambrano, director of the Student Union and adviser to the Delta Zeta sorority, said she found the workshop useful and informative.

“I can improve upon how it is that I talk to them about travelling and what it is they need to do to get ready for a trip, so I’ll definitely take a lot of that info,” she said.

“But also, I think she gave us really good examples about when we invite people to events or when the sorority hosts something, how is it that that we plan it.”

Zambrano further elaborated on the importance of the relationship an organization has with guests who attend events.

“We need to think, what is our relationship to the people that are coming, what are potential risks,” she explained. “And I think it gave me some really good ideas on how to conduct a meeting with the girls and how to talk about all those risks when we plan an event.”

In short, the meeting stressed the importance of student organization advisers attending meetings and being involved in the organization.

By doing so, there is a reduced risk of legal ramifications, StuartCarruthers said.

November 11, 2010

NEWS

Page 7

Website works to ease student queries MyEDU offers feedback on classes, professors

By Abel Prado The Pan American

Higher learning presents a series of important and educated decisions. With a never-ending wave of applications to fill out, majors to declare and loans to pay, the collegiate experience can get overwhelming and may eventually lead to someone dropping out.

That’s the problem Michael Crosno, Chris Chilek and John Cunningham set out to solve when they launched MyEDU.com (formerly Pick-A-Prof ) in 2008, a resource website that offers campus-specific information about classes, degree plans and even professor rankings.

“After you get into college there’s a laundry list of things that need to be done from semester to semester,” Chilek said. “We wanted to provide a source of information where students can go and research which classes to take, which professors are the best, and even when would be the best time to take a specific class and avoid taking heavy course loads.

“Getting into college is the easy part now you have to graduate.”

MyEdu, along with other informational sites such as OEDb. com (the Online Education Database) aim to provide information about college that one normally doesn’t find

in brochures or on bulletin boards.

With a site like MyEdu, a student can look up information on specific courses at UTPA such as Margaret Graham’s Introduction to Cultural

Anthropology class - it currently has a five-star rating on MyEdu.com as well as a brief summary about the class and the professor, written by a former student. Additionally

a student can compare prices for the course’s required text, which is usually less expensive than its listed price at the University bookstore.

“A student can get lost on a

“I’ve spoken to some faculty that are not on the council,” he said.

“They’re very upset. They feel like they were kind of brushed over and nobody really seemed to care…we’re kind of like a mini-congress… and we can’t ignore our departments.”

The decision to make a vote on the resolution was based on the concern of faculty that by the time the generally lengthy Council process takes place, the funding issue will be decided.

“I can well appreciate that a College Council member, a representative, who wasn’t able to make the meeting but who opposes the resolution would be concerned about that,” Carlson said. “But there was a quorum, there were nine people

there. It was enough to carry on the business of the College Council and the decision that was made, following parliamentary procedures.”

the CoAH College Council is stated in the College of Arts and Humanities College Governance Policy: the council is “an advisory body that serves as a public forum for systematic deliberations and consultation.” Its process is explicitly derived from Robert’s Rules of Order by General Henry M. Robert, and is overseen by Council Parliamentarian Carlson.

“It gets very complicated at times,” Carlson said. “But we try to keep it simple: a motion is introduced; somebody seconds it, then there is discussion and debate, somebody calls the question then it’s taken to a vote.”

Two to three members, representing their department, bring up issues that are brought to

college campus,” Ashley Merusi, a spokesperson of OEDB.com said.

“And I don’t mean just geographically. In many cases a student can benefit from more than regular academic advising and if they know the best way to attack their degree plan, then it makes it that much easier to finish school.”

Chilek believes students armed with information can maneuver their way through their college careers without slipping into the same pitfalls that may lead to dropping out.

According to numbers published by the U.S. Department of Education, College Bard, and U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, only 53 percent of college students will graduate within six years and it takes an average of 5.3 years for the average student to attain a college degree.

More than that 65 percent of students will graduate with either moderate or high levels of debt.

Over a five-year span, MyEdu has tracked information by its users and conducted several in-house surveys. Since 2005 MyEdu data claims that 93 percent of users carry a GPA of 3.0 and above, 70 percent graduate on time compared to 36 percent nationwide, and students saved 20 percent of college costs by avoiding extra semesters.

“We want to be the ‘Google’ of college information,” Chilek said. “If a student can go online look at which classes to take, buy books online at cheaper price, then they are at a great advantage.”

COUNCIL

continued from Page 3 at the meeting, including Mann, who says he did not know about the resolution until a couple of days later.

Melynda Nuss, the chair-elect of the Council, noted the concern of faculty members over the issue, and therefore the council placed the item on the agenda for Oct. 14.

“If we think that these issues will interest enough faculty to be worthy of discussion,” said Nuss, associate professor from the English Department, “we generally put them on our agenda. I can’t think of any issue that we’ve turned down.”

Mann suggests the resolution wasn’t thoroughly vetted per the process, and he added that doing such things on a whim without the consensus of faculty is not very representative.

THE PROCESS Former President Blandina “Bambi” Cardenas brought along a model from her previous stop at University of Texas at San Antonio, requiring every college on campus to form College Council. The goal, beginning in 2005, was to give faculty the opportunity to govern issues within their own college. As part of the implementation, each college created bylaws that were then exercised the following school year, 2006-2007.

The mission statement of

the group’s attention by colleagues, varying from faculty workload to parking lot re-zoning. The latter topic ignited the most debate this semester, as the lot most CoAH members use had been changed to “residents” instead of “reserved” status.

After an initial unanimous vote, the proposal was sent to the Faculty Senate for further university-wide discussion. At a meeting Nov. 3, the Senate opened its meeting with the resolution but a few Senate members motioned for its removal from the agenda and suggested a later debate on its merits. The College Council will hold another meeting, open to the public Nov. 16, at which the purpose of the resolution will be discussed.

Page 8

THE PAN AMERICAN

November 11, 2010

THE PAN AMERICAN

November 11, 2010

>> In preparation for ‘Synergy,’ senior dance majors compose their routines as vehicles for creativity.

By Nadia Tamez-Robledo The Pan American In a mirror-lined studio, six dancers move gracefully across the worn wooden floors, their bodies in time with the music pouring from a stereo.

Across the room, Eileen Ozuna’s eyes are locked on their movements as she carefully examines every turn, e“I’m holding my breath the whole time,” the 22-year-old dance major said.

Ozuna can likely expect an end to her anxiety once the dancers in her show take their final bow at “Synergy,” a showcase of nine performances choreographed by senior dance students that have been in the works since the beginning of the semester or earlier. The concert will run at the Fine Arts Auditorium on Nov. 18 and Nov. 19.

“Mine is about strong women getting through life on their own and not having to use any crunches or any other thing,” the Edinburg native said of her untitled project combining modern jazz with a touch of pop. “[My characters] always have to have a boyfriend, always have to have a guy their by their side, but you don’t need that. You can do it on your own.”

Ozuna originally enrolled at The University of Texas-Pan American as a pre-dental major at the behest of her parents, but ultimately decided to pursue her passion. “[My dance piece] kind of has to do with what I’ve been through,” she said. “[I’m] finding my independence.

I’m already going to graduate, and I need to focus on what I need to do with myself. That’s how I can upon this – because that’s what I’m doing for myself right now.”

As Ozuna prepares to direct her final piece as a UTPA student in a week, she is keeping one eye to the future. She and her sister, who graduated from UTPA with a business de-

gree, are scouting locations for a dance studio they plan to open together.

“When I was younger, I didn’t have training,” she said. “I want to be there for other younger kids to come and learn dance as they grow up so they can fulfill their dreams.”

ON THE MOVE The boring and repetitious just don’t fly with Priscilla Gomez. While brainstorming concepts for her senior chorography project, the 21-year-old wasn’t afraid to scrap the original idea she was unhappy with, and start over.

“When I had the first idea of doing the solo, it went flat real quick,” she said. “I wanted to do something more fun, and when you go the serious route, it’s harder to hold the audience unless you go really dramatic. I didn’t want to do that.”

Gomez’s final product is “More Than a Woman,” which she and the dancers have been rehearsing since the summer and that combines live dancing with pre-recorded video that will be projected above the stage. The Harlingen native pulled from her love of funky jazz music, classic pin-up girl paintings, and the women’s rights film “Iron-Jawed Angels” to choreograph a seven and a half-minute piece illustrating the evolution of women from the ‘50s to the modern day.

“In the first part, the movements are very staccato and very uniformed in shape as if they’re being told to do that, as if they’re in the military,” she said. “The second part is smoother and everything just flows. You just move as you would naturally, so you can tell the difference.”

As with her choreography, Gomez’s disdain for the mundane spurred interest in dancing when she was in middle school.

“I was always good at English and everything else, but I was bored in the classroom,” she said. “I was one of those

The Edinburg native began planning people who had to stand up and sharpen her final choreography project, “Stay With their pencil. I always had to move.”

Though she was a part of her ju- Me,” long before the semester began.

“I’ve been nior high dance thinking about it squad, she was for the past few inspired to puryears, actually,” sue dancing Almaraz said. “I more seriously wanted it to be a after attending “ When I was younger, love story, but I a friend’s dance I didnʼt have training. didn’t want it to studio perforbe a cheesy love mance. Several I want to be there for story. You get years down the your typical boy road, one opother younger kids to meets girl, they tion on Gomez’s come and learn dance fall in love, it’s radar is a masvery cliché, but I ter’s program in as they grow up so tried to take it to Utah that comanother aspect.” bines media and they can fulfill their Almaraz is dance. incredibly proud “They really dreams. ” of her nearly cared about danc10-minute piece, ing, and I wanted a tragedy about to find something forbidden love to care about,” she between a lion said. “I actually Eileen Ozuna and a butterfly. do get emotional Dance major “I’m not gowith this because I ing to tell you try to find a story what movie I and get lost in that was inspired by character, because you turn into something that’s not yourself because everybody always makes fun of for a minute or two. I like how we work so me,” she said. “But I love that I went the hard just for a few minutes on a stage, but animal route instead of ‘boy meets girl.’ It doesn’t matter what you are, where you it’s the greatest rush ever.” come from, what tribe you come from as long as you’re in love.”

LOVE REVISITED When the curtain falls on her final History books on dance may not UTPA project and it’s time to walk the mention Sarah Almaraz yet, but she’s stage for a diploma, Almaraz hopes to go on to graduate school in Utah and working to change that.

“My mom said I came out danc- someday teach dance at the university ing,” said the 23-year-old, who grew up level. It won’t make her rich, but she taking ballet, tap and jazz dance classes. doesn’t care.

“A lot of people choose comfort Dance has done a lot for Almaraz.

She won her first competition at 8 years for money instead of their passion, and old and has taught workshops across that’s understandable, but if you’re willthe state since she started teaching in ing to take the risk for something that’s 2005. As a child suffering from dyslex- going to make you happy, then why not ia, Almaraz struggled with self-esteem do it?” she said. “If you wake up and until her involvement with dance sent want to be a dancer, be a dancer. If you wake up and want to be a writer, film her confidence “skyrocketing.”

“I felt good about myself because director, a hippie, might as well do it.”

I found my outlet of expression,” she said. “But dyslexia is both a curse and Photo by Alma E. Hernandez The Pan American a gift because I obtained visual memory and can pick up a combination or Design by Alexis Carranza dance simply by looking at it once.” The Pan American

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THE PAN AMERICAN

November 11, 2010

THE PAN AMERICAN

November 11, 2010

>> In preparation for ‘Synergy,’ senior dance majors compose their routines as vehicles for creativity.

By Nadia Tamez-Robledo The Pan American In a mirror-lined studio, six dancers move gracefully across the worn wooden floors, their bodies in time with the music pouring from a stereo.

Across the room, Eileen Ozuna’s eyes are locked on their movements as she carefully examines every turn, e“I’m holding my breath the whole time,” the 22-year-old dance major said.

Ozuna can likely expect an end to her anxiety once the dancers in her show take their final bow at “Synergy,” a showcase of nine performances choreographed by senior dance students that have been in the works since the beginning of the semester or earlier. The concert will run at the Fine Arts Auditorium on Nov. 18 and Nov. 19.

“Mine is about strong women getting through life on their own and not having to use any crunches or any other thing,” the Edinburg native said of her untitled project combining modern jazz with a touch of pop. “[My characters] always have to have a boyfriend, always have to have a guy their by their side, but you don’t need that. You can do it on your own.”

Ozuna originally enrolled at The University of Texas-Pan American as a pre-dental major at the behest of her parents, but ultimately decided to pursue her passion. “[My dance piece] kind of has to do with what I’ve been through,” she said. “[I’m] finding my independence.

I’m already going to graduate, and I need to focus on what I need to do with myself. That’s how I can upon this – because that’s what I’m doing for myself right now.”

As Ozuna prepares to direct her final piece as a UTPA student in a week, she is keeping one eye to the future. She and her sister, who graduated from UTPA with a business de-

gree, are scouting locations for a dance studio they plan to open together.

“When I was younger, I didn’t have training,” she said. “I want to be there for other younger kids to come and learn dance as they grow up so they can fulfill their dreams.”

ON THE MOVE The boring and repetitious just don’t fly with Priscilla Gomez. While brainstorming concepts for her senior chorography project, the 21-year-old wasn’t afraid to scrap the original idea she was unhappy with, and start over.

“When I had the first idea of doing the solo, it went flat real quick,” she said. “I wanted to do something more fun, and when you go the serious route, it’s harder to hold the audience unless you go really dramatic. I didn’t want to do that.”

Gomez’s final product is “More Than a Woman,” which she and the dancers have been rehearsing since the summer and that combines live dancing with pre-recorded video that will be projected above the stage. The Harlingen native pulled from her love of funky jazz music, classic pin-up girl paintings, and the women’s rights film “Iron-Jawed Angels” to choreograph a seven and a half-minute piece illustrating the evolution of women from the ‘50s to the modern day.

“In the first part, the movements are very staccato and very uniformed in shape as if they’re being told to do that, as if they’re in the military,” she said. “The second part is smoother and everything just flows. You just move as you would naturally, so you can tell the difference.”

As with her choreography, Gomez’s disdain for the mundane spurred interest in dancing when she was in middle school.

“I was always good at English and everything else, but I was bored in the classroom,” she said. “I was one of those

The Edinburg native began planning people who had to stand up and sharpen her final choreography project, “Stay With their pencil. I always had to move.”

Though she was a part of her ju- Me,” long before the semester began.

“I’ve been nior high dance thinking about it squad, she was for the past few inspired to puryears, actually,” sue dancing Almaraz said. “I more seriously wanted it to be a after attending “ When I was younger, love story, but I a friend’s dance I didnʼt have training. didn’t want it to studio perforbe a cheesy love mance. Several I want to be there for story. You get years down the your typical boy road, one opother younger kids to meets girl, they tion on Gomez’s come and learn dance fall in love, it’s radar is a masvery cliché, but I ter’s program in as they grow up so tried to take it to Utah that comanother aspect.” bines media and they can fulfill their Almaraz is dance. incredibly proud “They really dreams. ” of her nearly cared about danc10-minute piece, ing, and I wanted a tragedy about to find something forbidden love to care about,” she between a lion said. “I actually Eileen Ozuna and a butterfly. do get emotional Dance major “I’m not gowith this because I ing to tell you try to find a story what movie I and get lost in that was inspired by character, because you turn into something that’s not yourself because everybody always makes fun of for a minute or two. I like how we work so me,” she said. “But I love that I went the hard just for a few minutes on a stage, but animal route instead of ‘boy meets girl.’ It doesn’t matter what you are, where you it’s the greatest rush ever.” come from, what tribe you come from as long as you’re in love.”

LOVE REVISITED When the curtain falls on her final History books on dance may not UTPA project and it’s time to walk the mention Sarah Almaraz yet, but she’s stage for a diploma, Almaraz hopes to go on to graduate school in Utah and working to change that.

“My mom said I came out danc- someday teach dance at the university ing,” said the 23-year-old, who grew up level. It won’t make her rich, but she taking ballet, tap and jazz dance classes. doesn’t care.

“A lot of people choose comfort Dance has done a lot for Almaraz.

She won her first competition at 8 years for money instead of their passion, and old and has taught workshops across that’s understandable, but if you’re willthe state since she started teaching in ing to take the risk for something that’s 2005. As a child suffering from dyslex- going to make you happy, then why not ia, Almaraz struggled with self-esteem do it?” she said. “If you wake up and until her involvement with dance sent want to be a dancer, be a dancer. If you wake up and want to be a writer, film her confidence “skyrocketing.”

“I felt good about myself because director, a hippie, might as well do it.”

I found my outlet of expression,” she said. “But dyslexia is both a curse and Photo by Alma E. Hernandez The Pan American a gift because I obtained visual memory and can pick up a combination or Design by Alexis Carranza dance simply by looking at it once.” The Pan American

Page 9

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November 11, 2010

UTPA grad recognized in L.A. festival

Caleb Camacho receives an honorable mention with ‘The Dance of the Living.’

By Yngrid Fuentes The Pan American After squashing all of the competition in viewership during his Monday premiere, Conan had a pretty significant drop-off during its second night, pulling in a 2.1 rating compared to Leno’s 2.5 and Letterman’s 3.0.

Rachel McAdams is back on screen in a comedy about a hardworking TV producer who’s career looks about as bleak as her love life. ‘Morning Glory’ hit theaters this Friday and also stars Harrison Ford and Diane Keaton.

It all started nine years ago in a bookstore in Germany, after someone found a book about the Black Death narrated through by voices of those who survived it.

A mere curiosity and interest in the Middle Ages has now become an award-winning screen play that has earned Caleb Camacho, UTPA graduate student, honorable mention at the LA Film and Script Festival.

“The Dance of the Living,” takes place in 14th-century Germany during the outbreak of the “Black Death.”

During the madness and chaos caused by the plague, which killed a third of the population of Europe, Uriel Ben Salomon, a Jewish physician, fights to figure out what’s causing the plague, how to stop it and how to heal people, all with the help of his supporter and friend Prince Remiel.

Even though the script was submitted by accident to the wrong category, it made it to the top three, giving Camacho the satisfaction of learning a new side to his work.

“I got honorable mention, but I was also one of the top three in the category of animation,” Camacho

said. “The thing is, I accidentally submitted it to the animation category, I didn’t intend that. It would be a really serious cartoon, I don’t know, I guess it could work.”

“The Dance of the Living” was also a semi-finalist at the 2009 Landlocked Film Festival and a semi-finalist in the 2009 Blazing Quill Screenwriting Competition.

“I submitted to about 20 contests and festivals over the last two years and made it to three,” Camacho said.

Camacho, who holds a master of arts in historical film/screenwriting from New York University, is currently pursuing an MFAs in creative writing with a screenwriting focus at UTPA. He explained that for “Dance,” he wanted to recreate a hero like the ones found in the Old Testament, such as Samson, Noah, Moses and David.

“Uriel is not mentioned in the Bible though, but he is an Archangel, and a very important helper of mankind. This is a huge factor for my actual character in the script.”

Camacho explained. “I don’t want to write like a Christian film, I just want to write a story that has a very similar hero who is like what my hero is to me, like my Christ hero, my savior. This is the Christ-like hero.”

After working for nine years on the project Camacho explained that he is ready to continue with other things while continuing to market the awardwinning script.

“I have the first draft of a novel that I wrote seven years ago,” he said.

“And that novel, I’m actually using it to turn it into a screenplay for my thesis here (at UTPA) and is a story about growing up her in the Valley.

“I’m from here and I want to inspire writers, and I wanted to come back here and work with what I have

Alma E. Hernandez/The Pan American big winner - UTPA graduate student Caleb Camacho wote a screenplay titled “The Dance of the Living” set in the Middle Ages at the height of the Bubonic Plague. here and start here because there’s a huge art movement happening in the Valley, more art is being shown more artists are displaying their work,” Camacho continued. “I like being a part of this movement here and I have

a more widespread impact here than I would somewhere else. There’s so much that hasn’t been done that we as artists can kind of say, ‘well, this is my little story set in this place, no one’s done it so I’m gonna do it.’”

Barbadian recording artist Rihanna is set to release her fifth effort, ‘Loud’ Nov. 16. Following the success of the first single, ‘Only Girl (In the World)’, the pop singer as already confirmed the next song to hit radios to be ‘What’s My Name?’

The University of Central Florida is reporting that over 200 of their senior business majors have cheated on a midterm. The students are only a month away from graduation and are at risk of not getting degrees this semester because of the scandal.

Suheily Maldonado/The Pan American Seen & Captured - The Texas Baptist Men, a natural disaster relief team, serve fajita plates and beverages to more than 800 UTPA students at the Baptist Student Ministry “College Party” in the quad Tuesday.

November 11, 2010

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11 de noviembre del 2010

Jóven artista expone sus obras en el ‘artwalk’ Alumna presenta obras originales en la galería Douglas Clark Por Karen Velázquez The Pan American El estudio Douglas Clark abrió sus puertas el pasado 5 de noviembre como parte del tan afamado “artwalk” de la ciudad de McAllen presentando una serie de obras de artistas del Valle de Texas, entre los que destacó Yari Salinas, estudiante de Biología de la Universidad de Texas- Pan Americana.

En una noche amenizada por una banda indie de la escena local, con diversas exposiciones que iban desde sketches, cerámica y diversos tipos de pinturas, se encontraban las obras de Salinas, inspiradas en el surrealismo de Salvador Dalí.

Salinas, ingresó a la facultad de Biología en el 2007 con la intención de convertirse en neurocirujano. Sin embargo, al pasar los años se dio cuenta que no quería dedicar tantos años de su vida al estudio de la medicina ya que es una carrera muy

absorbente. “No es tan difícil, pero es mucho tiempo y no quiero hacer solo eso”, dijo Salinas, originaria de Hidalgo, Texas.

Habiendo estado siempre interesada en el arte, al pasar por una etapa alejada de las fiestas y la vida nocturna, la joven artista decidió dedicar sus tiempos libres a la pintura.

Más tarde, decidió unirse a La Divulgación Artística de Valle (VAO por sus siglas en inglés) que es una organización dedicada a brindar educación artística extracurricular y de verano a niños en situación de riesgo de las comunidades en el Valle del Río Grande, así como un lugar para la expresión artística de los adultos en el sur de Texas.

Es gracias a VAO que Salinas es invitada a presentar sus obras en el estudio Douglas Clark.

Salinas, quien jamás ha tomado clases de pintura, es una artista que no sigue patrón alguno a la hora de crear sus obras, dejándose llevar únicamente por su imaginación

Suheily Maldonado/The Pan American

obras originales – “Reggie Creator” (arriba) fue inspirada por una de sus mascotas. “Zero” (abajo) la primera pintura de Salinas representa un corazón roto.

Suheily Maldonado/The Pan American

Poeta y pintora – Yari Salinas posó orgullosa de su colección de pinturas el viernes pasado. Ésta fue la tercera vez que expone en la exhibición mensual en la ciudad de McAllen. y creatividad. Tal es el caso de “Pedro Gigante”, cuadro que pintó valiéndose solamente de pintura y sus dedos, además de una mezcla de sustancias caseras que le permitieron lograr una textura diferente.

“Pedro Gigante” es la representación de un amanecer en la playa que Salinas compartió con su amigo “Pedro”, el cual decidió plasmar en un lienzo al verse fascinada por la majestuosidad de la luna y el sol conviviendo en un mismo cielo.

Las obras de Salinas están inspiradas en experiencias personales y en su manera de ver el mundo, tratando siempre de reflejar su amor hacia la biología, ciencia que despertó gran interés en la artista desde temprana edad.

Otra obra que cautivó la atención de los asistentes fue la que consta de Reggie (abajo, primera foto), un camaleón que Salinas tenía por mascota, en un desierto y una mano sosteniendo una palmera artificial. La intención de Salinas fue representar las diversas formas en las que los seres vivos ven el mundo.

En este caso, la manera en la que según Salinas un camaleón percibe su entorno.”Cada animal ve el mundo dieferente.Todos procesamos la realidad de manera distinta”, dijo Salinas.

Cabe destacar que además de la pintura, Salinas cuenta con diferentes cualidades artísticas. Desde hace seis años, la fanática de la banda de rock Deftones se ha dedicado a tocar la batería y escribir poemas que hablan de momentos que han dejado una huella importante en su vida, como el día que estuvo muy cerca de perder la misma.

“Volver a nacer” es un poema que Salinas escribió después de haberse

encontrado muy cerca de la muerte en un accidente automovilístico y resultar completamente ilesa.

Fue tal su sorpresa que decidió llevar su experiencia a la poesía y darle así un toque más dulce.

La carismática artista comentó que existen ocasiones en que los pensamientos aterrizan en su mente de manera repentina y simplemente se deja llevar por la necesidad que siente de plasmarlos en un papel. De acuerdo con

Salinas, la poesía es algo que se le da con facilidad y de manera espóntanea.

Durante la preparatoria, la jóven tomó clases avanzadas de Español, y escribía a sus compañeros los poemas que les encargaban de tarea.

“Recuerdo que desde muy chiquita me ponía a escribir. Soy una persona muy creativa”, comentó la poeta y pintora. “Mi línea favorita la escribí una vez mientras buscaba mis zapatos en el clóset, toda desvelada”.

Volver a nacer Por poco y se me desprende mi alma La muy caprichosa se negó a renunciar Por fuera la peste de negro azufre Adentro el olor de lavanda al brotar

Esta alma arañaba destiladas venas Con deseo de en ellas poderse atrapar Se amarro con listones de plasma Arrancados con su boca de oso polar

“¡Sujétate dulce vapor juguetón!

La luna esta aferrada, contigo quiere bailar Emborracho a la gravedad con sus blancos licores Y por eso a mi cráneo viniste a dar”

Se difuso de ese obscuro rincón De ese charco de nuevo se hizo mi mar Salpicándole vida a mis telas de lino Mi alma en silueta se volvió a formar -Yari Salinas

11 de noviembre del 2010

ESPAÑOL

Página 13

Estudiantes corren por una buena causa

>> La sociedad pre-dental se une para ayudar a los que más lo necesitan.

Mayra Godínez/THE PAN AMERICAN

ORGULLOSO DE PRESENTAR SU LIBRO – El poeta y autor del libro “Escarlata”, Alejandro Cabada, firmó autógrafos para quienes acudieron a la presentacion de su primera obra el pasado martes 6 de noviembre.

“Escarlata”, porque el amor está en todas partes Estudiante graduado de Español presenta su primer libro de poemas en la galería del COAS. Por Denisse Salinas The Pan American Durante la vida escolar, muchos alumnos batallan cuando es hora de escribir un ensayo ó una historia, pero este no fue el caso de Alejandro Cabada Fernández, quien desde los 13 años comenzó a escribir poesía y el pasado martes 9 de noviembre presentó su primer libro de poemas “Escarlata” en la galería del edificio de Artes y Humanidades de la Universidad de Texas-Pan American.

“El libro se llama ‘Escarlata’ por que es todo de amor,“ comentó el autor de 35 años. “Existen muchos géneros de poesía, hay de política, de protesta, de exiliados, éste es un poemario de amor“.

La portada del libro que está llena del color rojo significa amor, pasión y sensualidad, es amor de pareja. “Es el libro perfecto para el 14 de febrero”, afirmó Cabada. “¿Por que escribir de amor? Por que esta en todas partes”.

“La idea de hacer éste libro empezó hace aproximadamente un año, los poemas ya estaban, sólo tuvimos que hacer recopilación y escoger los mejores”, dijo el escritor. “La presentación se hizo con el apoyo de la doctora Elvia Ardalani por medio de su taller ‘Puente Literario’ en la universidad, ella es una de las mejores profesoras de Literatura y Creación Literaria, ella me ayudó a llevar a cabo el evento”.

esta vez no solo será de amor, si no que también incluirá cuentos fantásticos.

El escritor tiene como plan un día regresar a México para poder presentar su libro en este mercado.

“En la Universidad Autónoma de México y en universidades por todo Cabada, quien se graduó de UTPA México tienen muchos talleres y con una especialización en el idioma de competencias de literatura”, afirmó Español. Menciona que honestamente Cabada. “Pero para poder concursar no se puede vivir de la literatura. “Es el libro tiene que haber sido impreso muy difícil vivir de los libros, ni los en México, el mío fue impreso aquí escritores grandes lo pueden hacer. en Estados Unidos”.

Hay algunos que son Hasta ahorita, abogados ó periodisel autor de este litas y escriben por bro de poemas no pasión a las letras. Yo sabe si su próximo no escribo por que “Existen muchos generos libro será impreso quiera ganar una en Estados Unifortuna, es mas que de poesía, hay de política, dos otra vez o en nada por mi amor al México. español y a escribir”, de protesta, de exiliados, “Ahorita no se mencionó el poeta. pero éste es un poemario donde lo impri“ Es un sueño para miré [el segundo el escritor vivir de de amor”. libro], la verdad letras como es para me encariñe muel músico vivir de la cho con Editora guitarra, ó del artista Campamocha por vivir del pincel, pero que siempre me no es así de fácil”. han ayudado y Al evento acudieron apoyado mucho. los familiares de CaSe espera que Alejandro Cabada p r ó x i m a m e n t e bada que dijeron estar Autor de “Escarlata” muy emocionados y “Escarlata” esté orgullosos de que hicia la venta en las era realidad su sueño librerías locales. de escribir un libro.

Cabada se encuen“Desde que eran pequeños traté de tra negociando con Barnes and Noble inculcarles el amor al español”, dijo para ponerlo en venta ahí. “Se tiene Israel Cabada, padre del autor. que hacer mucho trámite, pero esa Cabada planea continuar es la idea, tenerlo ahí y pues lamenescribiendo esperando presentar su tablemente es el único lugar aquí en segundo libro el próximo año, pero McAllen“, finalizó.

Aprillynn Sanchez/THE PAN AMERICAN

UNA DE LAS PRIMERAS - Mellina Delgado, estudiante de biología apoya a la sociendad pre-dental de estudiantes y llega en segundo lugar en la división de mujeres.

Aprillynn Sanchez/THE PAN AMERICAN

AYUDA PARA LOS NECESITADOS- El sábado 6 de noviembre, estudiantes se registraron a la carrera en la cual el único requisito para participar era donar alimentos para el Banco de la Comida del Valle del Río Grande.

Para la historia completa visite PANAMERICANONLINE.COM

14

November 11, 2010

For old times’ sake

Former Bronc returns to home court for one night after three years of playing professionally in Mexico.

By Sara Hernandez The Pan American

Just 6.3 seconds left on the clock.

The crowd remained quiet as UTPA ex Paul Stoll stood at the free-throw line.

He made both to bring his visiting team to within three at 115-112 as cheers and thumps emerged from the stands.

“Veracruz late con fuerza!,” Spanish for “Veracruz beats strongly,” was heard from one side of the UTPA Field House.

UTPA opened its basketball court to the RGV Vipers Tuesday night, when the team faced Halcones Universidad Veracruzana en Xalapa, four-time defending champions of Liga Nacional de Baloncesto Profesional in Mexico, as part of the preseason campaign. The event had an attendance of 1,540.

It was a duel of champions, as the Vipers are the defending Development League Champions, and it sure felt like it.

Although the Vipers maintained a decent advantage over the Mexican team throughout the game, the deciding point came after Jesse Pelot scored a three-pointer with two seconds left in the game putting the Halcones, or Fal-

the moment he stepped on the court and throughout the 16:23 minutes he played, moving across the well-known surface he remembered from past years.

“I feel happy. I kind of miss it, you know, the college days,” he said with nostalgia. “We had a good team with good guys so I definitely miss it, FEELS LIKE HOME But that night’s game meant a lot so it was good coming back.”

Stoll spent his first two collegiate more for UTPA than receiving two proseasons at Lansing fessional teams to Community Colinaugurate hoops in its renewed “ I just never thought Iʼd lege in Michigan before migrating to court; it also meant come back here to play. ” Edinburg to be part the brief return of of the Broncs.

Stoll to UTPA as he “It was nice,” prepares for a new campaign, with a Paul Stoll he said. “I just nevnew team.

UTPA Ex er thought I’d come back here to play, so Stoll played at it was exciting.”

UTPA from 2006 Ben Smith, a Pharr native who was to 2008, making All-Conference as one of the leading assist men in the nation. part of the Broncs until 2009 and atHe was recruited for Algodoneros de la tended the game to support Stoll, said Comarca, located in Torreon, Mexico, he is glad to see his former teammate after his senior campaign three years succeed at the professional level.

“I hadn’t seen Paul play in a while, ago. He got traded to the defending champion team halfway through the I played with him a couple times in the season and played his first game with summer and I’m excited he got traded to this team,” Smith said proudly. “He’s the Falcons at UTPA Tuesday night.

Stoll looked comfortable from making it, he’s actually playing in a professional league and he’s doing good.”

The Falcons are a professional Mexican team sponsored by a university located in Xalapa, the capital of the Gulf of Mexico coastal state of Veracruz, located south of Tamaulipas, the Rio Grande Valley’s neighboring Mexican state.

The team is composed of mostly Mexican and American players, but also has a couple or Uruguayan athletes. cons, one point behind the Vipers.

Fortunately for the Vipers, Mickell Gladness scored the last two free throws with half a second left in the clock to grant the home team the 118-116 victory.

Norma Gonzalez/THE PAN AMERICAN

HEATING IT UP - The energy of the crowd increased when Stoll stole a ball and defeated the Vipers’ defense to score at the end of the last quarter.

BUILDING TIES It was a meaningful night for other members of the UTPA community. Siblings Edgar and Elisa Casillas were born in Acayucan, Veracruz, and came to Edinburg after finishing high school in Mexico to attend UTPA two and eight years ago, respectively.

Edgar and Elisa led a small but loud group of students that strongly supported the Falcons chanting “Veracruz, Veracruz” and suffered the nerve-racking loss in the last seconds. Still, they were proud of the way their co-nationals performed.

“We have to support the team,” said Elisa, a criminal justice graduate in 2008. “It was really close, it was a tie.”

The Casillas duo mentioned that when they found out about the game, they were convinced they had to attend to support their native state.

“It’s really cool to see a team from where we’re from here in the Valley,” said Edgar, a junior biology major. “It’s a good thing that UTPA is reaching out to other cultures and other cities.”

UTPA Athletic Director Chris King reiterated the importance of UTPA hosting events like these.

“Number one thing is that we get the community out here, the other

Norma Gonzalez/THE PAN AMERICAN

ALL RIGHT - Paul Stoll, who played for the Broncs from 2006 to 2008, was happy to return to the UTPA Field House amid support of friends and family Tuesday. thing is the owners are strong supporters of our athletic program,” he said. “So it’s good to work hand in hand with them and to bring them here in the renovated facility.”

King added that the presence of Stoll at this event added relevance to the first meeting between a member of the Development League and a Mexican team.

“It’s good to see a former UTPA player playing professionally and to get a chance to come back,” he said. “He’s good representation for our program and it’s good for our younger players to see they have a chance to play somewhere after they graduate.”

For the Vipers, the exhibition game also served to develop a tie between UTPA, the Vipers and the Valley community as well as serving as a steppingstone for a season when expectations are to be met.

“It’s good for the community and the university to have a professional team out here, especially a champion

that’s playing some other champion on a college court,” forward Stanley Asumnu mentioned after the game.

“The game was good, it’s a good test … we won the championship last year and that’s behind us. This year we move forward and we try to defend our title from last year, but it’s a great opportunity for us to get better and achieve the goals that we tried to achieve.”

This game was the first of two preseason games for the Vipers. Their next encounter will be Saturday against the Iowa Energy in Frisco, Texas. The regular season starts Nov. 18 against Texas at the State Farm Arena in McAllen.

As he abandoned the court and approached the group of people that stayed after the game to congratulate and wish luck to the former Bronc, Stoll said that the support he experienced from UTPA fans makes him feel welcome at a place he’ll always call home.

“It’s great, people here… I’d loved them since the first day I walked on campus,” he concluded.

November 11, 2010

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sports

Ready to attack

2010-2011 WOMEN’S BASKETBALL ROSTER #3 Ce’Monay Newell #10 Bianca Torre #11 Ashley Watson #12 Franchesca Simon #15 Erin Lewis #22 Adanna Opara #23 LaQuita Garner #24 Donna Jackson #32 Maria Erlingsdottir #33 Jasmine Gordon #44 Madison Absher #25 Re-Shawndra Jackskon

6-0 5-5 6-2 5-8

Guard Guard Forward Guard

5-4 Guard 5-11 G/F 5-8 Guard 5-10 Forward 6-2 Center 5-10 Forward 6-7 Center 5-9 Guard

HOME GAMES Nov. 13 Our Lady 7 p.m.

of the Lake Nov. 20 TAMU-CC 4 p.m.

Nov. 22 TAMUK 7 p.m.

Dec. 10 North Texas 7 p.m.

Dec. 14 TAMUI 7 p.m.

Dec. 28 Sam Houston 7 p.m.

State Feb. 3 Utah Valley* 5:30 p.m.

Feb. 5 Chicago State* 5:30 p.m.

Feb. 9 Houston 5:30 p.m.

Baptist* Feb. 19 NJIT* 5:30 p.m.

Mar. 3 South Dakota* 5:30 p.m.

Mar. 5 North Dakota* 5:30 p.m.

ALL GAMES WILL BE PLAYED AT THE UTPA FIELDHOUSE * Denotes conference game

By Zack Manuel The Pan American

Chemistry is one of the most important factors to winning games. Even though The University of Texas-Pan American women’s basketball team has nine new Lady Broncs and just three returners, their friendship level seems to be high.

“The chemistry has been tremendous.” second-year head coach Denny Downing said. “The girls are really together as a team.”

The unit returns three players, sophomore guard Bianca Torre, senior forward Maria Ben Erlingsdottir, and sophomore forward Jasmine Gordon.

Torre was last year’s leading scorer with an average of 13.6 points per game, and was named Great West Conference Newcomer of the Year as well as a guard on the All-GWC second team.

Since Downing has brought in more scorers, Torre’s role should change from scorer to distributor.

“I just need to play the role that is needed of me and since there are more shooters this year I should be distributing the ball more often,” said Torre, who led the team in assists with 4.3 per game.

Last year the Lady Broncs went 1318, almost tying their record for most wins, 14. This year they plan on beating the mark.

“We really want to win more games and beat the record for most wins.”

Torre said.

This year the Lady Broncs will return only one senior and she hopes to make the best of her senior season.

“It feels really good and I am very excited for this season,” said Iceland native Maria Ben Erlingsdottir, who averaged 8.1 points and 2.7 rebounds per game.

“I want to end my college season well.”

The latest edition of the squad added a new dimension that wasn’t very evident last year, height.

“Our team has obviously added more height and more athleticism.”

Downing said, as the Lady Broncs added five players that are over six feet tall.

One of the five is freshman Madison Absher from Houston who is listed at 6-foot-7.

The Lady Broncs finished second in conference last year and were defeated in the semi-finals of the conference tournament. This year, they plan on taking first place and winning the tournament.

“We don’t want to take steps backwards, any time you put a team together the common goal is to win the conference,” Downing said.

Forward is all the team is thinking of, after falling short in the last game of the conference championship, and Torre is focused on attaining a conference championship this year.

“We want to win conference and put up that banner,” she stressed.

The Great West Conference Championship will take place March 9-12 in Orem, Utah.

This year’s schedule has two teams that went to the final four of the NCAA Tournament, Baylor and Oklahoma, and also two teams that were ranked in the Top 25 last year, Texas and Oklahoma State.

Downing believes that by having facing such competitive teams in the non-conference slate, the team will attain a level of experience that will help it succeed in conference.

“We position ourselves to put our university on a scene by playing two Final Four teams,” he explained. “Also it makes us better when going into our conference because our conference should become easier.”

The Lady Broncs will kick off activity against Our Lady of the Lake University Nov. 13 at 7 p.m. at the UTPA Field House.

November 4, 2010

15

Alma. E. Hernandez/The Pan American

moving forward - Junior Donna Jackson is one of the additions to the Lady Broncs for the 2010-11 campaign. The forward is a transfer from Collin County Community College.

End of road near for Bronc volleyball

Senior players reflect on the last stretch of season and future after UTPA

By Dionicio “Nune” Rodriguez The Pan American

The season for the UTPA Broncs will come to a close with two final home games against North and South Dakota Nov. 11 and 13 at the UTPA Field House. Emotions have been a big part of this year’s effort and this will hold true for the final games for departing seniors.

Marci Logan, Kaitlin Vasquez, Rita Gonzalez, Cassandra Trevino, Meghan Fichtel, Charity Cucancic and Ariana Bermea will all play their final home match in a Bronc uniform Nov. 13, in what is sure to be a tear fest.

The unit has an 8-18 record heading into the homestretch, with the Great West Conference Tournament set

playing volleyball since they entered for Nov. 19 in Chicago.

With the women graduating and middle school almost a decade ago. Even though their heartstrings will taking a step into the real world, get pulled, the next part volleyball will be a closed of their life will help chapter in their lives that ease the pain of the will always hold dear void. memories, no matter “I think where their paths sometimes take them.

UTPA vs. North Dakota people are sad “There is goto see their ing to be tons of Nov. 13 • 2 p.m. last collegiate excitement, but at @UTPA Field House matches come the same time I’ll up,” Logan said. be a little sad that it “Perhaps they feel will be my last home like they haven’t acgame at UTPA,” admitcomplished what they ted Vasquez, a libero from had hoped to. I came to Garland. “It will be a bittersweet UTPA and gave all I could; hopefully feeling.”

Some of these seniors have been I helped pave the way for future suc-

SENIOR NIGHT

cessful volleyball players here.”

For hometown Edinburg native Trevino, volleyball will continue to be a big part of her life even after the final whistle is blown.

“I will continue to go to school and apply for the physician’s assistant program here at UTPA,” Trevino said.

“These past four years of playing for this program are coming to an end, but I will do local tournaments every so often with friends just for fun. I can’t stay away from the sport.”

With all the peaks and valleys this team has gone through, farewell night for the veterans is just another unforgettable moment they will tag onto their season.

The game itself almost takes a back seat to the fact that this is the last hurrah for the senior soldiers.

“This is the last time I will play a match in the gym that I have been in for four years, and it will be the last time I get announced next to my teammates; emotions will be high,” Trevino expressed.

Winning is obviously still the main goal for the team, but enjoying each other’s presence and walking out a better person is what they are the most proud of.

“I hope that we can come out with a big win this week as our collegiate careers come to a close,” Logan said.

“Either way I have learned some valuable lessons from volleyball and they will be something I take with me and pass along to others who may be going through the same trials that I have gone through.”

Page 16

THE PAN AMERICAN

November 11, 2010