Running on Empty
Slim budgets make it hard to make ends meet
the
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Volume 68, No. 28
Money Crunch WRSC offers inexpensive ways to stay fit
June 7, 2012
The Last Show performers, audience say goodbye to Fine Arts Auditorium
Page 7
Food Insecurity Students able to get help from Valley Food Bank
Page 6
Still Searching UTPA students scour market for jobs
Page 3
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editorial
June 7, 2012
Photo of the week
the
Editorial
Student tips to survive a jarring economy There is a cruel, harsh truth about attending college - one that glossy brochures and tearful high school commencement speeches fail to mention. If you’re a full time student living off of financial aid and parental handouts, you’re probably broke. To be fair, that’s not always the case. College students still manage to make it to the midnight movie premieres and downtown bars. However, it’s just as common to see students rushing from campus to their part-time/fulltime/second/third job as it is to see pajama-clad students emerging from dorms for class at 1 p.m. If this is your first semester in college, don’t panic. You’re body will adjust to the steady diet of PB&J sandwiches, and you’ll figure out how to have fun without spending all your book money on superfluous things. But for your benefit, here are a few things about adjusting to life on a budget we wish someone had told us: #1 Don’t lend money to anyone This one should be obvious. You’re broke, after all. However,
as you meet new (poor) people and make new (unemployed) friends, you’ll inevitably be hit up for cash. Reasons vary from “Do you have change for the meter?” to “I need a Scantron for a test!” Don’t give in. The former can be
solved by parking in the satellite parking even though it’s hot and
sweaty, and you can get the latter for free from the SGA office in the University Center. Don’t feel bad about saying no or faking not having cash. Remember that other broke students don’t always pay it back. #2 Never buy brand new books Foolish is the student who waits until the first day of class to find out what books are required. Look them up online and order them used or slightly older editions (risky, but usually worth it) in advance. It’s also worth the extra planning effort because you will only get a fraction of the money that you spent for your book back if you resell. Other alternatives include buying them off other students, comparing prices to online books, or checking them out from the library. #3 If you feel the stress of the semester might get to you, schedule an appointment with Psychological Services now School, work, finances - it’s a lot to deal with. There are a multitude of services on campus designed to help you get through it. Unfortunately, slots fill up fast,
especially toward the end of the semester. Don’t be discouraged, and don’t be afraid to reach out to someone who can listen. Just sign up and be on time for your appointment. #4 Don’t eat on campus every day It seems counter to logic, but food that is sold on a campus full of broke students is expensive. The cheapest bite you’re liable to find are the $2 PB&J sandwiches (unless you count vending machine food, which has about the same nutritional value). Invest in some Tupperware and bring lunch from home. We’re looking at you, commuters! #5 Read your school newspaper It has coupons! Aside from that, we spend a lot of time writing about financial aid. You’re bound to learn something about scholarships, application deadlines or why it’s not smart to ignore your unsubsidized loan after you graduate.
Adrian Castillo/The Pan American
UTPA President Robert Nelsen and SGA Vice President Yadira Mejia, along with University and Sodexo administrators, cut the ribbon to Jazzman’s Cafe and Bakery. The new eatery, located on the firt floor of the Library, is one of six restaurants to open at the University this year. Like The Pan American Facebook page to view the “Frames of the Day.”
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Vol. 68, No. 28
The Pan American
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UTPA receives $500k grant from Coca-Cola By Jose S. De Leon III The Pan American During a ceremony at the Field House Tuesday, President Nelsen accepted a $500,000 grant from Coca-Cola that will be used to fund scholarships for firstgeneration college students. The UTPA Coca-Cola First Generation Scholars Program is available for all incoming freshmen whose parents or siblings never attended college or university. The program will award five recipients per year. According to a 2010 UTPA Entering Freshman Survey report, 51 percent of incoming freshmen were first generation students. Scholarship recipients must graduate high school with a
3.0 GPA and maintain a 2.8 GPA. “We are anticipating that we’re going to support students with a much higher GPA,” Associate Provost Kenneth Buckman said. According to Buckman, the program will go into effect in the fall and last for five years. Buckman says that over the next month, he will be meeting with a group of people to establish a rubric for selection. “We will target the students by sometime in July. I don’t like to wait on stuff like this,” he said. “I want to make sure that this is successful so that we can continue these kind of relationships with Coca-Cola or other kind of donors who might want to invest in our students.”
In addition to the $500,000 Coca-Cola gave UTPA for academics, the company also gave $250,000 to the athletics department to fund a new Toshiba LED video board for the Field House. The money is part of deal where Coca-Cola receives a tenyear contract to beverage sales on campus. “This is fantastic,” said Christopher King, director of UTPA athletics. “We’re trying to renovate our facilities, to provide better opportunities for our student athletes and Bronc supporters.” The 35-feet-by-12-feet Toshiba LED video board, which will be the largest video board in the Valley, will be ready just in time for volleyball season in August.
in slow JOB market, students sidestep scams
By Karen Antonacci The Pan American
According to the U.S. Labor Department’s recent jobs report, only 69,000 jobs were created nationally, coming in well below many hopeful predictions for an economic upswing. The sluggish market is having an effect on campus as students cast around for employment that was previously slightly easier to find. “In the past, it would take them maybe three months after graduation to find a job, and this was about four years ago,” said Ricardo Ramirez, Jr., placement specialist for Career Services. “Now that has been extended because of the job market.” Ramirez said that he’s seen job offers attract more applicants that in past years, and more qualified ones at that. “Even just for positions we post around the office for a clerk or something that you need just a high school degree, we get maybe 40 to 50 applicants,” he said, adding that college graduates were applying for the low-level jobs too. “It’s become competitive because you have the individuals that are being laid off that have experience versus studentS that just graduated and don’t have experience.” The slim pickings might be driving more students into the arms of illegitimate or vague offers that aim to lure in applicants with promises of high pay and flexible hours. Angel Monrreal, a 19-yearold from San Juan, heard an ad on the radio for a mystery shopper job and was curious about it. He went to the website and emailed about the offer. “They emailed back and said they would send me a check,” he said. “It looks like a real check. It has the whole label on it and everything. They kept sending me emails saying ‘Oh, why haven’t you done the
job?’ Because you’re supposed to go cash the check right away through Western Union.” Monrreal just kept the $1,000 check instead of doing the assigned task through Western Union, which is good, since this is a well-known type of scam. The victim or “pigeon” signs up for what they think is a mystery shopper gig – going to different businesses as an undercover customer and reporting on the service. A check is sent out for a large amount and the pigeon is told to transfer it quickly to a fake relative in a foreign country. While Western Union is processing the check on its way to the fake relative, it bounces and the pigeon is responsible for the amount while the scammer receives the cash from the phony check on the other end. Not all jobs blatantly steal from students, but some may waste their time with vague ads and interviews or require more of an upfront payment than college students are able to afford. Freshman Valerie Moreno was looking for a job when a friend recommended a company that kept calling for applicants. “My dad didn’t like it. He thought the entire business was shady,” the 20-year-old Edinburg native said. “He dropped me off at the interview and it seemed pretty professional but then they started talking about us paying them to do training and all that…they just said we would be going door to door selling to people.” Ramirez said paying a fee upfront along with the promise of high pay and flexible hours might be an indicator that the job is not the best. He recommended vetting a job opportunity thoroughly before going into the interview. Ramirez recalled a time when a student came in the office with a contract from an interview that stipulated the applicant had to make two payments to the employer. “For students the best
thing is just do the research of what you’re getting involved in, what the company’s history is and what type of positions they are offering.” Additionally, Ramirez asserted that an interviewer is not the only one who can ask questions and request information. “During the interview, ask what the job will entail because you want to know what you’re applying for,” he said. “And you have the option to say no. You don’t have to take the job, and you shouldn’t be forced to pay for something when in reality they should be paying you for the work.” For employment and internship opportunities that have already been researched and vetted, Ramirez recommended students register with the Bronc Career Connection, Career Service’s portal. BCC has traditionally listed local and national jobs and internships, but it will now also handle all University direct wage and work study positions. “Before, students had to kind of wander around and ask (the different departments) ‘Do you have a job? Do you have a position?’” Ramirez said. “Now you just come to Bronc Career Connection and see the campus jobs that each department will have. It’s kind of like Monster.com but for the University only.” Forthcoming campus job openings should be posted by July. Students need to register on the site and then go to Career Services for a resume review to activate their account. The office, located on the second floor of the Student Services building, accepts walk-ins for resume reviews Wednesdays and Thursdays from noon to 3:45 p.m. Ramirez said they are working hard to make sure students have the necessary skills to land a job. “I just tell students to not give up,” he said.
June 7, 2012
Page 4
THE PAN AMERICAN
Tips for grocery shopping on a budget 1. Plan ahead
A trip to the grocery store on the cheap requires some serious battle plans. A quick survey of the pantry and a shopping list are a must. Penny Pincher: Never grocery shop on an empty stomach.
June 7, 2012
frugal fridges
THE PAN AMERICAN
June 7, 2012
CODA: the last performance
New
Brenda Cantu, a senior studying social work and mother of a 4-year-old, said she and her daughter go out to eat most of the time because of time and money. “You’ll see a lot of students ordering from the dollar menu,” she said. “It’s a combination of the money and not wanting to cook because they have to go
2. Make use of cheap ingredients
Meal staples can be had for cents and can be used as a base for smaller amounts of more expensive proteins or sauces. Stock up on pasta, beans, potatoes, rice and onions. Penny Pincher: Keep rice in the fridge to keep out the bugs.
Jim Lancaster, associate athletic director for sports medicine for UTPA, likes to describe baseball as survival of the fittest. We’ve seen the pitches, the hits and the home runs all over the highlights, but breaking down the game of baseball is more complex, a science of its own.
b u i l d i n g b r i n g s n e w o p p o r t u n i t e s a n d b e g i nn i n g s
By Desirae A. Vela The Pan American Photos by Adrian Castillo /The Pan American
Page 5
On June 3, the community bid adieu to the current Fine Arts Auditorium. The Dean of the College of Arts and Humanities, students, alumni and professors celebrated the end of a long era with one last performance at the auditorium. Coda, from a Latin word meaning tail, is defined as the final part of a fairly long piece of music. The Fine Arts Auditorium has served many Valley artists for more than 40 years. The University will demolish the building in
August. Construction of the new, 1,000seat auditorium is set to begin October of this year. The new Fine Arts Auditorium will have stateof-the art acoustics, lighting and will be fully handicap accessible. Four rehearsal halls, capable of seating between 95 to 140 people, and a large lobby area will also be constructed. The $42.7 million complex will add a total of nearly 14,500 square feet of space for UTPA’s Fine Arts programs, and is expected to be completed by October 2014. “We are building this new auditorium with the Valley in
mind,” Nelsen said. “When the new building is finished, it will be magnificent and will better accommodate the talent here at UTPA.” One person who is sad to see the auditorium go is Director of Theatre and associate professor of communication, Tom Grabowski. “This building has served its time,” Grabowski stated. “It is falling apart. We wanted to renovate the building, but it is in bad shape and unsalvageable.” Grabowski has been a set and light designer for over 200 productions for the University Theatre, music department, Dance
Ensemble and the Folkloric Dance Company. “I remember one year a kindergarten class came to visit. When they entered the building you heard nothing but the sounds of astonishment,” said Grabowski of one of his many memories of the building. “And that is what the building has done for the past 42 years. It has inspired our community.” A vital piece of the building that will be needed for University music and dance students, a place for their final recital, will be put on hold. Due to budget reasons, the University had to cut the 180-seat
recital hall. They need to raise $3.8 million. “Please become involved and help us raise $3.8 million so that we can have the very best, because the arts are what make us human; the arts are what make us feel; the arts are our best way we communicate,” Nelsen said. If you would like to donate to help build the recital hall or if you have any questions about the new complex, you can contact the University via telephone at (956)665-2175 or via email at www.utpa.edu/givenow.
3. Keep track of coupons and sales
Coupons are usually for new products so if you want to try something snazzy, look in the newspaper inserts or mailers. Sales, however, offer discounts on more commonly used items. Compare prices between stores, as most of them will match a better offer. Penny Pincher: HEB’s combo locos can feed a student for days if you play it right.
Below: Carlos Celia, a civil engineering major and Dairy Queen employee, says he cooks sometimes but it depends on his hours at work. Similarly, Adrian De la Rosa, a graduate student and baseball player, mostly shops at Walmart and looks for Great Value brand food. He said it can be difficult to eat well on a budget. “Healthy equals more expensive,” he said. “So we’re usually looking at the processed and the ready-to-eat stuff, which is pretty bad for you.”
4. Compare unit prices
Is that increased price worth it? Break it down into cents per item and buy in bulk rather than individual size to avoid paying for more packaging than product. Penny Pincher: Most stores organize products by unit price anyways, usually with the cheaper item on the lower shelves.
5. Think about expiration dates
If it won’t get eaten before it goes bad, it’s not worth the price. Buy small amounts of perishable items like bread or fresh fruits and vegetables. Whatever can be frozen should be, especially bigticket items like ground beef or chicken breasts. Penny Pincher: Put a slice of bread in with cookies to keep them soft.
Above: Marissa Magdalena, a sophomore business marketing major, goes to the grocery store twice a week with her sister with a budget of $50 or $60. They buy mostly ready made or box dinners because of their tight funds. “I like to cook here but the real stuff, you have to go buy every little thing,” she said. “It can get pretty
Before the curtain falls - (Clockwise) The UTPA Dance Program performed after a speech by Marian Monta, a retired professor. Daniel Andai, violinist and concertmaster of the Miami Symphony Orchestra, then performed the “Passacaglia” by Handel, alongside violist Joel Pagan. The next performance was by the Quartetto Bravura which is made up of UTPA students and alumni. UTPA Mariachi Aztlán gave the last performance of the night, singing the song “El Son de la Negra” alongside UTPA Ballet Folklórico. President Robert Nelsen gave a final speech to commemorate 40 years of performances and thank everybody who attended the June 3 concert.
Page 4
THE PAN AMERICAN
Tips for grocery shopping on a budget 1. Plan ahead
A trip to the grocery store on the cheap requires some serious battle plans. A quick survey of the pantry and a shopping list are a must. Penny Pincher: Never grocery shop on an empty stomach.
June 7, 2012
frugal fridges
THE PAN AMERICAN
June 7, 2012
CODA: the last performance
New
Brenda Cantu, a senior studying social work and mother of a 4-year-old, said she and her daughter go out to eat most of the time because of time and money. “You’ll see a lot of students ordering from the dollar menu,” she said. “It’s a combination of the money and not wanting to cook because they have to go
2. Make use of cheap ingredients
Meal staples can be had for cents and can be used as a base for smaller amounts of more expensive proteins or sauces. Stock up on pasta, beans, potatoes, rice and onions. Penny Pincher: Keep rice in the fridge to keep out the bugs.
Jim Lancaster, associate athletic director for sports medicine for UTPA, likes to describe baseball as survival of the fittest. We’ve seen the pitches, the hits and the home runs all over the highlights, but breaking down the game of baseball is more complex, a science of its own.
b u i l d i n g b r i n g s n e w o p p o r t u n i t e s a n d b e g i nn i n g s
By Desirae A. Vela The Pan American Photos by Adrian Castillo /The Pan American
Page 5
On June 3, the community bid adieu to the current Fine Arts Auditorium. The Dean of the College of Arts and Humanities, students, alumni and professors celebrated the end of a long era with one last performance at the auditorium. Coda, from a Latin word meaning tail, is defined as the final part of a fairly long piece of music. The Fine Arts Auditorium has served many Valley artists for more than 40 years. The University will demolish the building in
August. Construction of the new, 1,000seat auditorium is set to begin October of this year. The new Fine Arts Auditorium will have stateof-the art acoustics, lighting and will be fully handicap accessible. Four rehearsal halls, capable of seating between 95 to 140 people, and a large lobby area will also be constructed. The $42.7 million complex will add a total of nearly 14,500 square feet of space for UTPA’s Fine Arts programs, and is expected to be completed by October 2014. “We are building this new auditorium with the Valley in
mind,” Nelsen said. “When the new building is finished, it will be magnificent and will better accommodate the talent here at UTPA.” One person who is sad to see the auditorium go is Director of Theatre and associate professor of communication, Tom Grabowski. “This building has served its time,” Grabowski stated. “It is falling apart. We wanted to renovate the building, but it is in bad shape and unsalvageable.” Grabowski has been a set and light designer for over 200 productions for the University Theatre, music department, Dance
Ensemble and the Folkloric Dance Company. “I remember one year a kindergarten class came to visit. When they entered the building you heard nothing but the sounds of astonishment,” said Grabowski of one of his many memories of the building. “And that is what the building has done for the past 42 years. It has inspired our community.” A vital piece of the building that will be needed for University music and dance students, a place for their final recital, will be put on hold. Due to budget reasons, the University had to cut the 180-seat
recital hall. They need to raise $3.8 million. “Please become involved and help us raise $3.8 million so that we can have the very best, because the arts are what make us human; the arts are what make us feel; the arts are our best way we communicate,” Nelsen said. If you would like to donate to help build the recital hall or if you have any questions about the new complex, you can contact the University via telephone at (956)665-2175 or via email at www.utpa.edu/givenow.
3. Keep track of coupons and sales
Coupons are usually for new products so if you want to try something snazzy, look in the newspaper inserts or mailers. Sales, however, offer discounts on more commonly used items. Compare prices between stores, as most of them will match a better offer. Penny Pincher: HEB’s combo locos can feed a student for days if you play it right.
Below: Carlos Celia, a civil engineering major and Dairy Queen employee, says he cooks sometimes but it depends on his hours at work. Similarly, Adrian De la Rosa, a graduate student and baseball player, mostly shops at Walmart and looks for Great Value brand food. He said it can be difficult to eat well on a budget. “Healthy equals more expensive,” he said. “So we’re usually looking at the processed and the ready-to-eat stuff, which is pretty bad for you.”
4. Compare unit prices
Is that increased price worth it? Break it down into cents per item and buy in bulk rather than individual size to avoid paying for more packaging than product. Penny Pincher: Most stores organize products by unit price anyways, usually with the cheaper item on the lower shelves.
5. Think about expiration dates
If it won’t get eaten before it goes bad, it’s not worth the price. Buy small amounts of perishable items like bread or fresh fruits and vegetables. Whatever can be frozen should be, especially bigticket items like ground beef or chicken breasts. Penny Pincher: Put a slice of bread in with cookies to keep them soft.
Above: Marissa Magdalena, a sophomore business marketing major, goes to the grocery store twice a week with her sister with a budget of $50 or $60. They buy mostly ready made or box dinners because of their tight funds. “I like to cook here but the real stuff, you have to go buy every little thing,” she said. “It can get pretty
Before the curtain falls - (Clockwise) The UTPA Dance Program performed after a speech by Marian Monta, a retired professor. Daniel Andai, violinist and concertmaster of the Miami Symphony Orchestra, then performed the “Passacaglia” by Handel, alongside violist Joel Pagan. The next performance was by the Quartetto Bravura which is made up of UTPA students and alumni. UTPA Mariachi Aztlán gave the last performance of the night, singing the song “El Son de la Negra” alongside UTPA Ballet Folklórico. President Robert Nelsen gave a final speech to commemorate 40 years of performances and thank everybody who attended the June 3 concert.
6
arts & life
June 7, 2012
10 fun things to do under $10 1. Movies in the park: free
The City of Weslaco will be showing movies every Thursday, beginning June 7, at 8 p.m. For list of movies and locations, visit www.weslacotx. gov.
McAllen Parks and Recreation will show movies every Saturday at Archer Park at 8 p.m. For list of movies, visit the events calendar on www.mcallen. net.
2. Monopoly: $9.88
Stop by your local WalMart and buy the Monopoly board game. Any time you or your friends are bored and broke, just have a game night.
3. Water balloons: $1 per 100 pc. pack Buy a few packs of water balloons, fill them up and go to the park with a few friends. Form teams and fight each other off or every man for themselves. Either way- it’s fun.
4. Dessert run: under $10
Gather up as many of your friends (the more people the more fun) and stop by a grocery store. Each person must get their favorite dessert (i.e. ice cream, cookies, candy, fruit) and meet up at the cash registers. Afterwards meet up at a friend’s house, line up the items in the kitchen and everyone must create a concoction out of everyone’s favorite dessert items.
5. McAllen Municipal Pool: $2 admission Take your friends, noodles and doughnuts. Splash around and cool-off at the pool.
6. Drive-in: $10/car
The Wesmer Drive-in shows two movies per day for $10 a car. Squeeze in as many people as you can into your mother’s minivan, park in reverse, open up the trunk and snuggle up with your blanket. Showings change every week. For information, visit wesmerdrivein.com
7. Dollar Tree shopping spree: $1 per item Check out the outdoor toy section and have fun picking out a few items you can play with at the nearest park with friends. i.e. bubbles, kite sets, plastic bat and baseball set, etc.
8. Quinta Mazatlan: $2 admission The nature and birding center in McAllen is a beautiful place to take a walk and enjoy the sights.
9. Fantasy Land:
$6.00 admission and $1.50 for skate rentals. Practice for roller-derby or just race around the track like you did back in 1999.
10. Bowling: $2 per game
plus $2.50 shoe rentals Wednesday nights at Valley bowl, in Mission, they offer $2 games. Take advantage and make sure you fill up the game so you get the best deal. The shoe rental is $2.50, unless you have your own pair, in which case it’s e v e n cheaper.
Ruben Gutierrez/The Pan American
Food Stacks- Volunteers at the Pharr Food Bank sort and pack food donations into boxes on Tuesday. From here, the food is distributed to local agencies around the Valley.
Local Food Bank offers nutritional aid to students By Lea Victoria Juarez The Pan American Being a college student isn’t always all that it’s cracked up to be. With tuition rising, the cost of living going up and not to mention the climbing gas prices, students can often find it difficult to feed their needs-literally. “I do struggle a lot. Especially, right now, during the summer since the financial aid hasn’t come through,” 18-year-old junior Kaleb Ibañez said. “I actually, a couple of minutes ago, had to drink a lot of water, so that I could get full and wouldn’t have to spend the little bit of money that I have.” Food in his apartment may be scarce, but the Food Bank of the Rio Grande Valley is a solution to those hunger pains. The Food Bank provides students and families with information and opportunities to receive free meals when their wallets are on the brink of emptiness. “Food insecurity is when a person or a household has to balance their budget if they’re going to pay their mortgage or if they’re going to pay their rent... instead of going out and getting the groceries they need,” manager of communications and advocacy Omar Rodriguez explained. Rodriguez said that he has seen an increase of college students that need assistance for food insecurity. The Food Bank warehouse, located in Pharr, is the only distribution clearinghouse in the Valley. Their job is to collect the food donated by farmers, the community and retailers, and sort it to distribute to local agencies like churches or charities. A student would then be able to pick up food at the agency. “If anybody does need assistance, they can just go ahead and give us a call and we can find out where they live and we
can direct them to their closest agency. Sometimes, even walking distance from where they live,” Rodriguez said. According to Rodriguez, the Food Bank distributes to about 217 agencies in Hidalgo, Cameron and Willacy counties on a daily basis. Inside the warehouse, crates are stacked high and wide with canned goods, produce and all areas of food needed for a well-balanced diet, which Rodriguez stressed is an important matter for the clients. “Basically, all you need for food assistance is just an ID and proof of residence, like a light bill or something like that,” Rodriguez explained. While the University does offer a variety of foods for the students, many feel that the price range is too high for their budget. Senior Christopher Banda is a commuter student from La Feria, and explains that gasoline is his main priority, while his meals remain on the back burner. “I mean $3.99 for a sandwich?” 22-year-old Banda said. “Come, on. As if you’re not charging me $500 to be here for one class, you want to charge me
$3.99 for a sandwich, also?” University organizations, like the Baptist Student Ministry and the Catholic Campus Ministry offer free meals to students on certain days of the week. Students of other colleges are given similar opportunities that the Food Bank gives for a free meal if they are are struggling financially. The students of Texas A&M University-Kingsville are provided with free lunch by some of the local churches. “You go over on certain days, sign in and then get food,” 24-year-old A&M Kingsville alumni Aaron Gutierrez explained. “It’s very nice because they don’t bring up religion and they do it just to help us out since a lot of people have no money. It’s always hot meals and they don’t ask for anything.” Recently, the Student Government Association (SGA) formed the Food Ad Hoc Committee. The committee was supposed to develop a strategy to help low income students with meals. Due to lack of backing from sponsors, the committee wasn’t able to get their plan up and running, and the committee
no longer exists. Like many students, Banda wasn’t aware of the service the Food Bank provides, but feels that the University needs to implement a program of its own that offers free meals for students. “It would be beneficial for every student, whether they receive financial aid or not. It would show the students that the University actually cares about them and not just their money,” Banda said. While there may not be free food offered on campus, the Food Bank is making sure that students and families no longer have to fear hunger. “It’s already stressful enough being a student and having to pass classes and stuff like that. Having to deal with financial aid and degree plans, and you really shouldn’t have to be worried about food,” Rodriguez said. “If there’s any need for food just give us a call and we can give students assistance.”
sports
June 7, 2012
7
finishing
strong
B ronc
teammates develop
into family off the field By Norma Gonzalez The Pan American After three years of residing in Edinburg there’s still one thing El Paso natives Adrian De La Rosa and Vincent Mejia don’t understand about the Valley: breakfast tacos. “They’re burritos!” De La Rosa and Mejia both scream. “They are tacos!” junior Valley native Angel Ibañez yells back. “Burritos are closed at the ends.” When both baseball players first moved down here, they credited the Mexican culture and food for an easy transition to a new place, but when they first stopped at the Aziz gas station at the University and Sugar intersection, they were baffled. What Valleyites know as typical breakfast tacos at gas stations, they would call breakfast burritos. This small difference in a name would spark a debate that has continued for three years. After arguing for over five minutes, Mejia decides he’s had enough. He walks over to the food, picks up a tortilla and brings it back over to the table. “This is a taco,” he stated as he showed a tortilla folded
in half. He then rolled it and stated that was a burrito. Ibañez continues to argue, proving this debate will never end. FROM EP TO UTPA Mejia remembers meeting and befriending De La Rosa during his freshman year at El Paso Montwood High School, after the 2005 football season. The jokesters shared stories of their days as Rams. “You want to hear a story,” De La Rosa asks. “This one time coach asked Vinnie to lead stretches. He kicked up and landed on his back.” Suddenly, he breaks out in laughter and Mejia explains that it was really De La Rosa who fell in the gym, in front of the whole team, getting the air knocked out of him. Although Mejia played football and baseball in high school, he stuck to the diamond at El Paso Community College, alongside De La Rosa. At the end of his freshman year Mejia was named honorable mention AllConference and got recruited by UTPA’s new baseball coach (at the time) Manny Mantrana. Mantrana was looking for more players with Mejia’s work ethic
Norma Gonzalez/The Pan American
Teamates - Country enthusiasts Vincent Mejia (left), Adrian De La Rosa and Richard Bandrich hang out at their Veranda apartment. Mejia and De La Rosa finished their Bronc senior season after being teammates for the past eight years since high school. and asked him if he knew of anyone who played and worked as well as him “It’s because of him that I was able to come here,” said De La Rosa, who earned All-Conference accolades his freshman year. As both players finished their baseball careers at the University, Mejia ended his senior season with 51 hits and 39 runs scored. De La Rosa ended his with a .309 batting average. BIG BROTHERS Most of the baseball team members look up to Mejia and De La Rosa. Along with their roommates, they are the ones to see with a question or problem, for help. The seniors always had an open-door policy on and off the field when it
Ibañez drafted by Astros Junior Angel Ibañez was drafted by the Houston Astros in the 28th round (849 overall) of the MLB draft yesterday. Ibañez (157 GP., .337 Avg., 11 HRs, 111 RBIs) is currently playing for the Asheboro Copperheads in the Coastal Plains League.
“
All four of us learn from each other. We’re all from different places, but we’ll always be like brothers.
”
We became a family. - Richard Bandrich Senior Outfielder
came to their teammates. Outfielder Will Klausing deals with a severe case of Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and has always had trouble focusing on the game. “I would always drift off, bite my nails, look around,” junior Klausing said. “But he [Adrian] kicked my ass. Before, I wouldn’t take defense seriously.” Klausing said that no one else had ever taken the time to help him out as much as De La Rosa. Junior Shane Klemcke mentioned that if everyone from El Paso is like them, he might want to move there. “I’ve been to other programs, but I’ve grown most from these guys than any other coach,” the Rockport native said. “They’re like family. They helped me become a man.”
Miami native Richard Bandrich has lived with Mejia and De La Rosa for the past three years and thinks of them as brothers. “All four of us learn from each other,” he said. “We’re all from different places, but we’ll always be like brothers. We became a family.” Mejia plans to graduate with a degree in criminal justice in the summer while De La Rosa graduated in May with a kinesiology diploma, but was unable to walk due to a doubleheader against Northern Colorado that Saturday “I was supposed to walk at five,” De La Rosa said. “At the same time I played the game where I got injured. I still wouldn’t have changed anything.”
Don’t sweat the cash at WRSC By Dana Nazarova The Pan American
Most students may think they don’t have the time or money to sign up at one of the many upscale gyms in the Edinburg/ McAllen area. The cost of being trained professionally by a certified instructor could be the difference between having extra money or not. It seems that students must make a decision on whether to have money or stay in shape. This summer, the Wellness and Recreational Sports Complex is helping students stay in shape without breaking the piggy bank. Licensed personal trainers are available to educate gym members how to use a workout log to track exercise progress making for more effective workout sessions for as low as $15 if you purchase before June 12. Membership for Gym at Uptown costs $55 monthly with an additional fee of $32 per session with a personal trainer; so, it doesn’t surprise Cabot that so many students
have decided to take advantage of their low prices. “We have the cheapest prices for trainers in the Valley,” Cabot said. “Our instructors are certified, experienced and obtained a [college] degree which is not something that you can usually find…and also pay just $20 per session.” The WRSC will be offering activities such as group exercises which incorporate Zumba, kickboxing and healthy cooking workshops where you can learn how to cook healthy and nutritious meals. Training to become a certified instructor in kickboxing and step start as low as $239. “To become a certified instructor, there is a cost that varies depending on the certification,” Cabot said. “All classes such as Zumba and yoga are free as long as you have membership.” The WRSC offers a variety of fitness equipment such as weight machines, cardio equipment, a 33foot climbing wall, basketball courts
and fitness classes. Students can take advantage of these services for only $35, which is included in students’ tuition, so no additional payment is required. “In other universities, such as UT at Austin, students have to pay additional fees to attend…classes such as yoga; at our Rec Center all classes are free,” Fitness Coordinator Colette Cabot said. Also, starting July 16, they will be offering the Summer Sweat Boot Camp which is a two week intense workout set to get you in shape for the upcoming fall semester. For only $35 per summer semester, the WRSC reduces the financial burden for members looking to maintain a healthy lifestyle. “The cost of obesity is extremely expensive to society, individuals and employers,” Cabot said. “It is important to keep yourself healthy, you don’t see it now, but later on, the amount of money that you’ll spend on medications and doctors makes obesity a very costly disease.”
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the pan american
June 7, 2012
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