October 25, 2012

Candidate credentials

All the facts about national, state and local elections Page 6-7

Volume 69, No. 9

Horror Con

October 25, 2012

Rotting Flesh Factory Halloween fans

Harlingen Haunt draws

South Texas experiences first fear convention Page 10

Growing with Yale

Volleyball program improving with second-year coach Page 11

One-Year MBA UTPA launches first accelerated program Page 8

panamericanonline.com

Keeping it Greek

New sorority blog post covers campus events

Page 10

2

opinion

October 25, 2012

Comic

Francisco Rodriguez/The Pan American

Letter to the Editor : ‘Active, Semi-happy, and Voting’ In response to last week’s opinion: It is doubtful the “Daily Texan,” University of Texas at Austin, or any other reputable campus newspaper in the nation, would feature a one page “don’t vote” editorial. And no article of equal length, supporting the good sense of voting? Where was fairness? Where were the Editors? Where was a competent Faculty Advisor?

Compliments to the artist, ​ Franciso Rodriguez, for agreat cartoon. Interesting choice for the pro—vote “Angel”(President Obama) and the “don’t vote “Devil” (Governor Romney). Actu-

ally, the Republican Party is devilishlytrying to suppress the vote, especially of ethnic minorities.

Judges, appointed by an “unimportant” President, by the way, have partially blocked those antidemocratic tactics.But, Republicans didn’t count on help from an ethnic minority, Mr. González.

Way to go, Mr. “Apathetic, Angry, Abstaining AND Bragging About It.” Who needs Romney’s millions when we got you? ​A good course on logic might be needed. (Calling yourself Republican or Democrat is “sheer stupidity”)?Also, a few clichés might have been dropped. (“My

vote doesn’t matter”)? Some irrelevant, non-sequiturs might have been left out. (“I have my own problems”). Forget blatant contradictions. (“I fail to ascribe importance to elections” vs., VERY next paragraph, “I know elections are a big deal”). What of plain ol’ facts?

(Gonzalez’s right wing mantra: “We live in a republic, not in a democracy.”)And need we mention lack of use of Grammatique? (“LIKE I mentioned before”). Just suggestions.

“Active, Semi-happy, and Voting,” Victoria Zepeda and Agapito López, Political Science Seniors

Spotlight on women : Tea Party vs vox ‘Women’s health care’ and deadly euphemisms

By James Garcia McAllen Tea Party Funding for “Women’s health care” is not in and of itself an issue of great debate. It’s when the term is used as a euphemism for abortions, or referrals to abortion centers, that the issue becomes more grave. This is where the two sides of the issue really differ. Almost all valley doctors accept Medicaid, so funding for genuine medical health care exists. From here, the discussion generally moves to “women’s rights” and “viability” or other such points, so its those points we should explore.

Let’s start with Viability or dependency. When determining the viability of a life, what is taken into account? Is it that the life is dependent on the mother? When does that dependency end? When in the womb?

When out of the womb? At age 1yr?

5yr? 9Yr? College? The problem is, regardless of where the arbitrary line is drawn, we are discussing, in reality, the death of a child. A death decided by that child’s mother.

Now let’s turn our attention to the child. The child is an individual, genetically distinct from the mother and father. The child is alive, that is to say, they are metabolizing . And they are distinctly human, not a monkey, not a dog. Make no mistake, the life destroyed is that of a unique individual now existing in this world.

But what about the women’s rights?

The women’s right to choose (liberty rights) cannot supersede the child’s right to life. There is a reason that the declaration of independence says life, liberty, and the purist of happiness. There is a very critical and necessary order. You cannot have a liberty right without the right to life (you would be dead). It was wrong when the supreme court said that a white slave owner’s property rights were more important than a

black person’s liberty rights. They got it backwards. These rights, life and liberty, are recognized to be intrinsic, that is, to be within us because of the very fact that we are human and alive. No person gave them to you, they are yours by the nature of your very existence. To say that a woman’s right to terminate her child’s life is okay, is to say it is okay to own slaves.

We can discuss nuisances and guidelines and put arbitrary dates on when life begins till the cows come home, but when looked at through an objective, scientific, rational and unbiased lens, the only logical conclusion is that a metabolizing, genetically unique, genetically human life is created at conception. And that single human cell is just as deserving of his life rights (or health care) as is a lumpy collection of 16 trillion human cells.

Any other conclusion is purely subjective and at the whim of the person declaring the definitions.

We can discuss nuisances and guidelines and put arbitrary dates on when life begins... but when looked at through an objective, scientific, rational and unbiased lens, the only logical conclusion is that... life is created at conception.

The McAllen Tea Party asks you to recognize the importance of intrinsic rights when. Only by us understanding and respecting these rights can we, as individuals, elect people worthy to represent us.

WHP controversy unnecessary

By Samantha Magdalano VOX: Voices for Planned Parenthood

The controversy surrounding the funding for Women’s healthcare in my opinion is unnecessary. The Texas Women’s Health Program benefits over 100,000 low income women that cannot otherwise afford necessary health services. Amongst these 100,000 low income women are col-

The stigma that surrounds Planned Parenthood is that it is a place that provides abortions. Even though the PP in the Valley does NOT provide abortions, it is being threatened to be cut from [the Women’s Health Program]. lege students that are struggling to keep up with finances and stay healthy. In our own Hidalgo County there are around 66% of women between the ages of 18-39 that do not have insurance.

A few health services provided include but are not limited to pregnancy preventive care, clinic breasts exams, and pap smears. In 2011 the WHP saved the state around $23 million by preventing over 8,000 births. Aside from saving money for the state the program is keeping women healthy and providing a security that they have somewhere to go if they are faced with a health issue. Women are being provided with knowledge on how to prevent a pregnancy that can potentially hurt them in two ways, financially and emotionally. If a woman is not ready for all the duties and responsibilities that come with motherhood they should be

able to seek out information on how to prevent that situation. The safety and security of women should outweigh the politics that are surrounding the WHP. The politics surrounding the WHP are centralized around “Planned Parenthood.” Planned Parenthood is a healthcare provider that assists more than half of the women enrolled in the Texas Women’s Healthcare Program. In our Hidalgo County there are very few alternative health care providers for women enrolled in the program to go to. It is safe to say that a lot of women will lose health care altogether if PP is cut.

The stigma that surrounds Planned Parenthood is that it is a place that provides abortions. Even though the PP in the Valley does NOT provide abortions, it is being threatened to be cut from WHP. PP does not push the option of abortion on anyone. In fact, if women decide to go through with their pregnancies PP offers prenatal care and if that clinic does not provide prenatal care they will refer women to a clinic whose primary focus is gynecology.

I am a struggling college student that has benefited from being a part of the Texas Women’s Health Program. The provider I chose to go to was Planned Parenthood. My education and my future are the most important things to me. In order to achieve my goals I need to make sure that I keep myself healthy.

The WHP along with PP have made that possible for me. I am able to prevent many obstacles that keep my peers from graduating by going to PP and being examined and taking measures to prevent any unseen obstacles.

In the end, the controversy of funding WHP is unnecessary. Clearly the benefits of WHP outweigh the political agenda against PP. It comes down to these women needing a service that can only be properly accommodated by an organization that only wants the best for women.

Letters to the

Editor The Pan American accepts letters of 300 words or less from students, staff and faculty regarding recent newspaper content, campus concerns or current events. We cannot publish anonymous letters or submissions containing hate speech or gratuitous personal attacks.

Please send all letters to:

thepanamerican @gmail.com

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Vol. 69, No. 9

The Pan American

thepanamerican@gmail.com 1201 West University, CAS 170 Edinburg, Texas 78539 Phone: (956) 665-2541 Fax: (956) 316-7122

Editor-in-Chief:

Karen Antonacci

News Editor:

Daniella Diaz

Sports Editor:

Norma Gonzalez

Arts & Life Editor:

Lea Victoria Juarez

Photography Editor: Adrian Castillo

Design Editor:

Erick Gonzalez

Multimedia Editor:

Dimitra Hernandez

Adviser:

Dr. Greg Selber

Administrative Associate:

Anita Reyes

Advertising Manager:

Mariel Cantu

Webmaster:

Jose Villarreal

Social Media Editor: David Alvarado

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.

Next Delivery:

Nov. 1 at noon

October 25, 2012

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the pan american

Pumpkin Carving contest 10-29-12 8:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

COSTUME CONTEST 10-31-12 12:00 p.m.

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Student Union East Patio

For special accommodations call (956) 665-7989

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the pan american

October 25, 2012

October 25, 2012

the pan american

Page 5

Page 6

October 25, 2012

THE PAN AMERICAN

October 25, 2012

THE PAN AMERICAN

The Pan American’s guide: 2012 Elections

Know the candidates, know their platforms, cast an informed vote Legend:

Justice, Supreme Court, Place 4

John Devine

Tom Oxford

Page 7

Justice, 13th Court of Appeals, Place 5 Doug Norman

Gina M. Benavides

County Proposal:

This will be a federal bond or loan that will allow a six-mile ditch to be built from the Edinburg river to a bay. Should the grant be approved, 25 new projects will also be worked on. Due to rising urban areas (cities), water or hail no longer has the ability to go into drains which were built over 40 years ago for agricultural use. In case the Valley should receive another and more powerful Hurricane Katrina, we will be able to move the water to the bay and prevent the buildup of the water in the cities. This will be paid back with a $25 dollar increase on property taxes for 20 years for those who own property.

Charles E. Waterbury

National

State County City

Democrat Republican

Green Libertarian

President of the United States Barack Obama

Mitt Romney

Jill Stein

Gary Johnson

End wars, create jobs of the future and reform the tax code

Cut the deficit, increase access to domestic energy resources

Pass the Green New Deal, an economic plan to create jobs and affordable housing

Lead the world in college graduates by 2020

Strengthen and simplify the financial aid system

Forgive student debt

Expand access and lower costs to health care

Repeal the Affordable Healthcare Act

Paul Sadler

Ted Cruz

Advocates clean, renewable energy Protect access to affordable healthcare Economic development through energy, education and infrastructure investment

David B. Collins

Repeal Obamacare Secure the borders Smaller government

John Jay Myers

Build a post-fossil fuel economy

Bring home the troops

Amend the constitution to state that corporations are not people

Lower taxes

Base foreign policy on cooperation with all nations

End the War on Drugs

United States Representative, District 15 A United States Representative is a member of the House of Representatives. The House passes federal legislation with the U.S. Senate. Other powers include the power to initiate revenue bills, impeach officials, and elect the U.S. President in the special case that there is no majority in the Electoral College.

Ruben Hinojosa Rebuild the economy by supporting small businesses, strengthening banks, creating jobs Protect funding of Pell Grants and Federal college loans Provide veterans with health care and education

Dale A. Brueggemann Protect 2nd Amendment rights Encourage farmers to plant fruits, vegetables and organic crops through the 2012 Farm Bill Secure the border to stop spillover violence and illegal activity

Railroad Commissioner The Railroad Commissioner regulates the oil and gas industry, gas utilities, pipeline safety, safety in the liquefied petroleum gas industry, surface coal and uranium mining. Ironically, the office does not regulate railroads.

Reduce taxes Appeal laws at the national level

Sources: Gathered from candidates, websites and interviews to

them or their representatives.

Christi Craddick

Dale Henry Protect the environment, consumers and mineral owners

Ensure the Texas oil and gas industry is healthy

Partner with other entities to develop a plan for Texans’ water needs

Oppose unnecessary federal regulation

Make sure the Railroad Commission is on site for cement surface casings

Chris Kennedy

Provide private property rights

Barry Smitherman Provide stable, transparent regulation to the oil and gas industry Secure energy independence by extracting oil and gas from new areas Protect the rights of property owners

Nathan Hecht

Michele Petty Jim Chisholm

Mark Ash

Presiding Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals

Guadalupe “Lupe” Treviño Expose corruption Put an end to nepotism in political system Bring back old-fashioned law enforcement to fight crime on the streets

Barbara Parker Harvey

Mark W. Bennett

Elsa Alcala

William Bryan Strange, III

Member, State Board of Education, District 3 David M. Williams

Marisa B. Perez

Relieve some of the money the state is holding on to Keep up to date with technology, look beyond the administrative level

Safety of children (should not be negotiated) Increasing future teacher pay

Take care of the environment by making sure oil drilling is properly monitored

Texas Senator, District 20 Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa

Raul Torres

Xavier Salinas

The Supreme Court, the highest court in the United States, can tell the president that his/her actions are not allowed by the Constitution and can tell Congress that a law it passed violated the U.S. Constitution and is, therefore, no longer a law. It can also determine if the government of a state breaks a rule in the Constitution. It has ultimate (but largely discretionary) appellate jurisdiction over all federal courts and over state court cases involving issues of federal law, and original jurisdiction over a small range of cases.

RS Roberto Koelsh

Tom Greenwell

Nora Longoria

Justice, 13th Court of Appeals, Place 4 Neida Vidaurri Rodriguez

Bradford M. Condit

Implement internal audits to manage revenues and expenses Save money and be more responsible as taxpayers

Alfredo Salinas Accountability Student performance Pay increases for all employees

Carmen Gonzalez

Independent

Fairness in awarding contracts for school board-funded projects Fiscal responsibility

Josh Wendel

Justice, 13th Court of Appeals District, Place 2

Manage growth and the budget cuts

School Board Trustee, Place 6 Wants more transparancy

Promote energy independence

Fight county corruption

Robert Pena, Jr.

Alex Rios

Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 8

Reduce violent crimes

School Board Trustee, Place 1 Assist district in finding funding for an after-school children’s safety program

Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 7

Continue improving community outreach program

Civil Service would apply to Edinburg’s 21 career firefighters, putting in place a consistent process for hiring, promoting, granting seniority and implementing disciplinary action paid firefighters.

Irma Salazar Pena

Lance Stott

Robert Caples

City Proposal:

Sharon Keller

Keith Hampton

Jaime O. Perez

Justice, Supreme Court, Place 2

Don Willett

Justice, Supreme Court, Place 6

Vivekananda (Vik) Wall

Railroad Commissioner, Unexpired Term

Ron Finch Downsize government

Cut wasteful spending Smaller government through better management

Universalize healthcare

Texas Senator

End the two party-system

County Sheriff

Continue legacy of academic excellence Stand guard on future employment and current employees should financial troubles arise Work with administration to secure safety of students

School Board Trustee, Place 7 Jaime Solis

Ciro Trevino

Develop a fiscal strategy

Keep up with trends (like technology)

Reallocate resources for teaching levels (more tutors, higher quality education and higher quality students)

Provide developmental support for schools and students

Incorporate district as part of community (city, University, county)

More involvement with parents

Research by: Jaime Leal

Page 6

October 25, 2012

THE PAN AMERICAN

October 25, 2012

THE PAN AMERICAN

The Pan American’s guide: 2012 Elections

Know the candidates, know their platforms, cast an informed vote Legend:

Justice, Supreme Court, Place 4

John Devine

Tom Oxford

Page 7

Justice, 13th Court of Appeals, Place 5 Doug Norman

Gina M. Benavides

County Proposal:

This will be a federal bond or loan that will allow a six-mile ditch to be built from the Edinburg river to a bay. Should the grant be approved, 25 new projects will also be worked on. Due to rising urban areas (cities), water or hail no longer has the ability to go into drains which were built over 40 years ago for agricultural use. In case the Valley should receive another and more powerful Hurricane Katrina, we will be able to move the water to the bay and prevent the buildup of the water in the cities. This will be paid back with a $25 dollar increase on property taxes for 20 years for those who own property.

Charles E. Waterbury

National

State County City

Democrat Republican

Green Libertarian

President of the United States Barack Obama

Mitt Romney

Jill Stein

Gary Johnson

End wars, create jobs of the future and reform the tax code

Cut the deficit, increase access to domestic energy resources

Pass the Green New Deal, an economic plan to create jobs and affordable housing

Lead the world in college graduates by 2020

Strengthen and simplify the financial aid system

Forgive student debt

Expand access and lower costs to health care

Repeal the Affordable Healthcare Act

Paul Sadler

Ted Cruz

Advocates clean, renewable energy Protect access to affordable healthcare Economic development through energy, education and infrastructure investment

David B. Collins

Repeal Obamacare Secure the borders Smaller government

John Jay Myers

Build a post-fossil fuel economy

Bring home the troops

Amend the constitution to state that corporations are not people

Lower taxes

Base foreign policy on cooperation with all nations

End the War on Drugs

United States Representative, District 15 A United States Representative is a member of the House of Representatives. The House passes federal legislation with the U.S. Senate. Other powers include the power to initiate revenue bills, impeach officials, and elect the U.S. President in the special case that there is no majority in the Electoral College.

Ruben Hinojosa Rebuild the economy by supporting small businesses, strengthening banks, creating jobs Protect funding of Pell Grants and Federal college loans Provide veterans with health care and education

Dale A. Brueggemann Protect 2nd Amendment rights Encourage farmers to plant fruits, vegetables and organic crops through the 2012 Farm Bill Secure the border to stop spillover violence and illegal activity

Railroad Commissioner The Railroad Commissioner regulates the oil and gas industry, gas utilities, pipeline safety, safety in the liquefied petroleum gas industry, surface coal and uranium mining. Ironically, the office does not regulate railroads.

Reduce taxes Appeal laws at the national level

Sources: Gathered from candidates, websites and interviews to

them or their representatives.

Christi Craddick

Dale Henry Protect the environment, consumers and mineral owners

Ensure the Texas oil and gas industry is healthy

Partner with other entities to develop a plan for Texans’ water needs

Oppose unnecessary federal regulation

Make sure the Railroad Commission is on site for cement surface casings

Chris Kennedy

Provide private property rights

Barry Smitherman Provide stable, transparent regulation to the oil and gas industry Secure energy independence by extracting oil and gas from new areas Protect the rights of property owners

Nathan Hecht

Michele Petty Jim Chisholm

Mark Ash

Presiding Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals

Guadalupe “Lupe” Treviño Expose corruption Put an end to nepotism in political system Bring back old-fashioned law enforcement to fight crime on the streets

Barbara Parker Harvey

Mark W. Bennett

Elsa Alcala

William Bryan Strange, III

Member, State Board of Education, District 3 David M. Williams

Marisa B. Perez

Relieve some of the money the state is holding on to Keep up to date with technology, look beyond the administrative level

Safety of children (should not be negotiated) Increasing future teacher pay

Take care of the environment by making sure oil drilling is properly monitored

Texas Senator, District 20 Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa

Raul Torres

Xavier Salinas

The Supreme Court, the highest court in the United States, can tell the president that his/her actions are not allowed by the Constitution and can tell Congress that a law it passed violated the U.S. Constitution and is, therefore, no longer a law. It can also determine if the government of a state breaks a rule in the Constitution. It has ultimate (but largely discretionary) appellate jurisdiction over all federal courts and over state court cases involving issues of federal law, and original jurisdiction over a small range of cases.

RS Roberto Koelsh

Tom Greenwell

Nora Longoria

Justice, 13th Court of Appeals, Place 4 Neida Vidaurri Rodriguez

Bradford M. Condit

Implement internal audits to manage revenues and expenses Save money and be more responsible as taxpayers

Alfredo Salinas Accountability Student performance Pay increases for all employees

Carmen Gonzalez

Independent

Fairness in awarding contracts for school board-funded projects Fiscal responsibility

Josh Wendel

Justice, 13th Court of Appeals District, Place 2

Manage growth and the budget cuts

School Board Trustee, Place 6 Wants more transparancy

Promote energy independence

Fight county corruption

Robert Pena, Jr.

Alex Rios

Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 8

Reduce violent crimes

School Board Trustee, Place 1 Assist district in finding funding for an after-school children’s safety program

Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 7

Continue improving community outreach program

Civil Service would apply to Edinburg’s 21 career firefighters, putting in place a consistent process for hiring, promoting, granting seniority and implementing disciplinary action paid firefighters.

Irma Salazar Pena

Lance Stott

Robert Caples

City Proposal:

Sharon Keller

Keith Hampton

Jaime O. Perez

Justice, Supreme Court, Place 2

Don Willett

Justice, Supreme Court, Place 6

Vivekananda (Vik) Wall

Railroad Commissioner, Unexpired Term

Ron Finch Downsize government

Cut wasteful spending Smaller government through better management

Universalize healthcare

Texas Senator

End the two party-system

County Sheriff

Continue legacy of academic excellence Stand guard on future employment and current employees should financial troubles arise Work with administration to secure safety of students

School Board Trustee, Place 7 Jaime Solis

Ciro Trevino

Develop a fiscal strategy

Keep up with trends (like technology)

Reallocate resources for teaching levels (more tutors, higher quality education and higher quality students)

Provide developmental support for schools and students

Incorporate district as part of community (city, University, county)

More involvement with parents

Research by: Jaime Leal

8

news

October 25, 2012

Career Services centralizes job postings

UTPA unveils one-year mba

By Jose Salvador III The Pan American

By Karen Perez The Pan American

Amy Reyna is currently employed, and has Career Services to thank for that.

The rehabilitative service major has used the UTPA program before, but this year, they offered something new for students like her looking for a job.

Career Services, a UTPA program that provides career counseling to students, has a database on its website providing a list of all available jobs on and off campus.

Previously, only work-study jobs were listed on the database.

Because of this, only work-study students, those awarded financial aid to receive employment, had access to the database.

On the other hand, directwage students, those directly employed by the University, didn’t have access. They had to personally go out to find a job on campus.

Now, direct-wage jobs have been included on the database, meaning that direct-wage students now have access to it.

Reyna, who used the database to find a direct-wage job as an office aid for the Library Writing

“There’s a lot of diverse career opportunities on campus and we don’t want students to miss out on that.” Servantes said. “The database will help students provide better job access.”

The idea was initially proposed by UTPA President Robert S. Nelsen during the Fall 2011 convocation. After the proposal, the Career Services staff set out with a training schedule to have the new system in place by the current school year.

According to Nicole Palacios, assistant director, one reason why Career Services is interested in getting students employed on campus is to promote more university involvement with students through a career.

According to the Office of Institutional Research and Effectiveness, the 2012 UTPA retention rate in 2011 for full-time freshmen who enrolled fall 2012 is 75.4 percent. The change in career services is designed to help improve this rate.

“There’s a lot of focus saying that the more a student is involved in a university, the more the student will stay until graduation,” Servantes said. “We’re mak-

Before the database, I had to personally go to different departments to see if they had any jobs available, and a lot of the times walk away disappointed.

- Amy Reyna UTPA Student

Center and as a Sophomore Academic Mentor, sees the change as a big help for students.

“Before the database, I had to personally go to different departments to see if they had any jobs available, and a lot of the times walk away disappointed,” the Penitas native said. “Now that all the jobs are listed online, it’s so much easier, you can tell who’s hiring. I even direct people to it.”

The changes, according to Career Services director Lourdes Servantes, are meant to help students receive more and better employment opportunities on campus.

ing it with the hope that it will help with graduation and retention rates for the University.”

According to Servantes, the system had fewer than 500 active members before the new database. Now, the system has processed 1,200 direct-wage employees and 600 work-study students. Servantes estimates that by August 2013, Career Services will have processed 3,000 students.

Palacios hopes that more students take advantage of the program.

“We’re here to help students get to the end result of getting a job to get a complete college experience,” she said.

Twenty-two years after receiving her bachelor’s of business administration in accounting, UTPA alumna and Director of Auxiliary Services Leticia Benavides will hit the books once again, but this time for online courses under the University’s new accelerated master’s of business administration program.

The new program, a year in the making, will offer students the opportunity to receive their MBA degree within one calendar year. UTPA faculty initiated the program, according to Cynthia Brown, vice provost for graduate studies.

In the past, Benavides looked at many online MBA programs available at other universities.

However, when UTPA developed the new program, she didn’t look any further and applied during the summer.

“I want to balance my time between family, work and education,” said Benavides, who graduated from McAllen High School and first came to UTPA in fall 1984 for undergraduate work. “I realize that I will be dedicating numerous hours to my studies but at least I will do so from home and still be accessible to my husband and kids.”

“The accelerated MBA program allows for that flexibility but it also is an intensive program that, I expect, will be very challenging,” she said. “In order to balance family, work and school, I needed a program that would allow for versatility in how I managed my time.”

Each of the program’s online courses will be offered in sevenweek terms, with a one-week break after each course. Six terms will be offered within one calendar year.

The upcoming fall session will begin Oct. 24. The MBA program consists of 12 courses, totaling 36 credit hours. Courses include financial administration, marketing policy and management and social media in business. Tuition for the accelerated degree program is $14,500. The program will require the same admissions criteria as the graduate degree offered on campus.

“It’s accelerated in terms of time. Through the program, you get to do in a week what you’d normally do in two, it speeds up a traditional MBA within a year,” said Dave Jackson, director of the

says the number of applicants in the waiting line for the spring module is expected to grow.

“The demand for the new accelerated program is high,” Jackson said. “We started out with an average number of applicants for the first seven-week term since we didn’t have enough time to market the program.”

It’s accelerated Jackson explains that in terms of time.

Through the students will receive the program, you get to do same quality of education in a week what you’d as in a classroom, as coursnormally do in two, es are built online to help it speeds up a students keep up, using traditional MBA software programs such as within a year.

Blackboard Learn.

- Dave Jackson “It won’t just be notes MBA program director posted online; short instructional videos will be uploadfer the master’s of education in ed- ed through Tegrity as well,” Jackucational administration along son said. “As a finance instructor, with the MBA this fall, includ- my students will be able to see me ing the master’s in public admin- solve problems step-by-step as they istration set for spring. The mas- would in a classroom.”

While the online program ter’s in accountancy is also expected to join the accelerated program in is primarily targeted to working adults, to increase their ability to the future.

With 15 students enrolled for obtain an MBA degree in less time, the first seven-week term for the ac- it is not suited for everyone. UTcelerated MBA program, Jackson PA will continue to offer the tradiMBA program. “Online learning will be a huge boom for UTPA students and working adults, allowing them the comfort and flexibility to take their courses at their own convenience.”

The University will also of-

tional classroom MBA program on campus as well as online, both taking an estimated two calendar years to complete.

“Some students will just prefer the face-to-face classroom environment,” Jackson said. “If you get behind three or four days, forget it, it’ll be difficult to keep up.”

With 97 percent of the enrolled students from South Texas, Jackson hopes the accelerated MBA degree will serve and benefit students throughout the Valley’s geographically dispersed region who can’t always commute to and from Edinburg.

An MBA is the second most popular graduate degree in the nation, following a Master’s in Education, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.

“A good portion of the applicants are engineers and medical doctors seeking to understand how to operate their own businesses. We also have working adults in the traditional MBA program that want to make the switch to the accelerated one,” he said. “They want to get in, get qualified and return to the job market as soon as possible.”

Francisco Rodriguez/The Pan American

October 25, 2012

the pan american

Page 9

10

arts & life

October 25, 2012

'Pay to get in,

pray to get out'

Harlingen Haunt draws Halloween fans

By Nina Avila The Pan American Mission native Jorge Cardenas makes the trip across the Valley to the Rotting Flesh Factory, with the rush of the previous year’s scare in mind.

“Last year was my first time coming. It was so cool,” he said.

“The whole time you’re inside, you’re totally scared. There’s a lot of adrenaline in there.”

The Rotting Flesh Factory is an old building that looms in a seemingly deserted plaza, right across the street from a park. At night, the haunted house is lit only by a few street lamps and with John Carpenter’s Halloween theme song playing, gives off an eerie feel similar to that of a horror film.

Although the Rotting Flesh Factory opens its doors at 8 p.m., people begin to arrive at 7 p.m. By 7:30, the line trails far down West Van Buren in Harlingen, where all that can be heard are unearthly shrieks coming from the inside.

Open every weekend in October, the haunted house draws hundreds of Halloween enthusiasts looking to experience the unknown. The excited crowd varies from pre-teens to middle aged, who flock to the Harlingen location from all over the Valley.

Belen Diaz/The Pan American Arturo Sustaita and Johnathan Martinez wander the South Texas Horror Con as clowns Oct. 19.

As the story goes, the patients in the factory have experienced sudden death, better known as “Voodoo Death,” which is brought on by intense fear. This Halloween, the Rotting Flesh Factory invites those daring enough to observe evil psychiatrist Dr. Wolf without becoming another victim.

In line, visitors boast about their bravery and make bets with each other, promising to maintain their fearless façade. The crowd’s anticipation hangs as thick as the fog that greets visitors upon entering the haunt. Off-duty police officers are on call in case of trouble, and under a lonely street lamp, a woman offers henna tattoos.

Within the factory, Dr. Wolf is using methods like solitary confinement, electroshock therapy and sheer force to test clinically insane patients in order to help them overcome their fears.

Several people waiting for the factory to open this past Saturday have been there more than once before. Melissa Gomez, who was one of the first ones to arrive, also attests to the graphic details of the haunt.

“The little scenes in each of the rooms are awesome,” the Donna native said. “It’s definitely worth it. The actors get really into it and scare you.”

The actors, referred to as the

Legion, not only work to scare inside the haunt, but also entertain those waiting in line. Clad in custom-made masks, detailed face paint and costumes sported as comfortably as if they were born into them, the monsters range from a deranged doll to a hoard of drooling zombies to an ax-wielding pig.

“Souls, bodies, everything is up for the taking. We’re going to get

same love for scaring people, which shows in the camaraderie in the makeup room as they prepare for the night’s event.

Aside from operating the Rotting Flesh Factory and creating ghostly characters, Susanna Fantich is also a published author whose book, “A Cat’s Tale” came into print last week. She has a passion for horror, and has been a frequent visitor to haunted houses all over the world. With this gathered inspiration, she shared some of the goals her team has in mind for the Harlingen haunt.

“We want to expand it into two rooms, and we definitely want to also keep it open to where it’s on a couple of times a year, not just for Halloween,” she shared. “We want to do a ‘Nightmare Before Christmas’ type thing, or a ‘Bloody Valentine’ for February, where people can take a break from the holidays and do something different.”

Until then, the Rotting Flesh Factory is open every weekend in October, including Halloween night. Admission is $20 and the haunt is located on 602 W. Van Buren in Harlingen.

hosted by Ramsey Ramirez, a UTPA alumnus who owns Kaboom comics in McAllen and is the editor of the local entertainment magazine MagX. Ramirez came up with the idea for the convention because he and his friends have attended several of them in cities like Austin, Dallas, and Chicago for the past 20 years.

They noticed the Valley lacked a similar attraction.

“We figure that maybe 10 percent of the Valley has ever attended a convention outside of here,” said Ramirez, who graduated UTPA with a bachelor’s in graphic design.

Hordes of people zig-zagged through the exhibit hall, taking photos as they browsed through the Halloween and horror themed booths.

Gerald and Lydia Pennington, Dallas natives who moved to the Valley two years ago, were one of the couples that renewed their vows at the themed expo.

The zombie groom, dressed in a shredded coat with grime covering his face, explained that he and Lydia have been married for 21 years, but couldn’t afford a ceremony at that time. He saw the gathering as an opportunity to make up for it.

Lydia, the blushing undead bride, was dressed in a dirty grey wedding gown that looked as if she had been buried and then exhumed in it. She explained why they’re both fans of the genre.

“It’s a different reality and its a safe way to experience chaos,” she said. “It’s nice when you have a bad

day, and then you pop in a movie or read a book and see that someone is having a worse day than you are.”

The biggest draw for many attendees were the celebrity guests, which ranged from cult film stars like The Crow’s Rochelle Davis to Machete star Danny Trejo.

Horror Con also provided an opportunity for stars, such as The Walking Dead’s IronE Singleton, who portrays T-Dog, to meet fans.

“It’s always great to go out to places you’ve never even heard of before, and find fans,” Singleton said. “The convention is really great, the people are great, honestly, I’m having a blast.”

-A tall, blood-smeared vampire, deeply engrossed in his character what we want,” promised a tall and blood-smeared vampire, deeply engrossed in his character.

The monsters are brought to life by the brush of Susanna Fantich, self-proclaimed “freak,” makeup artist and co-owner of the Rotting Flesh Factory, along with her husband and stepson, Marc and Eric Fantich.

The Fantich family purchased the Rotting Flesh Factory last year from previous owner John Cook.

However, the trio is not new to this line of work. They used to run

South Texas hosts first horror convention

Elvis was undead this weekend.

The rock and roll icon, whose death has been the subject of much debate among fans around the world, showed up this weekend at the McAllen Convention Center.

He arrived covered in blood, with a guitar strapped around his tattered jacket, and stood front and center on a makeshift stage adorned with cardboard tombstones and stuffed owls.

However, Zombie Elvis did not arrive to perform any of his hit ‘50s

“We have had rave reviews; a lot of our patrons have come back three times this year,” Susanna Fantich asserted. “It’s a very stateof-the-art haunted house. We’ve spared no expense in making it better and we just believe in putting on a really good show.”

At Fantich’s request, detailed information about what goes on inside the haunt will not be shared, since it would ruin the element of surprise for future patrons. Nonetheless, it can be said that visitors can expect to experience visual light

effects and temperature changes, as well as various scents and smells within the haunt. These mechanisms are meant to attack the senses, so that all visitors are locked in a constant state of fear.

“We want you to feel like you’re stepping into a horror movie, where reality is suspended and you step in here to our dimension,” Susanna Fantich explained.

This ‘dimension’ created by Fantich and her team churned out groups of people that exited the haunt, running and out of breath.

Almost all of them wore a clear look of relief to be out of the terror trap.

“It’s just so real!” Melanie Lozano of San Benito exclaimed. “It’s really like being in a movie. I would definitely come again.”

Jennifer Garcia of Los Fresnos also recommended this haunt for anyone.

“You’ll get a really good scare and it’s definitely worth the money,” she said. “Everything was scary.

There was non-stop suspense and a lot of things going on at once.”

Fantich attributes the success of the haunt to her team, noting that everyone they hired shares the

Scream Factor with other partners before starting Dead Farm at Donna’s Corn Maze, which they continue to operate. After eight years of working with haunted houses, they felt they were ready to take Rotting Flesh to the next level.

Souls, bodies, everything is up for the taking. We’re going to get what we want.

Macabre menagerie

By Jose S. De Leon III The Pan American

Adrian Castillo/The Pan American Elyssa “Dolly” Ramirez, an actress at the Rotting Flesh Factory in Harlingen, walks outside the venue to frighten costumers waiting to enter. The entry fee is $20 for anybody who dares to visit.

songs. Instead he arrived to officiate the wedding between eight couples. Actually an ordained minister named Matthew Rios, he arrived in costume as part of South Texas Horror Con, held Oct. 19 and 20.

The zombie-themed weddings were part of the many events featured at South Texas’ first Horror Convention, a two-day event that attracted a large gathering of fans of the macabre that sold 6,000 pre-sale tickets ranging from $25-75.

Attendees were treated to nearly 150 booths from local businesses and sponsors, costume and tattoo contests and more. The event was

Continued Online panamericanonline.com

Carving the right path Bronc leader setting winning ways for volleyball team

By Alex E. Peña The Pan American There’s a new aura surrounding the UTPA volleyball team. Maybe it’s the fact that more and more fans are fillings once-empty seats during home matches, or perhaps it’s the new behemoth of a scoreboard added onto the west section of the Field House that is creating a new buzz.

OK, maybe not the latter, but the Broncs are proving that they are no longer a pushover. Something about the volleyball program gives the impression of the tide finally turning for UTPA. The person most credit for that is none other than secondyear head coach Brian Yale.

“It’s a slow process, but we’re trying to set a winning mentality,” Yale said. “I know this program’s never even been .500 in conference. We’re looking at (a) 4-4 (record) or something attainable, that’s what we have in mind. We’re close (to that goal).”

The Houston Baptist Huskies (16-10, 4-1 GWC) swept the Broncs 3-0 at the Field House on Saturday, but don’t let loss to misguide you. The Broncs had not been at .500 or better since 2010 when an Angela Hubbard-coached team went 2-1

Yale, who took over as head coach in 2011 after six seasons as an assistant at Stephen F. Austin, has achieved this progress with only three seniors on the team; the majority of the roster has kids he personally recruited. Yale will have some of these key players for another two to three years.

Last year he saw his younger players commit repetitive mistakes Everyone has their in crucial parts of matchown role (and) it es. Now, he’s seen less may change day and less of what he calls to day, match to match. ‘freshman matches.’

They’re feeling that urgen“Our sophomore cy, as the season class definitely got expegoes on, that last rience. Krysta (Freitas) merry-go-round. and Diara (Reynolds are) looked at to play a bigger - Brian Yale role,” Yale said. “Haley Head coach (Durham) has stepped in as a freshman. She had The Broncs have been some incredible matches for us.

9-30 the past four years, not She hasn’t had many freshman achieving a home record of at matches, where she’s worked out least .500 since 2008’s 4-4 sea- of sorts.”

Still, the lone seniors on son. A stable record, along with a change in personality in his the team - libero Juri Franzen, players, is what has characterized outside hitter Ijanae Holman and middle blocker Sarah Davis - are Yale’s squads.

“They see the progress and the stalwarts on an underclassthey see how far we’ve gotten. We men-laden team.

Yale says the burden may have won much more than we did (at this point) so this is prog- fall on them to win in their last ress,” Yale said before the match year, but it’s something they have taken in stride. against the Huskies.

through the first three weeks of the program’s second season as a Great West Conference member.

UTPA ended 4-8 in league play that year.

The recent loss to the Huskies set the Broncs back to 2-2 in GWC play and 9-14 overall - still a major improvement since last year’s 7-24 season that featured only one conference win.

“They’re our senior leadership core. They’re a big part of that. Everyone has their own role (and) it may change day to day, match to match,” Yale said.

“They’re feeling that urgency, as the season goes on, that last merry-go-round.”

Another change for the team has been the sway of crowds at the Field House, playing a bigger role as a 12th man. Last season, the Broncs average 226 fans in 10 home games; the biggest crowd was 563 in a sweep loss against Utah Valley. This season’s home opener on Aug. 28 against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (UTPA lost 3-1) drew 1,218 fans, while the next two games pulled in more than 1,000 spectators. The fact that the team is now winning is a huge contributor to the bigger crowds.

Add that to the nucleus of the team and for once, the Broncs appear be headed in the right direction.

“It’s a great crowd,” Yale said. “It’s a plus, we’re drawing crowds, but we’ve put an exciting product on the floor. We got a strong core that’s played volleyball.... our future looks good.”

UTPA has four remaining GWC games, only one at home against NJIT on Nov. 1, and closes out the season on the road at HBU nine days later.

Norma Gonzalez/The Pan American

Volleyball Head Coach Brian Yale hugs and thanks Debra Patterson after the UTB match Sept. 15. Patterson, who is Krysta Freitas’ grandmother, presented the team, Coach Yale, Andrew Haring and Chris King with gifts and leis from Hawaii.

11 mourning a legend October 25, 2012

Former UTPA coach dies at 88

By Norma Gonzalez The Pan American Sam Williams, pioneer of collegiate basketball in the late 1950s, the “Father of Broncs Basketball,” UTPA Hall of Famer and men’s basketball head coach emeritus, passed away Monday due to natural causes.

He was 88.

“Williams was at the forefront of integration and presided over the most successful period of Broncs men’s basketball so certainly he’s meant a lot to the program. He also gave the community a team to rally behind,” Athletic Director Chris King said. “It is important to remember that Williams also taught for more than 30 years at Pan Am, so between his former players and students, there are countless people in the Rio Grande Valley today who were touched by Williams.”

Williams’ best-known legacy is that of his team winning the NAIA National Championship in 1963, drawing attention to Pan American College. He was also awarded the NAIA National Coach of the Year award.

The next year the Broncs played their way to the title game before losing, their third post-season appearance in a row.

The Field House center court was rededicated in Williams’ honor and he was named head coach emeritus, Nov. 20, 2010. Williams and UTPA Hall of Famer Al Ogletree are the only two coaches in school history to earn that exalted status.

“Sam Williams is one of the greatest coaches that ever worked at this institution. He’s the Father of Bronc Basketball,” King said. “He helped to lay the foundation that got this program to the NCAA Division I level and allowed us to expand to where we are today.”

MORE THAN A COACH Williams’ players always saw their coach, who guided Pan American from 19591973, as a father figure, the one to go to when they had problems on and off the court.

He was respected by all.

“He was always there when you needed him, whether it be just a little bit of help with your studies or just with your family,” said Jim Board, who played for Williams in the mid-1960s. “He was always a big help. He helped my wife get a job.”

Board, who graduated from Pan American College in 1965

Courtesy Photo

Sam Williams and was part of the ’64 title game finalist, credits his late coach for helping him finishing his college education at Pan American after Board decided to leave St. Edward’s University.

Williams brought players from all over the nation, hailing from New York, Indiana and from different parts of Texas, such as Houston.

“He just put it all together.

Everyone bought into his program,” Board said. “That made a bunch of guys just play together.”

According to Board, Williams was ahead of his time. The UTPA Hall of Famer was one of the first coaches to integrate his team, welcoming black players onto the court in the late 1950s.

Board recalls making a trip to Dallas with the team and not being allowed in restaurants because of the black players.

“It just seemed like he did the right thing all the time,” Board said. “I’m sure there were some mistakes that he and everybody makes in their lifetime, but he put everything together.”

PAYING TRIBUTE Memorial services for Sam Williams will be held Oct. 26 and 27. Friday’s gathering will take place from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Kreidler Funeral Home, located at 314 N. 10th St. in McAllen. The memorial service will be held Saturday at 10 a.m. also at Kreidler Funeral Home.

UTPA Athletics will host a special celebration in Williams’ honor during homecoming at the Field House Feb. 16, 2013.

In lieu of flowers, Williams’ family is asking that donations be made to the Sam Williams Endowed Scholarship fund. Interested parties should make the check out to the UTPA Foundation, with “Sam Williams Endowed Scholarship” in the memo and send it to UTPA Athletics at 1201 W. University Dr. in Edinburg, 78539.

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October 25, 2012

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