Febuary 20, 2014

50 Years Club

UTPA hosts Class of ‘64 reunion

Pages 4-5

Volume 70, No. 20

ONLINE CONTENT

panamericanonline.com

Events Calendar For February 21February 28

Graduate Location

Building gets new centralized spot

Blog Spot

Oscar predictions Part 1

6th Fan

UTPA support leads to award

YouTube

SGA Debate

By Claudia Victoria Lemus The Pan American With the primary elections taking place March 4 and early voting happening Feb. 18-28, controversies have stirred regarding the alleged buying of votes by politiqueros in Hidalgo County. According to Elijah Casas, recent graduate and current Republican candidate for State Representative District 41, politiqueras are hired by candidates to push campaigns for office and bring in votes. The 24-year-old candidate graduated in December 2013 as a political science major with minors in business administration and legal studies. Through his undergraduate work, Casas said he has worked to expose the corruption in local political processes. “I have worked with various projects, such as Voto Honesto, to expose and bring to light the corruption which exists in the political processes in the Rio Grande Valley,” Casas said. “Corruption which has recently found local, state and national media attention with many local ‘politiqueras’ now facing federal voter fraud charges.” However, according to a New York Times news article published in May 2008, the paying of politiqueras to round up votes is a controversial, but legal, tool employed by candidates seeking victory. These “electoral soldiers,” as referred to in the article, are paid with what is known in the political vernacular as “street money.” In the Valley, previous federal and local candidates have used politiqueras to aid their campaigns. During the presidential elections in 2008, Senator Hillary Clinton paid at least 460 Hispanics during her campaign in South Texas, based on a review of Federal Election Commission records. The records showed that the Clinton campaign made payments of $100 to $200 to 170 people in McAllen and Brownsville. Recently, one of three local politiqueras arrested by the FBI after an investigation of vote buying in December, plead guilty to having paid for votes in the 2012 Donna Independant School District elections Friday, Feb. 14 according to an article in

February 20, 2014

Itzel A Lopez/The Pan American The Monitor. Despite the controversies surrounding these electoral soldiers, Judge Ricardo Rodriguez, attorney and former 92nd Hidalgo County district court judge who is currently campaigning for district attorney (DA), believes politiqueras are an important part of the campaign process. “Politiqueras, or as I refer to them, ‘campaign workers,’ are an important part of any campaign,” Rodriguez said. “These workers help inform voters

about a candidate’s platform... and are asked to make phone calls to friends, block walk, put up signs and get the word out.” According to Rodriguez, the work of these individuals deserves fair compensation. “These individuals are working very hard. And for that work they should be compensated just like any other person working in the office,” he said. However, with his knowledge and experience in the judicial system and legal field, the DA

candidate is cognizant of the voting laws and has made sure that his politiqueros are also well aware. “I have explained to these workers that there are laws one must follow to avoid a voter from voting against their will,” Rodriguez said. “When they wear my shirt, they are representing me... and I have worked very hard to maintain the utmost respect of

citizens of Hidalgo County.” According to the judge, his struggles of being born from two teenage parents, overcoming racism and currently running against a political powerhouse, serve as the motivation for his career and campaign. “These struggles have formed the person I am today,” said the DA candidate. “It is through struggle that our will is tested.”

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opinion

February 20, 2014

The Pan American

Going digital

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

Editor-in-Chief:

The electronic alternative to smoking

Susan Gonzalez

News Editor:

Andrew Vera

Sports Editor:

Marco Torres

Arts & Life Editor: May Ortega

Photography Editor: Jon Nutt

Design Editor:

Francisco Rodriguez

Multimedia Editor: Michael Aguilar

Social Media Editor: Jose S. DeLeon III

Copy Editor:

Victoria Valdez

Adviser:

Dr. Greg Selber

Administrative Associate: Anita Reyes

Advertising Manager: Elva Ramirez

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.

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

Jon Nutt

Photography Editor The world today is jam packed with electrical devices. Nearly every person carries a smartphone, owns a computer and watches their favorite programs on television. In such a world, it is no surprise that even small things, such as cigarettes, are being replaced with a digital counterpart that is safer and cheaper than the smokes of the past. E-Cigarettes have quickly grabbed ahold of smokers and nonsmokers alike since being introduced to the U.S. in 2008. About 42.1 million people, or 18.1 percent, of Americans are smokers. Twenty-one percent of smokers have used an electronic cigarette and 60 percent know about them. Many people may be familiar with the common mock cigarette-style vaporizers found in convenience stores; however, there is a plethora of different colors, styles, sizes and shapes that look nothing like the cigarettes of the past. In fact, some are so oddly shaped and designed that one could easily mistake them for being props

out of a Star Wars film, with of cancer or nicotine addiction found in antifreeze,” someone large metallic bodies and digital sounds like a great deal to many might think. Well, they aren’t all LCD screens that allow the user smokers looking to quit or find that bad for you at all. At least, to moderate voltage and amper- a healthier alternative. None- according to the Federal Drug age and also lets the individual theless, with many new things, Administration that is. The FDA decide how much vapor is pro- uncertainty arises and fear of the has allowed for both of these duced. unknown follows suit. products to be used in food as Coupled with the multiplicSome of the arguments preservatives, believing them to ity of vaporizer styles, there are raised against vaporizers have be deadly only when consumed a huge variety in high quanof flavored tities and in juices, or Nearly every person carries a smartphone, a relatively “oils,” as some period owns a computer and watches their favorite short call them. of time. The juice is programs on television. In such a world, it C o n c e r n the product over is no surprise that even small things such as switches placed into to nicotine, cigarettes are being replaced with a digital the main the apparatus and then many counterpart that is safer and cheaper than reason vaporized or people even the smokes of the past. “s m o k e d .” bother with Juice flavors the use of varange from porizers. Nicotobacco to tine by itself is daily drinks, like Marlboro Reds to do with the ingredients used widely regarded as being nonand Coca Cola. There are even in juices: two common ones carcinogenic and kills people juices that contain no nicotine, are propylene glycol and glyc- only when ingested directly, in for individuals that enjoy the erol. “Whoa, now those sound large quantities. An individual sensation of smoking with none dangerous and toxic, these are would have to directly inject of the side effects of nicotine things that should never be in- 100 milligrams of nicotine bedependence. Having the ability troduced to the body in any fore worrying about an overdose. to “smoke” without the worry quantity. These ingredients are Each cigarette carries approxi-

mately 1 milligram of nicotine and if it takes a person 5 minutes to smoke one cigarette, a person would have to smoke non-stop, back to back, for 8 hours and 20 minutes. Nonetheless, nicotine is the most dangerous substance that is found in vaporizer juices. Nicotine is addictive, causes increased blood pressure, promotes the growth of pre-existing tumors, and even means death in high enough dosages. Nicotine alone is a good enough reason for people to stay away from vaporizers. However, for those who already smoke, vaporizers are one of the few options, and possibly the best substitute, for lighting up. For those who don’t smoke, nicotine dependence is highly likely and it is not recommended that they start using juices that have nicotine. Using juices that contain no nicotine at all may provide a pleasurable and unique way to experience delicious flavors.

#UTPA Tweet at and follow us @ThePan American

Who’s at #utpa and wants to buy me lunch? -@bbykarrot

What am I doing for my birthday? Voting of course! #6thFan #UTPA #NCAA

Degree works was not working?!?! THE IRONY! #UTPA #technicaldificulties -@happyval_3

-@UTPASWA

Vol. 70, No. 20

You say my dreams are too big. I say your mind is too small. #utpa #lol don’t ever try to discourage me. -@lauroazuniga

Too many girls in #UTPA and none of them decide to go to mechanical engineering :/ -@David_Torres28

PHOTOS OF THE WEEK Angel Lopez (left) helps his friends Jeffery England (foreground) and Jose Salinas to get their kite into the air Feb. 19. The three friends decided to take time off and have some fun flying kites on the quad. However, due to windy conditions the trio had trouble keeping their kite afloat.

Omar Casas/The Pan American Executive candidates (left to right) Johnathan Weisfeld-Hinojosa, Bianca Blanco, Carla Fernanda Pena and Alberto Adame stop for a 10-minute Q&A session at the Student Government Association executive debate Feb. 18. The debate lasted two hours and both executive tickets answered questions about pressing issues with UTPA and future plans handling the transition to the University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley.

Jon Nutt/The Pan American

February31, 20,2013 2014 January

One step forward UTPA partners with scholarship fund for undocumented students By Cynthia Rael The Pan American For the 1.4 million undocumented students in the nation another step has been taken in helping fund their higher education. The Dream.US, a multimillion dollar national scholarship fund for Dreamers- undocumented students who came into the U.S. as children- has selected 12 U.S. colleges and universities to partner with in an effort to provide scholarships for undocumented youths. UTPA was among the 12 universities chosen. The program, which has raised over $25 million, will have scholarships up to $25,000 ready for the 2014-2015 academic year for students planning to attend the participating universities. In addition to this criteria, students must be first-time college students, high school graduates with a 2.5 GPA and meet eligibility req u i re ments for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. This includes coming to the U.S. before the age of 16 and continuously residing in the country since June 2007. Students planning to attend UTPA in fall 2014 will be able to apply and possibly receive these scholarships due to this partnership. Other Texas schools chosen as partners were South Texas College, El Paso Community College and the University of Texas at El Paso. According to statements made by UTPA President Robert Nelsen, UTPA was chosen because of its support of the Dream Act, its impact on current Dream Act students attending UTPA and the University’s programs that help these students attend and succeed in college. As of fall 2013, 734 undocumented students are enrolled in courses at UTPA. For many of these undocumented students, this comes as a major relief due to the limit-

ed financial options provided for them. The options currently available for undocumented students living in Texas are filing the Texas Application for State Financial Aid (TASFA), major-specific and departmental scholarships and, because of efforts put forth by DACA, workstudy. Anselmo Suarez, president of UTPA’s University Dreamers and a Dreamer himself, elaborated on this difficulty. “Undocumented students like myself aren’t able to access financial aid like other students, so something like this helps a lot,” said the senior computer engineering major. “I know a lot of undocumented students in

my area (Mission) that are graduating from high school and they’re always like, ‘Oh you’re in college, right? How’d you do it? How’d you get scholarships?’ Because they’re not able to do anything since there isn’t a lot available to us.” Fellow Dreamer Humberto Ramos, a junior majoring in mass communication, expressed his feelings toward the opportunity for more scholarships at UTPA. “I think it’s awesome because I have state financial aid, which is very limited and difficult to obtain since everything is on paper and not online,” said the Weslaco resident, originally from Monterrey, Mexico. “There are so many deserving students out there that deserve these funds and I would’ve definitely not thought twice about applying for this scholarship in high school if it was available.” For organizations like RGV Community Dreamers (RCD), which serves to reach out to Dreamers and educate them on

their options for school and citizenship, this comes as an opportunity to provide more assistance in helping them reach their educational goals. Public Relations Director Claudia Galan elaborated on this. “This means that (RCD) can tell undocumented students about scholarships coming from this fund,” Galan said. “The Dream.US means that we’re going to be able to tap into those resources and help these students to go to college.” Since the DACA program passed in 2012, 500,000 undocumented immigrants living in the U.S. have received a working permit, allowing them to obtain federal work-study for college, a program that allows parttime employment while enrolled in school. While this was an achievement for the undocumented community, they must still rely on the few options that are previously mentioned. Additionally, many undocumented students are set to pay international tuition rather than in-state tuition, which in the case of UTPA jumps from $6,000 to $10,000, due to their status. “I think it’s a great improvement, but it took a long time for something like this to come,” Galan said. “It takes time for things like this to happen, but I’m sure that a lot of the students that are on DACA right now can benefit from this fund and hopefully it’s not the last one.” While The Dream.US’s partnership is set to reach thousands of undocumented students all around the country, including UTPA, Dreamers like Ramos are proud that more students like him will have a chance at a college education. “This is just another blessing,” Ramos said. “I’m sure there’s a lot of Dreamers out there that are a lot less fortunate, so of course this is very important to them as well and I feel great knowing that there’s more opportunities for Dreamers to have financial aid.”

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Voting for change Unlike his opponent, Rene terry, campaign for 92nd district Guerra, current DA and incum- court judge. Her personal hardbent for more than 30 consecu- ships to excel in her career as an tive years, Rodriguez feels he has attorney fuel her dislike of polibeen running an honest cam- tiqueras, whom she says demand paign. excessive compensation for their “My opponent has utilized actions. these workers in his prior camComing from an economipaigns without any scrutiny and cally disadvantaged family, Neso have many other elected offi- reida Singleterry endured many cials and candidates seeking to sacrifices, including her camhold public office,” Rodriguez pus involvement while at UTPA, said. “But I have maintained because she had two jobs in addicomplete transparency through- tion to being a full-time student. out my campaign and will con“Unfortunately, I was not intinue to do so when elected as volved in clubs as I was the the district attorney.” first of my family to go to colDespite hiring electoral sol- lege,” Singleterry said. “I worked diers to assist in his campaign, at Whataburger and H-E-B to Rodriguez believes the amount help support my family.” of volunteers helping out has According to the attorney, been a big help. her parents’ sacrifices in pursuit “A lot has been mentioned of of the American dream were her these workers...but what has not motivation to succeed. is the tremendous amount of volunteers who give up their weekends and free time to help me.” Rodriguez said. “For every Junior political science major campaign w o r k er I have hired, there are 10 volunteers working Due to the struggles she has for me that do not need compen- faced to get to her position, she sation. That is the beauty of my believes actions should be taken campaign.” against politiqueras who wrong While paying people to go the system. out and gather votes is legal, the “The politiquera system in the actions of politiqueras become Valley, in my opinion, should fraudulent when these individ- be dealt away,” Singleterry said. uals resort to paying people for “But, until we replace them votes, an act that is banned by or clean up some of the dirty the federal government and in all ways they use, they will still be 50 states, according to Vote Buy- around.” ing, a California law review artiIn a Dallas Morning News article by Richard L. Hasen. cle published Feb. 7, a controverAlthough politiqueras are sial comment by Attorney Genmeant to help get people out to eral Greg Abbott singled out law vote, there are those who believe enforcement and political cortheir demands for compensation ruption present in Starr, Hidalgo take unfair advantage of the sys- and Cameron Counties. tem. “This creeping corruption re“Nowadays, these people have sembles third-world country exploited this and have started to practices that erode the social ask for money and in ridiculous fabric of our communities and amounts,” said Nereida Single- destroys Texans’ trust in governterry, a 2001 UTPA alumna and ment,” Abbott said. practicing attorney at WilliamLike these public leaders, UTson-Lopez Law Firm. PA Student Government AssociSingleterry majored in inter- ation (SGA) officials also agree disciplinary studies and minored and strongly oppose the corrupt in bilingual education at UTPA actions of politiqueras. in 2001. Orlando Hinojosa QuintaCurrently, she is helping her nilla, the current Student Govhusband, Luis Manuel Single- ernment senator-at-large for the

College of Arts & Humanities, feels such actions go against what is right. “Politiqueros wrong the system by buying votes,” said the mass communication major. “It doesn’t give the right representation of who the people want (in office) and, ultimately, it is undemocratic.” Ramiro Flores, a junior political science major and SGA College of Social and Behavioral Sciences senator, agrees with Quintanilla. “I feel it’s a threat to our democracy,” Flores said. “By selling your vote, you’re giving away your voice to someone who will more likely not answer you once in office.” According to a recent poll of Hidalgo County’s 2012 elections, 23 percent of the 818 voters surveyed said they w e r e c o n tacted in some fashion by politiqueras. Based on the findings, the percentage was higher than those contacted by candidates, political parties or ‘get out the vote’ organizations. Although the actions of politiqueras may cause the public to distrust elections, the SGA senator-at-large further believes that this is exactly one of the reasons why people should go out and vote. “Students shouldn’t feel discouraged about voting. In fact, they should feel empowered to do more and make a difference,” Quintanilla said. “Voting for candidates who genuinely care for the people and embody who they represent is a start.” In addition, Singleterry and Rodriguez also believe that change begins with young voters. “Voting is a right that we must exercise and I wish many more people, especially our young generation, were passionate about,” Singleterry said. “We need to educate our community so that they choose the correct candidate based on who they think is the most suited person and not let a politiquera tell them who to vote for.”

By selling your vote, you’re giving away your voice to someone who will more likely not answer you once in office. - Ramiro Flores

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February 20, 2014

THE PAN AMERICAN

February 20, 2014

Page 5

THE PAN AMERICAN

Alumni return for Class of ‘64 reunion Story by May Ortega Photos by Jon Nutt The Pan American One of UTPA’s most exclusive groups inducted 17 new members Feb. 16 and the only way into the 50 Years Club is to be an alumni of the University from 1964 or earlier. The fourth annual Homecoming reunion kicked off by a heartfelt speech by University President Robert Nelsen, welcoming every guest. “Some of you attended this university when it was Pan American College, some of you went when it was Edinburg Regional College, some of you

went when it was Pan American University and then it became UT-Pan American,” said Nelsen, who has served as president for 14 years. “This campus will always be known as the Pan American campus. We will have a new university that will give an education like the education you got. The education that has served you well and that has lifted you up. It is a true honor to see you here today. It makes everything we do at the University feel right.” When UTPA was still known as PAC from 1952 to 1971, there were about 2,000 students enrolled, a number that has since grown to more than

Cleopatra Hinojosa (left) and William Barker reenact the crowning of the homecoming queen of 1964 Feb. 16. Hinojosa was the class of ‘64’s homecoming queen and graduated the following year with a bachelor’s in English. Barker was the class of ‘64’s Student Government president.

20,000. Nelsen said enrollment will more than double to 50,000 once UTPA merges with the University of Texas at Brownsville to form The University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley. At the end of the reunion’s induction ceremony, members of the 50 Years Club were given a pin inscribed with the club’s name for alumni to keep with them, along with their Bronc pride. ALWAYS A BRONC Among the event’s 65 guests was Queen Cleopatra, as in Cleopatra Hinojosa, Pan American College’s homecoming queen in 1964. Hinojosa, who graduated in 1965 with a bachelor’s in English and a minor in French, attended the reunion- part of several Homecoming events, including the

Spirit Rally held Feb. 15- to see some of her classmates and hear others’ stories about their time at PAC. She wore a bright smile as she spoke of her time at the college. “My experience was wonderful because I had been at (Edinburg High School) and I only knew Edinburg people and kids,” she said. “When I came to Pan American, the whole Valley was here and I made many more friends, long-lasting friends. It was a small community college, but it provided everything I needed.” One alumnus who believes the University is “doing everything right” is Kenneth Lang, who graduated from PAC in 1963 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. The Richmond, Calif. native and transfer from the University of

California at Berkeley became a Bronc in 1961, when he was invited to be a part of the college’s tennis team. He went on to become one of the team’s top players and was inducted into the Bronc Sports Hall of Fame in 2009. Although Lang said the national champion team was terrific, there was something else he liked about the college. “I can’t say enough about the instructors. They showed a genuine interest. I had gone to UC Berkeley, and I was just a number on a desk. It was very impersonal,” said the former Air Force pilot. “At Pan American College, the classes were smaller. I felt you could learn more. The instructors were generally giving you a good education and I think it showed. They did a tremen-

dous job.” Lang pursued graduate school once he received his degree at PAC, but when Uncle Sam called during the Vietnam War he readily answered by joining the Air Force. After completing his tour, Lang became a pilot instructor and eventually joined the Air Force reserve. Lang then joined the Civil Service and became a contract negotiator for the Air Force, something he thanks his alma mater for. “I’ve done a lot of things dealing with the Air Force. It was pretty interesting stuff, and I can attribute it in part to my business education that I received at Pan American,” he said. Simon Garza Jr., Class of 1963, received his bachelor’s in education and taught in his

hometown of Rio Grande City for 43 years before retiring in 2007. But before he was on the other side of the desk, Garza spent six days a week (Monday through Saturday) on PAC’s campus, rushing from one class to another. The original campus was much smaller than it is today, located near the present-day administrative buildings just off campus, a few blocks from UTPA’s present athletic track. During Garza’s years as a student, new buildings, such as the library, popped up around campus, adding more steps to his path. But because he was receiving his degree in education, he served as a studentteacher at Lincoln Elementary School, about two miles off campus, during his last year. This may not have been

much of an inconvenience to some, but Garza carpooled with six of his friends every day, so he would often find himself traveling on foot and in a rush. “I commuted from (Rio Grande City) all four years and I didn’t always have a vehicle, so I had to go to one class, then go to Lincoln, then go back to the old campus,” he explained. “I had an 8 a.m. class on campus, then I had to be (at Lincoln) by 9 a.m. for my student-teaching, then rush back to campus to catch my carpool. If I was late, I had to hitchhike back home. It was an experience.” Despite his constant bolting from point to point, one experience Garza believes he missed out on during his college years was “campus life.” “I would come to school

then go back home, then I had to work and take care of the house. I never had that college experience, where you go off to college for four years,” he said. “That’s a different experience that you can’t get anywhere else. That’s one thing I regret.” Debby Grant, the director of alumni relations at the University and a Class of 1999 alumna, believes that bringing these Broncs together for such reunions serves a purpose. “It turns out very well because we get to connect with some of the alum, bring them back to campus and sometimes they find that there’s a lot going on here at Pan Am and they

want to start giving back to the University,” she said. “They tell us a lot of our history and especially now, with our school going to be dissolved, we have a lot of history that we can keep as memories.” Although these reunions have been hosted annually for the past four years, Grant said alumni relations representatives plan on hosting class reunions for alumni every five or 10 years instead, to keep the Bronc spirit alive.

The former science building of Pan American College. The building is now used as the Edinburg Consolidated Independent School District headquarters administration building. The current UTPA campus was being built in the 1960’s to replace the old campus.