April 24, 2014

Championship Weekend Three UTPA teams vie for titles

Page 7

April 24, 2014

Volume 70, No. 27

ONLINE CONTENT

panamericanonline.com

Tree Campus

Surveying UTPA’s greenest residents

Lil’ Broncs

Children plant seeds for Earth Week

Baseball Victory

Broncs win Bakersfield series

Blog Spot

Mean Girls: Ten years later

YouTube

Recycled art exhibit

Francisco Rodriguez/ The Pan American By May Ortega The Pan Americann

More than 80 percent of the Earth’s natural forests have been destroyed, according to the World Resources Institute, a global research organization concerned with maintaining a healthy environment. Researchers at NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies have found that average temperatures around the

world have risen by 1.4 degrees since 1880, two-thirds of which have happened since 1975. Are humans responsible for these environmental issues? According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), 30 percent of people in the south and 84 percent of people in the northeast had curbside recycling collection in 2008. In that same year, the EPA also found 23.1 percent of glass, 7.1

percent of plastics and 21.1 percent of aluminum were recycled. With all of the research about global warming providing more and more numbers, the debate on whether humans are directly responsible for this climate change has been gaining steam. As a way of reminding individuals to be environmentally conscientious, Earth Day is celebrated annually April 22. Since April 1970, Earth Day

has been a time for people across the U.S. to “go green” and Tuesday marked this year’s Earth Day. For its second annual observance of the event, UTPA’s Office for Sustainability put together a week-long celebration. With help from organizations such as the Environmental Awareness Club and the International

Student Association, the week kicked off Monday. It consists of 21 environmentally-friendly events before coming to a close Friday, April 25. Monica Raygada, the program coordinator for the Office for Sustainability, helped piece Earth Week together.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

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April 24, 2014

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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.

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FINALS! FINALS! FINALS! I’m over it UTPA! #UTPA #cantwaytograduate -@happyval_3 Can’t believe I am almost done with the Spring semester.... #school #UTPA #summer -@asantanajr Parking at #utpa has been limited recently. Did everyone who flaked early in the semester decide to start attending class again at once? -@incrediblerug I want to spend all day in an elevator on campus dressed as a bellhop just pressing floor numbers for everyone. #utpa #isthatweird -@stevetijerina45

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Vol. 70, No. 27

Itzel Lopez/ The Pan American

news

April 24, 2014

3

Saying goodbye to a Bronc

UTPA student, faculty member dies in fatal accident sented with his posthumous degree by UTPA President Robert Nelsen at the graduaThis morning marked one tion ceremony May 10. week since Eduardo “Eddie” Arguelles’ supervisor and Arguelles was struck and killed Technical Assessment Officer by a truck on I-69C and TrenAnne Toal said he was a dream ton Road while on his routine to work with and an asset to bike ride at 4:30 a.m. The the UTPA IT department. UTPA employee and student “Eddie had an enormous apwas honored today with a 16preciation of life and I feel like mile bike ride he made me a betthat was schedter supervisor by uled to start at Eddie had an enormous having had the 5 a.m. Particiappreciation of life, and I privilege of workpants donned feel like he made me a better suing with him,” Toal pins with an said. “I feel like evpervisor by having had the image of a bike eryone I saw him privilege of working with and his name come in contact on them as well him - Anne Toal with here, in some as red shirts Technical Assessment Officer way, they improved. that read “A life He shed some of his on two wheels grace on them and is just as important as a life on “He liked to barbecue, he he brought them something that four.” Arguelles was not only a was a writer, he was a Pan Am they didn’t have.” Linda Mares, a co-worker cyclist, but a family man. He student, he was a father, he was is survived by his wife, 4-year- a husband, he was a friend, and fellow cyclist of Arguelles, old son and 11-year-old he was a cyclist. (He liked) said he was a positive and helpdaughter. Those who worked all types of cycling,” Hermida ful person in the workplace. “He was able to bring the closely with Arguelles in the said. “There was a mountain bike side of him, he was a racbest out of people,” said Mares, UTPA Information and Techer, he was a road cyclist and he a business analyst in the IT nology Division said his family also did cycling with his famdivision. “He was able was a large part of his life. to recognize what your “Eddie would go pick up… ily, like leisure rides.” Arguelles was six classes strengths were, and he his daughter during work away from graduating with a would let you know hours and he’d have her in (his office) with him, and he loved general studies degree. While that you were really having her there,” said Melissa he told co-workers it would good at it and that Robles, an IT administrative take him more than two years you were awesome.” The man responassistant and co-worker of Ar- to complete his degree because he took only one class per sesible for Arguelles’ guelles. “He was very proud of mester, his family will be predeath was driving an her and protective of her.”

By Andrew Vera The Pan American

Aside from family, Arguelles shared a passion for cycling. He was a part of a group called the 5AM Wake-Up Ride, which was created in 2009 for people that wanted to exercise before work. Linda Hermida, an IT communications coordinator, said Arguelles was an avid biker who indulged in all sorts of cycling.

F-150 truck and had been drinking, according to The Edinburg Police Department. After striking Arguelles, 23-yearold Emilio Gomez was caught trying to dispose of the body on Iowa Road by Edinburg police. The next day, Gomez was charged with intoxicated manslaughter, tampering with physical evidence and accident involving death, according to The Monitor. Accompanying Arguelles on his early morning ride was friend Eddie Palacios. Palacios took to the 5AM Wake-Up Ride Facebook page shortly after the accident and asked for help in the search for Arguelles. Hermida said one positive thing that came from this tragedy was the

awareness about drunk driving. She said his legacy will help the community come together to help end driving under the influence. “We are tired of these drunk drivers,” Hermida said. “It doesn’t matter if they hit a cyclist or if they hit a pedestrian. It doesn’t matter who it was, it needs to stop. I’ve lost family members to (drunk driving) and now a friend.” In memory of Arguelles, Hermida said plans are being considered to have a “ghost bike” placed at the intersection where the accident happened as a reminder to those who pass by. Ghost bikes are white bicycles at the scenes of biking accidents, usually ones in-

volving motor vehicles. “You place a ghost bike where they passed just as a reminder to people that they need to be careful,” Hermida said. “That there are people out there who cycle, that their life is just as important (as someone) on four wheels and just to respect cyclists.” Memorial services were held April 19 at Memorial Funeral Home in Edinburg and cremation service was scheduled for Tuesday at Val Verde Memorial Garden in Donna. UTPA and the IT department will also hold a memorial service in Arguelles’ honor April 25 at 3 p.m. in the Engineering Building Room 1.300. “While he was alive, he lived. And he did, very, very much so,” Toal said of Arguelles. “He was very much alive. He was very much in the present. He was enjoying doing all the things that he could do.”

Mexican-American studies, other ethnic courses approved for public high schools By Cynthia Rael The Pan American While holding a red poster board April 9 with the words “This is not AZ” plastered across it, senior Eloy Gonzalez patiently waited to hear the fate of Mexican-American studies in public schools. That day, the Texas State Board of Education voted 11-3 to validate the development of an approved Mexican-American studies curriculum that will be available to public high schools all across Texas. Along with Mexican-American studies, the SBOE also approved the development of African-, Asian- and Native-American curriculum. The courses, which will be considered electives, are to be recognized as Special Topics in Social Studies and implemented in Texas schools for the 2016-2017 academic school year. The development of a Mex-

ican-American studies course was first proposed by SBOE Representative and Brownsville native Ruben Cortez in November 2013. Since then, educators and activists, such as Tony Diaz of the state-wide movement El Librotraficante have reached out to educators and organizations all over the state to push for the proposal. Preceding the vote was a march April 8 organized by Diaz and members of El Librotraficante to gain support for the proposal; the group was made up of scholars, activists and students from across the state. Among the 30 people that participated in the march were Gonzalez and UTPA students Eloisa Moreno and Ruben Garza. Additionally, 50 people testified before the board on the necessity of implementing the course. Gonzalez, who is president of the UTPA

Mexican-American Studies Club, was one of the 50. “I was a little nervous but determined to testify in front of the whole State Board of Education on how MexicanAmerican studies has changed my life and its importance in the lives of all MexicanAmerican youth,” said the senior Mexican-American studies major. “It feels that I have done something positive for my community.” Gonzalez also commented on the diversity of supporters for the course who attended the march. “Something very interesting was that not only Mexican-American scholars, activists and students were there, but also people from other ethnicities such as the African-Americans that were in favor of the implementation of

Mexican-American studies,” Gonzalez said. “This whole movement was for the imple-

mentation of the contributions that have not been acknowledged from different groups

such as Mexican American, African American, Asian American and Native American.”

CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

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April 24, 2014

THE PAN AMERICAN

April 24, 2014

THE PAN AMERICAN

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CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 GREEN EVENTS Monday brought a green pledge, which is available for Broncs to sign in the Student Union throughout the week. Along with signing this pledge comes an agreement to be more environmentally conscientious, by doing things such as riding bicycles to get around or taking shorter showers. Four events took place Tuesday, including a lunchtime screening of The Wisdom to Survive (2013) in the Student Union Theater, a film explaining the problems affecting the environment and how humans need to take action. That same day, a new water refilling station was unveiled in the Student Union at 1:30 p.m. Although there is already one of these fountains in the Wellness and Recreation Sports Complex, Raygada said having some right on campus could be very helpful in reducing waste. “Some people don’t see a point to this reusing because they think they’re just one person,” she said. “They think, ‘It’s just one bottle. What difference can I make alone?’ But if several people do it, then it will be more and more effective. One by one, drop by drop, they can create an entire wave.” Four more events occurred Wednesday including a visit from biomimetic inventor Jay Harman in the UTPA Library auditorium. Biomimicry is a science based on observing nature’s patterns for survival and applying them to human problems. One example is velcro, which was designed after a bur, the prickly seed cases that stick to animals as well as clothing. Harman is credited with being a pioneer scientist due to his work with developing, patenting and licensing products relating to biomimicry. During his visit, Harman talked about his 2013 book, The Shark’s Paintbrush, which explains biomimicry and the

patterns in nature that inspire him. He also discussed how humans can find solutions to environmental problems through nature, which Raygada said is much needed. “I hate to be the gloomy messenger here, but things are not really great right now. We have climate change and all these other issues, so we really need to take a look at nature and how it has been doing things lately and take from that,” she said. During the Soul of Our Urban Forestry Walk, also held Wednesday, State Forester Salvador Alemani gave guests a guided tour of the wide variety of trees - more than 45 species including Burr Oaks - found around the University’s campus. Raygada said the walk gave individuals the opportunity to understand the environment and realize what natural wonders the campus holds. DON’T MISS OUT Thursday’s events will focus on health and food systems, according to Raygada. This includes a presentation of the Real Food Movement, a campaign urging individuals to leave their indoor spaces and eat outside. While dining, Raygada said people can snap a picture of their dish and post it on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram with the hashtag “#UTPAREALFOODMOVEMENT.” “We want to improve the way we eat and we want to share the way we eat with others, so we’ve made the lunch hour a time for relaxation and a time for people,” she explained. “We call it a movement because we really want to move ourselves out of our offices or classrooms. The goal is to walk as far away as we can from where we’re located to exercise.” At 2 p.m., a group of students in charge of UTPA’s new greenhouse, located behind the Education Complex

and next to the Girls Athletic Building near the Field House, will be unveiling their project as well as the community garden adjacent to it. “The idea of the greenhouse and the garden is to have students (understand) economic systems as well as hopefully being able to harvest some chemical-free vegetables that can be put on our plates in the

schedule brings the University closer to forming a healthier environment. “These are all baby steps and they’re going in the right direction,” she said. “We’re happy to see this going on. These are passionate individuals who are working on these things and (UTPA President) Nelsen is rooting for all of this.”

We’re happy to see this going on. These are passionate individuals who are working on these things and (UTPA President) Nelsen is rooting for all of this. Monica Raygada - Program coordinator

Student Union,” Raygada said. Friday is what Raygada called Earth Week’s “Big Expo,” and every organization involved will take part in this on-campus event. The day will begin with a recycling drive, made possible by the City of Pharr’s Recycling Center. The rest of the day will include a fashion show with restyled and recycled materials, live music, a jewelery and art exhibit and a dog walking trail. Raygada wants to emphasize another event taking place Friday, known as the Green Ride Expo, where Valley Metro and Metro McAllen will have buses present and guests can learn about alternative forms of transportation. “Our carbon footprint is huge and we really need to do something about it,” she explained. “Cities like Austin don’t have the bus system we have right now. Our system is amazing, so we really have to promote its use more. We’re trying to do whatever it takes to get our campus community to use alternative transportation more as opposed to one person per car, which makes no sense whatsoever.” Raygada said this week’s

GREEN BRONCS In addition to the variety of organizations and departments involved with bringing things together for the week, other students were glad to hear about these green efforts. Accounting student Carlos De Jesus praised the Lil’ Broncs Buds in a Box event held Monday, where children in UTPA’s Child Development Center planted their own seedlings and will care for them until they bloom into flowers. “For the University to host this event is a good thing. In a way, it gives back to the community by helping the younger generation understand how important it is to help the environment and be responsible,” the Pharr native said. Junior Paloma Perez believes that UTPA’s involvement in Earth Day is beneficial because it has a ripple effect. She said if more students become environmentally conscientious, their friends will follow suit. “It’s supposed to have a positive effect on people’s awareness on recycling and taking care of the environment,” the 19-year-old Palmview native said. “It’s really good because

in the long run, it will make a difference.” While Perez approves of higher recycling rates among her peers, 22-yearold De Jesus feels that it’s difficult to recycle on campus because of the low number of recycling bins. “It’s either the trash can or the recycle bin,” the accounting student said. “There should be more recycling bins around campus because recycling bins are placed in selected locations and if I can’t find one nearby, the trash is going in the can.” Raygada admits that there are not enough recycling bins on campus, but she also said they are definitely worth using. During last year’s Earth Week, several Big Belly Solar Compactors were unveiled, which Raygada said are meant to save space and encourage recycling. “Our Big Belly solarpowered bins outside, nobody knows how they work, and they were expensive,” she explained. “They are self-contained and they have a compactor inside, so once the sensor in the bin senses that it’s getting filled up, the compactor makes space for more.” She also said that it is important to remember the point of Earth Day. “Bear in mind that the Earth is our common home. It’s a house that we all share and we need to take care of it as much as we can,” she said. “This is what connects us as human beings. We want to send a message out that sustainability is not about saving trees or saving whales. It’s about humanity, humans being able to sustain their way of living in the long run.”

Adriana Gonzales/ The Pan American Jon Nutt/ The Pan American

Jon Nutt/ The Pan American

Students and staff gather to enjoy the Earth Festival held on the UTPA quad April 22 as part of Earth Week, which ends April 25. The festival featured student organizations and individuals who advocate sustainable green practices and community engagement. The day included free food and games. Adriana Gonzales/ The Pan American

Adriana Gonzales/ The Pan American