September 19, 2013 by UTRGV Student Media

Volleyball Injuries

Keeping the team safe and sound

Pages 6-7

Volume 70, No. 4

September 19, 2013 By Kristela Garza The Pan American

ONLINE CONTENT

panamericanonline.com

Danny Elizondo Addition to Athletic Department staff

15th Anniversary

Celebrating the boy who lived

IT Problem

iOS 7 updates cause Internet issue

Killer Dinner

Murder Mystery in Student Union

Checkmate

Chess camp held at UTPA

The University volleyball team is off to its third best start in program history after beating the Prairie View A&M Panthers 3-0 at the Big Daddy’s Invitational Sept. 14 at McNeese State in Lake Charles, LA. The Bronc record, 9-4, is third only to the 1971 and 1996 teams, which were 10-1 and 9-2, respectively, through 11 games. This season beginning is one that coach Brian Yale is proud of because he is looking to make this year one to remember. “Obviously, it’s been great to get off to the start we’ve had,” Yale said. “But we know there’s still a lot to learn and a ways to go.” The team has had its ups and downs, but Nycole Masaki, a senior setter, expects the Broncs to band together. “We feel like it’s a team thing (motivation),” she said. “The coaches are there to guide us through the things that we need to do but we as a team need to bring the energy and that excitement to the court.” According to Masaki, motivation and teamwork will propel the team forward. The next match is Sept. 20 in Corpus Christi against Texas A&M. Yale also pointed out that having more players to choose from has helped the Broncs as they prepare for their first campaign in the Western Athletic Conference. “We’ve had to go with a smaller roster these past couple of years, but this year we were able to expand our roster size and get the repetitions out,” Yale said. The repetitions allow Yale to give certain players some rest and other players game time, either in defensive or offensive positions. New additions to the team include freshmen, Alisha Watson, with an attack percentage of .138 and 92 digs, Anjané Janda and Corynn Acuff, who has an attack percentage of .111. SEASON SO FAR The season started in Houston at the Marriott Houston Westchase Classic. During the classic, the Broncs lost two games and won one.

The Pan American YouTube channel

CONTINUED ON PAGE 9

opinion

September 19, 2013

#UTPA

Tweet at and follow us @ThePanAmerican

I honestly don’t know why they didn’t cancel all classes, I almost slipped and died today cause of the intense rain. #utpa

So you’ve tried to kill yourself, now what? Why eliminating the stigma of mental illness is necessary

-@HeyDearLaura

I think if they change utpa’s name and mascot..they’d be taking a part of me.. #justsaying #proudbronc -@kypr23

I want to thank everyone at UTPA for trying to update their iPhone because my test got moved to take at home -@Raee_19 Thanks UTPA for not canceling class today, I am now soaking wet, my socks are drenched &my shorts are officially see through!! -@Cyanna12

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

Vol. 70, No. 4

Susan Gonzalez News Editor

I was a sophomore at the University of Notre Dame when I had a mental breakdown and tried to commit suicide. But oddly enough, the hardest part of this experience didn’t come on that night, but once the ordeal was over. After I spent 72 hours in a mental hospital, my parents took me home to Texas to mend my mind and heart. The most surprising aspect of this whole misadventure, however, was the fact that they didn’t want anyone to know the truth.

Actually, most people who knew what happened discouraged honesty. They were worried what “others might think,” as if having major depression and anxiety was something to be ashamed of. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, an estimated 26.2 percent of Americans ages 18 and older, or about one in four adults, suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder within a given year. Yet, we still walk on eggshells about the subject. No, people with mental disorders don’t go around with name tags that say things like “Hello, my name is Depression” and carry a literal rain cloud with them. But they shouldn’t live in a world where the subjects of suicide and mental illness are swept under the rug. For some reason, there is a distinction made between

HOW TO SEEK HELP

physical and mental illness, as if there were a huge difference. Cancer, diabetes, high cholesterol - society doesn’t seem to mind casually talking about these ailments over breakfast, but as soon as a mental illness is brought up, we lower our tones. The two are interrelated; sometimes one can cause the other and vice versa.

public perception of mental disorders themselves, but how this perception can affect those who need treatment. According to the NIMH, 90 percent of people who kill themselves have a diagnosable mental disorder. While not every suicide is preventable, many of these people might have had a second

But they shouldn’t live in a world where the subjects of suicide and mental illness are swept under the rug. And while not all causes of mental disorders are physical, some can be linked to genetics, brain injury, trauma or infections. What is most upsetting about the stigma, however, isn’t the

chance at life if they had the proper treatment. Embarrassment, fear of judgment, feelings of shame - the list could go on for why people don’t get treatment before reaching the point

of suicide, but stigma plays a role in reluctance to seek help. And it shouldn’t. There are many ways to eliminate the stigma of mental illness: knowing more about mental health disorders, talking about the subject openly and offering help to someone who is struggling with a disorder are just a few ways to overcome this archaic attitude toward mental health. National Suicide Prevention Week, which happened Sept. 8-14, passed without much of a peep from friends or family this year, even though my birthday lands on National Suicide Prevention Day (Yes, this is the apex of all ironic situations). Without stigma, one day, mental health and mental disorders will get the attention they sorely need. I survived my suicide attempt and sought treatment despite the stigma. So should others.

COMIC

For those struggling with mental illness or thoughts of suicide, or know someone who is: *UTPA Counseling and Psychological Services

The Pan American 956-665-2574

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

Norma Gonzalez Lea Victoria Juarez

News Editor:

*National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

1-800-273-TALK (8255)

*Veterans Crisis Line 1-800-273-8255

Itzel A. Lopez/The Pan American

Susan Gonzalez

Co-Sports Editors: Marco Torres Kristela Garza

Arts & Life Editor: May Ortega

Photography Editor: Adrian Castillo

Design Editor:

Francisco Rodriguez

Multimedia Editor: Michael Agular

Social Media Editor: Ismael Melendez

Adviser:

Dr. Greg Selber

Administrative Associate: Anita Reyes

Advertising Manager:

CORRECTION

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

In Volume 70, No. 2 the article Broncs Host Dream Team, The Pan American reported that Enrique Uria said of his son Davey Uria “He has had so many surgery’s, $1.5 million so far, with no coverage from the insurance.” To clarify, the Uria family did have financial help from their insurance company and the initial quote was taken out of context. It was also reported that Davey Uria was 3 years old, when in fact he is 4 years old. The Pan American dedicates itself to reporting facts and the staff apologizes for the mistakes in the article.

Elva Ramirez

Webmaster:

Josue Guzman

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.

Gustavo Huerta/The Pan American Rene Lucero (left) and Angie Castillo, Resident Assistants of Heritage Hall, compete in a game of “candy pong” during the Candy Land event in the Ballroom Sept. 18.

4 3

3102 ,September 5 rebmetpe19, 2013 January 31,S2013

P r e p a r i n g f o r p o s t - c o l l e g e S AT Standardized exam aims to determine employability By Melinda Garza The Pan American

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Collegiate Learning Plus

September 19, 2013

, Student starts mentor-based organization focused on HIV and AIDS awareness By Andrew Vera The Pan American Research from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention states that between 2008 and 2010 the number of human immunodeficiency viruses and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome cases among gay men has risen by 12 percent. While the cause of this increase is not fully understood, a student at UTPA thinks he has found the answer to this growing problem and he poses a solution. Jesse Sanchez, a senior biology major, constructed Project Stop from the bottom up. This new campus organization focuses on mentoring youths at the middle and high school levels about HIV and the illness it causes, AIDS. He believes that educating young students at an earlier age can help prevent new cases from occurring. With South Texas having a rate of 16.4 cases of HIV per 100,000 people, as stated in a CDC Surveillance report, Sanchez believes that the time to educate is now. Being gay and personally knowing people who suffer from HIV and AIDS, both in his home state of Tennessee and in the Rio Grande Valley, Sanchez decided to take action and launched Project Stop in May. While there are other groups

on campus that have similar missions, such as the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Alliance at UTPA and Bronc Bacchus Peer Educators, Sanchez said his club is different. “Project Stop’s main goal is to mentor young children (about HIV and AIDS awareness) at the public school level,” Sanchez said. “(This is) something that has never been done before in this region.” Texas is the fourth highest ranked state for cases of HIV and AIDS, according to the CDC. Sanchez said he wants to help fix this, but thinks the conservative nature of Texas might pose a problem. “Living in such a conservative state as Texas makes getting into public schools with topics such as (HIV and AIDS awareness) extremely difficult,” he claimed. While Sanchez is aware of these challenges, he has dreams of this organization one day moving onto the national level, spreading the word to youngsters all over the country. “Even if we get shot down, we still try. It only takes one person to spread the word,” said Sanchez, when discussing mentors from his organization who will educate other young students about HIV and AIDS. In addition, learning to be sensitive toward the struggles of other people, gaining an open

mind and learning to be nondiscriminatory are a few of the things Sanchez hopes his group mentors and mentees alike take from their experience with Project Stop. Although he is still in the beginning stages of organizing this campus group, Sanchez said he has received a great deal of interest from his peers about getting involved with Project Stop. While Project Stop is not yet an official campus organization, Sanchez will use this fall semester to spread the word and hopes to register new members and assign board members by the beginning of next semester. Sanchez and Project Stop will be at Student Health Services Clinic for this year’s World AIDS Day Dec. 1, working alongside The LGBT Alliance, The Valley AIDS Council and Planned Parenthood. Every year, the VAC provides free screenings at the clinic on this day. Project Stop hopes to kick-start their organization with this event. “If we begin to drill this awareness (about HIV and AIDS) into the kids minds while they are young,” Sanchez said, “it will become second nature to them, and we can fix this epidemic.”

Seeking equality starts fresh with goals in mind By Susan Gonzalez The Pan American Members of the Feminist Club were sitting at a table in early September promoting the organization. The first four people that approached Linda Gonzalez thought feminism was an anti-male movement. “One of them straight out said, ‘So you’re pro-women, anti-male?’” Gonzalez recalled. “It’s weird how being pro-women automatically means you’re anti-male. It’s out for women’s interest, but it’s not anti-male. We want men to participate, we need our male allies so they can see and understand.” The junior English major said she has always been a feminist, but was hesitant to label her views due to the stereotypes often attached to the term, such as relating feminism to being anti-men. Dispelling these stereotypes is one of the main goals of the Feminist Club, which was originally started in spring, but is reaching out to the campus community again this fall. “Just in general, there’s a negative connotation associated with the term feminist,” said Gonzalez, who took over responsibilities after the founder relocated. “They throw around terms like ‘feminazi.’” The term, coined by talk show host Rush Limbaugh, is a

portmanteau of the words feminist and Nazi, and is meant to be an insult. Another topic of interest for the club is ridding the University community of “body shaming” and “slut shaming.” Body shaming is when a person makes negative statements about another person’s weight, size or appearance, according to Gonzalez. Slut shaming is when someone shames another person for engaging in, or being perceived to engage in, sexual behavior. These actions are sometimes exchanged between women, in what

Facebook page, a site created Feb. 11, 2013 that allows users to anonymously submit “confessions” through the website Survey Monkey. For example, a confession posted Aug. 28 read that a student was “a big whore and boyfriend stealer. Girls, don’t trust her she might take your man.” Another confession posted the same day read “fat people should be banned from campus.” “There’s a lot of body shaming, slut shaming on the UTPA Confessions page,” Gonzalez said. “There are just appalling, ridiculous comments on that page.” Right now, the club is focused on reaching the University community and engaging people in discussion of the issues. But members hope to branch out and have one large campaign pertaining to an issue all the members agree on, once the club gains momentum, according to Gonzalez. “Currently, we’re trying to build a college community for those interested in feminism,” Gonzalez said. “I think we need to work on ourselves before we reach out to other people (in the community).”

Just in general, there’s a negative connotation associated with the term feminist. - Linda Gonzalez

Feminist Club member Feminist Club member Alyssa Serna calls “girl hate.” “We’re all women, we’re like sisters, we shouldn’t degrade each other and say horrible things,” said Serna, a junior political science major. “At the end of the day, we’re all in this fight together, that’s just something we would like to dispel. It’s really an issue on campus.” According to Gonzalez, evidence of these actions can be seen on the UTPA Confessions

September 19, 2013

THE PAN AMERICAN

ARMY RESERVE

EARNING A DEGREE IS STRONG. EARNING IT WITHOUT INTERRUPTION IS ARMY STRONG. As a Soldier in the Army Reserve, the Army Education Career Stabilization Program (ECS) will allow you to serve your country and earn your degree at the same time. Not only will the Army help pay for your education, offering nearly $25,000 with the GI Bill and up to $4,500 per year in tuition assistance, but you will also develop the confidence, character, and strength to secure your future. For more information, visit goarmy.com/reserve or call 1-800-USA-ARMY.

For more information about ROTC at University of Texas Pan American contact Abel Gonzalez at gonzaleza@utpa.edu or 956-665-3601.

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THE PAN AMERICAN

September 19, 2013

Volleyball an Injury Apart The women’s volleyball players represent the University by playing their sport and are counted on to do their best and win games, but at times this comes with a price. Despite the cheers and recognition, the team experiences the dangers of injury after returning home from four games on the road. Masaki, a junior setter on the volleyball team, laid prone as she received treatment for her stiff back. She explained how the season tends to take its toll on the players. “We’ve had a lot of games on the road and it has been physically tiring for a lot of us,” Masaki said. “But recovery and coming in for treatment will help us in that process to get better.” Though aches and pains are part

of an athlete’s everyday life, when it comes to keeping the players safe, it falls to Jim Lancaster, associate athletic director for sports medicine, to make sure they receive the proper attention, despite the player’s urge to play. “Obviously these kids wanna be out there,” Lancaster said. “When you get to this level of athletics a lot of them don’t even want to say anything to you because they don’t want you to pull them out of the game. But...(coaches) have to think about tomorrow or the next day. I’d rather take a student out for one game and give them a chance to recover and potentially save them for the rest of the season.” According to NCSASports.org, there are about 1,600 women’s college volleyball programs throughout the nation. All these programs must watch their

students, and there are certain areas that are more prone to getting hurt. One of the jobs of volleyball players is to sometimes dive and fall, which causes an added injury risk to the ankles and knees. Because of this, indoor

to the lower body, as women’s volleyball Head Coach Brian Yale explained. “The shoulders (are) obviously (at risk) with the swing that we do at the net and the activity that happens up there,” he said.

To me it’s unfair for sacrifices to be made when this kid might be someone’s son or daughter. If it were your own kid, would you be cautious with them? - Jim Lancaster Associate athletic director volleyball players must wear knee pads and ankle guards. There is not just a risk of injury

“(But) in female athletes, knees are always a concern. As far as going to the floor and things like

that, we work it into practice...it’s part of the game and it needs to happen. It’s a matter of turning it into what we call muscle.” Repeated overhead motions, such as spiking and blocking, often cause injuries to the shoulder. In addition volleyball athletes must pay close attention to their hands as they are prone to finger injuries. In light of this, the National Collegiate Athletic Association keeps a close eye out for collegiate athletes by watching the count of injuries and citing which areas are injury-prone. They do this by collecting data based off of their Injury Surveillance Program. The NCAA’s ISS is a comprehensive database that assesses injury risk. The program defines an injury as a traumatic incident that results in a player getting pulled from a game or practice. The ISS has pulled statistics on injuries since

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CONCUSSIONS:

*4.1 PERCENT OF ALL INJURIES ARE CONCUSSIONS. A CONCUSSION IS A BRAIN INJURY, THAT CAN OCCUR FROM BLOWS TO THE BODY AS WELL AS THE HEAD.

Danger on the Court

By Kristela Garza The Pan American

THE PAN AMERICAN

September 19, 2013

1982. Information from this program helps them make sure that collegiate sports have the most up-to-date safety guidelines to keep its student athletes safe. This defines what Lancaster’s job actually is; he makes sure that his players walk off the court healthy. He prefers to be safe rather than sorry. “It’s (about) using the policy (that is set in place) to support the trainers being on the safe side,” Lancaster said. “To me, it’s unfair for sacrifices to be made when this kid might be someone’s son or daughter. If it were your own kid, would you be cautious with them?”

ARM & NECK:

*THE AREA OF THE ARMS AND NECK IS WHERE 2.3 PERCENT OF ALL INJUIRES OCCUR.

SHOULDERS:

*THE AREA OF THE UPPER LIMBS IS WHERE 23 PERCENT OF THE ALL INJURIES OCCUR, THIS INCLUDES THE SHOULDERS.

*THE FOLLOWING STATISTICS COME FROM THE NATIONAL COLLEGIATE ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION.

LOWER LIMBS:

OTHER:

*THE AREA OF THE KNEES, CALVES AND ANKLES ARE THE MOST DAMAGE-PRONE AREAS, STANDING AT 51.1 PERCENT.

*7.4 PERCENT OF ALL INJURIES ARE SIMPLY LISTED AS OTHER. THE OVERALL INJURY RATE IS 6.5 PER 1000 ATHLETE EXPOSURES. THIS INCLUDES POST SEASON AND PRE SEASON.

-DIARA REYNOLDS OUTSIDE HITTER

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September 19, 2013

THE PAN AMERICAN

“(But) in female athletes, knees are always a concern. As far as going to the floor and things like

Page 7

CONCUSSIONS:

*4.1 PERCENT OF ALL INJURIES ARE CONCUSSIONS. A CONCUSSION IS A BRAIN INJURY, THAT CAN OCCUR FROM BLOWS TO THE BODY AS WELL AS THE HEAD.

Danger on the Court

By Kristela Garza The Pan American

THE PAN AMERICAN

September 19, 2013

ARM & NECK:

*THE AREA OF THE ARMS AND NECK IS WHERE 2.3 PERCENT OF ALL INJUIRES OCCUR.

SHOULDERS:

*THE AREA OF THE UPPER LIMBS IS WHERE 23 PERCENT OF THE ALL INJURIES OCCUR, THIS INCLUDES THE SHOULDERS.

*THE FOLLOWING STATISTICS COME FROM THE NATIONAL COLLEGIATE ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION.

LOWER LIMBS:

OTHER:

*THE AREA OF THE KNEES, CALVES AND ANKLES ARE THE MOST DAMAGE-PRONE AREAS, STANDING AT 51.1 PERCENT.

*7.4 PERCENT OF ALL INJURIES ARE SIMPLY LISTED AS OTHER. THE OVERALL INJURY RATE IS 6.5 PER 1000 ATHLETE EXPOSURES. THIS INCLUDES POST SEASON AND PRE SEASON.

-DIARA REYNOLDS OUTSIDE HITTER

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September 19, 2013

September 19,2013 2013 January 31,

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

They then moved onto the Sugar Bear Classic, which for the most part, took place in Conway, Ariz. There, the team rounded up a total of four wins and one loss. After the loss, the Broncs played their season’s home opener at the University Field House Sept. 10, claiming the win 3-2. Then the Ladies moved onto the Big Daddy’s Invitational in Lake Charles, La., where they picked up momentum, bringing home another three wins. However, shortly thereafter the team fell to the University of Southern Mississippi with a loss of 3-0. These games brought the team to a season total of 9-4. Even though this is the third best season start in program history, Yale recognizes all his team has done, but is still expecting more. “We can be better and will be better,” he said. “But we also appreciate that people have recognized the progress that we have made. It’s a great group of hard working girls and I’m excited for them.” The three recent wins were not all the Broncs walked home with from the tournament in Louisi-

ana. It was announced Sept. 14 that redshirt-junior Maria Kliefoth and freshman Anjané Janda were named members of the 2013 Big Daddy’s All-Tournament Team for

total of seven blocks and eight digs. Though the Broncs have suffered hard losses after winning streaks, it all boils down to a team willing to work.

...we also appreciate that people have recognized the progress that we have made.

- Brian Yale

their efforts over the weekend. Kliefoth, a 5-foot-10-inch Berlin, Germany native had a total of six kills against Prairie View A&M. eight against LouisianaMonroe, plus 11 against McNeese State. Then, nine kills more against Southern Mississippi. She had an average of 8.5 kills per match and a total of 14 blocks. Janda, a 6-foot Harker Heights, Texas native, had nine kills against Prairie View A&M, four against Louisiana-Monroe, and 12 against McNeese State, rounding out the invitational with nine against Southern Mississippi. She, like Kliefoth, averaged 8.5 kills per match, in addition to compiling a

Head coach

According to Yale, competitive spirit has kept the women moving toward the debut in the WAC Sept. 28 against New Mexico State University; it will be a home game. “The good thing is this is a group that loves the game and wants to do well,” Yale said. “So I shouldn’t have to keep them motivated. Certainly there will be times that they will need a little extra drive, but in general, we will show effort every day. Regardless of the ultimate outcome, we will compete every time we step on the floor and we will get better at some aspect of the game.” Norma Gonzalez/The Pan American

Flag football starts up at UTPA By Kristela Garza The Pan American This intramural sport is similar to the full-contact, tackle football. Teams consist of seven players on each side. Instead of taking down another player, a member of the opposing team must remove the flag on the belt their opponent in possession of the ball in order to end a play. Bianca Ramirez is a 23-year-old junior playing her first year of flag football. The dietetics major said she considers the sport important for keeping in shape and sees the non-contact rules as a pro, rather than a con. “I think it’s still just as fast paced (as tackle football),” Ramirez said. “I prefer (noncontact) since I’m a girl and don’t have to worry about getting hurt. I would probably get hurt if it were a full contact sport like regular football, I’m very petite.” She plays on the coed team Gang Green. They share the field with other teams such as The Really Hot Guys, La Familia Beauties, The Geordain Blakely /The Pan American

Beasts and Victorious Secret. This sport is considered a game of brainpower rather than brawn, explained Rallie De La Rosa, a 24-year-old Edinburg native who is a veteran of the sport. He has four years under his belt and plays for Gang Green, alongside Ramirez. “What makes this game fun is that anyone can play,” De La Rosa said. “You don’t have to be athletic or have crazy good skills, you just have to be smart. It’s not like regular football; you got to know what you’re going to do.” UTPA’s flag football league consists of the coed team with eight members, the men’s league with 10 players and the women’s league, which consists of five players. There are seasons just like in normal National League Football. Fall flag football is no different; it’s offered as a league followed by a postseason tournament. But in the spring it is offered as a single or double elimination tournament.

“This is a minimal contact sport. Contact must be avoided as much as possible‚” the UTPA flag football website said. “But remember that contact will occur and not all of it will be illegal.” Though safety is a huge part of student sports, the league coordinator Art Cabrera explained that flag football is not just a simple game. “This is played year around,” Cabrera said. “We have competed nationally and statewide for seven years.” The intramural sport plays as a league during the year and the best from the University will then play in what is called the Valley Bowl, which is a large tournament held solely for flag football. It is played by not only UTPA teams but also by teams from University of Texas Brownsville, Texas State Technical College and Texas Southmost College. These schools send out their best men’s team, coed team and

men’s team runner-up. All the teams will play in a bracketed-tournament format and the winner among all schools will be selected and have a chance to compete at regionals. They will win a trophy and get T-shirts; this will take place Nov. 2. It will be the 11th year it has taken place in the Rio Grande Valley, and the first year it will be held on campus. This is a big year for University flag football, Cabrera said. He knows it is not all fun and games, it’s a chance for students to show their competitive edge. “We get a lot of young people who don’t have scholarships to play football (at universities),” Cabrera said. “But a lot of them still have that competitive sports edge, they still want to play. They want to still compete and this (flag football) gives them the ability to stay competitive.”

arts & life

September 19, 2013

UTPA CELEBRATES MEXICO’S INDEPENDENCE By Jose S. De Leon III The Pan American The UTPA Ballroom was alive with mariachi music, food and games as students celebrated the 16 de Septiembre. Sept. 16 is known as Mexican Independance Day. It marks the occasion when the people of New Spain began to rebel against the Spanish government that controlled them, according to PBS. Entertainment in the ballroom included carnival-esque activities for attendees, such as face-painting, decorating Mexican instruments, maracas and a game of loteria, the Mexican equivalent of bingo. Prizes for the games included maraca pens, goodie bags filled with Mexican candies and school supplies and electronics, such as speakers and a DVD player. The event was organized by the University Program Board, which is run by senior Priscilla Gonzalez. “Since we’re so close to the border, it’s our way to celebrate the culture of Mexico through food, activities and music,” the mass communication major said. Gabriel Torres, 21, was one of the attendees of the festivities. He reflected on how an event like this could have an impact on students. “I’m happy that events like this are provided on campus,” the English major said. “It reminds students with Mexican

roots of their heritage and it’s also nice to meet up with friends in places like this after school.” Food included popular staples in Mexican cuisine such as gorditas, flautas and tacos. During the celebration, University President Robert Nelsen gave a speech where he discussed the upcoming medical school, which he said will have two medical classes taught in Spanish. “This is a really exciting time to be a Bronc,” he said. “We’re also adding new buildings to the campus. Changes are coming.” Grecia Walle attended with her friends to celebrate her 18th birthday. “We were so busy that couldn’t do anything today to celebrate my birthday,” the Tamaulipas, Mexico native said. “Then we heard about this event and thought it might be fun to attend.” Her friend, sophomore Cynthia Anaya, remarked on how school activities like this can help introduce people to different cultures. “It’s always interesting to get a taste of other cultures,” the communications disorder major said. “Not only does it help with people unfamiliar to other people’s nationalities, but it helps people from Mexico feel more at home while helping others understand different cultures.”

By May Ortega The Pan American Parking lots at UTPA are jammed with shiny new Pontiac Fieros, Ford Escorts and an occasional Delorean. Each car blares the latest hits such as Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’” and Bruce Springsteen’s new single, “Born in the U.S.A.” Salvador Ochoa rushes to his class in the Education Building by the baseball field, while Adelle Mery spends time between classes with some Delta Zeta girls by the University Center. Nearly 23 years later, Ochoa sits in his third-floor office inside UTPA’s new Education Building. Since his days as a student at the University, he has earned his doctorate at Texas A&M, taught there for 13 years and is now UTPA’s Dean of Education. Mery, who earned her bachelor’s degree from UTPA in 1978 and her master’s in 1983, is now an English professor at the University. Although, her journalism degree is no longer available at UTPA. “My (bachelor’s) was in a department that doesn’t exist here anymore,” Mery said. “We had a separate journalism department, then Marian Monta put journalism and the drama department together.” Because Mery was a journalism student, she was part of the University’s newspaper, which is still known as The Pan American. If she wasn’t with friends, she would be busy inside the Office of Student Publications. Ochoa received a masters in Counseling and Guidance in 1984 and, as an education student, spent much of his time in the old Education Building. He said the view from inside was quite different from what can be seen today. “The Education Building wasn’t here. I think it was completed in 2005,” he said. “They knocked down the baseball field too. In the old Education Building, you’d look out the window and there was a baseball field. Now that field is gone and it’s just empty. But there’s a plaque there with its name now.” Ochoa mentioned how tradi-

tional UTPA events such as the Great Pumpkin would be heavily attended by students and the community alike, as compared to recent festivals. Mery said campus was very lively nearly 30 years ago, with bands playing throughout the day and small events held every week. “We still had a nice population, but there was a greater sense of knowing one another. I remember Tuesdays and Thursdays, 12 to 1 (p.m.), were a lot of fun,” she said.

Aside from the dean’s office, the new Education Building also houses a day care center, which Mery believes is proof of a more tolerant society today as compared to her days as a scrunchie-wearing Bronc. “There weren’t as many unwed mothers at the time. There was a bit of a social stigma attached to that,” the former Pan American employee said. “We’re a more tolerant society today. If you were an unwed mother, you kind of kept

Every time I step into a classroom, I still think of myself as a student. Even now, I always learn new things from my students. - Adelle Mery UTPA professor

“There were lots of activities going on all over campus. We used to meet in the circle next to the University Center. That’s where students congregated back in the 80’s. People talked to people, laughed and had fun there.” TIMES HAVE CHANGED Since 1981, UTPA has had four presidents leading up to the current University President Robert Nelsen, who received his position in spring 2010. In addition to four changes in leadership at the University, there have also been at least four new physical additions to the school’s campus since Ochoa and Mery’s time. The Student Union, which opened in fall 2000, was created for students to gather, eat and kill time between classes. A few years later, the Wellness and Recreational Sports Complex was opened just off campus. A colorful Science Building was opened about 10 years ago, standing across from the new Education Building, where Ochoa holds his meetings.

that to yourself. Now, that isn’t so much the case. If you’re an unwed mom and you need day care for your child because you want to go to school, you have access to that.” Besides the wider acceptance seen on campus now, Mery said that face-to-face communication between students has noticeably diminished since the 80’s. She believes that classmates knew each other better in those times since they would speak to one another very frequently; cell phones were not common among the youth. “We weren’t wired the way students are today. When we needed to be entertained, we looked to each other for entertainment,” she explained. “Most of the students I see now are walking down the sidewalk and they have what I call ‘spaghetti’ coming out of their ears. If they’re not listening to their own music, they’re on the phone.” Some advances in technology found on campus may not have the best effects, as Mery sees it, but Ochoa believes that doors to a higher

education have been opened through the Internet. “First and foremost, you have to have quality, which can be delivered in many ways,” he said. “As long as we provide quality, don’t lower our standards and give people the flexibility they need to go to school, I think that’s a good thing.” ALWAYS A BRONC After teaching at A&M for more than a decade, Ochoa returned to the Valley for his family in 2005. “My parents’ health had gotten bad, so I felt it was a real good time to make a difference in the Valley…so it was a combination of those factors,” he explained. “I felt this was a great way to give back to the community that gave a lot to me.” One thing that UTPA, or rather its staff, gave the dean was the push to pursue a doctorate when his sights were never set on such a thing. “As a former student at Pan Am, someone challenged me to go further. Back then, I never thought I would be a dean,” he said. “I thought it was crazy then and look now.” Ochoa said that he would like to have present Broncs follow in his and Mery’s footsteps by taking a seat on the other side of UTPA’s desks. “Nothing would make me happier than to see, in the future, people who graduated from Pan Am take the leadership of this University,” he said. “One critical role for faculty at UTPA is to prepare our students to take leadership roles in our community so they can make important contributions to our society.” Despite the physical changes on campus or alterations in administration, there is one thing that Mery said will never change for her as long as she teaches. “I need to give you my teaching philosophy: Once a teacher, always a student. Every time I step into a classroom, I still think of myself as a student. Even now, I always learn new things from my students.” Just like classic cars can still be seen on the streets and timeless hits are still on the radio, UTPA alumni can still be seen

September 12, 2013 arts & life

September 19, 2013

the lives of resident assistants By Audry Ocañas The Pan American

Every student has a job, whether it be full-time, parttime or going to school and making the grade, but no student has the burden of being responsible for the lives of 40-60 undergraduates, unless they’re a resident assistant. “To parents, their babies are being placed in a dorm and the only people they have are the two people at the end of the hall,” said Josiah Borden, an RA at Unity Hall. In Borden’s dorm building, there are approximately 300 students living in close proximity with one another. The first responders to these residents are the twelve RAs living and working in Unity, according to Evan Brough who has been an RA for the last two years. Heritage Hall houses less students, with roughly

190 undergraduates living within its rooms, which are under the care of six RAs. Troxel Hall, a far less occupied hall, has only one resident assistant, Baltazar Gonzalez, with slightly over 40 students under his watch. Along with the pressures of academic achievement, financial burdens and social or interpersonal issues, RAs must constantly keep in contact with their residents. All the while they are trying their best to make a building full of strangers into a second home. “Students don’t know it’s actually our job to know them. We try to do our best to make everybody comfortable living away from home,” Borden explained. “I would love for my residents to do really well in college and still have all the fun in the world, (because) we’re here to get a degree and to have a better life afterwards.”

Borden said that he, along with other RAs, find things that are important to them, prioritize and don’t waste any time. For Borden, what is most important to him is his schooling. At every opportunity, between RA responsibilities and wrestling obligations, he would be studying. “Something people don’t know is that before residents move in, we’re here for two weeks going through training, and training is not a joke,” the Pennsylvania native said. “We would go from seven in the morning and stay up until two in the morning. Like, the only breaks we had were to eat.” RAs learn skills that later benefit them in the workplace, according to Brough. The IT aficionado explained the RA position is so diverse that his duties include working on IT all day, mentoring, building the commu-

nity and even mopping. He said he acquires little pieces of a lot of jobs, which can prepare him for real life. In contrast, Borden, who has been an RA for the last year, believes it may just have been his saving grace. He said if not for his position at Unity Hall, he might have been dead. “I would be studying (on

You’re born an RA...You realize there are many people looking up to you, so it’s the whole ‘life in a fishbowl’ concept. - Josiah Borden Unity Hall RA

campus) really late until like 12 at night or later and I would have to drive home,” the 21-year-old said. “At the end of (last) year, I started dreaming on the road and I would have hallucinations. I was very scared for my life sometimes, so living on campus was a big help to me. If I wasn’t an RA, I’d still be falling asleep on the road.” As heavy as the course load may be for some, Brough, who is pursuing a minor in management, said a job as a resident assistant can be very beneficial. Brough explained that it is a more extreme version of his previous leadership status with the Student Government Association. The RA position offers experience in administration, planning and social interaction. While the most common job description of an RA is to be responsible for the occupants on their floor, Brough said that resident assistants are a second father, mother, therapist, adviser and, often times, janitor. “In case we’re needed for any capacity, like there’s a clogged toilet or somebody’s locked out of their room, we’re not like, ‘OK, let’s go,’ but we have plungers and we’ll teach our residents, ‘Welcome to real world; this is how you unclog a toilet,’” Brough said. Michelle Garcia/The Pan American

Heritage Hall Resident Assistant Angelica Castillo joins in on a game of Jenga at the College Camp Out event Sept. 14. The event was held at Troxel Hall where residents played games, made crafts and watched horror films.

to use a plunger, but they also think of ways to entertain them with events. One of the most successful functions administered by the RAs was the Harlem Shake. Orchestrated within 30 minutes without any prior planning, the ‘Harlem Shake UTPA Dorm Life’ was quickly known throughout campus.

DORM SHENANIGANS Resident assistants not only teach their undergraduates how

“When you have this many college students together in one place, if everybody’s bored, someone has an idea and cool things can happen,” said Brough. From tie-dying days to splash n’ bash, RAs know their way around an event planner. Last spring, resident assistants at Unity Hall made their own version of a slip n’ slide with plastic wraps and baby shampoo. Sandbags and an old mattress greeted participants at the end of the slide. Whether it be water balloon fights or video games and pizza, there’s always something for residents to do. “Nobody’s going to turn away free food. Anything with food is always a hit,” Brough said. “Or other (events) like Bronc Idol, Res Idol and the talent shows. You see all these residents...you may have played pool against them, but maybe you never knew they played guitar. Maybe you never knew how great a voice they have...so you get to learn a lot about your neighbors.” CANS AND CANNOTS Harlem shakes and mattress collisions aside, RAs must be on their best behavior. Residence Life policy demands resident assistants stay in line and portray the University in a positive light. They are to act as role models for students. “You’re born an RA. You realize there are many people looking up to you, so it’s the whole ‘life in a fishbowl’ concept,” Brough

explained. “People are watching you all the time, so you can’t be acting out in the community. It’s just like you’re an RA everywhere. They don’t see you as just Evan; you’re Evan the RA.” Brough admitted that spontaneous weekend trips were no longer a possibility, sudden trips to a friend’s house are now out of the question and his social life has diminished. “It’s kind of like having kids; you change,” Brough said. “When you become an RA, your personality becomes that of an RA. You become so cognizant of your position. You don’t want to let down your residents. You don’t want your residents to think any less of you.” FAMILY MATTERS For Angelica Castillo, a sophomore and RA at Heritage Hall, her transfer from Texas State Technical College in Harlingen was a difficult step. Formerly a community adviser at her previous institution, she confessed she worried that she may not have been able to make the transition. “My worst fear was that I wasn’t going to make any friends,” the math major said. “My first day here, I made 26 friends; that’s all the RAs together. We had training and I believe we all connected; we all became really good friends.” Resident assistants such as Brough, Borden and Castillo are not only close to their residents, they are close to the other RAs as well. A community exists within the world of resident assistants which can produce lasting friendships and a sense of belonging. “Your co-workers become your family and your residents become your best friends,” explained Brough. “You really become part of something big and you know you have this huge family that you can always rely on. Best job I’ve ever had.”

September 19, 2013

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