‘Stop Hwy 68’ speaks out New highway would cut into farmland homes
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Jon Nutt/ The Pan American By Scarlet Sawyer The Pan American Swift feet racing back and forth on the glossy smooth court leaves a staccato screeching sound that fills the Field House basketball season is under way. as This year UTPA welcomed two
new players from Kigali, Rwanda to the team. Childhood friends Dan Kimasa and Adonis Rwabigwi tower at 6-foot-8 and 6-9, respectively. While watching these two giants, one would never guess they had not heard of bas-
ketball four years ago. Their first love was soccer, the heart and soul sport of Rwanda, located in East Central Africa. Kimasa, a freshman management major, discussed his transition between the two sports as he and his lifelong
pal joined the Bronc squad that won nine games last year. “I am way better in soccer than I am in basketball,” he said. “That is all we played at home and I didn’t think about playing basketball until my cousin told
me I had a great advantage because I am so tall.” Rwabigwi, a sophomore civil engineering major, has a similar story about why he made the switch.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 7
2
opinion
November 20, 2014
Was music better in the ‘90s? Elisa Garcia Reporter
Before the sounds of autotune and pop songs dominated the radio, musicians of the ‘90s not only produced raw-sounding material but made music that was inspired by real-life obstacles. This ultimately created a sense of connection between artists and listeners. According to the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), the golden age of popular music was in the late 1980s to mid 1990s with more megaselling albums, upwards of 15 million, released than the decade before. This suggests there was more interest than ever before in new music, but the latest numbers are not so good. The RIAA suggests popular music is less relevant than previous decades. As reported by CNN, the music industry is worth half
The Pan American thepanamerican@gmail.com 1201 West University, ARHU 170 Edinburg, Texas 78539 Phone: (956) 665-2541 Fax: (956) 665-7122
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of what it was at the turn of the millennium. Total revenue from U.S. music sales plunged to $6.3 billion in 2009 from $14.6 billion in 1999 and has continued to decrease. That begs the question: was music better in the ‘90s? Since the age of 8, my iPod has been packed with ‘90s songs such as Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit” and Backstreet Boys’ “I Want It That Way.” Both of these tracks came from records that eventually hit number one on the Billboard 200 album charts; in 1992 and the former in 1999. Today Nirvana has sold more than 110 million albums worldwide and the Backstreet Boys have more than 130 million, according to the RIAA. Researchers at CNN suggest it is unfair to compare music sales
#UTPA Tweet at and follow us @ThePanAmerican To the girl at rec parkn lot Blasting “ me, myself& I” by @beyonce inya car- I feel ya girl! #utpa #breakups #uDontneedHim #ifeelyouBoo
-@MrsjowieG
Dude sitting next to me is evolving Pokemon, full volume I am just trying to study for my Bio Lab final #UTPA
-@natyy_coronado i hate doing homework #collegelife #utpa -@RubenHdz14
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Vol. 71, No. 13
of the 2000s to the 1990s since the latter enjoyed an unusual sales boost when consumers replaced their cassette tapes and vinyl records with CDs. But the RIAA argues the main culprit for the decline in physical CD sales was the growing popularity of digital music. However, online music stores such as iTunes and Amazon have joined CDs as a format in decline, dropping in sales by 14.9 percent, or 120.9 million albums, in 2013. Of the records sold, 62.9 million were CDs which decreased 19.6 percent and 53.8 million were digital downloads, down to 11.6 percent. Don’t get me wrong, hit songs such as Nicki Minaj’s “Anaconda” and Iggy Azalea’s “Black Widow” are fun to listen to, but where’s the passion? What happened to
songs that actually told a story? Nirvana was a grunge rock band led by Kurt Cobain, who wrote lyrics about his inner struggle with depression, apparent in songs like “Dumb.” When Cobain sings, “I’m not like them but I can pretend...I think I’m dumb,” it sends a message to youth that it’s okay to be who you are. Marshall Mathers, infamously known as Eminem, spits out tracks that tell the world of his struggle growing up poor and overcoming it. His 2002 song “Lose Yourself ” sends a clear message to the public not to miss out on opportunities because of fear. He continues to do so to this day by releasing albums such as Recovery in 2010, featuring emotional content on his struggle with drug addiction. This is what songs should
be. This is what moves people. Music has the power to connect people from all walks of life. It has the ability to take you back to a special memory or, in some cases, a not-so-special memory. For people of the ‘90s, music led them to believe in their own ideas and dreams no matter who was against them.
As far as this generation of music goes, my anaconda don’t want none unless it’s ‘90s music.
news
November 20, 2014
3
Texas representative hopes to create RGV law school By Elsa Cavazos The Pan American Texas Representative Eddie Lucio, D-San Benito, who is currently on his fifth term in the Texas Legislature at Austin, filed legislation Nov. 10. If passed the legislation would begin the process of creating a law school in the Rio Grande Valley. Currently, the closest law school is St. Mary’s University in San Antonio which is more than 200 miles from Edinburg. “I feel that a law school in the Valley would be an opportunity for community growth and would increase the opportunities for young professionals,” Lucio said. “Whenever I hear someone say, ‘you know I wish there was a law school at home since I cannot afford going to San Antonio or Austin or wherever’...it concerns me since we have one of the worst ratios of lawyers in the state.” According to a 2009 article by The Texas Tribune, the nine Texas law schools produced a total of 2,340 graduates. Of those 1,837 passed the 2009 Texas Bar exam. February 2014 examination statistics
showed an 80 percent passing rate of Texas students who took the bar exam. The acceptance rate into law school for UTPA graduates is 90 percent. Lucio is currently working on finding funding for the possible new institution. He said it an achievable goal and aims to create a program similar to the one at Baylor University in Waco. While Lucio understands the expenses taken to create the medical school, which is set to open in 2016, he believes a law school would be worth the cost. The proposed bill, House Bill 59, would be an addition to the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley and its medical school. “We have invested an infinity of dollars on UTRGV and the new medical school, but I don’t want that to be a reason to ignore what could be a great opportunity for the community as a whole.” Lucio said. “We are constantly growing and our community is doubling in size… (and) we need as many professionals as possible.” Lucio’s next step is to send the legislation to the Texas
House of Representatives and hope for approval. Following the authorization, the legislation would then be sent to the Senate for its approval. The final say would come from the governor. The next session of the State Legislature begins in January. The overall process takes about 40 days. “Whether or not this bill gets approved, I am not going to disregard it. I will continue to fight to have it approved,” he said. “We need a law school in the Valley considering the talented people who cannot afford leaving home and if that happens in a year or maybe 10 years, I will have tried to make that happen.” According to The Monitor, Lucio filed a similar bill in 2011 but failed to make it out of the House Higher Education Committee, which considers issues relating to the state’s public and independent baccalaureate universities, colleges, private career schools and technical colleges. James Wenzel, a political science professor at UTPA, believes a law school would benefit students in the RGV
by giving them easier access to an education in law. “I have taught at institutions before, such as the University of Texas at Austin, that had law schools and having people in those disciplines nearby is interesting to see. For example, the collaboration between political scientists and lawyers,” said Wenzel, who has been at UTPA for more than 10 years. “Having that kind of cross-pollination can be useful to the subject I teach and to the students in that environment.” Wenzel thinks the building of a law school in the Valley would increase the rate of lawyers and give more recognition to the area. The number of law students from South Texas accounts for 3.6 percent of such students in the state. “Students need a good law school in order to succeed as future lawyers,” Wenzel said. “The Bar passage rates in Texas are very strong related to the law schools students go to, depending on how good this new one could be, it would bring great potential for students to pass their Bar exam.”
However, not all students are in favor of a law school. Flor Tamez, a freshman criminal justice major, does not consider the possible school to be a good idea because she believes it would be a waste of money. “I think creating a law school while there is a medical one being built already would be too much at the time,” Tamez said. “There has been a lot of money and work put into the new medical school and I feel it has created a lot of stress to different people especially administration and professors. Also, I would be afraid tuition would be raised.” According to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, the cost of creating a new law school would be more than $80 million. Victor Cabrera, a sophomore political science major, believes the legislation allowing for a law school should pass. He said he sees the legislation as a “great opportunity” in the development and growth of the region in addition to benefiting both U.S. and international students. “The building of a law
school in the Valley would be beneficial in many aspects to the community. Law has many jurisprudence and to me there isn’t a single law that was not contemplating a social aspect or issue,” Cabrera said. “Because of the many social issues pertaining to our proximity to Mexico, I think a law school here would not only give the possibility for students who can’t go further away an opportunity to litigate here.” Cabrera has not decided whether he wants to stay in the Valley after graduating but considers a law school beneficial to future generations. “If this legislation gets passed, which I hope does, (it) could be helpful for my children or any other younger generations,” Cabrera said. “I would definitely want my kids or any other student to have another opportunity that maybe I did not have the chance to have, especially to the one’s that are not able to pursue an education somewhere else.”
Page 4
November 20, 2014
THE PAN AMERICAN
November 20, 2014
THE PAN AMERICAN
Halting a highway Edinburg residents gather to oppose new roadway By Andrew Vera The Pan American
A crowd of about 75 people donning bright red shirts reading “Stop Hwy 68” gathered in the gym at Edinburg’s San Carlos Elementary School Tuesday evening to discuss the possibility of stopping construction of the new highway. The road is pegged to run parallel to Interstate 69 stemming from Expressway 83 just east of Val Verde Road. The residents that came together are at risk of losing their homes and farms due to this highway. The plan to build a new highway was conceived in 2003 and at the time the estimated cost was $85 million, according to The Monitor. The new road’s purpose would be to alleviate some of the heavy traffic that can be seen at the Expressway 83 and U.S. 281 interchange. Beginning in Donna beside Val Verde Road, the new stretch of highway would end just north of Edinburg on Farm-to-Market Road 2812. Following a public meeting that was held in September there will be a second meeting planned for spring 2015 followed by construction, set to begin in 2017 or 2018. Despite the highway’s purpose, residents potentially affected by it feel the process toward it should be stopped in order to preserve the farmland and homes that would be cut out by the new road. “The highway will take out my house. We got informed Sept. 9 at the first property owners meeting that (the highway) would go right over my house and my parent’s house,” said Rachel Villareal, an Edinburg resident. “They said they will be buying our houses by May (2015).” Jack Fike, an Edinburg resident who would lose cropland to the new road, said that the state’s right to take land under “eminent domain” shouldn’t prevail in this case. This is a law that allows the government to expropriate private property for fair compensation. “(The Texas Department of Transportation) said, ‘we’re gonna
give you a fair price,’” Fike said. “Fair according to who? There is no fair price available when someone does not want to sell. It’s theft.” Representatives from the Texas Department of Transportation were present at the Tuesday meet-
said them. “The Texas Department of Transportation is a public entity,” Saenz said. “The highways we build are for the public. It is false to say that these roads are strictly for anything. These are state roads. Anyone who
The highways we build are for the public. It is false to say that these roads are strictly for anything. These are state roads. Anyone who wants to use them will use them. - Octavio Saenz
Public information officer, TxDOT ing to answer questions from citizens. They ranged from wondering if taxes would increase to the timeframe for the construction of the new road. The questions garnered little response from TxDOT. Toribio Garza Jr., the district engineer for TxDOT’s Pharr district, explained the three phases of building, which he said may take 15 to 20 years to build. The first phase, he said, will connect frontage roads to Monte Cristo Road, making it easier for residents to get to Expressway 83 from north Edinburg. The subsequent phases will create the frontage roads and main highway lanes that will eventually loop back to U.S. 281 at FM 2812. Fike said he feels that TxDOT has reasons for building State Highway 68 that do not have the public’s interest in mind. “They said (the highway) was to get overloaded Mexico trucks from the new Donna bridge, which is floundering and not making any money, to 68 without sending them through 281,” Fike said. “(Toribio) outright said ‘(The highway) is not for you, it’s for Mexico.’ Now who are they representing, us or Mexico?” Octavio Saenz, public information officer for TxDOT, who was also present at Tuesday’s meeting, said that these statements are not true and that Garza never
wants to use them will use them.” Another issue surrounding the new highway is the possibility of making these roads “toll roads”, meaning travelers would pay a fee to use them. While Fike and Villarreal feel that placing a toll on the highway is unnecessary, Saenz noted that such fees pay for the maintenance of these roads, making them safer and more reliable for public use. Saenz said it is strictly a possibility that these roads would be tollways and said in that event only sections
for taking their land. Despite being compensated for land, Fike feels his crops are being compromised as well. “We will lose our land that we have been farming and cultivating for 50 years,” he said. “They will not pay you for future crop loss. They are putting this road here and they are taking your income without any money in the future.” Saenz said that while this new highway may take land from some, the construction will be beneficial in the long run. “In the ‘70s when the (281/ 83) interchange was built we had 20,000 cars passing through. Today we have more than 80,000,” Saenz said. “We need alternate routes to relieve some of that stress. While this new highway may displace some, it will help all.” Saenz used examples from larger cities such as San Antonio and Austin who have built roads outside of the city to serve as alternate routes, such as Interstate 410 which runs along the perime-
ter of San Antonio. He explained that these roads have been wildly successful in relieving traffic backup and believes that this system will benefit the Rio Grande Valley. Although plans for building the highway are already in the works , Fike and Villarreal said they will not stop trying to halt construction. A petition has been posted online so that opposers can voice their opinion. So far the petition has received 320 signatures, 180 signatures shy of its goal. “If you don’t want to sell, you have no choice,” Villarreal said. “(The state of Texas) will take you to court...and that’s what’s going to happen with us because we are not going to agree.” END SH 68
SIGN ON 11/26 OR 12/3
& WE’LL WAIVE YOUR APP/ADMIN FEES!*
*RESTRICTIONS APPLY, OFFER SUBJECT TO CHANGE.
107 EDINBURG
69C
83
MCALLEN PHARR ALAMO
would be tolled. Aside from taking money for tolls, Fike and other participants of Stop Hwy 68 feel that the state is wrong
281
your amenities
VAL VERDE ROAD
DONNA
RESORT-STYLE POOL | 24 HR CLUBHOUSE WALKING DISTANCE TO CAMPUS | FULLY FURNISHED
VerandaPlace.info | 855.492.3547
941 N. Sugar Rd | Edinburg, TX 78541
Page 5
Page 4
November 20, 2014
THE PAN AMERICAN
November 20, 2014
THE PAN AMERICAN
Halting a highway Edinburg residents gather to oppose new roadway By Andrew Vera The Pan American
A crowd of about 75 people donning bright red shirts reading “Stop Hwy 68” gathered in the gym at Edinburg’s San Carlos Elementary School Tuesday evening to discuss the possibility of stopping construction of the new highway. The road is pegged to run parallel to Interstate 69 stemming from Expressway 83 just east of Val Verde Road. The residents that came together are at risk of losing their homes and farms due to this highway. The plan to build a new highway was conceived in 2003 and at the time the estimated cost was $85 million, according to The Monitor. The new road’s purpose would be to alleviate some of the heavy traffic that can be seen at the Expressway 83 and U.S. 281 interchange. Beginning in Donna beside Val Verde Road, the new stretch of highway would end just north of Edinburg on Farm-to-Market Road 2812. Following a public meeting that was held in September there will be a second meeting planned for spring 2015 followed by construction, set to begin in 2017 or 2018. Despite the highway’s purpose, residents potentially affected by it feel the process toward it should be stopped in order to preserve the farmland and homes that would be cut out by the new road. “The highway will take out my house. We got informed Sept. 9 at the first property owners meeting that (the highway) would go right over my house and my parent’s house,” said Rachel Villareal, an Edinburg resident. “They said they will be buying our houses by May (2015).” Jack Fike, an Edinburg resident who would lose cropland to the new road, said that the state’s right to take land under “eminent domain” shouldn’t prevail in this case. This is a law that allows the government to expropriate private property for fair compensation. “(The Texas Department of Transportation) said, ‘we’re gonna
give you a fair price,’” Fike said. “Fair according to who? There is no fair price available when someone does not want to sell. It’s theft.” Representatives from the Texas Department of Transportation were present at the Tuesday meet-
said them. “The Texas Department of Transportation is a public entity,” Saenz said. “The highways we build are for the public. It is false to say that these roads are strictly for anything. These are state roads. Anyone who
The highways we build are for the public. It is false to say that these roads are strictly for anything. These are state roads. Anyone who wants to use them will use them. - Octavio Saenz
Public information officer, TxDOT ing to answer questions from citizens. They ranged from wondering if taxes would increase to the timeframe for the construction of the new road. The questions garnered little response from TxDOT. Toribio Garza Jr., the district engineer for TxDOT’s Pharr district, explained the three phases of building, which he said may take 15 to 20 years to build. The first phase, he said, will connect frontage roads to Monte Cristo Road, making it easier for residents to get to Expressway 83 from north Edinburg. The subsequent phases will create the frontage roads and main highway lanes that will eventually loop back to U.S. 281 at FM 2812. Fike said he feels that TxDOT has reasons for building State Highway 68 that do not have the public’s interest in mind. “They said (the highway) was to get overloaded Mexico trucks from the new Donna bridge, which is floundering and not making any money, to 68 without sending them through 281,” Fike said. “(Toribio) outright said ‘(The highway) is not for you, it’s for Mexico.’ Now who are they representing, us or Mexico?” Octavio Saenz, public information officer for TxDOT, who was also present at Tuesday’s meeting, said that these statements are not true and that Garza never
wants to use them will use them.” Another issue surrounding the new highway is the possibility of making these roads “toll roads”, meaning travelers would pay a fee to use them. While Fike and Villarreal feel that placing a toll on the highway is unnecessary, Saenz noted that such fees pay for the maintenance of these roads, making them safer and more reliable for public use. Saenz said it is strictly a possibility that these roads would be tollways and said in that event only sections
for taking their land. Despite being compensated for land, Fike feels his crops are being compromised as well. “We will lose our land that we have been farming and cultivating for 50 years,” he said. “They will not pay you for future crop loss. They are putting this road here and they are taking your income without any money in the future.” Saenz said that while this new highway may take land from some, the construction will be beneficial in the long run. “In the ‘70s when the (281/ 83) interchange was built we had 20,000 cars passing through. Today we have more than 80,000,” Saenz said. “We need alternate routes to relieve some of that stress. While this new highway may displace some, it will help all.” Saenz used examples from larger cities such as San Antonio and Austin who have built roads outside of the city to serve as alternate routes, such as Interstate 410 which runs along the perime-
ter of San Antonio. He explained that these roads have been wildly successful in relieving traffic backup and believes that this system will benefit the Rio Grande Valley. Although plans for building the highway are already in the works , Fike and Villarreal said they will not stop trying to halt construction. A petition has been posted online so that opposers can voice their opinion. So far the petition has received 320 signatures, 180 signatures shy of its goal. “If you don’t want to sell, you have no choice,” Villarreal said. “(The state of Texas) will take you to court...and that’s what’s going to happen with us because we are not going to agree.” END SH 68
SIGN ON 11/26 OR 12/3
& WE’LL WAIVE YOUR APP/ADMIN FEES!*
*RESTRICTIONS APPLY, OFFER SUBJECT TO CHANGE.
107 EDINBURG
69C
83
MCALLEN PHARR ALAMO
would be tolled. Aside from taking money for tolls, Fike and other participants of Stop Hwy 68 feel that the state is wrong
281
your amenities
VAL VERDE ROAD
DONNA
RESORT-STYLE POOL | 24 HR CLUBHOUSE WALKING DISTANCE TO CAMPUS | FULLY FURNISHED
VerandaPlace.info | 855.492.3547
941 N. Sugar Rd | Edinburg, TX 78541
Page 5
6
arts & life
November 20, 2014
Seniors discuss merit of Road Scholars program By Ramiro Rios The Pan American Every year close to 100,000 retirees from the U.S. Midwest and Canada, also known as Winter Texans, relocate to the Rio Grande Valley during the winter seeking a warmer climate. Among them are Thomas and Virginia Gelineau who hail from Lake Nebagamon, Wis. The couple are regulars at UTPA’s theater productions, but wish the University had a “Road Scholar” program, which offers non-credit courses to seniors. “We and other Winter Texans have been to the piano recitals and theater productions here,” Virginia Gelineau said. “UTPA’s Mariachi Aztlán and Ballet Folklórico have absolutely thrilled us. We want classes where we can learn more.” “Road Scholar,” formerly known as Elderhostel, is a nonprofit organization that provides
educational and travel tour programs for adults 55 years and older. The educational part offers non-credit classes and focuses on topics relevant to the region where it is taught. According to the organization’s website, 5,550 courses are currently offered across the nation and in 150 countries. In 2010 Elderhostel changed its name to Road Scholar in order to appeal to baby boomers, or people born between 1946 and 1964. Peter Kranz, professor of educational psychology at UTPA, is familiar with the program that is celebrating its 40th anniversary. He brought the topic up at a Faculty Senate meeting in 2010 but garnered no support. Kranz, who has been teaching at UTPA for 13 years, has seen a rise in the Winter Texan population in the last decade. Kranz feels the program could be another source of revenue for the University as well as a great opportunity for seniors. “We could offer recreational activities at the UTPA Wellness and Recreational Complex on the weekends, Spanish language and history courses. We have a terrific mariachi group, they could learn so much about the culture down here,” the New York native said. “They’re also
a diverse group with other ethnic qualities, they could sponsor a German or Polish dinner where they teach students about their culture. The possibilities are endless.” Married for 37 years, the Gelineaus have spent winters in the Valley for the past seven years, arriving in October and leaving in May. Gelineau, who has a master’s in mass communication from the University of Wisconsin-Superior, believes UTPA should participate in the Road Scholar program so that Winter Texans can learn more about the
lieves some of the courses at UTPA could educate Winter Texans on Mexican culture and the local cuisine. “We always love learning more about the people, their language, their customs,” the 64-year-old said. “There is so much history here with fascinating stories in the Valley that UTPA could teach us.” ECONOMIC IMPACT According to the 2013-2014 Winter Texan Report from UTPA’s Business and Tourism Research Center, so-called
There is so much history here with fascinating stories in the Valley that UTPA could teach us. - Virginia Gelineau Winter Texan
region and its customs. “We would be interested in just about any of the classes offered at the college from political science, computer programming, electrical engineering to art,” she said. “Our tastes and interests are as varied as anyone’s.” When it comes to Texas schools, the University of Texas at Austin has a Road Scholar program focusing on the history and culture of the city. Gelineau be-
“snowbirds” spent an average of $13,400 per household with a total economic contribution of $710 million to the Valley economy last season. Penny M. Simpson, professor of marketing and associate dean of the College of Business Administration, helped put the report together. She said there’s a rich knowledge base within the Winter Texan community that would benefit the UTPA
student body. “Through notes from my survey there was one man who was a retired politician and another who worked for an ad agency,” the Houston native said. “They could come in and share their knowledge with political science and advertising classes.” The Road Scholar program could help bridge that connection as Winter Texans share their experiences, Simpson said. She explained that many of them are eager to learn about the customs of the people they share a home with for six months out of the year. “There is much that they can contribute to us and what we can contribute to them,” Simpson said. “They come to the sporting events at the University, we could provide entertainment and types of learning events.” PERFECT TIMING The majority of Winter Texans come from Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin and Illinois, according to the 2013-2014 report. Kranz explained that it’s a great opportunity to expose the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, set to open in fall 2015. Potential students can learn through relatives what the new academic institution has to offer, he added.
“Many of these people come from the north and the midwest,” Kranz said. “It would be a great opportunity for them to go back home and talk about the great experiences they had here at the new university.” The Gelineaus still have six months before they head back home - time that Virginia Gelineau feels she could use to learn new things. She admits that she went through the same social and academic pressures most students endure in their college years, from finishing her master’s on time while holding down two jobs and raising a family. “It was easy to lose track of the fact that learning can be fun,” she said. “As seniors those pressures are gone. We aren’t worried anymore about impressing a professor or our parents.” Art, music and astronomy are some of the classes Gelineau missed out on, and she hopes UTPA will one day offer them through a Road Scholar program.
Renee Alicia Rangel/ The Pan American
sports
November 20, 2014
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 second home.
ber 2010 where they found their
“I played a lot of soccer street ball at home because that’s all anybody played and all anybody knew,” the transfer from Furman in South Carolina said. “The sport there is soccer and I figured ‘why play anything else?’ Then I started getting taller and I couldn’t play soccer anymore because of my position. I played left wing and you have to run so much, which led to leg problems and hip problems. So I told myself, ‘I think it’s time for me to change sports.’” Soccer paved the way to success in basketball for these transfers. Dan Hipsher has been the head coach for the UTPA men’s basketball team since 2013 and sees how a talented soccer player, given the right height, can be transformed into a dynamic basketball athlete. “With international students, you see their first sport being soccer a lot of the time,” Hipsher said. “Soccer has given them the footwork and coordination for basketball and has also kept them in good running condition. One of the greatest basketball players, Hakeem Olajuwon, who was 6-foot-10 inches and played for
the Houston Rockets, was initially a fantastic soccer player at a young age.” Kimasa and Rwabigwi are just that and the Broncs have now found an asset to their team. “(Kimasa), although he is young, is very skilled in a lot of ways. He can shoot, pass and dribble the ball and has a real feel for the game,” Hipsher said. “(Rwabigwi) already has a year of competition under his belt at the college level. He started every game last year at Furman and he’s really an explosive athlete. A great rebounder and shot blocker, he is also developing his offensive game. Both of them have great attributes in terms of touch, feel and work ethic.” Last season at Furman University Rwabigwi averaged 4.8 points, 3.4 rebounds and one block while shooting .550 from the field in 24 games (20 starts). Before Bronc basketball came to these athletes, there was opportunity on the horizon. Kimasa and Rwabigwi left soccer behind and sought out the possibilities in the U.S. With a long journey ahead the two Rwandans set off for Tampa, Fla. in Decem-
ture shock wasn’t shocking to Kimasa. “I went to Florida because “There are a lot of advantagI wanted a better education. es to living in the U.S. and the Basketball wasn’t even on my food here in the Valley is just m i n d ,” like our Rwabfood at They are great students and igwi reh o m e ,” community leaders who are going called. he said. back to Rwanda to contribute to the “Some“ O u r rebuilding of the country. b o d y f o o d - Dan Hipsher reached is like Head men’s basketball coach o u t Mexican to me food, when I was in Rwanda and gave there is a little bit of a difference me the idea to switch sports.” but it’s the same.” The childhood friends have Traditional food of Rwanembarked on a quest to change da consists of bananas, rice and their lives. Both wanted a bet- vegetables. ter education and they thought Rwabigwi, on the other hand, a move to the States would be in sees a huge cultural difference betheir best interest. tween the U.S. and other counAccording to the two, Rwan- tries but is glad to be at UTPA. dan colleges lack modern facili“It’s totally different here ties and are not as equipped as than any other country. The the educational system in the way people live and what they U.S. do is just completely different,” The two attended different Rwabigwi said. “Although I am universities in Florida but af- happy to be here at UTPA espeter following Rwabigwi’s assis- cially because of my civil engitant coach to UTPA, they be- neering degree plan.” came Broncs. Knowing they With a degree, Rwabigwi had one another gave them the hopes to find a promising job confidence to assimilate into a wherever he chooses to live. new culture. After having come Being so far away from their from across the world, the cul- friends and family back home,
the two find it difficult to communicate with loved ones, Kigali being 8,601 miles from Edinburg. Kimasa tries to contact his family as often as possible. “I try to call my family once or twice a week, but usually the phones aren’t always working or there is a bad connection,” Kimasa said. Kigali is seven hours ahead from the central time zone, which makes phone contact problematic. The distance between them and their families plays a definitive role in what they plan to do after college. Kimasa and Rwabigwi intend to return to Africa after graduating. “I really want to go home after I get my degree because that is where my family is and my home,” Rwabigwi said. “I will also make some money first, so when I return I can relax with my family in the most beautiful country I have ever known.” Hipsher believes in his two new players and thinks it’s a great idea that they go back to their home country especially because of the death and destruction their country experienced with the Rwandan Genocide. “They are great students and community leaders who are go-
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ing back to Rwanda to contribute to the rebuilding of the country,” Hipsher said. “A lot of the things being done in Rwanda after the genocide are from people outside of their nation because so many of the adults are gone. Now the kids are rising up and wanting to contribute back to the economy and into their country.” Rwabigwi has two more years to play and Kimasa three, and they will be an integral part of the program from here on out, according to Hipsher. Unfortunately, Rwabigwi transferred from another Division I school and will have to sit out a year before playing for the Broncs due to NCAA regulations. The Broncs began the latest season with an exhibition victory at home against Texas A&MInternational Nov. 8 and the regular season kicked off with an 88-80 victory over Wayland Baptist University Nov. 14 at the Field House. Upcoming games include a home game against Texas A&M University - Kingsville Nov. 22 and an away game against the University of Houston Dec. 4.
U T PA w o m e n ’s b a s k e t b a l l c o m p e t e s i n M a g g i e D i x o n C l a s s i c By Marco Torres The Pan American The UTPA women’s basketball team opened the regular season with the Maggie Dixon Classic, hosted by DePaul University at McGrath-Phillips Arena and the Broncs finished the weekend with one win and two losses. The lone victory came Nov. 14 against the University of New Mexico. The two losses came at the hands of nationally-ranked Division I opponents No. 18 DePaul University and No. 5 Texas A&M University, the latter by just two points. “We had a very good win over a very good New Mexico team,” Tidwell said. “We lost against DePaul, a game that we were in the whole way until the last five minutes or so. We were in foul trouble and had to put some people in that really were not ready for Division I bigtime basketball, but they will be. Then we lose down to the wire versus Texas A&M...and the way we played that game, that day I believe we should have won.” After the tournament was done, the Broncs learned that sophomore and returning starter Shawnte’ Goff earned a slot
on the Maggie Dixon Classic All-Tournament Team. The Copperas Cove native averaged 17.3 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.7 steals for the event. “She had a really good tournament,” Tidwell said. “She did a lot of good things for us offensively. She got some steals. I need her to rebound more, finish that mid-range jumper and finish at the rim a bit more. But again she is a sophomore and playing against top-notch competition.” In the 61-59 victory over the Lobos, Goff scored a game-high 21 points to go along with four rebounds, three assists and three steals. The sophomore received some help from juniors KaeLynn Boyd and Rickell Preston as they each scored 12 points. Preston also collected a careerhigh in rebounds as she grabbed nine to go along with her career high in points. The Broncs’ lead grew to 19 points at two different times in the first half until the Lobos chipped away in the second half, coming within nine points with 10 minutes left. As the game came down to the end the Lobos cut the lead to two, but a missed a late three-point shot. The following day the Broncs tasted their first loss of the sea-
son as they were defeated by the DePaul Blue Demons, 93-70. Once again the Broncs were led by Goff with 18 points. She broke her career high in makes and attempts from the free-throw line, which were set the previous night against the Lobos. She went 9 for 11 from the line to go along with four rebounds. The Broncs struggled against the Blue Demons as five DePaul athletes hit double digits in points and the foe had 22 second-chance points. UTPA also turned the ball over 22 times, leading to 29 points by DePaul. “A lot of the turnovers came from players being the right position or right place to be at the right time,” Tidwell said. “We had a lot of turnovers from the bench and that is something as a coach you don’t like. We had 22 turnovers. We usually average 11 or 12 and if we can keep it around there we will be fine.” The closest the Broncs got was 34-30 with six minutes left in the first half but then the Blue Demons went on a 14-4 run and kept the lead in double figures the rest of the game. The Broncs pulled within 10 in the second half but that is as close as they got to catching up In the final game of the Mag-
gie Dixon Classic Nov. 16 the Broncs lost 63-61 as the game went down to the wire versus the Aggies. Tidwell believes that if certain mental errors, such as carelessness with the ball, had been corrected the loss could have easily been a victory. “We had a chance to win that game if we would have finished some things,” said Tidwell, who is entering his second year as head coach. “If we finished rebounding, plays at the rim and guard the certain people that we were supposed to be guarding in certain situations, then we win that game.” In a game where UTPA outshot the Aggies 42.1 to 37.9 percent and led by as much as 12 in the first half, the Broncs gave A&M all they could handle with four players in double figures. Helping the Broncs was freshman Hildur Björg Kjartansdóttir as she scored 10 points by shooting 60 percent from the field and adding a team-high nine rebounds. But leading the Broncs was T’Ondria Nolen, a 5-foot-7-inch senior who scored a career-high 14 points, a careerhigh in assists with seven and five rebounds. “I was really pleased with
the point guard play of Nolen,” Tidwell said. “I thought she was outstanding, took care of the ball and put the ball where it needed to be.” The Aggies were forced to play from behind early as the Broncs scored on their first four possessions, making the score 10-2. Texas A&M fought back as they closed the gap to within four points until Kjartansdóttir hit a three-point shot that started a 10-2 run, making the score 22-10 with 13 minutes left in the first half. The Broncs kept the lead for the better part of the game until the 13-minute mark of the second half when the Aggies regained it at 44-42. The Broncs hung around from there, pulling within two as Goff hit a layup with 2:12 remaining in the game. The Broncs came out of a 30-second timeout, down two points with 1.8 seconds left on the clock and the entire length of the floor to go. Freshman Stephanie Onyeje received the inbound pass and heaved the ball but missed the basket. The Broncs closed out the Maggie Dixon Classic on a loss, but they contended the entire game. UTPA has a tough schedule
ahead, with nationally ranked opponents such as No. 9 Texas and No. 8 Baylor. Also on the schedule is a Nov. 22 game against Eastern Michigan University, a team that won 23 games last year. “The thing about playing a tough schedule is that we are getting ready to play in the WAC,” Tidwell said. “That is what we are going to have to do, we have to get ready to play tough competition...our schedule is full of tough teams.” The Broncs’ next game was the home opener Nov. 19 against Texas A&M-Kingsville at the Field House. The Broncs won 86 to 36 against a Kingsville team that is in rebuilding mode accordiing to Hipsher. But he still knows that the game was the first game of three games in four days. “We got full week, we got Texas A&M-Kingsville, then Concordia and we finish up with an Eastern Michigan team,” Tidwell said. “We’ve got our hands full this week as we play three games in four days because if you check out the WAC tournament bracket, that is the format we use and I am trying to teach them how to how to handle those type of situations.”
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November 20, 2014