February 23, 2006 by UTRGV Student Media

Lady Bronc hoops nears end of season THE

PAN

AMERICAN

T h e S t u d e n t N e w s p a p e r o f T h e U n i v e r s i t y o f Te x a s - P a n A m e r i c a n

February 23, 2006

Growing Pains

ADHD drugs linked to health problems? By JAVIER CAVAZOS The Pan American

Looking forward By LUKE KOONG The Pan American With proven leadership and a clear vision, the University of Texas-Pan American is marching forward into a new era of production and service.

PART FOUR OF FOUR “My hope is that we will be able to develop a university that is so engaged in the production of knowledge and still very much a learnercentered institution, one that is concerned about what the students experience at UTPA,” said Blandina Cardenas, president of UTPA. Cardenas, who is in her second year as president, acknowledges that there has been progress. “I have seen a lot of change very, very quickly,” she said. Those changes range from a 20 percent increase in the retention of freshmen, to equipping almost every classroom with new technology. In addition, she has helped to foster a more interactive university, one in which students and faculty can make their voices heard in decision-making. “Those are the building blocks of success,” Cardenas said, adding that she views it as a service that few

see Page 15

teaching gets better, faculty members are more engaged in research and across the board, doing a better job of serving students.” Another field, and one that

The Food and Drug Administration met recently to discuss concerns regarding attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) drugs and their alleged role in sudden deaths of 25 individuals. The FDA study focused on deaths that occurred between 1999 and 2003. The report’s information, collected originally in 2004 and released Feb. 8, was selected from 309 death reports that listed the ADHD drugs as the suspected cause of death. The report profiles cases involving the brand-name drugs Adderall, Concerta and Ritalin. Concern over the connection between these drugs and sudden death is nothing new. In February 2005, Health Canada, the Canadian drug regulatory agency, pulled Adderall from the market due to 20 international cases of sudden death. Sales were allowed to resume six months later after more stringent labeling regulations were instituted. Similar regulations, called “black-box labels,” have been recommended by the FDA in response to this latest study. Individual cases that did not result in death were also examined for the study. Incidents included cardiovascular problems ranging from stroke to heart palpitations and cases of stroke and heart attack in children.

See GROWTH page 11

See DRUGS page 11

other universities can match, due to the demographics and geographical location of UTPA. “The shift in the nation is making it ever more important that we understand how to serve this population and how to develop their potential,” she said. “Our students have lived in this environment characterized by diversity and struggles.” Cardenas added that the uniqueness of the students will, in the end, be a great service to society. “I’m anxious to see cultivated in our students a commitment to inquiry and innovation,” Cardenas said. REVIEWING PROGRESS Cardenas feels the university has made much progress in many fields. One of many notable areas is the hiring of more faculty interested in research. Research has become an intricate part of thriving universities in the world, and UTPA is making strides to be successful in this area as well. One way Cardenas wants to facilitate that is with the reduction in faculty workload. Her aim is to stimulate research with a move to a 3-3 yearly class workload, which, handin-hand with teaching, will improve the quality of students and learning at

Joel de la Rosa/The Pan American LEADERSHIP - Blandina Cardenas, seen here at a budget meeting, is very optimistic about the progress of the university. In her two years as president, UTPA has made leaps and bounds.

the institution. “I used to think there was a dichotomy between being a teaching institution and a research-based institution, but I don’t think so anymore,” she said. “I’m convinced that as

Group lobbies for immigration reform By ADRIANA GARZA The Pan American Immigration has attracted the attention of many over the last several years - legislators in particular. The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill that they hope will solve our nation’s immigration dilemma. The Secure America and Orderly Immigration Act, also known as the McCain Kennedy immigration bill, includes changes to the US immigration law. It mentions enhancing Border Security, extends the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program, mentions

Essential Worker Visa Program, Family Unity and Backlog Reduction, creates new non-immigrant visas, protects against immigration fraud, and promotes access to health care. While all these may sound like positive goals, there are some who are unhappy with the immigration laws. The National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference (NHCLC), also known as the National Hispanic Association of Evangelicals, joined the Hispanic Coalition for Comprehensive Immigration Reform (HCCIR) to change the current immigration laws.

“We’re going to have a press conference in Washington in the month of March before legislation hits the floor of the Senate,” said Samuel Rodriguez, NHCLC president and chief executive officer. “We’re going to let our voices be heard, even to the president of the United States of America. The Hispanic people in America want comprehensive immigration.” The NHCLC believes that the government should allow illegal immigrants into the country. They also

See IMMIGRATION page 11

Source: CBS News LyLony Cazares/The Pan American

OPINIONS

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February 23 2006

UNPROTECTED TEXT THE

PAN AMERICAN 1201 West University, CAS 170 Edinburg, Texas 78539 (956) 381-2541 Fax: (956) 316-7122 http://www.panam.edu/dept/panamerican 55th Year – No. 20

Editor Claudette Gonzalez claudetteelena @gmail.com News Editor Sandra Gonzalez sandra_panamerican @yahoo.com A & E Editor Meredith LaGrone meredith_lagrone @hotmail.com Sports Editors Daryl Gonzales daryl_gonzales2002@yahoo.com Graphics Editor LyLony Cazares lylony@gmail.com Photography Editor Joel de la Rosa delarosa.joel@gmail.com Designers Brian Carr carr.ba@gmail.com Erika Lopez lopez475@yahoo.com Laura C. Gomez lm.gomez@yahoo.com Advertising Mgr. Rafael Villarreal spubs@panam.edu Reporters Adriana Garza Ana Ley Angela Salazar Claralexis Rios David Rodriguez Frank Calvillo Jorge Hinojosa Luke Koong Maria Mazariegos

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 university.

Letters policy The Pan American gladly accepts letters from students, staff and faculty regarding newspaper content or current issues. The Pan American reserves the right to edit submissions for grammar and length. Please limit submission length to 300 words. The Pan American cannot publish anonymous letters, or submissions containing hate speech or gratuitous personal attacks. Letters are printed at the discretion of the editor and must include the writer’s name, class/title and phone number.

Trey Serna Photographer Joey Cortez Translator Mercedes Cantu Adviser Dr. Greg Selber

Secretary Anita Casares

Delivery Thursday at Noon

Readers with disabili-

ties may request an alternative format of this publication at The Pan American business office. For special assistance to attend any event listed in this publication, contact the coordinator of the event at least one week prior to the advertised date. Articles are written and published at the discretion of The Pan American newspaper. Should readers wish to submit story ideas to the editor, please allow two weeks for processing.

No one to blame but yourself By DAVID RODRIGUEZ The Pan American Red and blue lights flash in your rearview mirror and you brake. You wonder for an agonizing second or two whether you have current car insurance information in the glove box, grit your teeth and then you pull over. You give your friend a wry smile and lean over to get your license and registration. You roll your window down and think, “Was I going that fast? I can’t afford a ticket right now.” You wait for the cop to do whatever it is they do before they come to your window but he is having none of it. He would much rather you get out of the car. Now. Then it dawns on you. You’ve been drinking. The realization comes way too late but when it does it affects every

single nerve in your body. You want your walk and talk and gaze to illuminate nothing but sobriety. Even after you realize that it’s all going to come down to biology, you try to tweak the system. You put one foot in front of the other nine times just like the cop says and you turn around and do it again. You lift your right foot and count to 30. You nail them both but you know its going to come down to a digital readout. Everything but the breathalyzer is foreplay. So you try to take inconspicuously large breaths to somehow expel the evidence. You wish you had eaten a freaking mint even though you know that’s probably absurd. You close your eyes, blow and wait for your fate to be sealed by what, essentially, looks like the most evil alarm clock you’ve ever seen. You blow a .100 and you think “missed it by that much.” But the cop has very little interest in how far you missed it by and even less in your “Get Smart” impression. He just wants you to turn around

and put your hands behind your back. As the cuffs click closed you watch cars drive by and wish you could be in any one of them, but it’s painfully clear why you aren’t. They take your wallet, your shoes, your phone, your glasses, and you find yourself in a room with six other guys, most of them passed out, and the only place you can sit down is two feet from a toilet which is visited quite frequently by the drunkest among you. You wait. They call your name and take you to the county jail where you wait some more. You know its coming. You’ve seen enough television. You are going to have to get naked in front of about 10 people. And sure enough there you are with a piece of soap about the size of your big toe wondering about your commitment to cleanliness at a time like this. Your clothes are gone and in their place is nothing but the color orange, right down to the slippers. You put them on and it’s obvious the color only works on Snoop, and maybe

Tupac. You aren’t getting into some gangster stuff. Nobody is glaring at you or wants beef. Everyone is too busy being devastated about what they have done to be where they are. It’s far from a music video. You’re not a thug or hardcore. And you’re certainly not jumping in on some freestyle rap any time soon. You’re just headed back to your cell with a door that shuts and locks itself. It locks. You didn’t lock it. It’s not locked by accident. No one is going to come by, open it and say “Geez man, I’m sorry. How long were you in there?” It’s locked for a reason. You wait. You sit and think about what exactly happened and you marvel at how fast it did. You want to pick and gnaw at the unfairness of it all. You want to rail about how ridiculously low .08 really is. But you know it doesn’t matter. You have no one to blame but yourself. Please send all legal advice to davideric@gmail.com

LETTER TO THE EDITOR Dear Editor, Rumors indicate a recent change in UTPA policy concerning graduation requirements. This may affect senior that have applied for Spring 2006 graduation. In the past,

students have been allowed to “walk” during regular scheduled commencement ceremonies, and then during Summer Session I make up any stray credits. When does this change go into effect? What will

Help Wanted: S t u d e n t

happen to the seniors that filed degree plans with the Registrar’s Office months ago? Can the university please respond to these questions, or provide the name and number of someone that can?

Thank you, Kasie Sheldon Senior comm. studies major

Publication Office Assistant

Job Description: Good physical condition to deliver newspaper across campus

Sorts and routes correspondence or forms

Qualifications: Able to use PC and standard office machines, type 45wpm and lift 25lbs.

Valid Texas DL and good driving record.

Answers telephone and runs errands

Files alphabetically or numerically and performs related duties as required

Applications available in COAS 170 Call ahead for an interview or come by the office to speak with Anita Casares. (956) 381-2541 (956) 316-7122

NEWS

Duke visits UTPA . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Social work conference . . . . . . . 5

En Español . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

‘Klan-destine’ author sheds light on KKK By SANDRA GONZALEZ The Pan American History classes cover racism of the past. There are movies depicting the horrors of segregation. And then there is Daryl Davis, author of “Klandestine Relationships.” Davis, 47, not only lived through the segregation of the 1960s as a black man, he sat across from grand dragons of the Ku Klux Klan - a society of whites who infamously use terrorist tactics to suppress blacks - and interviewed them. He sat in their homes, went to their rallies, and ultimately, created friendships. Davis, who spoke in the Student Union Theater on Monday night, came to the University of Texas-Pan American in celebration of Black History Month. Davis has done what many people would consider a risky move. But he says in order to understand the risks he’s taken, you have to know where he comes from. With his parents in the U.S. Foreign Service, Davis, an only child, traveled all over the world most of his life. He has been in 49 different countries on five different continents. “I’ve literally experienced hundreds of different cultures, races, ethnicities, and religions,” Davis said. “Back in the early 1960s, as a child in grade school overseas, I went to international

schools. My classes were filled with Nigerians, Italians, Russians, Germans, Chinese, French you name it.” However, while Davis was experiencing multiculturalism, back in the States children his same age were experiencing something vastly different. “My peers back home in the city, in my own country, were still attending segregated schools or newly integrated ones. There was not the diversity of race that there is in schools,” Davis said. “I never experienced racism until I came home to my own country.” One of the most unforgettable experiences with racism came when Davis was the only black child to participate in a Cub Scout march to celebrate the ride of Paul Revere. “Somewhere down the parade route as I was marching, I began getting pelted with glass and bottle caps and pebbles and debris from the street. Somebody on the sidewalk was throwing things. Not just kids, but adults,” Davis said. “But I was naïve. I thought somebody didn’t like the scouts.” After being pulled to safety by his den mother and scout master, Davis was left in a cloud of confusion. “When I got home, my mom and dad sat me down and told me why I was being targeted,” Davis said. “When they told me that day why I was being hit…I thought they were lying to me. It was incomprehensible to me.”

His family soon relocated to another country and Davis left segregation behind. But upon his return to the States in the 10th grade, Davis still had unsatisfied curiosity about racism. He decided to research. “Whoever thought their skin color made them better than anyone else, I wanted to know about it, because people weren’t born with that ideology,” Davis said. “I began buying every book I could get my hands on.” But there was one fact that Davis could not ignore. All the books on the KKK were written by whites. Though he did not act on his realization at the time, Davis kept the fact in the back of his head until a chance meeting with a KKK member in a bar. Davis had just finished performing with his band, when a man came up to him and complimented his piano playing. The two hit it off and decided to sit down and share some drinks. Until the conversation took a serious turn. “He said ‘You know, this is the first time I’ve ever sat down and had a drink with a black man,”’ Davis said. David was shocked. He could not understand because in his 25 years, he had sat down with thousands of white people and had a drink. Yet, the man who sat before him at 40 had never sat down with a black man.

Students presented with aid options By MARIA ALEJANDRA MAZARIEGOS The Pan American Getting into college is one thing, but paying for it is a whole other story. That is where scholarships and financial aid comes in handy. On March 1, the University of Texas-Pan American’s priority deadline for applying for financial aid will have students waiting in line to turn in their applications. Rebekah Sepulveda, a clerk in the financial aid office, explained the importance of the deadline. “This is a date that the university is setting. It is so we can give the students their money faster,” said Sepulveda. Students who apply for aid on or before the priority deadline will be considered for limited funding sources of aid such as local grants. They will also receive their aid money before tuition and fees are due, removing the hassle for students. “[They] get their tuition paid for before the payments are due, that way they don’t have to worry about finding alternative ways to pay for their semester,” said Sepulveda. Applying for aid is simple. Students must complete their FAFSA by March 1. Students can fill out their FAFSA online at www.fafsa.ed.gov. For assistance they can stop by the Financial Aid

“I said ‘why?’ and he didn’t answer me. His friend said ‘Tell him. Tell him.’ The guy looks at me and says, ‘I’m a member of the KKK,’” Davis said.

See DAVIS page 12

Sidney Meadows/ The Pan American REVELATIONS - Daryl Davis, author of “Klandestine Relationships,” speaks about his life and experiences with the KKK. Davis visited UTPA as part of Black History Month.

Grants benefit deaf students, rehab program By HECTOR CANO The Pan American

money for school. Another source is scholarships. Some of the most popular and generous ones are the UTPA Excellence Scholarships. Scholarships are funded through a variety of

On Feb. 13, Congressman Ruben Hinojosa announced the University of Texas-Pan American had been given two grants by the U.S. Department of Education. One grant allotted $500,000 to the program for deaf students and a second granted $375,000 to the rehabilitation long-term training undergraduate education program. "Unfortunately, our area lacks enough qualified, bilingual and fully-trained rehabilitation specialists," said Hinojosa. "These funds will allow UTPA to recruit students to these programs, to enter the workforce with a secure and good-paying job, and to a future filled with the promise of a rewarding career." The grant for the deaf program will be administrated from September 2006 through August 2007, and over five years the money is intended to better prepare professionals in the field of unique social, vocational and technologi-

See AID page 12

See GRANT page 12

Sandra Gonzalez/ The Pan American AID - Albert Vanegas, freshman nursing major, receives financial aid information at the Financial Aid Fair on Feb. 21 from Brenda Garcia, a graduate student accounting major and scholarship coordinator for financial aid. The fair, held in the Student Union, tried to simplify the aid process.

Express Lab located in the Student Services Building, room 1.195, where someone will take them step by step through completion of the form. Financial aid is an effective way to pay for college, but it is not the only option for getting

NEWS

Page 4

February 23, 2006

‘Death of a Salesman’ gives birth to self-reflection Georgia professor lectures on meaning of play and relation to everyday people By ANGELA GIBSON The Pan American Many rhetoricians have dedicated their lives to analyzing the works of authors of the past. But while some have placed their focus on examining the works of Shakespeare and Charles Dickens, Matthew Roundane, professor and chair of the English Department at the University of Georgia, has taken a more modern approach, delving deep into Arthur Miller’s infamous play “Death of a Salesman.” Roudane came to the University of Texas-Pan American and spoke about the book on Tuesday afternoon in the Communications, Arts and Sciences Building studio. According to the professor, the play does much more than entertain. He said it opts for “kidnapping the imagination.” “Death of a Salesman” opened Feb. 10, 1949 and after became one of the most celebrated plays of all time. “The meaning hits as strong today as it was nearly 50 years ago,” Roudane said.

And what exactly is that meaning? According to Roudane, it is that each individual must take a moment and reflect on themselves and their life. “Miller was able to kidnap the imagination of the audience and all that he did was simply hold a mirror to their faces. Each character that is portrayed is someone,” Roudane said. “It is the everyday struggle of life that keeps the audience entertained and holds the play in high regard with every single person that sees, hears, or reads this particular play.” He emphasized that the importance of “Salesman” is that the protagonist was, simply, just a man. “The struggles that he faces is the very thing that keeps the audience entertained and they are able to walk away with a sensitivity towards life,” Roudane said. Roundane added that the work easily resonates with people and thus has gained worldwide appeal. “This is a play that can easily be related to all races and classes, which explains its translation in 29 languages

and performance in places like Spain and China,” he noted. While many analysts of literature develop theories based on the authors’ manuscripts and memoirs, Roudane has actually known Miller for almost 25 years. In that time, he has published several essays on the subject and critiqued the play. “I have a great deal of admiration

and appreciation for his work. This is why I discuss this particular play,” Roudane said. “In no way am I trying to commercialize his play; I am simply trying to reach a modern generation.” The play also holds an emotional connection with Roundane because of his own family experience - his father was a salesman. “For those of us who are familiar

with the play, I am glad to say that my father didn’t follow the path of Willy.” Roudane came to UTPA thanks to Katherine Weiss, a lecturer in the English department. The two are longtime friends and she has even spoken at Georgia, where he teaches. “It was a great pleasure to hear him speak and define the meaning of this play,” she said.

“Miller was able to kidnap the imagination of the audience and all that he did was simply hold a mirror to their faces. Each character that is portrayed is someone.”

Matthew Roundane

Laura Gomez

Duke of Westminster speaks about leadership By ANA LEY The Pan American Last Friday, the University of Texas-Pan American Foundation Board welcomed Gerald Cavendish Grosvenor, the sixth duke of Westminster, to the McAllen Country Club as part of the school’s fifth annual Outstanding Leadership Series. The Duke, chairman of real estate giant Grosvenor Group Holdings Limited, was on The Sunday Times Rich List as ‘Wealthiest Man in Britain’ from 2000-2003 and ranked third in 2005. His fortune is currently worth an estimated $8 billion, according to Forbes Magazine. After work, Grosvenor’s philanthropic acts are equally as

Ana Ley/The Pan American LEADING - Gerald Cavendish Grosvenor and President Blandina Cardenas converse over a meal at the McAllen Country Club on Feb. 17. Grosvenor spoke as part of the Outstanding Leadership Series, in which he highlighted qualities of a good leader.

impressive. Matching the Prince of Wales’ $700,000 donation to help farmers during Great Britain’s hoof-and-mouth epidemic, he gives away $1.4 million of his earnings annually through his Westminster Foundation. During his speech on Friday, Grosvenor emphasized being a “leader” is a special trait. “Not everyone is born to be a leader,” he said. “After all, what would the world be if it were full of leaders?” According to Grosvenor, leadership can be taught, but character cannot. “Leadership is the art of accomplishing more than the science of ability permits one to. It is permanently pushing the boundaries of human endeavor,” he said. The duke added that his leadership in the commercial world is similar to that of the armed forces. “What gives a company success is the dynamism that comes from the top, not the product itself,” he said. “People must want to follow you, much like they would in a military sense.” After joining the Territorial Army in 1970 as a private, he became the honorary colonel-in-chief of several regiments. In 2004, he was appointed to the post of assistant chief of defense staff with promotion to major general. He is the first reservist to hold the rank since the 1930s. During the question segment of the evening’s program, Natalie Haime, a junior advertising/public relations major, asked the duke what advice he had on leadership for any recent college graduates. “You start from the bottom, not from the top,” he replied. “It is important that young people know they shouldn’t run before they can walk.” He also warned his audience against replicating any mistakes others have made. “Try not to fulfill your insatiable desire to change the world in one day; it will not only be a waste of your time and effort, but it will also prove impossible very quickly,” he added. Grosvenor was invited to the university during UTPA’s Spring Fiesta on Capitol Hill by the university’s External Affairs Division.

“We were very thankful that he volunteered to come to the Valley and help us raise some funds,” said Roland Arriola, vice president for external affairs. “The university invited him as an effort to reach across the nation and diversify our series. We wanted to encourage donors to make contributions to our UTPA Foundation, but to also have a prestigious leader come and educate the community.” During Spring Fiesta, several representatives from the university travel to Washington, D.C. and hold a conference to promote the university and increase its visibility in the nation’s capital. Last year, the event was held April 28 and over 800 dignitaries and government officials were in attendance. Arriola stated Spring Fiesta is a very prestigious event and hosting it is unique for the university. “We’re very proud of hosting that event,” said Arriola. “Only UTPA and the University of Southern California do this for their school.” Arriola believes the leadership series gives to the school what every major institution should have—a means to connect with world leaders on an intimate basis. Past speakers have included former President George H.W. Bush, Gulf War I’s Gen. H. Norman Schwarzkopf and former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani. Roel Martinez, president of 2M Ranch, was chairman of the UTPA Foundation Board when the Outstanding Leadership Series first started. According to him, one of the reasons the series was created was to raise funds to aid students attending the university. “We needed to find a way to help our students because the state couldn’t cover all their education costs,” he said. “We tried using this as a way to alleviate that problem.” Overall, Martinez says the series has been a success because much-needed funds have been raised. Isabel Allende, internationally renowned Chilean novelist, is the series’ next speaker on April 24. Arriola explained that Allende’s acceptance of the invitation is a great honor to the university. “She only accepted two other engagements this year – with SMU and UCLA – so we feel very proud that she’s coming to UTPA,” he said.

NEWS

February 23, 2006

Page 5

Social work students travel to nat’l conference Even the frigid temperatures of Chicago in the recent cold snap were not enough to keep a group of University of Texas-Pan American social work students from attending the annual Council of Social Work Education conference. The Graduate Association of Student Social Workers (GASSW) was the first group from UTPA to ever attend the conference. Two professors, one undergraduate student, and eight GASSW members made the trip Feb. 16-19. The students first heard about the conference from Greg Freidman, associate professor of social work, about a year ago when he proposed that they prepare and present a paper in Chicago. Though their paper was not accepted for presentation, the students decided they still wanted to go to attend sessions and set up a booth boosting the UTPA social work program and the Rio Grande Valley. The booth gave the students a chance to interact with people from several other universities, including the University of Michigan, University of Iowa, and Washington State, among others. “The difference between this conference and other conferences I’ve been to was the exposure and the accessibility to all these different deans and directors of programs,” said Nancy Saenz,

graduate student in social work. “They would go up to the booth and we could ask them questions about the Ph.D programs.” Rebecca Ramirez, a graduate student of social work, said that one of the best things about the trip was the one-onone time they had with other universities. “Friday night all the different schools had socials. The UT System had a fajita social. When we did that it was kind of meeting all the deans and the professors on an informal level,” Ramirez said. “We learned more about opportunities that we wouldn’t have known about if we had not gone to the conference.” Ramirez added that the event also provided encouragement for her to continue her education. “We learned that there are so many schools and different organizations that are recruiting Hispanic graduates. So it really gave us a lot of hope about the opportunities that were out there,” she said. Overall, Saenz says it was a great networking opportunity, especially at the graduate level. “You don’t see that here. It was national, everyone from everywhere. It was all the schools of social work nationwide,” she said. Freidman, who is also an author, says that along with networking opportunities, he had one more goal in mind for the students.

“I know a lot of the authors of their textbooks. So, I wanted them to meet some of the authors who they would normally read their book,” he said. “I wanted them to know that they are real people.” According to Angel De La Garza, GASSW president, attending the conference will hopefully set a trend for years to come. “It’s rewarding to see so many students in the social work department so interested in that department that they’re willing to put up money of their own to go and be the first ones to attend,” De La Garza said. “Hopefully we start a tradition for future members of the association to attend other conferences.” But the conference wasn’t all work. The students took to some of Chicago’s famous sites, including Navy Pier, a major tourist attraction with shopping, restaurants and other recreational activities. “We didn’t want to go, because we thought it was outside, but there was an inside market that had booths from different countries,” Saenz said. However, the cold temperatures did pose problems for the students. “It was so cold. The first night we were daring and walked to the conference hall which was about .3 miles according to the map, like three city blocks. We went walking and it was about 19 degrees,” Saenz said. While Saenz says the walk over was not that bad, the return voyage was

a different story. “Oh gosh, coming back it started snowing. It was freezing, but it was wonderful,” she recalled. Ramirez says that outside the conference, her

“It was definitely worth the money, the time, and we even got to miss a few classes,” she said. “I wouldn’t change it for the world. It was so much fun.”

favorite moments actually avy occurred e N ajor h T shortly after am SHT go is SK G I the group’s L Y . s ica TY n Ch ction P kyline LINE I C a arrival in Chicago. a - Th i , as r r k t r t , b ie t a e s in t he egins een fr Chica “We all went P ouris e t t ven o illu om G go ing. min r out together, before ate ant e arly we registered at the conference and we ate Chicago pizza. That was a lot of fun because a lot of us really didn’t know each other very well, so we all kind of bonded,” she said. Admission into the conference cost about $250, a fee that some stuk ial wor dents were able to receive t) Soc David de h ig r left to rza, waivers for, as they were (from La Ga el ATS gel De heanis, No E n D A O ts volunteers. The students GO P n e e d e d tu u nz, J ine at uate s paid hotel and airfare on their grad , Nancy Sae a Ramirez d ant, on their s c r o c u y e ta o b s own. Ramirez said. However, H mos and Re cal Italian re lo Ra a , the consensus is that every Giordano's hicago. y in C penny was worth it. first da

Courtesty of Nancy Saenz and Angel de la Garza

By SANDRA GONZALEZ The Pan American

More homework becoming a family burden By CAROLINA SANCHEZ The Pan American As information becomes more complex and plentiful, parenting these days has undergone a transformation. In the realm of education, busy moms and dads have had to take on a more active role despite having less time to do so. Most studies show the amount of homework given has increased in recent years. It isn’t easy for kids or parents to keep up. Just ask Gloria Salazar, administrative associate for the College of Education at the University of TexasPan American. “Last night, since my kid arrived home from school, he was doing his homework. He did not stop until dinner, and after that, he continued,” she said of her 9-year-old son. “I had to ask him to stop and go to bed and I told him I’d wake him up at 5 a.m. to continue.” As standards for education have risen, so have the numbers of books and assignments. The overload of homework

assigned to children has become an issue that has some parents concerned about their kids’ lives beyond school. “My kid doesn’t have time to play anymore or help me with the duties of the house. I think the amount of homework is extreme,” said Salazar. But children’s social lives don’t seem to be the area of concern with several parents. According to a recent Associated Press-AOL Learning Services Poll, only 19 percent of parents said they believe their kids get too much homework. However, Glendelia Zavala, director of the Supporting Teachers Across Rural Schools project, begs to differ. Zavala heads the program, which aids students seeking teacher certification to offset teaching shortages, and has a lot of experience dealing with young children and homework. She compared today’s scene with her experiences as a former Mercedes Independent School District teacher. “When I was a teacher for the sixth grade, our principal used to ask us to

assign no more than 10 minutes of homework. In total, students would not have to do more than 50 minutes,” she explained. Many teachers are assigning more homework because of the pressure to succeed on the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) exams. They are increasing work to prepare their students for examination and to get them to required state levels of competence. There are some who feel the exam is unnecessary, and/or that it takes so much time to prepare for the exam that many teachers are “teaching for the test” and thus the overall educational experience is harmed. Kent Lewis, a research assistant in educational leadership, believes TAKS is too strenuous for young children. “I really don’t think that this test can measure the I.Q of the children, or the abilities they have,” Lewis said. “It puts a lot of pressure on the students.” TAKS was implemented in 2003 as a testing program to measure the level of education in public schools in the state of Texas. It followed the TAAS tests that first

emerged in 1994. If a student does not pass the exam, they are not allowed to advance to the next grade. Lewis said that this kind of pressure is beginning to affect children of all ages. Instead of enjoying school, children are starting to worry about the exams they have to take after moving on to the next grade. He added that this teaching format

must change in order to preserve the emotional appeal of attending school and to keep students in school for the future. “I don’t remember answering a test. What I do remember is when I presented my coin collection or when I did homework with my mother,” he said. “We as teachers should focus on giving our students homework which involves emotions. In that way, they will remember more than just a regular assignment.”

Homework Poll 64% of parents say: Have little trouble finding time to help with homework

57% of parents say: They spend the right amount of time helping out

9 of 10 Teachers say: Parents don’t set aside enough time to help their children. Women spend 46 minutes a day helping with homework. Men spend 35 minutes a day helping with homework. Black parents spend more time than Hispanics or whites on homework help.

AP-AOL Learning Services Poll

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EN ESPAÑOL

February 23, 2006

Grupo trabaja para cambiar leyes inmigratorias Por ADRIANA GARZA

Traducido Por MERCEDES CANTU The Pan American El tema de inmigración ha atraído la atención de muchos durante los últimos años, especialmente de los legisladores. Recientemente la Cámara de Representantes de los Estados Unidos ha lanzado un proyecto de ley para resolver los dilemas de inmigración del país, al mismo tiempo se encuentran otros proyectos en proceso. El Acta de Seguridad y Orden de Inmigración Americana (The Secure America and Orderly Immigration Act), también conocido como proyecto de ley de inmigración McCain-Kennedy, incluye cambios en las leyes de inmigración. El acta menciona realzar la seguridad fronteriza, extender el Programa de Criminales Alienígenas (State Criminal Alien Assistance Program) así como el programa de Visa Esencial para Trabajadores, crea nuevas visas no inmigrantes, protege contra fraudes inmigratorios y promueve el acceso a cuidados médicos. Mientras todo suena como metas positivas, hay quienes están en desacuerdo con las propuestas de la ley de inmigración. La Conferencia Nacional Hispana de Lideres Cristianos (NHCLC), también conocida como la Asociación Nacional Hispana de Evangelistas, se junto con la Coalición Hispana de la Reforma de Inmigración Comprensiva (HCCIR) para cambiar las leyes inmigratorias. “Tendremos una conferencia de prensa en Washington en el mes de Marzo antes de que la legis-

lación llegue a manos del senado,” dijo Samuel Rodríguez, presidente y oficial ejecutivo de NHCLC. “Vamos a hacer que nos escuchen, hasta el presidente de los Estados Unidos. Los hispanos en América quieren una inmigración comprensiva.” El NHCLC cree que el gobierno debe aceptar la inmigración ilegal dentro del país y también creen que no es justo que deporten a los inmigrantes que están trabajando y contribuyendo a la economía. El grupo esta buscando mejores formas para manejar la inmigración. “Necesitamos crear un programa viable de invitadotrabajador que permitirá a los inmigrantes principalmente de México y América Latina, que quieran proveer sus servicios y que quieren ejecutar y realizar trabajos que otros Americanos no quieren hacer,” dijo Rodríguez. “Desde la perspectiva de negocios, necesitamos inmigrantes.” La HCCIR empezó después de pasada el Acta de Seguridad y Orden de Inmigración Americana el año pasado. Los senadores McCain (R-Ariz.) y Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.), y representantes Jim Kolbe (RAriz.), Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) y Luis Gutiérrez (D-Ill.) lo introdujeron. El acta, apoyada por el representante demócrata Rubén Hinojosa (D-Texas), se encargo de la seguridad fronteriza, del programa de visa para trabajadores, reforzamiento de la ley, asistencia de criminales alienígenas, ajustamientos para estatus H-5B no inmigrantes, cuidados para la salud, protección contra fraudes inmigratorios y hasta en el programa de unión familiar. Hinojosa dice que comoquiera el acta necesita ser

ajustada antes de que realmente se obtenga un proceso eficiente. “En la zona 15, nuestros trabajadores sociales y organizaciones, diariamente trabajan con familias que han estado esperando durante 10 años o mas para ser reunidos con aquellos que aman – esposos, hermanos, hijos o abuelos,” dijo Hinojosa. Hinojosa rechaza ahora algunas de las posturas que dirige el acta. Menciona que el reforzamiento del acta es ineficiente y malentendido por los que la quieren hacer cumplir. “Los excesos son muchos y el sistema es caprichoso y con errores,” dijo Hinojosa. “Llamen para información para casos de inmigración, y los trabajadores sociales temporales del centro con muy poco o nada de entrenamiento en cuanto a las regulaciones y siempre les darán diferentes y erróneas respuestas.” La tasa de desempleo en Rio Grande Valley bajo de un 20 porciento en los noventas a menos de 9 porciento al presente, mientras el porcentaje se quede tan bajo como lo ha sido desde 9-11. En orden para facilitar el crecimiento, Hinojosa siente la necesidad de tener un balance entre los dos extremos para asegurarse que todas las metas se pueden cumplir. “Inmigración es tanto un reto como un motor de crecimiento,” dijo Hinojosa. El NHCLC también se concierna con la idea de la instalación de un miro fronterizo entre México y los Estados Unidos. Richard Rodríguez, estudiante de Panam, esta en desacuerdo con la idea del muro y cree que es una representación de aislamiento.

“Simboliza que estamos en guerra con estas personas,” dijo. “América supone ser libre y aquí nos estamos cerrando nosotros mismos del resto del mundo. Todos fuimos inmigrantes en este país en nuestros antepasados.” La Coalición cree en que la legislación es una acción que puede causar problemas. “Estamos movilizando 20 millones de fuertes Hispanos Evangelicales para pararse y decir que no vamos a permitir que problemas de inmigración nos haga tener movimientos contra los hispanos. En muchas áreas, tratan de que estos temas no salgan a luz, pero hay muchos sentimientos contra hispanos,” dijo Samuel Rodríguez. Mantener la zona fronteriza no ha sido barato, De acuerdo a Hinojosa, los fondos para las patrullas fronterizaza incrementado 10 veces mas en los últimos treinta años. El costo para hacer un arresto ha incrementado casi un 500 porciento, hasta $1,700. Desde 1990, mas de nueve millones de inmigrantes han entrado al país y ha habido mas de 12 millones aquí hasta ahora. Hinojosa cree que darle tiempo a la solución es vital. Aparte los gobernantes deben de tomar su tiempo para trabajar juntos. “No podemos dejar que los inmigrantes regresen ya que esto lo sufriría el país,” dijo Hinojosa. “Creo que los inmigrantes deben de ser tratados mayor, especialmente de que la economía depende mucho en ellos,” dijo Melisa Palacios, estudiante de segundo grado de relaciones internacionales. “Ellos son los que proporcionan los labores manuales bajo difíciles condiciones y con baja paga.”

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B.B. King . . . . . . . . .8 & 9 Musician profile . . . . . .10

Still more to see for Black History Month Library honors special month with exhibit detailing African-American heroes throughout time By MEREDITH LAGRONE The Pan American

students aware of the diversity in the student body.” When choosing the location for the exhibit, Olivarez thought carefully about which building on campus would be best.

“We figured the library would be a great place,” she said. “There’s high student traffic, and they can automatically see the different heroes.” McDonald, who had a hand in setting up the display, also believes the

library was an ideal location for a different reason. “We’re excited about it because there’s always been a strong appreciation of libraries in the AfricanAmerican community,” she said.

Black History Month is coming to a close, but there are still exhibits left on campus honoring African Americans. One such exhibit is “AfricanAmerican Heroes,” on display at the University of Texas-Pan American library. It is composed of posters detailing heroic black Americans in U.S. history. “We have some posters up of famous African-American people from a few different time periods,” said Deirdre McDonald, instructional services librarian. “We have everything from contemporary people like Malcolm X to historical figures like Frederick Douglass.” The inspiration behind the display came from Sonia Olivarez, program coordinator for Student Life and Transition Services. “I work with the multicultural center, and we try to work with the different months here on campus,” she said. “February is Black History Meredith LaGrone/The Pan American Month, and March, coming up, is HEROES - An exhibit honoring African-American heroes who have contributed to the history of America is set up in the Women’s History Month, so we do dif- UTPA library lobby. It features books and posters and will remain in the lobby through the end of the month. ferent programming in order to make

“There are lots of historic reasons for that appreciation, but there’s a definite feeling within a lot of communities that people need to educate themselves because they don’t always have access to formal education.” George Gause, one of the university’s librarians, thinks the arrangement is shown attractively as well as appropriately. “I think the posters are very well displayed,” he said. “The books are representative of blacks’ contributions to American writings.” McDonald also believes the exhibit has brought knowledge to an already colorfully varied area. “I think one of the great things is this is a diverse campus already,” she said. “This helps increase our diversity and makes us a part of the whole American experience.” Olivarez agreed that diversity should encompass all minorities. “It brings an essence of different cultures,” she said of the exhibit. “Predominantly, we’re Hispanic; that’s understood. In order to become aware of other cultures, we have to look at something and say, ‘That’s part of our culture, too.’”

UTPA program being held to honor Black History Month African rhythm band and jazz band will play traditional music By TREY SERNA The Pan American The month of February brings to mind the love-stricken holiday, Valentine’s Day, but many are oblivious to the fact that it’s also Black History Month. Annually, the University of Texas-Pan American holds a series of events commemorating the monthlong occasion. On Feb. 27, from 6 p.m.-7 p.m. at the Student Union Café, students are invited to join in on a celebration of “Sounds of Black History Month.” Sonia Olivarez, program coordinator for the Office of Student Life and Transition Services, has been busy putting the event together and creating a buzz for Black History Month. “In the past, we didn’t really have too much going on with Black

History Month. It’s always been a kind of a silent programming,” Olivarez said. “The goal this year was to create awareness for it, period.” “Sounds of Black History Month” will introduce a different style of music to students and faculty. Though the line-up is still tentative, Olivarez hopes to have the campus African Rhythms Band play for roughly 15 minutes and a jazz band for the rest of the hour. “We’re hoping for a set hour of music. We want to hit different aspects of the music—different channels—because students are into different things,” Olivarez said. “The whole point is to have fun and learn about the culture. That’s what we’re hoping for.” While this event is one of the last on campus in celebration of

Black History Month, some students felt that the fliers posted up for the month’s events weren’t enough in the way of promotion. “I only really heard of two events that are taking place on campus that deal with Black History Month,” said Lily Gyamfi, an African-American finance/accounting major. “I think it’s great, though, that the school is covering it, especially, since most schools will forget since blacks are not the majority.” The fact that many are clueless that February has so much meaning, other than Valentine’s Day, is a scary thought, according to Gyamfi. “Knowledge is always power, and we shouldn’t ever forget what has made us who we are today. It’s not just important for black people, it’s important for everyone who has

to go through injustice,” Gyamfi said. “Everyone needs to be educated, so history never repeats itself. As

long as people are aware, I think we’re lowering the possibility of such injustice ever occurring again.”

Laura Gomez/The Pan American

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

February 23, 2006

B.B. King lost his virginity at the age of six, cut his first album when he was 25 and received his first honorary doctorate at the age of 48 – but when the 80-year-old blues legend takes the stage at the Dodge Arena Monday, Feb. 27, it will be his first visit to the Rio Grande Valley. On a post-promotional tour of the aptly titled “80,” released by Geffen last September, the gig will be the 27th stop of the year, in what has proven to be a relentless career of touring for the American music icon. Putting on as many as 250 shows annually over a 57-year span has made King one of the most highly regarded live musicians in any genre, and fans are anxiously looking forward to the experience.

Story by: Brian Carr Designed by: Roy Bazan

February 23, 2006

“B.B. King is a must see for me,” Brownsville resident Sergio Jefferson posted on King’s homepage bbking.com. “I can truly say that seeing him play will be a dream come true.” Arguably the most recognizable blues musician of all time, King has parlayed his musical credibility into a career of accomplishment. Releasing paramount American standards such as “The Thrill is Gone” and “When Love Comes to Town,” as well as being a spokesperson for Lifescan and, subsequently, people with diabetes, King has become a symbol to people apart from the hallowed pentatonic-scale-worshiping fanatics who ‘live’ the blues. Thankfully, for the casual and serious fan alike, the legend, guitar Lucille and an arsenal of blues musicians in tow will bring a cultural cornerstone for music lovers in the Valley. B.B. King’s introduction to recorded music was his Aunt Mima’s collection of blues 78 records which she would play on her crank-up Victrola – a type of record player which has long since been made obsolete. “[She] taught me to gently put on the platter, set down the needle, and watch the turn table spin,” King wrote in his David Ritz-assisted autobiography “Blues All Around Me.” “A second passed and then – pow! – those beautiful scratchy sounds flew in my face, cutting through me, electrifying my soul.” Born Reilly B. King on Sept. 16, 1925, King has lived to see 14 presidents, a pair of world wars, both foreign attacks upon U.S. soil and a civil rights movement. He’s recorded over 50 albums, fathered at least 15 children by 15 different women and seen the world. He’s a member of the Blues Foundation Hall of Fame and a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He’s been a cotton farmer, a military man, a disk jockey and a blues musician. Now he’s merely a legend, whose self-defined “economical” sense of guitar play turns heads when his soulful voice isn’t delivering the poetic blues lyrics which often times mirror the aging hipster’s own emotionally tragic life. Casual and marvelous, the unassuming King plays down his impact. “Style is a funny thing,” King wrote as he described his own approach and brand of blues. “If I saw it walking down the street, I wouldn’t know it ‘til I heard it.” Fortunately for King the blues has been good to people with blindness. And though the 80-year-old’s vision is only hindered when it comes to recognizing his own achievements, the limitation has not diminished the accomplishments. Earlier this month the American virtuoso picked up his 14th Grammy, taking home the “Best Traditional

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Blues Album Honors” for “80,” proving that unlike the Victrola, not everything goes out of style. The last time Johnny Harper, Sr. saw B.B. King live was in 1978. “He was on tour with Ray Charles,” remembers the Valley native and owner of Johnny’s Bar-B-Q Pitt in Pharr. “It was in Houston. Don’t remember the venue.” Harper Sr. could himself be a blues man, and in his own right is. The elderly African-American walks with a slight limp and leans upon a cane. He plays bass guitar every Wednesday night in The Lounge, a bar adjacent to his restaurant, and his office is filled with music memorabilia. On one wall are pictures of musicians he’s seen and played with over the years, on another hang dozens of guitars, which he collects as a “hobby.” He can’t remember who was headlining the King tour – he was “feeling pretty good.” But the bearded bassist does remember his impression of the performance. “I’ve heard a lot of musicians play the blues,” Harper Sr. says with a warm yet definitive tone. “B.B. King is one of the best, if not the best I’ve ever seen. He’s a pioneer.” The blues bar Harper Sr. owns is a dark, smoky establishment with a couple of pool tables. They serve cold beer, they have an open jam night every Wednesday and there is a juke box that screams out blues songs: one for a quarter and five for a dollar. It is a lingering testament to a music which has seen its tide ebb and flow since its inception decades ago, a sound that has been the spearhead of movements and the battle hymn of generations. The simple music - which King asserts “everything fits into” - has been the touchstone of American musical heritage to the point that its mere name defines our mood, attitude and watering holes. For the owner of such an establishment to make the statement that B.B. King is a pioneer is both elementary and profound. But his son John Harper, Jr. adds to his father’s categorization of the blues musician. “Yah, I’d say he was a pioneer,” Harper Jr. agrees. Harper Jr. owns and operates Taurgon Records out of his San Juan home. He has produced hardcore, punk rock, and rock-and-roll records, though he defines himself as a “musical whore” who will essentially record anything he likes. He doesn’t play, but he is a fan and a sound engineer. “King’s a legend,” Harper Jr. continues. “A lot of that has to do with the fact that he’s lived so long, and he’s been able to touch people first hand. I mean, he’s played with U2, so he’s influenced them realistically and actually.” Both men are excited that King is coming to town. Harper Sr. already has tickets. B.B. King’s parents separated when he was six, his

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mother died when he was eight and his grandmother died shortly after that. Wrapped up in the fundamental and elemental components of blues lore since his childhood, King seemed destined to either disappear into self-loathing or emerge from the Mississippi Delta of his youth brandishing a heavenly vibrato guitar style. Luckily he took the second path, though it took a lot of hard work. Guided by his mother’s last words, which would drive him towards kindness and forgiveness, and blessed with the work ethic of a sharecropper’s child, King’s early plight was his art’s origination. And his early intrigue with the sad, Southern secular gospel was more necessity than narcissism. “The blues was bleeding the same blood as me,” King wrote in his 1996 autobiography. “The blues didn’t have to explain the mystery of pain that I felt; it was there in the songs and voices of the singers.” This high-impact, highly introspective art form was a great outlet for King, whose recordings have shaped the soundscape of popular music forever. A 10th grade dropout, King understood early the effect storytelling through song could have. “Real-life songs, where you feel the hurt and heat between man and woman, have cash value,” King once wrote. It is a value that has afforded the blues musician a lifestyle far removed from the cotton-picking days of his youth. But his early primer for the blues world did not come without consequence, and several haunting visions return to King nightly. “I still carry the fear of a little boy,” King revealed in “Blues All Around Me.” “I can’t sleep in the dark, a light must be burning in my room.” Perhaps it is why he takes to the road and plays so many shows a year. Perhaps he is trying to escape his reality. If so, his desertion is welcome. Yajaira Flores is the director of marketing and sales at Dodge Arena. According to her, there has been big buzz around the concert. “B.B. King is definitely a legend,” Flores said. “People get excited about that.” Flores also agrees there are other factors involved. “He just turned 80,” Flores observed. “Lots of people want to come and see him for the first, last or maybe the only time.” But King’s career will endure as long as his health allows. It’s his love, but it’s also his escape, a tactic he learned young. “I put my grief in hard work,” King wrote. “It allowed me to keep from crying. I hid my pain, a pattern that set me on a course for life.”

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

February 23, 2006

Story by: Brian Carr Designed by: Roy Bazan

February 23, 2006

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

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A & E

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February 23, 2006

UTPA junior keeps music as part of life After short absence, violinist returns to hobby she loves By FRANK CALVILLO The Pan American It goes without saying that playing a musical instrument is no small feat for any one person to undertake. In fact, it has been proven that many of the individuals who do attempt to master such a craft possess not only talent, but also perseverance, which is required when learning to play a musical instrument. Nicole Luna, a 20-year-old junior at the University of Texas-Pan American, apparently has both. A Valley native, Luna - whose instrument of choice is the violin - has been playing since age 11 and has performed numerous times at the McAllen Civic Center as well as in larger cities such as Dallas and Houston. Luna credits her introduction to music to her brother. “My brother was a cellist. I thought it was so cool to watch him play, and it made me realize that I wanted to play, too,” she said. Indeed, shortly after, Luna enrolled in violin lessons. Confident in the ability she gained in such a short time, Luna recalls that her first public performance in an ensemble was not fraught with anxiety. “It was in the cafeteria at our middle school. I

wasn’t nervous because we were playing easy music, and I remember us sounding really good,” she said. Her passion and love for music continued to flourish as she progressed through school. Shortly before entering college, Luna decided to give up playing. It wasn’t long before the desire to make music returned, but the idea of playing again was more difficult than it seemed. “It was so hard when I came back,” said Luna. “if you don’t practice, all the form you develop goes away. I’m probably at the level I was before I quit, but it took me about a year to get there.” Joel Pagan, Luna’s coach, believes she has potential to be a successful musician if she so desires. “A good musician can hear pitch and rhythm clearly but can also make music by putting heart into it. I think, at her level, Nicole has what it takes to make a good musician,” said the UTPA music professor. Despite having to rebuild a relationship with the violin, the elements of what first initially brought Luna to love music did not change. “I love how good it feels just to play. You’re literally making music,” she said. Today, music plays a larger role in Luna’s world than ever before. “When you study music, it never goes away. It’s just there all the time. I deal with music more than I do my own major,” she quipped.

According to Luna, the only real drawback to playing an instrument is mastering a certain technique. “You can play in tune, or as fast, but playing correctly is tricky,” she admitted. “When given a piece, if you don’t play it right, it’s not doing the composer justice.” Luna added in order to play near perfectly, a great deal of overachieving is a necessity. “If you know your piece at 100 percent, you’ll play it at 90 percent. You always need to practice at 110 percent in order to be perfect,” she said. Another problem Luna has encountered over the years is mishaps during performances. “I remember playing a concert at the civic center, and we discovered that our music was put in the wrong order,” she recalled. “We didn’t want to make it obvious during the performance, so we had to go ahead and fake the last part.” Those around Luna speak highly of her as a musician and a person. Rachel Vela, a friend and former classmate, insists that Luna’s musical background has greatly influenced the way she thinks. “I think because she’s a musician she sees things differently, as opposed to someone who isn’t. She’s always able to give a different insight,” said the UTPA junior. Regardless of her musical past, the English major - who just returned from the Texas Music Educator’s

LUNA

Association convention in San Antonio - has decided on a career path vastly different than that of a concert violinist but claims her love of music will stay strong. “I hope to be a librarian someday, but I see myself playing on the side in small groups or orchestras.” Now, after nearly a decade of playing, Luna believes she understands what it takes be a good musician. “You can’t just play,” said Luna. “You have to practice every day. You have to work all the time or else you’ll never be better. And of course, you have to love it.”

NEWS

February 23, 2006

GROWTH continued from page 1 Cardenas is immensely excited about, is the increasing participation of students in decision-making. “It will be a standard operating procedure that we will consult with students on an ongoing and regular basis,” she promised. A smarter work environment is another item the president would like to work on. Cardenas hopes that a more efficient flow of information will give entities such as the room-scheduling Resource 25 system a smoother time meeting everyone’s needs. In addition, UTPA’s perennial problem with parking is one Cardenas feels is a healthy one. Again, alleviating the parking situation will be based on what is better for students in the long run. She says there are still many questions to be asked. “Do we spend money on a parking garage, and if we did, could we conscientiously ask students to pay the parking fees that accompany it? Or do we stretch out surface parking and use that to keep costs down for students?” she asked. MORE WORK AHEAD There is always room for improvement, and Cardenas is highly optimistic those goals can be met, based on the progress she has seen. In the next 15 years, she would like to see an increase in enrollment to nearly 30,000 students, as well as a healthy balance of students in research and graduate programs. As the level of the university increases, she would also like to see a higher number of students graduating within a four- to six-year time frame. Some may feel these are goals that will be hard to obtain, but Cardenas believes the university can reach them. She already sees the potential in many of the individuals working at UTPA. “Our staff is very bright, and overwhelmingly, I see a high level of commitment to the students and a commitment to the university - a pride about the university,” she said. A major resource the university has is money. Recently, the Development Office announced UTPA was among the top 25 percent of all public master’s universities in the country, with an endowment of $54 million. According to Lydia Aleman, director of development and endowment services, those funds will be very beneficial to growth. “Endowments are very important to the university because they represent the wealth and strength of the university,” Aleman said. “An endowment creates a permanent source of funding for any university.” Cardenas stated it is very important to ensure

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IMMIGRATION continued from page 1 resources such as endowment money are properly utilized to maximize returns for the university and community. “We have to very carefully make decisions about where we’re putting resources so that we can grow our research capability,” Cardenas said. One way the university is increasing its research capabilities is through collaboration with other schools. On Feb. 10, faculty members from Texas A&M-College Station meet with their counterparts at UTPA to discuss different ways both institutions can work together in the near future. According to Jose Pagan, a professor of economics, the benefits of working together go both ways. “UTPA is a large research university with many experts in areas of interest to UTPA faculty and students. More importantly, faculty from A&M’s MALRC (Mexican American/U.S. Latino Research Center) have a genuine interest in border and Latino research,” Pagan said. “We both have expertise in different areas and by collaborating we end up with research proposals that have a much better chance of getting funded.” As the public begins seeing UTPA’s growth in capabilities, Cardenas hopes there will be an increase in interaction between both entities. According to her, this team effort will enhance the lives of everyone involved. “My dream is that the community will see the university as a resource, a partner in finding solutions to long-standing problems and optimizing our potential,” she said. “I have great faith in the Valley and its people. I think there is much we can do to help it grow economically and culturally.” A major component to bringing that dream to fruition is the contributions of the students. “Our students have the intelligence and ability and interest to solve the persistent problems in the Valley,” Cardenas stressed. “This region will see tremendous growth over the course of the next several years. We’re going to need the people who ‘keep the trains running.’” Cardenas is looking forward to the future of the university and its students. She hopes UTPA can help them prepare for life in the Information Age. “In this country, we are going to be an economy that is based on the processing of information, the development of information, the analysis of information, and the creation of information,” she said. “That’s going to be the marketable skill and our students need to be prepared for that.”

believe that it is not fair to deport the immigrants who are working and contributing to the economy. The NHCLC is searching for better ways to handle immigration. “We need to create a viable guest worker program that will enable immigrants, primarily from Mexico or Latin America, who want to provide services and who want to execute and fulfill jobs that others in America do not want to take upon themselves,” Samuel Rodriguez said. “From a business perspective, we need immigrants.” The HCCIR started after the Secure America and Orderly Immigration Act was passed last year. Senators John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Ted Kennedy (D-Mass) and Representatives Jim Kolbe (R-Ariz.), Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) and Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.) introduced it. The act, supported by Representative Ruben Hinojosa (D-Texas), dealt with border security, a worker visa program, law enforcement, state criminal alien assistance, adjustment of status for H-5B non-immigrants, health care, protection from immigration fraud, and even family unity and reduction. Hinojosa believes, however, that the act needs to be adjusted before it can really create an efficient process. “In the 15th District, our caseworkers and our advocacy organizations, on a daily basis, work with families who have been waiting 10 years or more to be re-united with loved ones - a spouse, a sister, a child, or a grandparent,” said Hinojosa. Hinojosa now rejects some of the issues that are stated in the act. He mentions that the enforcement of the act is non-efficient and not well understood by the enforcers. “The backlogs are enormous, and the system is capricious and error-ridden,” Hinojosa said. “Call for information on your immigration case, and the temporary contract worker at the call center with little to no training in immigration rules will give you a different answer every time.” The NHCLC would like a visa created or a guest worker program started that will result in a win-win situation. Rodriguez said through that, they believe the U.S. can still protect the borders and supply a legal immigration policy, which in turn will help the nation’s business. The unemployment rate in the Rio Grande Valley dropped from 20 percent in the mid-1990s to less than nine percent at present. Economic growth is also high. In fact, it is one of the leading areas in

growth throughout the nation. In order to continue to facilitate growth, Hinojosa feels the need for a balance between the two extremes to ensure all challenges can be met. “Immigration is both a challenge and an engine for growth,” Hinojosa said. “Passing legislation that takes an enforcement-only approach and does not contain a sensible guest worker component would be devastating for the economy in this district and for the country.” The NHCLC is also concerned with the idea of building walls along the U.S.-Mexico border. Richard Rodriguez, sophomore undeclared major, disagrees with the practice and believes it represents isolation. “It symbolizes we’re at war with these people,” Richard Rodriguez said. “America’s supposed to be free and here we are closing ourselves off to other people. We were all immigrants to this country at one point.” The Coalition believes that the legislation in action may have some underlying issues however. “We’re mobilizing the 20-million-strong Hispanic Evangelical Church to stand up and say, ‘We are not going to permit this issue of immigration to become an anti-Hispanic movement.’ In many areas, they try to cover it up, but there is an anti-Hispanic sentiment in some corridor,” Rodriguez said. Maintaining the nation’s border has not come cheap. According to Hinojosa, funding for the Border Patrol has increased ten-fold over a 30-year time span. The cost to make an arrest has increased by nearly 500 percent, up to $1,700. Since 1990, over nine million illegal immigrants have entered the U.S. Hinojosa believes a timely solution to the immigration issue is vital. In addition, lawmakers must work together to ensure their constituents are taken care of. “Our immigration laws are in need of a complete overhaul,” Hinojosa said. “We cannot turn immigrants into scapegoats. If we do, our nation will suffer as a result.” On campus, students echo Hinojosa’s sentiments. “I think immigrants should be treated much better, especially since the economy depends a lot on them,” said Melissa Palacios, a sophomore international business major. “They are the ones that provide cheap manual labor and work under hard conditions.”

explain to parents what sort of side effects can result from taking ADHD medications,” Dr. Mark Szumilewicz, an emergency room director in Brownsville, said. “This is especially important when the patients are children and won’t fully comprehend the signs of adverse reactions.” Christine Carruthers, 27, assistant director of Student Life and Transition Services at the University of Texas-Pan American, is familiar with reactions that can result from medication. “I hated them,” Carruthers said. “Instead of not being able to focus long enough on a certain thing, I found myself not being able to focus at all.” The medications made her feel awful and she chose to use only behavioral management therapy to handle her ADHD. Durheim pointed out that medication is not a “miracle drug.” It must be complemented with knowledge already possessed by the patient. “The purpose of the medication is to get the right and left brain together to help you remember what you’ve been taught,” she explained. “If the children haven’t been taught social skills and discipline from

the parents, the medication will not help the behavioral problems.” Shire Pharmaceuticals, which makes Adderall, responded to the FDA’s findings on its Web site by saying that the black box labels are not necessary until more research has been conducted. Adderall, made with a mixture of amphetamine salts, is already required by the FDA to put black box warnings regarding amphetamine abuse and misuse.

DRUGS continued from page 1 Despite the recent incidents, many are still singing the praises of the medications. “The drugs are definitely effective. Multimodal treatment is best for ensuring changes are made since the medications alone don’t cure the disorder,” said Mary Durheim, an educational consultant for Valley schools and former president of the Children and Adult Attention Deficit foundation. Durheim, mother of two children with the disorder, was quick to point out, however, that the medications are only part of a complex road to management of the problem. “The medications are a tool, but without counseling and behavior management they won’t cause lasting change,” she said. The FDA report states that the number of sudden deaths involving the medications were not more than the number that could be expected in a similar population not on the medication. Approximately 30 million prescriptions for Adderall have been written since it met FDA approval in 1996. The number of adverse reactions was only slightly higher than those for medications such as Ritalin and Concerta.

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) estimates that approximately two million children in the United States have ADHD. The disorder is characterized by hyperactive or impulsive behavior and an inability to concentrate. Despite the success of medication management for those living with ADHD, only 56 percent of children who have it are on medication. The preferred treatment for those with ADHD is known as a multimodal treatment plan. This includes medication and behavioral management. The goal of multimodal treatment is to not only control the symptoms of the disorder with medication, but to teach the individual behavior modifications that will be beneficial in daily life. Durheim stressed the importance of closely monitoring the child and the need for open communication between patient’s families, educators, and doctors, especially when considering medication. “The decision to medicate must be an informed decision between the parents and the physician,” she said. Medical professionals also agree. “A responsible doctor understands the need to

Treatment effectiveness A Multimodal Treatment Study found that:

25% of ADHD children became responders on community-based treatment as usual 35% responded to behavioral therapies 55%

responded to methylphenidate, or Ritilan

65% responded to a combination of methylphenidate and behavioral treatment. source:www.aacap.org

NEWS

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AID continued from page 3

GRANT continued from page 3 cal needs. Ciaran Clayton, Hinojosa’s press secretary, outlined the objectives. “The program wants to develop and implement a specialty track in services for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing led by faculty members who have auditory disabilities,” he said. Clayton added that students with diversity in language, culture and vocational training will be targeted as grant recipients. “The program would like to recruit and retain a diverse student population, graduate tri-lingual, multiculturally competent rehabilitation counselors, and encourage graduates to

enter careers within the state-federal vocational rehabilitation system as well as community based rehabilitation organizations,” Clayton said. The grant for the rehab program will also stretch over five years. Experts predict that the future will see an increase in the number of Hispanic students studying rehabilitation, so the money will help meet personnel shortages. “We would like to recruit a minimum of seven culturally diverse students into the Rehabilitative Services Program, maintain and/or modify existing curriculum to ensure academic preparation of students, and graduate a minimum of seven culturally diverse students with a bachelor of science

February 23, 2006

degree in rehabilitation services,” said Clayton. The purpose of both grants is to encourage graduates to pursue master’s degrees in the Rehabilitation Counseling Program or to enter careers within the state-federal vocational rehabilitation system. Eva Miller, a professor of rehabilitation at UTPA, encourages anyone who is interested in the field to inquire. “If you are not a rehabilitation major and are interested in pursuing rehabilitative services your welcome,” she said. For more information Shawn Saladin at (956) 316-7036 or Miller at (956) 316-7036

endowments and memorials. The University Scholarship Committee selects the recipients on a competitive first-come, first-served basis. The funds are then administered through the Student Financial Services Office. “We receive a lot of local grants and the earlier students apply, the better their chances of getting the funds,” said Sepulveda. The Excellence and Scholars Scholarships, while the most popular, do not get many applicants. This is partly because many students simply do not know what is out there. In addition, Sepulveda said there are other lesser known funds available. “Some of the other scholarships

available have too many requirements that students are not able to meet and so do not have many applicants,” she explained. There is a complete guide to available scholarships at the financial aid office. The 2006-2007 Scholarship Guide, which lists various scholarships and their requirements, will help students like Edna San Miguel, a junior philosophy major, find one that fits their needs. “I am going to apply for a scholarship this year since I did not receive any last year,” said San Miguel. “I am just not sure which one or ones to apply for.” For more information on scholarships and financial aid students can contact Student Financial Services at finaid@utpa.edu.

meeting, but told his secretary to keep one important piece of information concealed upon scheduling the meeting. He did not tell him he was black. “In walks in what is called the ‘grand nighthawk,’ the bodyguard for the grand dragon,” Davis said. “Mr. Kelly was walking right behind him. Well, the nighthawk turns the corner and just freezes. But, Mr. Kelly didn’t

realize his nighthawk had stopped, so he bumped right into his back. I thought they were going to fall over.” Much to his surprise, the interview, though quite tense, went well. It inspired Davis to continue setting up these meetings. But not all the interviews went as well. Some members even attacked Davis, but he fought back. “I fought them and won. Then I

took them to court, and won again,” Davis said. One fight Davis has been fighting for a long time is the one against hate. In fact, he’s been fighting so long that he has developed his own ideology about it. “Hate streams from fear, fear of the unknown,” Davis said. “I believes this is true across the board, Klansmen or not.”

DAVIS continued from page 3 Again, Davis was stunned. He had never read of a member of the group sitting down with a black. So he began asking the member questions about the KKK. He answered them willingly. A few years later, Davis decided to write a book about the Klan. He turned to his friend, who had by that time had quit the group, and asked for guidance. After a little convincing, he gave

Davis the contact number and address for the grand dragon of Maryland, Roger Kelly. However, he sent him with a warning. “He said ‘Daryl, do not go to Roger Kelly’s house. Roger Kelly will kill you,’” Davis said. Davis, though he heeded the warnings, was still determined to meet with the grand dragon. He decided to set up a

Are you an entering freshman? Hav you earned between 12-29 college credit hours and have a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or above?

If you answered yes to thes questions

Alpha Lambda Delta Freshman Honor Society

WANTS YOU! If you are interested please join us at our informational meeting on

March 2, 2006 Xochitl Room (next to Ballroom) 2:30-3:30 p.m. Don’t miss out on your opportunity to join the only National Freshman Honor Society on campus! For special accommodations please contact Alpha Lambda Delta at 956-381-2659.

February 23, 2006

SPORTS CLIPBOARD Men's NIT basketball team 25th anniversary Ceremony to take place prior to Bronc contest The University of Texas-Pan American Department of Intercollegiate Athletics will celebrate the 25th anniversary of the 1980-81 National Invitation Tournament Bronc squad at the UTPA Fieldhouse. It will take place prior to the men's basketball game against South Dakota State. The 1980-81 Pan America University basketball team was the first and only squad to reach the NCAA Division I National Invitation Tourament and included a pair of All-Americans in Kenneth (Apple) Green and Mike Carroll. Green went on to play a season with the New York Knicks in the National Basketball Association. The Broncs finished the season with a record of 18-10, but were defeated in the first round of the National Invitation Tournament by the University of Tulsa, who were coached by Nolan Richardson and reached the NIT's Elite Eight, by an 81-71 score. That season, the Broncs knocked off the University of Indiana, who would go on to capture the national championship at the end of the season, as well as Marquette University, who captured the national championship the prior season. The Broncs faced four teams that claimed their conference championships and won a pair of games against two teams that reached the NCAA Sweet Sixteen in Indiana and Wichita State. The Pan American University squad played before nine crowds that topped their 4,000-capacity home arena and set an all-time attendance record for one season with 129,292 spectators, averaging 4,458 fans per season. Following that season, the Broncs lost six seniors - including all five starters - as well as six of the seven student-athletes that competed in the National Invitation Tournament against the University of Tulsa. Green concluded the season by averaging 21.0 points and 11.0 rebounds per game while Carroll led all NCAA Division I players with 275 assists, which was the fourth most in program history. The festivities will begin prior to the Broncs and Jackrabbits' contest, which begins at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday. UTPA Sports Information

Broncs falter in finale of Al Ogletree Classic Broncs look to rebound from weekend struggles The University of Texas-Pan American Bronc baseball team were defeated by the 17th-ranked Arkansas Razorbacks (6-0) last Sunday in the final game of the Al Ogletree Classic,13-2. The Broncs (4-7) completed the Al Ogletree Classic with a 1-2 record. UTPA recorded a lose the previous night against TCU, with a final score of 9-4. The only win came against Stephen F. Austin in their opening game of the classic, 10-3. The All-Tournament team included eight players from TCU, seven from Arkansas and one from UTPA. TCU's selections were Matt Carpenter (first base), Chad Huffman (second base), Bryan Kervin (shortstop), Hunt Woodruff (catcher), Matt McGuirk (outfield), Keith Conlon (outfield), Brad Furnish (pitcher) and Jake Arrieta (pitcher). For Arkansas, James Ewing (third base), Danny Hamblin (utility), Chris Hollensworth (outfield), Jake Dugger (outfield), Wayne Hrozek (designated hitter), Nick Schmidt (pitcher) and Chris Rhoads (pitcher) were all selected. UTPA's sole selection was Ricky Ibarz (pitcher). The team is currently has a .238 batting percentage, while their opponents are batting .316. The Broncs have two players with .300 or better battliing averages with a minimum of 30 at bats. Leading the way is junior transfer Osiel Flores (.367), who also has five runs and four runs batted in. Leighton Autrey and Louie Alamia have .300 and .286 averages in the batters box, respectively. On the mound, the Broncs have an earned run average (ERA) of 7.74 on the season thus far. UTPA will face Southland Conference member Sam Houston State University on Friday in Huntsville, at 7 p.m. in the first game of a threegame set hosted by the Bearkats.

SPORTS

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FOR THE RECORD UTPA SPORTS

Menifee 1-2 0-0 0-4-4 Smith 4-7 3-4 1-5-6 Mitchell 2-7 0-0 1-0-1 Teague 0-0 0-0 1-0-1 Williams 5-6 0-0 2-2-4 Totals 29-60 6-11 11-27-38

Baseball Upcoming schedule Feb. 24 Sam Houston State Feb. 25 Sam Houston State Feb. 26 Sam Houston State Mar. 3 Sam Houston State Mar. 4 Sam Houston State Mar. 5 Sam Houston State Mar. 7 UTSA

Percentages: FG .483 FT, .545, 3-Point 10-21, .476. Blocked shots: 3 (Smith 2, Nelson 1). Steals: 9 (Mitchell 2, Ervin 2, White 2, Engelken 1, Taylor 1, Menifee 1). Turnovers: 22 (Daniels 4, Mintz 3, Menifee 3, Smith 3, Mitchell 3, Washington 3, Ervin 2, Teague 1). Personal fouls: 19 (Mintz 5, Daniels 4, Mitchell 2, White 2, Nelson 2, Engelkin 2, Smith 1).

Home games in bold.

Basketball Men’s Wednesday, Feb. 15 TEXAS A&M-CC 74, UTPA 55

TAMUCC...................33 41 - 74 UTPA.........................19 36 - 55

UTPA FG FT Reb M-A M-A O-D-T

A Pts

Sheppard 4-5 1-2 0-2-2 7 9 Robinson 0-3 0-0 1-6-7 0 0 Shankle 4-16 3-4 2-2-4 1 15 Edwards 3-10 1-2 1-5-6 1 7 Lien 2-8 3-6 1-4-5 0 7 Puente 5-10 4-4 0-2-2 4 17 Trader 0-2 0-0 0-0-0 0 0 Totals 18-54 12-18 11-23-34 13 55 Percentages: FG .333 FT, .667, 3-Point 7-21, .333. Blocked shots: 3 (Edwards 2, Shankle 1). Steals: 12 (Sheppard 5, Shankle 4, Robinson 1, Edwards 1, Puente 1). Turnovers: 25 (Lien 6, Robinson 6, Sheppard 4, Shankle 3, Edwards 3, Puente 1, Trader 1). Personal fouls: 10 (Shankle 3, Lien 3, Edwards 2, Puente 1, Trader 1). UNT FG FT Reb M-A M-A O-D-T

Mintz 1-3 Ervin 4-7 White 6-10 Nelson 1-2 Engelken 0-3 Taylor 0-0 Washington3-6 Slatnick 0-2 Daniels 2-5

1-2 0-0-0 0-1 2-2-4 0-0 0-6-6 2-4 1-0-1 0-0 2-0-2 0-0 0-0-0 0-0 1-2-3 0-0 0-1-1 0-0 0-3-3

2 2 2 11 3 5 0 0 0 10 20 74

Pts

3 1 2 0 3 1 2 0 1

4 9 17 4 0 0 7 0 5

Home games in bold.

Women’s upcoming schedule Feb. 23 Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Feb. 27 Oregon State Mar. 4 Utah Valley State Home games in bold.

Golf Men’s UTSA Intercollegiate Feb. 20-21 290 296 291 292 297 299 294 301 304 297 297 303

283 284 285 293 291 294 297 294 289 298 297 291

282 288 294 290 294 295 298 296 303 302 306 308

Individual stats: T33. Kyle Tudi T46. Craig Berger T46. Jeff Hensley T50. Shane Pearce 81. Blake Hughey

309 303 313 331 328

299 300 302 313 316

76 76 75 76 82

299 306 310 307 320

74 76 76 74 76

74 76 77 79 81

907 909 925 951 964

224 228 228 229 239

Men’s upcoming schedule Mar. 17-18 Bearkat Classic Mar. 20-21 Crown Classic Mar. 27-28 Oregon Duck Invitational Women’s Islander Spring Classic Feb. 20-21

Men’s upcoming schedule Feb. 25 South Dakota State Feb. 27 Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Mar. 3 IPFW

1. Baylor 2. Louisiana 3. Lamar 4. Nebraska 5. Illinois St. 6. Wichita St. 7. Sam Houston St. 8. UTSA 9. New Orleans 10. Rice 11. Stephen F. A. 12. Charleston

13. Marshall 14. UTPA 15. De Paul 16. Navy 17. Northern Iowa

855 868 870 875 882 888 889 891 896 897 900 902

1. Arkansas 297 303 299 899 2. Redlands 300 305 302 907 3. TAMUCC 307 306 307 920 4. Bradley 308 315 305 928 5. North Texas 312 312 307 931 6. Missouri St. 312 307 313 932 7. Oral Roberts 305 311 320 936 T8. Texas State 311 321 306 938 T8. Sam Houston St.315 313 310 938 10. Lamar 322 311 313 946 11. McNeese St. 318 315 316 946 12. Northeastern St. 321 318 315 954 13. McLennon 322 318 316 956 14. Southern Ill. 330 322 311 963 15. UTPA 334 316 328 978 16. UTSA 343 342 333 1018 Individual stats: T38. Nicole Boychuk 86 T41. Daniela Cortes 82 T48. Stefanie Maynard 78 T79. Bronwyn Sandberg88 87. Natalie Haime 103

75 75 80 86 99

77 84 85 82 92

238 241 243 256 294

Women’s upcoming schedule Mar. 20-21 UTSA Rowdy Round-up May 3-4 Texas State Bobcat Invit.

Onydia Garza/The Pan American CLOSING TIME - Reliever Steven Davila came into the final game of the Ogletree Classic to finish the game for the Broncs. UTPA had a tough time against the University of Arkansas, losing 13-2. They travel to take on Sam Houston State University in a three-game series this weekend.

SPORTS

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February 23, 2006

End near for disappointing basketball season Corpus Christi Feb. 27 and at Indiana Purdue-Fort Wayne March. 3. As the season ends, assistant coach Brian The University of Texas-Pan American Bronc Dolan thinks that the Broncs have made good basketball team will be playing its final home strides this season, and he is excited about the game of the season against South Dakota State coming 2006-2007 season. University Saturday. The Jackrabbits improved “We’ve had great progress from our guys. We their season record to 8-17 with faced a really tough schedule, a victory over North Dakota but we have seen a better team State 67-65 last Saturday. The this spring,” Dolan added. Broncs come in at 7-20. When Dolan was questioned The Broncs are back home about the near future of the after a difficult week where squad, he added that the team they were blasted in Denton by will have more seasoning next the University of North Texas, season. 84-45. In that game, they had a “Most of our players will -Brian Dolan tough first half, as North Texas come back next season, and Men’s asst. basketball coach was able to take a lengthy this will give us more advantage of over 20 points, going in to experience,” he said. intermission with the score 47-21. Returning next season will be the top five As the game commenced in the second half the scorers from this season, including Shankle Mean Green continued to bombard the Broncs, by averaging 11.1 a game, and big man Lien, at 10.4 taking the biggest lead of the night to 49 points. a contest. The Broncs finished the game with a shooting “As of now, Derrick East will be graduating in percentage of .294 (15 for 51). May, and is the only player that will not be in our Forceful junior Colin Lien had a solid game for plans next season,” said Dolan, who added that the Broncs, accumulating 16 points and seven the program is also actively recruiting new rebounds, while sophomore Dexter Shankle and players. McAllen native Danny Puente scored 11 and eight “What we have to focus on for next season is to points, respectively. take better care of the basketball, and we must After the home game the Broncs will play two start to improve on our field goal percentage,” road games to finish the season, at Texas A&M- Dolan concluded.

By FERNANDO MARTINEZ PECHS The Pan American

Q “What we have to focus on for next season is taking better care of the basketball.”

Onydia Garza / The Pan American WORK THE DEFENDER - Point guard Larry Sheppard works his way up the hard wood against TAMUCC.

H.S. hoops update THE PAN AMERICAN

F i d e n c i o G u e r r a , J r. FOR JUDGE

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The playoffs are in high gear for high school basketball teams in the Valley, with a number of compelling storylines unfolding. In a university of 17,000 students, more than 90 percent of whom attended local high schools, the postseason in the prep ranks is always a matter of attention from departed grads. And some exes are taking more than a fan’s role in the affair. Former University of Texas-Pan American standout guard Gabe Valdez, now the coach at Weslaco East, rallied his young team during the season and snuck into the playoffs. The Wildcats surprised everyone by defeating Calallen 56-55 in bi-district, showing that the Coastal Bend jinx active for so long may be dissipating for Valley schools. This year Edcouch-Elsa got past Gregory-Portland in football action, proving that the area is starting to narrow the gap against the Corpus schools across the board. Valdez was a smart point guard at the turn of the 1990s who shot nearly 90 percent from the free-throw line and led the team in steals several years after a stellar career at Weslaco High. Roy Swift, another ex Bronc, led his Weslaco team on a late-season winning streak like Valdez at East, but the Panthers ran into the Harlingen Cardinals in bi-district and fell by three, 48-45. Swift and Valdez are two of several UTPA grads who are coaching in the high school ranks. Lalo Rios, who played at Edinburg and then put in four solid years as a point guard for the Broncs, is the head coach at Economedes now. In other local action, the Edinburg girls

advanced to the Class 5A Sweet 16, winning twice against Laredo schools to make it to the four-team regional tournament beginning Friday at the University of Texas-San Antonio. The boys take on Laredo United Friday in the area round, after the Bobcats got a bye past bidistrict by winning the title in District 31-5A. For the Lady Bobcats, senior Marah Guzman is in the final stages of one of the greatest careers in Valley girls’ annals. She averaged 28 points per game this season, along with eight rebounds, seven assists and seven steals. The team is 33-4 heading into Friday’s match against San Antonio Warren, and must win twice in San Antonio to reach Austin and the 5A Final Four. The 5-foot-1 Guzman is the reigning AllValley Most Valuable Player and could be in the running for all-state honors in 2006. The men have won 26 games this season under coach Joe Filoteo, unseating PSJA North, which had won the past three 31-5A crowns. A balanced and deep team with fine defense, the Bobcats go against a United team they beat earlier in the season. The Longhorns knocked off McAllen Rowe in overtime Tuesday to reach the area round. PSJA North dispatched Brownsville Porter in bi-district Tuesday and now moves on to the area round. Senior center J.C. Herebia, the Valley’s leading rebounder, leads the Raiders, an experienced team under coach Jaime Gongora, the former P-SJ-A standout guard who played four years of college ball in Missouri. It’s been a good year for Pharr-area teams, as Class 3A Valley View also claimed a bidistrict win recently, 47-39 over brush country foe San Diego.

February 23, 2006

SPORTS

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Wo m e n ’s h o o p s s e a s o n n e a r s f i n a l e L a d y B r o n c s w i l l f a c e a r c h - r i v a l TA M U C C I s l a n d e r s

By JORGE HINOJOSA The Pan American The Lady Bronc basketball team faces its rival Texas A&M-Corpus Christi for the final time this season Feb. 23, in a match against a strong Lady Islander team. “They’re a top 100 program in the country,” said DeAnn Craft, Lady Bronc coach. “If you combine the fact that they have great skill and are a very successful program, then it means we have to play not only extraordinarily well, but we almost have to play perfect in the majority of our possessions.” The last time the Lady Broncs battled the Islanders was Jan. 21, when they lost, 56-41. In the first half of the game the Lady Broncs trailed by 15 points and the two teams combined for 25 turnovers. During the second half the Lady Broncs pulled the Islanders lead down to 10 a couple of times but failed to tighten it any further. After turning over the ball 22 times in that game, the team looks to reverse the outcome this time. “Probably the thing that we’re working on these days prior to our ball game with the Islanders, is making sure that we get the right people the ball at the right times,” Craft said. “Since they have so much skill, we need to make sure that our offensive possessions are being shot by our kids that can help us the most.” The Islanders are led by two first team all-

Independent players, including Terra Andrews, who was voted the Independent MVP. “I think everything begins and ends with Terra. She’s going to take her shots. Their team does a great job of getting her the ball, so we’ve got to try to neutralize some of their other scorers,” Craft commented. The Lady Broncs will also have to pay attention to Lindsey Van Dorn and Kirbria Lewis. Combine those two players with Andrews and you’ve got some tough competition. “I think it’s kind of the trifecta,” Craft noted. “Those three kids are the key. We can have two of them play well, but we can’t allow three of them to play well. If we can keep one of them at bay, and have two of them go off on us, then we can still be competitive.” The Lady Broncs, who currently have a 6-19 record, have not beaten the Islanders in a number of years. They are going to try and be more assertive and aggressive on the court. Craft hopes that the players will take this game seriously. Though the season may not have evolved the way they would have liked, the players are preparing to play hard to finish the season strong. The seniors would surely like to end on a high note. Make no mistake: expect high-level adrenaline out of the Islanders because their seniors want it just as bad. Winning this game is very important to both teams, and UTPA is looking for a way to come out on top.

Joel de la Rosa / The Pan American DEFENSE! - Devin Reed backs into the defensive zone and makes ready for the Northern Colorado offense.

The young Lady Bronc team is making improvements. “Going through the season four of our five freshman have statistically played better in every category in the second half of the season. That’s amazing, because that shows that the freshman are getting it, and they’re improving,” Craft said. Freshman Whitney Coulson in the second half of the season has shot 50 percent from the field. Robin Garrett has substantially increased her minutes and is doing better on the boards. Garrett is also the second leading scorer on the

team. Rachel Jones has seen an increase in field goal percentage as well as in steals. “Those are all positives, and the fact that they are coming now in the second half of the season says our freshmen are getting it,” Craft commented. “They’re spending their minutes wisely, they’re learning, I think they are maturing right before our eyes.” After the Corpus game the team is at Oregon State Feb. 27 and then wraps up the season at home versus Utah Valley State Saturday, March 4, at 7 p.m.

UTPA golf returns from tough weekend opener UTPA SPORTS INFORMATION

Joel de la Rosa / The Pan American HEAD DOWN - Solo senior Craig Berger works on his drive during practice at Los Lagos Driving Range.

The men's golf team recorded a three-round total of 909 (303-300-306) at the UTSA Intercollegiate en route to finishing 14th out of 17 teams in San Antonio. UTPA sophomore Kyle Tudi was the Broncs' top golfer as he recorded his second consecutive round of 74, in the final round, concluding the event tied for 33rd with a score of 224 (76-74-74). Craig Berger was four strokes behind Tudi as the senior posted three straight 76s to finish with a tournament total of 228, tying him for 46th overall. Jeff Hensley tied Berger for 46th place with a threeround total of 228 (75-76-77) while Shane Pearce was one stroke behind of his teammate in 50th place with a total of 229 (76-74-79). Blake Hughey was 81st overall with a 54-hole total of 239 (82-76-81). Baylor University claimed the team championships with a three-round score of 855 while LouisianaMonroe, Lamar, Nebraska and Illinois State rounded out the top five. Baylor Ryan Baca dominated the first as he posted a three-round total of 199, which placed him 11 strokes ahead of runner-up Matt Miller from Illinois State. The Broncs will next hit the links at the Bearkat Classic hosted by Sam Houston State on March 17-18 in Huntsville. Lady Broncs finish 14th overall at Islander Spring Classic. The women's golf team concluded the final day of the Ed Hicks Nissan Islander Spring Classic in 14th

place after shooting a 328 in the third round en route to a team total score of 978 (334-316-328). Senior Nikki Boychuk was the Lady Bronc top golfer as she finished the 54-hole tournament with a score of 238 (86-75-77), including shooting the only rounds in the 70s for UTPA. Senior Daniela Cortes shot an 84 in the final round, wrapping up her tournament tied for 45th overall with a score of 241 (82-75-84) while teammate Stefanie Maynard finished two shots back with a three-day total of 243 (78-80-85), placing her 48th overall. Bronwyn Sandberg finished tied for 79th overall with a three-round total of 256 (88-86-82), but she was able to record her lowest round of the tournament on the second day of competition with an 82 on the final 18 holes. Sophomore Natalie Haime finished with a threeround total of 294 (103-99-92), which placed her 87th overall. The University of Arkansas-Little Rock captured the team championship with a three-round total of 899 (297-303-299) while Redlands Community College, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, Bradley University and University of North Texas rounded out the top five. Camila Sola of Redlands Community College held off Emily Ogilvy of UALR by four strokes to claim the tournament championship, finishing the tournament with a three-round total of 214. The UTPAwomen's golf team will be back in action in one month when the Lady Broncs travel to the UTSA Rowdy Round-Up hosted by the University of TexasSan Antonio.

SPORTS

Clipboard..........................13 Men’s hoops.....................14 Golf...................................15

Sophomore sprinter running toward glory By RACHEL REIDA The Pan American With three school records under her belt in only two years of competition, Deon Marquis, sophomore sprinter for the University of Texas-Pan American track team has been busy. Last year’s outdoor season was the start of her collegiate career, and during that season Marquis accomplished quite a feat in breaking the university 100-meter dash record with a time of 11.97 seconds. Marquis followed the outdoor season by breaking the school record in the 55-meter dash with a time of 7.22 seconds, as well as the mark in the 60-meter dash with time of 7.82 seconds during the 2006 indoor season. “I think my season so far this year has been pretty good,” said Marquis. “I still need to work harder in my starts, but I have already laid down my foundation by setting two school records.” Since her stay began here at UTPA, Marquis has been through some problems with injuries, which have shown in some aspects of her practice and competition. “I really haven't worked against the injuries because they are still a big problem to me,” commented Marquis. “I am not mentally stable when it comes to forgetting about them because they affect the way I practice and compete most of the time.” Marquis came to the Rio Grande Valley and UTPA all the way from Tortola, which is in the Virgin Islands, and transitioning was something that she had to work on when making the move. “It was terrible because it's not that diverse here and I came from a very diverse environment,”

proclaimed Marquis. “It was really hard for me to deal with all the stares at first.” When leaving the Virgin Islands, Marquis had to leave a lot behind, including her family. “I miss my family the most, but I do miss the warm weather too. It's just right, not too hot, not too cold, and I also miss things like the Caribbean,” she added. Marquis' toughest decision was leaving her mother behind to continue on with her education and track career. “My mom is my biggest inspiration, she has been there for me when I have wanted to throw in the towel and she constantly reminds me that I am here for a purpose,” explained Marquis. Although the transition was hard, Marquis quickly learned the ways of the RGV. “What I like most about the RGV is the fact that it is slow,” she said, “I just like the British Virgin Islands. It's not fast-paced at all. Everything is accessible and it's not that difficult to find.” Marquis has set many goals for this season, and has already reached quite a few. With hard work and determination she feels that she can accomplish many of the marks she has set for herself. “I want to at least make it to regionals this year in qualifying for the 100-meter dash,” commented Marquis. “I am .23 seconds off from last year’s time so I know I could run 11.72 or faster to get there. I would also like to break the school record in the 200meter dash, which is 24.75. I am at 25.02 so I think that my goals could be reached with a lot of hard work, dedication and staying focused.” Staying focused is something that is very hard for a student-athlete to manage. With all the schoolwork

Joel de la Rosa / The Pan American ON YOUR MARK - Sophomore sprinter Deon Marquis has made great strides for the UTPA track team.

on top of practice, the weight room, and the dreaded study-hall hours, a student-athlete takes on a lot. Marquis has found some things here at UTPA that have kept her grounded in order to be able to do it. “When I first got here I was pretty much on my own,” said Marquis. “I wasn't really that close to the coaches so basically what kept me grounded, and who helped me the most was my teammates, with Britney [Hilton] helping me the most. Devin Reed (women's basketball senior) is also there to constantly remind

me to stay focused and strive for the best.” Marquis has accomplished quite a bit since arriving at UTPA and plans to accomplish a whole lot more in the next two years. “School-wise, I want a bachelors degree in business management and my master’s degree in physical education,” said the Virgin Islands speedster. “Track-wise I want to be remembered as one of the best athletes to run at UTPA because after college that is it for me.”

UTPA tennis teams get set for away action this weekend By DARYL GONZALES The Pan American

Onydia Garza / The Pan American STRETCH!!! - Nik Porter reaches to chase down a serve during team practice last week.

The University of Texas-Pan American men’s and women’s teams set out for another competition this weekend against Southeastern Louisiana, Grambling State and Nicholls State on three separate days that will test their endurance. “This weekend has to be our longest couple of days of competition this semester,” said Robert Hubbard, men’s and women’s tennis head coach. The men will be taking on two of their Southland Conference rivals in Southeastern Louisiana and Nicholls State. This will be ideal tune-up for the March 28 conference tournament at the end of the semester when they will be competing against these teams plus more once again. In their last time out, the Broncs were downed by conference foe Lamar University, 4-3. Coming up with the most respectable performance was

newcomer Andrew Bost, who earned his first career victory as a Bronc over Filip Kanczula, 62, 6-2. Bost would go on to find another victory alongside Alberto Gomez in doubles action against Jacob Eastwood and Evan Hays, 8-3. The re-addition of Frenchman Gary Bianco to the team this semester is becoming more unlikely. “Tomorrow, we should know if the NCAA will allow him to participate this season, but it isn’t looking too good,” Hubbard said Monday. As for the women, they will encounter the same schools this weekend. It will be another chance for senior Elysia Sloan to improve her game before wrapping up her career at UTPA. Her last doubles appearance didn’t go so well. “She is playing well even though she struggled in the last competition, but hopefully she can keep it up,” Hubbard added. Freshman Valley natives Sheila Mabulac and Jessica Nanez have been mixing with a variety of girls on the team during the doubles

matches. Against Lamar, Mabulac teamed up with Sloan, but the duo was defeated in the second flight, 8-1. The freshmen duo of Marine de Bourgueny and Nanez ran into similar problems, falling by an 8-3 margin to Gaby Gadeva and Mary Harrison. “They’re freshmen, and they’re constantly learning every day,” Hubbard commented. While both teams are competing, Hubbard is hard at work behind the scenes steadily preparing for next season as he is expecting to lose three seniors on the men’s side and one from the women’s squad. “We’re doing a lot of recruiting in preparation for next season,” Hubbard said. Thus far through the season, he said that he is ultimately happy with his team’s output. “Everyone is working hard and getting better. Hopefully we can come back from this weekend with some wins,” he concluded.