September 26, 2002

PAGE 16

S PORTS

NFL

MOSS IN A MESS: Minnesota Vikings widereceiver Randy Moss was charged with two misdemeanors stemming from an incident with a woman directing downtown traffic on Tuesday. Moss was charged with reckless driving and failure to obey a traffic officer after witnesses told Minneapolis police he used his vehicle to slowly push the traffic officer a half-block when she tried to prevent him from making an illegal turn. Police also found a small amount of marijuana, but no charges have been made. Moss was arrested and freed from the Hennepin County jail before his misdemeanors were announced.

Witnesses believe Moss wasn’t trying to hurt the 27-year-old police officer Amy Zaccardi. Moss practiced on Wednesday and the team said he will start on Sunday.

NHL

RANGER FORWARD OUT: The New York Rangers suffered a big blow on Wednesday when they heard the news of forward Pavel Bure. He tore cartilage in his twicerebuilt right knee in Tuesday’s exhibition game against the New Jersey Devils. Bure is expected to have arthroscopic surgery to repair a posterior tear of the medial meniscus, the cartilage that serves as a shock absorber. An MRI revealed no ligament damage to his knee and the Rangers won’t know how long he will be out until the operation is done.

■ Cross country . . . . . . . 15 ■ Women’s golf. . . . . . . . 15 ■ Staff’s swami picks . . . 14

VOICE What concerns do you have about the West Nile Virus?

Cali transplant provides spark

Page 4

Junior volleyballer making big contribution to 2002 team, finds South Texas to her liking.

Mike Gonzalez/The Pan American

NICE CATCH: Freshman Danny Zamora of the “Comeback Kings” dives for a touchdown during an intramural flag football game Tuesday.

Tennis teams ready for weekend action Lady Broncs in Beaumont for the Lamar Invitational for first event of fall season, Broncs head to Waco for Baylor Invitational and second shot.

By ARIANNA VAZQUEZ The Pan American The time for preparation is at an end for The University of Texas-Pan American men’s and women’s tennis teams. Both teams are in action this weekend as the women head for their first tournament, and the men take their second shot of the season.

WOMEN After practicing for more than a month, the Lady Broncs are ready to compete at the Lamar Invitational in Beaumont. Head coach Todd Chapman believes the Lady Broncs are ready for their first test.

"It is going to be exciting, the girls having their first tournament. I think they

are ready [because] they’ve practiced for a month now, and so I think they are tired of practicing and are ready to go play," Chapman said.

Although expectations are high, the Lady Bronc coaching staff is hesitant to predict how well the team will do. But Capman and assistant coach Elizabeth Middleton are ready to see what UTPA can do.

"It will allow us to see how they are playing, giving me an opportunity to watch and see," Middleton said.

The Lady Broncs have a different lineup this year, and the coaches are expecting great things from new players as well as from the returning ones.

"I am excited for our first tournament, it is going to be good this year because

See TENNIS page 15

1,500 miles from Walnut,

By MIKE GONZALEZ Calif. to experience college The Pan American life in the Valley. But The Los Angeles Sparks according to Muszynski, her have Lisa Leslie, the choice to come to UTPA Houston Comets have was an easy one.

Sherryl Swoopes and the “The people were friendly United States women’s and when I was here for my soccer team has Mia Hamm. retreat, I just felt welcomed What do these players have and I felt like I could make in common? They are all this place home,” the heart and soul of their Muszynski said. “I felt like respective teams. even though it was far The UTPA Lady Broncs away, the city and the volleyball team has a school and the people here special athlete have some who brings characteristics leadership, that I’m experience and comfortable hustle to her with.” squad. Junior The hot outside-hitter weather and Jaclyn nearby beach are Muszynski has some traits the played for Valley shares UTPA the last with three years, Muszynski’s and head coach home state, and Dave Thorn she believes MUSZYNSKI has cherished those similarities every moment of made her adjustment to the Muszynski’s career.

Valley easier.

“Jaclyn has been a great “The fact that it’s sunny player for us ever since she here, even though I don’t got here,” Thorn said. “She like the humidity, the warm came in here as a raw weather and the beach athlete and has really really helped me feel at worked her way to a solid home,” she said. volleyball player for us.”

Just as it would be for Muszynski leads her team any other person, leaving in almost every statistical home and traveling a long category. Muszynski’s way was hard at first for averaging 3.38 kills and Muszynski.

2.94 digs to go along with “It was a real big 17 total blocks this season. change,” Muszynski said.

She is also one of UTPA’ s “Just the fact that I’m 1,500 experienced players and miles away from home was tries to motivate her a big difference for me.” teammates in different In her three years as a ways.

Lady Bronc, Muszynski has “In between plays, I like made her mark offensively to give everyone high fives and defensively. In her and generally try to be freshman year, she was vocal on the court by second on the team in kills cheering, telling my hitters with 330, first in total what shot is open or attacks with 913 and third encourage our defense that in digs with 294. As a we could get a good pass,” sophomore, Muszynski was Muszynski said. “I also talk named first-team Allto everyone and let them Independent, Independent know they’re doing well.”

Offensive Most Valuable Muszynski isn’t the Player, and ended UTPA’s typical player attending co-Female Athlete of the UTPA from around the Year. Thorn believes her state. She traveled

See MUSZYNSKI page 14

THURSDAY

Campus

STATE ■

After preparing for the worst, the Texas coastline escaped the direct path of Tropical Storm Isidore as the storm moved northeast Monday. Isidore, which was classified as a hurricane when it drenched the Yucatan Peninsula late last week, is about 200 miles south of New Orleans and dropped more than 5-anda-half inches of rain in the city early Wednesday. Parts of Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida have also received several inches of rain due to the storm. More rain is expected throughout the rest of the week and into the weekend.

VALLEY ■ Hidalgo County commissioners will not approve a proposed 11cent tax hike or an $89 million county budget that will be voted on in less than a week. The proposed 62.95-cent tax rate is a 21 percent increase from last year’s 51.95 cents and would cover operating costs for county departments.

Commissioners told the County Budget Officer Valde Guerra on Monday that the proposed budget needed to be trimmed. The lack of support from elected officials and department heads was one factor behind the court’s changed attitude toward the tax rate.

CAMPUS ■

There will be a psychology colloquim today from noon-1 in SBS 119.

The topic is acute posttraumatic reactions to Sept. 11.

September 26, 2002

An Inside Look:

Remember, wear long sleeves.

News ............................................2 A & E............................................7 ■ Sports ........................................16 ■ ■

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

Virus raises local concern West Nile found in McAllen, infects three birds less than two miles from campus

By NIKKI RAMIREZ The Pan American The West Nile Virus migrated to the United States in 1999, and is starting to cause a scare for Valley residents.

“The West Nile Virus came into New York some time in 1999 and they were not prepared for it because they were not expecting it,” said Roy Tijerina, chief inspector for the Environmental Health Division. It is going to spread through the 50 states gradually and will eventually hit Hidalgo County, he continued.

In fact, it is already here, having been detected in three dead Inca Doves last week near Hobbs Road and FM 336 (the northern extension of N. 10th Street) in North McAllen.

According to Tijerina the

migratory birds that are infected are the carriers, or reservoirs, of the virus. In order for a mosquito to catch the virus it must first bite a heavily infected bird and then transmit it to a human or another animal.

However, the risk of someone becoming infected with the virus is very low even in areas where it is circulating. This is because very few mosquitoes are infected with the virus, according to the Texas Department of Health. Even if a mosquito is infected and bites a person, the chances of that person becoming severely ill are less than 1 percent.

Still, over 80 people have died of the disease, mainly in Illinois, Michigan, and Louisiana, which have half the reported deaths so far.

The disease originated in the African nation of Uganda in 1939,

according to a recent article in the San Antonio Express-News.

“It’s a very small percentage of birds and mosquitoes with the virus,” Tijerina said. “ Of the million birds and mosquitoes only few will get the virus.”

Although the risk of someone or an animal contracting the virus is very low it is still important to take the necessary precautions.

Because the virus can only be transmitted through the bite of a mosquito health officials urge residents to protect themselves with proper clothing and mosquito repellent.

According to Tijerina if people are going to be outside it is important they wear protective clothing such as pants, long sleeves and a repellent that contains DEET, a chemical that protects against mosquitoes.

City officials urge people in the community to help out in keeping their yards free of debris. Cities in the Valley have begun

implementing insect eradication programs, and are also working to keep standing water pools to a minimum. This has been more complicated recently because of the recent splash of rainfall locally.

“It’s a combination of the people and us working together,” Tijerina said. “ If people in the city do their part and we do our part in the urban counties such as keeping yards clean and free of debris, free of standing water, it would really help since any place that accumulates water will attract mosquitoes.”

While the community can take these preventative measures, the county has also established a means of early detection.

Tijerina said that before the recent outbreak of the West Nile Virus, the county regularly collected samples of mosquitoes in different locations within the county. Those samples are sent to a lab in Austin and tested for the presence of a number of diseases including the West Nile Virus.

West Trail of Blood: The Nile Virus Mosquitoes then contract the

Birds are the first

virus by feeding off infected birds. The virus is carried through their salivary glands and is spread when they feed from animals and humans.

to get the virus which is found mainly in Africa, Eastern Europe, West Asia, and the Middle East.

Equines are the only known domesticated animals to be harmfully affected by the virus. Other animals can be affected by WNV but they rarely become ill with the exception of birds.

Tips to stay safe and bite free Stay in at dawn, dusk, and in the early evening.

Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants when outdoors.

■ Apply insect repellent sparingly to exposed skin and clothes. An effective repellent may contain 35% DEET. ■ Use gloves when handling any dead animals such as birds though there is no evidence of infection this way.

■ Leave your windows closed or keep a screen.

■ Do not let water stagnate in old tires, pet bowls, etc.

■ ■

Source: Texas Dept. of Health Graphic : Gabriel Hernandez/Ashley Brooks

Humans

can also acquire the virus. Most people won’t show symptoms but some may have a fever, headache, body aches, and swollen lymph nodes. Few develop encephalitis or meningitis. Death does occur in rare cases. There is no specific treatment for WNV but supportive treatment along with good nursing care increases chances of survival.

September 26 2002

Celebrating 50 years 1201 West University, CAS 170 Edinburg, Texas 78539 (956) 381-2541 Fax: (956) 316-7122 http://www.panam.edu/dept/panamerican 51th Year – No. 5

Editor Matt Lynch mlynch@panam.edu

News Editor Cristina Reyna creyna826@aol.com

A & E Editor Ashley Brooks Magrew2@hotmail.com

Sports Editor Mike Gonzalez mgonzalez40@panam.edu

Graphics Editor Gabriel O. Hernandez gabo296@hotmail.com

Copy Editors Sunayna Mahtani and Belinda Reyes Layout Designers Ashley Brooks Mike Gonzalez Gabriel Hernandez Reporters Veronica Barrera Clarissa Martinez Elizabeth Martinez Nikki Ramirez Cesar Trevino Celeste Y. Tello Arianna Vazquez Advertising Dagoberto Perez Circulation Jesus M. Gonzalez Advertising Coordinator Juanita Sanchez Adviser Dr. Greg Selber

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.

Readers with disabilities 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.

NEWS

■ Ad Seminar . . . . . . 4 ■ Disney Recruitment . 5

sports

September 26, 2002

Men’s, Women’s runners in action at UTSA

Nursing shortage staunched Programs seek to fill need for nurses, counteract field’s weaknesses, reputation

By ELIZABETH MARTINEZ The Pan American The University of Texas-Pan American nursing department strives to prepare students for the profession and act as a Band-Aid to cover the wound of the nationwide shortage of nurses.

In an attempt to alleviate the nursing shortage across the country, the department had made a priority of trying to increase its enrollment. Two programs are currently offered at UTPA, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and a Master of Science in Nursing.

“Recruitment is a big challenge,” said William McIntyre, dean of Health Sciences and Human Services. “We try to get high school students and college students interested in the program.”

Approximately 130 students are enrolled in BSN program, and over 120 students are in the pre-BSN course called Wellness, which is a prerequisite to entering the nursing program. The MSN program has 50 students enrolled.

“Our enrollments have steadily increased to admitting 80 students every spring semester [compared to 60],” said Carolina Huerta, nursing department chair. “The number of students admitted into the

program depends on the number of faculty positions filled, since we are mandated by law to have only 10 students per faculty member.”

Hospitals in the area have provided money to enhance the program and assist students with scholarships. Two years ago, Edinburg Regional Medical Center donated over 25 computers to the department.

According to the Journal of the American Medical Association, by the year 2020, the United States will experience a 20-percent shortage in the number of nurses needed in the U.S. health care system. This translates into a shortage of more than 400,000 registered nurses nationwide.

The shortage can be attributed to a decrease in students entering the nursing services field and the aging of individuals currently in the workforce.

“I believe that since nursing has traditionally been a female-oriented career, today’s females are aware of the many other exciting [career] fields that are available to them now that may have seemed more male oriented years ago,” Huerta said. “Years ago women were either a teacher or a nurse.”

But Huerta said more males are entering the field. Twenty-five percent of students in

the UTPA nursing program are males. She also said that as the baby boomers currently in the nursing field age, the need for nurses will grow.

The shortage is also visible along the Texas-Mexico border. In 2001, there were 3,000 RN vacancies from Laredo to Brownsville. McIntyre said UTPA students are often encouraged to remain in the Valley after graduating from the program.

“The majority of our graduates remain in the Valley and provide health care to the residents of the Rio Grande Valley,” Huerta said.

Irasema Gonzalez is planning on being one such graduate. The senior from Mission is getting her BSN in December, whereupon she wants to work in labor and delivery at Rio Grande Regional Hospital. She said that the UTPA program has been good for her, and that she is aware of the shortage facing the area.

“The program is intense, but provides you with so much knowledge,” she said. “It[the shortage] concerns me a lot because a lot of nurses are overworked and it affects their quality of care.”

Gonzalez thinks that filling the shortage is important, but improving the reputation of the field is equally vital.

“I think we need to promote nursing because there is a lot of misinformation about nursing not being a professional career, so naturally younger kids are not interested,” she commented.

Learning done from a distance Technological advances give opportunities for longdistance classes, interaction

By CLARISSA MARTINEZ The Pan American The university has joined the Information Age at last.

Advancements in technology in the Center for Distance Learning at the University of Texas-Pan American have given many students the opportunity to take college courses online.

CDL offers courses using the World Wide Web, providing access, enhancement, and continuity to those students who may not find time to attend classes at the university. It has evolved into a mainstream source of education for one-third of all students at UTPA since its creation in 1998.

“There are some individuals who want to take courses, but either have busy schedules or don’t have the opportunity to come to the campus. This is a way for them to acquire those extra hours to get their degree,” Douglas Young, director of the CDL, said. “To take classes without having to come to the campus could be extremely beneficial to certain individuals.”

Currently there are 169 courses that include the use of Web Course Tools (WebCT). There are also 17 classes that are conducted completely online, including assignments, presentations, exams/surveys, and communication with the instructor and other students.

According to Young, the center enhances the interaction between the students and their professors, along with providing an academic level that is found in a traditional classroom.

An example Young gave was the concept of a music appreciation class having a large number of students enrolled in the course. More than likely not everyone would be participating in live class discussions. By having a discussion board on WebCT, the professor can ask the students questions about a topic, and the students can leave messages answering them.

This allows everyone to interact, giving the professor an insight into what the students are thinking.

Senior interdisciplinary studies major Marisa Martinez used WebCT as part of the requirements for her foundation of bilingual education class.

“Our class used the message board to communicate with each other about our internship experiences,” Martinez said. “It was beneficial because we were not only able to discuss our experiences from the elementary classroom we were assigned to, but we were also able to share ideas and opinions that we may not have had a chance to share in class.”

The faculty is becoming more involved with CDL by participating in workshops such as “Teaching Online in Higher Education.” The six-week workshop is conducted exclusively online and is intended for professors and lecturers to learn the techniques of teaching through that medium.

The roster currently includes professors from different universities such as Northern Arizona University, The University of Puerto Rico, Arkansas Tech University, and The University

of Texas-Pan American.

Young said the workshop assists faculty in course design, instructional design support, WebCT training, orientation in faulty offices by CDL staff members, as well as other various knowledge.

“Imagine the possibilities students have by taking a class online,” Young said. “A guest speaker could have a surprise visit to a message board and answer questions concerning the students’ interests. Different people around the world could share comments with each other because of the opportunity of being able to take a class together.”

The future of the CDL is optimistic since every day there is a further advance of technology in the United States.

“I really think that the CDL will be one of the central entities of the campus,” said Young.

“With the president’s prediction of the size of the student populations doubling within 10 years, WebCT will allow students to broaden their learning experience with far greater interaction and convenience.”

Another expectation set for the CDL is to practice different techniques of being able to communicate online. Currently all the messages are left in text, however, Young considers the fact that someone might not type as fast as their ideas form.

To ease the pressure on the students, there will be voice recorders to allow them to simply leave a voice message onto the message board.

“Electronic methods of education will provide not only a greater opportunity but a better educational enhancing quality,” said Young.

Page 15

San Antonio Invitational poses challenges for teams

By CELESTE Y. TELLO The Pan American

Celeste Y. Tello /The Pan American

HITTING THE ROAD: Aaron Castro (left), Hugo Cervantes and Westly Keating (right) hit the track.

TENNIS

continued from page 16

our team has a lot of depth," sophomore Kathryn Waslen said.

"We have a lot of solid players who are all around the same level. Our team is a lot more dynamic this year, especially with eight girls."

Chapman thinks UTPA has the capability to compete with elite competition and has set his expectations high.

"We should match up pretty well competition-wise,” Chapman said.

“It is going to be a good tournament for us."

After this opener, the women travel to Fort Worth for a regional tournament October 18-20 MEN As the men’s team recovers from a number of unexpected injuries, it prepares for competition against number of highly ranked schools at the Baylor Invitational in Waco, which starts Friday. Only four players will compete at this tournament, including senior Neil Barraclough, sophomores Filip Koziell and Jeremy Salvo, and freshman Oliver Steil.

"It’s such a big and good tournament that we could only get four guys entered. It is going to be an unbelievable tournament as far as competition," Chapman said.

Although his players will face serious competition at the invitational, Chapman thinks this experience will help his players in future tournaments.

"Competition-wise, it is going to be great for us as far as getting to see ourselves matched up against some of the best teams in the United States," the coach added.

Some of the teams competing in the event include The University of Texas-Austin, Texas A&M, Rice, Baylor, Texas Tech and Mississippi.

Middleton believes the Broncs have worked hard to improve their game and should perform at a higher level than their performances at the first tournament, which was Beaumont Sept. 13-15.

"We have been focusing on what they needed to work on this past week,” Middleton said. ”Hopefully they should have a better turnout than the first tournament because we’ve got to see what they really needed to work on. The players have great expectations to make this week’s tournament a success.”

Sophomore Salvo is looking forward to the trip to Baylor and feels the team will do well.

"The week-and-a-half that we have been back from the last tournament our team has been working harder as a team," Salvo said. "I think we are going to do pretty well. We have been working really hard, and we are pretty excited about it because it is one of our toughest tournaments in the fall."

After the Waco event, the men are next in action Oct. 18 in San Antonio.

The UTPA cross country teams will travel to the University of Texas-San Antonio this Friday, hoping for better results than they had at the Southwest Texas State University meet two weeks ago.

The men’s team came in fifth place and the women came in seventh place, but Coach Doug Molnar does not see it as a setback for the teams.

“I don’t look at it as a disappointing finish, it was a little bit lower than we expected because Americo Ortiz didn’t run,” Molnar said. “He was our top runner in the first meet.”

Ortiz sat out the meet due to a knee injury. He is expected to run at San Antonio.

“We held him out more as a precautionary measure,” Molnar said. “He probably could have gone, but we’ve got bigger fish to fry.”

The runners will match up against many teams they have already faced, including Southwest Texas State, UTSA, Texas A&M, Texas A&M-Kingsville, Angelo State, Palo Alto College, and Incarnate Word University.

“This meet will be a good indication of how we’ve improved,” said Molnar, who said he believes the men’s team has made strides since the beginning of the season.

“I think on the men’s side we’ve shown improvement as we keep progressing,” he said. “I think we’re really progressing toward those regional dates.”

Westley Keating is the picture of progress on the men’s team. He was the top scorer at the last meet and is getting ready for action Friday.

“Westley had an outstanding performance particularly considering what we’ve done and where we’re at in his training,” Molnar said. “We’re looking forward to real big things from him.”

Molnar said the teams could have been more aggressive at the Southwest meet, and that is one change that he hopes to see at the next one.

“We could have run more aggressively in the beginning,” he said. “That’s one thing we’re going to work on for [UTSA].”

“We’re going to work on going out a little harder and being a little more aggressive early in the race and then continue on where we get into the flow of the race.”

After Friday’s meet, the team will not compete until Oct. 12 when they head to the Texas A&M Invitational in College Station..

Lady golfers heading north Lady Broncs head to South Bend for big road test

By BRIAN CARR The Pan American

The Lady Broncs are set to compete in the Notre Dame Invitational this weekend, hoping to use the competition as a stage to further showcase themselves as one of the best women’s golf teams in school history.

At their last tournament, the Lady Eagle Invitational at North Texas State, the Lady Broncs shot the second best score ever by a school team, missing the record by only three strokes. And according to Coach Barbara Odale, the accomplishment is only the beginning of their potential.

“Three of the five girls who competed in the Lady Eagle Invitational are freshman,” Odale said, “They had never even competed at the college level!”

In addition to it being their first-ever college tournament, it was also the first time three of them competed in a two-day 54-hole tournament.

“Playing 36 holed in one day

is really hard on the body,” Odale said, “And it definitely takes a few times to get used to.”

Although the Lady Eagle Invitational exposed Odale’s freshman to many experiences associated with collegiate competition, it did not introduce them to the conditions associated with different geographical locations.

Nor did it acquaint them with the rigors of traveling so far to compete.

“Nicki Boychuck and Stephanie Maynard have never played outside of Texas,” Odale said . “And the temperature change, travel fatigue, and different grass conditions will be something all the girls will have to adjust to.”

In an attempt to hasten the adjustment, Odale will pair her more experienced players with freshmen during their practice round at the course.

Team captain Crystal Frasier is looking past the anxiety and nervousness of the situation and instead anticipates returning to the course at Notre Dame.

“Notre Dame has a real fun and undulating course. I know that the freshman are excited about the opportunity. It’s my third year and I can’t wait to

go,” Frasier said.

Another exception in the Notre Dame Invitational, which may prove to be beneficial for the Lady Broncs, is the scoring system that will be used.

By Notre Dame’s rules six golfers are allowed to play the course, and the two lowest scores from each round are omitted.

The Lady Broncs are used to playing with five players and allowing four scores per round.

This should alleviate some of the pressure on the team as there is more room for error per round.

“Of course having the extra player makes it easier,” Frasier said. “But really we just try to go out and beat the course. That way it doesn’t matter either way.”

Although all the teams competing in the Notre Dame Invitational are Central Region Division I teams, Arkansas State is the only other team invited that the Lady Broncs compete against with any regularity.

“With the exception of Arkansas State we won’t see any of these teams again unless we are invited to Nationals,” Coach Barbara Odale said. “So I guess in a way it’s our preview of the North.”

September 26, 2002

sports

September 26, 2002

Page 14

SPORTS CLIPBOARD Craft Joins UTPA Staff The women’s basketball program added DeAnn Craft to assist head coach Tracy Anderson this season on an interim basis. Craft is a former head coach at Lamar University and has compiled 108 victories in her career. That includes a 39-69 record in her fouryear stay at Lamar. Craft is looking forward to the challenge of uplifting the women’s program.

“I’m extremely impressed with the vision that (UTPA Athletic Director ) Bill Weidner has in place for UTPA athletics,” Craft said.

“It’s the right time for UTPA women’s basketball to really embrace the Rio Grande Valley.”

Keating Receives Honors Cross country runner Westly Keating was named the NCAA Division I Independent Male Runner of the Week by the coaches.

Keating finished third overall at the Southwest Texas State Invitational last weekend. He helped lead UTPA to a fifth-place finish and ran five miles in 25:06. Head coach Ricky Vaughn credits Keating as well as his team for a great performance in San Marcos.

“It’s his [Keating] first race, and he ran really well, and it says a lot

MUSZYNSKI

about the direction in which our program is going, and the job that (assistant) coach (Doug) Molnar is doing with our group

Men’s golf team finishes 11th The men’s golf team finished 11th out of 16 teams at the Carolina First Intercollegiate Classic. The Broncs shot a final-round score of 301, and finished with a score of 889 for a 54 holes. Leading the Broncs was junior Rudy Celedon shooting a final score of 214, while junior Paul Manganilla shot 221, tying him for 31st in the tournament.

Team Announces Tryout Dates The men’s basketball team will be conducting a tryout session on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2002, at 3:30 p.m. in the Fieldhouse.

All students interested, please contact the basketball office at 3812870 or stop by and talk to the coaching staff as soon as possible.

Those who wish to try out need to bring a copy of their transcripts by the basketball office and get with trainer Jim Lancaster regarding physical information before Tuesday, Oct. 1.

Staff Swami Records

Mike Gonzalez Sports Editor

Mike Gonzalez: 27-19, .587 Greg Selber: 25-21,.543

Celeste Y. Tello: 2422, .522 Matt Lynch: 2917, .630

Staff Swamis Matt Lynch

Celeste Tello

Dr. Greg Selber

Editor

Reporter

Adviser

Dallas at St. Louis The Cowboys looked terrible against the Eagles last week. The defense must bounce back, and they will have their hands full against the greatest show on turf.

Cowboys by 1

The Eagles had no problems handling the Cowboys, and Donovan McNabb is an early MVP candidate .

Eagles by 14

Matt

Celeste

Greg

Matt

Eagles

Texans

Eagles

Cowboys

Celeste Rams

Greg Cowboys

Chicago at Buffalo The Bears had a chance to go 3-0 last week, now they will become a .500 team.

Bills by 4

Matt Bills

Celeste Bills

Greg Bears

Although her stay here at UTPA will work ethic is what makes her a standout only last for two more years, Muszynski college athlete.

“She always works hard in any workout believes her experience in the Valley is one she will never forget. we do, whether it’s in the gym, court or a “People here are so sand workout,” friendly, and Thorn said. “You everyone is so couldn’t ask for a welcoming,” she said. better athlete to Jaclyn has “I felt like this have on the floor.” school, not just the Other than her been a great volleyball program, work ethic, Thorn player for us has welcomed me considers with open arms. I Muszynski as a ever since she think that made my leader on the Lady transition so much Broncs’ young got here. easier.” squad.

Muszynski is “She’s one of uncertain about her those great lead-by- David Thorn, volleyball coach future at this point, example types,” but Thorn is Thorn said. “She’s confident whatever always in the gym road she takes she will be successful. working out hard, she’s always pushing “She’s one of those individuals that herself over the summer and comes back in excellent shape. She’s just one of those whatever she puts her mind to, she can do whatever she wants,” Thorn said. “I think athletes that a coach would love to have she will do well when she gets there.” on the floor to lead the rest of the team.”

“

The Cardinals play the Giants tough every year.

Even though Arizona is not in the NFC East anymore, both teams will want this game bad.

Giants by 6

Matt

Celeste

Greg

Giants

Giants

Giants

Tampa Bay at Cincinnati

The Lions were very close to a win against the Packers. Joey Harrington looked good for his first NFL start. The Saints are playing well .

Saints by 7

The scary thing about the Bengals is they’re getting worse after every game. They need to stick to one quarterback and develop him.

Bucs by 10

Celeste

Saints

Saints

Greg Saints

Dolphins

Celeste

Dolphins

Packers

Celeste Panthers

Greg

Dolphins

Matt

Celeste

Greg

Chargers

Patriots

Patriots

Tennessee at Oakland

Greg Packers

Cleveland at Pittsburgh The Browns are off to a fast start this season which is not a surprise. However, the Steelers have been another story, but they had two weeks to wake themselves up.

Steelers by 7

Matt Browns

Celeste Steelers

Greg

For the second consecutive week the Jets will travel to the state of Florida. This time, they will come out victorious.

Jets by 7

Celeste

Jets

Jets

The Titans come off a come-from-behind win last week. I think they’re pretty lucky to be 2-1.

Raiders by 9

Matt

Celeste

Greg

Raiders

Titans

Raiders

Minnesota at Seattle Right now, the Vikings organization is on turmoil. Randy Moss proved he still hasn’t matured, and that’s going to hurt the team.

The Seahawks must score some points.

Vikings by 6

Matt

Celeste

Greg

Vikings

Seahawks

Seahawks

Steelers

N.Y. Jets at Jacksonville

Matt

Greg

Bucs

The game will be closer than people think. The game may come down to special teams, and the Patriots have a better kicking game Patriots by 3

Carolina at Green Bay

Matt

Celeste New England at San Diego

Priest Holmes is playing his best football in his career. But guess what, so is Ricky Williams and the Dolphins have a true running back for the first time since the days of Larry Csonka.

Dolphins by 6

Matt

Matt Bucs

Miami at Kansas City

Who would’ve thought Carolina would be 3-0.

Are they this year’s Patriots? I think not.

Packers by 6

continued from page 16

N.Y. Giants at Arizona

New Orleans at Detroit

Matt

Greg Jets

Denver at Baltimore You’ve got to admit, Brian Griese has proven his critics wrong. The Broncos are off and running.

Broncos by 10

Matt

Celeste

Broncos

Broncos

Dealing with it Program gives confidential help for struggling employees, free of charge

By CLARISSA MARTINEZ The Pan American

Houston at Philadelphia

Greg Broncos

THE PAN AMERICAN

Dealing with personal problems and stress is now just a phone call away for employees at the University of Texas-Pan American.

UTPA employees have 24-hour access to the University of Texas Employee Assistance Program (UTEAP), a confidential and professional assistance service that helps employees deal with problems affecting either personal life or job performance.

According to Antonio Villalobos, Personnel Services Director, UTPA has been using the service for four years.

UTEAP was established in 1978 in collaboration with the University of Texas-Houston Health Science Center.

This affiliation enables clients to receive direct access to university and medical resources, including management consultants, economists, treatment specialists, and training/educational seminars.

Although it is not compulsory to use the program on a regular basis, employees have the opportunity to turn to it when personal pressures begin affecting their lives.

“An employee faced with a crisis can be overwhelmed to a point that they

cannot function anymore,” Villalobos said. “That is why we offer this program, to give everyone an option to receive guidance when dealing with troublesome issues.”

UTEAP services include, but are not limited to helping individuals who are: having difficulties with coworkers/supervisors; are experiencing emotional problems; dealing with loss and grief; or trying to recover from traumatic events. Employee family members are also welcome to benefit from the services.

Villalobos said the program also refers users to centers with proper professional assistance located near the employee’s residence.

Depending on the situation, different numbers of sessions are conducted, until the counselors feel the person is able to cope with the situation.

“It’s an excellent service to offer, since often people can’t deal with issues by themselves. We want [employees] to know that if they need assistance, we are here to help them,” Villalobos said.

For more information about the assistance offered by UTEAP, contact Personnel Services at 381-2551 or Email their Web site at http://w3.panam.edu/www/personnel.

Page 3

Help is on the way Computer aid just a phone call away

By CLARISSA MARTINEZ The Pan American More help is out there, computer users.

Students, staff, and faculty at the University of Texas-Pan American can overcome their technical frustrations by contacting the UTPA Help Desk.

According to Help Desk Manager Herberto Castillo, the services were created in the summer of 1996 to serve everyone with questions concerning the computers at the university.

The services, which include solving various computer problems, providing software training, and advising people interested in purchasing computer equipment or software, have since evolved into the focal point on campus for assisting computing problems.

Callers no longer have to try contacting Human Resources or the Computer Center on different phones because the merger enables the help desk to connect faster and more accurately.

“We had an average of about 15 calls a day,” Castillo said. “But now that we’ve had a merger to connect all our resources together, we may receive up to 50 calls daily.”

Consulting is offered from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday at 3812020. Castillo said common problems callers have include viruses that affect the computers ability to function.

However, there are basic problems that

staff members at the help desk encounter on a frequent basis.

“There have been cases where we get phone calls asking us how to log into email accounts, how to run certain programs, and basically questions of that nature,” Castillo said.

There are currently two full-time employees at the help desk as well as several student employees.

“Students have been doing major work for quite a while now,” said Castillo.

“If it wasn’t for their dedication, we wouldn’t be able to accomplish what we do.”

Castillo hopes that in the future there will be an increase in services they offer as well as the possibility of employees addressing callers problems during the same day they call in.

“I’d really prefer if the staff members were all in the same office,” Castillo said. “If we had one place where everyone could work, it would create a better environment since we’d be able to brainstorm together and share our knowledge with each other.”

“I’ve noticed that I would receive instant gratification knowing that I had just solved someone’s computer problem,” said Castillo. “Now that I’m working in management, I don’t feel that instant satisfaction, but I do know the improvements are being made, and I’m looking forward to seeing what else develops.”

“

THE PAN AMERICAN

September 26, 2002

VO I C E

What concerns do you have about the West Nile Virus?

Adrian Sandoval Political Science Freshman My uncle has horses and with the case of an infected horse found 2 weeks ago in Lyford I had to get them vaccinated. I don’t go outside late at night now.

Ad seminar brings advice to Valley

Marketing also featured at Chamber of Commerce event, which draws diverse audience

By GABRIELA BARAJAS Special to The Pan American

business loans and clients were asking about a program like this, we decided to go ahead Advertising is everywhere today, and can and have one.” often mean the difference between a The seminar was geared toward the flourishing business and one struggling to business community of the Rio Grande get off the ground.

Valley and focused on how small businesses University of Texas-Pan American can expand their advertising operations to a students, as well as larger scale. members of the The purpose of the community, had the seminar was to add opportunity to learn value to the chamber of I learned different the importance of commerce. Most of marketing techniques, marketing in the the members own how to do a marketing business world at a businesses that are very plan, new aspects of free advertising small and don’t have seminar held at the the advantage like advertising, and all McAllen Chamber of larger marketers such kinds of aspects one Commerce Tuesday. as H.E.B. or Foleys,” can use in the The event was Julian said. ”It’s a marketing area sponsored by Accion matter of identifying a Texas and hosted by target audience or - Martha Benavidez, the McAllen person that would be UTPA senior Chamber of interested in buying a Commerce. product or a service.

Businesspeople, new business owners, It’s just a matter of careful thinking and and students attended the seminar hoping to planning and properly reaching and learn new information that could be used to communicating to that target.” improve marketing techniques. UTPA senior The seminar touched on other various marketing major Maria Benavidez learned topics, including the anatomy of marketing, more about marketing and how forms of advertising, the four questions of advertisement is important in business. She situational analysis, and inward thought the workshop was beneficial to the communications. community and to students.

“I am hoping that the staff and I can use “I attended the seminar because in the information to make a marketing plan, addition to my marketing class, I think that because it is something we need at our one should learn all they can because it will business,” said Kris Shipman, a volunteer help you in the future and it will help you coordinator at the World Birding Center. now,” she said. “The seminar met my needs Julian also discussed making a creative and once I graduate I can look into all these working plan, and the different levels of aspects.” emotional motivation and various Christopher Julian, president/CEO of advertising concepts for use in the business Advertir, Inc. prepared the seminar and world. presented the information to the community.

“I learned different marketing techniques, His group worked in conjunction with the how to do a marketing plan, new aspects of McAllen Chamber of Commerce and advertising, and all kinds of aspects one can Accion Texas, a nonprofit, social justice use in the marketing area,” Benavidez said. organization dedicated to helping selfA number of seminar-goers felt the employed and successful small businesses. knowledge conveyed at the seminar could “This is the first time we have had it,” go a long way in their quests to improve said Marlene Ramirez, a loan officer at their advertising strategies.

Accion Texas. “We are holding the seminar “I have a better picture of advertising in in order to teach small businesses the basics the Rio Grande Valley and I learned a lot of of marketing. Many individuals don’t advertising techniques,” said business know how to market. Since we do small broker Terry Yale.

“

Lesley Chavez Business Management Sophomore I’m worried of a chance of infection.

I’m just trying to stay in and use bug repellent when I go out. I also try to stay away from places that are near water.

Albert Vasquez Computer Science Freshman My concerns are what treatments are there when you contract it. Also, what is the survival rate and what is the mental condition of those affected— are most braindead or are they coherent?

Naima Williams Marketing Senior As many mosquitoes as there are out here I am very concerned about catching it or any other mosquitoborne diseases.

Sarvelio Carreon Communication Senior I’m more concerned with other diseases than I am with West Nile [Virus].

“

Campus

Page 4

September 26, 2002

THE PAN AMERICAN

Page 13

September 26, 2002

THE PAN AMERICAN

Page 12

September 26, 2002

THE PAN AMERICAN

Biannual Disney recruitment nears Florida outfit will come to campus looking for interns for its next season

By SUNAYNA MAHTANI The Pan American Mark your calendars this October because the Walt Disney World College Program is coming to recruit students at the University of Texas-Pan American.

Orientation will be held Oct. 7 from 6-9 p.m. at the Engineering Auditorium.

Interviews for the fair will be conducted Oct. 8 at the Career Placement Office at the Student Services building in room 147.

Susie Alvarez, Cooperative Education coordinator, said Disney first started successfully recruiting interns at UTPA in 1995, and representatives from the theme park have since continued to come to the university once each fall and spring semester.

“The key to the success of the Disney program with UTPA is all due to the students’ desire and excitement about going to Disney World,” Alvarez said.

“Also, Disney’s commitment to the university has played a big role in the continued success."

Alvarez noted that there are an estimated 25 interns chosen each semester and the career placement office requires that each applicant have a minimum 2.0 GPA, along with which Disney has additional requirements for its paid internships.

Disney officials feel the college program is an exciting internship for students of all majors and backgrounds to “learn, live, and earn,” which has proven to be true for interns like Jose Luis Chavez.

Chavez, 23, a junior majoring in communications whose track is public relations/advertising, first interned at Disney in Spring 1998 and returned in Fall 2000.

“I went again [to Disney] to get more experience,” Chavez said. “And of course once I went, the magic of Disney has been with me forever.”

Chavez’s variety of job responsibilities

were cash handling, package delivering, floor stocking and helping guests. He also gained the opportunity to be part of the diverse group of people who worked at Disney.

“I got to live in Vista Way apartments, where at least 2,000 students are housed from all over the [world],” Chavez said.

“I stayed in a six-bedroom apartment with roommates from New York, Puerto Rico, Brazil, and Sweden.”

Currently Chavez is a campus representative for the Walt Disney World College Program and he plans to work for the company full-time after graduation.

Disney already has some UTPA graduates working for them full-time.

Jeanne Sordo graduated from UTPA in December 1999 with a bachelor’s degree in communication and has been working at the theme park for over two years.

Sordo said she interned at Disney in Spring 1998 as a park greeter for the Magic Kingdom. However, after her internship she stayed active as the Walt Disney World College Program campus representative and then participated in an advanced internship as the casting marketing intern.

Sordo is currently the Walt Disney World college and international marketing coordinator. Her responsibilities include creating marketing pieces used to promote the programs, some of which have not gone unnoticed.

“I led a project that won an ADDY award last year,” Sordo said. “The campus rep manual (marketing training piece for the campus reps) placed a silver locally and a district gold for best collateral material.”

Sordo has learned about work ethics, time management, and social organization during her time with Disney. She finds all the experiences to be worthwhile.

“Working with Disney has been a great resume builder,” Sordo said. “Not only do I have a Fortune 500 company on my resume, but I also have the reputation of the company following. It takes great talent to work in this company.”

Page 5

September 26, 2002

THE PAN AMERICAN

Page 6

September 26, 2002

THE PAN AMERICAN

Page 11

A Tour-de-‘Fear’ Supernatural thrills and psychological twists engulf the newly released DVD ‘Frailty.’

By DÄGOBERTO PÉREZ The Pan American

begins carrying out “God’s mission.” Their father starts kidnapping and murdering people in the name of God. Using his heavenly “weapon,” an ax named Otis, Mr. Mieks begins to battle demons as his children helplessly watch.

As the murders occur more frequently, Fenton becomes frustrated by his father’s insane actions, and turns against him. But his betrayal is met with the punishment of isolation. While Fenton is imprisoned in a makeshift underground cell for over a month, he convinces himself that he too has seen God. Fenton agrees to follow “God’s Mission,” and the family’s final murder is one

In Bill Paxton’s directing debut, madness and religion coexist and form a frightening story that will leave the audience breathless until a climactic finale. This DVD is marvelous in every way and one of the best horror movies ever made.

The story circles around a murderer called the “God’s Hands” Killer. This killer has eluded FBI agents for quite some time, but one rainy night a man claiming to know the identity of the killer confronts agent Wesley Doyle (Powers Boothe). The informant, Fenton Meiks (Matthew McConaughey) claims that the killer is his Starring: Powers brother and begins to Boothe, Bill Paxton, tell the horror that was his childhood.

Matthew McConaughey Fenton claims that his Director: Bill Paxton father (Paxton) was MPAA rating: R, for visited by an angel one violence and some night and told of a language. raging war between Heaven and Hell. The Running time: 100 angel told him that minutes demons are disguised as humans and it is his Reviewer’s Rating: family’s duty to “destroy” them. This information is enough to traumatize the children, out of 5 stars but their father adds salt to the wound when he

Page 10

The

CULTURE CLUB What students like to read, listen to and surf.

Around Town

that will send chills down the viewer’s spine.

The ending to this magnificent movie is one best not reveled. The movie’s many twists, turns and eerie revelations are a large part of the viewing experience. Its cast accurately portrays a family on the verge of insanity, and displays a sinister side of religion.

This is one of the best horror/suspense stories to come out in a long while.

This DVD is not one to be missed.

Words cannot express the horror that viewers will feel. Shivers will run down spines, goose bumps will form on skin, and hearts will race for those who watch this marvelously macabre movie.

Mary Osornio Freshman Pharmacy Book: “Great Expectations” by Charles Dickens Movie: “A Walk to Remember” Website: seventeen.com

Tom Whitehead Sophomore Undeclared

TOP VIDEO RENTALS, SEPT. 2 through 8 1 - ‘Blade II’ 2 - ‘High Crimes’

CD: “Symbols” by KMFDM Book: “Anthem” by Ayn Rand Movie: “The Empire Strikes Back”

3 - ‘The Rookie’ 4 - ‘We Were Soldiers’ 5 - ‘National Lampoon’s Van Wilder’ 6 - ‘Queen of the Damned’ 7 - ‘Showtime’

Victor Hernandez Freshman Biology

8 - ‘Joe Somebody’ 9 - ‘The Sweetest Thing’ 10 - ‘Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Rings

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

PAGE 7

CD: “Nirvana Unplugged” Movie: “Gladiator” Website: yahoo.com

Open Stage Poetry Night Sept. 27, 7 to 9 p.m.

Place: Art Awakenings, 1516 Beech St. in McAllen Event: Gives people the chance to free their mind, the rest will follow. Been, wine and liquor will be available.

Phone: (956) 668-1366 Symphony Soiree Sept. 29, 4 p.m.

Place: McAllen Country Club Event: Sponsored by the South Texas Symphony Association, special guest Dr. Haysun Kang will play the piano, performing works from Beethoven to Bach. Dr. Peter Dabrowski will introduce the program and provide commentary.

Phone: (956) 393-2293 for ticket information.

Coming Concerts Sept. 27, 9 p.m.

Info: Bands Abyss, Tragic Komic and Necrosis will all perform musical sets.

Place: City Limits Bar, Bus. 83 in Weslaco Price: $3 cover, only 18 and older allowed.

Phone: (956) 447-8448 The White Balloon Oct. 4, 7 p.m.

Info: Shown by the STCC Foreign Film Association.

Place: STCC Pecan Campus Auditorium Phone: Deborah Pattillo, (956) 618-8348

■ Sala Arte Gallery . . 8-9 ■ DVD review . . . . . . 10 ■ Culture Club . . . . . . 10

Communication key to the success of new speech club the student organization met for the first time last Monday night.

The organizers, Liz Parker and Nora Hernandez, both seniors and communication studies majors, started the meeting with greetings.

By BELINDA REYES Parker and Hernandez had The Pan American attendees break into pairs to find out more about each A group of students from other, and afterward the the communications studies pairs introduced each other department decided to to break the ice. facilitate their emergence as The organization invited successful graduates by Barbara Mayo, lecturer of creating a speech club. speech communications at Temporarily named the UTPA and STCC, to speak Speech Comm Club (comm. about communication studies recently changed its associations and conferences name from speech comm), and present ideas concerning the new club.

Mayo stated the importance and benefits of attending the Texas Speech Communication Association conference, which will take place Oct. 2-5, in San Antonio. “[The conference] is a wonderful place to network with other individuals who work in that field,” Mayo said.

“I encourage and welcome people Special to The Pan American to attend this Student Rachel Guerrero signs up to run conference.” for Executive Council for the new club.

The remainder

Students gather to form campus speech club

of the meeting concerned discussion of a group name and the nomination of officers. The voting for all nominations will be held at the next meeting on Oct. 3.

Hernandez said the main goal for the organization was to work together and accomplish things for the group.

“We can get ideas, share them as a group, so that after graduation it will be a benefit to us,” Hernandez said.

The groups’ adviser, Dr. Dora Saavedra, who has been teaching at UTPA since 1993, said she had the idea to start a student organization for a while, and it was one of her goals as an educator. “[Our goal] is to build community of students [because] our department is full of communicationfriendly students,” Saavedra said. “We want them [students] to succeed.

Effective communication is the key to success in any field.”

Although the group is primarily made up of communication majors, Parker said it is open to everyone.

“Our club is open to anybody interested in speech communications,” Parker said.

Left to right, Dr. Dora Saavedra, adviser; Liz Parker and Nora Hernandez, club organizers.

Special to The Pan American

“[We hope for] as many [members] as possible, but we’re thinking of involvement, not numbers.

We want quality [students] instead quantity.”

Junior Tricia Barrera and Senior Melissa Moreno, both broadcast journalism majors, joined the group because there is not a club for those on the broadcasting track of communications.

“We don’t have a broadcast club and I want to be involved with any club dealing with communications,” Barrera said.

Moreno said that she joined the club because she wanted to be more involved with student activities.

“This is my first full-time semester back, and this is [good way] to familiarize myself with school,” Moreno said.

The next meeting will be held Oct. 3, at noon. Anyone who is interested in joining should contact either Liz Parker or Nora Hernandez at 318-1356, or e-mail them at speechcommclub@yahoo.com

“

[The conference] is a wonderful place to network with other individuals who work in that field.

- Barbara Mayo, lecturer

“

Arts & Entertainment

September 26, 2002

Students take ‘Steps’ to form organization Organization brings professionals to teach dance styles to students

By ELIZABETH MARTINEZ The Pan American Two girlfriends put their heads together to develop a new student organization that would combine creativity, fun, and dancing.

University of Texas-Pan American students Karla Tamez and Adriana Garcia formed Steps, an organization that focuses on the different styles of

dance.

Steps has been a part of UTPA since this spring. Once a month the group meets to learn a different dance style taught by a professional choreographer. The dance sessions held last semester taught cumbia, guapangos, ballroom, plus salsa and merengue.

For those who claim to have two left feet there is no need to worry.

The hourlong dance sessions are done at a slow pace. They begin with learning the basic steps without the music. As soon as the students become comfortable with the dance moves, music is added.

“It’s really easy and fun,” Tamez

said.

“If you don’t know how to dance, you’ll learn.”

“What I like about it [Steps] is that we can actually go out and use the moves we’ve learned when we go dancing,” Tamez added.

Members of Steps are preparing for their debut performance and first dance competition during Midnight Madness in October. The competition will be between 12 participating student organizations on campus. Each organization will have 90 seconds to perform.

“Steps doesn’t perform on a regular basis,” Tamez said. “If an event comes up at school where we

have the opportunity to perform, then we will.”

This semester students can join Steps members in learning country swing dancing, salsa and merengue, and hip hop.

There are currently 20 active members and dues are $10 a semester, the fee going toward hiring dance instructors.

Steps has practices every Tuesday and Wednesday from 6 p.m.-8 p.m. on the second floor of the University Center.

Tamez said the next dance session will be next week in the Xochitl room, but the exact day has yet to be decided.

September 26, 2002

Arts & Entertainment

Page 8

September 26, 2002

Arts & Entertainment

Page 9

Photos by Veronica Barrera

“

Since being here I’ve been really working with some of the folk sensibilities wrapped up in Mexican art.

“

- Chuck Wissinger, professor and artist

The Sala Arté Gallery gives local artists the opportunity to display and sell a variety of artwork working with some of the folk sensibilities wrapped up in Mexican art,” Wissinger said. “I think it is a Vivid shades of red, yellow, blue, wonderful tradition and I enjoy the green and orange decorate the walls magic of it and the fact that there is a and fill the rooms with vibrant energy. mix of Catholicism and other beliefs all The Sala Arte Gallery on 10th Street wrapped up.” offers the public an opportunity to Wissinger, a ceramacist, said he experience contemporary art on a local appreciates those that support the arts. level.

“I really believe in those sorts of Gallery director Bill Jay said artists things [people supporting art],” from all over the world, in addition to Wissinger said. “Olivarez is a business local artists, display their work for man in the community and he is a patrons to appreciate and purchase. designer. He really believes in Owner Eli Olivarez said the art supporting culture and he tries to do gallery also offers local artists the things for local artists and the Hispanic chance to display their work for sale. culture.”

UTPA graduate students and faculty also have their artwork displayed at the gallery.

Jay and Olivarez said that Sala Arte’s main goal is to help “Middletown,” (the area connecting North 10th Street and South 10th Street) evolve into an art district where the community can gather and enjoy a variety of art.

Olivarez added that citizens of McAllen drive everywhere, often passing things by, like galleries.

The Sala Arte Gallery will organize a “Gallery Hop” on October 18.

According to Olivarez, the event will bring artists together with the community to celebrate the arts.

Olivarez added that the gallery hopes the event will allow patrons to relax, walk the streets of “Middletown” and (Left) - A mosaic pot, which is not part of the exhibits, shows the gallery’s style by taking the appreciate their ordinary and making it a piece of art. surroundings.

It has been almost two (Above) - “Elotes del West,” Corn from the West, bares Cande Aguilar’s pictoral signature. years since the Sala Arte

By VERONICA BARRERA The Pan American

Currently, local artists Cande Aguilar and Patrick Alvarez have their works displayed in the “Barrio Pop” exhibit, which will run through Sept. 28. Olivarez explained that the “Barrio Pop” exhibit has a large hispanic and barrio, or neighborhood influence.

Another local artist whose work is exhibited in the Sala Arte Gallery is University of Texas-Pan American art professor Chuck Wissinger who came to the university in August of 2000 from Alberta, Canada.

“Since being here I’ve been really

Gallery premiered in the heart of McAllen. The gallery’s grand opening featured the “Corazones Distintos” exhibit, which included several artists’ interpretations of the heart.

Olivarez said that the grand opening exhibit “was a success.” The gallery will once again invite artists to create their own rendition of the heart, which can be viewed again on Valentine’s Day, the gallery’s anniversary.

Every year the gallery invites artists to participate — some old and some new, said Olivarez.

Ceramic artwork by University of Texas-Pan American art professor Chuck Wissinger.

The Sala Arté Gallery is located at 820 North 10th Street in McAllen and is open Tuesday through Sunday, 1 to 5 p.m.

EVENTS:

■ Through Sept. 28,

“Barrio Pop”

■ Oct. 18, “Gallery Hop” ■ Oct. 31-Nov. 9,

“Erotica”

(Upper Left) - “Chi Liando,” chillin,’ is a Patrick Alvarez original oil painting that is displayed in the “Barrio Pop” exhibit.

(Above) - Jewelry designed by Linda Cruz is displayed for sale in a glass case.

(Left) - Sala Arté is located on the corner of Ivy and North 10th Street.

■ Nov. 14-29,

“Mad Platter”

■ Dec. 5-23,

Christmas Show

September 26, 2002

Arts & Entertainment

Page 8

September 26, 2002

Arts & Entertainment

Page 9

Photos by Veronica Barrera

“

Since being here I’ve been really working with some of the folk sensibilities wrapped up in Mexican art.

“

- Chuck Wissinger, professor and artist

The Sala Arté Gallery gives local artists the opportunity to display and sell a variety of artwork working with some of the folk sensibilities wrapped up in Mexican art,” Wissinger said. “I think it is a Vivid shades of red, yellow, blue, wonderful tradition and I enjoy the green and orange decorate the walls magic of it and the fact that there is a and fill the rooms with vibrant energy. mix of Catholicism and other beliefs all The Sala Arte Gallery on 10th Street wrapped up.” offers the public an opportunity to Wissinger, a ceramacist, said he experience contemporary art on a local appreciates those that support the arts. level.

“I really believe in those sorts of Gallery director Bill Jay said artists things [people supporting art],” from all over the world, in addition to Wissinger said. “Olivarez is a business local artists, display their work for man in the community and he is a patrons to appreciate and purchase. designer. He really believes in Owner Eli Olivarez said the art supporting culture and he tries to do gallery also offers local artists the things for local artists and the Hispanic chance to display their work for sale. culture.”

UTPA graduate students and faculty also have their artwork displayed at the gallery.

Jay and Olivarez said that Sala Arte’s main goal is to help “Middletown,” (the area connecting North 10th Street and South 10th Street) evolve into an art district where the community can gather and enjoy a variety of art.

Olivarez added that citizens of McAllen drive everywhere, often passing things by, like galleries.

The Sala Arte Gallery will organize a “Gallery Hop” on October 18.

According to Olivarez, the event will bring artists together with the community to celebrate the arts.

Olivarez added that the gallery hopes the event will allow patrons to relax, walk the streets of “Middletown” and (Left) - A mosaic pot, which is not part of the exhibits, shows the gallery’s style by taking the appreciate their ordinary and making it a piece of art. surroundings.

It has been almost two (Above) - “Elotes del West,” Corn from the West, bares Cande Aguilar’s pictoral signature. years since the Sala Arte

By VERONICA BARRERA The Pan American

Currently, local artists Cande Aguilar and Patrick Alvarez have their works displayed in the “Barrio Pop” exhibit, which will run through Sept. 28. Olivarez explained that the “Barrio Pop” exhibit has a large hispanic and barrio, or neighborhood influence.

Another local artist whose work is exhibited in the Sala Arte Gallery is University of Texas-Pan American art professor Chuck Wissinger who came to the university in August of 2000 from Alberta, Canada.

“Since being here I’ve been really

Gallery premiered in the heart of McAllen. The gallery’s grand opening featured the “Corazones Distintos” exhibit, which included several artists’ interpretations of the heart.

Olivarez said that the grand opening exhibit “was a success.” The gallery will once again invite artists to create their own rendition of the heart, which can be viewed again on Valentine’s Day, the gallery’s anniversary.

Every year the gallery invites artists to participate — some old and some new, said Olivarez.

Ceramic artwork by University of Texas-Pan American art professor Chuck Wissinger.

The Sala Arté Gallery is located at 820 North 10th Street in McAllen and is open Tuesday through Sunday, 1 to 5 p.m.

EVENTS:

■ Through Sept. 28,

“Barrio Pop”

■ Oct. 18, “Gallery Hop” ■ Oct. 31-Nov. 9,

“Erotica”

(Upper Left) - “Chi Liando,” chillin,’ is a Patrick Alvarez original oil painting that is displayed in the “Barrio Pop” exhibit.

(Above) - Jewelry designed by Linda Cruz is displayed for sale in a glass case.

(Left) - Sala Arté is located on the corner of Ivy and North 10th Street.

■ Nov. 14-29,

“Mad Platter”

■ Dec. 5-23,

Christmas Show

A Tour-de-‘Fear’ Supernatural thrills and psychological twists engulf the newly released DVD ‘Frailty.’

By DÄGOBERTO PÉREZ The Pan American

begins carrying out “God’s mission.” Their father starts kidnapping and murdering people in the name of God. Using his heavenly “weapon,” an ax named Otis, Mr. Mieks begins to battle demons as his children helplessly watch.

As the murders occur more frequently, Fenton becomes frustrated by his father’s insane actions, and turns against him. But his betrayal is met with the punishment of isolation. While Fenton is imprisoned in a makeshift underground cell for over a month, he convinces himself that he too has seen God. Fenton agrees to follow “God’s Mission,” and the family’s final murder is one

In Bill Paxton’s directing debut, madness and religion coexist and form a frightening story that will leave the audience breathless until a climactic finale. This DVD is marvelous in every way and one of the best horror movies ever made.

The story circles around a murderer called the “God’s Hands” Killer. This killer has eluded FBI agents for quite some time, but one rainy night a man claiming to know the identity of the killer confronts agent Wesley Doyle (Powers Boothe). The informant, Fenton Meiks (Matthew McConaughey) claims that the killer is his Starring: Powers brother and begins to Boothe, Bill Paxton, tell the horror that was his childhood.

Matthew McConaughey Fenton claims that his Director: Bill Paxton father (Paxton) was MPAA rating: R, for visited by an angel one violence and some night and told of a language. raging war between Heaven and Hell. The Running time: 100 angel told him that minutes demons are disguised as humans and it is his Reviewer’s Rating: family’s duty to “destroy” them. This information is enough to traumatize the children, out of 5 stars but their father adds salt to the wound when he

Page 10

The

CULTURE CLUB What students like to read, listen to and surf.

Around Town

that will send chills down the viewer’s spine.

The ending to this magnificent movie is one best not reveled. The movie’s many twists, turns and eerie revelations are a large part of the viewing experience. Its cast accurately portrays a family on the verge of insanity, and displays a sinister side of religion.

This is one of the best horror/suspense stories to come out in a long while.

This DVD is not one to be missed.

Words cannot express the horror that viewers will feel. Shivers will run down spines, goose bumps will form on skin, and hearts will race for those who watch this marvelously macabre movie.

Mary Osornio Freshman Pharmacy Book: “Great Expectations” by Charles Dickens Movie: “A Walk to Remember” Website: seventeen.com

Tom Whitehead Sophomore Undeclared

TOP VIDEO RENTALS, SEPT. 2 through 8 1 - ‘Blade II’ 2 - ‘High Crimes’

CD: “Symbols” by KMFDM Book: “Anthem” by Ayn Rand Movie: “The Empire Strikes Back”

3 - ‘The Rookie’ 4 - ‘We Were Soldiers’ 5 - ‘National Lampoon’s Van Wilder’ 6 - ‘Queen of the Damned’ 7 - ‘Showtime’

Victor Hernandez Freshman Biology

8 - ‘Joe Somebody’ 9 - ‘The Sweetest Thing’ 10 - ‘Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Rings

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

PAGE 7

CD: “Nirvana Unplugged” Movie: “Gladiator” Website: yahoo.com

Open Stage Poetry Night Sept. 27, 7 to 9 p.m.

Place: Art Awakenings, 1516 Beech St. in McAllen Event: Gives people the chance to free their mind, the rest will follow. Been, wine and liquor will be available.

Phone: (956) 668-1366 Symphony Soiree Sept. 29, 4 p.m.

Place: McAllen Country Club Event: Sponsored by the South Texas Symphony Association, special guest Dr. Haysun Kang will play the piano, performing works from Beethoven to Bach. Dr. Peter Dabrowski will introduce the program and provide commentary.

Phone: (956) 393-2293 for ticket information.

Coming Concerts Sept. 27, 9 p.m.

Info: Bands Abyss, Tragic Komic and Necrosis will all perform musical sets.

Place: City Limits Bar, Bus. 83 in Weslaco Price: $3 cover, only 18 and older allowed.

Phone: (956) 447-8448 The White Balloon Oct. 4, 7 p.m.

Info: Shown by the STCC Foreign Film Association.

Place: STCC Pecan Campus Auditorium Phone: Deborah Pattillo, (956) 618-8348

■ Sala Arte Gallery . . 8-9 ■ DVD review . . . . . . 10 ■ Culture Club . . . . . . 10

Communication key to the success of new speech club the student organization met for the first time last Monday night.

The organizers, Liz Parker and Nora Hernandez, both seniors and communication studies majors, started the meeting with greetings.

By BELINDA REYES Parker and Hernandez had The Pan American attendees break into pairs to find out more about each A group of students from other, and afterward the the communications studies pairs introduced each other department decided to to break the ice. facilitate their emergence as The organization invited successful graduates by Barbara Mayo, lecturer of creating a speech club. speech communications at Temporarily named the UTPA and STCC, to speak Speech Comm Club (comm. about communication studies recently changed its associations and conferences name from speech comm), and present ideas concerning the new club.

Mayo stated the importance and benefits of attending the Texas Speech Communication Association conference, which will take place Oct. 2-5, in San Antonio. “[The conference] is a wonderful place to network with other individuals who work in that field,” Mayo said.

“I encourage and welcome people Special to The Pan American to attend this Student Rachel Guerrero signs up to run conference.” for Executive Council for the new club.

The remainder

Students gather to form campus speech club

of the meeting concerned discussion of a group name and the nomination of officers. The voting for all nominations will be held at the next meeting on Oct. 3.

Hernandez said the main goal for the organization was to work together and accomplish things for the group.

“We can get ideas, share them as a group, so that after graduation it will be a benefit to us,” Hernandez said.

The groups’ adviser, Dr. Dora Saavedra, who has been teaching at UTPA since 1993, said she had the idea to start a student organization for a while, and it was one of her goals as an educator. “[Our goal] is to build community of students [because] our department is full of communicationfriendly students,” Saavedra said. “We want them [students] to succeed.

Effective communication is the key to success in any field.”

Although the group is primarily made up of communication majors, Parker said it is open to everyone.

“Our club is open to anybody interested in speech communications,” Parker said.

Left to right, Dr. Dora Saavedra, adviser; Liz Parker and Nora Hernandez, club organizers.

Special to The Pan American

“[We hope for] as many [members] as possible, but we’re thinking of involvement, not numbers.

We want quality [students] instead quantity.”

Junior Tricia Barrera and Senior Melissa Moreno, both broadcast journalism majors, joined the group because there is not a club for those on the broadcasting track of communications.

“We don’t have a broadcast club and I want to be involved with any club dealing with communications,” Barrera said.

Moreno said that she joined the club because she wanted to be more involved with student activities.

“This is my first full-time semester back, and this is [good way] to familiarize myself with school,” Moreno said.

The next meeting will be held Oct. 3, at noon. Anyone who is interested in joining should contact either Liz Parker or Nora Hernandez at 318-1356, or e-mail them at speechcommclub@yahoo.com

“

[The conference] is a wonderful place to network with other individuals who work in that field.

- Barbara Mayo, lecturer

“

Arts & Entertainment

September 26, 2002

Students take ‘Steps’ to form organization Organization brings professionals to teach dance styles to students

By ELIZABETH MARTINEZ The Pan American Two girlfriends put their heads together to develop a new student organization that would combine creativity, fun, and dancing.

University of Texas-Pan American students Karla Tamez and Adriana Garcia formed Steps, an organization that focuses on the different styles of

dance.

Steps has been a part of UTPA since this spring. Once a month the group meets to learn a different dance style taught by a professional choreographer. The dance sessions held last semester taught cumbia, guapangos, ballroom, plus salsa and merengue.

For those who claim to have two left feet there is no need to worry.

The hourlong dance sessions are done at a slow pace. They begin with learning the basic steps without the music. As soon as the students become comfortable with the dance moves, music is added.

“It’s really easy and fun,” Tamez

said.

“If you don’t know how to dance, you’ll learn.”

“What I like about it [Steps] is that we can actually go out and use the moves we’ve learned when we go dancing,” Tamez added.

Members of Steps are preparing for their debut performance and first dance competition during Midnight Madness in October. The competition will be between 12 participating student organizations on campus. Each organization will have 90 seconds to perform.

“Steps doesn’t perform on a regular basis,” Tamez said. “If an event comes up at school where we

have the opportunity to perform, then we will.”

This semester students can join Steps members in learning country swing dancing, salsa and merengue, and hip hop.

There are currently 20 active members and dues are $10 a semester, the fee going toward hiring dance instructors.

Steps has practices every Tuesday and Wednesday from 6 p.m.-8 p.m. on the second floor of the University Center.

Tamez said the next dance session will be next week in the Xochitl room, but the exact day has yet to be decided.

September 26, 2002

THE PAN AMERICAN

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September 26, 2002

THE PAN AMERICAN

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September 26, 2002

THE PAN AMERICAN

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September 26, 2002

THE PAN AMERICAN

Biannual Disney recruitment nears Florida outfit will come to campus looking for interns for its next season

By SUNAYNA MAHTANI The Pan American Mark your calendars this October because the Walt Disney World College Program is coming to recruit students at the University of Texas-Pan American.

Orientation will be held Oct. 7 from 6-9 p.m. at the Engineering Auditorium.

Interviews for the fair will be conducted Oct. 8 at the Career Placement Office at the Student Services building in room 147.

Susie Alvarez, Cooperative Education coordinator, said Disney first started successfully recruiting interns at UTPA in 1995, and representatives from the theme park have since continued to come to the university once each fall and spring semester.

“The key to the success of the Disney program with UTPA is all due to the students’ desire and excitement about going to Disney World,” Alvarez said.

“Also, Disney’s commitment to the university has played a big role in the continued success."

Alvarez noted that there are an estimated 25 interns chosen each semester and the career placement office requires that each applicant have a minimum 2.0 GPA, along with which Disney has additional requirements for its paid internships.

Disney officials feel the college program is an exciting internship for students of all majors and backgrounds to “learn, live, and earn,” which has proven to be true for interns like Jose Luis Chavez.

Chavez, 23, a junior majoring in communications whose track is public relations/advertising, first interned at Disney in Spring 1998 and returned in Fall 2000.

“I went again [to Disney] to get more experience,” Chavez said. “And of course once I went, the magic of Disney has been with me forever.”

Chavez’s variety of job responsibilities

were cash handling, package delivering, floor stocking and helping guests. He also gained the opportunity to be part of the diverse group of people who worked at Disney.

“I got to live in Vista Way apartments, where at least 2,000 students are housed from all over the [world],” Chavez said.

“I stayed in a six-bedroom apartment with roommates from New York, Puerto Rico, Brazil, and Sweden.”

Currently Chavez is a campus representative for the Walt Disney World College Program and he plans to work for the company full-time after graduation.

Disney already has some UTPA graduates working for them full-time.

Jeanne Sordo graduated from UTPA in December 1999 with a bachelor’s degree in communication and has been working at the theme park for over two years.

Sordo said she interned at Disney in Spring 1998 as a park greeter for the Magic Kingdom. However, after her internship she stayed active as the Walt Disney World College Program campus representative and then participated in an advanced internship as the casting marketing intern.

Sordo is currently the Walt Disney World college and international marketing coordinator. Her responsibilities include creating marketing pieces used to promote the programs, some of which have not gone unnoticed.

“I led a project that won an ADDY award last year,” Sordo said. “The campus rep manual (marketing training piece for the campus reps) placed a silver locally and a district gold for best collateral material.”

Sordo has learned about work ethics, time management, and social organization during her time with Disney. She finds all the experiences to be worthwhile.

“Working with Disney has been a great resume builder,” Sordo said. “Not only do I have a Fortune 500 company on my resume, but I also have the reputation of the company following. It takes great talent to work in this company.”

Page 5

THE PAN AMERICAN

September 26, 2002

VO I C E

What concerns do you have about the West Nile Virus?

Adrian Sandoval Political Science Freshman My uncle has horses and with the case of an infected horse found 2 weeks ago in Lyford I had to get them vaccinated. I don’t go outside late at night now.

Ad seminar brings advice to Valley

Marketing also featured at Chamber of Commerce event, which draws diverse audience

By GABRIELA BARAJAS Special to The Pan American

business loans and clients were asking about a program like this, we decided to go ahead Advertising is everywhere today, and can and have one.” often mean the difference between a The seminar was geared toward the flourishing business and one struggling to business community of the Rio Grande get off the ground.

Valley and focused on how small businesses University of Texas-Pan American can expand their advertising operations to a students, as well as larger scale. members of the The purpose of the community, had the seminar was to add opportunity to learn value to the chamber of I learned different the importance of commerce. Most of marketing techniques, marketing in the the members own how to do a marketing business world at a businesses that are very plan, new aspects of free advertising small and don’t have seminar held at the the advantage like advertising, and all McAllen Chamber of larger marketers such kinds of aspects one Commerce Tuesday. as H.E.B. or Foleys,” can use in the The event was Julian said. ”It’s a marketing area sponsored by Accion matter of identifying a Texas and hosted by target audience or - Martha Benavidez, the McAllen person that would be UTPA senior Chamber of interested in buying a Commerce. product or a service.

Businesspeople, new business owners, It’s just a matter of careful thinking and and students attended the seminar hoping to planning and properly reaching and learn new information that could be used to communicating to that target.” improve marketing techniques. UTPA senior The seminar touched on other various marketing major Maria Benavidez learned topics, including the anatomy of marketing, more about marketing and how forms of advertising, the four questions of advertisement is important in business. She situational analysis, and inward thought the workshop was beneficial to the communications. community and to students.

“I am hoping that the staff and I can use “I attended the seminar because in the information to make a marketing plan, addition to my marketing class, I think that because it is something we need at our one should learn all they can because it will business,” said Kris Shipman, a volunteer help you in the future and it will help you coordinator at the World Birding Center. now,” she said. “The seminar met my needs Julian also discussed making a creative and once I graduate I can look into all these working plan, and the different levels of aspects.” emotional motivation and various Christopher Julian, president/CEO of advertising concepts for use in the business Advertir, Inc. prepared the seminar and world. presented the information to the community.

“I learned different marketing techniques, His group worked in conjunction with the how to do a marketing plan, new aspects of McAllen Chamber of Commerce and advertising, and all kinds of aspects one can Accion Texas, a nonprofit, social justice use in the marketing area,” Benavidez said. organization dedicated to helping selfA number of seminar-goers felt the employed and successful small businesses. knowledge conveyed at the seminar could “This is the first time we have had it,” go a long way in their quests to improve said Marlene Ramirez, a loan officer at their advertising strategies.

Accion Texas. “We are holding the seminar “I have a better picture of advertising in in order to teach small businesses the basics the Rio Grande Valley and I learned a lot of of marketing. Many individuals don’t advertising techniques,” said business know how to market. Since we do small broker Terry Yale.

“

Lesley Chavez Business Management Sophomore I’m worried of a chance of infection.

I’m just trying to stay in and use bug repellent when I go out. I also try to stay away from places that are near water.

Albert Vasquez Computer Science Freshman My concerns are what treatments are there when you contract it. Also, what is the survival rate and what is the mental condition of those affected— are most braindead or are they coherent?

Naima Williams Marketing Senior As many mosquitoes as there are out here I am very concerned about catching it or any other mosquitoborne diseases.

Sarvelio Carreon Communication Senior I’m more concerned with other diseases than I am with West Nile [Virus].

“

Campus

Page 4

September 26, 2002

THE PAN AMERICAN

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September 26, 2002

sports

September 26, 2002

Page 14

SPORTS CLIPBOARD Craft Joins UTPA Staff The women’s basketball program added DeAnn Craft to assist head coach Tracy Anderson this season on an interim basis. Craft is a former head coach at Lamar University and has compiled 108 victories in her career. That includes a 39-69 record in her fouryear stay at Lamar. Craft is looking forward to the challenge of uplifting the women’s program.

“I’m extremely impressed with the vision that (UTPA Athletic Director ) Bill Weidner has in place for UTPA athletics,” Craft said.

“It’s the right time for UTPA women’s basketball to really embrace the Rio Grande Valley.”

Keating Receives Honors Cross country runner Westly Keating was named the NCAA Division I Independent Male Runner of the Week by the coaches.

Keating finished third overall at the Southwest Texas State Invitational last weekend. He helped lead UTPA to a fifth-place finish and ran five miles in 25:06. Head coach Ricky Vaughn credits Keating as well as his team for a great performance in San Marcos.

“It’s his [Keating] first race, and he ran really well, and it says a lot

MUSZYNSKI

about the direction in which our program is going, and the job that (assistant) coach (Doug) Molnar is doing with our group

Men’s golf team finishes 11th The men’s golf team finished 11th out of 16 teams at the Carolina First Intercollegiate Classic. The Broncs shot a final-round score of 301, and finished with a score of 889 for a 54 holes. Leading the Broncs was junior Rudy Celedon shooting a final score of 214, while junior Paul Manganilla shot 221, tying him for 31st in the tournament.

Team Announces Tryout Dates The men’s basketball team will be conducting a tryout session on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2002, at 3:30 p.m. in the Fieldhouse.

All students interested, please contact the basketball office at 3812870 or stop by and talk to the coaching staff as soon as possible.

Those who wish to try out need to bring a copy of their transcripts by the basketball office and get with trainer Jim Lancaster regarding physical information before Tuesday, Oct. 1.

Staff Swami Records

Mike Gonzalez Sports Editor

Mike Gonzalez: 27-19, .587 Greg Selber: 25-21,.543

Celeste Y. Tello: 2422, .522 Matt Lynch: 2917, .630

Staff Swamis Matt Lynch

Celeste Tello

Dr. Greg Selber

Editor

Reporter

Adviser

Dallas at St. Louis The Cowboys looked terrible against the Eagles last week. The defense must bounce back, and they will have their hands full against the greatest show on turf.

Cowboys by 1

The Eagles had no problems handling the Cowboys, and Donovan McNabb is an early MVP candidate .

Eagles by 14

Matt

Celeste

Greg

Matt

Eagles

Texans

Eagles

Cowboys

Celeste Rams

Greg Cowboys

Chicago at Buffalo The Bears had a chance to go 3-0 last week, now they will become a .500 team.

Bills by 4

Matt Bills

Celeste Bills

Greg Bears

Although her stay here at UTPA will work ethic is what makes her a standout only last for two more years, Muszynski college athlete.

“She always works hard in any workout believes her experience in the Valley is one she will never forget. we do, whether it’s in the gym, court or a “People here are so sand workout,” friendly, and Thorn said. “You everyone is so couldn’t ask for a welcoming,” she said. better athlete to Jaclyn has “I felt like this have on the floor.” school, not just the Other than her been a great volleyball program, work ethic, Thorn player for us has welcomed me considers with open arms. I Muszynski as a ever since she think that made my leader on the Lady transition so much Broncs’ young got here. easier.” squad.

Muszynski is “She’s one of uncertain about her those great lead-by- David Thorn, volleyball coach future at this point, example types,” but Thorn is Thorn said. “She’s confident whatever always in the gym road she takes she will be successful. working out hard, she’s always pushing “She’s one of those individuals that herself over the summer and comes back in excellent shape. She’s just one of those whatever she puts her mind to, she can do whatever she wants,” Thorn said. “I think athletes that a coach would love to have she will do well when she gets there.” on the floor to lead the rest of the team.”

“

The Cardinals play the Giants tough every year.

Even though Arizona is not in the NFC East anymore, both teams will want this game bad.

Giants by 6

Matt

Celeste

Greg

Giants

Giants

Giants

Tampa Bay at Cincinnati

The Lions were very close to a win against the Packers. Joey Harrington looked good for his first NFL start. The Saints are playing well .

Saints by 7

The scary thing about the Bengals is they’re getting worse after every game. They need to stick to one quarterback and develop him.

Bucs by 10

Celeste

Saints

Saints

Greg Saints

Dolphins

Celeste

Dolphins

Packers

Celeste Panthers

Greg

Dolphins

Matt

Celeste

Greg

Chargers

Patriots

Patriots

Tennessee at Oakland

Greg Packers

Cleveland at Pittsburgh The Browns are off to a fast start this season which is not a surprise. However, the Steelers have been another story, but they had two weeks to wake themselves up.

Steelers by 7

Matt Browns

Celeste Steelers

Greg

For the second consecutive week the Jets will travel to the state of Florida. This time, they will come out victorious.

Jets by 7

Celeste

Jets

Jets

The Titans come off a come-from-behind win last week. I think they’re pretty lucky to be 2-1.

Raiders by 9

Matt

Celeste

Greg

Raiders

Titans

Raiders

Minnesota at Seattle Right now, the Vikings organization is on turmoil. Randy Moss proved he still hasn’t matured, and that’s going to hurt the team.

The Seahawks must score some points.

Vikings by 6

Matt

Celeste

Greg

Vikings

Seahawks

Seahawks

Steelers

N.Y. Jets at Jacksonville

Matt

Greg

Bucs

The game will be closer than people think. The game may come down to special teams, and the Patriots have a better kicking game Patriots by 3

Carolina at Green Bay

Matt

Celeste New England at San Diego

Priest Holmes is playing his best football in his career. But guess what, so is Ricky Williams and the Dolphins have a true running back for the first time since the days of Larry Csonka.

Dolphins by 6

Matt

Matt Bucs

Miami at Kansas City

Who would’ve thought Carolina would be 3-0.

Are they this year’s Patriots? I think not.

Packers by 6

continued from page 16

N.Y. Giants at Arizona

New Orleans at Detroit

Matt

Greg Jets

Denver at Baltimore You’ve got to admit, Brian Griese has proven his critics wrong. The Broncos are off and running.

Broncos by 10

Matt

Celeste

Broncos

Broncos

Dealing with it Program gives confidential help for struggling employees, free of charge

By CLARISSA MARTINEZ The Pan American

Houston at Philadelphia

Greg Broncos

THE PAN AMERICAN

Dealing with personal problems and stress is now just a phone call away for employees at the University of Texas-Pan American.

UTPA employees have 24-hour access to the University of Texas Employee Assistance Program (UTEAP), a confidential and professional assistance service that helps employees deal with problems affecting either personal life or job performance.

According to Antonio Villalobos, Personnel Services Director, UTPA has been using the service for four years.

UTEAP was established in 1978 in collaboration with the University of Texas-Houston Health Science Center.

This affiliation enables clients to receive direct access to university and medical resources, including management consultants, economists, treatment specialists, and training/educational seminars.

Although it is not compulsory to use the program on a regular basis, employees have the opportunity to turn to it when personal pressures begin affecting their lives.

“An employee faced with a crisis can be overwhelmed to a point that they

cannot function anymore,” Villalobos said. “That is why we offer this program, to give everyone an option to receive guidance when dealing with troublesome issues.”

UTEAP services include, but are not limited to helping individuals who are: having difficulties with coworkers/supervisors; are experiencing emotional problems; dealing with loss and grief; or trying to recover from traumatic events. Employee family members are also welcome to benefit from the services.

Villalobos said the program also refers users to centers with proper professional assistance located near the employee’s residence.

Depending on the situation, different numbers of sessions are conducted, until the counselors feel the person is able to cope with the situation.

“It’s an excellent service to offer, since often people can’t deal with issues by themselves. We want [employees] to know that if they need assistance, we are here to help them,” Villalobos said.

For more information about the assistance offered by UTEAP, contact Personnel Services at 381-2551 or Email their Web site at http://w3.panam.edu/www/personnel.

Page 3

Help is on the way Computer aid just a phone call away

By CLARISSA MARTINEZ The Pan American More help is out there, computer users.

Students, staff, and faculty at the University of Texas-Pan American can overcome their technical frustrations by contacting the UTPA Help Desk.

According to Help Desk Manager Herberto Castillo, the services were created in the summer of 1996 to serve everyone with questions concerning the computers at the university.

The services, which include solving various computer problems, providing software training, and advising people interested in purchasing computer equipment or software, have since evolved into the focal point on campus for assisting computing problems.

Callers no longer have to try contacting Human Resources or the Computer Center on different phones because the merger enables the help desk to connect faster and more accurately.

“We had an average of about 15 calls a day,” Castillo said. “But now that we’ve had a merger to connect all our resources together, we may receive up to 50 calls daily.”

Consulting is offered from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday at 3812020. Castillo said common problems callers have include viruses that affect the computers ability to function.

However, there are basic problems that

staff members at the help desk encounter on a frequent basis.

“There have been cases where we get phone calls asking us how to log into email accounts, how to run certain programs, and basically questions of that nature,” Castillo said.

There are currently two full-time employees at the help desk as well as several student employees.

“Students have been doing major work for quite a while now,” said Castillo.

“If it wasn’t for their dedication, we wouldn’t be able to accomplish what we do.”

Castillo hopes that in the future there will be an increase in services they offer as well as the possibility of employees addressing callers problems during the same day they call in.

“I’d really prefer if the staff members were all in the same office,” Castillo said. “If we had one place where everyone could work, it would create a better environment since we’d be able to brainstorm together and share our knowledge with each other.”

“I’ve noticed that I would receive instant gratification knowing that I had just solved someone’s computer problem,” said Castillo. “Now that I’m working in management, I don’t feel that instant satisfaction, but I do know the improvements are being made, and I’m looking forward to seeing what else develops.”

“

September 26 2002

Celebrating 50 years 1201 West University, CAS 170 Edinburg, Texas 78539 (956) 381-2541 Fax: (956) 316-7122 http://www.panam.edu/dept/panamerican 51th Year – No. 5

Editor Matt Lynch mlynch@panam.edu

News Editor Cristina Reyna creyna826@aol.com

A & E Editor Ashley Brooks Magrew2@hotmail.com

Sports Editor Mike Gonzalez mgonzalez40@panam.edu

Graphics Editor Gabriel O. Hernandez gabo296@hotmail.com

Copy Editors Sunayna Mahtani and Belinda Reyes Layout Designers Ashley Brooks Mike Gonzalez Gabriel Hernandez Reporters Veronica Barrera Clarissa Martinez Elizabeth Martinez Nikki Ramirez Cesar Trevino Celeste Y. Tello Arianna Vazquez Advertising Dagoberto Perez Circulation Jesus M. Gonzalez Advertising Coordinator Juanita Sanchez Adviser Dr. Greg Selber

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.

Readers with disabilities 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.

NEWS

■ Ad Seminar . . . . . . 4 ■ Disney Recruitment . 5

sports

September 26, 2002

Men’s, Women’s runners in action at UTSA

Nursing shortage staunched Programs seek to fill need for nurses, counteract field’s weaknesses, reputation

By ELIZABETH MARTINEZ The Pan American The University of Texas-Pan American nursing department strives to prepare students for the profession and act as a Band-Aid to cover the wound of the nationwide shortage of nurses.

In an attempt to alleviate the nursing shortage across the country, the department had made a priority of trying to increase its enrollment. Two programs are currently offered at UTPA, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and a Master of Science in Nursing.

“Recruitment is a big challenge,” said William McIntyre, dean of Health Sciences and Human Services. “We try to get high school students and college students interested in the program.”

Approximately 130 students are enrolled in BSN program, and over 120 students are in the pre-BSN course called Wellness, which is a prerequisite to entering the nursing program. The MSN program has 50 students enrolled.

“Our enrollments have steadily increased to admitting 80 students every spring semester [compared to 60],” said Carolina Huerta, nursing department chair. “The number of students admitted into the

program depends on the number of faculty positions filled, since we are mandated by law to have only 10 students per faculty member.”

Hospitals in the area have provided money to enhance the program and assist students with scholarships. Two years ago, Edinburg Regional Medical Center donated over 25 computers to the department.

According to the Journal of the American Medical Association, by the year 2020, the United States will experience a 20-percent shortage in the number of nurses needed in the U.S. health care system. This translates into a shortage of more than 400,000 registered nurses nationwide.

The shortage can be attributed to a decrease in students entering the nursing services field and the aging of individuals currently in the workforce.

“I believe that since nursing has traditionally been a female-oriented career, today’s females are aware of the many other exciting [career] fields that are available to them now that may have seemed more male oriented years ago,” Huerta said. “Years ago women were either a teacher or a nurse.”

But Huerta said more males are entering the field. Twenty-five percent of students in

the UTPA nursing program are males. She also said that as the baby boomers currently in the nursing field age, the need for nurses will grow.

The shortage is also visible along the Texas-Mexico border. In 2001, there were 3,000 RN vacancies from Laredo to Brownsville. McIntyre said UTPA students are often encouraged to remain in the Valley after graduating from the program.

“The majority of our graduates remain in the Valley and provide health care to the residents of the Rio Grande Valley,” Huerta said.

Irasema Gonzalez is planning on being one such graduate. The senior from Mission is getting her BSN in December, whereupon she wants to work in labor and delivery at Rio Grande Regional Hospital. She said that the UTPA program has been good for her, and that she is aware of the shortage facing the area.

“The program is intense, but provides you with so much knowledge,” she said. “It[the shortage] concerns me a lot because a lot of nurses are overworked and it affects their quality of care.”

Gonzalez thinks that filling the shortage is important, but improving the reputation of the field is equally vital.

“I think we need to promote nursing because there is a lot of misinformation about nursing not being a professional career, so naturally younger kids are not interested,” she commented.

Learning done from a distance Technological advances give opportunities for longdistance classes, interaction

By CLARISSA MARTINEZ The Pan American The university has joined the Information Age at last.

Advancements in technology in the Center for Distance Learning at the University of Texas-Pan American have given many students the opportunity to take college courses online.

CDL offers courses using the World Wide Web, providing access, enhancement, and continuity to those students who may not find time to attend classes at the university. It has evolved into a mainstream source of education for one-third of all students at UTPA since its creation in 1998.

“There are some individuals who want to take courses, but either have busy schedules or don’t have the opportunity to come to the campus. This is a way for them to acquire those extra hours to get their degree,” Douglas Young, director of the CDL, said. “To take classes without having to come to the campus could be extremely beneficial to certain individuals.”

Currently there are 169 courses that include the use of Web Course Tools (WebCT). There are also 17 classes that are conducted completely online, including assignments, presentations, exams/surveys, and communication with the instructor and other students.

According to Young, the center enhances the interaction between the students and their professors, along with providing an academic level that is found in a traditional classroom.

An example Young gave was the concept of a music appreciation class having a large number of students enrolled in the course. More than likely not everyone would be participating in live class discussions. By having a discussion board on WebCT, the professor can ask the students questions about a topic, and the students can leave messages answering them.

This allows everyone to interact, giving the professor an insight into what the students are thinking.

Senior interdisciplinary studies major Marisa Martinez used WebCT as part of the requirements for her foundation of bilingual education class.

“Our class used the message board to communicate with each other about our internship experiences,” Martinez said. “It was beneficial because we were not only able to discuss our experiences from the elementary classroom we were assigned to, but we were also able to share ideas and opinions that we may not have had a chance to share in class.”

The faculty is becoming more involved with CDL by participating in workshops such as “Teaching Online in Higher Education.” The six-week workshop is conducted exclusively online and is intended for professors and lecturers to learn the techniques of teaching through that medium.

The roster currently includes professors from different universities such as Northern Arizona University, The University of Puerto Rico, Arkansas Tech University, and The University

of Texas-Pan American.

Young said the workshop assists faculty in course design, instructional design support, WebCT training, orientation in faulty offices by CDL staff members, as well as other various knowledge.

“Imagine the possibilities students have by taking a class online,” Young said. “A guest speaker could have a surprise visit to a message board and answer questions concerning the students’ interests. Different people around the world could share comments with each other because of the opportunity of being able to take a class together.”

The future of the CDL is optimistic since every day there is a further advance of technology in the United States.

“I really think that the CDL will be one of the central entities of the campus,” said Young.

“With the president’s prediction of the size of the student populations doubling within 10 years, WebCT will allow students to broaden their learning experience with far greater interaction and convenience.”

Another expectation set for the CDL is to practice different techniques of being able to communicate online. Currently all the messages are left in text, however, Young considers the fact that someone might not type as fast as their ideas form.

To ease the pressure on the students, there will be voice recorders to allow them to simply leave a voice message onto the message board.

“Electronic methods of education will provide not only a greater opportunity but a better educational enhancing quality,” said Young.

Page 15

San Antonio Invitational poses challenges for teams

By CELESTE Y. TELLO The Pan American

Celeste Y. Tello /The Pan American

HITTING THE ROAD: Aaron Castro (left), Hugo Cervantes and Westly Keating (right) hit the track.

TENNIS

continued from page 16

our team has a lot of depth," sophomore Kathryn Waslen said.

"We have a lot of solid players who are all around the same level. Our team is a lot more dynamic this year, especially with eight girls."

Chapman thinks UTPA has the capability to compete with elite competition and has set his expectations high.

"We should match up pretty well competition-wise,” Chapman said.

“It is going to be a good tournament for us."

After this opener, the women travel to Fort Worth for a regional tournament October 18-20 MEN As the men’s team recovers from a number of unexpected injuries, it prepares for competition against number of highly ranked schools at the Baylor Invitational in Waco, which starts Friday. Only four players will compete at this tournament, including senior Neil Barraclough, sophomores Filip Koziell and Jeremy Salvo, and freshman Oliver Steil.

"It’s such a big and good tournament that we could only get four guys entered. It is going to be an unbelievable tournament as far as competition," Chapman said.

Although his players will face serious competition at the invitational, Chapman thinks this experience will help his players in future tournaments.

"Competition-wise, it is going to be great for us as far as getting to see ourselves matched up against some of the best teams in the United States," the coach added.

Some of the teams competing in the event include The University of Texas-Austin, Texas A&M, Rice, Baylor, Texas Tech and Mississippi.

Middleton believes the Broncs have worked hard to improve their game and should perform at a higher level than their performances at the first tournament, which was Beaumont Sept. 13-15.

"We have been focusing on what they needed to work on this past week,” Middleton said. ”Hopefully they should have a better turnout than the first tournament because we’ve got to see what they really needed to work on. The players have great expectations to make this week’s tournament a success.”

Sophomore Salvo is looking forward to the trip to Baylor and feels the team will do well.

"The week-and-a-half that we have been back from the last tournament our team has been working harder as a team," Salvo said. "I think we are going to do pretty well. We have been working really hard, and we are pretty excited about it because it is one of our toughest tournaments in the fall."

After the Waco event, the men are next in action Oct. 18 in San Antonio.

The UTPA cross country teams will travel to the University of Texas-San Antonio this Friday, hoping for better results than they had at the Southwest Texas State University meet two weeks ago.

The men’s team came in fifth place and the women came in seventh place, but Coach Doug Molnar does not see it as a setback for the teams.

“I don’t look at it as a disappointing finish, it was a little bit lower than we expected because Americo Ortiz didn’t run,” Molnar said. “He was our top runner in the first meet.”

Ortiz sat out the meet due to a knee injury. He is expected to run at San Antonio.

“We held him out more as a precautionary measure,” Molnar said. “He probably could have gone, but we’ve got bigger fish to fry.”

The runners will match up against many teams they have already faced, including Southwest Texas State, UTSA, Texas A&M, Texas A&M-Kingsville, Angelo State, Palo Alto College, and Incarnate Word University.

“This meet will be a good indication of how we’ve improved,” said Molnar, who said he believes the men’s team has made strides since the beginning of the season.

“I think on the men’s side we’ve shown improvement as we keep progressing,” he said. “I think we’re really progressing toward those regional dates.”

Westley Keating is the picture of progress on the men’s team. He was the top scorer at the last meet and is getting ready for action Friday.

“Westley had an outstanding performance particularly considering what we’ve done and where we’re at in his training,” Molnar said. “We’re looking forward to real big things from him.”

Molnar said the teams could have been more aggressive at the Southwest meet, and that is one change that he hopes to see at the next one.

“We could have run more aggressively in the beginning,” he said. “That’s one thing we’re going to work on for [UTSA].”

“We’re going to work on going out a little harder and being a little more aggressive early in the race and then continue on where we get into the flow of the race.”

After Friday’s meet, the team will not compete until Oct. 12 when they head to the Texas A&M Invitational in College Station..

Lady golfers heading north Lady Broncs head to South Bend for big road test

By BRIAN CARR The Pan American

The Lady Broncs are set to compete in the Notre Dame Invitational this weekend, hoping to use the competition as a stage to further showcase themselves as one of the best women’s golf teams in school history.

At their last tournament, the Lady Eagle Invitational at North Texas State, the Lady Broncs shot the second best score ever by a school team, missing the record by only three strokes. And according to Coach Barbara Odale, the accomplishment is only the beginning of their potential.

“Three of the five girls who competed in the Lady Eagle Invitational are freshman,” Odale said, “They had never even competed at the college level!”

In addition to it being their first-ever college tournament, it was also the first time three of them competed in a two-day 54-hole tournament.

“Playing 36 holed in one day

is really hard on the body,” Odale said, “And it definitely takes a few times to get used to.”

Although the Lady Eagle Invitational exposed Odale’s freshman to many experiences associated with collegiate competition, it did not introduce them to the conditions associated with different geographical locations.

Nor did it acquaint them with the rigors of traveling so far to compete.

“Nicki Boychuck and Stephanie Maynard have never played outside of Texas,” Odale said . “And the temperature change, travel fatigue, and different grass conditions will be something all the girls will have to adjust to.”

In an attempt to hasten the adjustment, Odale will pair her more experienced players with freshmen during their practice round at the course.

Team captain Crystal Frasier is looking past the anxiety and nervousness of the situation and instead anticipates returning to the course at Notre Dame.

“Notre Dame has a real fun and undulating course. I know that the freshman are excited about the opportunity. It’s my third year and I can’t wait to

go,” Frasier said.

Another exception in the Notre Dame Invitational, which may prove to be beneficial for the Lady Broncs, is the scoring system that will be used.

By Notre Dame’s rules six golfers are allowed to play the course, and the two lowest scores from each round are omitted.

The Lady Broncs are used to playing with five players and allowing four scores per round.

This should alleviate some of the pressure on the team as there is more room for error per round.

“Of course having the extra player makes it easier,” Frasier said. “But really we just try to go out and beat the course. That way it doesn’t matter either way.”

Although all the teams competing in the Notre Dame Invitational are Central Region Division I teams, Arkansas State is the only other team invited that the Lady Broncs compete against with any regularity.

“With the exception of Arkansas State we won’t see any of these teams again unless we are invited to Nationals,” Coach Barbara Odale said. “So I guess in a way it’s our preview of the North.”

PAGE 16

S PORTS

NFL

MOSS IN A MESS: Minnesota Vikings widereceiver Randy Moss was charged with two misdemeanors stemming from an incident with a woman directing downtown traffic on Tuesday. Moss was charged with reckless driving and failure to obey a traffic officer after witnesses told Minneapolis police he used his vehicle to slowly push the traffic officer a half-block when she tried to prevent him from making an illegal turn. Police also found a small amount of marijuana, but no charges have been made. Moss was arrested and freed from the Hennepin County jail before his misdemeanors were announced.

Witnesses believe Moss wasn’t trying to hurt the 27-year-old police officer Amy Zaccardi. Moss practiced on Wednesday and the team said he will start on Sunday.

NHL

RANGER FORWARD OUT: The New York Rangers suffered a big blow on Wednesday when they heard the news of forward Pavel Bure. He tore cartilage in his twicerebuilt right knee in Tuesday’s exhibition game against the New Jersey Devils. Bure is expected to have arthroscopic surgery to repair a posterior tear of the medial meniscus, the cartilage that serves as a shock absorber. An MRI revealed no ligament damage to his knee and the Rangers won’t know how long he will be out until the operation is done.

■ Cross country . . . . . . . 15 ■ Women’s golf. . . . . . . . 15 ■ Staff’s swami picks . . . 14

VOICE What concerns do you have about the West Nile Virus?

Cali transplant provides spark

Page 4

Junior volleyballer making big contribution to 2002 team, finds South Texas to her liking.

Mike Gonzalez/The Pan American

NICE CATCH: Freshman Danny Zamora of the “Comeback Kings” dives for a touchdown during an intramural flag football game Tuesday.

Tennis teams ready for weekend action Lady Broncs in Beaumont for the Lamar Invitational for first event of fall season, Broncs head to Waco for Baylor Invitational and second shot.

By ARIANNA VAZQUEZ The Pan American The time for preparation is at an end for The University of Texas-Pan American men’s and women’s tennis teams. Both teams are in action this weekend as the women head for their first tournament, and the men take their second shot of the season.

WOMEN After practicing for more than a month, the Lady Broncs are ready to compete at the Lamar Invitational in Beaumont. Head coach Todd Chapman believes the Lady Broncs are ready for their first test.

"It is going to be exciting, the girls having their first tournament. I think they

are ready [because] they’ve practiced for a month now, and so I think they are tired of practicing and are ready to go play," Chapman said.

Although expectations are high, the Lady Bronc coaching staff is hesitant to predict how well the team will do. But Capman and assistant coach Elizabeth Middleton are ready to see what UTPA can do.

"It will allow us to see how they are playing, giving me an opportunity to watch and see," Middleton said.

The Lady Broncs have a different lineup this year, and the coaches are expecting great things from new players as well as from the returning ones.

"I am excited for our first tournament, it is going to be good this year because

See TENNIS page 15

1,500 miles from Walnut,

By MIKE GONZALEZ Calif. to experience college The Pan American life in the Valley. But The Los Angeles Sparks according to Muszynski, her have Lisa Leslie, the choice to come to UTPA Houston Comets have was an easy one.

Sherryl Swoopes and the “The people were friendly United States women’s and when I was here for my soccer team has Mia Hamm. retreat, I just felt welcomed What do these players have and I felt like I could make in common? They are all this place home,” the heart and soul of their Muszynski said. “I felt like respective teams. even though it was far The UTPA Lady Broncs away, the city and the volleyball team has a school and the people here special athlete have some who brings characteristics leadership, that I’m experience and comfortable hustle to her with.” squad. Junior The hot outside-hitter weather and Jaclyn nearby beach are Muszynski has some traits the played for Valley shares UTPA the last with three years, Muszynski’s and head coach home state, and Dave Thorn she believes MUSZYNSKI has cherished those similarities every moment of made her adjustment to the Muszynski’s career.

Valley easier.

“Jaclyn has been a great “The fact that it’s sunny player for us ever since she here, even though I don’t got here,” Thorn said. “She like the humidity, the warm came in here as a raw weather and the beach athlete and has really really helped me feel at worked her way to a solid home,” she said. volleyball player for us.”

Just as it would be for Muszynski leads her team any other person, leaving in almost every statistical home and traveling a long category. Muszynski’s way was hard at first for averaging 3.38 kills and Muszynski.

2.94 digs to go along with “It was a real big 17 total blocks this season. change,” Muszynski said.

She is also one of UTPA’ s “Just the fact that I’m 1,500 experienced players and miles away from home was tries to motivate her a big difference for me.” teammates in different In her three years as a ways.

Lady Bronc, Muszynski has “In between plays, I like made her mark offensively to give everyone high fives and defensively. In her and generally try to be freshman year, she was vocal on the court by second on the team in kills cheering, telling my hitters with 330, first in total what shot is open or attacks with 913 and third encourage our defense that in digs with 294. As a we could get a good pass,” sophomore, Muszynski was Muszynski said. “I also talk named first-team Allto everyone and let them Independent, Independent know they’re doing well.”

Offensive Most Valuable Muszynski isn’t the Player, and ended UTPA’s typical player attending co-Female Athlete of the UTPA from around the Year. Thorn believes her state. She traveled

See MUSZYNSKI page 14

THURSDAY

Campus

STATE ■

After preparing for the worst, the Texas coastline escaped the direct path of Tropical Storm Isidore as the storm moved northeast Monday. Isidore, which was classified as a hurricane when it drenched the Yucatan Peninsula late last week, is about 200 miles south of New Orleans and dropped more than 5-anda-half inches of rain in the city early Wednesday. Parts of Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida have also received several inches of rain due to the storm. More rain is expected throughout the rest of the week and into the weekend.

VALLEY ■ Hidalgo County commissioners will not approve a proposed 11cent tax hike or an $89 million county budget that will be voted on in less than a week. The proposed 62.95-cent tax rate is a 21 percent increase from last year’s 51.95 cents and would cover operating costs for county departments.

Commissioners told the County Budget Officer Valde Guerra on Monday that the proposed budget needed to be trimmed. The lack of support from elected officials and department heads was one factor behind the court’s changed attitude toward the tax rate.

CAMPUS ■

There will be a psychology colloquim today from noon-1 in SBS 119.

The topic is acute posttraumatic reactions to Sept. 11.

September 26, 2002

An Inside Look:

Remember, wear long sleeves.

News ............................................2 A & E............................................7 ■ Sports ........................................16 ■ ■

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

Virus raises local concern West Nile found in McAllen, infects three birds less than two miles from campus

By NIKKI RAMIREZ The Pan American The West Nile Virus migrated to the United States in 1999, and is starting to cause a scare for Valley residents.

“The West Nile Virus came into New York some time in 1999 and they were not prepared for it because they were not expecting it,” said Roy Tijerina, chief inspector for the Environmental Health Division. It is going to spread through the 50 states gradually and will eventually hit Hidalgo County, he continued.

In fact, it is already here, having been detected in three dead Inca Doves last week near Hobbs Road and FM 336 (the northern extension of N. 10th Street) in North McAllen.

According to Tijerina the

migratory birds that are infected are the carriers, or reservoirs, of the virus. In order for a mosquito to catch the virus it must first bite a heavily infected bird and then transmit it to a human or another animal.

However, the risk of someone becoming infected with the virus is very low even in areas where it is circulating. This is because very few mosquitoes are infected with the virus, according to the Texas Department of Health. Even if a mosquito is infected and bites a person, the chances of that person becoming severely ill are less than 1 percent.

Still, over 80 people have died of the disease, mainly in Illinois, Michigan, and Louisiana, which have half the reported deaths so far.

The disease originated in the African nation of Uganda in 1939,

according to a recent article in the San Antonio Express-News.

“It’s a very small percentage of birds and mosquitoes with the virus,” Tijerina said. “ Of the million birds and mosquitoes only few will get the virus.”

Although the risk of someone or an animal contracting the virus is very low it is still important to take the necessary precautions.

Because the virus can only be transmitted through the bite of a mosquito health officials urge residents to protect themselves with proper clothing and mosquito repellent.

According to Tijerina if people are going to be outside it is important they wear protective clothing such as pants, long sleeves and a repellent that contains DEET, a chemical that protects against mosquitoes.

City officials urge people in the community to help out in keeping their yards free of debris. Cities in the Valley have begun

implementing insect eradication programs, and are also working to keep standing water pools to a minimum. This has been more complicated recently because of the recent splash of rainfall locally.

“It’s a combination of the people and us working together,” Tijerina said. “ If people in the city do their part and we do our part in the urban counties such as keeping yards clean and free of debris, free of standing water, it would really help since any place that accumulates water will attract mosquitoes.”

While the community can take these preventative measures, the county has also established a means of early detection.

Tijerina said that before the recent outbreak of the West Nile Virus, the county regularly collected samples of mosquitoes in different locations within the county. Those samples are sent to a lab in Austin and tested for the presence of a number of diseases including the West Nile Virus.

West Trail of Blood: The Nile Virus Mosquitoes then contract the

Birds are the first

virus by feeding off infected birds. The virus is carried through their salivary glands and is spread when they feed from animals and humans.

to get the virus which is found mainly in Africa, Eastern Europe, West Asia, and the Middle East.

Equines are the only known domesticated animals to be harmfully affected by the virus. Other animals can be affected by WNV but they rarely become ill with the exception of birds.

Tips to stay safe and bite free Stay in at dawn, dusk, and in the early evening.

Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants when outdoors.

■ Apply insect repellent sparingly to exposed skin and clothes. An effective repellent may contain 35% DEET. ■ Use gloves when handling any dead animals such as birds though there is no evidence of infection this way.

■ Leave your windows closed or keep a screen.

■ Do not let water stagnate in old tires, pet bowls, etc.

■ ■

Source: Texas Dept. of Health Graphic : Gabriel Hernandez/Ashley Brooks

Humans

can also acquire the virus. Most people won’t show symptoms but some may have a fever, headache, body aches, and swollen lymph nodes. Few develop encephalitis or meningitis. Death does occur in rare cases. There is no specific treatment for WNV but supportive treatment along with good nursing care increases chances of survival.