Februrary 26, 2004

PAGE 16

NBA Schedule Today vs.

36-20 7:00 38-19 Dallas Mavericks vs.

Feb. 28 Portland, 7:30 March 2 Seattle, 7:30 March 3 at Minnesota, 7

at 38-19 7:00 36-20 San Antonio Spurs vs.

Feb. 28 Denver, 7:30 March 1 Memphis, 7:30 March 3 Seattle, 7:30

Friday, Feb. 27 at 32-24 7:30 29-28 Houston Rockets vs.

Feb. 29 Seattle, 3 March 3 L.A. Lakers, 8

Killer Bees Friday, Feb. 27 vs.

Killer Bees vs. Corpus Christi Rayz at Dodge Arena, 7:30 Feb. 28 Odessa, 7:30 March 1 S. Angelo, 11 a.m.

All games p.m.

at

What: UTPA Broncs vs.

Texas A&M Corpus Christi When: Saturday, Feb. 28 at 7 p.m.

Where: Memorial Coliseum Radio: KSOX 1240 AM Records: Broncs (13-13); TAMUCC (14-10) Last meeting: Broncs won 90-72 on Feb.14 at Field House.

All-time series: TAMUCC leads 4-3.

Notable: The Broncs have won 8 games in a row since Jan. 28 when they defeated IPFW 80-61.

S PORTS

■ Hoops . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Broncs try to finish above .500

By BRIAN CARR The Pan American

After eight wins in as many games the UTPA Broncs can relax. Almost.

The Broncs (13-13) had slouched to a humiliating record of 5-13 prior to their current winning streak, and early season expectations of domination quickly gave way to hopes of saving face. Dreams of making the NIT have been squandered, but as the Broncs see it they can give themselves a boost for next season if they finish ahead of .500.

Junior Chris Fagan, who missed last season after being injured in an exhibition game, knows a winning finish to 2003-2004 would increase the Broncs chances for next year. “[Winning] will definitely help out,” Fagan said. “It gives you lots of confidence.

Coming back next year we’ll have that much more experience. We’ll have guys who have gone on eight-game winning streaks.”

A win Saturday against the Texas A&MCorpus Christi Islanders would not only ensure .500, it would result in the program’s first nine-game winning streak since Lon Kruger coached the Broncs to a 20-8 finish in 1985-86.

The Broncs gave their arch-rivals a 90-72 drubbing in the Field House on Valentines Day, but junior point-guard Sergio Sánchez knows the trip to Corpus Christi will not be a cake walk.

“There’s is always that fear of ‘We have to lose sometime,’” Sánchez said. “Plus, every time you go on the road it’s tough.

And after getting beat bad last time, they’re going to want pay back.”

Unfortunately for the Broncs, their recent success has come almost exclusively at home, with seven of the eight wins coming at the Field House. On the season the Broncs are 3-10 on the road, but their two remaining road opponents are teams they have already beaten. Still, the poor travel record is a bugaboo.

Sánchez, who leads Bronc shooters with an average of 12.7 points per game, believes a stronger workout regimen will amend their poor road showings.

“These practices that we’ve had, we’ve been doing a lot of running,” Sánchez said.

“We’re learning from our mistakes, because every little thing we’ve done wrong we’ve had to come back here and get punished for it. But now in game-time situations we’re more in control and more calm. It’s because we’ve done it harder in practice.”

Following the contest at TAMU-CC the Broncs will face the Arkansas State Indians, whom they beat 70-67 in an extremely close contest at home Feb. 11.

For the Broncs, who are coming of an impressive 111-62 victory against Central Baptist which marked their first plus-110 since 1990, it will be a change of pace to

■ Baseball. . . . . . . . . . . . 15 ■ Sports Clipboard . . . . . 13

HIDALGO - Prior to last week’s co-main event fight at the Dodge Arena, soft-spoken 17-year-old welterweight J.P. “El Gallo Negro” De La Rosa denied that he had called out his opponent, Noé “Pretty Boy” Peña Jr. for their grudge match. However, he did silence critics with his performance.

“It was the other way around,” said De La Rosa at the event’s press conference Feb. 17.

“I heard talk about me so I decided to take the fight. I’m not sure, but they called me and told me that he wanted to fight me and that he was calling me out. So, I took the fight.”

The fight did not turn out to be much of a contest for De La Rosa, who was making his U.S. debut. The Harlingen High School senior stopped the glass-jawed Peña with a right cross for a second-round TKO. The referee called the fight 55 seconds into the round.

“I feel great,” De La Rosa said. “This is the best I’ve felt in a long time. I’m ready, there’s more where this came from.”

With the overwhelming win, De La Rosa improved to 8-0-1, while Edinburg’s Peña dropped to 3-3-1.

More ‘Passion’

See Pages 8-9 for details

February 26, 2004 An Inside Look: News ............................................2 ■ A & E............................................7 ■ Sports ........................................16 ■

P A S S I O N F O R T H E ‘ PA S S I O N ’

OSCAR NIGHT/SUN. 29

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

By EDWINA P. GARZA The Pan American

Photo by Delisa Guadarrama/The Pan American

UTPA junior guard Sergio Sánchez leads the Broncs in scoring See HOOPS page 15 with a 12.7 point average.

“He did good, that’s the type of fight that makes him look good,” said De La Rosa’s trainer, Fidencio “Tito” Flores. “We’ve been working a little bit more harder. We’ll be there. What makes him better is the good fighters. We’re going to be looking forward for good fighters like today, he [Peña] was a good fighter, and that’s what made him look good.”

Despite his rising career and obvious talent, De La Rosa says that he had previously quit the fight game, but that his inspiration and main drive to continue fighting came from his grandfather, who passed away in November.

“I’m ready, I’m gonna be great,” said a confident De La Rosa. “My grandpa, may he rest in peace, helped me through everything, he pushed me. All these fights I’m doing, every single one of them is for him and I’m not gonna stop until I get that world title, that’s for sure. It’s for him.”

De La Rosa’s father, Pedro, said that his son was a slow starter, but when his interest in the game increased, so did his development.

“He started off slow,” said the elder De La Rosa. “He was more in boxing for fun, but then after he seen the attention you could get

THURSDAY

Gibson movie creates furor for Valley population

De La Rosa real deal, stops Peña

By ED CHRNKO The Pan American

HEADLINES

Saturday. The retreat will be held at Our Lady of Perpetual Help in McAllen. Colette Walsh of Mission, along with her husband Scott Walsh, has been involved with On Feb. 25, Ash Wednesday, nearly 2,000 movie screens reserving tickets for the event.

“We sold up to 500 tickets, and we maxed out in four began showing Mel Gibson’s Icon Production, “The days,” she said.

Passion of the Christ,” “We turned away and the tension almost 350 to surrounding this mega400 people. If we event began to ease. could have sold Gibson’s latest 1,000 tickets, I venture depicts the last think we would 12 hours of the life of have sold them Jesus Christ. A Dallas very quickly.” multiplex is said to A main have reserved all 20 of controversy its screens specifically about the film is for this film. Here in the the subject of Valley, local churches blame for the are holding retreats and death of Christ. forums to discuss the U.S. Bishops are film and how to apply it concerned that to their lives. tension between The film, written by Christians and Gibson in collaboration Jews will arise with Benedict Arianna Vazquez, Daniel Aguilar/The Pan American and create antiFitzgerald, is assembled S e m i t i s m . from four Biblical FILM FRENZY— Thousands of area residents waited in line Wednesday to Despite what gospels: Matthew, Mark, get a seat for “The Passion of the Christ,” the Mel Gibson production which Scripture says, Luke, and John. The has created a stir for months. Valley theaters were packed for the film.

Walsh who is a interest has been Catholic, doesn’t enormous across the know who is responsible for Christ’s death, though country, especially with religious groups.

The directors of the San Juan Diego Institute and deicide, the charge of the murder of Christ, has been Knights of Columbus are planning a private screening of pinned on the Jews for over 2,000 years by various groups.

“I think that Jesus died for the sins of all, I think he died the film as well as a retreat and reflection on the film

for us,” said Walsh. “Who killed him, how that came about would be hard to say. I don’t harbor any feelings about the Jews that did it, I think it was the people who were there that day and I think there were all sorts of people there.

Blaming someone who lives in our times would certainly not be fair.”

Alfonso Liguez, a spiritual adviser to the student organization Young Adult Catholic Ministry at UTPA, is eager to see the film. Over the past few months, he has read dozens of articles about the film, and the controversy.

He mentioned the booklet “The Bible, the Jews, and the Death of Jesus.” that was released recently by the Vatican.

It states that Jews aren’t collectively responsible for the death of Christ, echoing the Vatican II report published in the mid-1960s. Liguez encourages Catholic Churches to use the booklet as a teaching tool for their congregations.

“One can walk away and think, ‘Oh the Jews did it, the Jewish people of today are equally responsible,’” he said.

“But we need to be careful that the blame doesn’t get transferred exclusively to the Jews.”

Liguez pointed out that Gibson, the director and producer of the film, does not blame Jews for the death of Christ, choosing to blame humanity.

“It’s humanity that’s at fault, not specific people,” he said.

The release of the booklet, he said, fosters the hope that no one is discriminated against. It is to help people process the movie in a historical perspective. He said he hopes people can look beyond the blame game and not accuse a specific group of people.

“The church doesn’t want people finger-pointing because it’s somewhat inappropriate,” Liguez said.

“Because some people that don’t understand the big

See PASSION page 12

Border group attempts to save lives, ease journeys

By JOSUE ESPARZA The Pan American

Photo by Daniz Rivera

The referee raises welterweight J.P. De La Rosa’s arm after his second-round victory over Noé Peña Jr. of Edinburg at the Dodge Arena Feb. 19.

and the people, he kind of picked it up and as he picked it up, he started developing.”

The Harlingen native went to México and turned professional at age 15 where he fought all of his fights prior to the Peña bout. His last

See BOXING page 15

The United States: a land of hope or death for an immigrant.

Approximately 500 immigrants risk their lives every day by crossing into the United States, and over 400 die every year while searching for the American Dream, according to the National Institute of Immigration.

Because the migration is constant, the Mexican government created organizations like “El Grupo Beta” to educate immigrants about the dangers of crossing into the United States.

Beta was formed in Tijuana, Mexico in 1990, and now consists of 13 branches operating on borders north and south of Mexico. The organization doesn’t hinder migration, it orientates and helps immigrants crossing borders.

“We do not stop the immigrant from crossing the border, we just tell them of the risks involved when crossing either border,” said Patrol Agent Juan Calderon, in Spanish.

The organization is designed to enforce three functions: to guide, to save, and to protect the human rights of immigrants.

To do this, Beta commandeers rescue operations in order to

Each member of the organization is save immigrants who trained to offer first aid and is endanger their lives in conditioned to save immigrants who crossing. are in danger.

“If we see an immigrant “We are trained to be a member of that needs help we Beta. It is a requisite that the immediately give it to organization has,” said Pablo Leal, him,” said Patrol Agent former member of Beta, in Spanish.

Juan Calderon, also in “The organization gives us two-year Spanish. The bilingual rescue training and first aid; we are skills of the agents gives capable to save a life in the river or them vital communication the desert.” ability when dealing with Immigrants face many dangers, a population of and the often overlooked Guatemalan immigrants who generally border is just as dangerous as the U.S. speak Spanish line, for different reasons. Desert-like exclusively.

Grupo Beta photo conditions confront the latter group, On the border between dense jungles the former. That’s why Mexico and United States, AYUDA— Grupo Beta members attend to an immigrant Beta has a two-border strategy.

Beta is divided into nine who nearly drowned in the Rio Grande recently.

According to the National Institute of groups covering an area from Baja California to Tamaulipas. To the south of Mexico, Immigration, 30 percent of the immigrants that cross to the Beta is divided into four groups serving all of the Mexico- United States are from Central and South America.

Guatemala borders. Beta operates 24 hours, seven days a week.

See BETA page 11

PAGE 2

February 26

OPINION

February 26, 2004

letters

■

editorials

■

cartoons

2004

Homecoming iffy at commuter school CLARISSA MARTINEZ

1201 West University, CAS 170 Edinburg, Texas 78539 (956) 381-2541 Fax: (956) 316-7122 http://www.panam.edu/dept/panamerican 53rd Year – No. 20

Editor Arianna Vazquez gareyjup@aol.com

News Editor Belinda Reyes mstxbellezalatina2003@ yahoo.com

A & E Editor Omaira Galarza omairang@yahoo.com

Sports Editor Ed Chrnko echrnko@yahoo.com

Graphics Editor Daniel Aguilar kerygma_@hotmail.com

Layout Designers Dagoberto Perez Ginmarie Mabry Reporters Brian Carr Vanessa Castillo Julian Cavazos Edwina Garza Dulce Gonzalez Matt Hall Christina Harris Aaron Lozano Vanessa Lucio Clarissa Martinez Amy Medellin Photographer Franco Caballero Copy Editor Joe Anna Moreno Student Pub. Secretary Jo Anne Murphy 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.

The cheering and chanting echoes through my e a r d r u m s , overlapping the sounds of a dribbling basketball.

While coaches stride up and down the sidelines yelling at scrabbling players, nominees at courtside prepare for the announcement of the Homecoming Court. This is college life at its most picturesque. Or at least it is in my imagination. I didn’t attend the Homecoming game last week.

It’s true that university enrollment is increasing, and that UTPA is expanding quickly. But with those numbers growing, there hasn’t been a significant growth of participation in school activities.

The Student Government Association has around 36 members, while the same organization at Texas State University in San Marcos has over 50 students in office.

The intramural sports teams at UTPA have competitions in volleyball, soccer, softball, and flag football. UTSA’s intramural sports offers those traditional sports, but students also have created tournaments in table tennis, golf, racquetball, Playstation, floor hock and ultimate Frisbee. And the band? Number of instrumental ensembles at UTPA: 8. A&M-Kingsville: 15. Why this lack of participation at our school?

You can’t really compare the numbers of each university because of the population differences, but when the percentages are compared, it will show that the numbers of

TO THE EDITOR: The departed Dean Homer Garcia’s comments about my colleague, Dr. Etzel Cardena should not be allowed to stand unchallenged. Garcia's comments are false characterizations and they are among many other false comments he made in writing and in public meetings about Dr. Cardena. These are currently the subject of a grievance being pursued by our Association on behalf of Dr. Cardena.

Our Association maintains that these comments were made in retaliation for Dr. Cardena’s leadership of the Department, as the faculty sought to protect the rights

C A L E N D A R

February 26 Oaxaca Study Abroad Orientation Meeting FIAB 228 12 noon - 1:00 p.m.

Japan Study Abroad Orientation Meeting COAS 180 12 noon -1:00 pm.

Canada Study Abroad Orientation Meeting COAS 181 12 noon - 1:00 p.m.

Contact Ivonne Tovar at 316-7998 for more info.

students at UTPA aren’t as high compared to other universities when it comes to student participation.

True, there are students and administrators working hard to provide entertainment and schools services to students here. Upon entering the Student Union one will always see posters promoting free movies, free concerts or free seminars. I have to ask myself what stops me from taking advantage of all this “freeness.”

Is it lack of time? No, I’m only taking 12 hours, and I’m here on campus every day. Is it lack of enthusiasm? No, when I do attend events I find myself enjoying them and often urge myself to try to go more in the future. Let’s take what’s behind door number three. The lack of connection a student might feel when their college is primarily a commuter school.

Speaking for myself: driving a half-hour to school and a half-hour back does impact my eagerness to take advantage of school activities.

I know that on campus I have a tight group of people I see and enjoy the company of. Once in a while, I’ll run into people from high school and go to lunch with them. Attending club meetings can also bring a student plenty of culture, and laughter. But once the day is through, I head to the parking lot, gun up my ‘96 Taurus and leave the campus behind to head back home.

Driving home, I don’t find myself wondering about the Student Union Coffeehouses I’m missing, or the latenight discussions being held in the SBS building.

All I’m thinking about is how many hours of sleep I can catch before I have to wake up and start my routine again. That and calculating how many more days I can go before needing to put more gas in my car.

If you go around asking students who are seriously involved in school activities, I’m sure many of them will say they live near campus. Near the university includes the dorms, apartments near campus, plus Edinburg and McAllen. Of the UTPA student population, less than five percent live in campus.

There are of course those students who are superhuman and are involved on campus while traveling in from La Feria, Harlingen, or even Mexico. But at what expense? To those students, I tip my cap.

But where does that leave the rest of the campus? And whither homecoming, which is not a meager affair at the majority of the nation’s college campuses? True, for those students who were raised in the Rio Grande Valley, homecoming is paired with football season and basketball might not offer the same feeling of school spirit. But as students leave high school for college, past mindsets and expectations eventually evolve. It’s a time of change, but also a time to learn how to adapt.

Perhaps students at UTPA are learning how to adapt to the changes being made on campus. Without knowing, involvement might slowly change with the growth of the university. Until then, I’ll settle for activities that don’t require me to drive an hour to attend something that will last just as long.

of students and demonstrate respect for the work of improving programs, increasing research and expanding programs across borders. How can a Dean oppose that?

Well, Dr. Cardena was pursuing these faculty-led goals when --as Chair of the Department-- he refused to approve the outside employment request of a faculty member for reasons Dr. Cardena had determined violated university regulation and the law. The then-Dean GarcÌa decided to approve the same request without having the authority to do so under university regulation. As Dr. Cardena “blew the whistle” on this practice, retaliation began and (we hope)

ended with the departed Dean Garcia's unusually sudden exit.

But Dr. Cardena was not the only member of the faculty who suffered under his retaliatory frenzy. In his annual evaluation, only 24% of the faculty gave him a favorable rating, and that’s a fact, contrary to the departed Garcia’s allegations, which do not rise to that standard.

Dr. Jose R. Llanes Professor, Educational Leadership Grievance Representative Pan American United Faculty/Texas Faculty Association

February 27 Free Reaction Time Testing for citizens age 45 and over. To schedule appt. call 381-3587 9 a.m. - 12 noon

CORRECTION:

March 1

The Pan American regrets that errors appeared in a Feb. 19 story concerning the Information Technology Service Desk. It was mistakenly referred to as the IT Help Desk, a separate entity. As to the number of e-mail activations during the first week of classes, the story noted 10,000 while the correct figure is actually 1,000.

Federal Employment Panel Discussion Various particiating federal agencies will be providing information on career opportunities. All invited to attend noon - 1:30 p.m.

Calendar submissions must be made by 5 p.m. Monday. For more information call 381-2541.

February 28 UTPA Alternative Certification Program is hosting an informational showcase. UTPA Annex 9:00 a.m. - 12 noon

Page 15

Sports

Lady Broncs ready for SE Louisiana

By AMY MEDELLÍN The Pan American As the season winds down for the Lady Broncs, they have achieved one of their two shortterm goals, but the other didn’t turn out so well.

Their 12th win of the season broke the school’s NCAA Division I record. But a 62-36 loss to Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Tuesday left the team out of the top Independent spot it had sought to occupy. UTPA is now 12-14, while the Islanders are 199 after leading most of the way against UTPA. Molly Schamel’s jump shot midway through the first half cut the Corpus lead to three at 15-12, but the hometowners were able to increase their lead to 27-17 shortly thereafter.

It looked like curtains in the second half when Corpus roared out to a 45-23 lead, but the Lady Broncs again fought back, clos-

ing to within 13 points on a Stacy Gooden basket. But down the stretch the Islanders dominated, outscoring UTPA15-4.

It was a brutal game with solid defense, and neither team shot well. The Lady Broncs converted 26 percent of their shots while the victors hit for just 30 percent.

After the game UTPA had many regrets.

“The in game with Corpus was extremely physical and we are more of a finesse team,” said Lady Bronc Head Coach DeAnn Craft. “Our team plays with great intensity and effort but we lacked consistency on the offensive end.”

Also at question was the play of the team’s ballhandling.

“We didn't do a good job of taking care of the ball and we shot very poorly and couldn't ever put together a run to make the game tight,” said Lady Bronc Assistant Head Coach Tracy Anderson. “We played pretty

good defense, but we were in foul trouble and we were unable to get the shots to fall when we had them.”

Senior Amanda Carlow led the team rebounds with seven, and added four assists to give her 93 for the season, seventh best single-season mark in school history.

Now with just two games left in the season, the Lady Broncs are geared toward breaking the school overall record wins, set at 12 in 1984-85 when they were an NAIA school.

The next opponent is Southeastern Louisiana, this Saturday at the UTPA Field House. It will be Senior Night, on which two players, Carlow and forward Mary DeCock, will be honored. Both players feel that although the loss against the Islanders was hard it will not affect their play for the rest of the season.

“The feeling after the Corpus

UTPA baseball team looks to end skid

By MATT HALL The Pan American After losing five of their last seven games and riding a three-game losing streak, The University of Texas-Pan American baseball Broncs are looking to end their skid this weekend against Washington State.

The Cougars come to town riding a winning performance at the River City Tournament in Sacramento last week.

Washington State is currently riding the wave of a three-game winning streak and is 5-2 on the season.

Meanwhile, the Broncs are 6-8 and are hoping to have a winning record after this series.

“I think we can get a sweep this weekend that would get us back on track,” said senior right-handed pitcher Justin Bogy. “It would help us out and get us on track for a bid to the Regionals and then on to the College World Series.”

Bogy is 0-1 with a 9.00 ERA after four innings of work in two appearances this season. He will try to get himself and the team going, as they look forward to having 13 of the next 15 games at the Edinburg Professional Baseball Stadium.

With UTPA eyeing a Regional playoff berth this year, the team realizes the importance of taking care of business on home turf.

“It always helps to play at home,” said junior catcher Matt Eichel. “We just have to stay focused on our goals and play together and play our game.”

Sophomore outfielder Louie Alamia, who currently boasts a .419 batting average, believes the Broncs are up to the task of defending their home field and starting a long winning streak.

“We got some powerhouse teams coming into town,” Alamia said. “We need to get some quality wins and gain national recog-

nition that will help us get a bid to Regionals. We want to show not only the nation, but the community that Pan Am baseball is back.”

The Broncs open the series against the Cougars Friday at 7 p.m.

After UTPA routed Texas A&MKingsville 15-5 on Feb. 18, Sam Houston State University swept the Broncs last weekend in Huntsville by scores of 10-6, 10-5, and 6-4.

Pan Am gave the games away on a couple of key plays and needs to learn how to take advantage of good situations on the offensive end to be victorious.

“We know it is not the way we play baseball. It was a learning experience,” Alamia said. “We are going to continue to work hard and get back on track this weekend.”

One bright spot for the Broncs was that former Edinburg North standout Alamia extended his hitting streak to 11 games and has reached base safely in 24 straight games. He tied a school record by stringing together a 22-game hitting streak last season as a freshman and is in pursuit of that record once again.

The switch-hitting slugger believes achieving a record would be great, but his main goal is for the team to be successful.

“It is too early to be looking at breaking records, I just want to help my team win,” Alamia said. “The main objective is to win.

If the records come, then that would be great, but I just want the team to win.”

The road is going to be a hard one for the green and white, but everyone on the team feels that a postseason berth is attainable.

Eichel, who is toting around a .217 batting average, believes that not being in a conference will only help focus the guys to take every game more seriously.

“We want to make it to the playoffs,” Eichel said. “We have to treat every game like it is a conference game since we are independent and not in a conference.”

game is still fresh, and that will only drive us to play harder in our last two games,” said DeCock.

“I don't think it will affect us,” agreed Carlow. “I mean we will be more determined to win, but that game is in the past and we are focused on SE Louisiana.”

As for the looming last home game for both DeCock and Carlow, they are sad to see the season come to a close and it will be a bittersweet ending.

“I feel that just being a part of the first step of moving forward is awesome,” said Carlow. “I mean we can say that we were there to start the rebuilding of the team, I also got a ton of new friendships.”

DeCock expressed similar sentiments.

“My two years with the Lady Broncs have taught me more than winning and losing, I've had a lot of fun along the way, and I'll definitely miss the team,” she said.

“The program's going through a change for the positive, and knowing that I was a part of that transformation is something that I'll take with me.”

Lady Broncs’ next game:

at What: SE Louisiana Lady Lions at UTPA Lady Broncs When: Saturday, Feb. 28 at 7 p.m.

Where: UTPA Field House Records: Lady Broncs (12-14); Lady Lions (12-11).

Last meeting: Lady Lions won 6058 on Jan. 13 at the University Center.

All-time series: Lady Lions lead 2-0.

Notable: The Lady Broncs have won 5 of their last 7 games.

Hoops continued from page 16

Boxing

have to play the full 40 minutes.

But Fagan, who is second in scoring behind Sánchez, with 10 points per game, is confident that his team will perform.

“The team chemistry has been great,” Fagan said. “We’ve been playing well with each other, and all we have to do is pick up these last two wins, and we’ll end the season on a high note.”

bout on the other side of the Río Grande was in Río Bravo, Tamaulipas.

Although he initially underestimated the competition in México, he acknowledges that he learned a lot and is a better fighter for it.

“I had good competition,” De La Rosa said. “I got a draw with one of the guys, but it was more my training than anything. I was younger so I thought they were pushovers and went over there with the wrong mind. Now, I’m matured and ready to go.”

In the main event at the Dodge card last week, Robert “La Amenaza” García of Weslaco knocked out Walter Herrera of Monterrey, Nuevo León, México at 1:56 of the opening round. With the win, García improved to 15-1 (11 KO) , while Herrera dropped to 9-10.

García is now preparing for his next bout, a nationally-televised event to be broadcast on NBC April 24.

However, the Weslaco native said that Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions has been in contact with his manager to participate in a fight card a week after the NBC event. García said they would take the better deal.

MEN’S INDEPENDENTS Texas A&M-Corpus Christi UTPA Savannah State IPFW

W 14 13 4 3

L 10 13 23 22

Pct. .538 .500 .148 .120

Broncs 111, Mustangs 62 Feb. 19 at UTPA Field House C. Baptist Min FG-A FT-A Reb A PF Pts L. Eslinger 27 4-13 4-6 2-6 0 4 14 Radosavljevic 35 2-9 0-6 1-5 0 3 4 R. DaviS 34 2-10 2-6 4-2 4 3 8 M. White 21 1-4 1-2 1-5 3 3 4 O. Hatcher 35 6-13 1-1 0-3 3 2 16 J. Couvertier 25 4-7 0-0 1-2 2 4 10 A. Eckert 4 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 K. Stone 10 1-4 2-2 0-0 1 1 4 I. Stein 5 1-3 0-1 0-1 0 0 2 N. Wagner 4 0-1 0-0 0-0 0 2 0 Percentages: FG .328, FT .417. 3-Point Goals: 10-25, .400. Team Rebounds: 40. Blocked Shots: 3. Steals: 4.

UTPA Min FG-A FT-A Reb A PF Pts A. Sakalys 8 0-3 0-0 0-0 1 3 0 D. Díaz 11 4-12 0-0 6-2 1 4 9 A. Holcomb 14 2-2 1-4 1-6 1 3 5 S. Sánchez 22 6-10 1-2 0-0 13 1 17 C. Fagan 12 5-6 0-1 1-2 0 1 10 D. East 15 1-4 2-3 1-2 0 1 10 E.Montalvo 15 4-7 1-1 0-2 1 0 9 M. Berry 25 3-6 2-2 1-7 5 1 9 R. Castillo 17 8-11 1-1 0-2 2 0 23 M. Hall 9 0-2 0-0 0-1 4 0 0 F. Armenta 6 1-2 1-2 1-1 0 0 3 Z. Weir 13 1-3 0-1 0-2 2 2 3 R. Lange 24 5-8 3-4 2-6 0 2 13 Gedminas 9 2-3 2-2 1-4 0 1 6 Percentages: FG .532, FT .609. 3-Point Goals: 13-23, .565. Team Rebounds: 53. Blocked Shots: 7. Steals: 12.

Central Baptist UTPA

26 60

36 - 62 51 - 111

Refs: Not Available. Attendance: 3,681

continued from page 16

Other Feb. 19 fight results: Juan Ruíz (1-0), 174, Alamo, TKO, Robert Rubaldino (0-1), 174, San Juan, 2nd round.

Tino Cantú (1-0), 185, McAllen, TKOdid not answer bell, Juan Flores (0-3), 185, San Antonio, 1.

Ricardo Liceaga (3-0-1), 175, Brownsville, unanimous decision, John Washington (2-5-1), 175, McAllen, 4.

Fidel Avila (2-2), 175, Weslaco, TKO, Efren DÌaz (1-4-1), 175, San Juan, 3.

Lupe DeLeÛn (5-1), 122, Edinburg, TKO, José Luiz Bazán (10-11), Reynosa, Tamaulipas, México, 1.

February 26, 2004

Sports

Page 14

February 26, 2004

NEWS

Page 3

THE PAN AMERICAN

■ ■ ■

Student Profile . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Faculty Exchange . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Doctoral Degree . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Hinojosa seeks to make history in District 25 race March 9

By VANESSA L. LUCIO The Pan American

According to Doggett, “Unless I can motivate a lot of people in Austin to turn out, to volunteer, to participate in an election that’s happening in just a few weeks, my Mahatma Gandhi once said, “Honest differences are career is over.”

Here in the Valley, Doggett has lined up support from often a healthy sign of progress.”

If this is true, than no two people are as healthy as dozens of elected officials and union leaders, including U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett of Austin and former District his previous rival for the seat, state Rep. Kino Flores of Judge Leticia Hinojosa of McAllen, who are both Palmview.

After Sen. Gonzalo Barrientos running candidates for the 25th announced that he was backing Hinojosa, Congressional District Seat.

Doggett told the San Antonio ExpressA Latina versus an Anglo male, News that his own endorsement by the how’s that for difference? But is it United Farm Workers in Pharr was a lot wrong to vote for a candidate on more meaningful than her support from the the basis of race or gender?

Barrientos family political club.

Many would say yes, saying Barrientos responded, “I might get a little that one should vote for a more energy for this campaign if Doggett candidate based on the platforms keeps it up.” the candidate supports, such as Here in South Texas, Hinojosa is running better education methods or new with hopes of being the first Latina to immigration reform plans, and not represent Texas in Congress, rising from because of any personal bias. the ashes of poverty to offer her voice to So on to the facts of the race represent the Valley, an area that is often between two luminaries who not heard. appeared at a forum Tuesday at the LETICIA HINOJOSA “I was not surprised that the UFW McAllen Tourist Center. endorsed Doggett, I actually anticipated it U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett has been on the ballot in Austin as a state senator, Texas but I have always been a supporter of working people so Supreme Court Justice, and congressmen since 1973 and that they can have health care benefits, and earn a living wage,” said Hinojosa. “It will not affect me and what I has not lost an election since 1984.

In the north, Doggett is running against Tom DeLay have set out to do for the people like myself from the and the GOP, who have tried to redistrict his 30-year Valley.”

According to Steve Pringle, legislative director of the career to a close, according to Democrats.

Doggett has never faced a credible Democratic Texas Farm Bureau, who supports Hinojosa, “At the primary opponent in his five congressional races. Things TFB we have a basic system that is easy, effective and allows the people of the Valley to choose who they want have changed for him.

in Congress. Each county is allowed up to three TFB people to represent them, and then those people are sent to a meeting to hear the candidates speak.

“There were 16-18 people attending last week’s meeting and they made their choice who they want in Congress – it’s Hinojosa.”

Hinojosa is no stranger to the hilly streets of Austin either. She is the only candidate who has lived in both Austin and the Valley and said she takes great pain to emphasize her own familiarity with the capital city.

“When people tell me, ‘Welcome to Austin,’ I almost feel a little offended,” Hinojosa said. “I lived there a quarter of my life.”

After graduating from UT Law School, she worked at Legal Aid of Central Texas before returning to the Valley in the mid 1980s, where she was elected to a countycourt-at-law seat in 1989, becoming the first female judge in the Rio Grande Valley.

After changing history, Hinojosa then moved up to a district court seat in 1996. And as a Texas Ex and lawyer/judge she has managed to maintain her loyalties to the people in both Austin and the Rio Grande Valley.

“It’s a very exciting time and I look forward to being given the opportunity to serving the people of the Valley,” she said. “I believe everyone deserves an equal opportunity even if they are Hispanic or even if they are a woman.”

When asked why UTPA students should vote in her favor, Hinojosa said that she too was a student who grew up poor in the Valley.

“I really relate to UTPA students. A majority of them are on some sort of financial aid, and if they vote for me then I will go to Congress and fight for more money for the education of the students of the Valley. We must stick together,” Hinojosa stressed.

Alternate certification might ease teacher shortage

By BELINDA REYES The Pan American Seniors across the nation are starting to figure out what path lies ahead after graduation in May. And with the chronic teacher shortage in the state of Texas, some graduates might find themselves teaching for local school districts even though they weren’t education majors in school.

That is where the UTPA Alternative Certification Program (ACP) steps in. They help post-graduates with a bachelor’s degree from non-traditional majors (other than education) get certified to teach in public school districts. “[The program] is an alternative route to getting teacher certification without doing it the traditional way,” said Dr. Dora Salazar, director of UTPA ACP. “We help them become certified to teach in the state of Texas.”

Salazar mentioned that sometimes students who have graduated from different disciplines change their minds about careers. This program exists to make sure that those who have second thoughts are eligible to help alleviate the shortage for public school teachers.

Melissa Mendoza graduated with a degree in journalism last May, but changed her career path when she realized the low salary she would make if she stayed at her television news job.

“The news station offered me an available position, but when I found out what the pay was and the hours involved, I felt it wasn’t for me,” Mendoza said. “I felt that teaching would be good for me, since I come from a family history of teachers.”

Mendoza said that her family did influence her to become a teacher, especially since she is a single mother.

“I do love kids, so I thought that it would be a good profession,” Mendoza said. “Plus, I always wanted to make a difference in peoples’ live. I feel teaching allows me to do that.”

In the past alternative methods were only used for emergency certification statewide. But because of the federal “No Child Left Behind” act, a federal mandate took effect whereby each state must educate and certify people who want to teach for a year’s period, prior to their getting officially certified.

UTPA graduate Leticia Yanez decided to change her career, and used the Emergency Certification (EC) program, which is no longer offered at UTPA because of the new federal law. Yanez graduated in May 2000 and wanted to teach biology to high school students. She did so for three years under the EC program.

“Back then I didn’t go under ACP, because they wanted me to pay $4,000 to enroll, so I went through the Emergency Certification offered at the university, which they no longer have,” Yanez said.

Yanez had to stop teaching because she couldn’t pass a portion of the state exam. Although she still tests every few months, when it’s offered, she said that she is not alone: there are others on the same boat. And the ACP will not allow her to enroll in the program for certification.

“Now they [ACP] won’t let me enroll into the program, because I was involved in the former EC program,” Yanez said. “Now I regret not going through the ACP because the [former] EC program didn’t guide me at all, when I

was teaching.”

“Whatever ACP does, it works, because most people that I know who are involved, pass both parts of the state exam,” she added.

The ACP was created to alleviate the shortage of not only teachers, but also give chances to ones from different areas of concentration, Salazar said.

“The [teacher] shortage is tremendous, we can’t find people who are bilingual or with different areas of expertise,” Salazar said. “About a third of teachers [overall] come out of the ACP programming. Sometimes traditional [education] majors change their mind about their careers.”

Salazar said the state is pushing to find more minority teachers, as the number of minority students rises nationwide. There are even scholarships for some to return to the classroom, such as Troop to Teachers, which attracts retired military personnel back to teaching.

“There are good benefits in teaching, plus good vacation time,” Salazar said.

The UTPA ACP has been around since the early 1980s and currently has 735 students under its direction.

“A lot of the students have backgrounds of military, liberal arts and they end up having a change of career, so they come to us,” Salazar said. “When they start, they complete a campus based program which is a 15-hour [basic overview], then they intern at a school.”

Salazar says that the student sometimes can get the school district to give them a contract to teach while taking the 15 hours. But they still have a year to become

See TEACHER page 12

February 26, 2004

THE PAN AMERICAN

Page 4

Guerrero has worn many hats in four years

By ANGELA CANALES The Pan American

Being president of one organization can be overwhelming.

Being president of three is three times the challenge.

Marketing senior Sylvia Sagnite Guerrero holds the prestigious position in three different organizations on campus. She is the president of the American Marketing Association, Business Student Advisory Council and the Society of Success & Leadership. She endured a long struggle to reach those heights.

At the age of 10, Guerrero moved from Mexico to the United States and faced many challenges.

“I had one year to learn the language,” said Guerrero. “I didn’t think it was going to be enough, my parents didn’t think it was going to be enough. But it was enough.”

The beginning of her fifth-grade year marked the first time she implemented the English language.

“When I went into fifth grade, I didn’t really have a lot of problems,” she said. “Maybe the first two months, then after that I kind of got the hang of, it was fun.”

Thus, the struggle of learning a second language did not stop her from becoming a very accomplished person.

Education issues seem to bring out the best in her. After changing majors three times at UTPA, she finally decided on one to stick with.

“I knew it was going to be business,” she said. “I didn’t know whether it was going to be international business or what type of business. Marketing came up because I was working with Kay Jewelers and it was sales. I really enjoyed it so when it came down to choosing what I was going to do I talked to an adviser, Dr. Lemaster, and she helped me by telling me to take aptitude tests.”

Guerrero notes that there have been many people who have helped and mentored her along the way, and that sometimes those helpers make the difference.

“I think I look up to the professors that I know,” she said.

“I think I look up to one more student, well he already graduated, but it was somebody I worked with real closely. I know the way he is the way he was always very involved, with his family in general I just look up to him.”

Guerrero was referring to Abraham Quiroga, who

“Michelle from the Student Leadership Program has helped graduated from UTPA in December 2003.

“I look up to him, whenever I have a problem or run out of a lot too,” said Guerrero of Michelle Duran, coordinator of the ideas, he gives me simple advice which helps a lot,” Guerrero program. “She is always available; she is always busy, but always available.” said.

The Student Leadership Program is a four-year program Quiroga now lives in Laredo, but still remembers how Guerrero has been part of since her freshmen year. She is one Guerrero helped the AMA organization reach its potential.

“I had the opportunity to work with her in the professional of a handful of students still active after nearly four years, and world and through school,” said Quiroga. “She is the type of helped plan the third annual Student Leadership Conference person that if she sets her mind to it she will accomplish it, if for high school seniors recently.

For her part, Duran speaks it wasn’t for proudly speaks of Sylvia, her, I don’t saying that she represents what know what a student leader should be. would have “Sylvia is a young lady of happened extreme independence, is very with AMA.” responsible, great personality, Quiroga extremely charismatic, very worked with organized and very goalGuerrero in oriented,” said Duran, herself a s c h o o l UTPA graduate. “She is very organizations passionate about her specific and also at areas, for example marketing.

Enterprise She is very passionate with that Rent-a-car. group with AMA, and she is “I worked pretty much the example of with her what a true student leader t h r o u g h should be.”

Enterprise,” Guerrero has excelled above he said. and beyond most students. She “Sylvia is one is not only the president of of the hardest three organizations; she is also working an intern and a full-time people I have Angela Canales/The Pan American student who hopes to graduate ever met, she at the end of the summer. is, I guess you BUSY BEE— Sylvia Guerrero is the president of three student organizaShe says that she has learned can say, an all- tions and has been one of the most prolific students in her career at UTPA. a lot at UTPA, and describes around great She moved to Texas from Mexico at age 10. why she feels her experiences person: a great will help her in a future career. individual.”

“The organizations I am in are not only meetings and Influences from professors and students are not the only thing that helped Guerrero make her college experience a fundraising,” she said. “You are dealing with a lot of different great one. Programs she has been involved in – and the people people, you have to learn how to get along with many running them – have enabled her to reach her potential so far. different personalities.”

Chamber boss skeptical about US-VISIT

By VANESSA L. LUCIO The Pan American Immigration could double U.S. population within the lifetime of today's children.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the population of the United States is currently growing at an annual rate of about 1.3 percent. The life expectancy of an American child at birth now stands at 77.4 years.

When calculating the doubling time of a population, the rule of thumb is to divide the number 70 by the rate of growth. At a 1-percent growth rate, a population will double in 70 years, at 2 percent in 35 years.

Since the country is growing (according to the historically conservative Census Bureau) at 1.3 percent the population should double within about 54 years, The current wave of mass immigration is responsible for this growth.

When President Bush made his Immigration Reform Proposal to create a new temporary worker program and protect homeland security by controlling the borders, many citizens were forced to change their definition about what immigration reform means.

According to J.R. Gonzales, recently named acting president and CEO of the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (USHCC), immigration reform is primarily about changing a status quo in current U.S. policies.

“A lot of people feel there needs to be a change in immigration reform, possibly re-vamping the policies. The Rio Grande Valley is directly affected by immigration reform primarily because of the US-VISIT program,” stated Gonzales, who was the commencement speaker at UTPA last semester.

The Visitor and Immigration Status Indicator Technology, or US-VISIT, has been implemented in more

than 15 international airports and 14 seaports across the rules and procedures as directed from our government.

That should include those part of the Visa Waiver Program country.

The scanned information is checked against government if it includes Mexicans.”

Equality is one problem, and another is the possible loss databases when people enter and leave the country, to identify visitors who overstay their visas or are wanted for of revenue for border areas dependent on sales to nationals from Mexico. The program has its controversial elements other crimes.

According to the U.S. Department of Homeland for certain. The process is complicated as well.

According to the Department of Security, by the end of 2004, the Homeland Security, information is program will function at the 50 busiest gained in a variety of ways. All nonU.S. land crossings, many along the U.S. citizens complete Form I-94 in Texas-Mexico border. If all goes transit. The form asks for identification according to plan, the US-VISIT information and the address of residence program will be at all ports of entry by during the person’s stay. the end of 2005, checking about 24 After the Visa Waiver Program million visitors per year. citizens are allowed to enter, remaining Only those with temporary or “nonvisitors are fingerprinted and digitally immigrant” visas are subject to it. photographed. The fingerprint and the Citizens from 28 countries-mostly photograph are then compared with European, as well as U.S. permanent those in a database of known and residents, are exempt. suspected criminals and terrorists.

According to Gonzales, “Under the If the scanned fingerprints or photos US-VISIT program officials gave raise any questions, the visitor is sent to contradictory information whether the a secondary inspection. After the entry exemptions will also apply to the J.R. GONZALES procedure, the visitor proceeds to millions of Mexicans who use temporary crossing cards good for 72-hour visits and can customs if there are no problems.

At departure, visitors who were checked at arrival are only remain in a 5-mile radius of the U.S. border.

“If they are not exempt, now Mexicans must apply to also checked. Their travel documents and fingerprints are enter the U.S…but Canadians however, can enter the U.S. scanned again to ensure they complied with visa with only a driver’s license and stay for 90 days; that is limitations.

Visitors who were not fingerprinted or photographed not justifiably fair treatment.”

Cynthia Sakulenzki, president of the McAllen Hispanic must surrender only the departure portion of Form I-94.

Chamber of Commerce said that “the US-VISIT program According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection has promise for U.S. Homeland Security as a nation, but officials in Washington, the week following the for border areas like South Texas, one has to wonder what implantation of the new system, three travelers were message it sends to Hispanics about implementing equal See GONZALES page 11

SPORTS CLIPBOARD

February 26, 2004

2003-2004 Sports Schedules

Volleyball tryouts

UTPA Men’s Basketball Date

Opponent/Time

Results

Nov. 4

Monterrey Tech

W112-46

Nov. 8

Houston Quest

W 111-59

Nov. 22

Southern Methodist

L 59-69

Nov. 25

Texas A&M-Int’l

W 90-50

Nov. 29

Texas-Arlington

L 75-81

Dec. 1

SWA of God

W 90-60

Dec. 4

Missouri-Kansas City

L 80-104

Dec. 6

Texas-San Antonio

W 86-83

Dec. 12

Mississippi Valley St.

L 67-85

Dec. 14

Sam Houston State

L 66-92

Dec. 17

North Texas

L 81-87

Dec. 20

Page 13

Sports

Rice

L 58-69

Dec. 22

Oklahoma State

L 61-96

Dec. 29

Oklahoma

L 57-72

Dec. 31

McMurry

W 90-58

Jan. 6

Baylor

W 55-54

Jan. 8

North Texas

L 53-71

Jan. 14

Wright State

L 60-82

Jan. 19

Missouri-K.C.

L 69-77

Jan. 21

Texas-Arlington

L 54-73

Jan. 28

IPFW

W 81-60

Feb. 2

Alcorn State

W 74-52

Feb. 4

Lamar

W 90-78

Feb. 7

IPFW

W 57-55

Feb. 11

Arkansas State

W 70-67

Feb. 14

TAMUCC

W 90-72

Feb. 16

Air Force

W 37-35

Feb. 19

Central Baptist

W 111-62

Feb. 28

TAMUCC

7

March 1

Arkansas State

7:05

Men’s Tennis Spring Season

The UTPA volleyball team will host open tryouts on Wednesday, March 3 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Field House.

According to Coach Dave Thorn, open volleyball tryouts are held annually, and everyone who is interested is encouraged to attend. Thorn does, however, warn that tryouts will be difficult and hopefuls with high school or club experience usually do better than those with none.

Those interested must have a current physical on file with UTPA, must be eligible under NCAA regulations, and must be full-time students in order to try out. Those who do try out should expect a rigorous audition.

“We’ll run a lot of drills, and do a lot of running around. But we’ll also be looking at passing, setting and hitting,” Thorn said.

Thorn says that past open tryouts have paid off for the team. Junior middle blocker Jaclyn Olvera was acquired in open tryouts last season and helped the Lady Broncs to a 1915 finish in her first year of competition.

The Lady Broncs have not finalized their 2004-05 schedule, but practice for next season will begin after Spring

Date

Opponent

Jan. 19

Trinity

W 4-3

Jan. 19

Texas A&M

L 1-6

Feb. 6

Eastern Kentucky

W 6-1

Feb. 7

Dayton

W 5-2

Feb. 7

Xavier

W 6-1

Date

Feb. 14

Saint Louis

W 4-3

Feb. 9-10 Rice Intercollegiate

Feb. 21

TAMUCC

L 2-5

March

Feb. 26

Laredo College (Exh.) 1

14-15

March 11

Abilene Christian

5:30

March

March 13

Texas Southern

10 a.m.

29-30

March 26

UTSA

2

April 5-6

2003-2004 Sports Schedules

Break.

To get a physical form and for more information, contact Thorn at 3167007.

Ruíz new WBA champ John Ruíz became the first two-time Latino heavyweight champion when Roy Jones confirmed he had relinquished the WBA title to focus his efforts on the WBC light heavyweight championship.

The newly crowned champ will defend his title April 17 against fellow Puerto Rican Fres Oquendo.

Ruíz won his first title in 2001 when he defeated Evander Holyfield, but lost the belt to Jones last March.

Jones became the second middleweight in history to win the heavyweight title.

Rangers coach resigns The New York Rangers’ Head Coach Glen Sather stepped down, but will stay on with the team as its president and general manager.

He finishes his stint as coach for New York with a 33-39-11 record in 90 games. Sather coached Edmonton to four Stanley Cups in the 1980s.

UTPA Women’s Basketball Date

Opponent/Time

Results

Nov. 7

Houston

W 91-77

Nov. 21

Air Force.

W 68-67

Nov. 22

Boise State/Dayton

W 63-57

Nov. 25

TAMUI

W 84-55

Nov. 29

St. Edward’s

W 79-42

Dec. 5

St. Louis

L 45-77

Dec. 6

Kansas State/Sac.

W 60-50

Dec. 14

Oral Roberts

L 57-67

Dec. 17

Texas

L 25-90 L 59-74

Dec. 19

Marshall

Dec. 21

Central Michigan

L 40-56

Dec. 28

Tulsa

L 41-71

Dec. 31

Prairie View A&M

W 64-52

Jan. 2

UT-Arlington

L 46-85 W 49-47

Jan. 7

Sacramento State

Jan. 9

San Diego State

L 38-59

Jan. 11

Louisiana-Lafayette

L 54-62 L 58-60

Jan. 13

SE Louisiana

Jan. 22

SW Missouri State

L 34-69

Jan. 24

TAMUCC

L 43-73

Jan. 27

Incarnate Word

W 63-46

Jan. 31

IPFW

W 75-72

Feb. 3

Northern Colorado

L 56-57

Feb. 9

Prairie View A&M

W 70-63

Feb. 16

Louisiana-Lafayette W 56-38

Feb. 19

IPFW

W 80-55

Feb. 24

TAMUCC

L 36-62

Feb. 28

SE Louisiana

7

March 3

Northern Arizona

8

HOME GAMES IN BOLD All games p.m. unless noted.

Time/Results

2004 UTPA Men’s Golf Schedule Tournament

Result 14 of 14

Bearkat Invitational Trojan Cup Hal Sutton Intercollegiate

April 3

DePaul

April 4

Texas-Arlington

1 10 a.m.

April 7

Texas Southern

2

April 8

Lamar

3

April 9

Southeastern Louisiana Noon

April 16

TAMUCC

April 30

SLC Championships

2004 UTPA Women’s

May 1

SLC Championships

Golf Schedule

May 2

SLC Championships

1

Men’s Track & Field Indoor Season Date

Opponent

Feb. 7

Houston Invitational 12 of 22

Time/Results

Feb. 14

Houston/RunSport No team score

HOME GAMES IN BOLD

April 23-24Andrea Brotto Cavalier Classic May 7-9

National Minority Golf Championships

Date

Tournament

Result

Feb.

Bronc Intercollegiate

4 of 8

23-24 March

Xavier Invitational

Team Chiapas Guadalajara Toluca U.N.A.M. Club San Luis América Querétaro Necaxa Irapuato Atlante Tigres U.A.G. Monterrey Veracruz Pachuca Atlas Puebla Cruz Azul Santos Morelia Group I 12 - Toluca 6 - Monterrey 6 - Pachuca 6 - Atlas 5 - Puebla

W-D-L 5-0-1 5-0-1 4-0-2 3-2-1 3-2-1 2-3-1 2-3-1 2-2-2 2-2-2 2-1-3 2-1-3 2-1-3 1-3-2 1-3-2 1-3-2 1-3-2 1-2-3 1-2-2 1-1-3 0-2-4

GF:GA 12:6 7:2 9:6 11:6 8:5 10:9 9:9 7:7 9:10 9:9 13:14 10:13 8:7 8:9 6:9 6:10 7:9 5:8 7:8 5:10

Group II 11 - U.N.A.M. 9 - América 9 - Querétaro 7 - U.A.G. 4 - Santos

PTS 15 15 12 11 11 9 9 8 8 7 7 7 6 6 6 6 5 5 4 2

Scorer / Team W. Gaitán, TIG S. Blanco, SL S. Cabañas, CHI E. Marcón, UAG B. Marioni, UNAM C. Blanco, AME R. de Pinho, ATS M. Delgado, CA A. Fernandes, MTY G. Biscayzacú, VCZ A. Silvera, TIG

G 6 5 5 5 5 4 4 4 4 4 4

2 Tied with 3 goals.

Group III 15 - Chiapas 11 - San Luis 7 - Tigres 5 - Cruz Azul 2 - Morelia

Group IV 15 -Guadalajara

8 8 7 6

- Necaxa - Atlante - Atlante - Veracruz

12-14 March

Baylor/Tapatío Springs

19-21

Shootout

March

Arkansas-Little Rock

29-30

Invitational

May 7-9

National Minority Golf Championships

All games p.m. unless noted.

Mexican Soccer League 2004

Week 6 results Feb. 21-22: Toluca 3, Tigres 2; Veracruz 2, Santos 1; Cruz Azul 1, Atlante 3; Monterrey 1, Atlas 1; Guadalajara 2, Querétaro 0; Necaxa 2, Morelia 1; U.N.A.M. 0, Chiapas 1; Puebla 3, Pachuca 0; Irapuato 2, América 1; U.A.G. 1, San Luis 2.

Week 7 schedule Feb. 25-26: Toluca vs. Irapuato; Chiapas vs. Cruz Azul; Santos vs. U.A.G.; Pachuca vs. U.N.A.M.; Querétaro vs. Necaxa; Atlante vs. Veracruz; San Luis vs. Monterrey; Morelia vs. Puebla; Tigres vs. Guadalajara; Atlas vs. América (Feb. 26).

WOMEN’S INDEPENDENTS Texas A&M-Corpus Christi UTPA IPFW Savannah State

W 19 12 8 6

L 9 14 19 19

Pct. .678 .462 .296 .240

Lady Islanders 62, Lady Broncs 36 Feb. 24 at Memorial Coliseum UTPA Min FG-A FT-A Reb A PF Pts K. Dudley 23 1-6 1-4 2-2 0 3 3 M. Daniel 25 1-4 2-3 0-7 0 1 4 M. Schamel 23 3-10 0-0 0-5 2 4 6 A. Carlow 31 1-8 2-2 1-0 4 4 5 D. Cheadle 22 1-4 1-2 1-1 0 4 3 A. Knox 9 0-3 0-0 0-0 0 1 0 J. Piwonka 6 1-2 0-0 1-0 0 1 2 M. DeCock 20 1-5 2-2 1-4 1 1 5 A. Oler 18 3-4 0-0 2-1 1 3 6 J. Arriola 3 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 1 0 A. Coleman 3 0-1 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 S. Gooden 17 1-3 0-0 0-1 0 3 2 Percentages: FG .260, FT .615. 3-Point Goals: 2-11, .182.

Team Rebounds: 26. Blocked Shots: 3. Steals: 6.

TAMUCC Min FG-A FT-A Reb A PF A. Hartzell 30 2-11 1-2 2-5 3 1 T. Andrews 30 0-13 0-0 3-6 2 2 R. Plaza 15 1-5 5-6 4-4 0 0 K. Lewis 34 2-10 11-12 2-1 4 2 R. Gilford 14 1-1 2-2 0-1 0 2 M. Cooper 4 0-1 0-0 0-0 0 1 N. Duncan 20 5-7 2-2 0-2 1 2 L. Van Dorn 15 3-5 2-4 4-2 1 3 L. Jones 2 0-0 0-0 0-0 1 0 M. Peña 7 0-0 0-0 0-0 1 0 J. Shaw 4 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 J. Ododa 25 4-7 0-0 2-7 3 2 Percentages: FG .300, FT .821. 3-Point Goals:

Pts 7 0 7 15 4 0 13 8 0 0 4 8 3-18, .167.

Team Rebounds: 51. Blocked Shots: 4. Steals: 10.

UTPA 17 19 - 36 TAMUCC 27 35 - 62 Refs: J. Haak, J. Rodríguez, L. Alvarez. Attendance: 1,418

February 26, 2004

Page 12

THE PAN AMERICAN

PASSION

continued from page 1

p icture can certainly walk away saying,

Daniel Aguilar/The Pan American

STUMPING— Ofelia de los Santos (left) and Bobby Flores are running for the 139th District Court, and appeared on campus Tuesday to talk about their views.

UTPA has been alive with politicians in the past two weeks, and today sheriff candidates Enrique Escalon and Lupe Treviño are scheduled to speak in SBSC 207 at noon.

TEACHER

continued from page 3

certified

The student’s core hours depend on the subject he/she is interested in teaching. A student may want to teach math or reading for the high school level, so the core teaching overview would be in the subject’s methods. A student who declares EC 4, which is considered fourth-grade level, would concentrate on the methodologies for the basics, such as math, reading, and science.

Prior to the new federal mandate, people in the program were allowed to teach for three years before trying to pass the state exam.

What should a returning student do to get in the program and get certified?

Salazar said there are three steps: Step one, the returning student must have graduated with a GPA of a 2.5, and should and re-enroll for ACP through admissions. They have to take and pass the TASP or THEA [older returning students] and bring an academic letter of recommendation. Step two, students must take the 15-hour pre-internship courses. And step three, the student must apply at a school district for an internship.

While interning the student gets paid, unlike straight education majors, Salazar mentioned.

Eventually students who participate in ACP have to pass two parts of the teaching certification program, called Texas Examinations of Educators Standards, the new test for certified teachers.

“The new law states that [precertified teachers] have to be involved while in the program,” Salazar said.

“Our thing now is that [students] have to get a contract and pass one of the state’s teaching exams, in order to teach.”

The student then has a year to complete the ACP and pass the second part of the exam, if they haven’t already passed both. While teaching, students are given a mentor [a certified teacher from the district] and a supervisor from the program, Salazar explained.

After the program is complete and tests are passed, ACP then sends off the student’s information and the state grants certification good for five years.

The teacher then has the school district’s recommendation to extend the certification at intervals of five years.

The ACP will be having a showcase program this Saturday, Feb. 28 from 9 a.m. until noon UTPA Annex, located on Closner Road (or Business 281) in Edinburg.

“We are going to have great offers for post-graduates and graduating seniors, who choose to participate in the ACP program,” Salazar said. “There will be an opportunity to qualify for a low interest rate to buy house for beginning teachers. There will also be scholarships and financial aid opportunities.”

Pre-graduates interested should call to register for the showcase or enroll for the summer program at 381-3486.

‘The Jews are to blame‚’ and really they’re not.”

Brenda Riojas, relations director for the Catholic Diocese of Brownsville, said the Diocese would be hosting a forum Saturday that will allow people to discuss the issues and ask priests any questions that they may have.

“The whole purpose is to assist those who view the movie in reflection on the experience through the context of prayer and the church’s tradition,” Riojas said.

According to Riojas, there have not, as of recently, been any concerns among local Catholics about anti-Semitic attitudes after seeing the film.

The St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in McAllen plans to take both high school youth and adults to see the film. After a flood of advanced publicity from Christian organizations, Melanie Dehning, the minister of Youth and Families, encouraged the congregation to view the film.

“We recommended the film to our church, we want to prepare people ahead of time and allow them to talk about it because it is so emotional and intense,” said Dehning, who showed clips of the film in church.

“It tells the story like it was and it’s also a wonderful outreach opportunity for people to invite their friends who may not be religious to talk about the movie,” she said. “Anybody who sees it will realize that Jesus died for me.”

CONFLICTING VIEWS On the opposite side of the spectrum on the issue is the Jewish perspective.

Rabbi Steven Rosenberg, Ph.D. of Temple Emmanuel in McAllen said the majority of the anger in the Jewish community is that Gibson did not allow many major Jewish organizations to view the film beforehand to allow them to draw their own opinions to take back to their communities. Some, like Abraham Foxman of the Anti Defamation League, viewed pirated copies and complained about what they saw as uneven portrayals of Jews as bloodthirsty for the death of Christ.

Rosenberg has one main issue with the film and all of the media exposure it has gotten in the past several months.

“It should be put into perspective, and the proper perspective is that it is a movie,” he said. “It is a novelization of the last few hours of the life of Jesus; this is not put out by the Catholic Church or any Christian organization. This is the work of Mel Gibson.”

While he said that Gibson is allowed to make any type of movie he chooses, Rosenberg mentioned that the Jewish community recognizes that the crucifixion of Jesus is a painful and important part of Christian theology.

“There was criticism towards how Jews were portrayed [in the film] and may not be true to the Gospels. That’s what the Jewish community was concerned about,” he said.

On the issue of anti-Semitic thoughts by people seeing the film, a topic of discussion for several months now, Rosenberg said he doesn’t foresee any of that occurring.

“I think when people talk about antiSemitic thoughts, they don’t give enough credit to the Christian community,” he said. “I think most Christians live by the

tenets of Jesus who advocated peace and to love your neighbor as yourself.”

The release of this film offers a good opportunity for people of all religions to sit down and discuss their differences in a respectful way, Rosenberg continued.

He said that he hopes people will view this film with an open mind.

“It’s important to understand that it is just a movie,” he reiterated. “It’s going to be a novelization; it isn’t a documentary. We’re basing this on the Bible and the Bible is not particularly a history book. It is a book of stories on people’s experiences.

Churches shouldn’t sell this as the absolute truth because nobody knows. I wasn’t there, neither were you, and neither was Mel Gibson.”

Rosenberg will be traveling to New York to view the film with several other rabbis and priests. After seeing it. They will have an open dialogue.

“One good thing about this is that we can come out of the movie and talk about our differences, and there’s more things that we have in common than that sets us apart,” he said.

All of the film’s media exposure has got people talking, some about the fears of anti-Semitism, others about not being able to have screened it, and others about fears that the portrayal is very violent and graphic. Rosenberg said, “certainly the film has a huge amount of hype, but that’s what sells movies, right?”

It is important, he added, to recognize that this is a work of someone’s art, not a depiction of the truth.

“This is one person’s view of how they interpret the Passion of Jesus and should be looked at like that,” he said. “Whether it’s true or not, it’s an opinion; people need to be mindful of that. It’s not an official position; it’s an artistic piece.”

WorldNet Day reported that renowned evangelist Billy Graham was moved to tears when he saw the film. Graham said in a statement that the film is “faithful to the Bible’s teaching that we are responsible for Jesus‚ death, because we all have sinned,” he said. “[It was] Our sins that caused His death, not any particular group.”

Despite initial reports to the contrary, the official position of the Catholic Church is that Pope John Paul II did not offer his opinion on the film after he saw it. In an article from the Catholic News Service, the director of the Vatican Press office, Joaquin Navarro-Valls said in a statement, “It is a common practice of the Holy Father not to express public opinions on artistic works, opinions that are always open to different evaluations of aesthetic characteristics.”

Melissa Ortiz, 28, of McAllen said the film’s controversy is just another issue that will be taken out of hand.

“Everything always gets misinterpreted,” said the UTPA general studies major. “It’s just another thing that’s going to be misinterpreted.”

Joe Gomez, 24, a projection manager at Carmike Theater in Edinburg, watched the film alone on Monday as part of his screening job, and was moved by what he saw.

“I think people are going to be impressed, Mel Gibson didn’t sugarcoat it at all,” said Gomez, a broadcast journalism major. “There were no implications as to the Jews [being responsible for] killing Him in the movie.”

February 26, 2004

Page 5

THE PAN AMERICAN

Exchange program now includes professors

By VANESSA R. CASTILLO The Pan American

The Office of International Studies is known for its foreign country study abroad programs that enrich student education, but is also provides a similar service for UTPA professors. With the cooperation of the Instituto Tecnologico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey, (Institute of Technology and Superior Studies in Monterrey), UTPA professors are given the chance to lecture on campuses in Mexico.

ITESM is one of the most prestigious universities in the world. The school originated in Monterrey, but has several satellite schools; 22 of which are located throughout Mexico, and there are nine in Latin America and Europe. ITESM is a private school system that has high student enrollment standards.

According to Marilu Salazar, the director of the International Education and Exchange Program at UTPA, an agreement of cooperation was reached in 1989 to formally recognize student and faculty exchanges between UTPA and ITESM. “Some of our students are over there now, and some of our professors were at Campus Guadalajara last summer,” Salazar said.

This year ITESM is asking UTPA’s OIS to help recruit professors for their exchange program in Saltillo. They are only interested in professors who specialize in the fields of international business, marketing, finance, industrial engineering, and accounting. Because ITESM Saltillo focuses mainly in these areas of study, they prefer that professors interested in the program have a Ph.D. Faculty exchange applicant Dr. Angela Vergara, professor of history and philosophy at UTPA, is excited about the idea of traveling to and learning about, a place she has never been. She would like to see a bridge join two educational systems that are so geographically close.

“I’m from Chile and I’m very interested in making a connection between Latin American Countries and America,” Vergara said. “It seems like a good place

to start because they are next door to each other; plus, I’ve always wanted to live in Mexico.”

Professors do not just have to teach at ITESM campuses; they have the choice to conduct research too. In addition, ITESM provides faculty exchange personnel with teaching and or research supplies, medical insurance, housing, a set salary similar to the wages professors earn in Mexico, and if they want to travel with their families, ITESM helps find schools for their children. Classes taught by UTPA professors are taught in English.

ITESM Campus Guadalajara offered the exchange program last summer. Dr. Linda Mathews, professor of international business, marketing, and human resource management at UTPA, taught there last June.

“Their faculty was so helpful and very nice. The students are wonderful,” she added. “The only thing that isn’t cool about the campus is that it isn’t close to anything. But everything else is great.”

Mathews and Salazar, who has also visited ITESM Guadalajara, said it is a beautiful, state-of-the-art facility. Mathews also said, apart from teaching, she was able to explore several research topics in surrounding areas.

“Guadalajara is known as Mexico’s Silicon Valley, there are many hi-tech factories down there, and we would focus on multinationals that do the manufacturing.”

Mathews also mentioned that she and the other exchange faculty had access to all university perks, like the use of a faculty workout facility, tennis courts, soccer fields, an Olympic-size swimming pool, meal tickets, and cable TV. The institute in Guadalajara will begin their exchange program again this summer, and at the Saltillo campus next fall. Ivonne Tovar, the International Studies Program Adviser at UTPA, said Saltillo has about 1,300 students currently enrolled, and their semester schedules is similar to that of UTPA. Tovar, a native of Colombia, believes faculty members who partake in the exchange will benefit

from the experience.

“Internationalization is the goal for the campuses in Mexico,” she said. “Any opportunity a person has to go to another country is a good one; there is so much to learn in other places.”

Plans to return to ITESM’s Guadalajara campus are in the works, said Mathews. She is enthusiastic about going back. Professors interested in applying for the exchange program must submit a resume, a cover letter, proof of their doctoral certification, and their birth certificate in order to be considered for a position.

Faculty Study Abroad Office of International Studies T he(OIS) offers the chance for UTPA professors to teach and travel in Mexico and Latin America.

Sponsoring university: Institute of Technology and Superior Studies in Monterrey (ITESM) ❖ Has 22 locations in Mexico, nine in Latin America.

Examples: campuses at Saltillo, Guadalajara Main teaching areas available: International business, marketing, finance, industrial engineering, accounting.

Zaidan lives childhood dream in Edinburg

By ANGELA I. CANALES The Pan American

Biology II, Biology Seminar, Herpetology, and Ecological Physiology.

“He is a new faculty that Most adults only wish they had followed started in August replacing through with their childhood dreams of Dr. Frank Judd,” said Dr being astronauts, lawyers, police officers, Mohammed Farooqui, chair or firefighters. of biology.

Dr. Frederic Zaidan III culminated his Students at the university early aspirations of becoming a have welcomed Zaidan to herpetologist, which is a scientist who town, if student evaluations studies reptiles, i.e. snakes, lizards, are any indication. They have turtles, and amphibians, i.e. frogs, toads, praised his positive attitude, salamanders. Zaidan knew he wanted to be and his chair has taken note. a herpetologist before he started “The students’ evaluations elementary school. are very good,” said “I was always into running around and Farooqui. “He will be chasing things, but the big thing was when teaching more courses in his we took a family trip to Florida. We hit field.”

Disney first and I thought that was okay,” Zaidan got his Ph.D. at the FREDERIC ZAIDAN he said “Then continued further south University of Arkansas in down to Miami and there is a place called biological sciences in 2001, and soon made his way the Miami Serpentarium and there was a bunch of into the academic world. He served as an invited snake demos. I was really hooked and I went back to reviewer from 1999-2002 for the Herpetological first grade and said I wanted to be a herpetologist Natural History journal, and later become an and I basically pursued that.” associate editor for two years.

Zaidan started at UTPA as an assistant professor of He will begin his term as editor of the journal in physiological ecology and herpetology in the March, and will have the tough duty of selecting Department of Biology in 2003. He teaches General

which manuscripts go into the journal. He explained the selection process.

“Basically all the content of the journal, authors will send me manuscripts, I will give them a quick go-over then send them to the associate editors, who will send them out to the reviewers and then basically the process goes is reversed,” said Zaidan.

“The reviewers will send them to the associate editors and then they will send them to me for the final decision so that will determine whether we accept or reject the manuscript. And then when it comes time for each volume to come out I decide what goes in and what does not.”

The journal has two focuses in the title.

Herpetological applies to reptiles and amphibians, while natural history means basic ecology.

“Herpetological refers to reptiles and amphibians and natural history is referring to the basic ecology where they live, what they are doing out there in the world,” said Zaidan. “It is not experimental it is observational science: no one is doing any manipulation it’s distribution, abundance those kind of issues,” he said.

Zaidan will begin his new editor’s position in March and will continue to teach at UTPA. He plans to do all his work for the journal out of his office and continue his journey as a professor.

February 26, 2004

THE PAN AMERICAN

Page 6

Newest doctoral degree developing in manufacturing

By CECI CASTANEDA The Pan American

Once upon a time Pan American University crouched humbly in the northern corner of the Rio Grande Valley, labeled the backup school for hundreds of ostentatious high school seniors in the ranks of the top 110 percent. UTPA was derisively called “Taco Tech” by people feeling that the local university paled in comparison to upstate institutions.

But since Pan American joined the University of Texas System and became the University of TexasPan American in 1989, things have changed for the better in terms of reputation. State funding has led to increased enrollment, and also to the addition of more graduate programs, making UTPA a solid higher education option for more local students than ever. The most recent figures state that the university has over 15,000 students.

The changes continue. As of the beginning of February, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) approved the planning of eight new degrees for the University of Texas Pan American, including a manufacturing doctoral program. The new program will some day join doctoral efforts in educational leadership, pharmacy, and business.

Planning the program is the first step in implementing the new doctoral program. The university arranged a coordinating board to evaluate the needs of manufacturing professionals in the Valley, state and nation. Due to a recent manufacturing labor shift, the U.S. economy needs more manufacturing to attract production of quality products. The border region is no different.

“The border is a major component in this economy,” said Dr. Michael Eastman, dean of the College of Science and Engineering. “Some

maquilas are involved in advanced methods of engineering. A pool of talent is going to attract business; they will help the United States and Mexico, making more competitive products.”

The projected manufacturing doctoral program at UTPA hopes to generate this pool of talent, training and helping students develop more efficient manufacturing methods. Efficiency produces the most precious commodities: time and money. Thus, companies of all scopes continually invest in manufacturing professionals, and the need for them increases.

Water plants need manufactures to design products that use less water; pharmaceutical companies need manufactures designing machines that can reconfigure to make more products quickly.

Even the tortilla and hamburger industries need manufacturing professionals.

At a recent visit to the facilities at Pan Am, H-EB employers announced a need for manufacturing engineers at their tortilla factory. Their aim is to make mass quantities of tortillas without losing the quality in flavor and texture, according to Dr. Edwin LeMaster, associate dean of the College of Science and Engineering.

Also, manufacture engineering students recently researched and H & H meat market.

“They were looking at machines that produce hamburgers which meet the exact needs of the company,” LeMaster said.

All of this falls under an increasingly popular method in production, mass customization. Mass customization involves building on an original design and adjusting it to customer wants and needs.

“Mass customization is making products cost effectively and in the customer’s time frame,” Eastman explained. “For example, one customer wants a truck painted blue and yellow and another

Franco Caballero/The Pan American

ROCKING— Patrick Garcia guitarist for the band “Chauffeur” plays during the Rockfest on Wednesday night at the Student Union Theater. The band has been together for one year and will play two Spring Break shows, March 13 and 19 at Island Oasis at South Padre Island.

customer in purple and pink. Companies can do this easily by using a previous design in a machine designed by a manufacturing engineer.”

Another growing interest is green manufacturing, a method that proves environment-efficient.

“In green manufacturing you don’t have waste products dumped into air, soil or water,” LeMaster said. “Manufacturing engineers develop products that help the environment.”

Thus, as the need for customer specialization and environment conservation increase, so does the need for manufacturing professionals, especially ones with a coveted Ph.D. The recent downturn affected the Texas economy just as hard as the nation’s. Jobs were lost; labor shifted to overseas sources, and Texan citizens felt a blow to their pride.

“The strength of a recovery remains uncertain,” reports the February issue of Texas Monthly. “Many manufacturing and low-end tech positions have been shipped overseas.”

Yet, however idealistic it sounds, a new manufacturing doctoral program in Texas could decrease the uncertainty plaguing the minds of unemployed Texans.

“People who get their Ph.D. tend to say in the area,” Eastman explained. “We can attract high caliber people and contribute to the economy.”

In a chain reaction, manufacturing doctoral program produces professionals as jobs are created.

Therefore, the engineering faculty and coordinating board are working hard to complete their projected degree plan. The university is turning to the Society of Manufacturing Engineers and assessing student demand for the program.

Coordinators are also contacting different institutions and examining their programs and the courses involved. Eastman and LeMaster hope to complete the planning process within three years.

February 26, 2004

BETA

Page 11

THE PAN AMERICAN

continued from page 1

“We need to have in mind that there is not only one border, but there are two MexicoUnited States and Mexico-Guatemala,” said Efrain Perez current member of Beta, in Spanish.

On the northern border, Beta protects immigrants by leaving water and food supplies on frequently traveled paths. The group also patrols the desert on the lookout for immigrants who need help.

Its lifeguards watch the Rio Grande to prevent immigrants from drowning.

“I was crossing the river through Matamoros when I felt current pulling me down. Someone jumped into the river and pull me out,” said Julian Gallegos, a Mexican speaking in Spanish, “They took me to the hospital and later I found out they were members of Beta.”

Central and South American immigrants have a more difficult journey getting to the United States; they have to cross two borders. Beta protects the Central and South American immigrants from gangs like the “Marasalvatrucha,” whose members rob people and have killed dozens of travelers.

Beta searches trains for immigrants who are in danger of dying from asphyxiation.

Furthermore, the organization defends immigrants from corrupt Mexican police officers who use their power to steal money, mistreat people, and often rape women.

“When I was crossing the border from Guatemala to Mexico, the police officers took the only money I had,” said Rodrigo Lemos an immigrant from Guatemala, in Spanish. “Beta took me to identify the police officers and help me recover my money.”

Another function of Beta is to guide

immigrants to a shelter provided by the Catholic Church. Many times, immigrants from Central and South America, plus Mexico, use the shelters as a halfway house.

“When the United States Border Patrol deported me to Mexico, Beta pick me up and brought me to this Catholic shelter,” said Alejandro Lopez an immigrant from Chiapas, Mexico, in Spanish.

Not everything has been easy for the Beta organization; there have been some problems affecting the group’s reputation.

One such problem came in June 2000 when two men from Matamoros drowned in the Rio Grande. Beta tried to rescue them, but was unsuccessful. A Mexican Television Network televised the incident and both Mexican and U.S. citizens blamed Beta for the deaths.

“We did everything possible to save these two lives. The current was very strong and made it impossible for our lifeguards to rescue them,” said Bernardo Lara, director of Matamoros’ Beta sector, in Spanish.

Even though the incident was very controversial at that time, the Mexican government continues to support Beta’s work with immigrants.

Another problem is that many people, especially in the United States, feel that groups like Beta are aiding and abetting illegal immigration. The work they do to help migrants also helps break American laws, ironically.

Despite the difficulties of the job, and the political questions such work raises, Beta is still active on the borders, trying to save lives. The Beta group can be contacted at Beta Matamoros, Mexico, at 01-88-123664.

GONZALES

continued from page 4

flagged out of 27,400 screened at U.S. airports.

Gonzales said, “Since September 11th immigration reform has not really changed at all except now there is a U.S. Homeland Security Department that has made everything tighter. There are more obstacles to overcome, if you plan on messing with our country”.

Gonzales added that once screening occurs, it is up to the government to make sure the process does not get out of hand.

“People have certain rights, and screening to an extreme level could violate personal liberties,” said Gonzales. “In some cases profiling is necessary but screening must be equal for all if it is implemented.”

The one question that remains is, Where will the country get the money to fund this project? According to the Department of Homeland Security, the program is expected to cost $7 billion over 12 years.

“That is exactly the question I have been asking myself and officials in Washington.

It’s one of the big flaws of this program but the answers I’ve been getting have not been good enough,” said Gonzales. “Some proposals have merit, others do not. I’m all for security but each country has its own sovereignty and so the U.S. should put programs on our plate that are reasonable and not excessive in order to protect our borders.”

The one question that remains is, Where will the country get the money to fund this project? According to the Department of Homeland Security, the program is expected to cost $7 billion over 12 years.

“That is exactly the question I have been asking myself and officials in Washington.

It’s one of the big flaws of this program but the answers I’ve been getting have not been good enough,” said Gonzales. “Some proposals have merit, others do not. I’m all for security but each country has its own sovereignty and so the U.S. should put programs on our plate that are reasonable and not excessive in order to protect our borders.”

REPORTERS WANTED THOSE INTERESTED IN WRITING FOR THE PAN AMERICAN CAN CALL 381-2541 ALSO AVAILABLE ARE POSITIONS FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS GRAPHIC DESIGNERS, AND SPORTS WRITERS

Scottish Cultural Day at IMAS MUSEUM

By DULCE GONZALEZ The Pan American

The International Museum of Art and Science (IMAS) will house this year's Scottish Cultural Day, where Valley residents have the opportunity to see the roots of the Scottish people.

On Feb. 28, IMAS will open its doors to the general public in an attempt to educate people about the Scottish culture. Residents will encounter the sights and sounds of the people of Scottish descent. The day’s events will be full of educational experiences as well as fun and colorful surprises.

Ken Klabon president of the Scottish Society of South Texas stated that the Scottish are a very industrious and adventurous group of people. Many of them who came to America were not wealthy people. They came to the United States looking for a better life because they were tired of the tyrannical types of governments found in Europe. The King of England wanted to rule them, but the Scottish people did not want to be ruled by a king of another country.

Indentured servitude became the people's way out, where a wealthy person would pay passage to the colonies and in return were required to work as slaves for seven to 14 years. The Scottish people could not afford to buy land in the East, so they headed west to Kentucky, Indiana, the Ohio Valley and other states. In 1830 land became available in Texas and with the money they possessed they made Texas their new home.

Now that people of Scottish decent settled in the state of Texas they have created a way to meet and stay in contact with each other. The society was formed in 1981. The group has meetings in the Lower Valley every second Tuesday of the month and in the Upper Valley every third Tuesday of the month.

According to Klabon, the society was created so that like-minded people could get together. For most of their meetings they have guest speakers. They encourage people who have visited or lived in Scotland to share their experiences through slides, stories, and pictures. Several members of the society were born and raised in Scottish areas so they share their experiences growing up in Scotland, England, and Wales.

"It [the society] was formed so that people of Scottish heritage could get

Gallery

Dance

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

February 26, 2004

together and share stories," said Klabon.

This year Scotland is coming to McAllen.

The Scottish Cultural Day, at IMAS, will feature bagpipes, a Scottish marketplace, educational shows for children, and other Scottish activities for the whole family.

Several workshops will be held throughout the day with sessions that teach people how to make jewelry, shortbread, lessons in bagpipe playing, Scottish square dancing and many more activities that are traditional to the culture.

The men can compete in athletic events such as, the Highland Games and golf putting because Scotland is thought to be the "home of golf." They will have bow shoot competitions as well as a British Auto Show.

The marketplace will feature a Scottish Tea Room. Spinners, weavers, woodcarvers, and fencers will be present to show their crafts and talents, and there will be a fashion show complete with the well-known kilt. Scottish cookbooks and jewelry will be available for sale to the public.

According to Klabon, the event is intended to be an educational experience to all those who attend because Scottish heritage is so prevalent in Texas. Thirty to 40 percent of the men who lost their lives in the Alamo were of Scottish descent.

"One of the things that I personally want people from the Valley to understand is that there's a lot of Scottish heritage here in the state of Texas," Klabon said. "We want them to understand that Texas is not all Tejano."

Robert Rankin, vice-president of the Scottish Society of South Texas, wants the event to interest the youth. He explained that they host events like this one in order to have fun.

"We would like to see younger people get involved," Rankin said. "We want to open a door to people to see our traditions."

The events begin at 9 a.m. with the presentation of the colors followed by an invocation, the official welcome, and an array of events.

For those who wish to attend more than one event, several renditions of the day's activities will be available at different times. After a full day of educational sessions, shows, and games the closing ceremony will mark the end of the festivities at 4 p.m. with the retirement of the colors. IMAS will charge a minimal museum fee for entrance to the Scottish Cultural Day.

continued from page 7

submissions are ranked with numbers one through five. Numbers five, four, and three are then considered for publication.

After deciding which submissions will be published, they are then judged for The Gallery’s annual contest. There are prizes for first, second, and third place in each category. The honorable mention for each medium will receive a certificate.

The winners are not the only people who receive a prize. Each person who has work that is published will receive a complementary issue of The Gallery. All awards will be given out on April 27 at a reception.

After competing against other UTPA writers for prizes, entries are judged on a higher level against other colleges. The Gallery magazine is entered in Texas Intercollegiate Press Association (TIPA) in the literary arts category. There are prizes for the best overall magazines and cover as well as for individual writers in various categories.

For those interested, pick up submission form at room 266 in the UTPA Communication Arts and Science building. If special accommodations are needed, please call (956) 361-3638.

Page 10

continued from page 7

received a master’s degree in music composition from the University of Sussex in the United Kingdom.

Darsow, Melinda Blomquist, and Dana Shackelford direct the ensemble. According to Blomquist, this is the first year the program will include a post-performance discussion session with the artists, allowing the audience to ask questions.

"This is the first time we have this and we thought it would be a good idea, especially since we have these guest artists," Blomquist said. "For a program that’s as new as ours, with its second year of being a dance major, its pretty impressive."

Blomquist will direct a piece she choreographed called “Ternion,” which catches the complete essence of the show’s diversity. Three dancers with separate movements and dances will form one thing, unity.

"The trio is about the three dancers as one," she said. "Even though there is diversity in each of them, there is unity within the three. By the end, there is a sense of unity."

The unity in “Ternion” mirrors the harmony of the complete modern dance ensemble. Each piece is distinctly separate and diverse, but in the end you will appreciate modern dance as one unit, with several faces and styles.

"This concert is very interesting because the diversity in modern dance will be shown," Ibarra said, "I just hope it just opens the view people have of this kind of dancing."

Tickets are $8, but students with a valid I.D. can purchase them for $5. Tickets will be available at Payments and Collections, room 115 in the UTPA Student Services Building or at the door. For additional information contact Fred Darsow at (956) 381-2315.

A&E

Company ‘Flocks’ onstage with a ‘Bang’ DANCE

By AARON LOZANO The Pan American

"Flock & Bang!" will open the 20th anniversary of the University of Texas-Pan American's Dance Ensemble Spring Concert with energy and excitement of the electrifyingly aggressive number.

The program is scheduled to open March 4 in the UTPA Fine Arts Auditorium and will feature special guest choreography. The show will run March 4-6 at 7:30 p.m. and March 7 at 2 p.m.

The opening number is part of a collection of six very different pieces that make this year's modern dance program the most diverse yet. The program is centered on diversity in an attempt to expose its audience to a broader outlook of modern dance.

Sophomore dance minor David Ibarra describes the piece as having a “Matrix” look that is chaotic and full of energy. Ibarra, who dances in “Flock & Bang” will follow it with a satirical duet opposite Janet Bernal that explores the relationship between man and woman. "'The Johnsons' is a piece that basically parodies a couple that falls in love. It’s very humorous," Ibarra commented about another

piece he will perform.

Humor, energy, movement, and unity will set each piece in the program apart, allowing each type of dance to be fully explored.

"The program is very diverse, with a wide variety in terms of style," said Fred Darsow, one of three directors for the Modern Dance Ensemble. "This year I've been bringing in guest artists to add variety and diversity."

A final performance, “The Orange Peel Piñata,” will feature choreography from New York-based choreographer Doug Elkins.

The dance explores a variety of dancing including a Brazilian martial arts dance known as capoeira, hip-hop, and break dancing.

Elkins is a dancer rooted from the hip-hop scene, moving to his own dance company and finally becoming well known by having international commissions in places like London and Italy.

Raymond Shaw, whose choreography is featured in two of the six pieces, is more widely known for his works in the theatre. He is currently taking part in Cox cable broadcast of "Dance in Film."

“The Orange Peel Piñata” features original music from composer Evren Celimli, who

See DANCE page 10

Courtesy of the UTPA Modern Dance Company Modern dance allows dancers to perform barefoot. UTPA dancers go shoeless with grace.

AROUND TOWN Concert March 2 at 7 p.m.

Place: McAllen International Convention Center Auditorium Event: The McAllen Town Band presents “Big Band Swing and Jazz.”

Price: Tickets are $5.

Phone: 682-2871

Writers March 2 at 7 p.m.

Place: Narciso Martinez Cultural Arts Center in San Benito.

Event: Writers in all genres are invited to bring original material to share at this forum for new writers in the Rio Grande Valley.

Phone: (956) 361-0110 or (956) 350-5204

■ ■ ■

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT ■ Dance group has a ‘Bang’ . . . . . . . 7 ■ “Passion” Movie Review . . . . . . 8 - 9 ■ Cultural Day at IMAS . . . . . . . . . . 10

Students display work in the latest ‘Gallery’ LITERATURE

marketing of the magazine.

“Students submit ideas for the cover, poster and newspaper ads,” Cararas said.

It is time for the production of the “Then the students vote on what will be university’s literary arts magazine, The used.”

The Gallery encompasses four different Gallery. This multiple award-winning student magazine has been in publication mediums, essay poetry, art, photography, since 1980 and will soon put in its 24th and prose, which are broken down into short stories. This magazine is a learning appearance on campus.

All UTPA students, both graduate and tool for those in the class, as well as a creative outlet for all undergraduate, are UTPA students. encouraged to submit “It showcases work in any or all of students’ original works these categories and of art, photos, prose, may submit as many and poetry,” Cararas items as they want. The said. final day for subThe Gallery benefits missions is Friday, Feb. those that are involved 27 at 5 p.m. in its creative process in The Gallery is a class many ways. It offers project of students students a look into the enrolled in English literary world.

3334, Special Readings, “The students can get and is sponsored by the a feel of how it is to get University Press. This their work published,” class is taught by Desirae Aguirre, Professor Sandra English major, said.

Cararas, and is designed “It’s a coming out, a to teach students stepping stone for everything they need to students.” know about a literary Cararas has issued a arts magazine.

“It’s a class in which Last year’s Gallery cover had a pastoral special request for the students learn about feel. The entire magazine is produced submissions that are lacking in a specific putting a magazine solely by students. category. She is looking together,” Cararas said.

“It’s a great training ground for students in for photography together with a story, both dealing with literature and art. It also gives done by the same person. Currently, none the students an opportunity for acquiring a have been submitted, so anyone who is interested should get out their cameras and new skill.”

Joel West, an English major, is taking the pencils.

Guidelines for entries require works to be course this semester. He feels that the publication is important to the entire typed, and avoid fancy fonts. The two acceptable fonts are Times New Roman and university as well as his class.

“It [Gallery] represents our student Arial.

The decision of what will be published body,” said West. “It allows people in the student body to express feelings and ideas rests solely with the students of the class. that they wouldn’t otherwise have an When submissions arrive the names are blacked out and they are assigned a number audience for.”

As faculty adviser for Gallery, Cararas’ according to the category they are in.

After the submissions are numbered, role is to serve as senior editor. The production, selection of works, and design students of the class individually and is done by the students. In addition, students anonymously evaluate each piece. The are responsible for the advertising and See GALLERY page 10

By BRITTANY HOLT The Pan American

Festival March 3-7 Place: Dodge Arena Event: Borderfest 2004 is around the corner.

Enjoy at least 100 bands on 15 festival stages.

Price: Ticket prices range from $4 to $36, and are available at Circle K stores Valleywide.

Phone: (956) 843-2302

Play Feb. 26-29 at 8 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday and 2 p.m. on Sunday Place: Albert Jeffers Theater at UTPA Event: Watch Shakespeare’s “Julius Caesar” Price: Tickets are $5 general admission, $3 for students third grade and above, no charge for students with I.D. Phone: (956) 381-3581

February 26, 2004

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Page 8

February 26, 2004

† “PATASSION ” THE MOVIES

One of the most talked about movies of all time, “The Passion of the Christ” raises emotional and controversial religious issues.

Reporter Christina Harris discusses the films message and whether or not this movie is something heaven-sent, or just another Hollywood disaster.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

The controversy surrounding “The Passion of the Christ” has been all over the media, dominated people’s conversations, church sermons, and has been the topic of numerous talk shows.

“The Passion” has also been a film that can make or break director/producer Mel Gibson. Since Gibson took on the project, he has been the focus of public scrutiny by many church groups. Fortunately, though, all this publicity has made sure that Gibson’s movie gets attention, and lots of it.

“My intention for this film was to create a lasting work of art and to stimulate serious thought and reflection among diverse audiences of all backgrounds,” says Gibson, on the movie’s website.

Unlike other biblical movies, ‘The Passion of the Christ’ focuses on the last 12 hours of Christ’s life, one of the most well-known moments in history. It starts with Jesus praying at Gethsemane, the Garden of Olives, where he fights the temptation of Satan. While a beautiful scene to behold, the film begins with Jesus already fighting for his life and in agony over the fate he knows he must face.

Judas, the one who betrays Jesus, leads the Pharisees to his location where Jesus is arrested and led back to Jerusalem. He is accused of blasphemy and sentenced to death. Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor, is conflicted by politics so he sends him to King Herod. Pilate is forced to make the decision surrounding the situation so he washes his hands of it and gives Jesus to the people. In a mob mentality led by Caiphus, the High Priest, who seems to have a hatred for Jesus, the crowd chooses to chastise and crucify him.

An hour into the movie, the torture begins and lasts throughout the entire film.

The soldiers, filled with such hatred, joyfully flagellate--or severely whip-- Jesus for what seems like an eternity. An eerie hush fell over the audience during this scene and many people could be heard weeping throughout the entire movie. It seems as though the reality of the punishment has hit them, especially since it is considered a true story by Christians.

The only thing wrong with the scene was the look on Mary’s face. Her son is being brutally beaten and she stands there looking glossy-eyed and lethargic, as opposed to crying hysterically, which would be the obvious reaction. Even Pilate’s wife, Claudia, standing nearby seems more upset than she does. Although Mary does seem to possess a calm quality during the scene, Maia Morgenstern, an outstanding Romanian actress, portrays her brilliantly during the rest of the film.

The special effects during the scenes were incredibly realistic. When the whip comes across Jesus’ back, you can actually see the slashes make a mark on his body.

The scene is pretty gruesome though, and many people, including this reviewer, had to look down and cover their face. The whipping goes on for nearly 10 minutes, very slowly. It seems that Gibson wanted to emphasize every beating.

Satan makes a few appearances, showing itself and its demons, in various places in the crowd and during a scene where he taunts Judas. A very disturbing looking person, Satan (played by Rosalinda Celentano) looks like a woman but speaks in the voice of a male: confusing, yet sinister. With an extremely pale face and light piercing eyes, the character of Satan is distinguishable throughout.

Jesus, played by Jim Caviezel, is the exact opposite, exuding love and forgiveness. It’s only when he is tortured do we feel his pain and anguish. After he is fitted with a huge crown of thorns, he must walk the streets carrying the infamous 300-pound cross. His body looks like that of a horror movie, badly beaten and cut all over.

It is hard to look at this movie but see it only as a movie. One can’t help but see the history, the nails going into his hands a painful reminder of the historical background. In what is a very realistic effect by a Biblical movie, the nails being thrust into the hands and feet of Jesus look painfully realistic. The audience in the theater literally gasped, even though they knew what was going to happen. The cross being raised is an awe-inspiring moment, with all the characters looking up mistyeyed. At this point, periodic sobs could be heard throughout the theater.

Besides the beautiful cinematography and equally beautiful soundtrack, the actors in the movie were truly amazing. Most of them were Italian actors, since the movie was filmed in Italy, but each one brought something different to the screen. Monica Bellucci, best known for her role as the voluptuous cyber-goddess Persephone in “The Matrix” movies, portrayed Mary Magdalene perfectly. The movie also stars famous Italian actors, Mattia Sbragia (Caiphus), Claudia Gerini (Pilate’s wife), and

Page 9

(Above) Several scenes from the film “The Passion of the Christ.”

All pictures courtesy of www.thepassionofthechrist.com

Luca Lionello (Judas). Playing Pilate was Bulgarian actor Hristo Naumov Shopov. Each person was brilliant in their part and cast to perfection.

The controversy surrounding the movie is not a secret. Some Jewish leaders have been offended by the movie, saying it might induce anti-Semitic sentiments. The two main problems involved a humanized Pontius Pilate, who was supposed to be a tyrant, and the Jews, who were historically thought by Christians to be the reason why Jesus died. However, when watching this movie, those thoughts didn’t come to mind. Some of the Jews who were part of the mob were angry and skeptical, but there were also some Jews in the streets who were mourning and crying out to help Jesus.

Gibson, who co-wrote the screenplay, has different hopes for the movie. On the movie’s website, he said he wanted to remain as true to the story as possible and express it his own way creatively.

“My ultimate hope is that this story’s message of tremendous courage and sacrifice might inspire tolerance, love and forgiveness,” said Gibson. “We’re definitely in need of those things in today’s world.”

For believers and non-believers alike, this movie is painful and emotional, and this reviewer challenges anyone to see this movie and not think about it for a long time afterward. Warning: women, do not wear mascara or eye makeup of any kind; men, take tissues and be prepared to comfort those around you.

“My ultimate hope is that this story’s message of tremendous courage and sacrifice might inspire tolerance, love and forgiveness,” --Mel Gibson Director

February 26, 2004

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Page 8

February 26, 2004

† “PATASSION ” THE MOVIES

One of the most talked about movies of all time, “The Passion of the Christ” raises emotional and controversial religious issues.

Reporter Christina Harris discusses the films message and whether or not this movie is something heaven-sent, or just another Hollywood disaster.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

The controversy surrounding “The Passion of the Christ” has been all over the media, dominated people’s conversations, church sermons, and has been the topic of numerous talk shows.

“The Passion” has also been a film that can make or break director/producer Mel Gibson. Since Gibson took on the project, he has been the focus of public scrutiny by many church groups. Fortunately, though, all this publicity has made sure that Gibson’s movie gets attention, and lots of it.

“My intention for this film was to create a lasting work of art and to stimulate serious thought and reflection among diverse audiences of all backgrounds,” says Gibson, on the movie’s website.

Unlike other biblical movies, ‘The Passion of the Christ’ focuses on the last 12 hours of Christ’s life, one of the most well-known moments in history. It starts with Jesus praying at Gethsemane, the Garden of Olives, where he fights the temptation of Satan. While a beautiful scene to behold, the film begins with Jesus already fighting for his life and in agony over the fate he knows he must face.

Judas, the one who betrays Jesus, leads the Pharisees to his location where Jesus is arrested and led back to Jerusalem. He is accused of blasphemy and sentenced to death. Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor, is conflicted by politics so he sends him to King Herod. Pilate is forced to make the decision surrounding the situation so he washes his hands of it and gives Jesus to the people. In a mob mentality led by Caiphus, the High Priest, who seems to have a hatred for Jesus, the crowd chooses to chastise and crucify him.

An hour into the movie, the torture begins and lasts throughout the entire film.

The soldiers, filled with such hatred, joyfully flagellate--or severely whip-- Jesus for what seems like an eternity. An eerie hush fell over the audience during this scene and many people could be heard weeping throughout the entire movie. It seems as though the reality of the punishment has hit them, especially since it is considered a true story by Christians.

The only thing wrong with the scene was the look on Mary’s face. Her son is being brutally beaten and she stands there looking glossy-eyed and lethargic, as opposed to crying hysterically, which would be the obvious reaction. Even Pilate’s wife, Claudia, standing nearby seems more upset than she does. Although Mary does seem to possess a calm quality during the scene, Maia Morgenstern, an outstanding Romanian actress, portrays her brilliantly during the rest of the film.

The special effects during the scenes were incredibly realistic. When the whip comes across Jesus’ back, you can actually see the slashes make a mark on his body.

The scene is pretty gruesome though, and many people, including this reviewer, had to look down and cover their face. The whipping goes on for nearly 10 minutes, very slowly. It seems that Gibson wanted to emphasize every beating.

Satan makes a few appearances, showing itself and its demons, in various places in the crowd and during a scene where he taunts Judas. A very disturbing looking person, Satan (played by Rosalinda Celentano) looks like a woman but speaks in the voice of a male: confusing, yet sinister. With an extremely pale face and light piercing eyes, the character of Satan is distinguishable throughout.

Jesus, played by Jim Caviezel, is the exact opposite, exuding love and forgiveness. It’s only when he is tortured do we feel his pain and anguish. After he is fitted with a huge crown of thorns, he must walk the streets carrying the infamous 300-pound cross. His body looks like that of a horror movie, badly beaten and cut all over.

It is hard to look at this movie but see it only as a movie. One can’t help but see the history, the nails going into his hands a painful reminder of the historical background. In what is a very realistic effect by a Biblical movie, the nails being thrust into the hands and feet of Jesus look painfully realistic. The audience in the theater literally gasped, even though they knew what was going to happen. The cross being raised is an awe-inspiring moment, with all the characters looking up mistyeyed. At this point, periodic sobs could be heard throughout the theater.

Besides the beautiful cinematography and equally beautiful soundtrack, the actors in the movie were truly amazing. Most of them were Italian actors, since the movie was filmed in Italy, but each one brought something different to the screen. Monica Bellucci, best known for her role as the voluptuous cyber-goddess Persephone in “The Matrix” movies, portrayed Mary Magdalene perfectly. The movie also stars famous Italian actors, Mattia Sbragia (Caiphus), Claudia Gerini (Pilate’s wife), and

Page 9

(Above) Several scenes from the film “The Passion of the Christ.”

All pictures courtesy of www.thepassionofthechrist.com

Luca Lionello (Judas). Playing Pilate was Bulgarian actor Hristo Naumov Shopov. Each person was brilliant in their part and cast to perfection.

The controversy surrounding the movie is not a secret. Some Jewish leaders have been offended by the movie, saying it might induce anti-Semitic sentiments. The two main problems involved a humanized Pontius Pilate, who was supposed to be a tyrant, and the Jews, who were historically thought by Christians to be the reason why Jesus died. However, when watching this movie, those thoughts didn’t come to mind. Some of the Jews who were part of the mob were angry and skeptical, but there were also some Jews in the streets who were mourning and crying out to help Jesus.

Gibson, who co-wrote the screenplay, has different hopes for the movie. On the movie’s website, he said he wanted to remain as true to the story as possible and express it his own way creatively.

“My ultimate hope is that this story’s message of tremendous courage and sacrifice might inspire tolerance, love and forgiveness,” said Gibson. “We’re definitely in need of those things in today’s world.”

For believers and non-believers alike, this movie is painful and emotional, and this reviewer challenges anyone to see this movie and not think about it for a long time afterward. Warning: women, do not wear mascara or eye makeup of any kind; men, take tissues and be prepared to comfort those around you.

“My ultimate hope is that this story’s message of tremendous courage and sacrifice might inspire tolerance, love and forgiveness,” --Mel Gibson Director

Scottish Cultural Day at IMAS MUSEUM

By DULCE GONZALEZ The Pan American

The International Museum of Art and Science (IMAS) will house this year's Scottish Cultural Day, where Valley residents have the opportunity to see the roots of the Scottish people.

On Feb. 28, IMAS will open its doors to the general public in an attempt to educate people about the Scottish culture. Residents will encounter the sights and sounds of the people of Scottish descent. The day’s events will be full of educational experiences as well as fun and colorful surprises.

Ken Klabon president of the Scottish Society of South Texas stated that the Scottish are a very industrious and adventurous group of people. Many of them who came to America were not wealthy people. They came to the United States looking for a better life because they were tired of the tyrannical types of governments found in Europe. The King of England wanted to rule them, but the Scottish people did not want to be ruled by a king of another country.

Indentured servitude became the people's way out, where a wealthy person would pay passage to the colonies and in return were required to work as slaves for seven to 14 years. The Scottish people could not afford to buy land in the East, so they headed west to Kentucky, Indiana, the Ohio Valley and other states. In 1830 land became available in Texas and with the money they possessed they made Texas their new home.

Now that people of Scottish decent settled in the state of Texas they have created a way to meet and stay in contact with each other. The society was formed in 1981. The group has meetings in the Lower Valley every second Tuesday of the month and in the Upper Valley every third Tuesday of the month.

According to Klabon, the society was created so that like-minded people could get together. For most of their meetings they have guest speakers. They encourage people who have visited or lived in Scotland to share their experiences through slides, stories, and pictures. Several members of the society were born and raised in Scottish areas so they share their experiences growing up in Scotland, England, and Wales.

"It [the society] was formed so that people of Scottish heritage could get

Gallery

Dance

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

February 26, 2004

together and share stories," said Klabon.

This year Scotland is coming to McAllen.

The Scottish Cultural Day, at IMAS, will feature bagpipes, a Scottish marketplace, educational shows for children, and other Scottish activities for the whole family.

Several workshops will be held throughout the day with sessions that teach people how to make jewelry, shortbread, lessons in bagpipe playing, Scottish square dancing and many more activities that are traditional to the culture.

The men can compete in athletic events such as, the Highland Games and golf putting because Scotland is thought to be the "home of golf." They will have bow shoot competitions as well as a British Auto Show.

The marketplace will feature a Scottish Tea Room. Spinners, weavers, woodcarvers, and fencers will be present to show their crafts and talents, and there will be a fashion show complete with the well-known kilt. Scottish cookbooks and jewelry will be available for sale to the public.

According to Klabon, the event is intended to be an educational experience to all those who attend because Scottish heritage is so prevalent in Texas. Thirty to 40 percent of the men who lost their lives in the Alamo were of Scottish descent.

"One of the things that I personally want people from the Valley to understand is that there's a lot of Scottish heritage here in the state of Texas," Klabon said. "We want them to understand that Texas is not all Tejano."

Robert Rankin, vice-president of the Scottish Society of South Texas, wants the event to interest the youth. He explained that they host events like this one in order to have fun.

"We would like to see younger people get involved," Rankin said. "We want to open a door to people to see our traditions."

The events begin at 9 a.m. with the presentation of the colors followed by an invocation, the official welcome, and an array of events.

For those who wish to attend more than one event, several renditions of the day's activities will be available at different times. After a full day of educational sessions, shows, and games the closing ceremony will mark the end of the festivities at 4 p.m. with the retirement of the colors. IMAS will charge a minimal museum fee for entrance to the Scottish Cultural Day.

continued from page 7

submissions are ranked with numbers one through five. Numbers five, four, and three are then considered for publication.

After deciding which submissions will be published, they are then judged for The Gallery’s annual contest. There are prizes for first, second, and third place in each category. The honorable mention for each medium will receive a certificate.

The winners are not the only people who receive a prize. Each person who has work that is published will receive a complementary issue of The Gallery. All awards will be given out on April 27 at a reception.

After competing against other UTPA writers for prizes, entries are judged on a higher level against other colleges. The Gallery magazine is entered in Texas Intercollegiate Press Association (TIPA) in the literary arts category. There are prizes for the best overall magazines and cover as well as for individual writers in various categories.

For those interested, pick up submission form at room 266 in the UTPA Communication Arts and Science building. If special accommodations are needed, please call (956) 361-3638.

Page 10

continued from page 7

received a master’s degree in music composition from the University of Sussex in the United Kingdom.

Darsow, Melinda Blomquist, and Dana Shackelford direct the ensemble. According to Blomquist, this is the first year the program will include a post-performance discussion session with the artists, allowing the audience to ask questions.

"This is the first time we have this and we thought it would be a good idea, especially since we have these guest artists," Blomquist said. "For a program that’s as new as ours, with its second year of being a dance major, its pretty impressive."

Blomquist will direct a piece she choreographed called “Ternion,” which catches the complete essence of the show’s diversity. Three dancers with separate movements and dances will form one thing, unity.

"The trio is about the three dancers as one," she said. "Even though there is diversity in each of them, there is unity within the three. By the end, there is a sense of unity."

The unity in “Ternion” mirrors the harmony of the complete modern dance ensemble. Each piece is distinctly separate and diverse, but in the end you will appreciate modern dance as one unit, with several faces and styles.

"This concert is very interesting because the diversity in modern dance will be shown," Ibarra said, "I just hope it just opens the view people have of this kind of dancing."

Tickets are $8, but students with a valid I.D. can purchase them for $5. Tickets will be available at Payments and Collections, room 115 in the UTPA Student Services Building or at the door. For additional information contact Fred Darsow at (956) 381-2315.

A&E

Company ‘Flocks’ onstage with a ‘Bang’ DANCE

By AARON LOZANO The Pan American

"Flock & Bang!" will open the 20th anniversary of the University of Texas-Pan American's Dance Ensemble Spring Concert with energy and excitement of the electrifyingly aggressive number.

The program is scheduled to open March 4 in the UTPA Fine Arts Auditorium and will feature special guest choreography. The show will run March 4-6 at 7:30 p.m. and March 7 at 2 p.m.

The opening number is part of a collection of six very different pieces that make this year's modern dance program the most diverse yet. The program is centered on diversity in an attempt to expose its audience to a broader outlook of modern dance.

Sophomore dance minor David Ibarra describes the piece as having a “Matrix” look that is chaotic and full of energy. Ibarra, who dances in “Flock & Bang” will follow it with a satirical duet opposite Janet Bernal that explores the relationship between man and woman. "'The Johnsons' is a piece that basically parodies a couple that falls in love. It’s very humorous," Ibarra commented about another

piece he will perform.

Humor, energy, movement, and unity will set each piece in the program apart, allowing each type of dance to be fully explored.

"The program is very diverse, with a wide variety in terms of style," said Fred Darsow, one of three directors for the Modern Dance Ensemble. "This year I've been bringing in guest artists to add variety and diversity."

A final performance, “The Orange Peel Piñata,” will feature choreography from New York-based choreographer Doug Elkins.

The dance explores a variety of dancing including a Brazilian martial arts dance known as capoeira, hip-hop, and break dancing.

Elkins is a dancer rooted from the hip-hop scene, moving to his own dance company and finally becoming well known by having international commissions in places like London and Italy.

Raymond Shaw, whose choreography is featured in two of the six pieces, is more widely known for his works in the theatre. He is currently taking part in Cox cable broadcast of "Dance in Film."

“The Orange Peel Piñata” features original music from composer Evren Celimli, who

See DANCE page 10

Courtesy of the UTPA Modern Dance Company Modern dance allows dancers to perform barefoot. UTPA dancers go shoeless with grace.

AROUND TOWN Concert March 2 at 7 p.m.

Place: McAllen International Convention Center Auditorium Event: The McAllen Town Band presents “Big Band Swing and Jazz.”

Price: Tickets are $5.

Phone: 682-2871

Writers March 2 at 7 p.m.

Place: Narciso Martinez Cultural Arts Center in San Benito.

Event: Writers in all genres are invited to bring original material to share at this forum for new writers in the Rio Grande Valley.

Phone: (956) 361-0110 or (956) 350-5204

■ ■ ■

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT ■ Dance group has a ‘Bang’ . . . . . . . 7 ■ “Passion” Movie Review . . . . . . 8 - 9 ■ Cultural Day at IMAS . . . . . . . . . . 10

Students display work in the latest ‘Gallery’ LITERATURE

marketing of the magazine.

“Students submit ideas for the cover, poster and newspaper ads,” Cararas said.

It is time for the production of the “Then the students vote on what will be university’s literary arts magazine, The used.”

The Gallery encompasses four different Gallery. This multiple award-winning student magazine has been in publication mediums, essay poetry, art, photography, since 1980 and will soon put in its 24th and prose, which are broken down into short stories. This magazine is a learning appearance on campus.

All UTPA students, both graduate and tool for those in the class, as well as a creative outlet for all undergraduate, are UTPA students. encouraged to submit “It showcases work in any or all of students’ original works these categories and of art, photos, prose, may submit as many and poetry,” Cararas items as they want. The said. final day for subThe Gallery benefits missions is Friday, Feb. those that are involved 27 at 5 p.m. in its creative process in The Gallery is a class many ways. It offers project of students students a look into the enrolled in English literary world.

3334, Special Readings, “The students can get and is sponsored by the a feel of how it is to get University Press. This their work published,” class is taught by Desirae Aguirre, Professor Sandra English major, said.

Cararas, and is designed “It’s a coming out, a to teach students stepping stone for everything they need to students.” know about a literary Cararas has issued a arts magazine.

“It’s a class in which Last year’s Gallery cover had a pastoral special request for the students learn about feel. The entire magazine is produced submissions that are lacking in a specific putting a magazine solely by students. category. She is looking together,” Cararas said.

“It’s a great training ground for students in for photography together with a story, both dealing with literature and art. It also gives done by the same person. Currently, none the students an opportunity for acquiring a have been submitted, so anyone who is interested should get out their cameras and new skill.”

Joel West, an English major, is taking the pencils.

Guidelines for entries require works to be course this semester. He feels that the publication is important to the entire typed, and avoid fancy fonts. The two acceptable fonts are Times New Roman and university as well as his class.

“It [Gallery] represents our student Arial.

The decision of what will be published body,” said West. “It allows people in the student body to express feelings and ideas rests solely with the students of the class. that they wouldn’t otherwise have an When submissions arrive the names are blacked out and they are assigned a number audience for.”

As faculty adviser for Gallery, Cararas’ according to the category they are in.

After the submissions are numbered, role is to serve as senior editor. The production, selection of works, and design students of the class individually and is done by the students. In addition, students anonymously evaluate each piece. The are responsible for the advertising and See GALLERY page 10

By BRITTANY HOLT The Pan American

Festival March 3-7 Place: Dodge Arena Event: Borderfest 2004 is around the corner.

Enjoy at least 100 bands on 15 festival stages.

Price: Ticket prices range from $4 to $36, and are available at Circle K stores Valleywide.

Phone: (956) 843-2302

Play Feb. 26-29 at 8 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday and 2 p.m. on Sunday Place: Albert Jeffers Theater at UTPA Event: Watch Shakespeare’s “Julius Caesar” Price: Tickets are $5 general admission, $3 for students third grade and above, no charge for students with I.D. Phone: (956) 381-3581

February 26, 2004

THE PAN AMERICAN

Page 6

Newest doctoral degree developing in manufacturing

By CECI CASTANEDA The Pan American

Once upon a time Pan American University crouched humbly in the northern corner of the Rio Grande Valley, labeled the backup school for hundreds of ostentatious high school seniors in the ranks of the top 110 percent. UTPA was derisively called “Taco Tech” by people feeling that the local university paled in comparison to upstate institutions.

But since Pan American joined the University of Texas System and became the University of TexasPan American in 1989, things have changed for the better in terms of reputation. State funding has led to increased enrollment, and also to the addition of more graduate programs, making UTPA a solid higher education option for more local students than ever. The most recent figures state that the university has over 15,000 students.

The changes continue. As of the beginning of February, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) approved the planning of eight new degrees for the University of Texas Pan American, including a manufacturing doctoral program. The new program will some day join doctoral efforts in educational leadership, pharmacy, and business.

Planning the program is the first step in implementing the new doctoral program. The university arranged a coordinating board to evaluate the needs of manufacturing professionals in the Valley, state and nation. Due to a recent manufacturing labor shift, the U.S. economy needs more manufacturing to attract production of quality products. The border region is no different.

“The border is a major component in this economy,” said Dr. Michael Eastman, dean of the College of Science and Engineering. “Some

maquilas are involved in advanced methods of engineering. A pool of talent is going to attract business; they will help the United States and Mexico, making more competitive products.”

The projected manufacturing doctoral program at UTPA hopes to generate this pool of talent, training and helping students develop more efficient manufacturing methods. Efficiency produces the most precious commodities: time and money. Thus, companies of all scopes continually invest in manufacturing professionals, and the need for them increases.

Water plants need manufactures to design products that use less water; pharmaceutical companies need manufactures designing machines that can reconfigure to make more products quickly.

Even the tortilla and hamburger industries need manufacturing professionals.

At a recent visit to the facilities at Pan Am, H-EB employers announced a need for manufacturing engineers at their tortilla factory. Their aim is to make mass quantities of tortillas without losing the quality in flavor and texture, according to Dr. Edwin LeMaster, associate dean of the College of Science and Engineering.

Also, manufacture engineering students recently researched and H & H meat market.

“They were looking at machines that produce hamburgers which meet the exact needs of the company,” LeMaster said.

All of this falls under an increasingly popular method in production, mass customization. Mass customization involves building on an original design and adjusting it to customer wants and needs.

“Mass customization is making products cost effectively and in the customer’s time frame,” Eastman explained. “For example, one customer wants a truck painted blue and yellow and another

Franco Caballero/The Pan American

ROCKING— Patrick Garcia guitarist for the band “Chauffeur” plays during the Rockfest on Wednesday night at the Student Union Theater. The band has been together for one year and will play two Spring Break shows, March 13 and 19 at Island Oasis at South Padre Island.

customer in purple and pink. Companies can do this easily by using a previous design in a machine designed by a manufacturing engineer.”

Another growing interest is green manufacturing, a method that proves environment-efficient.

“In green manufacturing you don’t have waste products dumped into air, soil or water,” LeMaster said. “Manufacturing engineers develop products that help the environment.”

Thus, as the need for customer specialization and environment conservation increase, so does the need for manufacturing professionals, especially ones with a coveted Ph.D. The recent downturn affected the Texas economy just as hard as the nation’s. Jobs were lost; labor shifted to overseas sources, and Texan citizens felt a blow to their pride.

“The strength of a recovery remains uncertain,” reports the February issue of Texas Monthly. “Many manufacturing and low-end tech positions have been shipped overseas.”

Yet, however idealistic it sounds, a new manufacturing doctoral program in Texas could decrease the uncertainty plaguing the minds of unemployed Texans.

“People who get their Ph.D. tend to say in the area,” Eastman explained. “We can attract high caliber people and contribute to the economy.”

In a chain reaction, manufacturing doctoral program produces professionals as jobs are created.

Therefore, the engineering faculty and coordinating board are working hard to complete their projected degree plan. The university is turning to the Society of Manufacturing Engineers and assessing student demand for the program.

Coordinators are also contacting different institutions and examining their programs and the courses involved. Eastman and LeMaster hope to complete the planning process within three years.

February 26, 2004

BETA

Page 11

THE PAN AMERICAN

continued from page 1

“We need to have in mind that there is not only one border, but there are two MexicoUnited States and Mexico-Guatemala,” said Efrain Perez current member of Beta, in Spanish.

On the northern border, Beta protects immigrants by leaving water and food supplies on frequently traveled paths. The group also patrols the desert on the lookout for immigrants who need help.

Its lifeguards watch the Rio Grande to prevent immigrants from drowning.

“I was crossing the river through Matamoros when I felt current pulling me down. Someone jumped into the river and pull me out,” said Julian Gallegos, a Mexican speaking in Spanish, “They took me to the hospital and later I found out they were members of Beta.”

Central and South American immigrants have a more difficult journey getting to the United States; they have to cross two borders. Beta protects the Central and South American immigrants from gangs like the “Marasalvatrucha,” whose members rob people and have killed dozens of travelers.

Beta searches trains for immigrants who are in danger of dying from asphyxiation.

Furthermore, the organization defends immigrants from corrupt Mexican police officers who use their power to steal money, mistreat people, and often rape women.

“When I was crossing the border from Guatemala to Mexico, the police officers took the only money I had,” said Rodrigo Lemos an immigrant from Guatemala, in Spanish. “Beta took me to identify the police officers and help me recover my money.”

Another function of Beta is to guide

immigrants to a shelter provided by the Catholic Church. Many times, immigrants from Central and South America, plus Mexico, use the shelters as a halfway house.

“When the United States Border Patrol deported me to Mexico, Beta pick me up and brought me to this Catholic shelter,” said Alejandro Lopez an immigrant from Chiapas, Mexico, in Spanish.

Not everything has been easy for the Beta organization; there have been some problems affecting the group’s reputation.

One such problem came in June 2000 when two men from Matamoros drowned in the Rio Grande. Beta tried to rescue them, but was unsuccessful. A Mexican Television Network televised the incident and both Mexican and U.S. citizens blamed Beta for the deaths.

“We did everything possible to save these two lives. The current was very strong and made it impossible for our lifeguards to rescue them,” said Bernardo Lara, director of Matamoros’ Beta sector, in Spanish.

Even though the incident was very controversial at that time, the Mexican government continues to support Beta’s work with immigrants.

Another problem is that many people, especially in the United States, feel that groups like Beta are aiding and abetting illegal immigration. The work they do to help migrants also helps break American laws, ironically.

Despite the difficulties of the job, and the political questions such work raises, Beta is still active on the borders, trying to save lives. The Beta group can be contacted at Beta Matamoros, Mexico, at 01-88-123664.

GONZALES

continued from page 4

flagged out of 27,400 screened at U.S. airports.

Gonzales said, “Since September 11th immigration reform has not really changed at all except now there is a U.S. Homeland Security Department that has made everything tighter. There are more obstacles to overcome, if you plan on messing with our country”.

Gonzales added that once screening occurs, it is up to the government to make sure the process does not get out of hand.

“People have certain rights, and screening to an extreme level could violate personal liberties,” said Gonzales. “In some cases profiling is necessary but screening must be equal for all if it is implemented.”

The one question that remains is, Where will the country get the money to fund this project? According to the Department of Homeland Security, the program is expected to cost $7 billion over 12 years.

“That is exactly the question I have been asking myself and officials in Washington.

It’s one of the big flaws of this program but the answers I’ve been getting have not been good enough,” said Gonzales. “Some proposals have merit, others do not. I’m all for security but each country has its own sovereignty and so the U.S. should put programs on our plate that are reasonable and not excessive in order to protect our borders.”

The one question that remains is, Where will the country get the money to fund this project? According to the Department of Homeland Security, the program is expected to cost $7 billion over 12 years.

“That is exactly the question I have been asking myself and officials in Washington.

It’s one of the big flaws of this program but the answers I’ve been getting have not been good enough,” said Gonzales. “Some proposals have merit, others do not. I’m all for security but each country has its own sovereignty and so the U.S. should put programs on our plate that are reasonable and not excessive in order to protect our borders.”

REPORTERS WANTED THOSE INTERESTED IN WRITING FOR THE PAN AMERICAN CAN CALL 381-2541 ALSO AVAILABLE ARE POSITIONS FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS GRAPHIC DESIGNERS, AND SPORTS WRITERS

February 26, 2004

Page 12

THE PAN AMERICAN

PASSION

continued from page 1

p icture can certainly walk away saying,

Daniel Aguilar/The Pan American

STUMPING— Ofelia de los Santos (left) and Bobby Flores are running for the 139th District Court, and appeared on campus Tuesday to talk about their views.

UTPA has been alive with politicians in the past two weeks, and today sheriff candidates Enrique Escalon and Lupe Treviño are scheduled to speak in SBSC 207 at noon.

TEACHER

continued from page 3

certified

The student’s core hours depend on the subject he/she is interested in teaching. A student may want to teach math or reading for the high school level, so the core teaching overview would be in the subject’s methods. A student who declares EC 4, which is considered fourth-grade level, would concentrate on the methodologies for the basics, such as math, reading, and science.

Prior to the new federal mandate, people in the program were allowed to teach for three years before trying to pass the state exam.

What should a returning student do to get in the program and get certified?

Salazar said there are three steps: Step one, the returning student must have graduated with a GPA of a 2.5, and should and re-enroll for ACP through admissions. They have to take and pass the TASP or THEA [older returning students] and bring an academic letter of recommendation. Step two, students must take the 15-hour pre-internship courses. And step three, the student must apply at a school district for an internship.

While interning the student gets paid, unlike straight education majors, Salazar mentioned.

Eventually students who participate in ACP have to pass two parts of the teaching certification program, called Texas Examinations of Educators Standards, the new test for certified teachers.

“The new law states that [precertified teachers] have to be involved while in the program,” Salazar said.

“Our thing now is that [students] have to get a contract and pass one of the state’s teaching exams, in order to teach.”

The student then has a year to complete the ACP and pass the second part of the exam, if they haven’t already passed both. While teaching, students are given a mentor [a certified teacher from the district] and a supervisor from the program, Salazar explained.

After the program is complete and tests are passed, ACP then sends off the student’s information and the state grants certification good for five years.

The teacher then has the school district’s recommendation to extend the certification at intervals of five years.

The ACP will be having a showcase program this Saturday, Feb. 28 from 9 a.m. until noon UTPA Annex, located on Closner Road (or Business 281) in Edinburg.

“We are going to have great offers for post-graduates and graduating seniors, who choose to participate in the ACP program,” Salazar said. “There will be an opportunity to qualify for a low interest rate to buy house for beginning teachers. There will also be scholarships and financial aid opportunities.”

Pre-graduates interested should call to register for the showcase or enroll for the summer program at 381-3486.

‘The Jews are to blame‚’ and really they’re not.”

Brenda Riojas, relations director for the Catholic Diocese of Brownsville, said the Diocese would be hosting a forum Saturday that will allow people to discuss the issues and ask priests any questions that they may have.

“The whole purpose is to assist those who view the movie in reflection on the experience through the context of prayer and the church’s tradition,” Riojas said.

According to Riojas, there have not, as of recently, been any concerns among local Catholics about anti-Semitic attitudes after seeing the film.

The St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in McAllen plans to take both high school youth and adults to see the film. After a flood of advanced publicity from Christian organizations, Melanie Dehning, the minister of Youth and Families, encouraged the congregation to view the film.

“We recommended the film to our church, we want to prepare people ahead of time and allow them to talk about it because it is so emotional and intense,” said Dehning, who showed clips of the film in church.

“It tells the story like it was and it’s also a wonderful outreach opportunity for people to invite their friends who may not be religious to talk about the movie,” she said. “Anybody who sees it will realize that Jesus died for me.”

CONFLICTING VIEWS On the opposite side of the spectrum on the issue is the Jewish perspective.

Rabbi Steven Rosenberg, Ph.D. of Temple Emmanuel in McAllen said the majority of the anger in the Jewish community is that Gibson did not allow many major Jewish organizations to view the film beforehand to allow them to draw their own opinions to take back to their communities. Some, like Abraham Foxman of the Anti Defamation League, viewed pirated copies and complained about what they saw as uneven portrayals of Jews as bloodthirsty for the death of Christ.

Rosenberg has one main issue with the film and all of the media exposure it has gotten in the past several months.

“It should be put into perspective, and the proper perspective is that it is a movie,” he said. “It is a novelization of the last few hours of the life of Jesus; this is not put out by the Catholic Church or any Christian organization. This is the work of Mel Gibson.”

While he said that Gibson is allowed to make any type of movie he chooses, Rosenberg mentioned that the Jewish community recognizes that the crucifixion of Jesus is a painful and important part of Christian theology.

“There was criticism towards how Jews were portrayed [in the film] and may not be true to the Gospels. That’s what the Jewish community was concerned about,” he said.

On the issue of anti-Semitic thoughts by people seeing the film, a topic of discussion for several months now, Rosenberg said he doesn’t foresee any of that occurring.

“I think when people talk about antiSemitic thoughts, they don’t give enough credit to the Christian community,” he said. “I think most Christians live by the

tenets of Jesus who advocated peace and to love your neighbor as yourself.”

The release of this film offers a good opportunity for people of all religions to sit down and discuss their differences in a respectful way, Rosenberg continued.

He said that he hopes people will view this film with an open mind.

“It’s important to understand that it is just a movie,” he reiterated. “It’s going to be a novelization; it isn’t a documentary. We’re basing this on the Bible and the Bible is not particularly a history book. It is a book of stories on people’s experiences.

Churches shouldn’t sell this as the absolute truth because nobody knows. I wasn’t there, neither were you, and neither was Mel Gibson.”

Rosenberg will be traveling to New York to view the film with several other rabbis and priests. After seeing it. They will have an open dialogue.

“One good thing about this is that we can come out of the movie and talk about our differences, and there’s more things that we have in common than that sets us apart,” he said.

All of the film’s media exposure has got people talking, some about the fears of anti-Semitism, others about not being able to have screened it, and others about fears that the portrayal is very violent and graphic. Rosenberg said, “certainly the film has a huge amount of hype, but that’s what sells movies, right?”

It is important, he added, to recognize that this is a work of someone’s art, not a depiction of the truth.

“This is one person’s view of how they interpret the Passion of Jesus and should be looked at like that,” he said. “Whether it’s true or not, it’s an opinion; people need to be mindful of that. It’s not an official position; it’s an artistic piece.”

WorldNet Day reported that renowned evangelist Billy Graham was moved to tears when he saw the film. Graham said in a statement that the film is “faithful to the Bible’s teaching that we are responsible for Jesus‚ death, because we all have sinned,” he said. “[It was] Our sins that caused His death, not any particular group.”

Despite initial reports to the contrary, the official position of the Catholic Church is that Pope John Paul II did not offer his opinion on the film after he saw it. In an article from the Catholic News Service, the director of the Vatican Press office, Joaquin Navarro-Valls said in a statement, “It is a common practice of the Holy Father not to express public opinions on artistic works, opinions that are always open to different evaluations of aesthetic characteristics.”

Melissa Ortiz, 28, of McAllen said the film’s controversy is just another issue that will be taken out of hand.

“Everything always gets misinterpreted,” said the UTPA general studies major. “It’s just another thing that’s going to be misinterpreted.”

Joe Gomez, 24, a projection manager at Carmike Theater in Edinburg, watched the film alone on Monday as part of his screening job, and was moved by what he saw.

“I think people are going to be impressed, Mel Gibson didn’t sugarcoat it at all,” said Gomez, a broadcast journalism major. “There were no implications as to the Jews [being responsible for] killing Him in the movie.”

February 26, 2004

Page 5

THE PAN AMERICAN

Exchange program now includes professors

By VANESSA R. CASTILLO The Pan American

The Office of International Studies is known for its foreign country study abroad programs that enrich student education, but is also provides a similar service for UTPA professors. With the cooperation of the Instituto Tecnologico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey, (Institute of Technology and Superior Studies in Monterrey), UTPA professors are given the chance to lecture on campuses in Mexico.

ITESM is one of the most prestigious universities in the world. The school originated in Monterrey, but has several satellite schools; 22 of which are located throughout Mexico, and there are nine in Latin America and Europe. ITESM is a private school system that has high student enrollment standards.

According to Marilu Salazar, the director of the International Education and Exchange Program at UTPA, an agreement of cooperation was reached in 1989 to formally recognize student and faculty exchanges between UTPA and ITESM. “Some of our students are over there now, and some of our professors were at Campus Guadalajara last summer,” Salazar said.

This year ITESM is asking UTPA’s OIS to help recruit professors for their exchange program in Saltillo. They are only interested in professors who specialize in the fields of international business, marketing, finance, industrial engineering, and accounting. Because ITESM Saltillo focuses mainly in these areas of study, they prefer that professors interested in the program have a Ph.D. Faculty exchange applicant Dr. Angela Vergara, professor of history and philosophy at UTPA, is excited about the idea of traveling to and learning about, a place she has never been. She would like to see a bridge join two educational systems that are so geographically close.

“I’m from Chile and I’m very interested in making a connection between Latin American Countries and America,” Vergara said. “It seems like a good place

to start because they are next door to each other; plus, I’ve always wanted to live in Mexico.”

Professors do not just have to teach at ITESM campuses; they have the choice to conduct research too. In addition, ITESM provides faculty exchange personnel with teaching and or research supplies, medical insurance, housing, a set salary similar to the wages professors earn in Mexico, and if they want to travel with their families, ITESM helps find schools for their children. Classes taught by UTPA professors are taught in English.

ITESM Campus Guadalajara offered the exchange program last summer. Dr. Linda Mathews, professor of international business, marketing, and human resource management at UTPA, taught there last June.

“Their faculty was so helpful and very nice. The students are wonderful,” she added. “The only thing that isn’t cool about the campus is that it isn’t close to anything. But everything else is great.”

Mathews and Salazar, who has also visited ITESM Guadalajara, said it is a beautiful, state-of-the-art facility. Mathews also said, apart from teaching, she was able to explore several research topics in surrounding areas.

“Guadalajara is known as Mexico’s Silicon Valley, there are many hi-tech factories down there, and we would focus on multinationals that do the manufacturing.”

Mathews also mentioned that she and the other exchange faculty had access to all university perks, like the use of a faculty workout facility, tennis courts, soccer fields, an Olympic-size swimming pool, meal tickets, and cable TV. The institute in Guadalajara will begin their exchange program again this summer, and at the Saltillo campus next fall. Ivonne Tovar, the International Studies Program Adviser at UTPA, said Saltillo has about 1,300 students currently enrolled, and their semester schedules is similar to that of UTPA. Tovar, a native of Colombia, believes faculty members who partake in the exchange will benefit

from the experience.

“Internationalization is the goal for the campuses in Mexico,” she said. “Any opportunity a person has to go to another country is a good one; there is so much to learn in other places.”

Plans to return to ITESM’s Guadalajara campus are in the works, said Mathews. She is enthusiastic about going back. Professors interested in applying for the exchange program must submit a resume, a cover letter, proof of their doctoral certification, and their birth certificate in order to be considered for a position.

Faculty Study Abroad Office of International Studies T he(OIS) offers the chance for UTPA professors to teach and travel in Mexico and Latin America.

Sponsoring university: Institute of Technology and Superior Studies in Monterrey (ITESM) ❖ Has 22 locations in Mexico, nine in Latin America.

Examples: campuses at Saltillo, Guadalajara Main teaching areas available: International business, marketing, finance, industrial engineering, accounting.

Zaidan lives childhood dream in Edinburg

By ANGELA I. CANALES The Pan American

Biology II, Biology Seminar, Herpetology, and Ecological Physiology.

“He is a new faculty that Most adults only wish they had followed started in August replacing through with their childhood dreams of Dr. Frank Judd,” said Dr being astronauts, lawyers, police officers, Mohammed Farooqui, chair or firefighters. of biology.

Dr. Frederic Zaidan III culminated his Students at the university early aspirations of becoming a have welcomed Zaidan to herpetologist, which is a scientist who town, if student evaluations studies reptiles, i.e. snakes, lizards, are any indication. They have turtles, and amphibians, i.e. frogs, toads, praised his positive attitude, salamanders. Zaidan knew he wanted to be and his chair has taken note. a herpetologist before he started “The students’ evaluations elementary school. are very good,” said “I was always into running around and Farooqui. “He will be chasing things, but the big thing was when teaching more courses in his we took a family trip to Florida. We hit field.”

Disney first and I thought that was okay,” Zaidan got his Ph.D. at the FREDERIC ZAIDAN he said “Then continued further south University of Arkansas in down to Miami and there is a place called biological sciences in 2001, and soon made his way the Miami Serpentarium and there was a bunch of into the academic world. He served as an invited snake demos. I was really hooked and I went back to reviewer from 1999-2002 for the Herpetological first grade and said I wanted to be a herpetologist Natural History journal, and later become an and I basically pursued that.” associate editor for two years.

Zaidan started at UTPA as an assistant professor of He will begin his term as editor of the journal in physiological ecology and herpetology in the March, and will have the tough duty of selecting Department of Biology in 2003. He teaches General

which manuscripts go into the journal. He explained the selection process.

“Basically all the content of the journal, authors will send me manuscripts, I will give them a quick go-over then send them to the associate editors, who will send them out to the reviewers and then basically the process goes is reversed,” said Zaidan.

“The reviewers will send them to the associate editors and then they will send them to me for the final decision so that will determine whether we accept or reject the manuscript. And then when it comes time for each volume to come out I decide what goes in and what does not.”

The journal has two focuses in the title.

Herpetological applies to reptiles and amphibians, while natural history means basic ecology.

“Herpetological refers to reptiles and amphibians and natural history is referring to the basic ecology where they live, what they are doing out there in the world,” said Zaidan. “It is not experimental it is observational science: no one is doing any manipulation it’s distribution, abundance those kind of issues,” he said.

Zaidan will begin his new editor’s position in March and will continue to teach at UTPA. He plans to do all his work for the journal out of his office and continue his journey as a professor.

February 26, 2004

THE PAN AMERICAN

Page 4

Guerrero has worn many hats in four years

By ANGELA CANALES The Pan American

Being president of one organization can be overwhelming.

Being president of three is three times the challenge.

Marketing senior Sylvia Sagnite Guerrero holds the prestigious position in three different organizations on campus. She is the president of the American Marketing Association, Business Student Advisory Council and the Society of Success & Leadership. She endured a long struggle to reach those heights.

At the age of 10, Guerrero moved from Mexico to the United States and faced many challenges.

“I had one year to learn the language,” said Guerrero. “I didn’t think it was going to be enough, my parents didn’t think it was going to be enough. But it was enough.”

The beginning of her fifth-grade year marked the first time she implemented the English language.

“When I went into fifth grade, I didn’t really have a lot of problems,” she said. “Maybe the first two months, then after that I kind of got the hang of, it was fun.”

Thus, the struggle of learning a second language did not stop her from becoming a very accomplished person.

Education issues seem to bring out the best in her. After changing majors three times at UTPA, she finally decided on one to stick with.

“I knew it was going to be business,” she said. “I didn’t know whether it was going to be international business or what type of business. Marketing came up because I was working with Kay Jewelers and it was sales. I really enjoyed it so when it came down to choosing what I was going to do I talked to an adviser, Dr. Lemaster, and she helped me by telling me to take aptitude tests.”

Guerrero notes that there have been many people who have helped and mentored her along the way, and that sometimes those helpers make the difference.

“I think I look up to the professors that I know,” she said.

“I think I look up to one more student, well he already graduated, but it was somebody I worked with real closely. I know the way he is the way he was always very involved, with his family in general I just look up to him.”

Guerrero was referring to Abraham Quiroga, who

“Michelle from the Student Leadership Program has helped graduated from UTPA in December 2003.

“I look up to him, whenever I have a problem or run out of a lot too,” said Guerrero of Michelle Duran, coordinator of the ideas, he gives me simple advice which helps a lot,” Guerrero program. “She is always available; she is always busy, but always available.” said.

The Student Leadership Program is a four-year program Quiroga now lives in Laredo, but still remembers how Guerrero has been part of since her freshmen year. She is one Guerrero helped the AMA organization reach its potential.

“I had the opportunity to work with her in the professional of a handful of students still active after nearly four years, and world and through school,” said Quiroga. “She is the type of helped plan the third annual Student Leadership Conference person that if she sets her mind to it she will accomplish it, if for high school seniors recently.

For her part, Duran speaks it wasn’t for proudly speaks of Sylvia, her, I don’t saying that she represents what know what a student leader should be. would have “Sylvia is a young lady of happened extreme independence, is very with AMA.” responsible, great personality, Quiroga extremely charismatic, very worked with organized and very goalGuerrero in oriented,” said Duran, herself a s c h o o l UTPA graduate. “She is very organizations passionate about her specific and also at areas, for example marketing.

Enterprise She is very passionate with that Rent-a-car. group with AMA, and she is “I worked pretty much the example of with her what a true student leader t h r o u g h should be.”

Enterprise,” Guerrero has excelled above he said. and beyond most students. She “Sylvia is one is not only the president of of the hardest three organizations; she is also working an intern and a full-time people I have Angela Canales/The Pan American student who hopes to graduate ever met, she at the end of the summer. is, I guess you BUSY BEE— Sylvia Guerrero is the president of three student organizaShe says that she has learned can say, an all- tions and has been one of the most prolific students in her career at UTPA. a lot at UTPA, and describes around great She moved to Texas from Mexico at age 10. why she feels her experiences person: a great will help her in a future career. individual.”

“The organizations I am in are not only meetings and Influences from professors and students are not the only thing that helped Guerrero make her college experience a fundraising,” she said. “You are dealing with a lot of different great one. Programs she has been involved in – and the people people, you have to learn how to get along with many running them – have enabled her to reach her potential so far. different personalities.”

Chamber boss skeptical about US-VISIT

By VANESSA L. LUCIO The Pan American Immigration could double U.S. population within the lifetime of today's children.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the population of the United States is currently growing at an annual rate of about 1.3 percent. The life expectancy of an American child at birth now stands at 77.4 years.

When calculating the doubling time of a population, the rule of thumb is to divide the number 70 by the rate of growth. At a 1-percent growth rate, a population will double in 70 years, at 2 percent in 35 years.

Since the country is growing (according to the historically conservative Census Bureau) at 1.3 percent the population should double within about 54 years, The current wave of mass immigration is responsible for this growth.

When President Bush made his Immigration Reform Proposal to create a new temporary worker program and protect homeland security by controlling the borders, many citizens were forced to change their definition about what immigration reform means.

According to J.R. Gonzales, recently named acting president and CEO of the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (USHCC), immigration reform is primarily about changing a status quo in current U.S. policies.

“A lot of people feel there needs to be a change in immigration reform, possibly re-vamping the policies. The Rio Grande Valley is directly affected by immigration reform primarily because of the US-VISIT program,” stated Gonzales, who was the commencement speaker at UTPA last semester.

The Visitor and Immigration Status Indicator Technology, or US-VISIT, has been implemented in more

than 15 international airports and 14 seaports across the rules and procedures as directed from our government.

That should include those part of the Visa Waiver Program country.

The scanned information is checked against government if it includes Mexicans.”

Equality is one problem, and another is the possible loss databases when people enter and leave the country, to identify visitors who overstay their visas or are wanted for of revenue for border areas dependent on sales to nationals from Mexico. The program has its controversial elements other crimes.

According to the U.S. Department of Homeland for certain. The process is complicated as well.

According to the Department of Security, by the end of 2004, the Homeland Security, information is program will function at the 50 busiest gained in a variety of ways. All nonU.S. land crossings, many along the U.S. citizens complete Form I-94 in Texas-Mexico border. If all goes transit. The form asks for identification according to plan, the US-VISIT information and the address of residence program will be at all ports of entry by during the person’s stay. the end of 2005, checking about 24 After the Visa Waiver Program million visitors per year. citizens are allowed to enter, remaining Only those with temporary or “nonvisitors are fingerprinted and digitally immigrant” visas are subject to it. photographed. The fingerprint and the Citizens from 28 countries-mostly photograph are then compared with European, as well as U.S. permanent those in a database of known and residents, are exempt. suspected criminals and terrorists.

According to Gonzales, “Under the If the scanned fingerprints or photos US-VISIT program officials gave raise any questions, the visitor is sent to contradictory information whether the a secondary inspection. After the entry exemptions will also apply to the J.R. GONZALES procedure, the visitor proceeds to millions of Mexicans who use temporary crossing cards good for 72-hour visits and can customs if there are no problems.

At departure, visitors who were checked at arrival are only remain in a 5-mile radius of the U.S. border.

“If they are not exempt, now Mexicans must apply to also checked. Their travel documents and fingerprints are enter the U.S…but Canadians however, can enter the U.S. scanned again to ensure they complied with visa with only a driver’s license and stay for 90 days; that is limitations.

Visitors who were not fingerprinted or photographed not justifiably fair treatment.”

Cynthia Sakulenzki, president of the McAllen Hispanic must surrender only the departure portion of Form I-94.

Chamber of Commerce said that “the US-VISIT program According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection has promise for U.S. Homeland Security as a nation, but officials in Washington, the week following the for border areas like South Texas, one has to wonder what implantation of the new system, three travelers were message it sends to Hispanics about implementing equal See GONZALES page 11

SPORTS CLIPBOARD

February 26, 2004

2003-2004 Sports Schedules

Volleyball tryouts

UTPA Men’s Basketball Date

Opponent/Time

Results

Nov. 4

Monterrey Tech

W112-46

Nov. 8

Houston Quest

W 111-59

Nov. 22

Southern Methodist

L 59-69

Nov. 25

Texas A&M-Int’l

W 90-50

Nov. 29

Texas-Arlington

L 75-81

Dec. 1

SWA of God

W 90-60

Dec. 4

Missouri-Kansas City

L 80-104

Dec. 6

Texas-San Antonio

W 86-83

Dec. 12

Mississippi Valley St.

L 67-85

Dec. 14

Sam Houston State

L 66-92

Dec. 17

North Texas

L 81-87

Dec. 20

Page 13

Sports

Rice

L 58-69

Dec. 22

Oklahoma State

L 61-96

Dec. 29

Oklahoma

L 57-72

Dec. 31

McMurry

W 90-58

Jan. 6

Baylor

W 55-54

Jan. 8

North Texas

L 53-71

Jan. 14

Wright State

L 60-82

Jan. 19

Missouri-K.C.

L 69-77

Jan. 21

Texas-Arlington

L 54-73

Jan. 28

IPFW

W 81-60

Feb. 2

Alcorn State

W 74-52

Feb. 4

Lamar

W 90-78

Feb. 7

IPFW

W 57-55

Feb. 11

Arkansas State

W 70-67

Feb. 14

TAMUCC

W 90-72

Feb. 16

Air Force

W 37-35

Feb. 19

Central Baptist

W 111-62

Feb. 28

TAMUCC

7

March 1

Arkansas State

7:05

Men’s Tennis Spring Season

The UTPA volleyball team will host open tryouts on Wednesday, March 3 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Field House.

According to Coach Dave Thorn, open volleyball tryouts are held annually, and everyone who is interested is encouraged to attend. Thorn does, however, warn that tryouts will be difficult and hopefuls with high school or club experience usually do better than those with none.

Those interested must have a current physical on file with UTPA, must be eligible under NCAA regulations, and must be full-time students in order to try out. Those who do try out should expect a rigorous audition.

“We’ll run a lot of drills, and do a lot of running around. But we’ll also be looking at passing, setting and hitting,” Thorn said.

Thorn says that past open tryouts have paid off for the team. Junior middle blocker Jaclyn Olvera was acquired in open tryouts last season and helped the Lady Broncs to a 1915 finish in her first year of competition.

The Lady Broncs have not finalized their 2004-05 schedule, but practice for next season will begin after Spring

Date

Opponent

Jan. 19

Trinity

W 4-3

Jan. 19

Texas A&M

L 1-6

Feb. 6

Eastern Kentucky

W 6-1

Feb. 7

Dayton

W 5-2

Feb. 7

Xavier

W 6-1

Date

Feb. 14

Saint Louis

W 4-3

Feb. 9-10 Rice Intercollegiate

Feb. 21

TAMUCC

L 2-5

March

Feb. 26

Laredo College (Exh.) 1

14-15

March 11

Abilene Christian

5:30

March

March 13

Texas Southern

10 a.m.

29-30

March 26

UTSA

2

April 5-6

2003-2004 Sports Schedules

Break.

To get a physical form and for more information, contact Thorn at 3167007.

Ruíz new WBA champ John Ruíz became the first two-time Latino heavyweight champion when Roy Jones confirmed he had relinquished the WBA title to focus his efforts on the WBC light heavyweight championship.

The newly crowned champ will defend his title April 17 against fellow Puerto Rican Fres Oquendo.

Ruíz won his first title in 2001 when he defeated Evander Holyfield, but lost the belt to Jones last March.

Jones became the second middleweight in history to win the heavyweight title.

Rangers coach resigns The New York Rangers’ Head Coach Glen Sather stepped down, but will stay on with the team as its president and general manager.

He finishes his stint as coach for New York with a 33-39-11 record in 90 games. Sather coached Edmonton to four Stanley Cups in the 1980s.

UTPA Women’s Basketball Date

Opponent/Time

Results

Nov. 7

Houston

W 91-77

Nov. 21

Air Force.

W 68-67

Nov. 22

Boise State/Dayton

W 63-57

Nov. 25

TAMUI

W 84-55

Nov. 29

St. Edward’s

W 79-42

Dec. 5

St. Louis

L 45-77

Dec. 6

Kansas State/Sac.

W 60-50

Dec. 14

Oral Roberts

L 57-67

Dec. 17

Texas

L 25-90 L 59-74

Dec. 19

Marshall

Dec. 21

Central Michigan

L 40-56

Dec. 28

Tulsa

L 41-71

Dec. 31

Prairie View A&M

W 64-52

Jan. 2

UT-Arlington

L 46-85 W 49-47

Jan. 7

Sacramento State

Jan. 9

San Diego State

L 38-59

Jan. 11

Louisiana-Lafayette

L 54-62 L 58-60

Jan. 13

SE Louisiana

Jan. 22

SW Missouri State

L 34-69

Jan. 24

TAMUCC

L 43-73

Jan. 27

Incarnate Word

W 63-46

Jan. 31

IPFW

W 75-72

Feb. 3

Northern Colorado

L 56-57

Feb. 9

Prairie View A&M

W 70-63

Feb. 16

Louisiana-Lafayette W 56-38

Feb. 19

IPFW

W 80-55

Feb. 24

TAMUCC

L 36-62

Feb. 28

SE Louisiana

7

March 3

Northern Arizona

8

HOME GAMES IN BOLD All games p.m. unless noted.

Time/Results

2004 UTPA Men’s Golf Schedule Tournament

Result 14 of 14

Bearkat Invitational Trojan Cup Hal Sutton Intercollegiate

April 3

DePaul

April 4

Texas-Arlington

1 10 a.m.

April 7

Texas Southern

2

April 8

Lamar

3

April 9

Southeastern Louisiana Noon

April 16

TAMUCC

April 30

SLC Championships

2004 UTPA Women’s

May 1

SLC Championships

Golf Schedule

May 2

SLC Championships

1

Men’s Track & Field Indoor Season Date

Opponent

Feb. 7

Houston Invitational 12 of 22

Time/Results

Feb. 14

Houston/RunSport No team score

HOME GAMES IN BOLD

April 23-24Andrea Brotto Cavalier Classic May 7-9

National Minority Golf Championships

Date

Tournament

Result

Feb.

Bronc Intercollegiate

4 of 8

23-24 March

Xavier Invitational

Team Chiapas Guadalajara Toluca U.N.A.M. Club San Luis América Querétaro Necaxa Irapuato Atlante Tigres U.A.G. Monterrey Veracruz Pachuca Atlas Puebla Cruz Azul Santos Morelia Group I 12 - Toluca 6 - Monterrey 6 - Pachuca 6 - Atlas 5 - Puebla

W-D-L 5-0-1 5-0-1 4-0-2 3-2-1 3-2-1 2-3-1 2-3-1 2-2-2 2-2-2 2-1-3 2-1-3 2-1-3 1-3-2 1-3-2 1-3-2 1-3-2 1-2-3 1-2-2 1-1-3 0-2-4

GF:GA 12:6 7:2 9:6 11:6 8:5 10:9 9:9 7:7 9:10 9:9 13:14 10:13 8:7 8:9 6:9 6:10 7:9 5:8 7:8 5:10

Group II 11 - U.N.A.M. 9 - América 9 - Querétaro 7 - U.A.G. 4 - Santos

PTS 15 15 12 11 11 9 9 8 8 7 7 7 6 6 6 6 5 5 4 2

Scorer / Team W. Gaitán, TIG S. Blanco, SL S. Cabañas, CHI E. Marcón, UAG B. Marioni, UNAM C. Blanco, AME R. de Pinho, ATS M. Delgado, CA A. Fernandes, MTY G. Biscayzacú, VCZ A. Silvera, TIG

G 6 5 5 5 5 4 4 4 4 4 4

2 Tied with 3 goals.

Group III 15 - Chiapas 11 - San Luis 7 - Tigres 5 - Cruz Azul 2 - Morelia

Group IV 15 -Guadalajara

8 8 7 6

- Necaxa - Atlante - Atlante - Veracruz

12-14 March

Baylor/Tapatío Springs

19-21

Shootout

March

Arkansas-Little Rock

29-30

Invitational

May 7-9

National Minority Golf Championships

All games p.m. unless noted.

Mexican Soccer League 2004

Week 6 results Feb. 21-22: Toluca 3, Tigres 2; Veracruz 2, Santos 1; Cruz Azul 1, Atlante 3; Monterrey 1, Atlas 1; Guadalajara 2, Querétaro 0; Necaxa 2, Morelia 1; U.N.A.M. 0, Chiapas 1; Puebla 3, Pachuca 0; Irapuato 2, América 1; U.A.G. 1, San Luis 2.

Week 7 schedule Feb. 25-26: Toluca vs. Irapuato; Chiapas vs. Cruz Azul; Santos vs. U.A.G.; Pachuca vs. U.N.A.M.; Querétaro vs. Necaxa; Atlante vs. Veracruz; San Luis vs. Monterrey; Morelia vs. Puebla; Tigres vs. Guadalajara; Atlas vs. América (Feb. 26).

WOMEN’S INDEPENDENTS Texas A&M-Corpus Christi UTPA IPFW Savannah State

W 19 12 8 6

L 9 14 19 19

Pct. .678 .462 .296 .240

Lady Islanders 62, Lady Broncs 36 Feb. 24 at Memorial Coliseum UTPA Min FG-A FT-A Reb A PF Pts K. Dudley 23 1-6 1-4 2-2 0 3 3 M. Daniel 25 1-4 2-3 0-7 0 1 4 M. Schamel 23 3-10 0-0 0-5 2 4 6 A. Carlow 31 1-8 2-2 1-0 4 4 5 D. Cheadle 22 1-4 1-2 1-1 0 4 3 A. Knox 9 0-3 0-0 0-0 0 1 0 J. Piwonka 6 1-2 0-0 1-0 0 1 2 M. DeCock 20 1-5 2-2 1-4 1 1 5 A. Oler 18 3-4 0-0 2-1 1 3 6 J. Arriola 3 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 1 0 A. Coleman 3 0-1 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 S. Gooden 17 1-3 0-0 0-1 0 3 2 Percentages: FG .260, FT .615. 3-Point Goals: 2-11, .182.

Team Rebounds: 26. Blocked Shots: 3. Steals: 6.

TAMUCC Min FG-A FT-A Reb A PF A. Hartzell 30 2-11 1-2 2-5 3 1 T. Andrews 30 0-13 0-0 3-6 2 2 R. Plaza 15 1-5 5-6 4-4 0 0 K. Lewis 34 2-10 11-12 2-1 4 2 R. Gilford 14 1-1 2-2 0-1 0 2 M. Cooper 4 0-1 0-0 0-0 0 1 N. Duncan 20 5-7 2-2 0-2 1 2 L. Van Dorn 15 3-5 2-4 4-2 1 3 L. Jones 2 0-0 0-0 0-0 1 0 M. Peña 7 0-0 0-0 0-0 1 0 J. Shaw 4 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 J. Ododa 25 4-7 0-0 2-7 3 2 Percentages: FG .300, FT .821. 3-Point Goals:

Pts 7 0 7 15 4 0 13 8 0 0 4 8 3-18, .167.

Team Rebounds: 51. Blocked Shots: 4. Steals: 10.

UTPA 17 19 - 36 TAMUCC 27 35 - 62 Refs: J. Haak, J. Rodríguez, L. Alvarez. Attendance: 1,418

February 26, 2004

Sports

Page 14

February 26, 2004

NEWS

Page 3

THE PAN AMERICAN

■ ■ ■

Student Profile . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Faculty Exchange . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Doctoral Degree . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Hinojosa seeks to make history in District 25 race March 9

By VANESSA L. LUCIO The Pan American

According to Doggett, “Unless I can motivate a lot of people in Austin to turn out, to volunteer, to participate in an election that’s happening in just a few weeks, my Mahatma Gandhi once said, “Honest differences are career is over.”

Here in the Valley, Doggett has lined up support from often a healthy sign of progress.”

If this is true, than no two people are as healthy as dozens of elected officials and union leaders, including U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett of Austin and former District his previous rival for the seat, state Rep. Kino Flores of Judge Leticia Hinojosa of McAllen, who are both Palmview.

After Sen. Gonzalo Barrientos running candidates for the 25th announced that he was backing Hinojosa, Congressional District Seat.

Doggett told the San Antonio ExpressA Latina versus an Anglo male, News that his own endorsement by the how’s that for difference? But is it United Farm Workers in Pharr was a lot wrong to vote for a candidate on more meaningful than her support from the the basis of race or gender?

Barrientos family political club.

Many would say yes, saying Barrientos responded, “I might get a little that one should vote for a more energy for this campaign if Doggett candidate based on the platforms keeps it up.” the candidate supports, such as Here in South Texas, Hinojosa is running better education methods or new with hopes of being the first Latina to immigration reform plans, and not represent Texas in Congress, rising from because of any personal bias. the ashes of poverty to offer her voice to So on to the facts of the race represent the Valley, an area that is often between two luminaries who not heard. appeared at a forum Tuesday at the LETICIA HINOJOSA “I was not surprised that the UFW McAllen Tourist Center. endorsed Doggett, I actually anticipated it U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett has been on the ballot in Austin as a state senator, Texas but I have always been a supporter of working people so Supreme Court Justice, and congressmen since 1973 and that they can have health care benefits, and earn a living wage,” said Hinojosa. “It will not affect me and what I has not lost an election since 1984.

In the north, Doggett is running against Tom DeLay have set out to do for the people like myself from the and the GOP, who have tried to redistrict his 30-year Valley.”

According to Steve Pringle, legislative director of the career to a close, according to Democrats.

Doggett has never faced a credible Democratic Texas Farm Bureau, who supports Hinojosa, “At the primary opponent in his five congressional races. Things TFB we have a basic system that is easy, effective and allows the people of the Valley to choose who they want have changed for him.

in Congress. Each county is allowed up to three TFB people to represent them, and then those people are sent to a meeting to hear the candidates speak.

“There were 16-18 people attending last week’s meeting and they made their choice who they want in Congress – it’s Hinojosa.”

Hinojosa is no stranger to the hilly streets of Austin either. She is the only candidate who has lived in both Austin and the Valley and said she takes great pain to emphasize her own familiarity with the capital city.

“When people tell me, ‘Welcome to Austin,’ I almost feel a little offended,” Hinojosa said. “I lived there a quarter of my life.”

After graduating from UT Law School, she worked at Legal Aid of Central Texas before returning to the Valley in the mid 1980s, where she was elected to a countycourt-at-law seat in 1989, becoming the first female judge in the Rio Grande Valley.

After changing history, Hinojosa then moved up to a district court seat in 1996. And as a Texas Ex and lawyer/judge she has managed to maintain her loyalties to the people in both Austin and the Rio Grande Valley.

“It’s a very exciting time and I look forward to being given the opportunity to serving the people of the Valley,” she said. “I believe everyone deserves an equal opportunity even if they are Hispanic or even if they are a woman.”

When asked why UTPA students should vote in her favor, Hinojosa said that she too was a student who grew up poor in the Valley.

“I really relate to UTPA students. A majority of them are on some sort of financial aid, and if they vote for me then I will go to Congress and fight for more money for the education of the students of the Valley. We must stick together,” Hinojosa stressed.

Alternate certification might ease teacher shortage

By BELINDA REYES The Pan American Seniors across the nation are starting to figure out what path lies ahead after graduation in May. And with the chronic teacher shortage in the state of Texas, some graduates might find themselves teaching for local school districts even though they weren’t education majors in school.

That is where the UTPA Alternative Certification Program (ACP) steps in. They help post-graduates with a bachelor’s degree from non-traditional majors (other than education) get certified to teach in public school districts. “[The program] is an alternative route to getting teacher certification without doing it the traditional way,” said Dr. Dora Salazar, director of UTPA ACP. “We help them become certified to teach in the state of Texas.”

Salazar mentioned that sometimes students who have graduated from different disciplines change their minds about careers. This program exists to make sure that those who have second thoughts are eligible to help alleviate the shortage for public school teachers.

Melissa Mendoza graduated with a degree in journalism last May, but changed her career path when she realized the low salary she would make if she stayed at her television news job.

“The news station offered me an available position, but when I found out what the pay was and the hours involved, I felt it wasn’t for me,” Mendoza said. “I felt that teaching would be good for me, since I come from a family history of teachers.”

Mendoza said that her family did influence her to become a teacher, especially since she is a single mother.

“I do love kids, so I thought that it would be a good profession,” Mendoza said. “Plus, I always wanted to make a difference in peoples’ live. I feel teaching allows me to do that.”

In the past alternative methods were only used for emergency certification statewide. But because of the federal “No Child Left Behind” act, a federal mandate took effect whereby each state must educate and certify people who want to teach for a year’s period, prior to their getting officially certified.

UTPA graduate Leticia Yanez decided to change her career, and used the Emergency Certification (EC) program, which is no longer offered at UTPA because of the new federal law. Yanez graduated in May 2000 and wanted to teach biology to high school students. She did so for three years under the EC program.

“Back then I didn’t go under ACP, because they wanted me to pay $4,000 to enroll, so I went through the Emergency Certification offered at the university, which they no longer have,” Yanez said.

Yanez had to stop teaching because she couldn’t pass a portion of the state exam. Although she still tests every few months, when it’s offered, she said that she is not alone: there are others on the same boat. And the ACP will not allow her to enroll in the program for certification.

“Now they [ACP] won’t let me enroll into the program, because I was involved in the former EC program,” Yanez said. “Now I regret not going through the ACP because the [former] EC program didn’t guide me at all, when I

was teaching.”

“Whatever ACP does, it works, because most people that I know who are involved, pass both parts of the state exam,” she added.

The ACP was created to alleviate the shortage of not only teachers, but also give chances to ones from different areas of concentration, Salazar said.

“The [teacher] shortage is tremendous, we can’t find people who are bilingual or with different areas of expertise,” Salazar said. “About a third of teachers [overall] come out of the ACP programming. Sometimes traditional [education] majors change their mind about their careers.”

Salazar said the state is pushing to find more minority teachers, as the number of minority students rises nationwide. There are even scholarships for some to return to the classroom, such as Troop to Teachers, which attracts retired military personnel back to teaching.

“There are good benefits in teaching, plus good vacation time,” Salazar said.

The UTPA ACP has been around since the early 1980s and currently has 735 students under its direction.

“A lot of the students have backgrounds of military, liberal arts and they end up having a change of career, so they come to us,” Salazar said. “When they start, they complete a campus based program which is a 15-hour [basic overview], then they intern at a school.”

Salazar says that the student sometimes can get the school district to give them a contract to teach while taking the 15 hours. But they still have a year to become

See TEACHER page 12

PAGE 2

February 26

OPINION

February 26, 2004

letters

■

editorials

■

cartoons

2004

Homecoming iffy at commuter school CLARISSA MARTINEZ

1201 West University, CAS 170 Edinburg, Texas 78539 (956) 381-2541 Fax: (956) 316-7122 http://www.panam.edu/dept/panamerican 53rd Year – No. 20

Editor Arianna Vazquez gareyjup@aol.com

News Editor Belinda Reyes mstxbellezalatina2003@ yahoo.com

A & E Editor Omaira Galarza omairang@yahoo.com

Sports Editor Ed Chrnko echrnko@yahoo.com

Graphics Editor Daniel Aguilar kerygma_@hotmail.com

Layout Designers Dagoberto Perez Ginmarie Mabry Reporters Brian Carr Vanessa Castillo Julian Cavazos Edwina Garza Dulce Gonzalez Matt Hall Christina Harris Aaron Lozano Vanessa Lucio Clarissa Martinez Amy Medellin Photographer Franco Caballero Copy Editor Joe Anna Moreno Student Pub. Secretary Jo Anne Murphy 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.

The cheering and chanting echoes through my e a r d r u m s , overlapping the sounds of a dribbling basketball.

While coaches stride up and down the sidelines yelling at scrabbling players, nominees at courtside prepare for the announcement of the Homecoming Court. This is college life at its most picturesque. Or at least it is in my imagination. I didn’t attend the Homecoming game last week.

It’s true that university enrollment is increasing, and that UTPA is expanding quickly. But with those numbers growing, there hasn’t been a significant growth of participation in school activities.

The Student Government Association has around 36 members, while the same organization at Texas State University in San Marcos has over 50 students in office.

The intramural sports teams at UTPA have competitions in volleyball, soccer, softball, and flag football. UTSA’s intramural sports offers those traditional sports, but students also have created tournaments in table tennis, golf, racquetball, Playstation, floor hock and ultimate Frisbee. And the band? Number of instrumental ensembles at UTPA: 8. A&M-Kingsville: 15. Why this lack of participation at our school?

You can’t really compare the numbers of each university because of the population differences, but when the percentages are compared, it will show that the numbers of

TO THE EDITOR: The departed Dean Homer Garcia’s comments about my colleague, Dr. Etzel Cardena should not be allowed to stand unchallenged. Garcia's comments are false characterizations and they are among many other false comments he made in writing and in public meetings about Dr. Cardena. These are currently the subject of a grievance being pursued by our Association on behalf of Dr. Cardena.

Our Association maintains that these comments were made in retaliation for Dr. Cardena’s leadership of the Department, as the faculty sought to protect the rights

C A L E N D A R

February 26 Oaxaca Study Abroad Orientation Meeting FIAB 228 12 noon - 1:00 p.m.

Japan Study Abroad Orientation Meeting COAS 180 12 noon -1:00 pm.

Canada Study Abroad Orientation Meeting COAS 181 12 noon - 1:00 p.m.

Contact Ivonne Tovar at 316-7998 for more info.

students at UTPA aren’t as high compared to other universities when it comes to student participation.

True, there are students and administrators working hard to provide entertainment and schools services to students here. Upon entering the Student Union one will always see posters promoting free movies, free concerts or free seminars. I have to ask myself what stops me from taking advantage of all this “freeness.”

Is it lack of time? No, I’m only taking 12 hours, and I’m here on campus every day. Is it lack of enthusiasm? No, when I do attend events I find myself enjoying them and often urge myself to try to go more in the future. Let’s take what’s behind door number three. The lack of connection a student might feel when their college is primarily a commuter school.

Speaking for myself: driving a half-hour to school and a half-hour back does impact my eagerness to take advantage of school activities.

I know that on campus I have a tight group of people I see and enjoy the company of. Once in a while, I’ll run into people from high school and go to lunch with them. Attending club meetings can also bring a student plenty of culture, and laughter. But once the day is through, I head to the parking lot, gun up my ‘96 Taurus and leave the campus behind to head back home.

Driving home, I don’t find myself wondering about the Student Union Coffeehouses I’m missing, or the latenight discussions being held in the SBS building.

All I’m thinking about is how many hours of sleep I can catch before I have to wake up and start my routine again. That and calculating how many more days I can go before needing to put more gas in my car.

If you go around asking students who are seriously involved in school activities, I’m sure many of them will say they live near campus. Near the university includes the dorms, apartments near campus, plus Edinburg and McAllen. Of the UTPA student population, less than five percent live in campus.

There are of course those students who are superhuman and are involved on campus while traveling in from La Feria, Harlingen, or even Mexico. But at what expense? To those students, I tip my cap.

But where does that leave the rest of the campus? And whither homecoming, which is not a meager affair at the majority of the nation’s college campuses? True, for those students who were raised in the Rio Grande Valley, homecoming is paired with football season and basketball might not offer the same feeling of school spirit. But as students leave high school for college, past mindsets and expectations eventually evolve. It’s a time of change, but also a time to learn how to adapt.

Perhaps students at UTPA are learning how to adapt to the changes being made on campus. Without knowing, involvement might slowly change with the growth of the university. Until then, I’ll settle for activities that don’t require me to drive an hour to attend something that will last just as long.

of students and demonstrate respect for the work of improving programs, increasing research and expanding programs across borders. How can a Dean oppose that?

Well, Dr. Cardena was pursuing these faculty-led goals when --as Chair of the Department-- he refused to approve the outside employment request of a faculty member for reasons Dr. Cardena had determined violated university regulation and the law. The then-Dean GarcÌa decided to approve the same request without having the authority to do so under university regulation. As Dr. Cardena “blew the whistle” on this practice, retaliation began and (we hope)

ended with the departed Dean Garcia's unusually sudden exit.

But Dr. Cardena was not the only member of the faculty who suffered under his retaliatory frenzy. In his annual evaluation, only 24% of the faculty gave him a favorable rating, and that’s a fact, contrary to the departed Garcia’s allegations, which do not rise to that standard.

Dr. Jose R. Llanes Professor, Educational Leadership Grievance Representative Pan American United Faculty/Texas Faculty Association

February 27 Free Reaction Time Testing for citizens age 45 and over. To schedule appt. call 381-3587 9 a.m. - 12 noon

CORRECTION:

March 1

The Pan American regrets that errors appeared in a Feb. 19 story concerning the Information Technology Service Desk. It was mistakenly referred to as the IT Help Desk, a separate entity. As to the number of e-mail activations during the first week of classes, the story noted 10,000 while the correct figure is actually 1,000.

Federal Employment Panel Discussion Various particiating federal agencies will be providing information on career opportunities. All invited to attend noon - 1:30 p.m.

Calendar submissions must be made by 5 p.m. Monday. For more information call 381-2541.

February 28 UTPA Alternative Certification Program is hosting an informational showcase. UTPA Annex 9:00 a.m. - 12 noon

Page 15

Sports

Lady Broncs ready for SE Louisiana

By AMY MEDELLÍN The Pan American As the season winds down for the Lady Broncs, they have achieved one of their two shortterm goals, but the other didn’t turn out so well.

Their 12th win of the season broke the school’s NCAA Division I record. But a 62-36 loss to Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Tuesday left the team out of the top Independent spot it had sought to occupy. UTPA is now 12-14, while the Islanders are 199 after leading most of the way against UTPA. Molly Schamel’s jump shot midway through the first half cut the Corpus lead to three at 15-12, but the hometowners were able to increase their lead to 27-17 shortly thereafter.

It looked like curtains in the second half when Corpus roared out to a 45-23 lead, but the Lady Broncs again fought back, clos-

ing to within 13 points on a Stacy Gooden basket. But down the stretch the Islanders dominated, outscoring UTPA15-4.

It was a brutal game with solid defense, and neither team shot well. The Lady Broncs converted 26 percent of their shots while the victors hit for just 30 percent.

After the game UTPA had many regrets.

“The in game with Corpus was extremely physical and we are more of a finesse team,” said Lady Bronc Head Coach DeAnn Craft. “Our team plays with great intensity and effort but we lacked consistency on the offensive end.”

Also at question was the play of the team’s ballhandling.

“We didn't do a good job of taking care of the ball and we shot very poorly and couldn't ever put together a run to make the game tight,” said Lady Bronc Assistant Head Coach Tracy Anderson. “We played pretty

good defense, but we were in foul trouble and we were unable to get the shots to fall when we had them.”

Senior Amanda Carlow led the team rebounds with seven, and added four assists to give her 93 for the season, seventh best single-season mark in school history.

Now with just two games left in the season, the Lady Broncs are geared toward breaking the school overall record wins, set at 12 in 1984-85 when they were an NAIA school.

The next opponent is Southeastern Louisiana, this Saturday at the UTPA Field House. It will be Senior Night, on which two players, Carlow and forward Mary DeCock, will be honored. Both players feel that although the loss against the Islanders was hard it will not affect their play for the rest of the season.

“The feeling after the Corpus

UTPA baseball team looks to end skid

By MATT HALL The Pan American After losing five of their last seven games and riding a three-game losing streak, The University of Texas-Pan American baseball Broncs are looking to end their skid this weekend against Washington State.

The Cougars come to town riding a winning performance at the River City Tournament in Sacramento last week.

Washington State is currently riding the wave of a three-game winning streak and is 5-2 on the season.

Meanwhile, the Broncs are 6-8 and are hoping to have a winning record after this series.

“I think we can get a sweep this weekend that would get us back on track,” said senior right-handed pitcher Justin Bogy. “It would help us out and get us on track for a bid to the Regionals and then on to the College World Series.”

Bogy is 0-1 with a 9.00 ERA after four innings of work in two appearances this season. He will try to get himself and the team going, as they look forward to having 13 of the next 15 games at the Edinburg Professional Baseball Stadium.

With UTPA eyeing a Regional playoff berth this year, the team realizes the importance of taking care of business on home turf.

“It always helps to play at home,” said junior catcher Matt Eichel. “We just have to stay focused on our goals and play together and play our game.”

Sophomore outfielder Louie Alamia, who currently boasts a .419 batting average, believes the Broncs are up to the task of defending their home field and starting a long winning streak.

“We got some powerhouse teams coming into town,” Alamia said. “We need to get some quality wins and gain national recog-

nition that will help us get a bid to Regionals. We want to show not only the nation, but the community that Pan Am baseball is back.”

The Broncs open the series against the Cougars Friday at 7 p.m.

After UTPA routed Texas A&MKingsville 15-5 on Feb. 18, Sam Houston State University swept the Broncs last weekend in Huntsville by scores of 10-6, 10-5, and 6-4.

Pan Am gave the games away on a couple of key plays and needs to learn how to take advantage of good situations on the offensive end to be victorious.

“We know it is not the way we play baseball. It was a learning experience,” Alamia said. “We are going to continue to work hard and get back on track this weekend.”

One bright spot for the Broncs was that former Edinburg North standout Alamia extended his hitting streak to 11 games and has reached base safely in 24 straight games. He tied a school record by stringing together a 22-game hitting streak last season as a freshman and is in pursuit of that record once again.

The switch-hitting slugger believes achieving a record would be great, but his main goal is for the team to be successful.

“It is too early to be looking at breaking records, I just want to help my team win,” Alamia said. “The main objective is to win.

If the records come, then that would be great, but I just want the team to win.”

The road is going to be a hard one for the green and white, but everyone on the team feels that a postseason berth is attainable.

Eichel, who is toting around a .217 batting average, believes that not being in a conference will only help focus the guys to take every game more seriously.

“We want to make it to the playoffs,” Eichel said. “We have to treat every game like it is a conference game since we are independent and not in a conference.”

game is still fresh, and that will only drive us to play harder in our last two games,” said DeCock.

“I don't think it will affect us,” agreed Carlow. “I mean we will be more determined to win, but that game is in the past and we are focused on SE Louisiana.”

As for the looming last home game for both DeCock and Carlow, they are sad to see the season come to a close and it will be a bittersweet ending.

“I feel that just being a part of the first step of moving forward is awesome,” said Carlow. “I mean we can say that we were there to start the rebuilding of the team, I also got a ton of new friendships.”

DeCock expressed similar sentiments.

“My two years with the Lady Broncs have taught me more than winning and losing, I've had a lot of fun along the way, and I'll definitely miss the team,” she said.

“The program's going through a change for the positive, and knowing that I was a part of that transformation is something that I'll take with me.”

Lady Broncs’ next game:

at What: SE Louisiana Lady Lions at UTPA Lady Broncs When: Saturday, Feb. 28 at 7 p.m.

Where: UTPA Field House Records: Lady Broncs (12-14); Lady Lions (12-11).

Last meeting: Lady Lions won 6058 on Jan. 13 at the University Center.

All-time series: Lady Lions lead 2-0.

Notable: The Lady Broncs have won 5 of their last 7 games.

Hoops continued from page 16

Boxing

have to play the full 40 minutes.

But Fagan, who is second in scoring behind Sánchez, with 10 points per game, is confident that his team will perform.

“The team chemistry has been great,” Fagan said. “We’ve been playing well with each other, and all we have to do is pick up these last two wins, and we’ll end the season on a high note.”

bout on the other side of the Río Grande was in Río Bravo, Tamaulipas.

Although he initially underestimated the competition in México, he acknowledges that he learned a lot and is a better fighter for it.

“I had good competition,” De La Rosa said. “I got a draw with one of the guys, but it was more my training than anything. I was younger so I thought they were pushovers and went over there with the wrong mind. Now, I’m matured and ready to go.”

In the main event at the Dodge card last week, Robert “La Amenaza” García of Weslaco knocked out Walter Herrera of Monterrey, Nuevo León, México at 1:56 of the opening round. With the win, García improved to 15-1 (11 KO) , while Herrera dropped to 9-10.

García is now preparing for his next bout, a nationally-televised event to be broadcast on NBC April 24.

However, the Weslaco native said that Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions has been in contact with his manager to participate in a fight card a week after the NBC event. García said they would take the better deal.

MEN’S INDEPENDENTS Texas A&M-Corpus Christi UTPA Savannah State IPFW

W 14 13 4 3

L 10 13 23 22

Pct. .538 .500 .148 .120

Broncs 111, Mustangs 62 Feb. 19 at UTPA Field House C. Baptist Min FG-A FT-A Reb A PF Pts L. Eslinger 27 4-13 4-6 2-6 0 4 14 Radosavljevic 35 2-9 0-6 1-5 0 3 4 R. DaviS 34 2-10 2-6 4-2 4 3 8 M. White 21 1-4 1-2 1-5 3 3 4 O. Hatcher 35 6-13 1-1 0-3 3 2 16 J. Couvertier 25 4-7 0-0 1-2 2 4 10 A. Eckert 4 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 K. Stone 10 1-4 2-2 0-0 1 1 4 I. Stein 5 1-3 0-1 0-1 0 0 2 N. Wagner 4 0-1 0-0 0-0 0 2 0 Percentages: FG .328, FT .417. 3-Point Goals: 10-25, .400. Team Rebounds: 40. Blocked Shots: 3. Steals: 4.

UTPA Min FG-A FT-A Reb A PF Pts A. Sakalys 8 0-3 0-0 0-0 1 3 0 D. Díaz 11 4-12 0-0 6-2 1 4 9 A. Holcomb 14 2-2 1-4 1-6 1 3 5 S. Sánchez 22 6-10 1-2 0-0 13 1 17 C. Fagan 12 5-6 0-1 1-2 0 1 10 D. East 15 1-4 2-3 1-2 0 1 10 E.Montalvo 15 4-7 1-1 0-2 1 0 9 M. Berry 25 3-6 2-2 1-7 5 1 9 R. Castillo 17 8-11 1-1 0-2 2 0 23 M. Hall 9 0-2 0-0 0-1 4 0 0 F. Armenta 6 1-2 1-2 1-1 0 0 3 Z. Weir 13 1-3 0-1 0-2 2 2 3 R. Lange 24 5-8 3-4 2-6 0 2 13 Gedminas 9 2-3 2-2 1-4 0 1 6 Percentages: FG .532, FT .609. 3-Point Goals: 13-23, .565. Team Rebounds: 53. Blocked Shots: 7. Steals: 12.

Central Baptist UTPA

26 60

36 - 62 51 - 111

Refs: Not Available. Attendance: 3,681

continued from page 16

Other Feb. 19 fight results: Juan Ruíz (1-0), 174, Alamo, TKO, Robert Rubaldino (0-1), 174, San Juan, 2nd round.

Tino Cantú (1-0), 185, McAllen, TKOdid not answer bell, Juan Flores (0-3), 185, San Antonio, 1.

Ricardo Liceaga (3-0-1), 175, Brownsville, unanimous decision, John Washington (2-5-1), 175, McAllen, 4.

Fidel Avila (2-2), 175, Weslaco, TKO, Efren DÌaz (1-4-1), 175, San Juan, 3.

Lupe DeLeÛn (5-1), 122, Edinburg, TKO, José Luiz Bazán (10-11), Reynosa, Tamaulipas, México, 1.

PAGE 16

NBA Schedule Today vs.

36-20 7:00 38-19 Dallas Mavericks vs.

Feb. 28 Portland, 7:30 March 2 Seattle, 7:30 March 3 at Minnesota, 7

at 38-19 7:00 36-20 San Antonio Spurs vs.

Feb. 28 Denver, 7:30 March 1 Memphis, 7:30 March 3 Seattle, 7:30

Friday, Feb. 27 at 32-24 7:30 29-28 Houston Rockets vs.

Feb. 29 Seattle, 3 March 3 L.A. Lakers, 8

Killer Bees Friday, Feb. 27 vs.

Killer Bees vs. Corpus Christi Rayz at Dodge Arena, 7:30 Feb. 28 Odessa, 7:30 March 1 S. Angelo, 11 a.m.

All games p.m.

at

What: UTPA Broncs vs.

Texas A&M Corpus Christi When: Saturday, Feb. 28 at 7 p.m.

Where: Memorial Coliseum Radio: KSOX 1240 AM Records: Broncs (13-13); TAMUCC (14-10) Last meeting: Broncs won 90-72 on Feb.14 at Field House.

All-time series: TAMUCC leads 4-3.

Notable: The Broncs have won 8 games in a row since Jan. 28 when they defeated IPFW 80-61.

S PORTS

■ Hoops . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Broncs try to finish above .500

By BRIAN CARR The Pan American

After eight wins in as many games the UTPA Broncs can relax. Almost.

The Broncs (13-13) had slouched to a humiliating record of 5-13 prior to their current winning streak, and early season expectations of domination quickly gave way to hopes of saving face. Dreams of making the NIT have been squandered, but as the Broncs see it they can give themselves a boost for next season if they finish ahead of .500.

Junior Chris Fagan, who missed last season after being injured in an exhibition game, knows a winning finish to 2003-2004 would increase the Broncs chances for next year. “[Winning] will definitely help out,” Fagan said. “It gives you lots of confidence.

Coming back next year we’ll have that much more experience. We’ll have guys who have gone on eight-game winning streaks.”

A win Saturday against the Texas A&MCorpus Christi Islanders would not only ensure .500, it would result in the program’s first nine-game winning streak since Lon Kruger coached the Broncs to a 20-8 finish in 1985-86.

The Broncs gave their arch-rivals a 90-72 drubbing in the Field House on Valentines Day, but junior point-guard Sergio Sánchez knows the trip to Corpus Christi will not be a cake walk.

“There’s is always that fear of ‘We have to lose sometime,’” Sánchez said. “Plus, every time you go on the road it’s tough.

And after getting beat bad last time, they’re going to want pay back.”

Unfortunately for the Broncs, their recent success has come almost exclusively at home, with seven of the eight wins coming at the Field House. On the season the Broncs are 3-10 on the road, but their two remaining road opponents are teams they have already beaten. Still, the poor travel record is a bugaboo.

Sánchez, who leads Bronc shooters with an average of 12.7 points per game, believes a stronger workout regimen will amend their poor road showings.

“These practices that we’ve had, we’ve been doing a lot of running,” Sánchez said.

“We’re learning from our mistakes, because every little thing we’ve done wrong we’ve had to come back here and get punished for it. But now in game-time situations we’re more in control and more calm. It’s because we’ve done it harder in practice.”

Following the contest at TAMU-CC the Broncs will face the Arkansas State Indians, whom they beat 70-67 in an extremely close contest at home Feb. 11.

For the Broncs, who are coming of an impressive 111-62 victory against Central Baptist which marked their first plus-110 since 1990, it will be a change of pace to

■ Baseball. . . . . . . . . . . . 15 ■ Sports Clipboard . . . . . 13

HIDALGO - Prior to last week’s co-main event fight at the Dodge Arena, soft-spoken 17-year-old welterweight J.P. “El Gallo Negro” De La Rosa denied that he had called out his opponent, Noé “Pretty Boy” Peña Jr. for their grudge match. However, he did silence critics with his performance.

“It was the other way around,” said De La Rosa at the event’s press conference Feb. 17.

“I heard talk about me so I decided to take the fight. I’m not sure, but they called me and told me that he wanted to fight me and that he was calling me out. So, I took the fight.”

The fight did not turn out to be much of a contest for De La Rosa, who was making his U.S. debut. The Harlingen High School senior stopped the glass-jawed Peña with a right cross for a second-round TKO. The referee called the fight 55 seconds into the round.

“I feel great,” De La Rosa said. “This is the best I’ve felt in a long time. I’m ready, there’s more where this came from.”

With the overwhelming win, De La Rosa improved to 8-0-1, while Edinburg’s Peña dropped to 3-3-1.

More ‘Passion’

See Pages 8-9 for details

February 26, 2004 An Inside Look: News ............................................2 ■ A & E............................................7 ■ Sports ........................................16 ■

P A S S I O N F O R T H E ‘ PA S S I O N ’

OSCAR NIGHT/SUN. 29

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

By EDWINA P. GARZA The Pan American

Photo by Delisa Guadarrama/The Pan American

UTPA junior guard Sergio Sánchez leads the Broncs in scoring See HOOPS page 15 with a 12.7 point average.

“He did good, that’s the type of fight that makes him look good,” said De La Rosa’s trainer, Fidencio “Tito” Flores. “We’ve been working a little bit more harder. We’ll be there. What makes him better is the good fighters. We’re going to be looking forward for good fighters like today, he [Peña] was a good fighter, and that’s what made him look good.”

Despite his rising career and obvious talent, De La Rosa says that he had previously quit the fight game, but that his inspiration and main drive to continue fighting came from his grandfather, who passed away in November.

“I’m ready, I’m gonna be great,” said a confident De La Rosa. “My grandpa, may he rest in peace, helped me through everything, he pushed me. All these fights I’m doing, every single one of them is for him and I’m not gonna stop until I get that world title, that’s for sure. It’s for him.”

De La Rosa’s father, Pedro, said that his son was a slow starter, but when his interest in the game increased, so did his development.

“He started off slow,” said the elder De La Rosa. “He was more in boxing for fun, but then after he seen the attention you could get

THURSDAY

Gibson movie creates furor for Valley population

De La Rosa real deal, stops Peña

By ED CHRNKO The Pan American

HEADLINES

Saturday. The retreat will be held at Our Lady of Perpetual Help in McAllen. Colette Walsh of Mission, along with her husband Scott Walsh, has been involved with On Feb. 25, Ash Wednesday, nearly 2,000 movie screens reserving tickets for the event.

“We sold up to 500 tickets, and we maxed out in four began showing Mel Gibson’s Icon Production, “The days,” she said.

Passion of the Christ,” “We turned away and the tension almost 350 to surrounding this mega400 people. If we event began to ease. could have sold Gibson’s latest 1,000 tickets, I venture depicts the last think we would 12 hours of the life of have sold them Jesus Christ. A Dallas very quickly.” multiplex is said to A main have reserved all 20 of controversy its screens specifically about the film is for this film. Here in the the subject of Valley, local churches blame for the are holding retreats and death of Christ. forums to discuss the U.S. Bishops are film and how to apply it concerned that to their lives. tension between The film, written by Christians and Gibson in collaboration Jews will arise with Benedict Arianna Vazquez, Daniel Aguilar/The Pan American and create antiFitzgerald, is assembled S e m i t i s m . from four Biblical FILM FRENZY— Thousands of area residents waited in line Wednesday to Despite what gospels: Matthew, Mark, get a seat for “The Passion of the Christ,” the Mel Gibson production which Scripture says, Luke, and John. The has created a stir for months. Valley theaters were packed for the film.

Walsh who is a interest has been Catholic, doesn’t enormous across the know who is responsible for Christ’s death, though country, especially with religious groups.

The directors of the San Juan Diego Institute and deicide, the charge of the murder of Christ, has been Knights of Columbus are planning a private screening of pinned on the Jews for over 2,000 years by various groups.

“I think that Jesus died for the sins of all, I think he died the film as well as a retreat and reflection on the film

for us,” said Walsh. “Who killed him, how that came about would be hard to say. I don’t harbor any feelings about the Jews that did it, I think it was the people who were there that day and I think there were all sorts of people there.

Blaming someone who lives in our times would certainly not be fair.”

Alfonso Liguez, a spiritual adviser to the student organization Young Adult Catholic Ministry at UTPA, is eager to see the film. Over the past few months, he has read dozens of articles about the film, and the controversy.

He mentioned the booklet “The Bible, the Jews, and the Death of Jesus.” that was released recently by the Vatican.

It states that Jews aren’t collectively responsible for the death of Christ, echoing the Vatican II report published in the mid-1960s. Liguez encourages Catholic Churches to use the booklet as a teaching tool for their congregations.

“One can walk away and think, ‘Oh the Jews did it, the Jewish people of today are equally responsible,’” he said.

“But we need to be careful that the blame doesn’t get transferred exclusively to the Jews.”

Liguez pointed out that Gibson, the director and producer of the film, does not blame Jews for the death of Christ, choosing to blame humanity.

“It’s humanity that’s at fault, not specific people,” he said.

The release of the booklet, he said, fosters the hope that no one is discriminated against. It is to help people process the movie in a historical perspective. He said he hopes people can look beyond the blame game and not accuse a specific group of people.

“The church doesn’t want people finger-pointing because it’s somewhat inappropriate,” Liguez said.

“Because some people that don’t understand the big

See PASSION page 12

Border group attempts to save lives, ease journeys

By JOSUE ESPARZA The Pan American

Photo by Daniz Rivera

The referee raises welterweight J.P. De La Rosa’s arm after his second-round victory over Noé Peña Jr. of Edinburg at the Dodge Arena Feb. 19.

and the people, he kind of picked it up and as he picked it up, he started developing.”

The Harlingen native went to México and turned professional at age 15 where he fought all of his fights prior to the Peña bout. His last

See BOXING page 15

The United States: a land of hope or death for an immigrant.

Approximately 500 immigrants risk their lives every day by crossing into the United States, and over 400 die every year while searching for the American Dream, according to the National Institute of Immigration.

Because the migration is constant, the Mexican government created organizations like “El Grupo Beta” to educate immigrants about the dangers of crossing into the United States.

Beta was formed in Tijuana, Mexico in 1990, and now consists of 13 branches operating on borders north and south of Mexico. The organization doesn’t hinder migration, it orientates and helps immigrants crossing borders.

“We do not stop the immigrant from crossing the border, we just tell them of the risks involved when crossing either border,” said Patrol Agent Juan Calderon, in Spanish.

The organization is designed to enforce three functions: to guide, to save, and to protect the human rights of immigrants.

To do this, Beta commandeers rescue operations in order to

Each member of the organization is save immigrants who trained to offer first aid and is endanger their lives in conditioned to save immigrants who crossing. are in danger.

“If we see an immigrant “We are trained to be a member of that needs help we Beta. It is a requisite that the immediately give it to organization has,” said Pablo Leal, him,” said Patrol Agent former member of Beta, in Spanish.

Juan Calderon, also in “The organization gives us two-year Spanish. The bilingual rescue training and first aid; we are skills of the agents gives capable to save a life in the river or them vital communication the desert.” ability when dealing with Immigrants face many dangers, a population of and the often overlooked Guatemalan immigrants who generally border is just as dangerous as the U.S. speak Spanish line, for different reasons. Desert-like exclusively.

Grupo Beta photo conditions confront the latter group, On the border between dense jungles the former. That’s why Mexico and United States, AYUDA— Grupo Beta members attend to an immigrant Beta has a two-border strategy.

Beta is divided into nine who nearly drowned in the Rio Grande recently.

According to the National Institute of groups covering an area from Baja California to Tamaulipas. To the south of Mexico, Immigration, 30 percent of the immigrants that cross to the Beta is divided into four groups serving all of the Mexico- United States are from Central and South America.

Guatemala borders. Beta operates 24 hours, seven days a week.

See BETA page 11