March 18, 2004

PAGE 16

S PORTS

■ Baseball. . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Tennis coach Provencio leaves UTPA

By MATT HALL The Pan American

The University of Texas-Pan American Athletic Department experienced the loss of another coach last week.

The men’s and women’s tennis programs are currently in full swing and in the middle of their respective seasons. Both squads were to worrying about getting wins for the program prior to the loss of Head Coach Eduardo Provencio, but after his loss their worries have been augmented.

Provencio’s last day as UTPA tennis head coach was March 5.

Assistant Coach Kati Gyulai will take command of the programs, but her title will remain the same.

UTPA Athletic Director Bill Weidner confirmed to The Pan American that Provencio is no longer with the department.

“I can confirm to you that Eduardo Provencio has been relieved of his duties as the head men’s and women’s tennis coach at The University of Texas-Pan American,” Weidner said.

But Weidner would not comment as to the reason why Provencio was relieved of his duties.

“In accordance with university protocol at this point in time I won’t release comment further on

personal matters,” Weidner said.

The men’s tennis team, currently 6-4 on the season, is getting ready to begin Southland Conference play and does not believe this will hold them back from attaining their goal of a conference championship.

“It won’t hurt us from winning the Southland, but it hurts us because we don’t have a head coach,” Jeremy Salvo said. “This means that us as players have to step up.”

Salvo also believes that the timing of the whole firing could have been better.

“We feel it’s Weidner’s decision and we have to go along with it,” Salvo said. “The timing was bad because we are in the middle of season, but we understand that things happen we can’t control.”

Weidner met with both teams to inform them of the development and believes both squads have their minds on tennis and are going to play hard.

“The student-athletes understand the decision and also support the decision and are ready to move forward,” Weidner said. “The have recommitted their efforts to finish the season as strong as possible.”

Weidner believes both teams have their eyes set on playing tennis and competing strongly for

the remainder of the season.

“The men are still very committed of attaining their goal of conference champions,” Weidner said. “The women want to be the best they can be and finish the season strongly.”

Lone senior Alana Breen believes the women will be competitive and gain experience to have a tremendous season next year.

“I still think we can finish the season strong with some wins and we can still come together as a team,” Breen said. “We can still have a successful season without him [Provencio].”

When Provencio was contacted to get his thoughts on the matter he did not have a lot to comment on.

“At this point in time I would prefer not say anything about it,” Provencio said.

Weidner and the athletic department are wasting no time in trying to find a replacement for Provencio.

“We are beginning the process of conducting a national search for a head men’s and women’s tennis coach,” Weidner said. “I am confident that we will find an individual who will provide outstanding leadership and direction for years to come.”

■ Hoops. . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 ■ Sports Clipboard . . . . . 13

The regular season is officially over and the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees are getting prepared for the Ray Miron President’s Cup Playoffs. The Bees will be facing their division rival, the Laredo Bucks in the first round of the Central Hockey League postseason.

Killer Bees Head Coach Tracy Egeland believes the playoffs provide a different and exciting setting.

“The atmosphere from the playoffs brings out the best in players, and the intensity level naturally rises,” Egeland said.

The players are also eagerly anticipating the postseason.

“We’re definitely excited about the playoffs,” said Killer Bees forward Bill Newson.

Killer Bees defenseman Mike Rees is aware of the intensity that comes with being in the postseason.

“The playoffs is a whole different thing where everybody’s level gets bumped up a bit more,” Rees said.

The CHL postseason process has three rounds. Four teams from each conference are seeded one through four based on their

THURSDAY

Election Results

March 18, 2004 An Inside Look:

See Page 3 for details

News ............................................3 ■ A & E............................................7 ■ Sports ........................................16 ■

March Madness!!!

N C A A Ends April 5

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

First year’s busy Celebration for Nevarez planned for county judge

By VANESSA CASTILLO The Pan American

By VANESSA LUCIO The Pan American

RGV faces off against Laredo in playoffs

By JOEY HINOJOSA The Pan American

HEADLINES

Photo by Delisa Guadarrama/The Pan American

Junior Ana Peña returns a shot at practice. The men’s and women’s tennis teams will have to survive the season without a head coach.

As the first postseason game approaches, points standing at the end of the season.

The Killer Bees are the fourth-seeded having veterans on the team with playoff team and will have to travel to Laredo for experience will benefit the Killer Bees.

“I think it’s very important [to have their first two playoff games. This best-offive series will begin on Friday, March 19. veterans with postseason experience],” The first postseason game at the Dodge Rees said. “A lot of guys have been to the finals before, and won some Arena in Hidalgo will be championships.” on Saturday, March 27.

Egeland also understands The Bees have only the importance of having won four of their 13 veterans with playoff regular-season meetings experience. against the Bucks.

“I think there is something However, the Killer to be said both ways. You Bees appear to have don’t want to put a lot of momentum on their side. emphasis on it, but They have a 2-1-1 especially in this first round record Laredo since against Laredo you’re going January. RGV most to have full rinks and a lot of recently defeated the hype going along with it,” Bucks 3-2 in an overtime shootout Courtesy of CHL Egeland said. “I think it’s good to have some older March 12.

Last week the Bees played three games in guys that have been there to calm three nights on the road to close out the everybody else down.”

The tremendous support the Killer Bees season. They won two of three and by doing so built momentum going into the playoffs. have received, plus the achievement of “You want to go into the playoffs playing making the playoffs during their first year, good hockey,” Rees said. “You don’t want are significant in Egeland’s mind as well.

“Whether it’s your first year or your 10th to be getting any bad habits before going year you’re goal is to make the playoffs and into the playoffs, that’s for sure.”

win a championship,” Egeland said.

On Monday, the Killer Bees signed two new players. Forward Matt Donskov and goaltender Terry Dunbar were added to the team’s postseason roster. Both players are coming to the Bees after finishing their hockey careers at the college level.

The CHL permits a maximum of two amateur players to be added to a team’s playoff roster. However, teams can only dress 18 players for each game. The addition of Donskov and Dunbar upped the Killer Bees’ roster total to 20 players.

Killer Bees First Round CHL Playoffs

vs.

Killer Bees vs. Bucks Game 1 at Laredo, Friday, March 19 Game 2 at Laredo, Saturday, March 20 Game 3 at Rio Grande Valley, Saturday, March 27 Game 4* at Rio Grande Valley, Sunday, March 28 Game 5* at Laredo, Tuesday, March 30 *Note: If Necessary

In his first year as Hidalgo County Judge, Ramon Garcia has felt firsthand the heat from the political kitchen, which has cooked up controversy from those who wish that Garcia would keep his day job and hang his apron for good.

When asked how it feels being scrutinized by the county and the local media spotlight, Garcia simply stated, “I’m not into politics, I am into citizen participation and do not care for loyalty votes.”

With eyebrows raised and in a sincere tone Garcia went on to say, “I did not like the idea of getting together in advance and making backdoor deals or working things out and then announcing to the public what is going to happen to them.”

Since his State of County letter address recently several of Garcia’s fellow members of the Commissioners Court have accused him publicly of blowing smoke, seeking publicity and wanting to take full credit for the court’s work.

Precinct 3 Commissioner Joe Flores questioned why Garcia took it upon himself to not only distribute the State of the County letter but also write it without the help of the rest of the five-member Court.

“It’s not only Garcia who fights day in and day out for the people of the county…it’s all of us as a group that vote on issues,” stated Flores.

Just what do people think of Garcia and his tyrant-like persona that local media have been quick to construct?

When the public hears these divided lines spoken freely within a group that is supposed to be working as one force for the people, it is hard not to have an opinion about those political players involved.

According to The Monitor, one anonymous attorney voted for Judge Ed Aparicio not because he had anything personal against Eric Cadrenas Jarvis, but rather because of the latter’s connection with Garcia.

The attorney requested to remain anonymous, which suggests that Garcia has the ability to intimidate people into complete identity amnesia.

Garcia stated that RAMON GARCIA The Monitor did not say anything wrong about him and that it was the people who the paper interviewed instead.

Judging from the framed article clippings which hang in his office that headline various cases he has won in the past from his private practice as an attorney, it See GARCIA page 12

On Thursday, March 25, UTPA students are invited to be a part of the “Celebration of a Legacy” honoring UTPA President Dr. Miguel Nevárez.

Festivities will commence at 11:30 a.m. and end at 1:10 p.m. during student activity time at the quad outside the COAS building.

This event will commemorate advancements the university has achieved through the help, guidance and desire of Nevárez. He is the first Hispanic president the university has ever known and the longest seated Hispanic of any four-year university or college.

Nevárez has led this institution through a merger with The University of Texas System and has overseen the addition of several doctoral programs in a 25-year career.

Dr. John A. Edwards, vice president for Enrollment and Student Services, who is heading the “Celebration of a Legacy” festivities, said the assembly will be both joyful and poignant.

“What makes this a happy occasion is that this man, that has contributed so much to the university and South Texas, can finally enjoy himself through non-university related endeavors after so many years of service,” said Edwards.

Nevárez has made improvements in the areas of student enrollment, additional academic programs, facilities, school funding and countless others.

During his career, Nevárez has been recognized by several Texas governors and U.S. presidents for his contributions to education. He has been credited with helping create a Hispanic middle class in South Texas and has continually been named to Hispanic Business Magazine’s “100 Most Influential Hispanics in America,” several times.

Nevárez has transformed the lives of Valley residents in a positive way by providing families with hope for the future through higher education. Many people in this area are not able to move far away to pursue education; Nevárez and his staff

have much appreciation and respect of them. And, your fellow workers are in the best position to know the work you do,” said Nevárez.

He has mixed emotions about the celebration, but he put a positive spin on his feelings of sadness.

“It [the celebration] is a bittersweet feeling.

The university has been my life and that of my family for the last 33 years,” Nevarez said. “It has been a very gratifying experience and I'll miss the students, faculty and staff that were part of that experience. At the same time, I look forward to a new set of challenges and spending more time with the f a m i l y , especially with our grandkids.”

Students are invited to celebrate the end of an era, say DR. MIGUEL A. NEVAREZ good-bye and perhaps thank have made quality education you to Nevárez at this event. accessible to all who live near and Musical entertainment will be far. provided by Roberto Pulido y Los After more than 30 years of Clasicos of Edinburg. Free fajita service to UTPA as a professor in tacos, nachos, ice cream and soft the education department, drinks will be provided. Leaders associate dean of men and vice of student organizations will president for Student and speak at the event to recognize University Affairs, Nevárez how Nevárez’ tenure has affected announced he will be stepping student life today. The UTPA down as president in August Alumni Committee and the 2004.

Student Government Association Many faculty members have will present gifts to the longtime contributed to making this president. celebration possible, and Nevárez In addition to the student said he is obliged by this celebration, a faculty and staff, auspicious moment. invitation-only gala will honor “It is more gratifying and Nevárez later today at 4 p.m. meaningful when your co“It is a grand occasion,” said workers honor you because you Edwards, “and he deserves it.”

PAGE 2

March 18

OPINION

March 18, 2004

letters

■

editorials

■

UTPA tennis teams split against TSU

2004

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 Dägoberto Pérez 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.

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Belgium put his competition out of his misery in the third set it gave UTPA a 4-1 lead in the match and both coaches agreed not to play the final two matches.

Junior Jeremy Salvo of British Columbia was pleased with the match and the way his team performed.

“I was happy with the result. I was satisfied with the performance, but not happy,” Salvo said. “We should be playing a lot better.”

The men return to action on March 26 at 2 p.m. when they travel to San Antonio and open up conference play against the University of Te x a s - S a n A n t o n i o Roadrunners.

The University of Texas-Pan American men’s tennis team was riding a three-game losing streak going into last Saturday’s match against Texas Southern University.

The match originally began at the Orville Cox Tennis Center located on the UTPA campus, but when the skies opened up and the rain came down the competition was moved indoors to The Summit in McAllen.

Assistant Coach Kati Gyulai was happy with the way they responded to a three-game losing skid.

“I think we are back on track,” Gyulai said.

“They looked sharp.

During the losing streak they were not lacking the effort, but they were Photo by Delisa Guadarrama/The Pan American lacking focus.”

Women’s The Broncs set the tone Sophomore Elysia Sloan reaches for a Tennis early by winning at No. 1 shot during a recent practice. and No. 2 doubles to put On the women’s TSU in a 1-0 hole going into the singles side, the Lady Broncs came up shy of pickmatches. ing up their second win of the year after When senior Tom Mangelschots of

1201 West University, CAS 170 Edinburg, Texas 78539 (956) 381-2541 Fax: (956) 316-7122 http://www.panam.edu/dept/panamerican 53rd Year – No. 22

gareyjup@aol.com

Images of 9/11 used for political art Political campaigns and ads are always necessary to reach citizens who can’t find time to follow the campaign trail. In 2000, one of the funnier campaign ideas included a Ralph Nader CLARISSA MARTINEZ slogan saying, “Bush and Gore make me want to Ralph (Nader)!”

A slight smile will break the stern look of an average busy American. But reading one slogan can change their view of a presidential candidate or even ignite an interest in that candidate enough so that one might want to find out what their platform stands for.

But a tactic stronger than humor has arisen recently from the Bush campaign.

Instead of illustrating the president’s policies or showing the strengths the nation has seen since his arrival in office, the angle the Bush campaign is taking is simple: Leadership.

Of course, every president has to have a strong sense of leadership. Having a position that requires a person willing to take charge and make executive decisions has to have leadership skills. So what’s the complaint that has people talking over coffee about a Bush campaign ad? Instead of showing the leadership Bush has distinguished to have during his past three years in office, the focus is on the tragedy of 9/11.

Despite public calls from firefighters and relatives of victims of the terrorist attacks on New York City, the re-election campaign said this week that it is not considering changing the television commercials that show brief images of the wreckage of the World Trade Center and firefighters carrying out a flag-draped victim.

After the ad aired last Thursday on cable networks, a group called September Eleventh Families for Peaceful Tomorrows, as well as other victims' families, called on the president to pull the ads immediately, saying they are outraged that the images would be used for political gain.

Though the problem does not seem to be Bush talking about the events—any president would have to acknowledge that massive event during his re-election campaign—people are challenging the idea that those images should be used for political purposes.

Is it absolutely necessary to air television ads like this on networks such as CNN to show the leadership qualities of a president eight months before the election? Did the Bush/Cheney campaign really have to remind the public that they were there when the 9/11 attacks occurred? Oh wait, Cheney wasn’t there to show his leadership, but Bush was.

True, he accomplished what any president in his position would have to do.

He handled a situation where the nation was in turmoil, and with the world watching he graciously held his position and helped the revival of the nation. But he wasn’t acting alone. There were hundreds of people including New York firefighters, NYPD, families and businesses who came together

Page 15

cartoons

By MATT HALL The Pan American

Editor Arianna Vazquez

Sports

to calm the country. Bush isn’t trying to take credit for that, now is he?

America has seen footage after footage of the events that took place on Sept. 11. Why is it thought to be tasteful to show the rummage of New York and then have different photos of Bush with the phrase, “Steady leadership in times of change”?

The ad is almost generic. You could place former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who led the city through the aftermath of the attacks instead of Bush and it would have the same concept. Though Giuliani himself supports Bush’s use of the imagery as well as a number of relatives of Sept. 11 victims, it is said because they believe that record in handling the tragedy would be a legitimate matter for voters to consider.

The story of the Bush administration would not be complete without the tragedy of 9/11. It is the core of this administration.

That is why the campaign is moving forward with the idea that leaders should not be changed in the middle of a war. But that idea could be grasped without the airing of tragic footage. Who would want to see themselves in that enviorment in a campaign ad?

Bush himself addressed the issue saying: “I will continue to speak about the effects of 9/11 on our country and my presidency. I will continue to mourn the loss of life on that day, but I'll never forget the lessons.

The terrorists declared war on us on that day, and I will continue to pursue this war.”

Bush said he has an “obligation to those who died” that day. But he also has an obligation to those who survived. Those who remember. And those who do not want 9/11 to run as part of a commercial.

dropping a 4-3 decision.

With the loss the women fell to 1-5 on the season.

There were a lot of bright spots for the women’s team in spite of the rain. One of those highlights came about when the Lady Broncs won the doubles point for the first time this season.

Gyulai believes the women’s team is going get their revenge on TSU later on in the season.

“I am happy with the effort the girls gave,” Gyulai said. “I am looking forward to playing TSU at their home court Photo by Delisa Guadarrama/The Pan American and getting a win. I am UTPA tennis players Tom Mangelschots (left) and Nik Porter very happy with the effort practice their doubles game at Orville Cox Tennis Center. the women are giving.”

With match tied 3-3, the “It was a good experience for me. I was pressure fell on the shoulders of No. 6 sin- put under a lot of pressure,” Sáenz said. “It gles player junior Angela Sáenz, who was just takes a lot of practice and if I practice competing in her first-ever collegiate I will get better. It helped a lot having great match. Unfortunately, she lost 7-5 and 6-0 teammates.” to Sook Chantavong of TSU. The Lady Broncs will be back in action Sáenz believes she is just going to get on March 27 at 8:30 a.m. when they host better and did not like the feeling of losing the Air Force Lady Falcons at the Orville at all.

Cox Tennis Center.

Pitching fails, Broncs routed 13-5

By BRIAN CARR The Pan American UTPA baseball Head Coach Willie Gawlik was not amused.

The Broncs had just been dealt a 13-5 loss by the Texas-Arlington Mavericks, a team they had beaten the day before.

Sitting in the dugout with his hands rested on the butt of a practice bat, the bitter coaches’ statements echoed his post-game mood.

“If we come out and play like this against [Oral Roberts] we’re going to get killed,” Gawlik said. “Nobody even wanted to play today.”

Coming into Wednesday’s ball game the Broncs (12-12) led Texas Arlington in their two-game series. They won a tight competition on Tuesday dropping the Mavericks 7-5. But the Broncs would not be able to repeat the performance, and they would have to settle for a split.

The Broncs got behind early in Wednesday’s rematch and could not recover. After a 1-1 first inning the Mavericks got a big break.

In the second inning Maverick second baseman Carey Avants reached first when catcher Jarod Hickle could not handle a wild third strike from pitcher César Peña.

Avants was later moved to second on a sac-

rifice bunt. With one out and one on, cen- trailed 8-1. The lead stretched to 13-5 with and it’s bad news.” terfielder Louis Alamia made an error on a a 10-5 score as the closest margin of the But Gawlik showed little sympathy for pop-fly from Hunter Pence, which would day. his pitching staff. drive in a run “If they pitch well we can and set the win,” Gawlik said. “If not, stage for a you get what you saw here triple from today. It was just bad.” centerfielder UTPA will host Oral Paul Bruder Roberts for a three-game and ultimately series in as many days on result in a fourFriday, Saturday, and run inning.

Sunday at the Edinburg Peña lasted Baseball Stadium.

3.1 innings “If we make mistakes while allowing like we did today against seven runs, of [Oral Roberts] they’ll tear which only two us apart,” Gawlik said. were earned.

“They won their big ball Freshman game last night and then Ryne Foster figured that UTA was going relieved Peña, to roll over and play dead. but ended up We’re the ones that rolled loading the over. We just let them have bases in the top it.” of the fourth.

The Broncs are 6-2 in With men on their last eight games and Photo by Delisa Guadarrama/The Pan American Foster would have toppled big-name quickly walk in UTPA freshman Philip Rodríguez slides into homeplate during Tuesday night’s 7-5 win schools like Arkansas and a run before over Texas-Arlington at Edinburg Baseball Stadium.

Washington State in the closing out the process. They will hope to inning.

“There’s a lot of pressure coming in with regain their momentum with the upcoming At the bottom of the fourth the Broncs men on,” Foster said. “You miss by an inch three-game homestand.

March 18, 2004

Sports

Page 14

Broncs to watch NCAA tourney on TV

By BRIAN CARR The Pan American

season, and the 86-83 overtime victory put them at 3-3 for the season.

The win against Air-Force, a 37-35 The March Madness bracket was final- defensive battle, came at the end of their ized Sunday, and to no surprise the Broncs season - sandwiched in the latter half of a did not make the list. nine-game winning streak. The win put the What is surprising, however, is that two Broncs’ record at 12-13, and the upset gave teams the Broncs dropped en route to their the program a chance to finish the season even-steven finish (14-14) will attend the on top. big dance.

Head Coach Bob Hoffman mused after Air Force (22-6) picked up an 11th seed the game that the win was huge. after winning the "I'm just so fired up Mountain West for our guys. It's a big Conference and will open win for our program." up the tourney against No. Hoffman said. "Other 20 North Carolina. than the Baylor win at UTSA, which narrowly the San Juan Shootout edged out a 16th seed after in 2001-02, this is the a 19-13 season, will see biggest win for the No. 1-ranked Stanford in school during my their first round of action. tenure. Air Force is a Both teams have the odds very talented and strong stacked against them for team.” their upcoming outings.

After the victory over Both teams lost by narrow UTSA, Hoffman’s reacmargins to the Broncs durtion was much more ing regular season play. modest.

But to paint a picture of "We persevered,” the Broncs dancing UTPA Head Coach Bob Hoffman Hoffman said. “It was a through the season picking battle inside, and we off top-ranked teams is to give them a lit- made some huge plays.” tle too much credit.

Immediately following the win against The wins over the UTSA Roadrunners UTSA the Broncs went on a seven-game and the Air Force Falcons came at losing streak, but rebounded and walked extremely different points in the Broncs’ into the Air Force competition with six season. straight wins behind them.

The Broncs downed UTSA in early Regardless of the timing of the victories, December. It was their sixth outing of the Hoffman does say that it adds some per-

sonal drama to the tourney.

“It will definitely be interesting to watch two teams that we were able to beat,” Hoffman said.

“It will be interesting to see whether or not they advance.”

Both teams are heavily favored to drop out in the first round and some critics of the NCAA Tournament Committee question the validity of the two programs’ presence in the in the tournament at all.

Though Hoffman did not predict a fate for the two teams, he did argue for the team’s legitimacy.

“Air Force won their conference, so they definitely deserve to be there,” Hoffman said.

“And San Antonio is a hardworking team, it’s that simple.”

Photo by Delisa Guadarrama/The Pan American Unfortunately for the Broncs, the postseason is The Broncs defeated NCAA Tournament-bound Air Force 37-35 anything but uncertain. Feb. 16 at the Field House.

After a slow start UTPA doomed itself to a seat on nine seniors on their roster. the couch, watching as past opponents try For now there is nothing left for the and advance.

Broncs to do but watch, but everyone who Next season, the Broncs will bring back has ever lost knows “There is always next three of their five starters and will have year.”

N EWS Election results brought big surprises March 18, 2004

By CLARISSA MARTINEZ The Pan American

After months of local election campaigning these were the highlights: a federal investigation, a local judge decided to run for Congress, a political agenda was thwarted for the Hidalgo County Judge and a surprise upset took place in the race for state representative. The campaign trail has come to a close. A new chapter is opening for some, while others are ready to put their books back on the shelf.

Judge Ed Aparicio of the 92nd state District Court was reelected despite the possibility of a tarnished image from the FBI raid in January of his courthouse office and his home in Weslaco. His opponent Eric Cardenas Jarvis, an attorney in Edinburg, ran advertisements centered on the federal investigations questioning Aparicio’s liability, but was unsuccessful in the polls.

Dr. Samuel Freeman of the Political Science Department said that the accusation did play a part in the election since the race would not have been as close had the investigation not occurred.

“I thought it would be close but I wasn’t surprised with the results,” Freeman said. “It comes down to the job that the candidate is doing. He [Aparicio] may not be as popular a person. He may be thought of as arrogant or abrasive but he has gotten the job done.”

Though District Judge Leticia Hinojosa received nearly 50 percent of the votes in Hidalgo County, it was not enough to beat U.S. Rep Lloyd Doggett, DAustin, district-wide. Hinojosa conceded the race after Doggett took a commanding early lead. Doggett

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THE PAN AMERICAN

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Diets. . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Resume . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Student Profile. . . . . . . 6

will now run against Republican opponent Rebecca Armendariz Klein of Austin in November’s general election.

Experience also played a part in the District 25 race. Doggett had been in office since 1995 and according to Freeman, though his voting and his campaign proved to the people of the Rio Grande Valley that he was the stronger choice for the seat.

Freeman also said that if Hinojosa had stronger management behind her campaign she might have been able to claim the Valley.

With the triumphs of several were expected, there were a few surprises for some candidates.

State Rep. Miguel Wise lost his position to Armando “Mando” Martinez for the District 39 seat. He had held the office since 1996, and many did not expect Wise to lose his position.

Hidalgo County Judge Ramon Garcia also received disappointment when the candidates he was supporting were not able to claim a win. The Monitor reported Garcia having said that he didn’t have an unofficial slate of candidates, but was exercising his right to support people he believed in.

The mudslinging campaign between Aaron Pena and Eddie Saenz came to a close when the incumbent Pena bested Saenz for the District 40 state representative slot. Incumbent sheriff Henry Escalon was also defeated.

The race between Veronica Gonzales and Roberto Gutierrez in District 41 is still not decided, and a runoff election will take place in April.

ELECTION DAY RESULTS (unofficial) U.S. House of Representatives District 25 Lloyd Doggett 50.19% Leticia Hinojosa 49.81% State Representative District 39 Armando “Mando” Martinez 53.16% Miguel Wise 46.85% State Representative District 40 Aaron Pena 63.50% Eddie Saenz 36.50% State Representative District 41 Ve r o n i c a G o n z a l e s 4 9 . 4 6 % Roberto R o b e r t o Gutierrez G u t i e r r e z 33.94% 33.94% Jim Selman16.59% 92nd District Court Ed Aparicio 52.14% Eric Cardenas Jarvis 47.09 139th District Court Bobby Flores 53.14% Ofelia de los Santos 46.86% 398th District Court Aida Salinas Flores 73.08% H e c t o r J . Vi l l a r r e a l 2 6 . 9 2 % Source: Official Hidalgo County Website

Temporary certification plan could become fact

By JULIAN CAVAZOS The Pan American

The final vote on April 2 could revolutionize the way teachers of the future will actually become teachers. The much-discussed temporary certification route is at stake.

Under the temporary teacher certification program, if teacher-bound college students with only a bachelor’s degree in an academic subject pass a teacher examination, such as TExES and ExCET, they will be able to attain temporary teacher certification.

In other words, teachers may possibly be hired with a college degree, but no education training. They will be able to teach 8th- through 12th-grade in the field of study related to their degree.

This is different from the traditional route of becoming a teacher, where one must have a bachelor’s degree in an academic subject. Alternative schools, such as ACTRGV, are also available, where teachers will be able to finish their additional college courses as they teach.

Under temporary certification, however, no formal education training at after a bachelor’s is necessary.

It was approved by the State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) last November, and since then, a pot of controversy has been stirred. Some, such as businesses and anti-tax groups, want the proposal voted for, while others are completely against it.

Jose Ruiz-Escalante, UTPA chair for the College of

Education, said that some approve the temporary certification because they will be able to save both time, and money.

“They simply believe that getting a degree in education is a waste of time. They also believe they’ll save thousands of dollars they would have spent on paying for their classes,” he said.

On the other hand, some feel students should actually go through the formal training so they will be more prepared. Dr. Dora Saavedra, UTPA communication professor, agrees.

“I’m advising my students to not rely on that law so they can get the basics of classroom management,” Saavedra said. “They need the proper training to better handle a classroom. I don’t think school districts will hire them, unless they (teachers) are very hard to find, such as those schools in rural areas.”

Also, the certificate expires after two years, which is why it is labeled as “temporary.” Then, if satisfied with that particular “teacher” the school district will be able to decide if the certificate will become permanent or not. However, the school district must demonstrate to the SBEC that it will offer additional mentoring and professional training to the teacher for skills improvement.

It won’t be required for schools to notify parents that an informally trained teacher is teaching their child. For safety reasons, a criminal background check will be done on every teacher to see if any crimes have been committed as well. These teachers will also be

receiving the same amount of pay as any other teacher, regardless of whether or not formal education training was undergone.

If adopted on April 2, the program could go into effect statewide by April 22. A two-thirds majority vote is needed.

Even if the program is voted and implemented into Texas school districts, Ruiz-Escalante isn’t worried that the students of UTPA’s College of Education will eject themselves from a formal education and bypass into the temporary certification program. He feels enrollment will remain constant, and that those seeking temporary certification will soon realize they need more preparation.

“I think we [College of Education] will remain the same [in enrollment]. It only affects the high school teacher and junior high teachers, not the elementary teachers. People will begin to realize that they needed more knowledge and additional training,” RuizEscalante said. “They might have the knowledge, but won’t be able to teach in a way that all students might understand. People need to be aware of the factors in the learning process.”

But what is the reason behind SBEC proposing such a thing? Are they just being nice? Actually, the temporary certification program is a response to a shortage of teachers throughout the state, especially in the areas of mathematics, science, foreign language, and special education. The shortage is a serious issue.

See TEACHER page 12

March 18, 2004

THE PAN AMERICAN

Page 4

Fad diets: Popular but often problematic

By ARTHUR HAGEY The Pan American

The UTPA Border Health Office continued its Healthy Living Lecture Series March 11 with a presentation on fad diets.

The series is part of the Provost’s Initiative on Campus Wellness that came about after a health survey of UTPA employees in late 2003 conducted by the Border Health Office and the Office of Institutional Research and Effectiveness. The information gathered will be used by the Border Health Office to find areas to improve the physical fitness of faculty and staff.

The Healthy Living series is designed primarily for faculty and staff, although students may attend as well.

The survey found that the average weight of the faculty and staff was higher than average for men and women. The survey also found that 68 percent suffered from ailments such as high blood pressure or high cholesterol, 6 percent smoke, 8 percent use the University weight room, and only 26 percent took their 15-minute breaks, with 14 percent being unaware of the breaks.

Health Education Coordinator, David Salazar, lectured on the myths surrounding fad diets and how effective they actually are. Salazar said that while some fad diets can help you lose weight, it wasn’t likely that someone would continue being on the diet for the rest of their life, and will simply gain the weight right back.

Salazar explained that fad diets have become popular by preying on insecurities.

“They appear to have magical properties that are going to make us lose weight,” Salazar said. “Fad diets present a quick fix for people who have tried everything to lose weight.”

Salazar said the appeal of diet plans like the Atkins Diet was that they have no restriction on portion size.

The diet works by reducing the intake of carbohydrates as much as possible, forcing the body to look for another fuel to burn for energy. With carbs eliminated, the body

benefits of a less stressful, turns to burning fat. longer life, and keeping healthy Salazar said that the for family and loved ones.

Atkins is still Salazar said that losing as controversial because it little as 1 pound a week through is such a high fat diet and better eating and exercise was a can cause strain on the better choice than going on a kidneys. fad diet. Setting too high an Less reputable fad diets expectation is part of the include the Cabbageproblem in losing weight.

Soup diet, in which a A seminar on stress person is allowed to eat management was given March nothing but cabbage soup 17 by Dr. Donna Dugas, Chair for breakfast, lunch, and in the Health and Kinesiology dinner. Salazar said diets Department. like these can be Dugas talked about stressors, dangerous, as the body is something you experience or not being provided with think about that causes stress, enough protein to sustain and how they influence our itself. lives.

Salazar said that the “There are stressors we can problem wasn’t so much do something about, and those with finding the right that we can learn to deal with,” diet, but the quantity and Dugas said. “Not all stress quality of what we are factors are bad.” eating plus a lack of Dugas explained how lower activity. levels of stress causes enough “Most people know anxiety to motivate us to get what they need to eat,” things done. Prolonged stress, said Salazar. “They know however, can lower our disease they should be avoiding the over-consumption of Franco Caballero/The Pan American resistance, increase chance of heart disease, and lead to unhealthy foods and emotional and eating disorders. staying away from candy PICKING ORANGES— Junior Galina Ojeda, a dietetics major, helps out with the wellness fest last Thursday at Dugas said that part of and chips.”

Salazar said people can the UTPA Ballroom. Brown bag lunches were provided to handling stress is learning to the first 30 people. properly manage time. Overfeel alienated with the commitment and not making diet process when they don’t see dramatic results. It is important to set goals and time for ourselves are problems as well.

“Part of [the problem] is that we don’t know how to to be dieting for the right reason. Salazar said that See DIETS page 11 looking nice should be secondary to the more significant

Faculty colloquium showcases writings

By CECI CASTANEDA The Pan American

“People don’t go to the movies to get reality; they go to escape, to get closed systems.”

Jose Skinner shifted his weight to his left and looked up from his thin reading glasses to realize the reaction of his audience. That’s what they were there for: a closed system, a chance to escape and enter into a fictitious world concocted by the experience and imagination of Skinner.

“Botched, bungled, I hated those words.”

Skinner read the words perfectly; they were his words to read, to understand, to feel perfectly. They fell from his mouth with stagnant emotion, the staleness evading the postmodern attitude he so desired to convey. The audience chuckled at an ironic juxtaposition, blushed at a witty swear word. They were gone, somewhere around a prison in New Mexico; they had escaped with his voice telling his words, his story.

Every Tuesday in March at noon, students mentally escape room 310 in the UTPA Library. They leave the brown brick, the palm trees, and the thought of another class behind, traveling into the culture of the Black Atlantic, a prison in New Mexico, the dark mind of a British feminist, or the rich life in Native American literature. Travel is made possible by the Department of English, which hosts a New Faculty Research Colloquium covering a different topic every Tuesday. Each seminar is designed to help expose faculty talents and knowledge while encouraging aspiring writers at UTPA. “It’s always helpful for students to hear something fresh, something new,” Skinner said later, reflecting on 10 years of writing experience and two years of teaching.

“They’re not just reading books by dead people. These

readings show that writing is active. It can inspire them.”

His colleague, Allan Goren, an associate professor of English, agrees.

“Listening to authors acts as a kind of bridge between the classroom and the larger world,” Goren said. “What they hear here is written for the broader public, not just them. It helps students appreciate that education is relevant for their experience. Education never stops.”

A continuing education infiltrates the minds at the research colloquiums, the room is filled with teens and middle-aged adults. Yet, all their eyes focus on Skinner in the center; their mouths break in a unanimous chuckle, a similar look of surprise pervades all. They are learning, feeling the emotion of the author reading his finalized work. Their education: watching an author be an author, realizing the effort, the struggle, and the pride.

“It’s helpful to hear an author read his works,” Skinner continued later. “They can see how the story is in his own voice.”

The audience also shares in his frustrations of being a writer. Skinner tells them of the decisions of cutting out long sections, the conflict of what fits, and the rejection that crushes the invested effort.

“My editor told me my first story sucked,” Skinner told his audience. “She told me not to read it today because it needed a lot of work.”

Most of the audience laughed softly, averting their eyes from others. It was funny then, aloud, and especially considering the recent success of the short story that captivated all of them. Yet, they knew of the pain of rejection, a fear embedded deep behind their self-esteem.

Rejection was life in the world and this was their education, a real college experience to prepare aspiring writers for reality. Here, before them, stood a good writer, one to be admired and followed. But even his work

“sucked.” Discouragement from rejection is not an option; it is a tumor that can eat up all remaining self-esteem and consume any dreams of real writing.

“Aspiring writers can’t get discouraged too soon,” Skinner said. “They have to be willing to go through a lot of drafts. They must have tenacity. But once it’s published, it’s there forever. It’s worth it in the end.”

Education at the colloquiums is not restricted to aspiring writers or English professors. Education means exposure and that means exposure for all. Students of all levels hear and sense the suspense contained in words weaved into brilliant stories. They discover enjoyment where it might not have existed before.

“I came for the extra points,” admitted one student.

“But it turned out to be really interesting. I enjoyed the story.”

In then end, the value of good work spreads from authors and editors to the audience. The value of good work shows how far it will take the audience, how much they become lost to their own tangible world. The caliber of Skinner’s piece showed in the distant gaze of his audience, which was transported into the mind of a convict and a mentally retarded waitress.

Skinner finished his story, gazes broke, and the audience looked up, half surprised, half confused. Skinner stared back, waiting for a response. Silence.

“Excuse me.” A young lady in the far front corner stuck her hand out and waved it.

“Yes,” Skinner replied.

“I liked the ride,” she said. “For myself, I’m not sure I need to end up anywhere. The ride was enough. I really like the ride.”

Skinner smiled. There, in her words, in the emotion of her voice, was mirrored the true worth of his words, his story.

SPORTS CLIPBOARD

March 18, 2004

Mexican soccer comes to Valley It is official: the Valley will host it’s first Mexican fútbol or soccer match when Mexico City’s Pumas of U.N.A.M. take on Monterrey-based Tigres of U.A.N.L. April 14 at the McAllen Veterans Memorial Stadium at 8 p.m.

Pumas will be led by technical director Hugo Sánchez, while Tigres will come to the Valley with a wealth of firepower led by a pair of Argentine strikers, Walter Gaitán and Andrés Silvera.

U.N.A.M. is currently in second place in the Mexican Clausura 2004 season with a 61-3 record.

Pumas defender Joaquín Beltrán tries to U.A.N.L. is the runcatch up to Tigres’ top striker Walter Gaitán. ner-up to last season’s Apertura 2003 tournament. However, this year the Monterrey club is struggling with a 3-6-1 record.

Tigres was defeated by Pachuca in last season’s final.

Tickets for possibly the biggest sporting event to be held in the Valley are scheduled to go on sale Sunday at various United Drive-In convenience stores in the Valley and in Reynosa.

Owens goes to Philadelphia Receiver Terrell Owens left the San Francisco 49ers Tuesday and will play for the Philadelphia Eagles next season.

Philly has lost three consecutive NFC championship games and it is hoped that Owens will give the offense the necessary boost to make it the last yard to the Super Bowl.

The flamboyant receiver has averaged 93 receptions, 1,316 yards and 13 touchdowns over the past four seasons. Owens has also only one of two receivers to amass 5,000 yards and 50 touchdowns in the same time span.

Owens will join defensive end Jevon Kearse, who was recently signed to a $66 million eight-year contract.

Last season, the Eagles went 12-4.

Shaq invited to play for Team USA Sources informed The Associated Press Wednesday that Shaquille O’Neal and Kevin Garnett have been invited to play for the U.S. Olympic basketball team.

Nine of the 12 spots on the roster have been taken. The team is coached by Larry Brown.

O’Neal is no stranger to Olympic competition. Shaq won a gold medal in the 1996 Olympics held in Atlanta.

Another spot could open up if Kobe Bryant is unable to participate due to his sexual assault trial in Colorado.

The U.S. will play its first Olympic game Aug. 15.

Page 13

Sports

FOR THE RECORD Men’s Golf

Women’s Basketball WOMEN’S INDEPENDENTS STANDINGS TEAMS Texas A&M-CC UTPA IPFW Savannah State Date Nov. 7 Nov. 21 Nov. 22 Nov. 25 Nov. 29 Dec. 5 Dec. 6 Dec. 14 Dec. 17 Dec. 19 Dec. 21 Dec. 28 Dec. 31 Jan. 2 Jan. 7 Jan. 9 Jan. 11 Jan. 13 Jan. 22 Jan. 24 Jan. 27 Jan. 31 Feb. 3 Feb. 9 Feb. 16 Feb. 19 Feb. 24 Feb. 28 March 3

W 19 13 8 6

L 9 15 20 20

Pct.. .679 .464 .286 .231

Lady Broncs vs Results Houston W 91-77 Air Force.

W 68-67 Boise State/Dayton W 63-57 TAMUI W 84-55 St. Edward’s W 79-42 St. Louis L 45-77 Kansas State/Sac. W 60-50 Oral Roberts L 57-67 Texas L 25-90 Marshall L 59-74 Central Michigan L 40-56 Tulsa L 41-71 Prairie View A&M W 64-52 UT-Arlington L 46-85 Sacramento State W 49-47 San Diego State L 38-59 Louisiana-Lafayette L 54-62 SE Louisiana L 58-60 SW Missouri State L 34-69 TAMUCC L 43-73 Incarnate Word W 63-46 IPFW W 75-72 Northern Colorado L 56-57 Prairie View A&M W 70-63 Louisiana-Lafayette W 56-38 IPFW W 80-55 TAMUCC L 36-62 SE Louisiana W 54-53 Northern Arizona 8

Men’s Tennis

Date Feb. 9-10 March 14-15 March 29-30 April 5-6

Tournament Result Rice Intercollegiate 14 of 14 Bearkat Invitational 14 of 16 Trojan Cup

Hal Sutton Intercollegiate April 23-24Andrea Brotto Cavalier Classic May 7-9 National Minority Golf Championships

Broncs Baseball Date

Opponent

Nov. 1

Green and White

Score

Jan. 31

Texas State-San Marcos L 7-8

GREEN, 2-1

Feb. 1

Texas State-San Marcos L 2-6

Feb. 3

Texas Kingsville

Feb. 6

Lamar vs. Kansas

Feb. 6

Sam Houston State

L 2-7

Feb. 7

Kansas

W 8-6

Feb. 7

Lamar vs. Sam Houston 7-4

W 6-3, 3-2 3-2

Feb. 8

Sam Houston vs. Kansas 8-8

Feb. 8

Lamar

Feb. 15

Lamar (2)

Feb. 16

Lamar

L 4-6

Feb. 18

Texas A&M-Kingsville

W 15-5

W 2-1 L 1-16, W 8-6

Feb. 20

Sam Houston State

L 6-10

Feb. 21

Sam Houston State

L 5-10

Feb. 22

Sam Houston State

L 4-6

Feb. 27

Washington State

W 3-2

Feb. 28

Washington State

L 3-15

Feb. 29

Washington State

L 6-15

March 6

Arkansas

W 4-1

March 7

Arkansas

W 11-4

March 9

Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (2) W

2-0

March 9

Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (2) W

10-5

Date Jan. 19 Jan. 19 Feb. 6 Feb. 7 Feb. 7 Feb. 14 Feb. 21

Opponent Time/Results Trinity W 4-3 Texas A&M L 1-6 Eastern Kentucky W 6-1 Dayton W 5-2 Xavier W 6-1 Saint Louis W 4-3 TAMUCC L 2-5

Feb. 26

Laredo College (Exh.) L 3-4

March 17 Texas-Arlington

L 5-13

March 11

Abilene Christian

L 3-4

March 19 Oral Roberts

7

March 20 Oral Roberts

7

March 21 Oral Roberts

1

Texas-San Antonio

2 2

March 13

Texas Southern

W 4-1

March 26 April 3

UTSA DePaul

2 1

March 12 Texas-San Antonio

W 6-4

March 13 Texas-San Antonio

L 1-3

March 14 Texas-San Antonio

ppd.

March 16 Texas-Arlington

W 7-5

April 4

Texas-Arlington

10 a.m.

March 23

April 7 April 8 April 9 April 16 April 30 May 1 May 2

Texas Southern 2 Lamar 3 Southeastern Louisiana Noon TAMUCC 1 SLC Championships SLC Championships SLC Championships

March 24

Texas-San Antonio

March 26

Dallas Baptist (2)

4

March 27

Dallas Baptist

1

March 30

Texas

6:30

Apr. 6

Texas State-San Marcos

6:30

Apr. 7

Texas State-San Marcos

1

Women’s Tennis Date Feb. 6 Feb. 13 Feb. 15 Feb. 26 March 11

Opponent Time/Results UTEP L 0-7 Sam Houston State L 3-4 Stephen F. Austin L 1-6 Laredo College W 7-0 Abilene Christian L 0-7 March 13 Texas Southern L 3-4 March 27 Air Force 8:30 a.m.

April 3 TAMUCC 2 April 7 Texas Southern 2 April 8 Lamar 3 April 9 McNeese State 9 a.m.

April 16 IPFW TBA April 16 N. Colorado TBA April 17 TAMUCC 2 April 30 SLC Championships May 1 SLC Championships May 2 SLC Championships

Apr. 9

Texas A&M-Corpus Christi(2)

1

Apr. 13

Texas-San Antonio

7

Apr. 14

Texas-San Antonio

2

Apr. 16

Arizona

9

Apr. 17

Arizona

9

Apr. 18

Arizona

3

Apr. 23

Dallas Baptist (2)

4

Apr. 24

Dallas Baptist

1

May 7

Southeastern Louisiana 7

May 8

Southeastern Louisiana 7

May 9

Southeastern Louisiana 1

May 11

Arkansas

7:05

May 12

Arkansas

7:05

May 14

Oklahoma

7:05

May 15

Oklahoma

7:05

May 16

Oklahoma

1

Local / Regional Coverage Mexican Soccer League 2004 Team Chiapas U.N.A.M. Guadalajara Toluca Necaxa América Atlas Irapuato Pachuca Club San Luis Monterrey Puebla Morelia Querétaro U.A.G. Tigres Santos Atlante Cruz Azul Veracruz

W-D-L 8-1-1 6-3-1 6-1-3 5-3-2 4-4-2 4-4-2 4-3-3 4-3-3 4-3-3 3-3-2 2-5-3 3-2-5 3-2-5 2-5-3 3-2-5 3-1-6 3-1-6 2-4-4 2-2-6 1-4-5

GF:GA PTS 21:11 25 21:11 21 11:9 19 14:10 18 15:11 16 15:13 16 16:14 15 15:15 15 15:16 15 9:8 12 11:10 11 12:14 11 10:12 11 13:16 11 19:23 11 21:23 10 13:16 10 13:16 10 11:17 8 13:18 7

Week 10 results March 13-14: Veracruz 0, Morelia 1; Monterrey 0, Chiapas 1; Cruz Azul 2, Querétaro 0; Necaxa 3, Guadalajara 0; Atlas 2, Santos 0; U.A.G. 2, Pachuca 5; U.N.A.M. 2, Tigres 1; Irapuato 3, San Luis 1; Puebla 1, Toluca 2; América 1, Atlante 1.

Week 11 schedule March 20-21: Chiapas vs. América; Morelia vs. U.A.G.; Tigres vs. Cruz Azul; Guadalajara vs.

Puebla; Necaxa vs. Irapuato; Toluca vs.

U.N.A.M.; Pachuca vs. Monterrey; Querétaro vs. Veracruz; Atlante vs. Atlas; Santos vs. San Luis.

NBA Thursday, March 18 Minnesota at San Antonio, 8:30 Friday, March 19 Boston at Dallas, 7 Houston at Golden State, 9:30 Saturday, March 20 Boston at San Antonio, 7:30 Sunday, March 21 Dallas at New Jersey, 12:30 Houston at Sacramento, 6:30 Monday, March 22 Dallas at Philadelphia, 6 Houston at Portland, 9 Tuesday, March 23 San Antonio at Minnesota, 7 Wednesday, March 24 Dallas at Indiana, 7 Toronto at Houston, 7:30

MLB Spring Training Thursday, March 18 St. Louis at Houston, 2:05 Friday, March 19 Houston at Montreal, 12:05 Arizona at Texas, 2:05 Saturday, March 20 Cleveland at Houston, 12:05 Texas at Chicago White Sox, 2:05 Sunday, March 21 Colorado at Texas, 2:05 Houston at L.A. Dodgers, 5:05 Monday, March 22 Houston at Florida, 12:05 Texas at Kansas City, 8:05 Tuesday, March 23 Atlanta at Houston, 12:05 Texas at San Diego, 8:05 Wednesday, March 24 Oakland at Texas, 2:05 Houston at N.Y. Mets, 6:10 UTPA HOME GAMES IN BOLD All games p.m. unless noted.

TEACHERS

continued from page 3

Currently, about 30 percent of public There are currently about 290,000 teachers in Texas, but many have left schools in the United States are or are considering quitting due to considered to be inadequate in unsatisfied pay and working improvements, especially among conditions. According to the Austin- immigrant who don't speak English.

American Statesman, 60 percent of Because of this, the law is going to new teachers in Texas quit teaching extend more learning time for immigrants to after the first five learn to speak years.

The TEMPORARY TEACHER the language. certification board CERTIFICATION PROGRAM Before the said that in 2003, W ho? The State Board for extension, there were Educator Certification (SBEC). immigrants who a p p r o x i m a t e l y W ha t? Allows college graduates spoke mainly 45,000 vacancies. without formal education training to their native Teachers in Texas receive a temporary certificate for language were get paid an average grades between 8-12 in the State of tested on of $40,000 a year, Texas. reading and which is $3,000 W hy ? There is a shortage of teachmathematics below the national ers throughout Texas, especially in without even average. According given the to the National math, science, special education, opportunity to E d u c a t i o n and foreign language learn it well Association, Texas areas. enough. ranks 30th W he n? The This is a big nationwide in terms SBEC will meet and discuss the adoption problem here in of teacher salaries. on April 2. If adopted, it the Rio Grande There is yet could go into effect by Valley, where another reason the April 22. m a n y State of Texas will immigrants, need more teachers. mostly from Due to the No Child Left Behind law, ‘highly qualified Mexico, move into this region without teachers will be required in every state knowing very much English, if any.

Support education groups felt that by the end of 2005-06. These teachers must have at least a bachelor’s degree, inadequate English literacy hurts a passing examination score, and a educational institutions that have high teaching certificate, according to U.S rates of immigrants.

Department of Education.

RESUME

continued from page 5

copy form. Most advisers and employers recommend removing all special formatting, including boldfaced type, italics and special characters. Using asterisk marks in the place of bullets is just as effective. Align all text to the left margin and make sure headings are in all caps to set them apart. Also, make sure when using a word processor to save the document as a text-only file and copy and paste it to the body of your e-mail.

“Many employers feel viruses; so instead put them as copy in the text of an e-mail,” said Steven Rothberg, operator of Collegerecruiter.com, in a recent article in the Houston Chronicle.

However, as important as the

MEXICAN

Page 12

THE PAN AMERICAN

aforementioned fundamentals are, the most important is to never lie on a resume. Being creative is one thing, but be creative with facts.

For help on campus, the Career Placement Services helps students with writing up their resumes. Each semester there is a Resume Review Days when students can bring in their resumes and have a CPS staff member review it and give tips on how to improve it. One of these sessions will be held on April 27, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the CPS offices. For more information about the Resume Review Day or about writing a resume call (956) 381-2243 or visit the CPS website at http://careerservices.panam.edu.

continued from page 5

and the connection UTPA is developing with Mexico, are symbolic of how the relationship can be strengthened in the future.

“There’s a river between the border,” Caylor said. “A river connects people rather than dividing them. The fact that the Rio Grande is the border between these two

countries shows that there should be a relationship.”

With UTPA assisting the Acervo Historico Diplomatico, the relationship is starting to move away from being strictly political, and closer to two countries sharing knowledge of history.

March 18, 2004

Page 5

THE PAN AMERICAN

CAFTA developing

Career Placement teaching resume skills

By VANESSA LUCIO The Pan American

By AMY MEDELLIN The Pan American

President Bush notified Congress this past week that he plans to sign off on the Central American Free Trade Agreement. The opinions on this decision have been decidedly mixed.

The Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) is a regional agreement between the U.S. and five Central American countries: Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica. The negotiations for the terms concluded several rounds of talks in December 2003.

The Dominican Republic, still in talks with the United States, could also come on board onto the agreement.

Bush can sign the agreement no earlier than May 21, giving U.S. trade officials time to issue effects of the agreement on the U.S. and the five other countries it will affect.

The draft text of the agreement was released to the public in January 2003 and could come up for a vote in Congress as early as July 2004.

According to the citizenstrade.org website, CAFTA would remove all tariff barriers in the five Central American countries on imported agricultural products.

This would allow cheaply grown and heavily subsidized U.S. corn and other basic grains to flood local markets.

Based on the 10-year-old North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) model, CAFTA would push ahead the commercial globalization agenda that has caused a "race to the bottom" in labor and environmental standards in the U.S. and Central America, according to some experts.

CAFTA would also likely force a massive migration of former farmers to large urban areas to work in the informal sector or

GARCIA

maquilas (sweatshops).

That is why some groups oppose the deal, and its approval could be delayed because of the American election year.

Since the first mention of CAFTA many groups have spawned grass-root efforts to protest it, in countries ranging from El Salvador to Costa Rica, not to mention American cities such as Washington D.C., Minneapolis, and Houston.

According to Richard Shaw, secretary/treasurer of the Harris County AFL-CIO, the United States has already lost 2.6 million manufacturing jobs in the last four years, a loss which he attributed to NAFTA. Others point to the growth in economic strength of nations such as China and India for the job loss.

The Rio Grande Valley Sugar Growers also oppose the agreement because they fear increased imports will lower sugar prices, endangering their livelihoods.

On the other hand for metropolitan cities like Houston, CAFTA will be more of a benefit than an added burden on the people, because of the large number of major corporations in town.

According to the Committee of Solidarity of the People of El Salvador cispes.org website the Bush Administration’s eagerness to implement CAFTA is part of a strategy for an expanded and equally flawed trade agreement, the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) which would cover all of North, Central, and South America, except Cuba.

With much at stake for the Bush Administration, its no wonder the president decided to bring this issue to the nation’s attention at a time when he knows it really counts for his re-election. The economy is one of the signature issues of the 2004 election.

continued from page 1

makes complete sense that he has made peace with the local newspaper that praises him one minute and bashes him the next.

Now that the primaries are over and the candidates Garcia endorsed publicly have lost, how does Garcia feel about his actual power as county judge?

“It has been an interesting and challenging year but I made a commitment to serve the people and that is what I am doing,” he said. “In my opinion Eric Cardenas Jarvis should have won but Aparicio did and now we go back to doing what we have been doing for the past eight years,” stated Garcia.

It’s no secret that Garcia has been a definite ally of Sheriff Henry Escalon, who lost the election to Lupe Trevino.

When asked to explain his political relationship with the outgoing sheriff, Garcia had this to say: “Sheriff Escalon is a good man and should have won but I have been helping people get elected into office for over 30 years. You learn to accept changes and the will of the

electorate, that’s our system.”

Escalon lost to Trevino by nearly 1,800 votes and subsequently went on record to blame his defeat partially on the discrepancy in spending. Trevino spent nearly $300,000 while Escalon only spent $100,000.

Why should the people of Hidalgo County vote Garcia’s style? Again, the judge does not bite on the question.

“I don’t want people to vote for me or on an issue I believe in because they’re loyal. I want them to vote because it’s the right issue,” he stressed. “ I don’t believe in getting together like some of the other court members do, to talk about things before we get to a meeting, No. We are all intelligent, responsible human beings and adults, and we ought to be able to discuss issues in an open forum and then act/decide what is best for the county or not,” Garcia stated.

“It is important to have an open discussion with the people and then we vote, this is still their county isn’t it?” concluded Garcia.

“Don’t use cell phone numbers,” Reed said in Job Choice. “You could be at the grocery store when they call to set up an interview and you need to be Toward the end of each semester graduating prepared for the call.” seniors can be found in the library study rooms late Another important part of a resume that advisers at night studying extra hard for their last bunch of emphasize is the specific objective. Although many tests, in the computer labs finishing their important students forget, or just do not know to put this in projects and presentations, and frequenting the their resumes, it helps writer keep their resume very Career Placement Office and various job fairs. specific as to what they are applying for.

In the back of every one of their minds is the scary A lack of experience in certain professional fields fact of finding a job after all the can discourage the applicant hard work at college. Although from submitting a resume at most graduates do not take their all. However, Job Source job searches lightly, many do not recommends playing up take their resumes as serious as one’s education section to they should. compensate for the lack of “A lot of students who come in ❧Pay careful attention to actual experience in the here [The Career Placement spelling, punctuation, graarea.

Services] do not take writing a “The education section resume seriously,” said Enedelia mar, and style. can be useful if you have P. Kidd, director of Career ❧Keep descriptions clear limited experience in the Placement Services. “They do and to the point. field,” said Reed. “You can not take the time to present ❧Tailor your information to compensate by selling your themselves on their resume and the job you’re seeking. education: write a relevant we try to help them fix that.” course list, and include a ❧Use good-quality white or One important thing to off-white bond paper. section of academic projects remember when drafting a ❧Ask for help at your career that are also relevant,” Reed resume is to make sure that it is continued. “Say you want to free of spelling and grammatical services center. work in market research and errors. A simple mistake such as list projects where you a misspelled word or forgetting a researched and analyzed period or comma can result in even a well-written data.” resume being filed in the trash can.

A high GPA is another good selling point on a The resume should always have a heading, which resume. Many employers prefer a 3.0 GPA or higher, includes contact information, such as name, but those with less than stellar averages can have a addresses, telephone number, and a business-like e- hard time deciding whether to include it or not. mail address. It is also important to include two However, there are ways to include a GPA that is not telephone numbers, according to Mark Reed, career perfect. counselor at California State University at Hayward, “For example, you could say it’s a 3.2, after in a recent article titled “Build the Resume changing majors or it’s 3.0, except for disastrous Employers Want,” in Job Choices magazine. Reed freshman year, or a 2.8 because you worked 40 hours also suggests caution.

RESUME TIPS

a week,” said Reed.

Relevance is a key element in resume writing, according to Job Choices.

“Place yourself in the mind of the potential employer and write about what is going to most interest your employer,” said Kate S. Brooks, director of liberal arts career services at the University of Texas at Austin, in Job Choice. “It is also better to be more specific in job descriptions and say ‘typed letters, filed documents, answered phones, and distributed mail,’ than saying, ‘handled basic office procedures.’”

It is very important to make sure that the work experience relates to the job one is applying for; even if the waiter job students held to put them through school can be listed under “Other Experience,” as long as it is related in a relevant matter, and as long as it is shown that skills needed for the job were developed during that time.

Other categories are a plus when writing resumes, such as an awards and honors section, especially if they relate to the position wanted. Extracurricular activities also show employers that students did more than study in school, as well as community service, and leadership development. For example, being president of a club or organization on campus shows initiative and time and effort were put in.

“One of the biggest problems that we see with the students’ resumes is they do not emphasis their skills as much as they do,” said Kidd. “For some reason students just do not like to talk about themselves and their skills in their resumes.”

Technology has taken not only writing a resume to a whole new level with easy to follow resume templates, but sending a resume to a potential employer has become easier through e-mail.

A recent survey found that most employers prefer to receive resumes through e-mail, said Job Choices.

The format, though, when sending a resume through the Internet, is much different from the regular hardSee RESUME page 12

Mexican documents preserved in library

By CLARISSA MARTINEZ The Pan American

documents will be much simpler since the documents will be scanned, saved to a disc and eventually provide clear replication and easy Besides tropical weather, access to the border and storage. Caylor says the reason UTPA has been able Mexico, and agricultural benefits, the Rio Grande to help with this project is simply because the Valley has a part of history that is only accessible university asked to.

Caylor explained that from South Texas. Proximity to the the Mexican government border has given the university some has allowed UTPA to riches found nowhere else. assist with the digitizing For students at UTPA, this means These documents process because the unlimited access to exclusive historical belong to Mexico, but country itself has so archives. there is a connection much to deal with on The university is the only archive between what they other fronts.

If a recipient in the United States allowed say and what we can university is willing to learn about the past copies of all diplomatic correspondence relationships between step up and help with the and international relations written to and M e x i c o a n d Te x a s . preservation of from the Mexican government since historical documents, 1819. The documents will be digitally - Lawrence Caylor, UTPA is the one to do it. copied from Mexico’s diplomatic Library Director “These documents archives from the Acervo Historico belong to Mexico, but Diplomatico in Mexico City.

According to UTPA Library Director Lawrence there is a connection between what they say and Caylor, the building is packed with volumes of what we can learn about the past relationships documents. The digitization process will take at the between Mexico and Texas,” Caylor said. “This process can strengthen the relationship between the least 10 years to be completed.

With the archives being digitized, access to the two areas.”

“

“

March 18, 2004

The first stage of the project will be to digitize documents pertaining to the Texas Revolution in the 1830s and the Mexican-American War a decade later. Mexico lost a huge swath of its territory in the two conflicts.

Though access to the documents will be beneficial to scholars across Texas and the nation, students and staff at the university will be the ones with information of a country’s past at their fingertips.

However, Caylor is hoping that a grant from the Texas Council of Humanities will be approved in order to pay the necessary expenses of the project.

Without the initial step of acquiring the money, the entire project may be considered a “great idea.”

Dr. Mercedes de Vega Armijo, director of the Acervo Historico Diplomatico, was said to have chosen UTPA because its proximity to the U.S. Mexico border, which would allow easy access to scholars from both Mexico and America. The university also offers a high concentration of Mexican and Mexican-American students and has agreements with more than 15 universities in Mexico allowing access.

Caylor believes that the exchange of information, See MEXICAN page 12

March 18, 2004

THE PAN AMERICAN

Page 6

March 18, 2004

Cabrera exhibits academic and community leadership

By VANESSA CASTILLO The Pan American

There are not very many students at UTPA like Raul Cabrera. He is a unique individual for many obvious reasons, but also for a few less obvious ones. He is actively involved with several elite academic organizations and serves as a community service volunteer. This proud, but modest intellectual has taken student life and involvement to a whole new level; it is hard to imagine how he finds the time.

Cabrera grew up in Mexico City and moved to Texas in 1996 with his parents and three sisters. He graduated from McAllen’s Nikki Rowe High School in 2001 and began his studies in the school of Business at UTPA that summer. Cabrera is pursuing a BBA in economics and expects to graduate in December 2004. When he does, his walking the stage will mark a family milestone.

“I will be the first one in my family to graduate from college,” Cabrera humbly mentioned. “My family came in search of opportunity, and education is very important to me.”

Cabrera is a member of the Student Leadership Program, which is designed to help students develop effective and essential skills through comprehensive leadership education and diverse experiences. The UTPA SLP consists of approximately 20 members, who are selected from thousands of applications submitted by students from around the nation as well as foreign students who apply to UTPA. Students who wish to join SLP must apply their freshman year and are urged to complete the four-year program.

“I have been a member since 2001 and I will continue to participate. It is a tough organization to maintain membership in,” said Cabrera. “We must participate in community service, attend workshops, and every year we hold a one-day conference for teaching high school students the principles of leadership.”

A student who wishes to remain in SLP must comply

with certain guidelines and have his or her application reviewed every year. It’s not the average in-no-matterwhat club, and the native Mexican has risen to the top of the group.

In addition to being honored as the “Student Leader of the Year” for 2003, by SLP, Cabrera is also a member of the UTPA “Students in Free Enterprise” Team. SFE is an i n t e r n a t i o n a l organization that focuses on educating the community on ethics, savings, budgeting, and basic economics.

Through this organization Cabrera has worked with many people with diverse backgrounds, from political figures and business leaders to people who live in o l o n i a s RAUL CABRERA c(underprivileged and u n d e v e l o p e d settlements).

Cabrera is also a member of Golden Key, an International Honour Society, Phi Kappa Phi, a national honor society and Beta Gamma Sigma, also an international honor society which happens to be the most prestigious society in all schools of business. The only students who gain membership to such societies are invited, and then selected through recommendations and qualifications. Cabrera says he has worked hard and is fortunate to be a part of them. His achievements back this up.

Cabrera also serves UTPA students by conveying student needs to the Student Government Association as a Senator Representative. As a senator, he is able to relate concerns and issues students may have to the SGA council.

“I help the voice of the student be heard,” he said.

His exceptional academic standings, he said, are made possible through discipline, perseverance and mentors.

Cabrera believes mentors are a vital component to the life of a successful person. He has followed their advice since he was a first-year college student.

“Mentors are very important,” said Cabrera. “I have several, Dr. Gilbert Cardenas who is retired, but I still keep in touch with, David Salinas the vice president of IBC Bank in McAllen, whom I did an internship with. I was Carlos Garza’s protégé, he was a Student Ambassador in 2001 and UTPA’s associate vice president for Academic Affairs and Graduate Programs, Dr. George Avellano.

These guys all stress the importance of education.”

Along with keeping a 4.0 grade point average, Cabrera currently heads a project of his own that will help underprivileged families.

“I am raising funds with the help of community leaders in order to help needy families obtain necessary school supplies for their kids,” he explained. “This project will also consist of teaching these residents concepts such as ethics, working on a budget, importance of investing in an education, and community involvement,” he added.

Families will have to commit the time to learn about what Cabrera has to teach them. The distribution of school supplies will coincide with workshops and tutoring sessions for children.

In his downtime, Cabrera likes to play soccer. He has assisted in coaching the junior varsity as well as varsity soccer teams at Nikki Rowe since he graduated. He would like to play on an adult soccer league but has not had time to fit it into his busy schedule yet.

After graduation, Cabrera plans to continue his education, attending graduate school in economics.

“I would like to eventually work in the public sector through government, a non-profit organization or through an international institution such as World Bank,” he said.

“When people say the word economics, many tend to think of only money, but there is much more to economics than that.”

Plants lecture Sunday

By EDWINA P. GARZA The Pan American

cotton, aloe vera, and olives. He also said that while olives aren’t grown here naturally, they have started to be grown Sunday, March 21, Dr. Bob Lonard of in areas such as Weslaco. While olives the Biology Department will conduct a aren’t being grown commercially like presentation on plants from the Bible in cotton or aloe vera, USDA Weslaco is the Rio Grande Valley. The presentation experimenting with this crop, as well as will be held at the Museum of South others.

Having his presentation positioned Texas History in during Lent is Edinburg at 2 p.m. one of the “I’m going to R G V B i b l i c a l P l a n t s reasons Lonard discuss the various said his plants that have been presentation is introduced into the What: Presentation on important.

Rio Grande Valley, “Well, it’s and that were Plants the season,” he important in Biblical said. “We’re in times,” said Lonard.

When: Sunday, March 21 Lent, Palm “Also those that we Sunday is grow here in the Where: Museum of South coming up, Valley, and use in E a s t e r ’ s various ways, and Texas History coming up, a those that have been lot of the plants introduced to the Time: 2 p.m. that grow here Valley to help out the are associated economy.” with things like Melissa Tijeria, t h e event programming Crucifixion, officer for the museum, said that 26 of the 110 plants for example,” he said.

Aside from explaining what the plants named in the Bible can be located in the Valley, even more are vital to the are and where they can be found, Lonard will also discuss the significance of economy.

“One-fifth have been here in the Rio these plants in Biblical scripture, their Grande Valley, and they are major plants uses during those times, and their possible uses for the Valley and its in this regional economy,” Tijeria said.

Lonard said those plants include economy.

Page 11

THE PAN AMERICAN

WELLNESS

continued from page 4

say ‘no,’” Dugas said. “We need to eliminate those things that stop us from achieving our goals.”

Dugas said that when a small distraction comes up, people will get distracted from their goal and then rationalize it later.

To reduce stress, Dugas said that people need to set goals, use a calendar or daily planner to better manage time, learn to say “no” to anything that may prevent your goals, and to put aside time just for yourself.

Dugas explained how exercise and keeping fit can help maintain a healthy lifestyle. She gave examples of small things we can do everyday, such as parking farther away to make ourselves walk more.

“Anything in terms of physical activity is better than nothing,” Dugas said.

Future lectures in the Healthy Living series will include a lecture on nutrition in May and the use of diet supplements.

HELP WANTED Sports writers and news reporters needed for immediate freelance work Franco Caballero/The Pan American

SAVING GAS— UTPA students have often opted to ride bicycles to campus instead of bringing a car because of gas prices and parking problems.

Call 381-2547 for more information

March 18, 2004

Arts & Entertainment

Page 10

A&E

■ ■ ■ ARTS & E NTE RTAINME NT ■ Livestock Show . . . . . . . . . . 7 ■ Dodge Arena . . . . . . . . 8 & 9 ■ Historical Book . . . . . . . . . . 10

Livestock show proves everything is bigger in Texas EVENT

By CHRISTINA HARRIS The Pan American

Every year people from all over Texas gather at the Mercedes Show Grounds for a huge parade, rodeo, and many competitive livestock events as part of the annual Rio Grande Valley Livestock Show.

The show runs from March 20-28, and will feature many activities, live entertainment, and a carnival so people of all ages can enjoy the festivities. The theme of the show is “Education and Fun Galore in 2004.” Earl Neuhaus, the president of the Livestock Show Board, has high hopes for this year's show.

“The 2004 show will run for nine days making it the biggest event held south of San Antonio,” Neuhaus noted on the show's official website. “Over 2,500 exhibitors will compete for prizes, ribbons, scholarships, premium money and the opportunity to sell their champion projects in the Sale of Champions on Saturday, March 27 in the covered Rodeo Arena.”

The Livestock Show has been a major event in the Valley for 65 years, especially competitors in the traditional events. There are at least 13 different divisions in the livestock competition, including market steer, market hog, market lamb, market goat, market rabbit, and market poultry, as well as junior breeding cattle and sheep divisions.

The contest preparation process is a 12-month ordeal, and doesn't just involve showing off a prize livestock for judging.

The entry applicant must officially register before entering the

STCC Professor makes history with the past

LITERATURE

Novel Idea: Charles Robinson is putting together a six-volume book series from the diaries of John Bourke.

By AARON LOZANO The Pan American John Gregory Bourke is a man of another time.

He fought alongside Gen. George Crooks during the Apache War of 1872 to 1873, the Great Sioux War and the Geronimo War. During this historic era in American and Western history, Bourke kept a series of diaries, which anthropologists, historians and professors use today as a source of understanding the Indians of the time period.

At West Point Library, his journals are kept in a collection of 124 entries.

According to Charles Robinson, a man of our time, Bourke was able to document the lives of the Indians from inside the general’s camp. He observed these Indians not only in military terms, but also in terms of their way of life and culture.

“Bourke was a self-taught anthropologist and a good one,” Robinson said.

Robinson, a history and world civilization professor at South Texas Community College, began a 7-year project dedicated to putting together the diaries of Bourke into six thick volumes.

The March 2003 release of volume I of “The Diaries of John Gregory Bourke,” which range from Nov. 20, 1872 to July 28, 1972, marked the first time Bourke's diaries have ever been edited and transcribed in a one-volume set. It is a project that many historians have tried, but only Robinson could complete.

“John Gregory Bourke was General Crooks’ The diaries are being published by the aid for 14 years,” Robinson said. “He kept University of North Texas Press. Robinson these diaries that covered all the Indians from regularly publishes with the University of inside the command structure.”

Oklahoma Press, and is currently writing a Robinson had been biography of Bourke. studying the diaries for His more about 12 years. He used commercial works are them for several projects published through and came to understand that Random House, the only way someone which includes a book could review these diary on Texas Rangers. entries would be to find a “We got feedback library that obtained on that one all way microfilm of all 124 entries, from Indonesia and or actually visit The Australia,” said WestPoint Library. He then Robinson, whose list developed the idea to create of publications a volume set to make the includes 14 history material more accessible. books.

In addition to directly “Some of them are transcribing the diaries, used for lectures but Robinson wrote an basically they are used introduction to Bourke’s for popular history entries along with very too,” he said. “They extensive biographies of the are also written for the people mentioned in the general reader.” entries.

A university in San “The second volume has Francisco uses his Book cover courtesy of www.amazon.com publication been much easier, only “The historical novels include stories because we have the format Robinson’s Great Sioux War,” for about Texas Rangers like the one above. done,” Robinson said. an Indian history class.

The next edition of the A university in Dallas diaries is scheduled for release in March 2005. uses his book on the Texas Rangers for a Texas Completion of the entire collection will take history class. approximately seven years.

“I've done it for personal pleasure, but it’s

getting a little old,” the history professor said.

“Once I get Bourke taken care of, I’d like to spend some more time with my dog, Barkley.”

Robinson plans to get a few of his exstudents involved with the project in hopes that they will complete it in the event he is unable to do so. He proudly adds that he does not live an inactive life, and involves himself in woodworking.

“I don't live a quiet life,” he said. “I spend a lot of time hunting, crawling through canyons with a fifty-pound pack on my back. I'm not the kind of guy who sits at home and does nothing.”

Robinson received his bachelor’s degree from St. Edwards University and his master’s degree in history from UTPA. He joined the faculty at STCC in 1995 as an adjunct and began teaching full-time in 1997.

“I don't need another degree for what I'm doing, and I don't have time to mess with it anyway,” he said, “I don’t plan to move up in the world. I’ve worked for private enterprise and administration and I've had enough with all that responsibility. I’d rather just teach and retire and stay at STCC, I'm happy there.”

A man who has worked as an aircraft mechanic, newspaper editor, and author, Robinson finds simple comforts in teaching his students at STCC. The historian’s future plans include helping to expand the history department at STCC to include Indian history and culture, and to complete the Bourke diaries.

Charles Robinson is truly a man of our time.

contest and must be an FFA, 4-H, or FHA member. Then there is a preliminary review of the animals to make sure they meet strict requirements; they must be good enough to compete.

The livestock must meet all health standards. Just like star athletes who are checked for steroids and other illegal substances, the animals are searched for any unauthorized foreign substances or medications of any kind. At the end of the

Courtesy of www.rgvlivestockshow.com Attractions from last year’s livestock show; 2004’s festivities will include these and more.

week, after judging ends, the owners of the market livestock must sell their animal at the Sale of Champions, after which the animals go to slaughter. Owners of breeding animals do not have to sell them.

Aside from the livestock competitions are the many activities that will be available during the week. On March 23, singer Gary Allen will perform a live concert. Audience members can participate on stage with comedian and hypnotist Ken Whitener March 25-28, twice daily. The Fearless Flores will perform their death-defying stunts as up to four motorcycles spin around inside the “Globe of Death.”

Children will enjoy watching a puppet named Granpa Cratchet, a robot named Rusty, or Sharon Hallingal a.k.a. The Living Doll. A petting zoo for kids that features a variety of interesting animals will be open 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, March 20-28.

Price for admission to the Livestock Show is $7 for adults and $3 for children under 12. Parking is $2 and tickets for the rodeos are $5. Gates open to visitors at 7 a.m. until 12 midnight except on Friday and Saturday nights when the grounds close at 1 a.m.

Neuhaus extended his invitation to the public to attend this year's event.

“We are proud of the Livestock Show and the progress it has made since its humble beginning in 1940 and our thanks goes out to thousands of visitors, exhibitors and volunteers who support the Show each year,” Neuhaus said. “Without this support, the past history would not have been as glorious and the future would not be as full of hope and excitement.”

Comedic inspiration comes to campus COMEDY

By AARON LOZANO The Pan American

When freshman Ruben Hernandez saw that famous Latin comedian and sitcom star George Lopez lived in Harlingen, he couldn't help but be inspired--by his opening act.

Opening for Lopez was Lowell Sanders, a man who jokes about his trips to our neighbor of the south, Mexico. Sanders also jokes about rappers like 50 Cent and Eminem.

“I liked his style of comedy,” Hernandez said. “So I got in touch with his agent using his website.”

Hernandez immediately got in touch with his agent and acted quickly as the newly appointed chairperson of Club 02.

Club 02 is a subcommittee of the University Program Board and its objective is to bring talent from around the nation to the Valley for campus entertainment, like Sanders who is originally from Detroit, Mich. It’s the

responsibility of the organization to bring down other comedians, magicians, or hypnotists at least once a month.

“They informed me about my position in December and I started in January,” Hernandez said. “The organization has been around for a while but they never really had a chair. Since, I've booked three

“I liked his style of comedy, so I got in touch with his agent.”

-Ruben Hernandez Chairperson of Club 02

acts this semester, which is pretty good because it’s real hard to book on a two month basis.”

Aside from Lowell, Club 02 has already booked a magician by the name of Craig Karges for March 31 and according to Hernandez, he will “blow your mind

away” by reading your mind on the spot.

Since he was 16 years old, Hernandez has been interested in the funny business.

The freshman kinesiology major/talent booker has even written original material he plans to perform one day.

“I have always loved stand-up comedy, and that's how I first got involved with the committee,” he said.

Hernandez recalls when he first saw a live comic on stage. “Just by watching it, I got the inspiration. I was about 16 years old and I saw Juan Villarreal at La Villarreal,” he explained.

His knowledge of comedians and the profession makes the committee chair so comfortable with his position.

“I know so many comics and I write my own stuff too,” said Hernandez, who has since seen Villarreal on two additional occasions. “I’ve seen him three times, he's not the biggest name in comedy, but in a way, he’s the one that got me involved.”

Hernandez plans to put his material to the test when he takes part in the campus

talent show as a stand-up performer.

For the talent show, he’s already booked Cleto Rodriguez, a comedian based out of San Antonio who will be hosting and performing for the event.

Another comedian Hernandez helped bring to the campus is John Roy, who performed opening week in mid-January.

“We had a pretty good turnout, a good audience.

The people really enjoyed his comedy,” Hernandez said.

According to Hernandez, students have requested Latin comedy, which has the comedy savvy student already working on plans to follow through with those requests.

Courtesy of www.lowellsanders.com

AROUND TOWN Concert March 19 at 7 p.m.

Place: La Villa Real Event: Latin-flavored rock band ILL Nino will bring their rock beats and bilingual lyrics to the stage.

Price: Tickets are $20 for general admission.

Phone: (956) 687-7121

Concert March 21 at 3 p.m.

Place: First United Methodist Church auditorium in McAllen Event: The Rio Grande Valley Band will perform a patriotic concert. Band members include Valley residents and Winter Texans Price: No admission fee.

Talent April 1 at 7 p.m.- 9:30 p.m.

Place: South Texas Community College, Building H Event: Bands, musicians, poets, artists and comedians are needed for the Writers in Literary Discussion (WILD) Poetry Reading, Music Festival and Art Show.

Phone: (956) 928-3847

Comedy April 3 at 9 p.m.

Place: La Villa Real Event: The Texas All Star Comedy Tour members will perform, hosted by “Last Comic Standing” winner Eddie Cruz.

Price: Tickets are $12 general admission and $20 reserved.

Phone: (956) 687-7121

March 18, 2004

What do you think about product placement moving into the music industry?

“I think it’s negative on some accounts. It makes people think the stars actually use those products. For their competitors it’s also harmful because they’ll need to seek more exposure.”

-Hernan Cortez Sophomore Comm./Design “It just goes to show how many things are willing to sellout, and the force of money, how it’s becoming more mainstream in popular culture.”

-Roland Acosta Senior Criminal Justice “From a money-making point of view it’s positive, but from a music-making standpoint it’s not because it corrupts its purpose. It’s a medium of expression, not advertising. ” -Raul Cervantez Sophomore Public Relations “Depending on the product that’s being promoted. If it’s a drink like Sprite it doesn’t make a negative influence, but if it’s drugs then it would.”

-Miriam Leija Freshman Psychology

real opinions

Dodge Arena brings stars south Arts & Entertainment

Page 8

Aerosmith’s visit is the dawn of bigger names in entertainment hitting Story by the Valley.

Dulce Gonzalez

Valley residents no longer the management of Global have to travel to far off Spectrum. venues to witness well-known entertainment acts. From The first event held at the professional hockey, football, Dodge Arena was geared wrestling, concerts, and even toward the country music bull riding, the Dodge Arena is audience. Alan Jackson and his the Valley's latest and special guest Joe Nickles were greatest house for the first performers to set entertainment and sports. foot on the venue's stage.

Since it opened less than five Tickets to the concert sold months ago, the out within a few venue has held short hours, “[The Aerosmith events for which marked the people of all concert] proves beginning of ages. other sold out that the Valley is events. Popular Planning for really looking for events held in the the arena began arena to date and can support approximately were a boxing four years ago. big acts.” night with Oscar According to De La Hoya, the -Jeff Schumacher S m a c k d o w n J e f f Asst. Gen. Mgr. of wrestling event, Schumacher, Dodge Arena and two nights of a s s i s t a n t general manager music with the for the Dodge Arena, the city popular Latin artist Luis of Hidalgo decided to move Miguel, among others. forward with the project after receiving key Schumacher stated that the sponsorships, including Texas events held at the arena are State Bank and L&F for audiences of all ages.

Distributors. There was also Many of the shows target a U.S.D.A loan for $9 million men and women ages 18-34 which made building the arena while others focus on other possible. Construction itself groups. took less than two years and “Essentially our marketing the arena officially opened its doors on Oct. 23, 2003 under efforts are geared according

to the target audience of the said specific show,” Schumacher.

Most recently the arena held its largest show yet. The first rock concert to take the stage was none other than a legendary group, Aerosmith.

Tickets for the show went on sale Feb. 7 and were sold out within half an hour. Fans who attended the concert spent $50 to $150 for their tickets.

The band Cheap Trick opened the show. The group members showed enthusiasm as they sang their well-known rock songs as well as a few other tracks from their latest album. People sang along as the group played hits like “The Flame,” a remake of “I Want You To Want Me,” “Surrender,” and “That 70's Song,” the theme song for “That 70s Show.”

The voice of Cheap Trick vocalist Robin Zander faded into a distant memory when Aerosmith hit the stage. The fans went crazy as the rock n' roll group emerged onto the stage. Fans both young and old could be seen clapping and cheering as the music that this band has kept familiar

March 18, 2004 through every decade. The music legends opened up with “Toys in the Attic” in the middle of the catwalk and then moved to the front of the main stage.

Arts & Entertainment

himself, his cousin, and his brother. He heard most of the tunes that he wanted to hear, and even though he was a part of the Aeroforce One crowd on three different occasions he has never heard the band play “Janie's Got a Gun.” The For many this was the first time they dedicated rocker hasn’t lost hope that ever saw Aerosmith, yet there were someday he will see them perform the also other fans in the crowd who had song. seen the group before.

“It was a very good show,” said Gomez.

It was the third time that Edinburg “They played a bunch of hits and resident Michael Gomez had seen the classics and I thought that was very band. Recently he saw their show in San cool. The show was very energized Antonio where the band rocked the unlike the other concert.” stage along with Kiss to an audience of Throughout the show fans all over the over 20,000 people. Gomez commented jam-packed arena were standing and that he enjoyed this show a lot more. jamming to the popular songs. Even the “I think the concert I went to in fans in the very front were standing on October was good, but they played too their chairs rocking out to the music. many new songs,” stated Gomez. “After The audience sang along with them as the Kiss performance Aerosmith should have come out with their classics and they performed “Love in an Elevator,” “Dream On,” “Don't Want to Miss a not a bunch of new songs.”

Thing,” and “Train Kept A Rollin',” which The Edinburg native also said that this they performed on a special occasion show was a really good experience for with rock icon group Guns N' Roses. Of

Page 9 course the show couldn't end without Steven Tyler hanging from a colorful rope over his fans.

As the highest grossing show to date it marks the start of many other big names to come to the Valley in various realms of entertainment and sports.

According to Schumacher, they consider bringing other concerts to the arena a high priority.

“The recent success of Aerosmith will lead to more major acts,” said Schumacher. “It proves that the Valley is really looking for and can support big acts.”

Some of the upcoming events are the WWE Wrestlemania Revenge on April 2, Chayanne in concert on April 10, and Disney On Ice from April 14-18. For more information on upcoming events call 1-866-RIO-TIXX or log onto www.dodgearena.com.

Dulce Gonzalez can be reached at dgonzlaez26@panam.edu Photo by: Daniel Aguilar/The Pan American kerygma_@hotmail.com

March 18, 2004

What do you think about product placement moving into the music industry?

“I think it’s negative on some accounts. It makes people think the stars actually use those products. For their competitors it’s also harmful because they’ll need to seek more exposure.”

-Hernan Cortez Sophomore Comm./Design “It just goes to show how many things are willing to sellout, and the force of money, how it’s becoming more mainstream in popular culture.”

-Roland Acosta Senior Criminal Justice “From a money-making point of view it’s positive, but from a music-making standpoint it’s not because it corrupts its purpose. It’s a medium of expression, not advertising. ” -Raul Cervantez Sophomore Public Relations “Depending on the product that’s being promoted. If it’s a drink like Sprite it doesn’t make a negative influence, but if it’s drugs then it would.”

-Miriam Leija Freshman Psychology

real opinions

Dodge Arena brings stars south Arts & Entertainment

Page 8

Aerosmith’s visit is the dawn of bigger names in entertainment hitting Story by the Valley.

Dulce Gonzalez

Valley residents no longer the management of Global have to travel to far off Spectrum. venues to witness well-known entertainment acts. From The first event held at the professional hockey, football, Dodge Arena was geared wrestling, concerts, and even toward the country music bull riding, the Dodge Arena is audience. Alan Jackson and his the Valley's latest and special guest Joe Nickles were greatest house for the first performers to set entertainment and sports. foot on the venue's stage.

Since it opened less than five Tickets to the concert sold months ago, the out within a few venue has held short hours, “[The Aerosmith events for which marked the people of all concert] proves beginning of ages. other sold out that the Valley is events. Popular Planning for really looking for events held in the the arena began arena to date and can support approximately were a boxing four years ago. big acts.” night with Oscar According to De La Hoya, the -Jeff Schumacher S m a c k d o w n J e f f Asst. Gen. Mgr. of wrestling event, Schumacher, Dodge Arena and two nights of a s s i s t a n t general manager music with the for the Dodge Arena, the city popular Latin artist Luis of Hidalgo decided to move Miguel, among others. forward with the project after receiving key Schumacher stated that the sponsorships, including Texas events held at the arena are State Bank and L&F for audiences of all ages.

Distributors. There was also Many of the shows target a U.S.D.A loan for $9 million men and women ages 18-34 which made building the arena while others focus on other possible. Construction itself groups. took less than two years and “Essentially our marketing the arena officially opened its doors on Oct. 23, 2003 under efforts are geared according

to the target audience of the said specific show,” Schumacher.

Most recently the arena held its largest show yet. The first rock concert to take the stage was none other than a legendary group, Aerosmith.

Tickets for the show went on sale Feb. 7 and were sold out within half an hour. Fans who attended the concert spent $50 to $150 for their tickets.

The band Cheap Trick opened the show. The group members showed enthusiasm as they sang their well-known rock songs as well as a few other tracks from their latest album. People sang along as the group played hits like “The Flame,” a remake of “I Want You To Want Me,” “Surrender,” and “That 70's Song,” the theme song for “That 70s Show.”

The voice of Cheap Trick vocalist Robin Zander faded into a distant memory when Aerosmith hit the stage. The fans went crazy as the rock n' roll group emerged onto the stage. Fans both young and old could be seen clapping and cheering as the music that this band has kept familiar

March 18, 2004 through every decade. The music legends opened up with “Toys in the Attic” in the middle of the catwalk and then moved to the front of the main stage.

Arts & Entertainment

himself, his cousin, and his brother. He heard most of the tunes that he wanted to hear, and even though he was a part of the Aeroforce One crowd on three different occasions he has never heard the band play “Janie's Got a Gun.” The For many this was the first time they dedicated rocker hasn’t lost hope that ever saw Aerosmith, yet there were someday he will see them perform the also other fans in the crowd who had song. seen the group before.

“It was a very good show,” said Gomez.

It was the third time that Edinburg “They played a bunch of hits and resident Michael Gomez had seen the classics and I thought that was very band. Recently he saw their show in San cool. The show was very energized Antonio where the band rocked the unlike the other concert.” stage along with Kiss to an audience of Throughout the show fans all over the over 20,000 people. Gomez commented jam-packed arena were standing and that he enjoyed this show a lot more. jamming to the popular songs. Even the “I think the concert I went to in fans in the very front were standing on October was good, but they played too their chairs rocking out to the music. many new songs,” stated Gomez. “After The audience sang along with them as the Kiss performance Aerosmith should have come out with their classics and they performed “Love in an Elevator,” “Dream On,” “Don't Want to Miss a not a bunch of new songs.”

Thing,” and “Train Kept A Rollin',” which The Edinburg native also said that this they performed on a special occasion show was a really good experience for with rock icon group Guns N' Roses. Of

Page 9 course the show couldn't end without Steven Tyler hanging from a colorful rope over his fans.

As the highest grossing show to date it marks the start of many other big names to come to the Valley in various realms of entertainment and sports.

According to Schumacher, they consider bringing other concerts to the arena a high priority.

“The recent success of Aerosmith will lead to more major acts,” said Schumacher. “It proves that the Valley is really looking for and can support big acts.”

Some of the upcoming events are the WWE Wrestlemania Revenge on April 2, Chayanne in concert on April 10, and Disney On Ice from April 14-18. For more information on upcoming events call 1-866-RIO-TIXX or log onto www.dodgearena.com.

Dulce Gonzalez can be reached at dgonzlaez26@panam.edu Photo by: Daniel Aguilar/The Pan American kerygma_@hotmail.com

March 18, 2004

Arts & Entertainment

Page 10

A&E

■ ■ ■ ARTS & E NTE RTAINME NT ■ Livestock Show . . . . . . . . . . 7 ■ Dodge Arena . . . . . . . . 8 & 9 ■ Historical Book . . . . . . . . . . 10

Livestock show proves everything is bigger in Texas EVENT

By CHRISTINA HARRIS The Pan American

Every year people from all over Texas gather at the Mercedes Show Grounds for a huge parade, rodeo, and many competitive livestock events as part of the annual Rio Grande Valley Livestock Show.

The show runs from March 20-28, and will feature many activities, live entertainment, and a carnival so people of all ages can enjoy the festivities. The theme of the show is “Education and Fun Galore in 2004.” Earl Neuhaus, the president of the Livestock Show Board, has high hopes for this year's show.

“The 2004 show will run for nine days making it the biggest event held south of San Antonio,” Neuhaus noted on the show's official website. “Over 2,500 exhibitors will compete for prizes, ribbons, scholarships, premium money and the opportunity to sell their champion projects in the Sale of Champions on Saturday, March 27 in the covered Rodeo Arena.”

The Livestock Show has been a major event in the Valley for 65 years, especially competitors in the traditional events. There are at least 13 different divisions in the livestock competition, including market steer, market hog, market lamb, market goat, market rabbit, and market poultry, as well as junior breeding cattle and sheep divisions.

The contest preparation process is a 12-month ordeal, and doesn't just involve showing off a prize livestock for judging.

The entry applicant must officially register before entering the

STCC Professor makes history with the past

LITERATURE

Novel Idea: Charles Robinson is putting together a six-volume book series from the diaries of John Bourke.

By AARON LOZANO The Pan American John Gregory Bourke is a man of another time.

He fought alongside Gen. George Crooks during the Apache War of 1872 to 1873, the Great Sioux War and the Geronimo War. During this historic era in American and Western history, Bourke kept a series of diaries, which anthropologists, historians and professors use today as a source of understanding the Indians of the time period.

At West Point Library, his journals are kept in a collection of 124 entries.

According to Charles Robinson, a man of our time, Bourke was able to document the lives of the Indians from inside the general’s camp. He observed these Indians not only in military terms, but also in terms of their way of life and culture.

“Bourke was a self-taught anthropologist and a good one,” Robinson said.

Robinson, a history and world civilization professor at South Texas Community College, began a 7-year project dedicated to putting together the diaries of Bourke into six thick volumes.

The March 2003 release of volume I of “The Diaries of John Gregory Bourke,” which range from Nov. 20, 1872 to July 28, 1972, marked the first time Bourke's diaries have ever been edited and transcribed in a one-volume set. It is a project that many historians have tried, but only Robinson could complete.

“John Gregory Bourke was General Crooks’ The diaries are being published by the aid for 14 years,” Robinson said. “He kept University of North Texas Press. Robinson these diaries that covered all the Indians from regularly publishes with the University of inside the command structure.”

Oklahoma Press, and is currently writing a Robinson had been biography of Bourke. studying the diaries for His more about 12 years. He used commercial works are them for several projects published through and came to understand that Random House, the only way someone which includes a book could review these diary on Texas Rangers. entries would be to find a “We got feedback library that obtained on that one all way microfilm of all 124 entries, from Indonesia and or actually visit The Australia,” said WestPoint Library. He then Robinson, whose list developed the idea to create of publications a volume set to make the includes 14 history material more accessible. books.

In addition to directly “Some of them are transcribing the diaries, used for lectures but Robinson wrote an basically they are used introduction to Bourke’s for popular history entries along with very too,” he said. “They extensive biographies of the are also written for the people mentioned in the general reader.” entries.

A university in San “The second volume has Francisco uses his Book cover courtesy of www.amazon.com publication been much easier, only “The historical novels include stories because we have the format Robinson’s Great Sioux War,” for about Texas Rangers like the one above. done,” Robinson said. an Indian history class.

The next edition of the A university in Dallas diaries is scheduled for release in March 2005. uses his book on the Texas Rangers for a Texas Completion of the entire collection will take history class. approximately seven years.

“I've done it for personal pleasure, but it’s

getting a little old,” the history professor said.

“Once I get Bourke taken care of, I’d like to spend some more time with my dog, Barkley.”

Robinson plans to get a few of his exstudents involved with the project in hopes that they will complete it in the event he is unable to do so. He proudly adds that he does not live an inactive life, and involves himself in woodworking.

“I don't live a quiet life,” he said. “I spend a lot of time hunting, crawling through canyons with a fifty-pound pack on my back. I'm not the kind of guy who sits at home and does nothing.”

Robinson received his bachelor’s degree from St. Edwards University and his master’s degree in history from UTPA. He joined the faculty at STCC in 1995 as an adjunct and began teaching full-time in 1997.

“I don't need another degree for what I'm doing, and I don't have time to mess with it anyway,” he said, “I don’t plan to move up in the world. I’ve worked for private enterprise and administration and I've had enough with all that responsibility. I’d rather just teach and retire and stay at STCC, I'm happy there.”

A man who has worked as an aircraft mechanic, newspaper editor, and author, Robinson finds simple comforts in teaching his students at STCC. The historian’s future plans include helping to expand the history department at STCC to include Indian history and culture, and to complete the Bourke diaries.

Charles Robinson is truly a man of our time.

contest and must be an FFA, 4-H, or FHA member. Then there is a preliminary review of the animals to make sure they meet strict requirements; they must be good enough to compete.

The livestock must meet all health standards. Just like star athletes who are checked for steroids and other illegal substances, the animals are searched for any unauthorized foreign substances or medications of any kind. At the end of the

Courtesy of www.rgvlivestockshow.com Attractions from last year’s livestock show; 2004’s festivities will include these and more.

week, after judging ends, the owners of the market livestock must sell their animal at the Sale of Champions, after which the animals go to slaughter. Owners of breeding animals do not have to sell them.

Aside from the livestock competitions are the many activities that will be available during the week. On March 23, singer Gary Allen will perform a live concert. Audience members can participate on stage with comedian and hypnotist Ken Whitener March 25-28, twice daily. The Fearless Flores will perform their death-defying stunts as up to four motorcycles spin around inside the “Globe of Death.”

Children will enjoy watching a puppet named Granpa Cratchet, a robot named Rusty, or Sharon Hallingal a.k.a. The Living Doll. A petting zoo for kids that features a variety of interesting animals will be open 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, March 20-28.

Price for admission to the Livestock Show is $7 for adults and $3 for children under 12. Parking is $2 and tickets for the rodeos are $5. Gates open to visitors at 7 a.m. until 12 midnight except on Friday and Saturday nights when the grounds close at 1 a.m.

Neuhaus extended his invitation to the public to attend this year's event.

“We are proud of the Livestock Show and the progress it has made since its humble beginning in 1940 and our thanks goes out to thousands of visitors, exhibitors and volunteers who support the Show each year,” Neuhaus said. “Without this support, the past history would not have been as glorious and the future would not be as full of hope and excitement.”

Comedic inspiration comes to campus COMEDY

By AARON LOZANO The Pan American

When freshman Ruben Hernandez saw that famous Latin comedian and sitcom star George Lopez lived in Harlingen, he couldn't help but be inspired--by his opening act.

Opening for Lopez was Lowell Sanders, a man who jokes about his trips to our neighbor of the south, Mexico. Sanders also jokes about rappers like 50 Cent and Eminem.

“I liked his style of comedy,” Hernandez said. “So I got in touch with his agent using his website.”

Hernandez immediately got in touch with his agent and acted quickly as the newly appointed chairperson of Club 02.

Club 02 is a subcommittee of the University Program Board and its objective is to bring talent from around the nation to the Valley for campus entertainment, like Sanders who is originally from Detroit, Mich. It’s the

responsibility of the organization to bring down other comedians, magicians, or hypnotists at least once a month.

“They informed me about my position in December and I started in January,” Hernandez said. “The organization has been around for a while but they never really had a chair. Since, I've booked three

“I liked his style of comedy, so I got in touch with his agent.”

-Ruben Hernandez Chairperson of Club 02

acts this semester, which is pretty good because it’s real hard to book on a two month basis.”

Aside from Lowell, Club 02 has already booked a magician by the name of Craig Karges for March 31 and according to Hernandez, he will “blow your mind

away” by reading your mind on the spot.

Since he was 16 years old, Hernandez has been interested in the funny business.

The freshman kinesiology major/talent booker has even written original material he plans to perform one day.

“I have always loved stand-up comedy, and that's how I first got involved with the committee,” he said.

Hernandez recalls when he first saw a live comic on stage. “Just by watching it, I got the inspiration. I was about 16 years old and I saw Juan Villarreal at La Villarreal,” he explained.

His knowledge of comedians and the profession makes the committee chair so comfortable with his position.

“I know so many comics and I write my own stuff too,” said Hernandez, who has since seen Villarreal on two additional occasions. “I’ve seen him three times, he's not the biggest name in comedy, but in a way, he’s the one that got me involved.”

Hernandez plans to put his material to the test when he takes part in the campus

talent show as a stand-up performer.

For the talent show, he’s already booked Cleto Rodriguez, a comedian based out of San Antonio who will be hosting and performing for the event.

Another comedian Hernandez helped bring to the campus is John Roy, who performed opening week in mid-January.

“We had a pretty good turnout, a good audience.

The people really enjoyed his comedy,” Hernandez said.

According to Hernandez, students have requested Latin comedy, which has the comedy savvy student already working on plans to follow through with those requests.

Courtesy of www.lowellsanders.com

AROUND TOWN Concert March 19 at 7 p.m.

Place: La Villa Real Event: Latin-flavored rock band ILL Nino will bring their rock beats and bilingual lyrics to the stage.

Price: Tickets are $20 for general admission.

Phone: (956) 687-7121

Concert March 21 at 3 p.m.

Place: First United Methodist Church auditorium in McAllen Event: The Rio Grande Valley Band will perform a patriotic concert. Band members include Valley residents and Winter Texans Price: No admission fee.

Talent April 1 at 7 p.m.- 9:30 p.m.

Place: South Texas Community College, Building H Event: Bands, musicians, poets, artists and comedians are needed for the Writers in Literary Discussion (WILD) Poetry Reading, Music Festival and Art Show.

Phone: (956) 928-3847

Comedy April 3 at 9 p.m.

Place: La Villa Real Event: The Texas All Star Comedy Tour members will perform, hosted by “Last Comic Standing” winner Eddie Cruz.

Price: Tickets are $12 general admission and $20 reserved.

Phone: (956) 687-7121

March 18, 2004

THE PAN AMERICAN

Page 6

March 18, 2004

Cabrera exhibits academic and community leadership

By VANESSA CASTILLO The Pan American

There are not very many students at UTPA like Raul Cabrera. He is a unique individual for many obvious reasons, but also for a few less obvious ones. He is actively involved with several elite academic organizations and serves as a community service volunteer. This proud, but modest intellectual has taken student life and involvement to a whole new level; it is hard to imagine how he finds the time.

Cabrera grew up in Mexico City and moved to Texas in 1996 with his parents and three sisters. He graduated from McAllen’s Nikki Rowe High School in 2001 and began his studies in the school of Business at UTPA that summer. Cabrera is pursuing a BBA in economics and expects to graduate in December 2004. When he does, his walking the stage will mark a family milestone.

“I will be the first one in my family to graduate from college,” Cabrera humbly mentioned. “My family came in search of opportunity, and education is very important to me.”

Cabrera is a member of the Student Leadership Program, which is designed to help students develop effective and essential skills through comprehensive leadership education and diverse experiences. The UTPA SLP consists of approximately 20 members, who are selected from thousands of applications submitted by students from around the nation as well as foreign students who apply to UTPA. Students who wish to join SLP must apply their freshman year and are urged to complete the four-year program.

“I have been a member since 2001 and I will continue to participate. It is a tough organization to maintain membership in,” said Cabrera. “We must participate in community service, attend workshops, and every year we hold a one-day conference for teaching high school students the principles of leadership.”

A student who wishes to remain in SLP must comply

with certain guidelines and have his or her application reviewed every year. It’s not the average in-no-matterwhat club, and the native Mexican has risen to the top of the group.

In addition to being honored as the “Student Leader of the Year” for 2003, by SLP, Cabrera is also a member of the UTPA “Students in Free Enterprise” Team. SFE is an i n t e r n a t i o n a l organization that focuses on educating the community on ethics, savings, budgeting, and basic economics.

Through this organization Cabrera has worked with many people with diverse backgrounds, from political figures and business leaders to people who live in o l o n i a s RAUL CABRERA c(underprivileged and u n d e v e l o p e d settlements).

Cabrera is also a member of Golden Key, an International Honour Society, Phi Kappa Phi, a national honor society and Beta Gamma Sigma, also an international honor society which happens to be the most prestigious society in all schools of business. The only students who gain membership to such societies are invited, and then selected through recommendations and qualifications. Cabrera says he has worked hard and is fortunate to be a part of them. His achievements back this up.

Cabrera also serves UTPA students by conveying student needs to the Student Government Association as a Senator Representative. As a senator, he is able to relate concerns and issues students may have to the SGA council.

“I help the voice of the student be heard,” he said.

His exceptional academic standings, he said, are made possible through discipline, perseverance and mentors.

Cabrera believes mentors are a vital component to the life of a successful person. He has followed their advice since he was a first-year college student.

“Mentors are very important,” said Cabrera. “I have several, Dr. Gilbert Cardenas who is retired, but I still keep in touch with, David Salinas the vice president of IBC Bank in McAllen, whom I did an internship with. I was Carlos Garza’s protégé, he was a Student Ambassador in 2001 and UTPA’s associate vice president for Academic Affairs and Graduate Programs, Dr. George Avellano.

These guys all stress the importance of education.”

Along with keeping a 4.0 grade point average, Cabrera currently heads a project of his own that will help underprivileged families.

“I am raising funds with the help of community leaders in order to help needy families obtain necessary school supplies for their kids,” he explained. “This project will also consist of teaching these residents concepts such as ethics, working on a budget, importance of investing in an education, and community involvement,” he added.

Families will have to commit the time to learn about what Cabrera has to teach them. The distribution of school supplies will coincide with workshops and tutoring sessions for children.

In his downtime, Cabrera likes to play soccer. He has assisted in coaching the junior varsity as well as varsity soccer teams at Nikki Rowe since he graduated. He would like to play on an adult soccer league but has not had time to fit it into his busy schedule yet.

After graduation, Cabrera plans to continue his education, attending graduate school in economics.

“I would like to eventually work in the public sector through government, a non-profit organization or through an international institution such as World Bank,” he said.

“When people say the word economics, many tend to think of only money, but there is much more to economics than that.”

Plants lecture Sunday

By EDWINA P. GARZA The Pan American

cotton, aloe vera, and olives. He also said that while olives aren’t grown here naturally, they have started to be grown Sunday, March 21, Dr. Bob Lonard of in areas such as Weslaco. While olives the Biology Department will conduct a aren’t being grown commercially like presentation on plants from the Bible in cotton or aloe vera, USDA Weslaco is the Rio Grande Valley. The presentation experimenting with this crop, as well as will be held at the Museum of South others.

Having his presentation positioned Texas History in during Lent is Edinburg at 2 p.m. one of the “I’m going to R G V B i b l i c a l P l a n t s reasons Lonard discuss the various said his plants that have been presentation is introduced into the What: Presentation on important.

Rio Grande Valley, “Well, it’s and that were Plants the season,” he important in Biblical said. “We’re in times,” said Lonard.

When: Sunday, March 21 Lent, Palm “Also those that we Sunday is grow here in the Where: Museum of South coming up, Valley, and use in E a s t e r ’ s various ways, and Texas History coming up, a those that have been lot of the plants introduced to the Time: 2 p.m. that grow here Valley to help out the are associated economy.” with things like Melissa Tijeria, t h e event programming Crucifixion, officer for the museum, said that 26 of the 110 plants for example,” he said.

Aside from explaining what the plants named in the Bible can be located in the Valley, even more are vital to the are and where they can be found, Lonard will also discuss the significance of economy.

“One-fifth have been here in the Rio these plants in Biblical scripture, their Grande Valley, and they are major plants uses during those times, and their possible uses for the Valley and its in this regional economy,” Tijeria said.

Lonard said those plants include economy.

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THE PAN AMERICAN

WELLNESS

continued from page 4

say ‘no,’” Dugas said. “We need to eliminate those things that stop us from achieving our goals.”

Dugas said that when a small distraction comes up, people will get distracted from their goal and then rationalize it later.

To reduce stress, Dugas said that people need to set goals, use a calendar or daily planner to better manage time, learn to say “no” to anything that may prevent your goals, and to put aside time just for yourself.

Dugas explained how exercise and keeping fit can help maintain a healthy lifestyle. She gave examples of small things we can do everyday, such as parking farther away to make ourselves walk more.

“Anything in terms of physical activity is better than nothing,” Dugas said.

Future lectures in the Healthy Living series will include a lecture on nutrition in May and the use of diet supplements.

HELP WANTED Sports writers and news reporters needed for immediate freelance work Franco Caballero/The Pan American

SAVING GAS— UTPA students have often opted to ride bicycles to campus instead of bringing a car because of gas prices and parking problems.

Call 381-2547 for more information

TEACHERS

continued from page 3

Currently, about 30 percent of public There are currently about 290,000 teachers in Texas, but many have left schools in the United States are or are considering quitting due to considered to be inadequate in unsatisfied pay and working improvements, especially among conditions. According to the Austin- immigrant who don't speak English.

American Statesman, 60 percent of Because of this, the law is going to new teachers in Texas quit teaching extend more learning time for immigrants to after the first five learn to speak years.

The TEMPORARY TEACHER the language. certification board CERTIFICATION PROGRAM Before the said that in 2003, W ho? The State Board for extension, there were Educator Certification (SBEC). immigrants who a p p r o x i m a t e l y W ha t? Allows college graduates spoke mainly 45,000 vacancies. without formal education training to their native Teachers in Texas receive a temporary certificate for language were get paid an average grades between 8-12 in the State of tested on of $40,000 a year, Texas. reading and which is $3,000 W hy ? There is a shortage of teachmathematics below the national ers throughout Texas, especially in without even average. According given the to the National math, science, special education, opportunity to E d u c a t i o n and foreign language learn it well Association, Texas areas. enough. ranks 30th W he n? The This is a big nationwide in terms SBEC will meet and discuss the adoption problem here in of teacher salaries. on April 2. If adopted, it the Rio Grande There is yet could go into effect by Valley, where another reason the April 22. m a n y State of Texas will immigrants, need more teachers. mostly from Due to the No Child Left Behind law, ‘highly qualified Mexico, move into this region without teachers will be required in every state knowing very much English, if any.

Support education groups felt that by the end of 2005-06. These teachers must have at least a bachelor’s degree, inadequate English literacy hurts a passing examination score, and a educational institutions that have high teaching certificate, according to U.S rates of immigrants.

Department of Education.

RESUME

continued from page 5

copy form. Most advisers and employers recommend removing all special formatting, including boldfaced type, italics and special characters. Using asterisk marks in the place of bullets is just as effective. Align all text to the left margin and make sure headings are in all caps to set them apart. Also, make sure when using a word processor to save the document as a text-only file and copy and paste it to the body of your e-mail.

“Many employers feel viruses; so instead put them as copy in the text of an e-mail,” said Steven Rothberg, operator of Collegerecruiter.com, in a recent article in the Houston Chronicle.

However, as important as the

MEXICAN

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THE PAN AMERICAN

aforementioned fundamentals are, the most important is to never lie on a resume. Being creative is one thing, but be creative with facts.

For help on campus, the Career Placement Services helps students with writing up their resumes. Each semester there is a Resume Review Days when students can bring in their resumes and have a CPS staff member review it and give tips on how to improve it. One of these sessions will be held on April 27, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the CPS offices. For more information about the Resume Review Day or about writing a resume call (956) 381-2243 or visit the CPS website at http://careerservices.panam.edu.

continued from page 5

and the connection UTPA is developing with Mexico, are symbolic of how the relationship can be strengthened in the future.

“There’s a river between the border,” Caylor said. “A river connects people rather than dividing them. The fact that the Rio Grande is the border between these two

countries shows that there should be a relationship.”

With UTPA assisting the Acervo Historico Diplomatico, the relationship is starting to move away from being strictly political, and closer to two countries sharing knowledge of history.

March 18, 2004

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THE PAN AMERICAN

CAFTA developing

Career Placement teaching resume skills

By VANESSA LUCIO The Pan American

By AMY MEDELLIN The Pan American

President Bush notified Congress this past week that he plans to sign off on the Central American Free Trade Agreement. The opinions on this decision have been decidedly mixed.

The Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) is a regional agreement between the U.S. and five Central American countries: Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica. The negotiations for the terms concluded several rounds of talks in December 2003.

The Dominican Republic, still in talks with the United States, could also come on board onto the agreement.

Bush can sign the agreement no earlier than May 21, giving U.S. trade officials time to issue effects of the agreement on the U.S. and the five other countries it will affect.

The draft text of the agreement was released to the public in January 2003 and could come up for a vote in Congress as early as July 2004.

According to the citizenstrade.org website, CAFTA would remove all tariff barriers in the five Central American countries on imported agricultural products.

This would allow cheaply grown and heavily subsidized U.S. corn and other basic grains to flood local markets.

Based on the 10-year-old North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) model, CAFTA would push ahead the commercial globalization agenda that has caused a "race to the bottom" in labor and environmental standards in the U.S. and Central America, according to some experts.

CAFTA would also likely force a massive migration of former farmers to large urban areas to work in the informal sector or

GARCIA

maquilas (sweatshops).

That is why some groups oppose the deal, and its approval could be delayed because of the American election year.

Since the first mention of CAFTA many groups have spawned grass-root efforts to protest it, in countries ranging from El Salvador to Costa Rica, not to mention American cities such as Washington D.C., Minneapolis, and Houston.

According to Richard Shaw, secretary/treasurer of the Harris County AFL-CIO, the United States has already lost 2.6 million manufacturing jobs in the last four years, a loss which he attributed to NAFTA. Others point to the growth in economic strength of nations such as China and India for the job loss.

The Rio Grande Valley Sugar Growers also oppose the agreement because they fear increased imports will lower sugar prices, endangering their livelihoods.

On the other hand for metropolitan cities like Houston, CAFTA will be more of a benefit than an added burden on the people, because of the large number of major corporations in town.

According to the Committee of Solidarity of the People of El Salvador cispes.org website the Bush Administration’s eagerness to implement CAFTA is part of a strategy for an expanded and equally flawed trade agreement, the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) which would cover all of North, Central, and South America, except Cuba.

With much at stake for the Bush Administration, its no wonder the president decided to bring this issue to the nation’s attention at a time when he knows it really counts for his re-election. The economy is one of the signature issues of the 2004 election.

continued from page 1

makes complete sense that he has made peace with the local newspaper that praises him one minute and bashes him the next.

Now that the primaries are over and the candidates Garcia endorsed publicly have lost, how does Garcia feel about his actual power as county judge?

“It has been an interesting and challenging year but I made a commitment to serve the people and that is what I am doing,” he said. “In my opinion Eric Cardenas Jarvis should have won but Aparicio did and now we go back to doing what we have been doing for the past eight years,” stated Garcia.

It’s no secret that Garcia has been a definite ally of Sheriff Henry Escalon, who lost the election to Lupe Trevino.

When asked to explain his political relationship with the outgoing sheriff, Garcia had this to say: “Sheriff Escalon is a good man and should have won but I have been helping people get elected into office for over 30 years. You learn to accept changes and the will of the

electorate, that’s our system.”

Escalon lost to Trevino by nearly 1,800 votes and subsequently went on record to blame his defeat partially on the discrepancy in spending. Trevino spent nearly $300,000 while Escalon only spent $100,000.

Why should the people of Hidalgo County vote Garcia’s style? Again, the judge does not bite on the question.

“I don’t want people to vote for me or on an issue I believe in because they’re loyal. I want them to vote because it’s the right issue,” he stressed. “ I don’t believe in getting together like some of the other court members do, to talk about things before we get to a meeting, No. We are all intelligent, responsible human beings and adults, and we ought to be able to discuss issues in an open forum and then act/decide what is best for the county or not,” Garcia stated.

“It is important to have an open discussion with the people and then we vote, this is still their county isn’t it?” concluded Garcia.

“Don’t use cell phone numbers,” Reed said in Job Choice. “You could be at the grocery store when they call to set up an interview and you need to be Toward the end of each semester graduating prepared for the call.” seniors can be found in the library study rooms late Another important part of a resume that advisers at night studying extra hard for their last bunch of emphasize is the specific objective. Although many tests, in the computer labs finishing their important students forget, or just do not know to put this in projects and presentations, and frequenting the their resumes, it helps writer keep their resume very Career Placement Office and various job fairs. specific as to what they are applying for.

In the back of every one of their minds is the scary A lack of experience in certain professional fields fact of finding a job after all the can discourage the applicant hard work at college. Although from submitting a resume at most graduates do not take their all. However, Job Source job searches lightly, many do not recommends playing up take their resumes as serious as one’s education section to they should. compensate for the lack of “A lot of students who come in ❧Pay careful attention to actual experience in the here [The Career Placement spelling, punctuation, graarea.

Services] do not take writing a “The education section resume seriously,” said Enedelia mar, and style. can be useful if you have P. Kidd, director of Career ❧Keep descriptions clear limited experience in the Placement Services. “They do and to the point. field,” said Reed. “You can not take the time to present ❧Tailor your information to compensate by selling your themselves on their resume and the job you’re seeking. education: write a relevant we try to help them fix that.” course list, and include a ❧Use good-quality white or One important thing to off-white bond paper. section of academic projects remember when drafting a ❧Ask for help at your career that are also relevant,” Reed resume is to make sure that it is continued. “Say you want to free of spelling and grammatical services center. work in market research and errors. A simple mistake such as list projects where you a misspelled word or forgetting a researched and analyzed period or comma can result in even a well-written data.” resume being filed in the trash can.

A high GPA is another good selling point on a The resume should always have a heading, which resume. Many employers prefer a 3.0 GPA or higher, includes contact information, such as name, but those with less than stellar averages can have a addresses, telephone number, and a business-like e- hard time deciding whether to include it or not. mail address. It is also important to include two However, there are ways to include a GPA that is not telephone numbers, according to Mark Reed, career perfect. counselor at California State University at Hayward, “For example, you could say it’s a 3.2, after in a recent article titled “Build the Resume changing majors or it’s 3.0, except for disastrous Employers Want,” in Job Choices magazine. Reed freshman year, or a 2.8 because you worked 40 hours also suggests caution.

RESUME TIPS

a week,” said Reed.

Relevance is a key element in resume writing, according to Job Choices.

“Place yourself in the mind of the potential employer and write about what is going to most interest your employer,” said Kate S. Brooks, director of liberal arts career services at the University of Texas at Austin, in Job Choice. “It is also better to be more specific in job descriptions and say ‘typed letters, filed documents, answered phones, and distributed mail,’ than saying, ‘handled basic office procedures.’”

It is very important to make sure that the work experience relates to the job one is applying for; even if the waiter job students held to put them through school can be listed under “Other Experience,” as long as it is related in a relevant matter, and as long as it is shown that skills needed for the job were developed during that time.

Other categories are a plus when writing resumes, such as an awards and honors section, especially if they relate to the position wanted. Extracurricular activities also show employers that students did more than study in school, as well as community service, and leadership development. For example, being president of a club or organization on campus shows initiative and time and effort were put in.

“One of the biggest problems that we see with the students’ resumes is they do not emphasis their skills as much as they do,” said Kidd. “For some reason students just do not like to talk about themselves and their skills in their resumes.”

Technology has taken not only writing a resume to a whole new level with easy to follow resume templates, but sending a resume to a potential employer has become easier through e-mail.

A recent survey found that most employers prefer to receive resumes through e-mail, said Job Choices.

The format, though, when sending a resume through the Internet, is much different from the regular hardSee RESUME page 12

Mexican documents preserved in library

By CLARISSA MARTINEZ The Pan American

documents will be much simpler since the documents will be scanned, saved to a disc and eventually provide clear replication and easy Besides tropical weather, access to the border and storage. Caylor says the reason UTPA has been able Mexico, and agricultural benefits, the Rio Grande to help with this project is simply because the Valley has a part of history that is only accessible university asked to.

Caylor explained that from South Texas. Proximity to the the Mexican government border has given the university some has allowed UTPA to riches found nowhere else. assist with the digitizing For students at UTPA, this means These documents process because the unlimited access to exclusive historical belong to Mexico, but country itself has so archives. there is a connection much to deal with on The university is the only archive between what they other fronts.

If a recipient in the United States allowed say and what we can university is willing to learn about the past copies of all diplomatic correspondence relationships between step up and help with the and international relations written to and M e x i c o a n d Te x a s . preservation of from the Mexican government since historical documents, 1819. The documents will be digitally - Lawrence Caylor, UTPA is the one to do it. copied from Mexico’s diplomatic Library Director “These documents archives from the Acervo Historico belong to Mexico, but Diplomatico in Mexico City.

According to UTPA Library Director Lawrence there is a connection between what they say and Caylor, the building is packed with volumes of what we can learn about the past relationships documents. The digitization process will take at the between Mexico and Texas,” Caylor said. “This process can strengthen the relationship between the least 10 years to be completed.

With the archives being digitized, access to the two areas.”

“

“

March 18, 2004

The first stage of the project will be to digitize documents pertaining to the Texas Revolution in the 1830s and the Mexican-American War a decade later. Mexico lost a huge swath of its territory in the two conflicts.

Though access to the documents will be beneficial to scholars across Texas and the nation, students and staff at the university will be the ones with information of a country’s past at their fingertips.

However, Caylor is hoping that a grant from the Texas Council of Humanities will be approved in order to pay the necessary expenses of the project.

Without the initial step of acquiring the money, the entire project may be considered a “great idea.”

Dr. Mercedes de Vega Armijo, director of the Acervo Historico Diplomatico, was said to have chosen UTPA because its proximity to the U.S. Mexico border, which would allow easy access to scholars from both Mexico and America. The university also offers a high concentration of Mexican and Mexican-American students and has agreements with more than 15 universities in Mexico allowing access.

Caylor believes that the exchange of information, See MEXICAN page 12

March 18, 2004

THE PAN AMERICAN

Page 4

Fad diets: Popular but often problematic

By ARTHUR HAGEY The Pan American

The UTPA Border Health Office continued its Healthy Living Lecture Series March 11 with a presentation on fad diets.

The series is part of the Provost’s Initiative on Campus Wellness that came about after a health survey of UTPA employees in late 2003 conducted by the Border Health Office and the Office of Institutional Research and Effectiveness. The information gathered will be used by the Border Health Office to find areas to improve the physical fitness of faculty and staff.

The Healthy Living series is designed primarily for faculty and staff, although students may attend as well.

The survey found that the average weight of the faculty and staff was higher than average for men and women. The survey also found that 68 percent suffered from ailments such as high blood pressure or high cholesterol, 6 percent smoke, 8 percent use the University weight room, and only 26 percent took their 15-minute breaks, with 14 percent being unaware of the breaks.

Health Education Coordinator, David Salazar, lectured on the myths surrounding fad diets and how effective they actually are. Salazar said that while some fad diets can help you lose weight, it wasn’t likely that someone would continue being on the diet for the rest of their life, and will simply gain the weight right back.

Salazar explained that fad diets have become popular by preying on insecurities.

“They appear to have magical properties that are going to make us lose weight,” Salazar said. “Fad diets present a quick fix for people who have tried everything to lose weight.”

Salazar said the appeal of diet plans like the Atkins Diet was that they have no restriction on portion size.

The diet works by reducing the intake of carbohydrates as much as possible, forcing the body to look for another fuel to burn for energy. With carbs eliminated, the body

benefits of a less stressful, turns to burning fat. longer life, and keeping healthy Salazar said that the for family and loved ones.

Atkins is still Salazar said that losing as controversial because it little as 1 pound a week through is such a high fat diet and better eating and exercise was a can cause strain on the better choice than going on a kidneys. fad diet. Setting too high an Less reputable fad diets expectation is part of the include the Cabbageproblem in losing weight.

Soup diet, in which a A seminar on stress person is allowed to eat management was given March nothing but cabbage soup 17 by Dr. Donna Dugas, Chair for breakfast, lunch, and in the Health and Kinesiology dinner. Salazar said diets Department. like these can be Dugas talked about stressors, dangerous, as the body is something you experience or not being provided with think about that causes stress, enough protein to sustain and how they influence our itself. lives.

Salazar said that the “There are stressors we can problem wasn’t so much do something about, and those with finding the right that we can learn to deal with,” diet, but the quantity and Dugas said. “Not all stress quality of what we are factors are bad.” eating plus a lack of Dugas explained how lower activity. levels of stress causes enough “Most people know anxiety to motivate us to get what they need to eat,” things done. Prolonged stress, said Salazar. “They know however, can lower our disease they should be avoiding the over-consumption of Franco Caballero/The Pan American resistance, increase chance of heart disease, and lead to unhealthy foods and emotional and eating disorders. staying away from candy PICKING ORANGES— Junior Galina Ojeda, a dietetics major, helps out with the wellness fest last Thursday at Dugas said that part of and chips.”

Salazar said people can the UTPA Ballroom. Brown bag lunches were provided to handling stress is learning to the first 30 people. properly manage time. Overfeel alienated with the commitment and not making diet process when they don’t see dramatic results. It is important to set goals and time for ourselves are problems as well.

“Part of [the problem] is that we don’t know how to to be dieting for the right reason. Salazar said that See DIETS page 11 looking nice should be secondary to the more significant

Faculty colloquium showcases writings

By CECI CASTANEDA The Pan American

“People don’t go to the movies to get reality; they go to escape, to get closed systems.”

Jose Skinner shifted his weight to his left and looked up from his thin reading glasses to realize the reaction of his audience. That’s what they were there for: a closed system, a chance to escape and enter into a fictitious world concocted by the experience and imagination of Skinner.

“Botched, bungled, I hated those words.”

Skinner read the words perfectly; they were his words to read, to understand, to feel perfectly. They fell from his mouth with stagnant emotion, the staleness evading the postmodern attitude he so desired to convey. The audience chuckled at an ironic juxtaposition, blushed at a witty swear word. They were gone, somewhere around a prison in New Mexico; they had escaped with his voice telling his words, his story.

Every Tuesday in March at noon, students mentally escape room 310 in the UTPA Library. They leave the brown brick, the palm trees, and the thought of another class behind, traveling into the culture of the Black Atlantic, a prison in New Mexico, the dark mind of a British feminist, or the rich life in Native American literature. Travel is made possible by the Department of English, which hosts a New Faculty Research Colloquium covering a different topic every Tuesday. Each seminar is designed to help expose faculty talents and knowledge while encouraging aspiring writers at UTPA. “It’s always helpful for students to hear something fresh, something new,” Skinner said later, reflecting on 10 years of writing experience and two years of teaching.

“They’re not just reading books by dead people. These

readings show that writing is active. It can inspire them.”

His colleague, Allan Goren, an associate professor of English, agrees.

“Listening to authors acts as a kind of bridge between the classroom and the larger world,” Goren said. “What they hear here is written for the broader public, not just them. It helps students appreciate that education is relevant for their experience. Education never stops.”

A continuing education infiltrates the minds at the research colloquiums, the room is filled with teens and middle-aged adults. Yet, all their eyes focus on Skinner in the center; their mouths break in a unanimous chuckle, a similar look of surprise pervades all. They are learning, feeling the emotion of the author reading his finalized work. Their education: watching an author be an author, realizing the effort, the struggle, and the pride.

“It’s helpful to hear an author read his works,” Skinner continued later. “They can see how the story is in his own voice.”

The audience also shares in his frustrations of being a writer. Skinner tells them of the decisions of cutting out long sections, the conflict of what fits, and the rejection that crushes the invested effort.

“My editor told me my first story sucked,” Skinner told his audience. “She told me not to read it today because it needed a lot of work.”

Most of the audience laughed softly, averting their eyes from others. It was funny then, aloud, and especially considering the recent success of the short story that captivated all of them. Yet, they knew of the pain of rejection, a fear embedded deep behind their self-esteem.

Rejection was life in the world and this was their education, a real college experience to prepare aspiring writers for reality. Here, before them, stood a good writer, one to be admired and followed. But even his work

“sucked.” Discouragement from rejection is not an option; it is a tumor that can eat up all remaining self-esteem and consume any dreams of real writing.

“Aspiring writers can’t get discouraged too soon,” Skinner said. “They have to be willing to go through a lot of drafts. They must have tenacity. But once it’s published, it’s there forever. It’s worth it in the end.”

Education at the colloquiums is not restricted to aspiring writers or English professors. Education means exposure and that means exposure for all. Students of all levels hear and sense the suspense contained in words weaved into brilliant stories. They discover enjoyment where it might not have existed before.

“I came for the extra points,” admitted one student.

“But it turned out to be really interesting. I enjoyed the story.”

In then end, the value of good work spreads from authors and editors to the audience. The value of good work shows how far it will take the audience, how much they become lost to their own tangible world. The caliber of Skinner’s piece showed in the distant gaze of his audience, which was transported into the mind of a convict and a mentally retarded waitress.

Skinner finished his story, gazes broke, and the audience looked up, half surprised, half confused. Skinner stared back, waiting for a response. Silence.

“Excuse me.” A young lady in the far front corner stuck her hand out and waved it.

“Yes,” Skinner replied.

“I liked the ride,” she said. “For myself, I’m not sure I need to end up anywhere. The ride was enough. I really like the ride.”

Skinner smiled. There, in her words, in the emotion of her voice, was mirrored the true worth of his words, his story.

SPORTS CLIPBOARD

March 18, 2004

Mexican soccer comes to Valley It is official: the Valley will host it’s first Mexican fútbol or soccer match when Mexico City’s Pumas of U.N.A.M. take on Monterrey-based Tigres of U.A.N.L. April 14 at the McAllen Veterans Memorial Stadium at 8 p.m.

Pumas will be led by technical director Hugo Sánchez, while Tigres will come to the Valley with a wealth of firepower led by a pair of Argentine strikers, Walter Gaitán and Andrés Silvera.

U.N.A.M. is currently in second place in the Mexican Clausura 2004 season with a 61-3 record.

Pumas defender Joaquín Beltrán tries to U.A.N.L. is the runcatch up to Tigres’ top striker Walter Gaitán. ner-up to last season’s Apertura 2003 tournament. However, this year the Monterrey club is struggling with a 3-6-1 record.

Tigres was defeated by Pachuca in last season’s final.

Tickets for possibly the biggest sporting event to be held in the Valley are scheduled to go on sale Sunday at various United Drive-In convenience stores in the Valley and in Reynosa.

Owens goes to Philadelphia Receiver Terrell Owens left the San Francisco 49ers Tuesday and will play for the Philadelphia Eagles next season.

Philly has lost three consecutive NFC championship games and it is hoped that Owens will give the offense the necessary boost to make it the last yard to the Super Bowl.

The flamboyant receiver has averaged 93 receptions, 1,316 yards and 13 touchdowns over the past four seasons. Owens has also only one of two receivers to amass 5,000 yards and 50 touchdowns in the same time span.

Owens will join defensive end Jevon Kearse, who was recently signed to a $66 million eight-year contract.

Last season, the Eagles went 12-4.

Shaq invited to play for Team USA Sources informed The Associated Press Wednesday that Shaquille O’Neal and Kevin Garnett have been invited to play for the U.S. Olympic basketball team.

Nine of the 12 spots on the roster have been taken. The team is coached by Larry Brown.

O’Neal is no stranger to Olympic competition. Shaq won a gold medal in the 1996 Olympics held in Atlanta.

Another spot could open up if Kobe Bryant is unable to participate due to his sexual assault trial in Colorado.

The U.S. will play its first Olympic game Aug. 15.

Page 13

Sports

FOR THE RECORD Men’s Golf

Women’s Basketball WOMEN’S INDEPENDENTS STANDINGS TEAMS Texas A&M-CC UTPA IPFW Savannah State Date Nov. 7 Nov. 21 Nov. 22 Nov. 25 Nov. 29 Dec. 5 Dec. 6 Dec. 14 Dec. 17 Dec. 19 Dec. 21 Dec. 28 Dec. 31 Jan. 2 Jan. 7 Jan. 9 Jan. 11 Jan. 13 Jan. 22 Jan. 24 Jan. 27 Jan. 31 Feb. 3 Feb. 9 Feb. 16 Feb. 19 Feb. 24 Feb. 28 March 3

W 19 13 8 6

L 9 15 20 20

Pct.. .679 .464 .286 .231

Lady Broncs vs Results Houston W 91-77 Air Force.

W 68-67 Boise State/Dayton W 63-57 TAMUI W 84-55 St. Edward’s W 79-42 St. Louis L 45-77 Kansas State/Sac. W 60-50 Oral Roberts L 57-67 Texas L 25-90 Marshall L 59-74 Central Michigan L 40-56 Tulsa L 41-71 Prairie View A&M W 64-52 UT-Arlington L 46-85 Sacramento State W 49-47 San Diego State L 38-59 Louisiana-Lafayette L 54-62 SE Louisiana L 58-60 SW Missouri State L 34-69 TAMUCC L 43-73 Incarnate Word W 63-46 IPFW W 75-72 Northern Colorado L 56-57 Prairie View A&M W 70-63 Louisiana-Lafayette W 56-38 IPFW W 80-55 TAMUCC L 36-62 SE Louisiana W 54-53 Northern Arizona 8

Men’s Tennis

Date Feb. 9-10 March 14-15 March 29-30 April 5-6

Tournament Result Rice Intercollegiate 14 of 14 Bearkat Invitational 14 of 16 Trojan Cup

Hal Sutton Intercollegiate April 23-24Andrea Brotto Cavalier Classic May 7-9 National Minority Golf Championships

Broncs Baseball Date

Opponent

Nov. 1

Green and White

Score

Jan. 31

Texas State-San Marcos L 7-8

GREEN, 2-1

Feb. 1

Texas State-San Marcos L 2-6

Feb. 3

Texas Kingsville

Feb. 6

Lamar vs. Kansas

Feb. 6

Sam Houston State

L 2-7

Feb. 7

Kansas

W 8-6

Feb. 7

Lamar vs. Sam Houston 7-4

W 6-3, 3-2 3-2

Feb. 8

Sam Houston vs. Kansas 8-8

Feb. 8

Lamar

Feb. 15

Lamar (2)

Feb. 16

Lamar

L 4-6

Feb. 18

Texas A&M-Kingsville

W 15-5

W 2-1 L 1-16, W 8-6

Feb. 20

Sam Houston State

L 6-10

Feb. 21

Sam Houston State

L 5-10

Feb. 22

Sam Houston State

L 4-6

Feb. 27

Washington State

W 3-2

Feb. 28

Washington State

L 3-15

Feb. 29

Washington State

L 6-15

March 6

Arkansas

W 4-1

March 7

Arkansas

W 11-4

March 9

Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (2) W

2-0

March 9

Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (2) W

10-5

Date Jan. 19 Jan. 19 Feb. 6 Feb. 7 Feb. 7 Feb. 14 Feb. 21

Opponent Time/Results Trinity W 4-3 Texas A&M L 1-6 Eastern Kentucky W 6-1 Dayton W 5-2 Xavier W 6-1 Saint Louis W 4-3 TAMUCC L 2-5

Feb. 26

Laredo College (Exh.) L 3-4

March 17 Texas-Arlington

L 5-13

March 11

Abilene Christian

L 3-4

March 19 Oral Roberts

7

March 20 Oral Roberts

7

March 21 Oral Roberts

1

Texas-San Antonio

2 2

March 13

Texas Southern

W 4-1

March 26 April 3

UTSA DePaul

2 1

March 12 Texas-San Antonio

W 6-4

March 13 Texas-San Antonio

L 1-3

March 14 Texas-San Antonio

ppd.

March 16 Texas-Arlington

W 7-5

April 4

Texas-Arlington

10 a.m.

March 23

April 7 April 8 April 9 April 16 April 30 May 1 May 2

Texas Southern 2 Lamar 3 Southeastern Louisiana Noon TAMUCC 1 SLC Championships SLC Championships SLC Championships

March 24

Texas-San Antonio

March 26

Dallas Baptist (2)

4

March 27

Dallas Baptist

1

March 30

Texas

6:30

Apr. 6

Texas State-San Marcos

6:30

Apr. 7

Texas State-San Marcos

1

Women’s Tennis Date Feb. 6 Feb. 13 Feb. 15 Feb. 26 March 11

Opponent Time/Results UTEP L 0-7 Sam Houston State L 3-4 Stephen F. Austin L 1-6 Laredo College W 7-0 Abilene Christian L 0-7 March 13 Texas Southern L 3-4 March 27 Air Force 8:30 a.m.

April 3 TAMUCC 2 April 7 Texas Southern 2 April 8 Lamar 3 April 9 McNeese State 9 a.m.

April 16 IPFW TBA April 16 N. Colorado TBA April 17 TAMUCC 2 April 30 SLC Championships May 1 SLC Championships May 2 SLC Championships

Apr. 9

Texas A&M-Corpus Christi(2)

1

Apr. 13

Texas-San Antonio

7

Apr. 14

Texas-San Antonio

2

Apr. 16

Arizona

9

Apr. 17

Arizona

9

Apr. 18

Arizona

3

Apr. 23

Dallas Baptist (2)

4

Apr. 24

Dallas Baptist

1

May 7

Southeastern Louisiana 7

May 8

Southeastern Louisiana 7

May 9

Southeastern Louisiana 1

May 11

Arkansas

7:05

May 12

Arkansas

7:05

May 14

Oklahoma

7:05

May 15

Oklahoma

7:05

May 16

Oklahoma

1

Local / Regional Coverage Mexican Soccer League 2004 Team Chiapas U.N.A.M. Guadalajara Toluca Necaxa América Atlas Irapuato Pachuca Club San Luis Monterrey Puebla Morelia Querétaro U.A.G. Tigres Santos Atlante Cruz Azul Veracruz

W-D-L 8-1-1 6-3-1 6-1-3 5-3-2 4-4-2 4-4-2 4-3-3 4-3-3 4-3-3 3-3-2 2-5-3 3-2-5 3-2-5 2-5-3 3-2-5 3-1-6 3-1-6 2-4-4 2-2-6 1-4-5

GF:GA PTS 21:11 25 21:11 21 11:9 19 14:10 18 15:11 16 15:13 16 16:14 15 15:15 15 15:16 15 9:8 12 11:10 11 12:14 11 10:12 11 13:16 11 19:23 11 21:23 10 13:16 10 13:16 10 11:17 8 13:18 7

Week 10 results March 13-14: Veracruz 0, Morelia 1; Monterrey 0, Chiapas 1; Cruz Azul 2, Querétaro 0; Necaxa 3, Guadalajara 0; Atlas 2, Santos 0; U.A.G. 2, Pachuca 5; U.N.A.M. 2, Tigres 1; Irapuato 3, San Luis 1; Puebla 1, Toluca 2; América 1, Atlante 1.

Week 11 schedule March 20-21: Chiapas vs. América; Morelia vs. U.A.G.; Tigres vs. Cruz Azul; Guadalajara vs.

Puebla; Necaxa vs. Irapuato; Toluca vs.

U.N.A.M.; Pachuca vs. Monterrey; Querétaro vs. Veracruz; Atlante vs. Atlas; Santos vs. San Luis.

NBA Thursday, March 18 Minnesota at San Antonio, 8:30 Friday, March 19 Boston at Dallas, 7 Houston at Golden State, 9:30 Saturday, March 20 Boston at San Antonio, 7:30 Sunday, March 21 Dallas at New Jersey, 12:30 Houston at Sacramento, 6:30 Monday, March 22 Dallas at Philadelphia, 6 Houston at Portland, 9 Tuesday, March 23 San Antonio at Minnesota, 7 Wednesday, March 24 Dallas at Indiana, 7 Toronto at Houston, 7:30

MLB Spring Training Thursday, March 18 St. Louis at Houston, 2:05 Friday, March 19 Houston at Montreal, 12:05 Arizona at Texas, 2:05 Saturday, March 20 Cleveland at Houston, 12:05 Texas at Chicago White Sox, 2:05 Sunday, March 21 Colorado at Texas, 2:05 Houston at L.A. Dodgers, 5:05 Monday, March 22 Houston at Florida, 12:05 Texas at Kansas City, 8:05 Tuesday, March 23 Atlanta at Houston, 12:05 Texas at San Diego, 8:05 Wednesday, March 24 Oakland at Texas, 2:05 Houston at N.Y. Mets, 6:10 UTPA HOME GAMES IN BOLD All games p.m. unless noted.

March 18, 2004

Sports

Page 14

Broncs to watch NCAA tourney on TV

By BRIAN CARR The Pan American

season, and the 86-83 overtime victory put them at 3-3 for the season.

The win against Air-Force, a 37-35 The March Madness bracket was final- defensive battle, came at the end of their ized Sunday, and to no surprise the Broncs season - sandwiched in the latter half of a did not make the list. nine-game winning streak. The win put the What is surprising, however, is that two Broncs’ record at 12-13, and the upset gave teams the Broncs dropped en route to their the program a chance to finish the season even-steven finish (14-14) will attend the on top. big dance.

Head Coach Bob Hoffman mused after Air Force (22-6) picked up an 11th seed the game that the win was huge. after winning the "I'm just so fired up Mountain West for our guys. It's a big Conference and will open win for our program." up the tourney against No. Hoffman said. "Other 20 North Carolina. than the Baylor win at UTSA, which narrowly the San Juan Shootout edged out a 16th seed after in 2001-02, this is the a 19-13 season, will see biggest win for the No. 1-ranked Stanford in school during my their first round of action. tenure. Air Force is a Both teams have the odds very talented and strong stacked against them for team.” their upcoming outings.

After the victory over Both teams lost by narrow UTSA, Hoffman’s reacmargins to the Broncs durtion was much more ing regular season play. modest.

But to paint a picture of "We persevered,” the Broncs dancing UTPA Head Coach Bob Hoffman Hoffman said. “It was a through the season picking battle inside, and we off top-ranked teams is to give them a lit- made some huge plays.” tle too much credit.

Immediately following the win against The wins over the UTSA Roadrunners UTSA the Broncs went on a seven-game and the Air Force Falcons came at losing streak, but rebounded and walked extremely different points in the Broncs’ into the Air Force competition with six season. straight wins behind them.

The Broncs downed UTSA in early Regardless of the timing of the victories, December. It was their sixth outing of the Hoffman does say that it adds some per-

sonal drama to the tourney.

“It will definitely be interesting to watch two teams that we were able to beat,” Hoffman said.

“It will be interesting to see whether or not they advance.”

Both teams are heavily favored to drop out in the first round and some critics of the NCAA Tournament Committee question the validity of the two programs’ presence in the in the tournament at all.

Though Hoffman did not predict a fate for the two teams, he did argue for the team’s legitimacy.

“Air Force won their conference, so they definitely deserve to be there,” Hoffman said.

“And San Antonio is a hardworking team, it’s that simple.”

Photo by Delisa Guadarrama/The Pan American Unfortunately for the Broncs, the postseason is The Broncs defeated NCAA Tournament-bound Air Force 37-35 anything but uncertain. Feb. 16 at the Field House.

After a slow start UTPA doomed itself to a seat on nine seniors on their roster. the couch, watching as past opponents try For now there is nothing left for the and advance.

Broncs to do but watch, but everyone who Next season, the Broncs will bring back has ever lost knows “There is always next three of their five starters and will have year.”

N EWS Election results brought big surprises March 18, 2004

By CLARISSA MARTINEZ The Pan American

After months of local election campaigning these were the highlights: a federal investigation, a local judge decided to run for Congress, a political agenda was thwarted for the Hidalgo County Judge and a surprise upset took place in the race for state representative. The campaign trail has come to a close. A new chapter is opening for some, while others are ready to put their books back on the shelf.

Judge Ed Aparicio of the 92nd state District Court was reelected despite the possibility of a tarnished image from the FBI raid in January of his courthouse office and his home in Weslaco. His opponent Eric Cardenas Jarvis, an attorney in Edinburg, ran advertisements centered on the federal investigations questioning Aparicio’s liability, but was unsuccessful in the polls.

Dr. Samuel Freeman of the Political Science Department said that the accusation did play a part in the election since the race would not have been as close had the investigation not occurred.

“I thought it would be close but I wasn’t surprised with the results,” Freeman said. “It comes down to the job that the candidate is doing. He [Aparicio] may not be as popular a person. He may be thought of as arrogant or abrasive but he has gotten the job done.”

Though District Judge Leticia Hinojosa received nearly 50 percent of the votes in Hidalgo County, it was not enough to beat U.S. Rep Lloyd Doggett, DAustin, district-wide. Hinojosa conceded the race after Doggett took a commanding early lead. Doggett

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THE PAN AMERICAN

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Diets. . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Resume . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Student Profile. . . . . . . 6

will now run against Republican opponent Rebecca Armendariz Klein of Austin in November’s general election.

Experience also played a part in the District 25 race. Doggett had been in office since 1995 and according to Freeman, though his voting and his campaign proved to the people of the Rio Grande Valley that he was the stronger choice for the seat.

Freeman also said that if Hinojosa had stronger management behind her campaign she might have been able to claim the Valley.

With the triumphs of several were expected, there were a few surprises for some candidates.

State Rep. Miguel Wise lost his position to Armando “Mando” Martinez for the District 39 seat. He had held the office since 1996, and many did not expect Wise to lose his position.

Hidalgo County Judge Ramon Garcia also received disappointment when the candidates he was supporting were not able to claim a win. The Monitor reported Garcia having said that he didn’t have an unofficial slate of candidates, but was exercising his right to support people he believed in.

The mudslinging campaign between Aaron Pena and Eddie Saenz came to a close when the incumbent Pena bested Saenz for the District 40 state representative slot. Incumbent sheriff Henry Escalon was also defeated.

The race between Veronica Gonzales and Roberto Gutierrez in District 41 is still not decided, and a runoff election will take place in April.

ELECTION DAY RESULTS (unofficial) U.S. House of Representatives District 25 Lloyd Doggett 50.19% Leticia Hinojosa 49.81% State Representative District 39 Armando “Mando” Martinez 53.16% Miguel Wise 46.85% State Representative District 40 Aaron Pena 63.50% Eddie Saenz 36.50% State Representative District 41 Ve r o n i c a G o n z a l e s 4 9 . 4 6 % Roberto R o b e r t o Gutierrez G u t i e r r e z 33.94% 33.94% Jim Selman16.59% 92nd District Court Ed Aparicio 52.14% Eric Cardenas Jarvis 47.09 139th District Court Bobby Flores 53.14% Ofelia de los Santos 46.86% 398th District Court Aida Salinas Flores 73.08% H e c t o r J . Vi l l a r r e a l 2 6 . 9 2 % Source: Official Hidalgo County Website

Temporary certification plan could become fact

By JULIAN CAVAZOS The Pan American

The final vote on April 2 could revolutionize the way teachers of the future will actually become teachers. The much-discussed temporary certification route is at stake.

Under the temporary teacher certification program, if teacher-bound college students with only a bachelor’s degree in an academic subject pass a teacher examination, such as TExES and ExCET, they will be able to attain temporary teacher certification.

In other words, teachers may possibly be hired with a college degree, but no education training. They will be able to teach 8th- through 12th-grade in the field of study related to their degree.

This is different from the traditional route of becoming a teacher, where one must have a bachelor’s degree in an academic subject. Alternative schools, such as ACTRGV, are also available, where teachers will be able to finish their additional college courses as they teach.

Under temporary certification, however, no formal education training at after a bachelor’s is necessary.

It was approved by the State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) last November, and since then, a pot of controversy has been stirred. Some, such as businesses and anti-tax groups, want the proposal voted for, while others are completely against it.

Jose Ruiz-Escalante, UTPA chair for the College of

Education, said that some approve the temporary certification because they will be able to save both time, and money.

“They simply believe that getting a degree in education is a waste of time. They also believe they’ll save thousands of dollars they would have spent on paying for their classes,” he said.

On the other hand, some feel students should actually go through the formal training so they will be more prepared. Dr. Dora Saavedra, UTPA communication professor, agrees.

“I’m advising my students to not rely on that law so they can get the basics of classroom management,” Saavedra said. “They need the proper training to better handle a classroom. I don’t think school districts will hire them, unless they (teachers) are very hard to find, such as those schools in rural areas.”

Also, the certificate expires after two years, which is why it is labeled as “temporary.” Then, if satisfied with that particular “teacher” the school district will be able to decide if the certificate will become permanent or not. However, the school district must demonstrate to the SBEC that it will offer additional mentoring and professional training to the teacher for skills improvement.

It won’t be required for schools to notify parents that an informally trained teacher is teaching their child. For safety reasons, a criminal background check will be done on every teacher to see if any crimes have been committed as well. These teachers will also be

receiving the same amount of pay as any other teacher, regardless of whether or not formal education training was undergone.

If adopted on April 2, the program could go into effect statewide by April 22. A two-thirds majority vote is needed.

Even if the program is voted and implemented into Texas school districts, Ruiz-Escalante isn’t worried that the students of UTPA’s College of Education will eject themselves from a formal education and bypass into the temporary certification program. He feels enrollment will remain constant, and that those seeking temporary certification will soon realize they need more preparation.

“I think we [College of Education] will remain the same [in enrollment]. It only affects the high school teacher and junior high teachers, not the elementary teachers. People will begin to realize that they needed more knowledge and additional training,” RuizEscalante said. “They might have the knowledge, but won’t be able to teach in a way that all students might understand. People need to be aware of the factors in the learning process.”

But what is the reason behind SBEC proposing such a thing? Are they just being nice? Actually, the temporary certification program is a response to a shortage of teachers throughout the state, especially in the areas of mathematics, science, foreign language, and special education. The shortage is a serious issue.

See TEACHER page 12

PAGE 2

March 18

OPINION

March 18, 2004

letters

■

editorials

■

UTPA tennis teams split against TSU

2004

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 Dägoberto Pérez 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.

Belgium put his competition out of his misery in the third set it gave UTPA a 4-1 lead in the match and both coaches agreed not to play the final two matches.

Junior Jeremy Salvo of British Columbia was pleased with the match and the way his team performed.

“I was happy with the result. I was satisfied with the performance, but not happy,” Salvo said. “We should be playing a lot better.”

The men return to action on March 26 at 2 p.m. when they travel to San Antonio and open up conference play against the University of Te x a s - S a n A n t o n i o Roadrunners.

The University of Texas-Pan American men’s tennis team was riding a three-game losing streak going into last Saturday’s match against Texas Southern University.

The match originally began at the Orville Cox Tennis Center located on the UTPA campus, but when the skies opened up and the rain came down the competition was moved indoors to The Summit in McAllen.

Assistant Coach Kati Gyulai was happy with the way they responded to a three-game losing skid.

“I think we are back on track,” Gyulai said.

“They looked sharp.

During the losing streak they were not lacking the effort, but they were Photo by Delisa Guadarrama/The Pan American lacking focus.”

Women’s The Broncs set the tone Sophomore Elysia Sloan reaches for a Tennis early by winning at No. 1 shot during a recent practice. and No. 2 doubles to put On the women’s TSU in a 1-0 hole going into the singles side, the Lady Broncs came up shy of pickmatches. ing up their second win of the year after When senior Tom Mangelschots of

1201 West University, CAS 170 Edinburg, Texas 78539 (956) 381-2541 Fax: (956) 316-7122 http://www.panam.edu/dept/panamerican 53rd Year – No. 22

gareyjup@aol.com

Images of 9/11 used for political art Political campaigns and ads are always necessary to reach citizens who can’t find time to follow the campaign trail. In 2000, one of the funnier campaign ideas included a Ralph Nader CLARISSA MARTINEZ slogan saying, “Bush and Gore make me want to Ralph (Nader)!”

A slight smile will break the stern look of an average busy American. But reading one slogan can change their view of a presidential candidate or even ignite an interest in that candidate enough so that one might want to find out what their platform stands for.

But a tactic stronger than humor has arisen recently from the Bush campaign.

Instead of illustrating the president’s policies or showing the strengths the nation has seen since his arrival in office, the angle the Bush campaign is taking is simple: Leadership.

Of course, every president has to have a strong sense of leadership. Having a position that requires a person willing to take charge and make executive decisions has to have leadership skills. So what’s the complaint that has people talking over coffee about a Bush campaign ad? Instead of showing the leadership Bush has distinguished to have during his past three years in office, the focus is on the tragedy of 9/11.

Despite public calls from firefighters and relatives of victims of the terrorist attacks on New York City, the re-election campaign said this week that it is not considering changing the television commercials that show brief images of the wreckage of the World Trade Center and firefighters carrying out a flag-draped victim.

After the ad aired last Thursday on cable networks, a group called September Eleventh Families for Peaceful Tomorrows, as well as other victims' families, called on the president to pull the ads immediately, saying they are outraged that the images would be used for political gain.

Though the problem does not seem to be Bush talking about the events—any president would have to acknowledge that massive event during his re-election campaign—people are challenging the idea that those images should be used for political purposes.

Is it absolutely necessary to air television ads like this on networks such as CNN to show the leadership qualities of a president eight months before the election? Did the Bush/Cheney campaign really have to remind the public that they were there when the 9/11 attacks occurred? Oh wait, Cheney wasn’t there to show his leadership, but Bush was.

True, he accomplished what any president in his position would have to do.

He handled a situation where the nation was in turmoil, and with the world watching he graciously held his position and helped the revival of the nation. But he wasn’t acting alone. There were hundreds of people including New York firefighters, NYPD, families and businesses who came together

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cartoons

By MATT HALL The Pan American

Editor Arianna Vazquez

Sports

to calm the country. Bush isn’t trying to take credit for that, now is he?

America has seen footage after footage of the events that took place on Sept. 11. Why is it thought to be tasteful to show the rummage of New York and then have different photos of Bush with the phrase, “Steady leadership in times of change”?

The ad is almost generic. You could place former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who led the city through the aftermath of the attacks instead of Bush and it would have the same concept. Though Giuliani himself supports Bush’s use of the imagery as well as a number of relatives of Sept. 11 victims, it is said because they believe that record in handling the tragedy would be a legitimate matter for voters to consider.

The story of the Bush administration would not be complete without the tragedy of 9/11. It is the core of this administration.

That is why the campaign is moving forward with the idea that leaders should not be changed in the middle of a war. But that idea could be grasped without the airing of tragic footage. Who would want to see themselves in that enviorment in a campaign ad?

Bush himself addressed the issue saying: “I will continue to speak about the effects of 9/11 on our country and my presidency. I will continue to mourn the loss of life on that day, but I'll never forget the lessons.

The terrorists declared war on us on that day, and I will continue to pursue this war.”

Bush said he has an “obligation to those who died” that day. But he also has an obligation to those who survived. Those who remember. And those who do not want 9/11 to run as part of a commercial.

dropping a 4-3 decision.

With the loss the women fell to 1-5 on the season.

There were a lot of bright spots for the women’s team in spite of the rain. One of those highlights came about when the Lady Broncs won the doubles point for the first time this season.

Gyulai believes the women’s team is going get their revenge on TSU later on in the season.

“I am happy with the effort the girls gave,” Gyulai said. “I am looking forward to playing TSU at their home court Photo by Delisa Guadarrama/The Pan American and getting a win. I am UTPA tennis players Tom Mangelschots (left) and Nik Porter very happy with the effort practice their doubles game at Orville Cox Tennis Center. the women are giving.”

With match tied 3-3, the “It was a good experience for me. I was pressure fell on the shoulders of No. 6 sin- put under a lot of pressure,” Sáenz said. “It gles player junior Angela Sáenz, who was just takes a lot of practice and if I practice competing in her first-ever collegiate I will get better. It helped a lot having great match. Unfortunately, she lost 7-5 and 6-0 teammates.” to Sook Chantavong of TSU. The Lady Broncs will be back in action Sáenz believes she is just going to get on March 27 at 8:30 a.m. when they host better and did not like the feeling of losing the Air Force Lady Falcons at the Orville at all.

Cox Tennis Center.

Pitching fails, Broncs routed 13-5

By BRIAN CARR The Pan American UTPA baseball Head Coach Willie Gawlik was not amused.

The Broncs had just been dealt a 13-5 loss by the Texas-Arlington Mavericks, a team they had beaten the day before.

Sitting in the dugout with his hands rested on the butt of a practice bat, the bitter coaches’ statements echoed his post-game mood.

“If we come out and play like this against [Oral Roberts] we’re going to get killed,” Gawlik said. “Nobody even wanted to play today.”

Coming into Wednesday’s ball game the Broncs (12-12) led Texas Arlington in their two-game series. They won a tight competition on Tuesday dropping the Mavericks 7-5. But the Broncs would not be able to repeat the performance, and they would have to settle for a split.

The Broncs got behind early in Wednesday’s rematch and could not recover. After a 1-1 first inning the Mavericks got a big break.

In the second inning Maverick second baseman Carey Avants reached first when catcher Jarod Hickle could not handle a wild third strike from pitcher César Peña.

Avants was later moved to second on a sac-

rifice bunt. With one out and one on, cen- trailed 8-1. The lead stretched to 13-5 with and it’s bad news.” terfielder Louis Alamia made an error on a a 10-5 score as the closest margin of the But Gawlik showed little sympathy for pop-fly from Hunter Pence, which would day. his pitching staff. drive in a run “If they pitch well we can and set the win,” Gawlik said. “If not, stage for a you get what you saw here triple from today. It was just bad.” centerfielder UTPA will host Oral Paul Bruder Roberts for a three-game and ultimately series in as many days on result in a fourFriday, Saturday, and run inning.

Sunday at the Edinburg Peña lasted Baseball Stadium.

3.1 innings “If we make mistakes while allowing like we did today against seven runs, of [Oral Roberts] they’ll tear which only two us apart,” Gawlik said. were earned.

“They won their big ball Freshman game last night and then Ryne Foster figured that UTA was going relieved Peña, to roll over and play dead. but ended up We’re the ones that rolled loading the over. We just let them have bases in the top it.” of the fourth.

The Broncs are 6-2 in With men on their last eight games and Photo by Delisa Guadarrama/The Pan American Foster would have toppled big-name quickly walk in UTPA freshman Philip Rodríguez slides into homeplate during Tuesday night’s 7-5 win schools like Arkansas and a run before over Texas-Arlington at Edinburg Baseball Stadium.

Washington State in the closing out the process. They will hope to inning.

“There’s a lot of pressure coming in with regain their momentum with the upcoming At the bottom of the fourth the Broncs men on,” Foster said. “You miss by an inch three-game homestand.

PAGE 16

S PORTS

■ Baseball. . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Tennis coach Provencio leaves UTPA

By MATT HALL The Pan American

The University of Texas-Pan American Athletic Department experienced the loss of another coach last week.

The men’s and women’s tennis programs are currently in full swing and in the middle of their respective seasons. Both squads were to worrying about getting wins for the program prior to the loss of Head Coach Eduardo Provencio, but after his loss their worries have been augmented.

Provencio’s last day as UTPA tennis head coach was March 5.

Assistant Coach Kati Gyulai will take command of the programs, but her title will remain the same.

UTPA Athletic Director Bill Weidner confirmed to The Pan American that Provencio is no longer with the department.

“I can confirm to you that Eduardo Provencio has been relieved of his duties as the head men’s and women’s tennis coach at The University of Texas-Pan American,” Weidner said.

But Weidner would not comment as to the reason why Provencio was relieved of his duties.

“In accordance with university protocol at this point in time I won’t release comment further on

personal matters,” Weidner said.

The men’s tennis team, currently 6-4 on the season, is getting ready to begin Southland Conference play and does not believe this will hold them back from attaining their goal of a conference championship.

“It won’t hurt us from winning the Southland, but it hurts us because we don’t have a head coach,” Jeremy Salvo said. “This means that us as players have to step up.”

Salvo also believes that the timing of the whole firing could have been better.

“We feel it’s Weidner’s decision and we have to go along with it,” Salvo said. “The timing was bad because we are in the middle of season, but we understand that things happen we can’t control.”

Weidner met with both teams to inform them of the development and believes both squads have their minds on tennis and are going to play hard.

“The student-athletes understand the decision and also support the decision and are ready to move forward,” Weidner said. “The have recommitted their efforts to finish the season as strong as possible.”

Weidner believes both teams have their eyes set on playing tennis and competing strongly for

the remainder of the season.

“The men are still very committed of attaining their goal of conference champions,” Weidner said. “The women want to be the best they can be and finish the season strongly.”

Lone senior Alana Breen believes the women will be competitive and gain experience to have a tremendous season next year.

“I still think we can finish the season strong with some wins and we can still come together as a team,” Breen said. “We can still have a successful season without him [Provencio].”

When Provencio was contacted to get his thoughts on the matter he did not have a lot to comment on.

“At this point in time I would prefer not say anything about it,” Provencio said.

Weidner and the athletic department are wasting no time in trying to find a replacement for Provencio.

“We are beginning the process of conducting a national search for a head men’s and women’s tennis coach,” Weidner said. “I am confident that we will find an individual who will provide outstanding leadership and direction for years to come.”

■ Hoops. . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 ■ Sports Clipboard . . . . . 13

The regular season is officially over and the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees are getting prepared for the Ray Miron President’s Cup Playoffs. The Bees will be facing their division rival, the Laredo Bucks in the first round of the Central Hockey League postseason.

Killer Bees Head Coach Tracy Egeland believes the playoffs provide a different and exciting setting.

“The atmosphere from the playoffs brings out the best in players, and the intensity level naturally rises,” Egeland said.

The players are also eagerly anticipating the postseason.

“We’re definitely excited about the playoffs,” said Killer Bees forward Bill Newson.

Killer Bees defenseman Mike Rees is aware of the intensity that comes with being in the postseason.

“The playoffs is a whole different thing where everybody’s level gets bumped up a bit more,” Rees said.

The CHL postseason process has three rounds. Four teams from each conference are seeded one through four based on their

THURSDAY

Election Results

March 18, 2004 An Inside Look:

See Page 3 for details

News ............................................3 ■ A & E............................................7 ■ Sports ........................................16 ■

March Madness!!!

N C A A Ends April 5

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

First year’s busy Celebration for Nevarez planned for county judge

By VANESSA CASTILLO The Pan American

By VANESSA LUCIO The Pan American

RGV faces off against Laredo in playoffs

By JOEY HINOJOSA The Pan American

HEADLINES

Photo by Delisa Guadarrama/The Pan American

Junior Ana Peña returns a shot at practice. The men’s and women’s tennis teams will have to survive the season without a head coach.

As the first postseason game approaches, points standing at the end of the season.

The Killer Bees are the fourth-seeded having veterans on the team with playoff team and will have to travel to Laredo for experience will benefit the Killer Bees.

“I think it’s very important [to have their first two playoff games. This best-offive series will begin on Friday, March 19. veterans with postseason experience],” The first postseason game at the Dodge Rees said. “A lot of guys have been to the finals before, and won some Arena in Hidalgo will be championships.” on Saturday, March 27.

Egeland also understands The Bees have only the importance of having won four of their 13 veterans with playoff regular-season meetings experience. against the Bucks.

“I think there is something However, the Killer to be said both ways. You Bees appear to have don’t want to put a lot of momentum on their side. emphasis on it, but They have a 2-1-1 especially in this first round record Laredo since against Laredo you’re going January. RGV most to have full rinks and a lot of recently defeated the hype going along with it,” Bucks 3-2 in an overtime shootout Courtesy of CHL Egeland said. “I think it’s good to have some older March 12.

Last week the Bees played three games in guys that have been there to calm three nights on the road to close out the everybody else down.”

The tremendous support the Killer Bees season. They won two of three and by doing so built momentum going into the playoffs. have received, plus the achievement of “You want to go into the playoffs playing making the playoffs during their first year, good hockey,” Rees said. “You don’t want are significant in Egeland’s mind as well.

“Whether it’s your first year or your 10th to be getting any bad habits before going year you’re goal is to make the playoffs and into the playoffs, that’s for sure.”

win a championship,” Egeland said.

On Monday, the Killer Bees signed two new players. Forward Matt Donskov and goaltender Terry Dunbar were added to the team’s postseason roster. Both players are coming to the Bees after finishing their hockey careers at the college level.

The CHL permits a maximum of two amateur players to be added to a team’s playoff roster. However, teams can only dress 18 players for each game. The addition of Donskov and Dunbar upped the Killer Bees’ roster total to 20 players.

Killer Bees First Round CHL Playoffs

vs.

Killer Bees vs. Bucks Game 1 at Laredo, Friday, March 19 Game 2 at Laredo, Saturday, March 20 Game 3 at Rio Grande Valley, Saturday, March 27 Game 4* at Rio Grande Valley, Sunday, March 28 Game 5* at Laredo, Tuesday, March 30 *Note: If Necessary

In his first year as Hidalgo County Judge, Ramon Garcia has felt firsthand the heat from the political kitchen, which has cooked up controversy from those who wish that Garcia would keep his day job and hang his apron for good.

When asked how it feels being scrutinized by the county and the local media spotlight, Garcia simply stated, “I’m not into politics, I am into citizen participation and do not care for loyalty votes.”

With eyebrows raised and in a sincere tone Garcia went on to say, “I did not like the idea of getting together in advance and making backdoor deals or working things out and then announcing to the public what is going to happen to them.”

Since his State of County letter address recently several of Garcia’s fellow members of the Commissioners Court have accused him publicly of blowing smoke, seeking publicity and wanting to take full credit for the court’s work.

Precinct 3 Commissioner Joe Flores questioned why Garcia took it upon himself to not only distribute the State of the County letter but also write it without the help of the rest of the five-member Court.

“It’s not only Garcia who fights day in and day out for the people of the county…it’s all of us as a group that vote on issues,” stated Flores.

Just what do people think of Garcia and his tyrant-like persona that local media have been quick to construct?

When the public hears these divided lines spoken freely within a group that is supposed to be working as one force for the people, it is hard not to have an opinion about those political players involved.

According to The Monitor, one anonymous attorney voted for Judge Ed Aparicio not because he had anything personal against Eric Cadrenas Jarvis, but rather because of the latter’s connection with Garcia.

The attorney requested to remain anonymous, which suggests that Garcia has the ability to intimidate people into complete identity amnesia.

Garcia stated that RAMON GARCIA The Monitor did not say anything wrong about him and that it was the people who the paper interviewed instead.

Judging from the framed article clippings which hang in his office that headline various cases he has won in the past from his private practice as an attorney, it See GARCIA page 12

On Thursday, March 25, UTPA students are invited to be a part of the “Celebration of a Legacy” honoring UTPA President Dr. Miguel Nevárez.

Festivities will commence at 11:30 a.m. and end at 1:10 p.m. during student activity time at the quad outside the COAS building.

This event will commemorate advancements the university has achieved through the help, guidance and desire of Nevárez. He is the first Hispanic president the university has ever known and the longest seated Hispanic of any four-year university or college.

Nevárez has led this institution through a merger with The University of Texas System and has overseen the addition of several doctoral programs in a 25-year career.

Dr. John A. Edwards, vice president for Enrollment and Student Services, who is heading the “Celebration of a Legacy” festivities, said the assembly will be both joyful and poignant.

“What makes this a happy occasion is that this man, that has contributed so much to the university and South Texas, can finally enjoy himself through non-university related endeavors after so many years of service,” said Edwards.

Nevárez has made improvements in the areas of student enrollment, additional academic programs, facilities, school funding and countless others.

During his career, Nevárez has been recognized by several Texas governors and U.S. presidents for his contributions to education. He has been credited with helping create a Hispanic middle class in South Texas and has continually been named to Hispanic Business Magazine’s “100 Most Influential Hispanics in America,” several times.

Nevárez has transformed the lives of Valley residents in a positive way by providing families with hope for the future through higher education. Many people in this area are not able to move far away to pursue education; Nevárez and his staff

have much appreciation and respect of them. And, your fellow workers are in the best position to know the work you do,” said Nevárez.

He has mixed emotions about the celebration, but he put a positive spin on his feelings of sadness.

“It [the celebration] is a bittersweet feeling.

The university has been my life and that of my family for the last 33 years,” Nevarez said. “It has been a very gratifying experience and I'll miss the students, faculty and staff that were part of that experience. At the same time, I look forward to a new set of challenges and spending more time with the f a m i l y , especially with our grandkids.”

Students are invited to celebrate the end of an era, say DR. MIGUEL A. NEVAREZ good-bye and perhaps thank have made quality education you to Nevárez at this event. accessible to all who live near and Musical entertainment will be far. provided by Roberto Pulido y Los After more than 30 years of Clasicos of Edinburg. Free fajita service to UTPA as a professor in tacos, nachos, ice cream and soft the education department, drinks will be provided. Leaders associate dean of men and vice of student organizations will president for Student and speak at the event to recognize University Affairs, Nevárez how Nevárez’ tenure has affected announced he will be stepping student life today. The UTPA down as president in August Alumni Committee and the 2004.

Student Government Association Many faculty members have will present gifts to the longtime contributed to making this president. celebration possible, and Nevárez In addition to the student said he is obliged by this celebration, a faculty and staff, auspicious moment. invitation-only gala will honor “It is more gratifying and Nevárez later today at 4 p.m. meaningful when your co“It is a grand occasion,” said workers honor you because you Edwards, “and he deserves it.”