April 13, 2006 by UTRGV Student Media

Bronc basketball coaching finalists visit UTPA

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AMERICAN

THE

PAN

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

April 13, 2006

High school students rally

SGA elections McAllen teens protest immigration reform down to runoff

By SANDRA GONZALEZ The Pan American

Late last week, rumors of organized walkouts by University of Texas-Pan American students made headlines across the Valley. However, this week, it was not UTPA students who skipped classes to take part in antiimmigration reform rallies. In fact, it was a group of about 24 high school students from McAllen. With bandanas covering their faces, the students met Monday in McAllen’s Archer Park at 11 a.m. and marched to the Chase Bank. With police looking on, the students remained orderly, though occasionally breaking out into chants of “Viva Mexico” or “Long live Mexico” and “La raza unida jamas sera vencida” or “The united people will never be conquered.” In the sea of students, who all asked to remain anonymous, one man stood out among the crowd. Known only as the leader of the group, the 18-year-old said he got the idea, in part, from watching other rallies taking place across the nation against proposed legislation against

See WALKOUT page 11

By SANDRA GONZALEZ The Pan American

Joel de la Rosa/The Pan American MARCH - About two dozen high school students walk through downtown McAllen on Monday to protest the immigration reform legislation being debated in Congress. One version would make illegal immigrants felons and aiding them a crime. REMEMBERED - Students view photos and stories of violence against women in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. The Criminal Justice Honor Society set up the exhibit April 7 in the SBSC.

By JAVIER CAVAZOS The Pan American For about 15 years, violent acts against women have occurred across the border from El Paso in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. On Friday, the Criminal Justice Honor Society (CJHS) sought to bring some attention to the victims of these

crimes. They asked Rosalva Resendiz, an assistant professor in The University of Texas-Pan American criminal justice department, to put together an informational presentation on those who have become known simply as “las mujeres de Juarez,” or “the ladies of Juarez.”

A new jobs program aimed at ending the cycle of poverty will establish 12 centers in Hidalgo, Starr, and Willacy counties with help from a $5 million federal grant. The Good Samaritan Community Services (GSCS), a non-profit agency based in

Rather than take the conventional route and offer a speech on the murders, Resendiz and her assistants Elida Decker and C. Duran put together an art exhibit in room 101 of the Social and Behavioral Sciences Building. The hour-long installation known as “The Circle of Silence” featured a darkened auditorium with hundreds of

See JUAREZ page 11

Get2Work program aids Valley youth San Antonio, will be the Youth Work Force System provider in the Valley, helping local young people with its Get2Work program. The program helps 14- to 21-yearolds finish their education and learn about well-paying jobs that don’t require a degree, but that can sustain a family. “We’re very excited about

See RUNOFF page 11

Exhibit focuses on Juarez killings

Elida Decker

By JAVIER CAVAZOS The Pan American

The University of Texas-Pan American Student Government Association presidential and vice presidential candidates will wait in anticipation today in the final hours before the polls for the runoff election close. Today at 11:59 p.m., the online polls officially close and candidates Argelia Barrera, a senior political science major and running mate Bonnie Bustos, a senior biology major, and Crystal Gonzalez, a junior philosophy major, and running mate Mayra Hinojosa, a junior interdisciplinary studies major, will have to wait until Friday afternoon to find out who the next SGA president will be. Barrera, whose camp was ahead in votes in the first election with 388, says she was excited about hearing the news, but says it was expected. “We knew we were going to do

expanding our services to the Rio Grande Valley,” said Jill Oettinger, executive director for GSCS. “With the Texas Youth Work Force System contract we can help expand our services to high-need areas throughout South Texas.” The GSCS agency was started in 1951 by the Episcopal Diocese of West

See JOBS page 11

GET2WORK The Edinburg branch of the Get2Work program, located inside Work Force Solutions on University Drive, helps high school dropouts gain the skills needed to find employment.

Joel de la Rosa/The Pan American

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April 13 2006

OPINIONS UNPROTECTED TEXT

THE

PAN AMERICAN 1201 West University, CAS 170 Edinburg, Texas 78539 (956) 381-2541 Fax: (956) 316-7122 http://www.panam.edu/dept/panamerican 55th Year – No. 26

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

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.

Angela Salazar Carolina Sanchez Trey Serna Photographer Joey Cortez Translator Mercedes Cantu Adviser Dr. Greg Selber Secretary Anita Casares Delivery William Watts Thursday at Noon

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. Articles are written and published at the discretion of The Pan American newspaper. Should readers wish to submit story ideas to the editor, please allow two weeks for processing.

Border line fading away to dust The “Border” gives thoughts on self-worth By DAVID RODRIGUEZ The Pan American Immigration has now become the issue it has always wanted to be-a big one. For decades the issue concerning what to do about aliens, both legal and otherwise, has been one relegated to household gatherings rather than meetings in the House and Senate. The reason administrations for years on both sides of aisle have kept their hands off immigration is that it really is a lose-lose situation. Democrats haven’t wanted to touch it because they are trapped between not wanting to appear soft on enforcing laws and not wanting to deport votes. Republicans haven’t wanted to get anywhere near immigration because not only will their hard-line approach create more ridiculous knee-jerk, drive-by claims of racism, but also at the forefront of the conservative philosophy is a concern for the needs of businesses who, no one can dispute, have come to rely on immigrants.

What has changed is that now there is an administration who, horror of all horrors, has tried to address it. Now there’s more saber-rattling than in “Gladiator” and “Troy” combined. But although kids are taking off from class and taking to the streets to voice their opinions, it doesn’t necessarily mean politicians have become any more vocal. So it occurred to me that if I was going to be able to get any sort of perspective on this issue it wasn’t going to come from a politician. I would have to go to the source of all the contention. I decided to interview the literal battle line of immigration; the border. David: Hey thanks for giving me a bit of your time, I really appreciate it. Border: Yeah yeah, just stay on that side, bro. Or not, I don’t even care anymore. David: So obviously you know that you are at the forefront of the resurgence of the immigration debate. Any thoughts? Border: Thoughts? It doesn’t matter what I think. David: Well what do you think about this idea of opposition to immi-

gration being racist? Border: Frankly I think it’s ridiculous. You’ll forgive me if my rationale is linear here but, I am a line after all. It seems to me that the issue here is not about a race in particular. It’s about whether you guys want to allow disobedience of a law to not only be flaunted but celebrated. But what do I know? David: Well what do you say to people who make the argument that their parents immigrated illegally and they were hard-working people who made a better life for themselves and their children? Border: You know, all this stuff about racism or whether the people crossing the border are good people or bad people is all a smoke screen. The issue here is all about laws and lines. I think it’s flawed logic to say historical, positive things that have come out of breaking a law is somehow grounds for carte blanche to break the law now. What would be the difference between that and condoning vigilantism? I mean yeah, what they did was against the law, but they righted a wrong. But again, who cares what I have to say? David: I’m sensing a bit of apa-

thy from you. Border: Well yeah I’m apathetic. People traipse by me all the time. I don’t mean anything anymore. David: What do you mean you don’t mean anything anymore? You’re the border. Border: Listen man. I’m not this fence you know. I’m not a physical thing. David: Oh I get it. Like a line in the sand. Border: Very poetic, but no. I’m a mental construct that serves as a division between countries. On one side of me is a place where people speak Spanish. On the other side they speak Spanish a lot. It seems to me that people care less and less about whether I mean anything or not. And since I’m a mental construct to begin with, if you take away my meaning I will cease to exist. I’ll fade away like Marty McFly’s brother and sister. David: Some would say the world would be a more beautiful place if you did just that. Border: Those people are morons. Please send all border hate-mail to bigpoppaborder69@hotmail.com.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Members of The Pan American, As you well know, SGA elections are in full swing. Recently, I’ve been closely scrutinizing the articles on the elections, and I would like to share a couple of things regarding the election. My name is Tony Matamoros, the only incumbent running for Senator At-Large. I've displayed several dozen posters around campus, but have not really made a big stir out of my reelection campaign since I’ve officially won the election (5 out of 6 possible candidates are running). However, I’ve

been dismayed at the lack of attention The Pan American has given the Senate seats up for election. The newspaper is giving too much attention to the Executive Ticket, when (speaking as an experienced SGA member) the Senate is the strongest branch in SGA. When it comes down to business, Senators make the decisions, draft legislation, offer ideas, vote on legislation, and can override presidential vetoes. We confirm presidential nominations, allocate appropriations, control the Special Events Fund, can

amend the constitution and by-laws, etc. Students should be more exposed to who will actually be representing them when it comes down to business. I think of the SGA President/VicePresident largely as ceremonial figures, with not much authority. So why not focus on those individuals who are actually running the bureaucracy? This letter may have come too late, but at least the newspaper can focus on the agendas of senators who will have won the election by next

week. I am, as always, open for interviews. I highly encourage you to look more into senator candidates. I also would like to thank you all for actually taking the time to address student elections. They are an important instrument of student organization and addressing this issue will likely augment interest in student decision-making. Thank you for your time, - Tony Matamoros SGA Senator at-Large Soph. political science major

While reading through your article on the tuition increase at UTPA. One quote in particular caught my attention. Near the end of the article, James Langabeer makes the statement "our utility bills are going up about a million dollars a year," citing that as a major factor in the tuition increase. With gas prices on the rise and most of our country's money going towards the

seemingly endless war, Langabeer's statement almost seems reasonable. But to that I have this response: TURN DOWN THE DAMN AIR CONDITIONERS! Don't get me wrong; I'm not naive enough to believe that conserving electricity alone will completely eliminate the need to increase tuition, but some of these classrooms are kept so cold I start to lose the feel-

ing in my hands. The way I see it, this guy presented a problem which we can clearly take steps to to rectify. But rather than doing one damn thing to fix the underlying problem, the response is to just say "ah we need more money, raise the prices!" In the end, the University will have more money, but the problem will STILL BE THERE! It's like justifying build-

ing the H2: Engineer 1: "Well guys, this is our design, the only problem is, it only gets 9 miles per gallon. How can we fix that?" Engineer 2: "Ah just put a bigger fuel tank and jack up the price another 5 grand." - Joshua Morales Junior psychology major

NEWS

Anti-aging beer . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

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

Professor to speak at spiritual conference By ANA LEY The Pan American While many people will be hiding Easter eggs and partaking in Easter traditions this weekend, Greg Sparrow, an assistant professor of educational psychology at The University of Texas-Pan American, will be participating in a tradition of his own. Sparrow will be delivering a speech titled “Rekindling Your Spiritual Practice” at a conference hosted by the Association for Research and Enlightenment (ARE), a community of individuals who offer conferences, educational activities,

and fellowship around the world, in which he will demonstrate methods of mediation and prayer. “I want to show people a way of understanding these practices from a standpoint rooted in Christian scripture,” he explained. Sparrow hopes that those attending will benefit from his presentation by learning ways to commit more time to healing relationships with others, God and self. He has been closely affiliated with the organization and has participated in its annual Easter conferences for decades. “I grew up in the Valley and studied here when I was young, but in the ‘60s I began traveling to

Virginia with this organization because I was really able to delve into the type of work I specialized in, which is psychodynamic and existentialisthumanistic psychotherapy,” Sparrow said. Sparrow, who has written several books on spirituality, has a master’s degree in psychology, and a doctoral degree in counseling with a specialization in spiritual studies and transpersonal psychology. His wife, Kathy Sparrow, once served as editor of the ARE press and will join Sparrow this weekend; they travel to Virginia on a regular basis to participate in the organization’s major events.

See SPARROW page 12

PAUF eases stress of legal woes By ADRIANA GARZA The Pan American Back around 1989, The University of Texas-Pan American Faculty Senate and other people associated with it were sued for damaging a professor’s professional reputation. Out of the 40 defendants, 20 of them were Pan American United Faculty (PAUF) members. The UT legal department claimed that the

Different Levels of Faculty Rights Protection Agencies

National National Education Association Texas Faculty Association Texas State Teacher’s Association

University

State

Pan American United Faculty

Faculty Senate abused their power and, therefore, they should not be defended by the state The Texas Faculty Association (TFA), affiliated with PAUF, defended their members. Those who weren’t protected by TFA and PAUF had to deal with the lawyers and legal expenses all on their own. “PAUF helped a lot because they had their lawyers and then we also did get some help with State Attorney General’s office,” Thomas Pozorski, psychology and anthropology professor, said. “PAUF, TFA, and NEA were really instrumental. They came through and made sure we didn’t lose any money trying to defend ourselves as some nonunion members had to.” Pozorski, who was on the Faculty Senate at the time, added that the plaintiffs were also going after their homeowner’s insurance and at the end these non-union members ended up losing more then they bargained for.

“We had what we considered a real academic freedom crisis,” James Aldridge, vice president of PAUF, and UTPA psychology/anthropology professor, said. “We thought that employees, especially in political science, we thought that some of their professional activities were being restricted for political reasons, so we tried to get that reversed. We didn’t feel like we got much help from the national organization [AAUP].” PAUF, formed in the early 1980s, helps and protects faculty members and support staff. It currently has between 100-120 members and is an advocacy organization that supports members in their time of need. It was formed by UTPA faculty who believed that their voices were not being heard. “We’re there to really protect and advance the interest of this profession,” Charles Zucker, TFA executive director, said. “Typically, protecting academic freedom is really one of the most important

See PAUF page 12

Technology allows for new forms of cheating By LUKE KOONG The Pan American

phones like text messaging, digital cameras, and video may change that.

On exam day, Margaret Allison can be seen pacing around the classroom, monitoring her students’ progress. One of her duties is to help them with any questions they might have. The other is to try to ensure everyone is doing their own work. “There’s nothing you can do that will absolutely, positively, guarantee that students are not going to find some way to work the system,” said the computer information systems professor. “I just try to deter cheating.” To date, she has only encountered the traditional forms of cheating, like asking to be excused for the restroom or attempting to steal exams. She said most students don’t cheat because they know someone is watching. However, the increasing capabilities of cell

A RARE OCCURANCE The use of cell phones to cheat is not a new occurrence. In 2003, six University of Maryland students admitted to cheating on an exam by sending text messages. Students outside of the classroom sent text answers that were posted to the test-takers. In a survey conducted by the Josephson Institute of Ethics, 12,000 high school students admitted to using their phones to cheat during exams. According to a study done by the Center of Academic Integrity at Rutgers University, students have been known to record answers onto CDs or MP3 players and listen to them in class. Others use electronic devices such as Palm Pilots to record answers, and students also use programmable cal-

See CELL PHONES page 12

Sandra Gonzalez/ The Pan American MESSAGING - Cell phones have increased capabilities and some students are taking advantage. Students have begun using text messaging to get answers to exams. Most professors therefore don’t allow phones in their classes.

Joel de la Rosa/ The Pan American PRESENTER - Greg Sparrow will give a speech titled “Rekindling Your Spiritual Practice” at a conference over the Easter break.

UTPA board member re-appointed to committee By MARIA ALEJANDRA MAZARIEGOS The Pan American Back in 1999, Morgan Talbot, lawyer and current board member for The University of Texas-Pan American Foundation, received an unexpected call from an old friend that would bring about a great change in his life. “I am a good friend of a lady named Polly Sowell who was the Governor’s Appointment Secretary back in 1999,” said Talbot, “She called and asked if I would like to serve on [a] group and sent me the necessary application forms for the appointment.” That group just so happened to be the Texas State Independent Living Council (SILC), a group created by the 1992 amendments to the Rehabilitation Act. The council is responsible for preparing a State Independent Living Plan every three years, which is designed to maximize the use of federal and state funds to assist people who have physical disabilities in leading as normal lives as possible. Morgan, a veteran of the committee originally appointed by former governor and current President George W. Bush, was recently honored by being reappointed by Gov. Rick Perry. “I was glad to be appointed and re-appointed to the committee so that I would be able to participate in the statewide program for assistance to people with disabilities,” said Talbot. This news came much to the happiness of Talbot who feels very passionately about the effects of the committee. “It is remarkable how many people can do very well with the assistance which can be furnished to them through the Independent Living Centers

See TALBOT page 12

Page 4

NEWS

April 13, 2006

Beer: April 13, 2006

NEWS

Page 5

Fountain of youth?

By CAROLINA SANCHEZ The Pan American

Many have heard the results of French research that suggests that drinking two glasses of wine a day is good for maintaining levels of good cholesterol in the body. Now, according to a former monastery brewery in Germany, there is a new beer that could be an anti-aging tonic. The beverage’s claim comes from the fact that it contains algae called spirulina, which is found in some skin care products due to its moisturizing and tightening properties. However, according to John William Santana, field supervisor for the Center on Aging and Health, the negative effects of alcohol are far beyond the advantages offered. “The statement about the two glasses of wine is true, but you can get the same benefits by exercising and eating healthy,” Santana said. “But this [claim] about the beer is still on probation. What is true is that the consumption of alcohol represents a high risk for health.” When a claim such as this is made, there needs to be scientific evidence of its effects in order for it to considered valid. This evidence usually comes in the form of an empirical study that shows what effects alcohol has over a certain period of time on a significant number of people. While the United States caught on quickly to the news of the “miracle beer,” Germany was not so quick to spread the word. “Here in Germany, we don’t know too much about this beer, and also it is not allowed to sell this product here because of the purity requirements,” said Hendrik Patzwall, a former international student at UTPA who is back in Germany The purity requirement in Germany is that producers can only use four ingredients: hops, barley, yeast and water. If a beer contains anything else, it is not allowed to sell. Thus, the anti-aging beer that contains other ingredients is not on the market. The beer’s anti-aging properties work after the customer drinks it or dabs it on their skin. But it is not a medical product. This beer contains 4.8 percent alcohol by volume. According to Patzwall, it is very expensive because it is 1.98 euros per bottle, approximately $2.50.

-Fast FactThe anti-aging beer contains algae called spirulina, which is known for its moisturizing and tightening properties

Concerning the claim, some students say they are skeptical, but think the hype could have some benefits. “I haven’t heard about this new German beer, but I’ve read about anti-oxidants and I know they are good for anti-aging,” said Carlos Garcia, a senior computer science major. “I believe that though it may not be the best source to get the antioxidants, it would help the drinking crowd.” Santana said he would not choose a beer for anti-aging, and has his doubts about the claim. “For me if you like to drink beer it may have a good taste, but as for its claim to delay aging, I cannot accept it without some scientific validation,” he said. Current research indicates that alcohol may advance aging because it damages certain bodily systems, such as the brain and nervous system, and is the cause for some chronic diseases. It is also responsible for cancers of the bladder and esophagus. “I just think that this beer is just a marketing strategy to place this product,” said Fernando Alvarez, a graduate student of international business. “If at the end, it doesn’t work, you still are going to get drunk, which is one of the reasons why people drink alcohol.”

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EN ESPAÑOL

April 13, 2006

Estudiantes protestan reformas anti-imigrantes Por SANDRA GONZALEZ Traducido por CAROLINA SANCHEZ The Pan American Durante la semana pasada, rumores de organizaciones de protesta por los estudiantes de The University of Texas-Pan American llenaron encabezados en todo el Valle. Sin embargo, esta semana, los estudiantes de Panam no fueron los que no asistieron a clases para formar parte de la reforma anti-imigrantes; en realidad fue un grupo de 24 estudiantes de preparatoria de la ciudad de McAllen, Texas. Con bandas cubriendo sus caras, los estudiantes se citaron el Lunes a las 11 a.m, en Archer Park de McAllen, para dirigirse al banco Chase que esta situada en 10th St. La policia estuvo vigilando que los estudiantes mantuvieran el orden, sin embargo en algunos momentos los estudiantes gritaban, “Viva Mexico” y “La raza unida jamas sera vencida”.

Durante esta manifestacion de estudiantes, quienes pidieron que sus identidades permanecieran anonimas, un hombre se destaco de entre la multitud. Conocido como el lider del grupo, el joven de 18 anos tomo la idea, en parte, de observar otras protestas que han tomado lugar alrededor del pais contra la propuesta de legislacion contra los trabajadores indocumentados. Cuando llego el momento de esparcir la voz acerca de esta convocatoria, el comenzo por contactar un pequeno grupo de amigos. “Nuestro lider nos llamo. El es mi amigo,” una estudiante que se unira esta protesta dijo, “En ese momento yo empeze a llamarle a mas personas, para que asi ellas pudieran participar.” Poco a poco, y por rumores. Al final, dos docenas de estudiantes, de edades que van desde los 15 a los 18 anos, obtuvieron el permiso de sus padres para formar parte de esta protesta. Joel de la Rosa/The Pan American PROTEST - Con las caras tapadas para proteger sus identidades, estudiantes de Nikki Rowe High School en McAllen marchan en protesta de reformas migratorias el lunes en la esquina de 12th St. y Ash St en McAllen.

Hasta el lider consulto con sus padres antes de organizar la convocatoria. “Estaban un poco molestos,” el dijo “Pero ellos dijeron, estas siguiendo a tu corazón. Tienes 18 años. Puedes hacer lo que quieras.” Despues de obtener el permiso, el hombre contacto a Pablo Delgado, un representante del grupo militante chicano, Brown Berets. “Estoy orgulloso de ellos, porque nososotros soliamos hacer esto cuando eramos

lista la ayuda legal. Delgado no fue el unico preocupado por la seguridad de los estudiantes. Muchos de los estudiantes mencionaron que estuvieron preocupados de meterse en “grandes problemas” en la escuela, pero contaban que el mensaje era mas fuerte que cualquier cosa que les pudieran hacer. Un profesor de UTPA que asistio, tambien pidio permanecer anonimo, dijo que admiro los

jovenes, Estuve involucrado en un movimiento chicano, durante los años 60, y estoy orgulloso,” el senalo: “Estoy seguro que ellos tambien estan orgullosos de los que estan haciendo. Nosotros estamos aqui para apoyarlos al 100 porciento.” Delgado agrego que Brown Berets no estuvo solo para apoyar, si no tambien para proteger a los estudiantes. “No queremos que el administrador del distrito de preparatorias de McAllen los vaya a afectar,” Delgado dijo. “Queremos que los dejen ir, ya que tienen el derecho a protestar.” El dijo que el grupo seguira al pendiente de cualquier replecalia que se pudiera tomar en contra los estudiantes. Y en caso de que cualquier problema se presente, señalaron que ya tienen

esfuerzos de los estudiantes. “Yo creo que esta es la clase de estudiantes que en verdad representan algo grandioso para el futuro,” el dijo. “Uno no solo acepta lo que el gobierno y los valores sociales, donde solo tienen derecho a ser tratado bajo los derechos humanos si son americanos o de este pais.” Despues de escuchar sobre esta propuesta por uno de los estudiantes de una de sus clases, el profesor menciono que el queria apoyar el mensaje, ya que siente que lo afecta directamente. “Como humano, trabajador, o alguien que cree en los derechos humanos, para mi es algo, que la gente se deberia de sentirse moralmente obligada en formar parte de,” el senalo.

Joel de la Rosa/The Pan American AMERICANOS - Estudiantes protestando las reformas migratorias marchan con un aviso que dice ‘Somos trabajadores, no criminales,’ mientras otro levanta la bandera Americana.

A&E

Valley Symphony. . . . . . . 8 & 9 Kumori review . . . . . . . . . .10 Hollywood remakes . . . . . . .10

A different kind of yearbook at UTPA Local production company assembles highlights in DVD

By TREY SERNA The Pan American For decades, yearbooks have served to help capture cherished memories in the form of photographs and text. In a twist on the traditional idea, The University of Texas-Pan American will distribute a yearbook at the end of this semester—in a DVD. Students may be unaware, but an oncampus production company, Reel-to-Red Productions, has been recording activities all year long around campus to compile a DVD yearbook. While members record all sorts of campus activities, their main goal is to chronicle students. “We’re all about the students. We’re funded by the Student Affairs Advisory Committee and the president’s office,” said Chelse Benham, radio/television production supervisor and director of Reel-to-Red Productions. “First and foremost, we make it our mission to cover student events.” Since this is the first year a yearbook will be released in this form, according to Benham, they will only cover the Fall 2005 and Spring 2006 semesters unless something changes in the future. The DVD version will complement the traditional yearly magazine, Panorama, which is produced by communication students in Student Publications.

The only other time UTPA offered a video yearbook was in the early ‘90s, though it proved to be a difficult task to produce. “It was VHS, and the problem with that was in order to scan through it, you’d have to rewind and fast forward,” Benham said. “The great thing about a DVD is that the navigation is so much easier.” A file of events has been maintained throughout the year. Now that they are compiling the DVD, Benham and associates will peruse the file until the events are narrowed down and chosen. There isn’t an exact method of how something is chosen to appear on the DVD. “Sometimes we’ll do it by the nature of the event,” Benham said. “We don’t make a preference to put the same people [or organizations] in. We spread the wealth.” The buzz for the DVD is slowly spreading. Some students were unaware of the new yearbook, but believe it’s a positive thing. “I think it’s a good idea, as long as the same people aren’t going to be coming out in it,” junior communication disorders major Anisa Cortinas said. Still, though there are a variety of events covered on the DVD, some students don’t see a point in releasing it. “I don’t think it’s a good idea. I work

and go to school, and I don’t have time to be involved in lots of activities,” senior public relations/adevertising major Francsca Montalvo said. “So for those who aren’t able to be involved much, I don’t think they’d benefit from the DVD. I wouldn’t buy one.” An e-mail was sent out to all students with information regarding the DVD. The e-mail states the price is $17.95, and in order to purchase a copy, students must go to Payments and Collections and pay their bill to UTPA account # 211404. “They can buy their DVD now and hold onto their receipts and bring them to me,” Benham said. “We’ll then contact them when they’re ready.” The DVD is expected to be released around Dead Days, which start May 4. There isn’t a specified length yet, but with new technology, next year’s “book” might be longer. “This year’s will be as long as 4.7 gigs can hold,” Benham said. “We’re possibly looking into a dual-layer DVD for next year, and though they’re available, we have the inability in our system to burn a dual layer DVD right now.” There are over 25 features and events on the tentative schedule for the DVD. Some include: Anna Marie Salinas’ art show, Dia De Los Muertos, intramural sports, Meet the Greeks, MySpace, Spring

Joel de la Rosa/The Pan American HARD AT WORK - Seth Martinez, a senior English major, edits footage from the Greek Variety Show for UTPA’s first-ever DVD yearbook.

Break and student art shows, just to name a few. More will be added as the semester rounds out. Even if students don’t find themselves on the DVD, it’s a great learning tool for a growing university, said Benham. “They can re-count their history for

the year through that DVD. Maybe a lot of them didn’t know what was going on, and they want to learn about it,” Benham said. “For others, they may see themselves in it because they were recorded and involved.” For more information on the yearbook DVD, call 956-316-7996.

Bowling flamingo style: Alley in McAllen brings fun to all By FRANK CALVILLO The Pan American With many American cities now sporting a Starbucks on every corner and a Barnes and Noble within 5 miles of every person’s house, it would appear as if the privately owned business has become an endangered species. However that is not the case for McAllen’s very own Flamingo Bowl, a bowling alley that has been a part of the city for nearly two decades. Not just a bowling alley, but also a restaurant, pool hall, bar and video game arcade, Flamingo Bowl, located at 3301 N. 23rd St., proves the range of attractions is suitable for every type of patron. Allen Sanker, 23, co-owner of the establishment, is the first to give Flamingo Bowl his praise. “I would describe it as a fun and entertaining place where you can do just

about anything,” he said. Sanker, whose family started the business in 1990, admits that business hasn’t always been a striking success. “Like any business you have your ups and downs, but when you realize that people are coming from all over the Valley to bowl, you forget about them,” he said. It’s no surprise that Flamingo Bowl’s clientele is so diverse. In addition to the aforementioned, the place also sports a pro shop where bowling accessories are sold, a catering service which handles birthdays, Christmas parties, wedding receptions and business events, special nights such as karaoke on Wednesdays and “rock and bowl” on the weekends. Joshua Townsend, 23, a lane supervisor at the bowling alley, always expects a different crowd whenever he shows up at work. “Usually we get a lot of junior high and high school kids at night and on the

Joey Cortez/The Pan American STRIKE - Linda Ruiz, junior nursing major, concentrates as she lines up a shot at Flamingo Bowl.

weekends, and during the day we also get the older crowd of senior citizens and Winter Texans,” he said. Additionally, Flamingo Bowl holds seasonal tournaments where various bowling leagues compete for cash money

and trophies. The prices range from $3 to $3.75 per game and shoes are rented for $1.75. Townsend, who has been working at Flamingo Bowl for four years, admits that with so much fun going on, it’s hard to

consider working at Flamingo Bowl as an actual job. “The environment and the people there are great and so easygoing that it’s hard to tell it’s a workplace,” he said Sanker feels the reason for Flamingo Bowl’s longevity is due, in large part, to the loyal customers who have continuously frequented it throughout the years. “I think the people who have come and kept on coming are what has made Flamingo Bowl what it is today,” he said Eneida Pena, a longtime customer of Flamingo Bowl, confirms Sanker’s notion. “I’ve always thought it was a cool place because there aren’t many places where I can bowl and drink beer at the same time,” she said. So while big-name corporations may be reproducing in large numbers, some businesses like Flamingo Bowl are still alive and well. For more information visit www.flamingo-bowl.com.

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Story by Joseph Galvan • Designed by Roy Bazan

April 13, 2006

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

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The Valley Symphony Orchestra and Chorale will wrap up its busy season of performances May 11 with performances of by Beethoven, Tchaikovsky, and Stravinsky. The final performance of the regular concert season will crown what has already been a very vigorous season for the much-beloved orchestra and its chorale, which has explored tonal regions that most symphony companies wouldn’t touch with a 12-foot conducting baton. They’ve performed pieces from almost every stylistic period, from a swinging performance by The University of Texas-Pan American’s music department’s Dahlia Guerra of the ferociously difficult “Brandenburg Concerto No. 5” by Johann Sebastian Bach, to post-minimal music by Polish composer Wojciech Kilar (whose incidental music to 1992’s “Bram Stoker’s Dracula” made him something of a celebrity). Whether it was performing scenes from Aram Khatchaturian’s evergreen “Spartacus” or accompanying Monsignor Juan Nicolau in his beloved rendition of “Un dia a la vez,” during the annual Christmas concert, the orchestra and chorale have demonstrated the kind of verve and versatility of big-city orchestras. The orchestra and chorale are under the batons of Peter Dabrowski, who serves as both director and conductor of the orchestra, Christopher Munn, who serves as principal director of the choral ensemble. Munn also teaches a host of class-

this university since their inception. Visitors to the Valley have called as early as January to reserve seats for the December Christmas concert at the Basilica of Our Lady of San Juan, and many pilgrims make arrangements to see the VSO in concert at the shrine, said Glenda Boykin, who serves as artistic liaison for the orchestra. Boykin noted that both Munn’s and Dabrowski’s handling of both ensembles was “impressive.” “Without a doubt, the chorale is impressive,” she said. “Dr. Munn is demanding, but because of him, the chorale is great.” Boykin noted that the overall clarity and enunciation of the chorale are superb. “When you hear them sing, you can hear each and every word,” Boykin said. “I think that’s one of the many reasons why the orchestra and chorale are so popular.” So exactly who are the members of the groups? Most of them surprisingly, are students or alumni of UTPA. Many of them are musicians outside of Symphony Hall, as well, working as teachers in both public and private conservatories, as well as performing across the country in ensembles of their own. Most have very prestigious backgrounds. Concertmaster Geoffrey Wong, for example, studied at the prestigious Hong Kong Conservatory of Music, where contemporary composers Tan Dun and Ryuichi Sakamoto studied. But most of them are Valley-born and -raised, and have

evening starts off with a performance of Ludwig van Beethoven’s overture to his 1805 opera “Fidelio,” (although the initial performance bore the name of “Leonora”), the third in a series of reworked overtures for the beleaguered opera and so far the most convincing and emotionally compelling one. The overture borrows many beautiful themes from the opera itself, a rather dark work about a woman who gender-bends to save her husband from an evil lord. Despite the unwieldy plot, the overture has many of the same gorgeous qualities that are apparent in Beethoven’s other works of the same time. Following that, violinist Sergei Azizian and the orchestra will perform the entrancing “Violin Concerto” by Russian composer Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky. Azizian is an Armenian-born violinist at the Copenhagen Philharmonic in Denmark, where he resides. Tchaikovsky’s “Concerto” is a difficult but impressive work of late Romantic textures and sonorities; despite its popularity, it was not well-received at its 1881 premiere. Tchaikovsky’s work has been known to go off the deep end sometimes with its flourishes and sometimes sugary-sweet harmonies. However, this work held such a precedence as a defining work of violin concerto literature that it was one of a few performed at most Russian venues until the middle of the 20th century, when Alban Berg’s revolutionary “Violin Concerto” premiered in the St. Petersberg in the

es for the music department, including Music History, Theory, Student Teaching and Conducting. Since his ascension to the baton, the chorale has had much success and recognition, and even performed twice before audiences at Carnegie Hall in New York City. The groups have grown by leaps and bounds since their foundation at UTPA in the mid-fifties as a student ensemble. The orchestra is now a sleek amalgam of musicians from many different regions of the world, and includes many from orchestras across the U.S. border. Such a diverse makeup gives the orchestra an international feel to performances, all of which have had packed audiences this year. At the time of this writing, Dabrowski was in Russia on business, only one of his many destinations as artistic director and principal director of the VSO and Chorale. “When the Chorale sings, it’s always a special event,” says Munn, who’s been with the orchestra and chorale since 1985. “This season the audience received the orchestra and chorale with enthusiasm.” The chorale performed the rousing “Gloria,” by English composer John Rutter, in addition to many decent contemporary works and the standard repertoire. “The orchestra and chorale is by far the major artistic force in South Texas,” added Munn. “The level of sophistication in the symphony and chorale has grown immensely.” That kind of enthusiasm has made the groups a fixture at

a certain sense of belonging apropos to the VSO and chorale’s roots. “What I’ve noticed is that our members are getting younger; we’ve still got a couple of senior members but we’re seeing more and more young people in the VSO,” says Boykin.

1960s. After that, the orchestra will conclude its season with a performance of Igor Stravinsky’s “Firebird Suite,” one of the most exuberant pieces of orchestral music ever written. It was written when Stravinsky was in his Early Russian period, and marks the first in a series of artistic collaborations with Ballets Russes impresario Sergei Diaghilev. It contains some of Stravinsky’s most piquant and original harmonies, all contained in a vibrant and colorful orchestral score, which, even without the dancers it was intended for, seems almost to overpower the audience in its strength, vibrancy and emotional poignancy. The VSO and chorale plan to exhibit serious works by Mozart, Chopin, Dvorák, and Borodin, in addition to some palpable works by Rossini, Respighi, and even Gershwin. The VSO also plans to put on its annual Christmas and Symphonic Pops concerts, in addition to holding many outreach events to schools across deep South Texas. The performances are only one part of the VSO and chorale’s service to the community. It’s that kind of determination that brings standing-room only crowds to Symphony Hall during performance nights, and serves to brighten up the cultural life of UTPA and the Rio Grande Valley. And because of them, the music department at UTPA has an extra-special reason to shine much more brightly on performance nights.

OTHER NEWS This year has been a special one for the VSO and chorale, with the unveiling of a brand-new Steinway piano, personally unveiled by UTPA president Blandina Cárdenas. Guerra, chair of the music department, inaugurated it by serving as soloist in the glorious Brandenburg piece from 1721, a piece hailed as having single-handedly brought the keyboard to the forefront of musical heritage, saving it from its former status as a lowly continuo instrument. The cadenza at the end of the first movement of the concerto is considered one of the most challenging in all of keyboard literature. No problem, says Guerra. “It gets easier after many, many practice performances. I’m familiar with it now,” she said. When asked about the famous cadenza, she replied, “I really love this piece. You’d be surprised how long it takes to learn something that’s only a few minutes long.” The upcoming performance by the symphony is a varied selection of works by three very different composers. The

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Story by Joseph Galvan • Designed by Roy Bazan

April 13, 2006

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

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A & E

April 13, 2006

A different taste for McAllen Local sushi restaurant brings new flair to area cuisine

By MEREDITH LAGRONE The Pan American Tucked away in a shopping center, not visible from the parking lot or standing out in any way, is a gem of an eatery nestled in a vast array of the same old restaurants. Kumori, a Japanese sushi and teppenyaki bar and restaurant, brings a new flavor to the traditional taste of the Valley. There are two locations for this original joint, and a new one currently being constructed. Located at 4500 N. 10th St., Suite 50 and 400 Nolana, Suite E, the restaurants are somewhat hard to see. The signs for both locations are small, the lettering dotted, making them harder to read. However, upon entrance, one is transported to a more sophisticated world. Both restaurants are decorated in sleek modern Asian style. Both have a bar where one can sit and watch sushi rolls being made. The two restaurants also have interestingly low lighting, which makes for a cozier atmosphere in an otherwise stark environment. The table settings attempt to be as authentic as possible. Chopsticks, not flatware, are set with every plate. However, the waitstaff will gladly fetch a fork if it’s needed. Set out before the meal are all

Reporter’s Rating: ★★★★★

Meredith LaGrone/The Pan American UNIQUE - The inside of Kumori features Japanese decor.

available sauces, including lemon soy sauce, eel sauce, hot sauce, wasabi and ginger. The restaurant also offers bottled imported and domestic beer as well as a selection of wine.

The food, which may or may not be authentic, is delicious. The eatery offers about 30 different varieties of rolls, from the traditional California roll to the more original McAllen roll or Nolana roll. All ingredients are incredibly fresh and vary from tuna to octopus. The establishment also offers a few varieties of salads, Japanese style. One of the tastier ones is the sunomono salad, which is octopus, shrimp and crab atop a bed of spiraled cucumber, dressed with a sweet vinaigrette. The vinegar offers a delightful contrast to the saltiness of the seafood and the sweetness of the cucumber. In addition, Kumori offers many appetizers. One of the best appetizers is the shitake fried mushroom. Flattened and fried, this fungus is served up with a delicious mustard sauce that makes the mouth pucker and smile at the same time. Entrees include beef, chicken and mixed teppenyaki. All are served on an enormous plate with fresh steamed broccoli and cauliflower and a serving of fried rice. Prices are decent. A roll costs about seven dollars, depending on how many different items are in it. The teppenyaki plates range from $12-$15. Water

is on the house, which is excellent for any restaurant. Sodas and tea are priced normally at about $1.50. All in all, it’s an interesting dining experience for an affordable amount of money. Next time you’re looking for something a bit different from the normal fare, check out Kumori, with a new location opening soon by La Plaza Mall in McAllen. For more information, call Kumori at 618-5677.

Meredith LaGrone/The Pan American SALAD - Kumori serves many varieties of dishes, all with a Japanese seafood flair.

Hollywood enters new era of same old thing By FRANK CALVILLO The Pan American “The lucky ones die first,” reads the tagline for “The Hills Have Eyes,” the new horror film that opened recently at theaters nationwide. The chillingly realistic tale tells the story of a vacationing family en route to California. After a strange accident leaves them stranded in the New Mexico desert, the family soon realizes that they are being watched by suspicious individuals from the hills above. While the premise might seem novel to some moviegoers, the film itself is a rehashing of an earlier version released in 1977 under the same name. Fans of the original will be able to note both the similarities and the differences of the update quite easily since the director of the older version, horror master Wes Craven, produced the newest one. Despite the film’s ability to draw in an audience, some are apt to dismiss this 2006 version as the latest in a seemingly endless series of horror remakes offered up by Hollywood. Since the mid-to-late-‘90s, big-name movie studios have been optioning rights to past horror films in order to turn a profit on what was once a surefire hit. However, the results have ranged from moderately successful to disastrous. The 1960 George Sanders film “Village of the Damned” was made for a relatively low cost, and went on to become a huge money-maker at the box office. However, when the remake starring Christopher Reeve and Kirstie Alley was released in 1995, the film barely recouped the amount of money it cost to make.

Another example is the 1998 remake of Alfred Hitchcock’s “Psycho,” starring Vince Vaughn and Anne Heche, in which director Gus Van Sant proceeded to re-shoot the original film shot by shot in the exact same way as Hitchcock had, resulting in a measly $2 million profit. Last year’s “The Fog,” a remake of John Carpenter’s 1980 classic, starred Selma Blair and “Smallville’s” Tom Welling, and fared little better with only a $10 million return at the box office. The reasons for the failure of most horror film remakes can be attributed to a number of factors, according to amateur horror film buff Monica Mejia, a graduate English student at The University of TexasPan American. “It all depends on the director, the stars and if it’s got an actual plot. Sometimes it just doesn’t go,” said Mejia. In a surprising coincidence, the horror film remakes that do seem to be succeeding at the box office are those being remade from Japanese films. “Ringu,” a Japanese horror film that was remade in 2002 as “The Ring” went on to become a huge boxoffice hit, eventually grossing more than $300 million worldwide and subsequently launching the career of its star, Naomi Watts. Similarly “Ju-On,” another highly regarded horror film in Japan, brought in over $110 million at American box offices when remade in the fall of 2004 as “The Grudge” starring Sarah Michelle Gellar. Mejia believes the reason for the success of films such as these is audiences are unfamiliar with the originals. “You don’t have the problem of comparisons

because American audiences aren’t familiar with them. They come across as whole new different films,” she said. Though remaking films has been an ongoing tradition in tinsel town since the golden age, many believe it is a practice with purely monetary motivations. “It’s obviously for financial reasons,” says Ed Cameron, who teaches a class called “Introduction To Film Studies” at UTPA. “Horror films of my generation are being remade 20 years later for our kids and also in the hopes of getting us nostalgic, thereby doubling the audience.” Despite Cameron’s view on remakes of horror

films, the English professor believes that there are both pros and cons. “Remakes will almost always fail when compared to the original because nothing experimental is done. The film is just updated,” Cameron said. “However,” he adds, “there is always the possibility for an artistic vision of the remake that wasn’t in the original.” Recently, remakes of such horror classics as “The Omen” and “The Wicker Man” were announced as being scheduled for release in the summer of 2006. Regardless of past instances, the practice of remaking horror films is one that seems destined to stay.

NEWS

April 13, 2006

WALKOUT continued from page 1 undocumented workers. When it came time to spread word about the rally, he started by contacting a small group of friends. “Our leader talked to us. He’s my friend,” one female protestor said. “And I started to talk to all these people so they could come.” Little by little, word of mouth got out. In the end, however, only about two dozen students ranging from ages 15 to 18 had permission from their parents to take part in the protest. Even the leader consulted his parents before organizing the rally. “They were kind of mad and they got after me,” he said. “But they said ‘You’re following your heart. You’re 18 years old so you can do whatever you want.’” After getting the go-ahead, the man contacted Pablo Delgado, a representative from the Chicano militant group Brown Berets. Delgado said he was glad of their intended actions, upon receiving word from the students “I am proud of them because we used to do this when I was young. I was involved with the Chicano movement back in the 60s, and I’m proud,” he said. “I’m sure they are proud of what they are doing. We are here to support them 100 percent.” Delgado added that the Brown Berets were not only there for support, but to act as protection for the students. “We don’t want for the administration for the McAllen Independent School District to hurt them,”

Delgado said. “We want for them to just let it go because they have the right to protest.” He said that the group will continue to monitor any disciplinary actions taken against the students. If any problems do arise, he said they have legal assistance ready. “We’re here because we don’t want for anything to happen to these kids because they’re just children,” Delgado stressed. And Delgado was not the only one worried for the student’s safety. Many of the students said they were afraid of getting in “big trouble” at school, but said the message is stronger than anything administrators could do to them. A UTPA professor in attendance, who also asked to remain anonymous, said he admired the efforts of the students. “I think that this is the kind of student that really represents something great for the future,” he said. “You don’t just take what the government and what society values where they think that people should only be entitled to human rights if they are American or from this country.” Upon hearing about the rally from students in one of his classes, the professor said he wanted to be here to support a message that he feels affects him directly. “As a human, a worker, as someone who believes in human rights, to me, it’s something I feel people should feel morally compelled to take part in,” he said.

RUNOFF continued from page 1 Senators-at-Large and College Senator election results * denotes elected Senators-at-Large Yuridia Yvette Bazan= 618 votes * Antonio R. Villareal= 598 votes * Leo Barrera= 590 votes * Otoniel Matamoros= 588 votes * James Bergland= 580 votes * Arts and Humanities Daisy Alvarez= 87 votes * Javiera Farooqi= 77 votes * Kevin Hearn= 75 votes * Josue Osorio= 65 votes Business Norma A. Padron= 113 votes * Maricela DeLeon= 96 votes * Jose Humberto Lucio Jr.= 95 votes * Deidra A. Johnson= 94 votes * Education Cristal Amy Chapa= 76 votes * Maria Del Pilar Villarrea= 60 votes * Health Sciences and Human Services Virginia Olivares= 73 votes * Science and Engineering Leslie Morales= 180 votes * Calista Aguliar= 178 votes * Alan F. Brown= 162 votes * Ravan Elise Chavez= 136 votes * Star Vance Smith III= 135 votes Social and Behavioral Sciences Ashley Cedillo= 80 votes * Judy Davila= 70 votes * Michael Andrew Martinez= 58 votes * Daniel E. Vargas= 56 votes Bruna Estrada= 54 votes

well. But we didn’t feel overconfident,” she said. “I think it’s a reflection of our hard work.” Gonzalez agreed, saying the hard work has paid off thus far. However, she says in this critical stage, they plan to up their game. “We’re definitely going to be more active,” she said. “We’re going to be passing out more fliers and talking to more people.” Barrera said that she and Bustos have a strategy for victory of their own. “We want to let the students know that we are using our commitment to the school as a strategy,” she said. Barrera added that above all, she just wants students to get up and vote. In fact, according to Dean of Students Jerry Price, students got up to vote more than ever this year with 859 ballots cast. However, he said, we still have a long way to go, he said. “Last year, there were 459 votes. Mind you, we still have 16,200 more to convince that SGA elections matter, but doubling the votes in one year is not an insignificant accomplishment,” he said. Price attributed that gain in voter turnout in part to the interest generated by work done by candidates. Among those “hard-working” candidates was Ruben Ramirez, a senior international business major. He and his running mate Miguel Zambada, a senior international business major, received 186 votes. Ramirez said that while the results were “shocking,” his support now goes to Gonzalez and Hinojosa. “I believe they can bring fresh new ideas,” he said. “I feel that it’s time for a change and they would provide better leadership abilities and a more mature outlook.” Those students who are unable to vote online can vote at polling stations located in the Student Union and Library. They will be open from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.. The winners of the election are scheduled to be announced Friday before noon with a private inauguration to follow at 4 p.m. in the UTPA Ballroom.

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JUAREZ continued from page 1 pictures and stories strung on the walls and along the empty rows of seats. A female dummy was bound and gagged and shoved uncaringly into one of the empty seats while Nine Inch Nails’ “Closer” played over the speakers. The room had a small altar at the front with candles and burning incense to offer a complete sensory experience. Members of the CJHS stood at intervals along the wall and were gagged with black strips of fabric as the words “silence” and “violence” flashed on a screen at the front of the room. “We wanted to represent the silence of both the victims who lost their lives and the silence of the Mexican government about these grisly murders,” said Resendiz. Although statistics vary, it’s estimated that some 2,000 women have either gone missing, disappeared or have yet to be identified, and over 500 other women’s bodies have been recovered and identified. Figuring an art exhibit would be the best way to show what is truly happening there, Resendiz and her assistants prepared for a month in the hopes of conveying a powerful message to the audience. “It’s a great way to educate people and shed light on these forgotten women,” said Stephanie Garcia, a UTPA student who had just finished viewing the exhibit. The pictures were a mixture of artistic representations and real photos of crimes, the victims and the crime scenes. Some photos included charred bodies, mutilated corpses and pictures of rape.

“It was sad and depressing,” Amy Gonzalez, a junior criminal justice major, said, “These things shouldn’t be allowed to happen.” The stories on the wall documented the brutal deaths of some women, both those who had been identified and those who hadn’t. The ages of the victims ranged from infants to middle-aged women. One of the cases included the story of Yolanda Tapia, 50, who was found with a deep skull wound and a wooden stake in her vagina. Her murderer turned out to be her own son. Unlike Tapia’s case, however, many others have yet to be solved. Theories as to who is responsible range from organized crime rings to snuff porn operations. Some Mexican authorities have speculated that the murders may not be connected, said Resendiz. “These criminals all have the same method of doing things, and don’t bother to hide the evidence,” said Resendiz. “Most of the women work in maquilladoras and are poor so not much attention is given to their welfare.” The experience of making the exhibit was difficult for Resendiz and her assistants at times. “As a woman it was stressful, because you see the horror committed to other women. It would make me sick and very angry,” she said. The CJHS originally chose Resendiz to put the program together because it was something they wanted to bring to the attention of students. “We chose Dr. Resendiz because she has experience working with women and maquilladoras and we knew she’d do a good job,” Homer Morales, a CJHS member, said.

JOBS continued from page 1 Texas, under Bishop Everett Jones’ leadership on San Antonio’s west side. Since then the agency has provided disadvantaged people a chance to improve their quality of life, said Oettinger. Along with the Get2Work program, the San Antonio center provides 5,000 youths, senior citizens and families with services ranging from child care to nutritious meals. The clients are 97 percent Hispanic, with more than half coming from single-parent households and 68 percent with an income under $15,000 a year. “Some of the kids we work with are homeless, some might need child care services or transportation,” Oettinger said. “We seek to effect positive change in these impoverished areas through quality services focused at prevention and intervention,” said Oettinger. Recipients of GSCS services, such as Matthew Redham, are grateful for the help. “The program has helped me get my GED and even pay the fee to take the exam,” said Redham, 16, a student from San Antonio. “I’ve been able to work different jobs to see what I’m good at and what I like best.” When Redham started getting in trouble in school he was ordered by the court to enter the

TAKE A STANCE ON IMMIGRATION POLICY REFORM

Get2Work program. “I thought it was going to be completely useless, but they’ve been really helpful and supportive,” he said. There will be 12 centers in the RGV and other cities, and they will help an estimated 6,000 Valley youths gain skills that will allow them to end poverty that can plague families for generations. So far, Four centers opened their doors in March in McAllen, Pharr, Edinburg, and one in Rio Grande City opened April 4. The rest will begin work in the summer and early fall. “Several offices will be on college campuses and we hope this demystifies the college experience since many of these young people have never set foot on a college campus,” Oettinger said. “We will be working closely with area colleges and universities because it’s essential that those in the Get2Work program are exposed to college life.” Oettinger added that sometimes, all the program participants need is a little motivation. “A kid that is motivated can make it, but they need the resources and encouragement that many of us take for granted,” Oettinger said. “The program’s greatest strength is that it removes the barriers that often prevent them from finishing their education.”

The Pan American has extended the deadline for submissions (500 words) on the issue of immigration policy reform.

New deadline for entries: Wednesday, April 19 at noon. Submit entries to COAS 170 or email thepanamerican@gmail.com Office: (956) 381-2541

NEWS

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SPARROW continued from page 3

TALBOT continued from page 3 around the state,” said Talbot. Although it is mandated by federal law and uses federal funds, the council is not a governmental agency. It is a non-profit corporation funded by the Rehabilitation Services Administration, a federal agency. Those funds are then granted to the Texas Rehabilitation Commission, a state agency, which, in turn, gives funds to the SILC. In the state of Texas there are 21 SILCs, including one in McAllen called Valley Association for Independent Living (VAIL).

VAIL provides services such as interpreters and sign language experts for the hearing impaired, assistance in applying for various kinds of Social Security, and other programs and helps obtain durable wheelchairs for those needing them. While Talbot’s term on the SILC will expire Oct. 24, 2007, he says he hopes to make great progress in that time. “I hope I can add to the activities of the Council in giving aid to people with disabilities in this state,” said Talbot.

PAUF continued from page 3 things we do. We’re strong advocates of the tenure system because tenure is the best way to protect academic freedom and free speech.” PAUF has been affiliated with TFA since 1985. TFA goes under the Texas State Teacher’s Association. The national organization is known as the National Education Association (NEA), which has over 2 million members. The local chapter here in the Valley is PAUF. TFA spends more than $70,000 on lawsuit-related issues every year. Some of these individual lawsuits have cost as much as $100,000 in total. TFA is an advocacy organization for higher education faculty and support staff in Texas. Aldridge said that PAUF has two items on their agenda right now. One of those items is trying to recruit more faculty members as every year the university loses faculty. “We have to do a certain level of recruiting just to stay even,” Aldridge said. “It’s been at least 10 years or more since we’ve had a decline in membership and sometimes our recruiting capabilities exceed the rated turn-over and sometimes it just stays even.” Aldridge adds that they are also looking into reports on policy violations. There have been different incidents concerning the Handbook of Operating Procedures (HOP) here on campus. Zucker expects nothing but good results for TFA

and PAUF in the coming year. He adds that UTPA, like other universities, is starting to hire more and more faculty members. This could mean a bigger union among the organizations. “It’s exciting because we’re in sort of a growth spurt now in higher education in Texas,” Zucker said. “Enrollment is growing which means that more faculty members are hired and I wouldn’t be surprised by this time next year if the [UTPA] membership would be up to about 140.” Not only do members get strong legal back-up, Zucker said, but TFA also provides teachers with different ways to save money with consumer benefits. They get discounts on things such as from automobile tires, La Quinta Hotel stays, homeowner’s insurance, mortgages, and more. Professors, parttime faculty members, lecturers, and support staff can join PAUF and its affiliates. PAUF accepts members anytime and in order to qualify applicants must be a UTPA faculty or staff member. The yearly dues fluctuate depending on what position the member holds. The price ranges from $303 for a full-time faculty or staff member to $130 for a part-time staff member per year. For more information, contact Charles Zucker, TFA Executive Director at 512-482-8452, 1-800364-8452 or charlesz@tsta.org or contact James Aldridge at 381-3329 Ext.3325 or jaldridge@panam.edu.

And the award goes to... The Pan American staff attended the Texas Intercollegiate Press Association Convention April 6-8 in San Antonio and came home with a total of 17 awards. Panorama Magazine took home 14 awards, while Gallery, UTPA’s literary magazine, won several. 2004-05 Content Contest Overall Excellence The Pan American Spanish Feature Writing Melissa Martinez Paola Carrasco Single Subject Design Dagoberto Perez Sports Column Daryl Gonzales Feature Story Writing Sandra Gonzalez Spanish News Writing Elizabeth Garcia Spanish News Writing Josue Esparza Elizabeth Garcia Feature Photo Joel de la Rosa Page One Design Lylony Cazares Information Graphic Eduardo Martinez Feature Page Design Dagoberto Perez Sports News Writing Daryl Gonzales Sports Feature Writing Joey Gomez Opinion/Editorial Design Erika Lopez On-site Contests Press Release Writing Headline Writing Spanish News

April 13, 2006

Frank Calvillo Luke Koong Carolina Sanchez

4th Place 2nd Place 2nd Place 2nd Place 2nd Place 3rd Place 3rd Place 3rd Place 3rd Place Honorable Honorable Honorable Honorable Honorable

Mention Mention Mention Mention Mention

3rd Place 3rd Place Honorable Mention

“He’s been presenting at these conferences for a long, long time now. It’s very much a family thing for us,” she said. “We travel to Virginia a lot to work with ARE and know practically everyone there.” Una Marcotte, a public information officer with the association, says ARE began in 1931 because individuals seeking spiritual rejuvenation from Edgar Cayce needed legal documentation in order to receive it. Since its conception, it has been hosting annual Easter conferences—for about 40 years, with Sparrow as a speaker. “Greg’s been coming here a long time already, he’s a very familiar name around here,” she said. “He always has a wealth of knowledge to share with all of us.”

While anyone can attend the Easter sessions, Sparrow believes that the majority of attendees are middle-aged Christians who have studied other religions and have fundamental perspectives on Edgar Cayce’s work. In addition to working for UTPA, Sparrow is also an adjunct faculty member at Atlantic University. He is a licensed professional counselor, a licensed hypnotherapist, a writer, and a fly fishing guide—he co-owned, managed, and guided at Kingfisher Inn, a fly fishing lodge on the Arroyo Colorado of South Texas in 1999. The four-day conference will begin Thursday and end Sunday, and will take place at the ARE headquarters in Virginia Beach.

CELL PHONES continued from page 3 culators to store answers or formulas. While those types of incidents of cheating are often publicized, they are not the most common form. Plagiarism still remains one of the most frequent types of academic misconduct. “Cell phones are old news,” Jerry Price, University of Texas-Pan American dean of students, said. “I would say where technology is a factor is plagiarism. Fortunately for faculty, that same technology allows them to find those same things.” Turnitin.com has become a popular resource. Assignments are submitted online and are checked for signs of plagiarism before being passed on to professors. Price said most plagiarism happens because stu-

dents don’t attribute their sources correctly. Though, that does not excuse the incident. “Intent is not the issue in plagiarism. It isn’t by definition the intentional taking of someone else’s work. It’s just doing it,” Price said. According to Price, plagiarism also occurs among students who have nothing to lose by plagiarizing. As a result, he believes the university may need to reconsider penalties in order to discourage that. While cheating may be an easier way out, Allison and other professors hope students will keep the right values. “One of our jobs as teachers is to try to teach integrity. Why cheat when you’re smart enough to study and pass the exam anyway?” she said.

April 13, 2006

SPORTS

Three finalists visit campus By DARYL GONZALES The Pan American The University of Texas-Pan American Athletic Department has narrowed the men’s basketball coaching pool to three finalists. It has been one day shy of a month since former Bronc basketball head coach Robert Davenport was informed that his contract was not going to be renewed. The Broncs have worked quickly to fill the hole with recruiting hot and heavy. “We had a really great pool of candidates and we have selected three for on-campus interviews and we’re looking to move from on from there,” UTPA Athletic Director Scott Street commented. Touring the halls of the UTPA facilities Wednesday was former Mississippi State Bulldogs head coach Richard Williams. Williams is one of three finalists along side Brian Fish of Creighton, who was on campus Monday, and Central Florida’s Tom Schuberth, who had his campus tour Tuesday. Of the bunch, Williams, 60, is the only candidate with NCAA Division I head coaching familiarity. Most recently was his 12-season tenure with the Bulldogs that ended in 1998 after he retiremed. He led the ‘Dogs to three NCAA Tournaments and a Final Four in 1996 en route to becoming the program’s winningest head coach. The next finalist, Fish, is coming off his fourth season at Creighton as assistant coach

with the Jays under head coach Dana Altman. He is closely involved with the team’s recruiting process in addition to focusing on the post players. The other finalist in the national search is Schuberth. He has been at Central Florida for four years, and was promoted to associate head coach after the 2003-04 season with the Golden Knights. At UCF, he has served as the program’s recruiting coordinator while directly working with the backcourt players. In 24 seasons of collegiate coaching, he has helped lead 11 squads to the NCAA Tournament and been a part of 14 conference titles in five different leagues.

Q “We had a really great pool of candidates and we have selected three for oncampus interviews and we’re looking to move from on from there.” -Scott Street UTPA Athletic Director The competition is fierce and very much qualified to take the helm as the new head coach, now it’s just a matter of time until the committee comes to a decision. “Now the committee needs to convene and determine who will be the final choice,” Street concluded.

Page 13

FOR THE RECORD UTPA SPORTS Baseball Offensive leaders: Top 10 Bronc batting percentages

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10

Louie Alamia Abraham Garcia Leighton Autrey Osiel Flores Patrick Brooks T.J. Gilmer Lyndon Bartosh Dan Calabro Blake Whittlesey Chris Lozano

AVG .362 .324 .300 .288 .265 .258 .250 .250 .242 .239

R H HR RBI 24 54 1 21 16 24 0 15 17 30 1 18 27 40 2 21 20 39 5 29 16 31 1 10 0 7 0 6 2 7 0 1 12 16 0 7 11 17 0 4

Apr. 29 Apr. 30 May. 2 May. 3 May. 12 May. 13

Coastal Carolina Coastal Carolina Texas Southern Texas Southern TCU TCU

Home games in bold. (DH) denotes double-header

Golf Apr. 29-30 May. 5-7

Upcoming schedule Independent Championships National Minority Championships Women’s

Apr. 29-30 May 5-7

Upcoming schedule Indie Women’s Championships National Minority Championships

Minimum 25 at bats.

Tennis

Top 10 pitching earned run averages Men’s 1. Tim Haines 2. Ricky Ibarz 3. Dane Mason 4. Kelly Casares 5. Ray Silva 6. Chad Linder 7. Ryne Foster 8. Aaron Guerra 9. Roni Morales 10. Alex Guajardo

Apr. 13 Apr. 14 Apr. 18 Apr. 19 Apr. 25 Apr. 28

AVG W-L IP ER SO 2.45 2-3 25.2 7 43 3.92 3-5 62.0 27 84 5.40 5-3 61.2 37 42 5.47 0-1 24.2 15 23 5.68 2-1 25.1 16 24 5.91 1-2 35.0 23 30 6.91 0-1 27.1 21 15 7.77 2-4 48.2 42 36 8.36 2-1 14.0 13 16 9.53 0-1 5.2 6 5

Upcoming schedule Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Stephen F. Austin Stephen F. Austin University of Texas Coastal Carolina

Apr. 28-30

Upcoming schedule Southland Conference Tournament

Home games in bold.

Women’s

Apr. 15 Apr. 21

Upcoming schedule Sam Houston State Independent Women’s Tennis Tour.

Home games in bold.

Track Apr. 13-15 Apr. 16-17 Apr. 22 Apr. 28

Upcoming schedule Mount SAC Relays Lumberjack Relays Longhorn Invitational Drake Relays

Page 14

SPORTS

UTPA Bronc athletics roundup

April 13, 2006

Lady Broncs ink new player, Wells and Keating ranked among nation’s best UTPA Sports Information UTPA head women's basketball coach DeAnn Craft announced on Wednesday that Tamara Vaughn has signed a national letter of intent and will join the Lady Broncs' basketball program during the 2006-07 academic year. “Tamara is a player that we identified early in the process in September, and we think she is a perfect fit for our perimeter game,” Craft said. “She will be especially important with the loss of Dominique Montague and Devin Reed. She's a great shooter and should be very complimentary to our program." The newly signed Lady Bronc comes to UTPA from Blinn College in Brenham, where she enjoyed a great deal of success for the Buccaneers. As a sophomore, Vaughn averaged 8.9 points and 4.1 rebounds per game while shooting 39.4 percent from the field and 30.4 percent from behind the three-point arc. In conference play, she scored 11.1 points and 5.1 rebounds per game while shooting 43.1 percent from the field and 37.3 percent on three-point field goal attempts. Vaughn was an All-Region XIV Athletic Conference and All-Region XIV performer in her sophomore season with the Buccaneers. Blinn College tied a program record with 24 wins during the 2005-06 season while finishing as runner-up in the NJCAA Region XIV Tournament, the school’s best finish since the 1990-91 season. “Tamara was our most steady player this past year and came up big in conference games for us.

She's a hard-working player with excellent fundamentals, and she just knows the game of basketball," said Blinn College head coach Jeff Jenkins. Now the newest Bronc begins to plan for the future. “I really liked the coaches and believed that I would be a good fit at UTPA. It's a chance to be part of a good basketball program as well as continuing my education at a quality school,” Vaughn stated. Vaughn attended Pasadena Dobie High School in Houston, the same school that produced Lady Bronc senior Stacey Gooden. A standout for head coach Doug Gibson, Vaughn earned first team allstate honors while leading her team to the Texas State Championship Tournament in her final season. The Lady Broncs will be returning 11 players one senior, five juniors and five sophomores - from a squad that finished 6-24 during the 2004-05 campaign. KEATING, WELLS NATIONALLY RANKED The University of Texas-Pan American men's and women's track and field programs had a pair of nationally ranked competitors in the most recent polls that were released on Wednesday by the United States Track and Field/Cross Country Coaches Association UTPA senior Westly Keating is ranked second in the nation in the 10,000 meters and first among all NCAA Division I Midwest Regional competitors according to the rankings. Keating posted the second fastest time in the country this season in the 10,000

meters with a time of 28:24.00 en route to finishing second overall at the Stanford Invitational. Josphat Boit holds the top spot in the 10,000 meters with a time of 28:22.09, and the Arkansas senior finished ahead of Keating at the Stanford Invitational. Freshman Wendy Wells is the only member of the Lady Broncs' track and field program to be regionally and nationally ranked as she is listed 15th overall in the Midwest Regional rankings and 55th in the nation. Wells recorded a program-record javelin throw

of 146-6 at the Texas Invitational en route to earning third-place honors. She has finished in the top three in a trio of meets this season, including winning her first collegiate title at the Border Olympics. Wells is the second-ranked freshman in the Midwest Region, tailing only Katie Coronado of the University of New Mexico by two feet. The USTFCCCA rankings are determined each week by a panel of 38 college coaches representing each region of the country and will be updated on a weekly basis through the week of the NCAA Division I National Championships in June.

Onydia Garza/ The Pan American SWINGING AND SMILING - Sophomore Nicole Garcia enjoys chasing down a volley in practice.

April 13, 2006

SPORTS

Page 15

Bronc baseball optimistic despite losing record By DARYL GONZALES The Pan American Though they have been chasing the .500 mark most of the season, The University of TexasPan American baseball program has had a worthy output thus far. The program is in the fourth season of the Willie Gawlik era and has a cool mix of old and new personnel on the squad that has the Broncs surging. There is absolutely no question that the Broncs are on the rise when it comes to their quality of personnel. “We are a lot better from last season, and that shows as we are making some big strives in improving on aspects of the game,” Willie Gawlik said. “Because of their hard work, they are reaping the benefits.” On the field, the Broncs have greatly decreased their errors and runs allowed. The Broncs fumbled 131 total errors by the end of the 2005 season, while they have only committed 67 thus far. Those errors last season helped allow 445 runs, which is down to 265. Their defense currently has 366 assists, 1017 put outs and a .954 fielding percentage. Shutting down the opposing team at the plate has been the Broncs’ pitching staff that is led by hurlers Dane Mason and Ricky Ibarz. Newcomer Ibarz has dominated from the mound thus far through the season, leading the team with 84 strikeouts. His 3.92 earned-run average (ERA) has earned him three wins. Mason, last year’s promising transfer pitcher, didn’t have the season he wanted after suffering an early season-ending injury, but he has really returned with a vengeance, with a 5-3 record and 42 strikeouts. Making sure that starters’ work is not in vain is closer Tim Haines with a 2.45 ERA, and eight saves, two more than last year. Also improved from his freshman season is his strikeout numbers,

from 37 to 43. This season, the Broncs also have something that they seemed to lack a bit of, runs support. Continuing to add on to his stellar career as a Bronc is Edinburg local Louie Alamia. In his final run, the senior leads the team with a .362 batting average and 24 runs scored. He is currently on a 15-game hit streak after a slow start. “He (Louie) has been doing it from his freshman season, and he’s still doing. He has done a terrific job thus far in the season,” Gawlik commented. The rest of the guys that are pulling a large load are Abraham Garcia and Leighton Autrey. McAllen’s Garcia, in his first season, has shown great things with his bat, scoring 16 runs and driving in 15 with a .324 batting average. Junior transfer Autrey is also a .300 batting average member rolling in 18 RBI and scoring 17. Also aiding on piling on the points for the Broncs are juniors Osiel Flores, Patrick Brooks and T.J. Gilmer. Combined, the trio has 63 scores and 50 runners batted in. Brooks leads the team with five homers on the season so far. “The good thing is that there hasn’t been just one guy doing it all this season, it has been a whole team effort making contributions. That has really shown the growth that this team has made to help us improve this season,” Gawlik added. A good note is that all of these guys are due back next season with the exception of Alamia and Mason. Thus far, the Broncs are currently 17-22 with 14 games left on their 2006 schedule after adding a home game to the list against UT-San Antonio May 16.

Joel de la Rosa / The Pan American PICK IT UP - (Above) Catcher Dan Calabro takes a couple of swings during practice Wednesday. (Opposite) Head Coach Willie Gawlik hits grounders to the infield.

ROUNDING HOME Of those 14 games, 11 are set for the road where the Broncs have really improved from last season. Last season’s mark of 2-24 on the road is up to 11-17 thus far. “We have no non-Division I games on our schedule, and that really needs to be emphasized….and a good thing is that we have been able to hold our own pretty much. We just haven’t got the ball roll our way in some of those close ones this season,” Gawlik said. Before heading on the road, the Broncs host Texas A&M-Corpus Christ in a two-game series today and tomorrow. UTPA has already smoothly handled the Islanders twice this season, 10-3 and 8-3. The next long road stretch continues against Stephen F. Austin, and the Broncs have already dealt the Jackrabbits a loss this season, 10-3, at the annual Ogletree Classic. Then the Broncs take on the national powerhouse Texas Longhorns in their second and final

meeting this season: the Horns handed the Broncs the 15-2 loss earlier in the season in Austin. The next two teams on the road will be new to the Broncs this season. Coastal Carolina currently sits with a 14-17 record and Texas Southern is 12-18. Texas Christian University rounds out the end of the road games where the Broncs look to seek revenge from a 9-4 loss earlier in the season. In the season finale, the Broncs face UT-San Antonio at home. The Roadrunners hold a 2-0 record over the Broncs this season. “UTSA is a good ball club and they won regionals last season, and we’re trying to get to that level,” Gawlik commented. “It has been pretty much a toss up when we play them (UTSA),” Gawlik added. “We just need to keep things going.”

SPORTS

Coach search..................13 Bronc Roundup.................14 Baseball............................15

Lack of experience shows at Texas Relays Track looks to build confidence, momentum at Angelo State

By KRISTYNA MANCIAS The Pan American

The new people will have to replace a number of outstanding veterans. Seniors Hector Gandara and Westly Keating will be missed as they are both being lost to graduation. “Everybody adds a positive but when I think of the program as a whole I think of Westly Keating,” said Vaughn. “He’s first one to hang in and get things rolling and I think he’s made a tremendous impact on the program." With the men losing two strong seniors and the women not losing anyone, next year’s program should be loaded with experience.

ALMOST FLYING - Valley native Liliana Cavazos takes her first of three jumps as she practices to compete in the long jump this week at San Angelo State. Cavazos also competes as a longjumper for UTPA.

Onydia Garza / The Pan American

The University of Texas-Pan American men's and women's track and field competed in the 79th Annual Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays this past weekend. Lack of experience seemed to be the determining factor for both teams at the annual event that is home to the nation's top collegiate and high school track and field athletes, as well as professionals. On the women’s side UTPA freshman Wendy Wells finished 14th overall in the javelin with a throw of 131-8. The Lady Broncs had two other athletes competing at the relays, Deon Marquis and Amanda Ferris. Marquis finished sixth overall in her heat in the 100meter dash with a time of 12.21, while Ferris had a tough day, failing to record a distance in the shot put and faulting in all three attempts in the hammer throw. “For the most part, we could have had a little bit better performance in what we did. It was the first time for any of our athletes to go there and them having that experience in that big of a meet in competition maybe got to them a little bit,” said coach Ricky Vaughn. “So hopefully it will pay off in the long run and next time we’ll be better prepared to perform at

that type of caliber." On the men’s side, UTPA sophomore Sal Gonzales was the only male representing the program, but he received no results as he failed to clear a height in the pole vault on Friday. When asked why the athletes had difficulty placing at the Texas Relays, Vaughn mentioned several factors that may have come into play. “In any athletic sport being able to control your emotions and stay calm and focus are the main keys to being successful and that just comes with maturity and experience, so I hope the next time we’ll be much better,” he said. Both the men and women will be competing this weekend at the Angelo State Relays, which is scheduled to begin today. “It is a meet where there will be several schools there but I think that the competition won’t be as high caliber as the Texas Relays,” said Vaughn. “We should be able to get some confidence back and get back on the roll." Despite the hard times in Austin this has been a good season for the teams. And next year seems bright for both as recruiting is going in the right direction. “It’s coming real well. Hopefully within the next couple of days we’ll be able to sign some recruits,” said Vaughn. “We should have a strong freshman class next year."

Student athletic trainers play big role behind the scenes By JORGE HINOJOSA The Pan American At The University of Texas-Pan American, the athletics program not only consists of dedicated athletes and coaches but also other participating members. Often the recognition goes to those on the court and on the field and fans may not realize how much athletic trainers help the program. Warming the athletes up, icing them down, stretching them out, allowing them to feel relaxed and comfortable, are just some aspects that trainers incorporate into their craft. The hours are long but the rewards are many. Victoria Vargas and Jen Garza are student athletic trainers who for two years have been going to school full-time, traveling with the team, and working hard to learn how to give 200-plus student athletes a helping hand to cope with their injuries. “I go to school full-time and we come in after our classes, we’re in here until the last practice is over,” Vargas said. “I usually come in on Tuesdays and Thursdays and stay until six or seven o’clock.” They plan on sticking with the program for another two years until graduation, and then

earning their certification. In the beginning it was mostly observation for the two of them, as they watched how things worked. But after a couple of semesters they learned enough to start doing hands-on work.

“The athletes feel comfortable, and they can trust us now,” said Vargas and Garza. Garza, a 2004 graduate of McAllen High School, was in band and dance in high school. Now she is ready for a career in the field.

Joel de la Rosa / The Pan American ICED DOWN - Assistant student trainer Jen Garza attends to thrower Amanda Ferris in training room.

“Once I graduate I want to be a trainer at a high school,” she said. “I grew up with football. That’s my sport. If anything, I would like to be a football trainer.” Both Vargas and Garza made it apparent that their passion and love for sports has driven them to pursue becoming athletic trainers. They note that their will to interact with the game and the athletes supercedes the long hard hours. “We joke around and try to keep them happy. They’re our peers. We see them every day. They’ve become our friends,” said Garza about the athletes. “We definitely enjoy the environment, there is never a dull day in the training room.” Vargas, who is an avid baseball supporter, is looking at her career options. She has always liked baseball and she also participated in softball in high school. “I want to train at the Division I college level, or eventually work with baseball. That’s my goal, to work with professional baseball,” said Vargas UTPA doesn’t offer classes to major in athletic training so Vargas would have to go somewhere else in order to obtain the degree that would enable her to train at that level.