THE
PAN AMERICAN
T h e S t u d e n t N e w s p a p e r o f T h e U n i v e r s i t y o f Te x a s - P a n A m e r i c a n
College of Arts, Humanities selects dean By SANDRA GONZALEZ The Pan American
July 27, 2006
Shall we dance?
Office of Student Development offers free salsa lessons By CAMILLE RICH The Pan American Manuel Arridona, director of the Office of Student Development, still remembers his first experience with salsa dancing back in his college days at the University of Iowa. Though it was an unlikely place to find the Latin-based dance, he said the crowds responded well, as did he. “I haven’t danced it in a while. I still have it in me, though,” he said. “In fact, I have salsa music at home.” So when Rosie Leal, coordinator for the Office of Student Development staffers, came up with the idea of offering free salsa lessons to students, he knew they had stumbled upon a great idea. “ M a i n l y, we realized there was a need for it that was not being met in the local area so w e
offered something for free,” Arridona said. “We thought that there was strong interest for it. You can go anywhere for rock music for dance music, but there are not a whole lot of areas that provide a heavy venue for salsa.” With the last lesson of three being offered in the Ballroom today at 4:30, hopes are to continue the success of the first two, which brought in 70 and 50 people, respectively. According to Arridona, salsa wasn’t chosen only for its Hispanic origins, but also because this dance is a wonderful way to bridge cultures. “When I was at the University of Iowa, there was more of a mixed ethnicity. In fact, my girlfriend at the time was a white Anglo-Saxon Protestant and she was the one who introduced me to salsa,” he said. “We had salsa events on campus and t h e y
were always packed because there was no venue for salsa over there.” The lessons are open to the UTPA public and the community at large, and feature levels of expertise from beginning to intermediate. Mario Segura, who teaches the salsa lessons, said those interested don’t have to bring a partner because he rotates pairs if the participant does not have one. He says this method has its benefits. “I do it so you don’t get used to dancing with just one person because when you get on the dance floor with someone else you want to know how to dance with someone different,” he said. Segura, who teaches freelance lessons mainly in McAllen, split the participants into boys and girls since
Paul Sale selected as provost By MEREDITH CANALES The Pan American
The search committee members in the College of Arts and Humanities let out a sign of relief on July 19 when Dahlia Guerra, former chair of music, was appointed new dean. After a series of ads placed in academic publications produced 16-18 applicants, it was the job of the dean search committee to come up with a top five applicants over a series of meetings. “After that it was the question of who was the best fit,” Glenn Martinez, chair of the search committee, said. “All the candidates were GUERRA highly qualified for the position. It was just a question of who was the best fit for the College of Arts and Humanities and this point and time, given where we want to go.” It turns out, that even after the search, the person right for the job had been right under their nose; rather, in the music department. “I think she has very refined leadership qualities. She knows how to bring people together for common goals,” Martinez said. “She’s very sensitive to the different areas of achievement in both the arts and humanities. She’s very familiar with that diversity and to ways of brining those different areas of expertise together in order to make the college stand out.” Guerra, who earned her undergraduate degree from Pan American University, eventually went to SMU and earned a master’s in Piano pedagogy, teaching piano performance.
As Blandina Cardenas, president of The University of Texas-Pan American, entered the Visitor’s Center amid the sounds of mariachi music, she was followed by a new face: Paul Sale, new provost/vice president of academic affairs. At the Monday morning ceremony, Cardenas and co-chairs of the search committee for the provost helped announce the chosen candidate. “I pledge to you all to vigorously devote my energy, my passion, my experience, knowledge and skills to enhance the vision See SALSA page 4 of UTPA,” Sale said. “My wife and I are eager to build new and long-lasting SALE relationships with our campus home and the greater Rio Grande Valley.” After a 15-member committee dwindled down the initial 38 applicants to just nine in March, the pressure was on to find the best candidate. From those nine, five were invited back for campus visits and to participate in open forums held the week of June 19. At the ceremony, Cardenas asked the members of the committee to stand and be recognized for their hard work. “These people worked tirelessly to accomplish what everyone said could not be done, and indeed if you look at the record, we have accomplished a great deal in a very short period of time,” she said. “I thank you for your discipline, your tenacity and courage to undertake this task.” Jennifer Durhiem Cardenas also praised the efforts of OLE - Larry Thompson (left),a tech from the Physical Plant, and Nohemi Moreno, a freshman education major, were just two Ana Maria Rordiguez, who served as
See GUERRA page 4
See SALE page 4
of 50 participants who took advantage of free salsa lessons given by the Office of Student Development July 20. The next lesson will take place today in the Ballroom at 4:30 p.m.
News
A&E
Sports
Web site makes its mark on the videosharing industry
‘Clerks II’ adds yet another chapter to beloved cult classic
Bronc baseball promotes Valley youth involvement
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See page 8
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July 27, 2006 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. 32 News Editor Sandra Gonzalez sandra_panamerican @yahoo.com
Letters policy
A & E Editor Meredith Canales meredith_canales @hotmail.com
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, classification/title and phone number.
Sports Editor Daryl Gonzales daryl_gonzales2002 @yahoo.com
Designers Roy Bazan crazy_restless @yahoo.com Laura C. Gomez lm.gomez@yahoo.com Reporters Frank Calvillo Javier Cavazos Roderick Dorsey Adriana Garza Luke Koong Krystina Mancias Fernando Martinez Pechs
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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.
SUMMER
R EADER F ORUM
Students, faculty and staff: The Pan American needs your help. As we bring a close to our summer issues and turn our attention to the fall editions, we ask that everyone continue submitting their poems, short stories, art work, cartoons and interesting photographs. In addition, we also welcome story suggestions about people, organizations and events. -The Pan American
UTPA writer’s guild: By Sergio Cuevas, freshman English major "The Ancient Summer Melody (As We Part Forever After)" Lighten up, sorrowed one You're nothing more than anyone Summer's sunlight has kept me in thoughts of you But upon candlelight’s, remorse fills me up like your own heart would Please don't fight it anymore I've been told, now I'm done, so place the cross above the floor You should feel different just lying in my hand You're further than never before and so wasted in out timely sand I'm moving the late buried tragedy It's so appealing as fine hours sink in to complete I surrender; the story ends with a past love spoken of So remember, the memory grows until silence speaks of a recent passive love.
Community Bulletin:
By Frank Calvillo
T.V. star George Lopez is set to bring his highly anticipated comedy tour to Harlingen’s Municipal Auditorium on Sunday, July 30. The show will take place at 6:30 p.m. with a repeat performance at 9:30 p.m. The tour, which began earlier this month in Laredo, has received praise from critics and audiences. Free from television censors, Lopez talks candidly about growing up and living in the Latino community. Lopez began his career as a stand-up comedian and found fame on television with his successful sitcom “The George Lopez Show” in 2002. For more information about Lopez’ show, please contact the Harlingen Municipal Auditorium at (956) 430-6699.
IN THE NEXT ISSUE OF
THE PAN AMERICAN Available Aug 24 New leaders join UTPA
Ramses!
We profile the newest faces in the university’s administration.
‘Nacho Libre’s’ Ramses comes to RGV for film festival, UTPA contest.
NEWS
News in brief: There will be a table tennis tournament in the Student Union game room on Aug. 8 at 2 p.m.
YouTube makes its way into American pop culture
By ADRIANA GARZA The Pan American As Norma Abundez watched a crowd of children half-scream and halfsing her 3-year-old nephew “Happy Birthday,” she could not help but feel like there was something missing. “My family lives all over Texas and I wanted them to be able to be share and be a part of our lives, whether they are here or not,” Abundez, a junior business management major at The University of Texas-Pan American, said. In order to have her whole family share the moment, Abundez uploaded a home video of the moment to YouTube.com, a video sharing Web site. Now, whether her nephew is blowing out his birthday candles or just playing in at the park, her family members across the country can share the moment over the Internet. YouTube.com, founded in February 2005, was intended to be a personal video sharing service. It has become an entertainment site that has more than 70 million videos viewed per day. Teenagers and young people are taking advantage of this site now more than ever before. “YouTube seems to be the newest thing, like MySpace was a year ago,” said Donna Pazdera, a communication
professor at UTPA. “Everybody seems to be using it and it’s kind of taken on a life of its own.” With 60,000 videos uploaded every day, users can view everything from current events, “America’s Funniest Home Videos,” music videos and videos that satisfy hobbies and interests. Salvador Grajeda, a junior print journalism major, said he’s viewed everything from cartoons to parody videos. It is this variety of options that Grajeda says makes the Web site unique from others. “I really think that that Web site is sort of one of the most creative that’s come along in a long time,” Grajeda said. “It really sort of shifts the focus from the people making the site to the audience.” However, Pazdera believes that with sites like YouTube.com encouraging users to take pictures and video of themselves, people are becoming vain. “If we’re going to be worrying about how cute we are in our little videos or photos. It is sort of surreal sometimes how obsessed and narcissistic we really have become,” Pazdera said. “I guess that’s the only thing I get concerned about; that people might not reflect on who they really are or what they really want out of life. Instead, they will focus
on being popular all of the time and pleasing other people.” Abundez agrees saying that some users are taking their exposure too far, but says it doesn’t mean everyone is becoming vain. “I don’t necessarily think that people are becoming more obsessed with themselves as much as people are becoming a lot more open about it,” he said. While Pazdera has not uploaded a video of herself, she has made it on to the YouTube Web site thanks to a student’s video of the CODA awards (a communication department ceremony) in the spring. “I was in a video that was posted on there. She interviewed a number of faculty members and students she posted it up on YouTube,” she said. “It’s just a thing for graduating seniors, like advice and seniors reflecting on how their years here were.” For special moments, Pazdera said she thinks uploaded videos are great for the individuals involved, but otherwise should not aim for attention from the rest of the public. However, YouTube is more than just catching the public’s attention, it is becoming a part of Internet culture. In fact, it is currently the 18th most visited site on the Internet.
Top 5 videos of all-time 1. Evolution of Dance over 29 million views
From the 1950s to present day, comedian Judson Laipply shows how dance has changed. 2.
Pokemon Theme Music Video over 14 million views
3.
Real Life Simpsons Intro over 8 million views
A liveaction version of Simpsons’ opening credits
A liveaction tribute to Pokemon
4.
Japanese Prank Show Clip over 7 million views
A toilet that exposes user after door closes
5.
Hey Clip
over 7 million views
Two friends sing, dance to “Hey” by the Pixies www.youtube.com
IT on verge of advancements, new features Study: driving while on cellphone as bad as DUI
By LUKE KOONG The Pan American
With a majority of the campus on summer vacation, the mid-year break offers The University of Texas-Pan American the chance to test out new technology and update existing
infrastructure. This year, two projects are making major headway. Most noticeable, and by far the largest project, is the integration of Oracle. The new database management software will upgrade the university’s current system and help streamline processes around campus. With a go-
DOWNLOADING - The university is in the process of setting up its own iTunes music store as part of iTunes U. iTunes U will allow students to download lectures, presentations and video clips uploaded to the store.
live date set for September, human resources and financial resources tasks will be improved and made easier for faculty and staff. “We’re hoping that with improved administrative processes, processing time, [the changes] will facilitate less leg-work on campus, fewer authorizations being required, quicker processing of transactions and clearing up accounts right away,” Jim Langabeer, vice president for business affairs, said. Currently, the new software implementation will focus mainly on faculty and staff, but the university would like to improve services for students as well. According to Langabeer, the upgrade to Banner, which will replace ASSIST, will take place after work on HR and FR is complete. “It’s like getting a new car and taking it around the block. The next thing you do is read the book,” Langabeer said. “We’ll have the ‘car’ moving, but there will be things we will
See TECHNOLOGY page 4
By CAROLINA SANCHEZ The Pan American Driving while talking on a cell phone is equally as hazardous as driving with an alcohol level of .08, according to a new study done by The University of Utah. According to the study, motorists who talked on either hand-held or handsfree cell phones drove slightly slower, were 9 percent slower to hit the brakes, and displayed 24 percent more variation in following distance as their attention switched between driving and conversing. In addition, drivers who talked on their cell phone were19 percent slower to resume normal speed after braking and were more likely to crash. According to Johnny Hernandez, a Texas Department of Public Safety education trooper, the time to address this problem is now, before it gets any worse. “The number of accidents will not
go down until the Legislature passes a law against this,” Hernandez said. “We have too many distractions like changing the radio, talking to a passenger, smoking, eating, drinking, applying makeup and sometimes thinking.” The study found that when a motorist drives while intoxicated or while talking on the cell phone, they do not have complete attention on the road or use their five senses as acutely. People who are usually on the cell phone while driving see the road and the various items on it, but not paying attention to them makes it harder to react in a case of an accident. Even some students who have had experiences with drunken driving recognize the immense danger involved with driving while talking on the cell phone. “The other day I was text messaging a friend, and when I looked
See DRIVING page 4
NEWS
Page 4
July 27, 2006
SALSA continued from page 1 they learn different steps. With help from his other instructor, George Elizondo, they began teaching them everything from simple counting to more complex moves and turns. It’s evident that one group, which also happened to be the largest one, had it a little easier than the other. “Girls tend to pick it up faster because guys have to lead the girl into the move and they have to remember all the moves,” said Segura, who has been dancing for a year and a half. “The girls are just following. The guy has a lot of mental thinking they have to do, so it takes them a longer time to make it more natural.” Despite the challenges, Karla Gage, a senior education major, who attended with Juan Carranza, a junior engineering major, said she enjoyed herself.
“We took salsa lessons before. I love salsa and I urged him to come with me to this class,” Gage said. Carranza countered by saying he felt the pressure of having to lead the dance. “Sometimes you want to do something, and your partner does something absolutely different,” he said. In addition, he felt that there is a big difference between how you dance salsa for fun in a party and doing it more technically, which is much more difficult. He added that he will come back with his partner next week to improve their style. The final salsa lesson will take place today in the ballroom at 4:30 p.m. Arridona said that depending on the overall success of the free salsa lesson series, they might consider doing more in the future.
GUERRA continued from page 1
Jennifer Durheim DANCE WITH ME- While they opted not to rotate partners, Juan Carranza, a junior manufacturing and engineering major, and Karla Gage, a senior education major, said they would take the free salsa lessons again.
TECHNOLOGY continued from page 3 want to do to make the ‘car’ run finer.” One of the reasons Banner is being implemented is because ASSIST is being phased out by Sungard, the company that produced ASSIST. In addition, the Banner system gives access to more information in a more organized manner. While ASSIST, which has been around for 18 years, has served the university well, Banner will be a large improvement to student services. ITUNES U The second project taking place is a new trailblazing service being offered by Apple, iTunes U. Just like the Bronc
Hotmail service launched earlier this year, Anne Toal, director of academic computing, said UTPA is setting the bar. “We’re not the biggest school in the UT System. It always seems like the big schools do things first and the smaller ones are expected to follow behind,” Toal said. “This time, we’re the leader,” UTPA is one of a handful of schools that has been selected to take part in Apple’s new product, joining such schools as Stanford University and the University of California-Berkeley. The new program will allow schools to upload content like videos, lectures and audio files from other
In 1985, she returned to UTPA as a lecturer and eventually moved up the ranks at the university. After so many years at UTPA, Guerra said she is looking forward to taking an important role in the university. “I will rise to the occasion. I believe in what I am doing, I believe in our students and I believe in our faculty,” Guerra said. “They will all always come first.” Chair of the music department since1999, Guerra said she is and always has been a people person, and that will not change with her new role. “I want everyone to be heard. I need to meet with people because I want to make them feel empowered,” she said. “I want them to accomplish all they want to. There is so much talent in this college. It’s just a matter of facilitating their success.” Guerra added that they have already gotten a head start on advancing the college. “We’ve already discussed in the past that new undergraduate and graduate degrees are being investigated and, hopefully, some doctoral programs,” she said. While Guerra admits the position will not be easy, she said she is up for the challenge. “There will be some tough decisions, but I will always keep in mind all the ramifications of what I’m doing and just always do my best for our university and our college,” she said. “Sometimes you just have to do it.”
campus-wide events up to the iTunes music store. Students can then access those files from any computer equipped with iTunes. Toal thinks the best part of implementing iTunes U is the familiarity. “iTunes is a cool product. It’s easy to use and everybody knows what it is. You don’t have to explain anything to anyone,” Toal said. The university is currently working on its own music store. Everything from the appearance to the content provided will be up to UTPA. All video and audio clips will be provided in full, as opposed to 30-second clips normally provided. Most of all, everything will be free to
download to personal computers or MP3 players. Toal said iTunes U will benefit the university as a whole as well, but first the university has to get its presence set up. “We are going to be putting things on there that carry a message about Pan am to the world,” she said. “We have everything we need to get started working on it. Now we just need to figure out how to make it great.” Toal added that she is trying to gather suggestions for content to include on the music store and invited individuals with ideas to contact her at harwell@panam.edu.
committee and explained what drew him to UTPA. “[UTPA’s] many successes have made this position particularly attractive to me,” he said. “The campus is moving in a very prestigious direction with a deliberate speed.” For now, Sale said he is excited about being given the opportunity to serve UTPA. In fact, he added he would like to serve as provost not just now, but in the future as well. “I would like to support the president in moving forward to meet the needs of the students and citizens of the Valley until 2050,” he said with a smile.
Sandra Gonzalez/ The Pan American WARM WELCOME- President Blandina Cardenas and Paul Sale, new provost/vp for academic affairs, pose for pictures at the announcement ceremony.
PROVOST continued from page 1 interim provost. “Since March, [Rodriguez] has taken on the job of interim provost with all the energy, intelligence, discipline and dedication of anyone who has held the position,” she said. Cardenas added that when the decision came down to her, even she had to call upon higher powers for help. “The committee did its work so well that my choice was tough one. I called on divine intervention. I am one of those rare Hispanics who is not Catholic, but I have to tell you I called on more than one saint to guide my decision,” she said jokingly
While she eventually decided on Sale, Cardenas admitted that Sale had some “strikes against him” coming into the evaluation process. “First, he was an educator, and I had wanted very much to find a person who was not in education. Second, he was a man. Enough said,” she joked once again. However, she said, it was Sale’s desire to serve the students and the institution that made her decision. Sale, who has been serving Virginia’s Radford University as the dean of education and human development, then thanked the
DRIVING continued from page 3 back to the road, I almost hit a car that stopped in front of me,” Carlos Hinojosa, a freshman mathematics major, said. “I was so scared more than any other time when I’ve driven drunk.” While there is no law currently in place for all drivers, those who have been driving for less than six months after receiving their driver’s license are not allowed to use their cell phones
because they are considered inexperienced drivers, said Hernandez. This law is in place for a good reason according to the study. It found that a young driver on the phone often does not pay proper attention to their speed. Without proper speed awareness, the driver may unknowingly increase the car’s speed, increasing the chances of an accident.
Q “The number of acci-
dents will not go down unless the Legislature passes a law against this.” Johnny Hernandez, DPS education trooper
Peter de la Garza, assistant police chief in Edinburg, said if using a cell phone on the road is necessary, the safest thing to do is pull over. “It is important to keep your hands on the wheel and your eyes on the road,” he said. “If you have one hand on the steering wheel and the other holding the cell phone, it is hard to react in case of an emergency.”
Fast fact: Motorists who talk on either hand-held or hands-free cell phones are 9 percent slower to hit the brakes.
ARTS
E N T E&R T A I N M E N T
Editor’s Pick: Must-see movie “Miami Vice” Starring: Jamie Foxx and Colin Farrell
Cine El Rey presents a splash of old Hollywood By FRANK CALVILLO The Pan American Remember when Grace Kelly planted that memorable kiss on Jimmy Stewart’s lips at the beginning of “Rear Window,” or when Lauren Bacall taught Humphrey Bogart how to whistle in “To Have or Have Not?” Back in the golden age of Hollywood, movies were considered to be the most magical form of escape, thanks to glamorous stars, top-notch directors and compelling stories.
Now, in an era of Gwyneths and Brads, Hollywood has taken on an altogether different tone. Although it’s still entertaining, one can’t help but long for the days when films boasted romantic ideals instead of the blatant social views that dominate today’s movie screens. This summer, old Hollywood has returned thanks to Cine El Rey’s summer-long Classic Film Series. The free-of-charge screenings, which take place every Sunday afternoon throughout the months of June, July and August, are sponsored in part by the newly founded publication, The Paper of South Texas. For some film lovers such as A.J. Prado, a junior human resources major at The University of Texas-Pan American, classic pictures help provide excellent views on just how much the world has changed. “I love watching old movies because I’m always intrigued by how things were back then compared to how different everything has gotten in our society,” he said. Some of the films that have been showcased so far have included the classic fantasy tale “The Wizard of Oz,” “Rebel Without a Cause,” the ultimate portrayal of teen angst, and the quintessential film noir “The
Maltese Falcon.” Luis Munoz, owner of Cine El Rey, believes that this unique event is strictly for the public’s benefit. “I felt that not only are these movies worth watching, but people need to experience them on the big screen the way they were meant to be seen,” he said. “Along with a social value, there’s also the practice of sharing them with others that is important.” Films to be showcased in the coming weeks include highly regarded favorites as the epic drama “Gone with the Wind,” the side-splitting Marx Brothers farce “Duck Soup,” and “Citizen Kane,” one of the most revered films in history. Like Prado, Angela Gibson, a junior psychology major, thinks the summer-long event offers a welldeserved change of pace from today’s films. “I feel that movies nowadays are way too flashy and lack story, whereas back then all the movies had more to do with stories and plot, rather than special effects,” she said. Satisfied with the public’s response so far, Munoz said he plans to incorporate more classic films into the theater’s lineup in the coming months. “We plan to have a Saturday classic movie matinee for youths from
ages 7-15 and a classic horror film festival for Halloween as well,” said Munoz. In recent times, the landmark theater has solidified a reputation for itself as an art house cinema, showcasing many sought-after independent films and documentaries. On special occasions however, the films of old Hollywood make an appearance at the nearly 60-year-old theater. For example, Alfred Hitchcock’s classic horror films “Psycho” and “The Birds” were showcased during a Halloween event in 2002. Thanks to Cine El Rey and The Paper of South Texas, today’s generation will be able to sit in the dark theater this summer and be entertained by the likes of Orson Welles, Vivien Leigh, Tyrone Power, Debbie Reynolds and the Marx brothers. So while Brandon Routh might soar in “Superman Returns” and Meryl Streep might terrorize Anne Hathaway in “The Devil Wears Prada,” it is comforting to know that close by, Rhett is still telling Scarlet that he doesn’t “give a damn.” Showtime is every Sunday at 1 p.m. and admission is free. For a full list of films and dates, and for other information, please visit http://www.cineelrey.com.
geocities.com DRAMA AND ROMANCE - Classic films are being shown at Cine El Rey this summer.
‘Dusk and Summer’ brings Dashboard Confessional to Houston By TREY SERNA The Pan American It was a hot summer evening on July 19 in Houston. A brief rain shower had just passed and the air was humid but filled with anticipation outside of the Verizon Wireless Theatre, as Dashboard Confessional fans stood in line and eagerly waited for doors to open. Dashboard Confessional’s front-man, Christopher Carrabba, rose to fame with his genuine melodies in 2000 with the release of “The Swiss Army Romance.” With his heart on his sleeve, he quickly became the poster boy for emo music fans everywhere. Six years later, Carrabba is back with his fifth album, “Dusk and Summer,” and is out on a national summer tour. As soon as doors opened, fans swamped the arena and took their places in front of the stage, waiting for the show to start. After opening acts Ben Lee and Say Anything, a white curtain fell upon the stage as crews worked to set up Dashboard
Confessional’s set. Then, the lights went revealed he was upset because a fight had “one fight was already one too many for a out and the audience started screaming, as erupted in the crowd and security failed to Dashboard show.” they knew the show was about to start. take action. Carrabba’s stage presence was amazWith the thin curtain still up, the Carrabba took a “quiet time” with the ing as he interacted with fans on a very permusic started to play, and lights began to crowd and simply strummed his guitar as sonal, one-on-one level. With nearly two illuminate the space behind it. A silhouette he spoke with the audience and said that hours of music, there was a great mix of of the band was projected on the new material, as well as oldcurtain, then, it dropped. school songs from all his earlier Carrabba stood there with his albums. infamous sleeves of tattoos, a One of the most memomicrophone in his hand, wearrable and possibly moving ing a pair of jeans and a dark moments was when Carrabba grey T-shirt. He greeted his fans took a moment to describe his with “Heaven Here,” from his inspiration for writing the song latest album. “Dusk and Summer.” He took It was apparent, though, the audience back to the evening that Carrabba wasn’t in the when he climbed on the roof of greatest spirit. After his first his house, with his guitar, and song, he threw out his ear piece gazed into the evening sky. He and angrily walked off stage. said it was the moment when the He came back with his guitar sun had set and the stars were concertshots.com already shining bright in the twistrapped around him and played his second song, while making AND THE BAND PLAYED ON - Christopher Carraba, lead light sky. He asked the audience singer for Dashboard Confessional, wowed fans with his talent obviously angry gestures to in Houston last week. Here, he and the band play in July 2002 to hold up their cell phones and someone off stage. He later at Hi-Fi Buys Ampitheatre in Atlanta. wave them in the air throughout
the song, so they could relive that moment with him. The crowd was flooded with an array of lights that looked just like a night sky, and an image of shooting stars was projected at the back of the stage as Carrabba sang his heart out. Carrabba ended the show by singing a song he describes as being about the best day you can ever remember. The audience immediately erupted in screams, as they knew it was the song “Hands Down.” Experiencing Dashboard live is a must for any fan. It’s rare to see an artist perform with such passion and intensity. Usually, as artists rise to fame and get bigger fan bases, they lose touch with the audience, but Carrabba couldn’t have been any closer with his fans and his music. As music artists today quickly rise to fame and fade away, there’s no doubt Dashboard Confessional will be around for many years to come. For more information on Dashboard Confessional, visit the band’s Web site at http://www.dashboardconfessional.com
A&E
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July 27, 2006
‘Clerks’ saga adds new chapter ‘Clerks’ started more than just trend By MEREDITH CANALES The Pan American Twelve years ago, one of the most famous independent films in the history of cinema was released. The movie opened the door for its director to make several other films over the course of many years, using many of the same actors. Now, after more than a decade of waiting, fans of that original film can find out what has happened to its main characters in the much-anticipated sequel, aptly titled, “Clerks II.” “Clerks” has garnered a cult following for Smith over the years. With memorable characters, like Jay (Jason Mewes) and Silent Bob (Smith), he has been able to create a franchise known the world over. For “Clerks,” the budget was small and the film quality poor, but the idea was priceless. It is a movie about a day in the life of two clerks, one for the gas station and one for the adjoining movie rental store. Dante (Brian O’Halloran) and Randal (Jeff Anderson) do their best to run their places of business without actually working too hard. They are joined in both stores by a cast of colorful characters, with Jay and Silent Bob surfacing most often. THE BEGINNING These two characters are probably Smith’s best-known in pop culture. Smith and Mewes met in their hometown of Leonardo when Mewes was dragged along to a comic book conference by his older brother, who was friends with Smith. Though he did not originally take to Mewes, the two later got along. Smith ended up writing the role of Jay specifically for Mewes, and the two have been friends ever since. That friendship has stood the test of time and, in the case of these two, addiction. Mewes was born to a heroin-addicted mother, and with the help of Smith and longtime friend and costar Ben Affleck, he finally got clean in 2003, after many failed attempts. On several occasions, Smith kept Mewes at his house in order to try to break his addiction to heroin, and Affleck actually paid for two of Mewes’ stints in rehab. In his blog, posted at silentbobspeaks.com, Smith recounted one of Mewes’ times in rehab when he left a court-mandated treatment before he was supposed to. “It was a sobering notion, to say the least - and one that was still bouncing around in my head when Marty
capped the Jason escape story with ‘But he’s here with me now, and…’” Smith wrote. “I steeled myself to hear Jason’s voice, all drug-addled and dope-dimmed. If he was out of rehab, surely he was back on drugs.” That visit would be his next-tolast in a drug rehabilitation facility, as, when he was ordered by a judge to complete the rehab in 2003, he did just that, successfully, and has been clean ever since. “Clerks II” will be Mewes’ first production with Smith completely clean and sober. In fact, one of his motivations was that Smith promised him he would make another movie featuring Jay and Silent Bob. MOVIE THAT STARTED IT ALL “Clerks,” released in 1994, was the brainchild of then little-known director Kevin Smith. It was filmed at night at the convenience store where Smith worked, which was in reality— just like in the movie—called the Quick Stop. Though the film had a budget of only about $26,000 and was financed mostly with borrowed money and credit cards, it was well received at the Sundance Film Festival that year and quickly caught on. After “Clerks” was viewed at Sundance in 1994, it was picked up by Miramax to be shown in theatres around the country. In an interview from View Askew’s (Smith’s production company) Web site, Mewes recounted how he felt about Miramax’s acquisition of the film. “I was shocked. Everyone was shocked,” he said. “I showed my mom the movie, and then I told her the movie got bought and that it was gonna be shown in theatres and be on video. Everyone was really psyched about it. Everyone in my little town of hounds started to call me a movie star.” Even after its release into the mainstream, the film garnered good reviews. In a 1994 New York Times review, Janet Maslin compared the characters’ actions to Smith’s future. “Dante’s erratic efforts to keep the Quick Stop running smoothly, including a sign that reads ‘If you plan to shoplift, let us know,’ mean he may actually move on to bigger things some day,” she wrote. “Mr. Smith is certain to do the same.” Smith is certainly more intelligent than the average producer, basing his main character’s name, Dante, on “The Divine Comedy” by Dante Alighieri. Also, there are nine breaks
in the movie, featuring complex words, such as perspicacity, to represent the nine rings of hell. PATH TO GLORY Only one year after his low-budget independent film aired at Sundance, Smith was hard at work once again, producing and directing his second full-length film, “Mallrats.” Scott Mosier, who helps produce Smith’s films, said “Clerks” was different from the other films because he and Smith had full control over it. He described how responsibility and cooperation had to increase as time passed. “‘Clerks’ is a completely separate experience because nobody knew who we were. Even on ‘Chasing Amy,’ where it was investors, there was still a certain amount of responsibility. On ‘Clerks,’ we were really just responsible to ourselves,” he said in a View Askew interview. “We didn’t have to answer to anybody. We could just get up and shoot when we wanted to.” Mosier also mentioned that studio control on a set involved more politics and strategy than he would prefer. “You can’t just concentrate on physically making the films, getting the most out of the day and all the rest of that,” he said. “You end up having to deal with studio politics and the money people. You know, they’re concerned about language, so you argue and you talk and stuff.” That hasn’t seemed to deter Smith from making great films. One after the other, his well known films, including ‘Mallrats,’ ‘Dogma,’ ‘Chasing Amy’ and ‘Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back,’ have snowballed, gathering more and more followers as time passes.
Dante and Randal Strike Back
By MEREDITH CANALES The Pan American While a bit over the top, “Clerks II” manages to answer many of the questions long-time fans might have after Dante’s and Randal’s more than 10-year sabbatical. Once again, as pointed out by Randal, Dante has two girls chasing after him. Also a recurring theme is Jay and Silent Bob, this time hanging out on the wall of the fast food restaurant where Dante and Randal now work. Ironically, in this plot, the two have just returned from a court-mandated stay in rehab. Jay, sporting a “Got Christ?” shirt, and Silent Bob, however, are still engaging in the trade that got them to rehab in the first place: selling marijuana. The plot twist seems appropriate, as this is Mewes’ first big-screen appearance as Jay while clean and sober. To make it even stranger, Smith has the characters toting around a Bible and trying to get their customers interested in God. “There’s all kinds of crazy [stuff] in here,” says Jay, to one of his customers. “Did you know Jesus was a Jew?” As usual, the two nutty characters who seem to do nothing other than sell drugs and engage in juvenile potty humor save not only Dante and Randal at the end of the film, but the film itself. When Smith hired actors for his original picture, very few of them had acting experience. This lack of formal training is especially evident in the sequel, as it seems none of the actors, particularly O’Halloran, has bothered to get any formal training in the past 12 years. For all those “Clerks II” fans out there, though, this movie is exactly what they’ve been waiting for. Even with its over-the-top moments: Jay and Silent Bob prancing around in pigtails singing the Jackson Five’s “ABC,” or the extremely explicit donkey show toward the end of the film, the flick is like manna from a God-like Kevin Smith to his devoted followers. Still, with all the oddities and overdone stunts, the ending (which will not be revealed here) is perfect. The way Smith begins and ends the film is pure movie gold, even if most of the stuff in the middle is a cheap imitation. Trailers, pics and movie posters, Hollywood publicity the original didn’t have, are just a click away on myspace. Visit their site at http://www.myspace.com/clerksii.
July 27, 2006
SPORTS
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Anderson takes job at Newman University in Kansas UTPA Sports Information UTPA associate head women's basketball coach Tracy Anderson announced on July 19 that she has accepted the position of head women's basketball coach at Newman University, an NCAA Division II program located in Wichita, Kan. The newly named head coach returns to her coaching roots in Kansas. “This is truly a bittersweet time for me and the hardest move I've ever had to make in my professional career," said Anderson. "Although I'm very excited about the opportunity to lead my own program and embrace the challenges that come with taking Newman University into unchartered territory as a Division II program. She added that she will miss the team and the coaches deeply. “This is the finest and most talented group of players I have ever helped assemble in 17 years of coaching so it saddens me to miss ANDERSON the ride they are going to embark on in the next couple of years.” She commented. UTPA coach DeAnn Craft praised the efforts of Anderson and wished her well for the future. “This is a fabulous opportunity for Tracy, and she will do a tremendous job at Newman University,” Craft said, of the coach she replaced when she came to UTPA. “This is a great fit for Tracy and with all of her recruiting ties in Texas and Kansas; she will be a shining star as Newman's head coach.” Craft noted that finding a replacement is going to be tough. “Tracy is very deserving of this opportunity, and she is going to be sorely missed as a member of our coaching staff. It's great recognition for our program that one of our coaches is going on to start her own program," added head coach she said. Anderson was set to begin her fourth season with the UTPA women's basketball program and her third season as associate head coach of the Lady Broncs. Throughout her tenure with the squad, she handled the post players on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball and her hard work was evident as four Lady Bronc post players earned AllIndependent recognition the last three seasons. The Lady Broncs' low post players have been one of the biggest strengths for the program over the last three seasons, and were a major reason why UTPA has recorded the most victories in a threeyear stretch in its 22-year history. During the 200506 season, UTPA collected 1,085 total rebounds and averaged 38.8 rebounds per game, which were both the second-highest rebounding total in singleseason program history. In addition, Anderson played a major role in the planning for every game and was a pivotal component in the record-breaking season for UTPA during the 2004-05 campaign. A strong presence on the bench, Anderson was the man-to-man mastermind for the Lady Bronc defense, which allowed the fewest points per game average in program history during the last four women's
basketball campaigns. In Anderson's four seasons with the squad, the Lady Broncs witnessed the points allowed number drop from 66.4 per game in 2002-03 - which was a program record at the time - to 57.0 during the 2004-05 season. Anderson also served as the team's academic coordinator, and during her tenure with the Lady Broncs, 79 student-athletes earned selections to the Bronc Pride 3.0 Club. In addition, Stacey Gooden became the first-ever UTPA student-athlete to earn valedictorian honors for her graduating class in May of 2006 after earning a perfect 4.0 grade-point average. Anderson served as the program's interim head coach during the 2002-03 season after former head coach Karen Nicholls resigned prior to the beginning of the campaign. The Lady Broncs finished with a 7-21 record, but made dramatic improvements in scoring, rebounding, field goal percentage, steals, blocked shots and turnovers from the previous season. That season, Anderson led the Lady Broncs to a 61-58 victory over the University of Nebraska, which was the program's first victory over a Big XII Conference opponent. The Lady Broncs also captured victories over Sun Belt Conference foe Arkansas-Little Rock as well as Texas A&MCorpus Christi, IPFW and Centenary with Anderson at the helm. "I am ready to embark on new challenges, and I take with me the knowledge and motivation of my mentor in Coach Craft,” Anderson said. “I have loved my time here and will watch the Lady Broncs very closely as they will forever hold a special place in my heart. I want to thank the administration, University, the coaches, my mentor and friend Coach Craft and especially the players for the love, support and experiences that will be with me always. My only hope is that I have left this program a much better program then when I arrived because I know I am leaving as a better coach." Anderson returns to the Kansas basketball
scene as she served as the head coach of Bethel College in Newton for three seasons. She began her collegiate coaching career at Cowley County Community College in Arkansas City. The newly named Jet coach takes over a program making the transition from NAIA to
NCAA Division II status as a member of the Heartland Conference. Last season, the Jets finished with an 18-14 record and were listed as high as 14th in the nation in the NAIA Division II rankings. The Pan American contributed to the story
S P O RT S
Editor’s Pick: Game to watch
New York at Atlanta Martinez
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Ramirez
Bronc baseball holds second camp of summer for Valley youth Assistant Meccage is running the show By RODERICK DORSEY The Pan American The University of Texas-Pan American started its second summer
York Yankee pitcher and current UTPA assistant baseball coach Justin Meccage. The camp started off on the right track, according to Meccage.
Daryl Gonzales/The Pan American BRONC BUILDER - UTPA Bronc baseball player Leighton Autrey shows one of the campers the proper batting stance to hitting the ball at the Bronc Baseball Camp on Tuesday evening.
baseball camp on Tuesday evening Edinburg Baseball Stadium. The camp, which will run from through today, is being hosted by former New
“Things overall went well yesterday,” the second-year pitching coach claimed Wednesday. “We had close to 20 kids, and they were a
good group of kids. It was just the perfect amount to where we can have some one-on-one time with each kid and not have to worry about kids running around everywhere with no focus.” Meccage mentioned that the camp, open to youngsters between the ages of 6-18, mostly consisted of younger kids. “We had about three or four older kids show up, and a lot more 610-year-old kids, so we had to provide some extra instruction,” he proclaimed. The camp was designed to instruct youngsters on specific areas of the game, including pitching, catching, hitting, infield and outfield mechanics, as well as strength and conditioning drills. Radar readings and evaluations on arm strength will also be given to each camper. “Hopefully the kids can take at least one piece of information home with them, and then take it back to their Little League teams,” Meccage said. “Whether it be hitting or fielding, it would be great to know that they were able to take the knowledge with them and learn something from it.” The cost of the three-day clinic was $75. Spaces were limited in
Q “Hopefully the kids can take at least one piece of information home with them, and then take it back to their Little League teams .” UTPA baseball assistant coach Justin Meccage
order to given each camper individual attention. “We want them to feel like they got their money’s worth,” insisted Meccage. “Every little kid is going to be different, so they’ll enjoy one aspect more than another, you know, like the pitching or hitting lessons. But we ultimately want them to have fun and a good experience.” The Broncs are busily recruiting this summer to replace several members of last year’s team, that won 24 games.
Daryl Gonzales/The Pan American COLLIGATE HELP - Osiel Flores, UTPA Bronc baseball player, tosses balls to campers inside the batting cages Tuesday evening at the Edinburg Baseball Stadium.
Haines suspended for 50 games after testing positive for illegal substances By DARYL GONZALES The Pan American How quickly a pro career gets halted. Former University of Texas-Pan American Bronc baseball player Tim Haines was r e c e n t l y suspended after testing positive for a performanceenhancing substance. The righthanded hurler who set a HAINES school saves record will now have to sit out 50 games. Haines had signed a minor
league contract with the New York Mets Class A team, the Brooklyn Cyclones. The 27th-round pick by the Mets was 2-0 with 3.09 ERA and had three saves in 10 games in the pros, but will miss the rest of the season. In recent years, testing for performance-enhancing substances has become more frequent, especially in the wake of the McGwire-SosaPalmeiro-Bonds debacle. The punishment phase for testing positive puts offending players under the three-strikes rule. The current policy is 50 days suspension for a first offense, 100 days for a second, and a lifetime ban for a third. It is the toughest drug-testing program in professional sports. The Haines situation comes as a jolt to many from this area, including his former coach, Willie Gawlik.
After hearing the news, Gawlik that said it comes as just a shock to him as to everyone else. The coach stressed that Haines
Q “He is a part of the New York Mets professional baseball team, so whatever happens there is with the Mets and not UT-Pan Am .” UTPA baseball head coach Willie Gawlik is no longer affiliated with the UTPA Bronc baseball program since signing a contract with the professional organization. “He is a part of the New York
Mets professional baseball team, so whatever happens there is with the Mets and not UT-Pan American,” he added. During his short two-year stint with the Broncs baseball program, Haines had 16 saves, 89 strikeouts and finished 6-8 on the mound in two seasons. He was one of six pitchers to go to the pros off this year’s team, along with Bobby Gomez, Dane Mason, Aaron Guerra, Kelly Casares, and Alex Guajardo. In 2006 he posted a school record 10 saves with a 2.03 ERA, and was a first team All-Independent selection. Two weeks ago, he was named a second teamer on the All South Central Region squad, becoming the first Bronc on that team since Jesse Gutierrez and Leo Salinas did it in 2000.
The Pan American OLD SCHOOL - Waldo Davila of Edinburg sports his vintage '70s Pan American University baseball jersey at UTPA Night last Thursday at Edinburg Baseball Stadium.