August 24, 2006 by UTRGV Student Media

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

A u g u s t 24 , 2 0 0 6

Commuting students adapt to high gas prices

Provost/ VP moves in with energy, momentum By LUKE KOONG The Pan American This week, freshmen will begin a new chapter of their lives as they traverse the halls and walkways of The University of Texas-Pan American for the first time. Paul Sale, the new provost and vice-president for academic affairs, is joining those students in that he is beginning a new journey of his own. Sale officially began his career at UTPA on Monday and has been adjusting rather quickly. The new provost joins the university from Radford University, where he served as the dean of the College of Education and Human Development for six years. Prior to that, he worked at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs. Sale and his family are acclimating to Valley life, adjusting to the heat and culture of the area. In the midst of learning the ropes of his job, Sale sat down with The Pan American and shared his experiences, his current situation and hopes for the ensuing academic year.

See SALE page 5

Onydia Garza/The Pan American

Progress, plans SUCCESS - President Blandina Cardenas spoke to faculty, staff, and students at the annual convocation Aug. 23 in the Fine Arts Auditorium. Cardenas highlighted many of last year’s achievements and her hopes for this school year. “We’ve got to be together. None of us will succeed unless we all succeed,” she said. In addition, Cardenas unveiled UTPA’s new logo (right).

By ANA LEY The Pan American A new school year begins today at The University of Texas-Pan American, and for its commuting student population, climbing gas prices are hard to ignore. While last week’s statewide gas price average was $2.873 per gallon, the national average was $2.977 per gallon. Though both numbers are down from previous weeks of $2.914 and $3.057 respectively, students still have to find ways to cope. David Rojas, a junior business major who resides in San Benito, said that while gas prices have posed new challenges, it only takes a few adjustments to accommodate. “I just don’t make as many trips in general, and I set aside money especially for gas, though I’ve considered catapulting or jet-packing my way to class,” Rojas joked. According to him, most of his friends have found ways to carpool to school and work. In addition, Rojas said

See PRICES page 11

Unity Halls open doors to students amid positive reviews ON THE MOVE - Jose Lucio, a junior business major, smiles as he moves into Unity Halls on Aug. 20. Lucio is one of 400 occupants in the new residence hall. Construction on the dorms began in Dec. 2005 and was one of the fastest buliding projects in the UT System’s history.

By SANDRA GONZALEZ The Pan American When Crystalina Sanchez first considered living on campus, she had only one question for her parents. “My first questions was: ‘Is there still room in the new dorms?’” Sanchez, a freshman history major, said. “When they told me there was, we agreed to move in.” Sanchez is just one of the nearly 320 students who’ve made themselves at

home so far at The University of TexasPan American’s new Unity Halls. The dorms are split into two towers with women in the north tower and males in the south one. The 110,000-sq.ft. residence hall has 204 rooms and a co-ed common area with pool tables and TV access. Some were so anxious to see the completed amenities that Chad Martin, director of Residence Life, said he had

some late night visitors the evening before the Aug. 20 move-in. “I had some parents try and sneak in last night around 10 to get a look at what we were doing, so I let a few of them in on a tour and they were very excited with what they were seeing,” he said. “I also had a couple of people move in at midnight last night, but I had to tell them no.”

See UNITY page 11

News

A&E

Sports

Campus alcohol offenses up from last year

Indie filmmaking makes visit to the Valley

Lady Broncs open up latest volleyball season Friday

See page 3

See page 8

See page 15

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August 24, 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 56th Year – No. 1 Editor Claudette Gonzalez ThePanAmerican@gmail.com News Editor Sandra Gonzalez sandra_panamerican @yahoo.com

A&E Editor Frank Calvillo hennero@msn.com

Design Editor Erika Lopez lopez475@ yahoo.com

Sports Editor Roderick Dorsey roderickdorsey @sbcglobal.net

READER FORUM

Students, faculty and staff: Thanks for the great response to our Summer Reader Forum! Now that the Fall semester has begun, we’d like to continue what we started this summer. We’d like to hear all about your creative side. Please e-mail original poems, short stories, travel photos, art work, or cartoons to ThePanAmerican@gmail.com. Your submission could end up in the next issue of The Pan American! - The Pan American staff

Pan American Travels:

Photo Editor Onydia Garza north14star @aol.com

Designers Roy Bazan crazy_restless @yahoo.com

Laura C. Gomez lm.gomez@yahoo.com

Reporters and Photographers Brian Carr Javier Cavazos Hugo Gamino Sam Iglesias Luke Koong Maria Mazariegos

Krystina Mancias Mary Nichols Carolina Sanchez Angela Salazar Trey Serna

Secretary Anita Casares Adviser Dr. Greg Selber Ad Manager Carolina Sanchez

Asst. Ad Manager Lillian Villarreal

Advertising information spubs@panam.edu

Camille Rich, 17 of France, visited The University of Texas-Pan American for two weeks this summer during which she contributed to The Pan American by writing “Shall We Dance?” (in the July 27 issue). Rich, who showed great journalistic potential, sent in these photos of her reading July 27 issue of The Pan American by her favorite river in Toulouse, France, with her friend Marion.

Community Bulletin:

Delivery Thursday at Noon

ontinuing auditions will be held on Friday, Aug. 25 for a student film remake of the Tennessee Williams play “A Streetcar Named Desire.” The audition call is for both males and females over 18. The project will revisit the 1951 film classic which starred a pre-“Godfather” Marlon Brando and a post-“Gone With the Wind” Vivien Leigh. The film, which dealt with the themes of mental illness and sexuality in the 1940s, was a critically praised success, taking home four of the 12 Academy Award nominations it received. Theatre majors are also needed for behind the scenes work and will have the opportunity to earn practicum hours. Auditions will be held beginning at 6 p.m. in room 107 of the University of Texas Pan American Communication Arts and Sciences building. For more information, please send any questions to br_nice26@yahoo.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.

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.

IN THE NEXT ISSUE OF

THE PAN AMERICAN In the works - Find out the latest construction projects UTPA is pursuing.

Available Aug. 31 The talent of Mike Judge - This cartoonist has struck a chord with Generation X. We’ll tell you why.

NEWS

News in brief: Students will be allowed to park in lot A1 (South of the Student Services building) Aug. 21-Sept. 12 for one hour at a time to better serve student’s needs.

Alcohol offenses up from previous years

By MARIA A. MAZARIEGOS The Pan American Advertisements filled with people laughing and having a good time while consuming alcohol contribute to the popular belief that alcohol use equals socializing. However, while the small-print phrases at the bottom of the advertisements warn to “please, drink responsibly,” officials at The University of Texas-Pan American say students are not. In the 2005-2006 school year, UTPA reported 26 alcohol-related violations, up from six in 2004-2005. Detective Diego Mata of the campus police says there are many reasons for

the increase in violations, most of which were driving while intoxicated (DWI) and public intoxication (PI). In his opinion, one of the biggest reasons is media influence. “The media seem to portray that

Q “We are working on implementing more prevention activities to raise awareness to students about this issue.” -Miguel Lopez, ADAP Coordinator

alcohol is fun and that you can’t have a good time if you don’t consume,” Mata said. However, Miguel Lopez, UTPA’s Alcohol and Drug Abuse Program coordinator, attributes the growth in violations to the fact that the institution is also growing. “A lot has to do with there being more students,” said Lopez. “We are working on implementing more prevention activities to raise awareness to students about this issue.” However, Juan Carlos Lopez, a sophomore marketing major, said that as clichéd as it may sound, peer pres-

See ALCOHOL page 12

UTPA bids farewell to interim dean Tucker By SANDRA GONZALEZ The Pan American It was a tearful farewell Aug. 18 for Wallace Tucker, interim dean of the College of Arts and Humanities as he held his retirement party in the Visitor’s Center at The University of Texas-Pan American. “I took more from the university than I gave it,” Tucker said, pausing for a moment to compose himself and wipe his eyes with a cloth. “I realize that everything I ever dreamed I accomplished here and more. So this university gave me a great opportunity.” Former music department chair Dahlia Guerra takes over for Tucker in the fall semester, ending the career of a long-time UTPA contributor. After first getting his start in education as a band director at St. Joseph’s School in

Edinburg, Tucker was hired at UTPA in 1976 to teach in the music department. Over the next 30 years he slowly moved up in the chain of command holding many positions such as assistant to the associate dean of the college and assistant dean. At the farewell party, Ana Maria Rodriguez, associate vice president of the Office of Undergraduate Studies who until recently was interim provost/vice president of academic affairs - said since the two both served interim positions, they have seen a lot of each other lately. However, Rodriguez said she has no complaints about that. “The last six months have been very interesting. But we have survived and have done a lot of good things,” she said. “It’s been a real pleasure for me to have worked with Dr. Tucker for many,

many years.” Those who worked with Tucker in his years at UTPA said they not only learned a lot about his management style, but also about his many recreational activities. President Blandina Cardenas took a moment to share that Tucker, who holds degrees from North Texas State University in musical arts and music-orchestral instrument, revealed that he is quite masterful at playing the trombone, classical guitar and electric bass. So much so that he once played with an international Tejano band. “I am assured by [communication professor] Petra Guerra that he plays better than any Mexican,” she joked. Cardenas showed off her own musical skills at the party, taking a few

See FAREWELL page 12

By CAROLINA SANCHEZ The Pan American

health and kinesiology and artistic director, remembers her as someone who was always very punctual and constantly striving for perfection in terms of dance and research. He recalls once commenting to Thomas the irony of a person of Anglo heritage profoundly believing in Mexican-American dance. “To that she said, ‘If my job had taken me to China, I would have started a Chinese Dance Company,’” he remembers. Munoz believes Thomas was very instrumental in the development of

When Ana Fonseca, a sophomore Spanish major, watches news reports on television anticipating the death of Cuban leader Fidel Castro, she cannot help but worry. “A lot of people know that the day that he dies, he will leave a mark and someone worse than him will continue his legacy,” said Fonseca, who came to Texas from Cuba 10 years ago. Cuba has been under the power of Fidel Castro for over 50 years; he is the longest ruling dictator in modern history. In those years, Fidel Castro has attracted much attention over his controversial reign. However, in recent weeks, focus has shifted to the health status of the long-time leader and his recent delegation of power to his brother Raul Castro. “Raul Castro already has a major position as defense minister. He is, some think, even more ideological – and perhaps difficult to negotiate with – than his brother Fidel,” Gary Mounce, professor of Latin American Studies, said. “The U.S should have and could have attempted to improve relations long ago.” Fidel Castro turned over power to Raul Castro on July 31, before the former’s surgery for intestinal bleeding. With the outcome of the surgery

See MEMORIAL page 12

See CUBA page 12

Sandra Gonzalez/The Pan American GRAND FINALE - Wallace Tucker

and President Cardenas share a laugh at Tucker’s farewell party Aug. 18.

Health and kinesiology dept. mourns loss By CRYSTAL LEE ROBINSON The Pan American On Aug. 16, a dark cloud hung over students, staff and faculty in the department of health and kinesiology at The University of Texas-Pan American as they learned of the passing of Charles Joseph Parkinson, professor emeritus. This marked the second death in the department in recent months. On July 22, Amilda Thomas, professor emeritus and early pioneer of dance, died at her home in McAllen. AMILDA THOMAS Thomas’ lifelong love of dance was

simply a hobby until she moved to the Rio Grande Valley in 1947. The surroundings, environment, and the Mexican-American culture captured her heart and brought to life a whole new person. The Rio Grande Valley also allowed her to indulge in her favorite past-time, fishing. Shortly after her move, Thomas joined the faculty at Donna High School as the first teacher and coach of the girls’ physical education and sports program. In 1960, she joined the faculty of Pan American College, as it was known then, as an assistant professor. Her love of dance and the

Q “Dr. Parkinson was a very dedicated professional who always had high expectations of his students.” -Louis Semper, associate professor in health and kinesiology

Mexican-American culture led her to develop the Pan Am Dancers in 1970, a group that started off as an extracurricular activity and is now the UTPA Folkloric Dance Company, which presents concerts nationwide. Francisco Munoz, a lecturer in

Concern over Castro’s health still remains

NEWS

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August 24, 2006

Professor masters art of design, teaching By CLAUDETTE GONZALEZ The Pan American Dave Martinez always wanted to live as an artist. With oil lamps as his only light and a horse trough as a bathtub, he was getting his wish. Despite the humble surroundings, the coffee shop downstairs where all the artists congregated rounded out his “perfect location.” “I was younger back then” Martinez, a graphic designer, said. “I would just work out of my apartment. It was great.” Martinez, an assistant professor in

the art department at The University of Texas-Pan American, was first inspired to become an artist by his uncle, a graphic artist doing signage. Martinez, knowing that he wanted to go into graphic design, first enrolled as a technical draftsman to learn how to make the very precise and detail oriented engineering drawings. However, the lack of opportunity for creative expression in that field soon made Martinez rethink his choice of career. “Now it’s all done by computer, but back then we had to write these perfect circles and lines,” Martinez said. “I was

Sam Iglesias/The Pan American MEMORIES - Dave Martinez, art professor, shows off an advertisement for an Art Department-organized student trip that took participants to Guanajuato, Mexico. Martinez designed the poster himself.

in school at the time and I thought, gosh, I can’t do that. Do I really want to be doing this, 40 hours a week, every day writing perfect lines and circles?” Martinez made the switch from the technical design work he started off doing to a much more creative side of graphic design and felt relief because he knew he had found his calling. At about the same time, he also became interested in the concept of existentialism, which he described as the “idea of leaving a part of yourself in your work.” “I wanted to leave an impression of myself in my posters. It’s like if you look at a painting of Van Gogh, the original, you see the brush strokes, and sometimes the pieces of his brushes are still stuck there,” Martinez said. “I wanted to do the same thing with design.” Although Martinez considers himself a graphic designer, that discipline and his desire to imbue his art with a sense of his personality have led him to other areas of art, including photography. “Mainly, I’m a graphic designer, but because the disciplines are all so intertwined with each other in the arts, I guess I was able to sort of take a little from here, a little from there, and combine it all,” Martinez said. But his photography is much more than just a part of his designs; even by

themselves, his photos win awards. This summer, Martinez received special recognition for his photography in the Landscape International Online Juried Art Exhibition. The photo that won the award was taken in a Mexican border town, and beautifully emphasized the play of light and shadows on a cobblestone street with park benches and trees. Martinez’s experiences as a teaching assistant made him decide that what he really wanted to do was teach art. “The students would come to me and ask me questions, and I thought that was sort of cool. They’d say that I ought to become a teacher,” he said. “I thought about it and said, ‘gee, maybe I should.’” Martinez’s studies took him from a community college in his native Ann Arbor, Mich., to the University of Eastern Michigan, where he received his bachelor’s degree, and from there to the School of the Art Institute of Chicago where he graduated with a master’s of fine arts. After graduation, Martinez also studied methods of teaching graphic design at Virginia Commonwealth University. His professional career has included teaching jobs at several universities, including The University of Southern Arkansas, Tennessee-Chattanooga, and The University of Tennessee-Knoxville. Now beginning his third year at UTPA,

Dave Martinez AWARD-WINNING - Dave Martinez’s photo, titled “Border Town Mexico,” (above) received special recognition in an art exhibition this summer.

Martinez says these experiences have opened his mind to different styles of thinking. “It’s been a real plus for me because each of these different schools have their own philosophies about graphic design and how they teach it, different from where I went to school,” Martinez said. The diversity of his education and work experiences helps him better pass on passion for art to the students in his graphic design, visual communication, image and illustration, typography, and portfolio classes.

Rec. sports director highlights importance of wellness center By JAVIER CAVAZOS The Pan American

or James Watson exercise is more than something to do for beauty, it is a lifestyle choice for a better tomorrow, with both physical and mental health benefits. As the new director for the Student Health and Wellness Center being built on the corner of Sugar Road and Schunior Street, he hopes students, staff and faculty members will take advantage of the new facilities to promote their own well-being. “There have been a number of research studies that correlate exercise with improved general health,” said Watson. “It’s not just about a healthier body, but also enhanced mental health that leads to better grades and

decreased stress.” Watson, an Indiana native, received his Ph.D. in 1996 from Purdue University. However, his career path developed somewhat differently than he had planned when he began college. “I was originally a pre-med student. I realized I didn’t really want to dissect animals and cadavers, but something different,” Watson said. “So I switched majors and learned all it takes to manage recreation programs.” For the last 30 years he has been working for recreation and sports at Purdue. The married stepfather enjoys jogging and playing tennis and is looking forward to living in the Rio Grande Valley. “My wife and I have spent just about every weekend at South Padre Island,” Watson said. “She’s still getting

used to the area, but I already fell in love with it, everything is laid back and very relaxing.” As the new director he hopes to address student recreational needs and highlight the importance of physical activity as a health necessity. He hopes the new facilities will draw in more students and faculty and usher in the realization that exercise is necessary for good health. “Exercise goes beyond the immediate health benefits,” Watson said. “Young people can start exercising and combat illness and bodily abuse before they become fullfledged health problems.” One way he hopes to gain the interest of students and staff is through the introduction of new exercise and recreation options. “We plan on introducing ‘wallyball,’ that is volleyball played in a racquetball court. There’s a video you

can rent and we hope to have demonstrations around campus, but in Indiana it’s a huge hit and people just play for hours,” Watson said. The new center, scheduled to open in August, will be 300,000 square feet and offer a variety of exercise and recreational options including weight rooms, an indoor pool, racquetball courts and support services, as well as new jobs for students. “We’ll offer wellness classes, equipment check-out services, fitness and weight room instructors, a media center for health information and meeting rooms for training and conferences,” said Watson. The new center will also have adapted recreation alternatives for those with special needs or limited mobility and may offer summer camps in the future. Another goal is to have a restricted schedule that would allow the community

to use the facilities for a small fee. In addition, Watson hopes to address other factors of wellness besides exercise by highlighting smoking and binge drinking as major risk factors for college students. “Every year you hear about the new dangers of smoking and accidents where alcohol played a part,” Watson said. “Students today have the information, they just need to put it to good use.” By taking a holistic approach to exercise and the role WATSON it plays in our daily lives we can reverse some of the consequences, Watson added. “Our nation is in crisis mode regarding health; we should focus on how exercise and recreation can help prevent problems,” Watson said.

NEWS

August 24, 2006

Page 5

SALE continued from page 1

Sam Iglesias / The Pan American

Onydia Garza / The Pan American

GETTING ACQUAINTED - Paul Sale speaks with Felix Cornejo, public relations major, and Laura Iglesias, biology major. All are newcomers to UTPA this semester.

WELCOME - Even though Sale is still new to the university, he has already begun the process of welcoming students to campus for the fall semester.

Q: How has your family been adjusting to moving to the Valley? Were staying at the temporary housing right now in Mission and the people there are really well to us so we’ve adjusted well.

Q: What do you feel will be the largest adjustment you have to make to accomplish your job? I’m not feeling like I’ll have to make any adjustments. I have a high energy level and I think the momentum on the campus and the work ethic here is high so I’ll adjust to that well. My first 90 days or so I’ll be trying not to get lost on campus. My style and experience match the job well so it won’t be a major adjustment.

Q: Being in the Valley is a large change from most areas of the nation. Do you feel like you need to learn a whole new culture? I am learning a new culture. I don’t feel like it’s a new country. There are more similarities than differences compared to where I came from. People here have been very friendly. I’ve enjoyed some of the new cuisine and I’m also trying to learn Spanish. Q: How different is UTPA and the Valley from Radford? I think that this is 80 percent larger than Radford. The scale is different. It’s a larger scale. When you have a larger scale you have more choices. Q: You have only been here officially 2 days. What are your initial impressions? I’m really glad I made the decision to come here. It’s actually exceeded the image on the web page. Since I’ve been on campus, I’ve sensed the energy, the momentum. The president is so energetic. My impression so far is that it’s been a great move. Q: What’s the first thing you want to accomplish as provost? It’s important for me to listen. The first thing I plan to accomplish is a mass of listening: to listen to faculty counseling, student government, representatives, and faculty senate. The president and the faculty laid down a strategic plan last year. One of my strategic tasks is to carry out that plan.

Onydia Garza / The Pan American

HARD WORK - Sale officially began work at his position on Monday. He plans to take time during his first 90 days to listen to the voices of students and faculty at UTPA.

Q: Are there any programs similar to those from your former position at Radford that you’d like to implement here? I’m trying to learn about what we actually have here because different universities teach things differently. I think I need to find out more about what’s here. My tactic really will be how can we move the university forward and then bring my experiences and other people’s experiences forward. Q: What’s the hardest thing you’ve ever accomplished, academically or personal? Personally, I’ve learned to fly while I was wearing goggles and I couldn’t see outside. I learned to fly in 1998. And I flew with “foggles” in 2005. When you are in an airplane and so high off the ground, you don’t think about anything else but how to fly the plane right. Q: When you’re not working, what kinds of things do you do to relax? I like to eat at really weird places. I consider myself an adventurer of food. I’m really looking forward to getting involved with the community of the university. I’m looking forward to being a spectator at some of the sporting events and watching the musical and dance events. I believe that students’ lives become enriched when they participate in campus life.

EN ESPAÑOL

Noticias en breve: Estudiantes serán permitidos a estacionar en el lote A1 Agosto 21 - Septiembre 12 por una hora por vez para mejor servirlos.

Futuro de Cuba inseguro despues de Castro Por CAROLINA SANCHEZ Traducido Por FERNANDO PECHS The Pan American Mientras que Ana Fonseca, una estudiante de español cursando su Segundo año de carrera, ve noticias por televisión anticipando la muerte del líder Cubano Fidel Castro, no puede evitar preocuparse. “Mucha gente sabe que el día que el muera, dejara un legado y alguien peor que el continuara su dictadura,” señaló Fonseca, que nació en Cuba y tiene 10 años radicando en Texas. Cuba ha permanecido en poder de Castro por más de 50 años y lo hace en

el más largo dictador en la historia moderna. Durante su largo mandato, ha despertado una gran atención por su mandato controversial. Sin embargo, en semanas recientes la atención de Castro se ha concentrado en su estado de salud y la delegación de poder a su hermano Raúl Castro. “Raúl Castro posee un cargo importante como el ministro de defensa. Algunos piensan que el mas ideológico y talvez mas difícil con el cual negociar,” comento Gary Mounce, profesor de estudios Latinoamericanos. “Los Estados Unidos debió y pudo haber mejorado la relación entre los países hace mucho tiempo.”

Fidel Castro le adjudico el poder a Raúl Castro el pasado 31 de Julio, antes de la cirugía intestinal que sufrió a principios de Agosto. Sin saber lo que la sensible cirugía le traería, Fidel decidió adjudicar su poder mientras podía hacerlo. Este cambio de poder ha preocupado a muchos, incluyendo a Fonseca. “Yo pienso que el es peor que Fidel. El sabe que debe de continuar con la misma reputación de Castro,” revelo Fonseca sobre el pequeño hermano. Sin embargo, la amistad que Fidel Castro comparte con el presidente de Venezuela Hugo Chávez es lo que mas intriga a Mounce. El expresa que

Chávez tienes varios intereses en ejercer la continuidad del gobierno Cubano. “Cuba necesita el petróleo de Venezuela y Venezuela necesita el conocimiento y asistencia medica de Cuba,” Mounce subrayo. Recientemente, los dos lideres han sido vistos por la televisión cubana celebrando el cumpleaños numero 80 de Fidel, el pasado 13 de Agosto. Ese mismo día, Castro publico una carta al público Cubano en Granma, el periódico oficial de partido comunista Cubano. “Me siento muy bien,” Fidel escribió. Sin embargo, también recalco “Afirmar que el espacio de recuperación será corto y que no existen riesgos seria

absolutamente incorrecto.” La incertidumbre sobre la salud de Fidel Castro tiene a muchos escépticos sobre si el pueblo Cubano podrá funcionar como de costumbre, si el mandatario sucumbe por su padecimiento. “Creo que habrán cambios (si Fidel Castro fallece). En mi opinión, el control de Cuba se perderá por un tiempo, y el pueblo Cubano se mantendrá confundido por el cambio,” comento Patricia Elizondo una estudiante de Comercio Internacional. Mientras Fidel Castro le pide a su pueblo de ser optimista, también les advierte en su carta “Siempre estén listos para malas noticias.”

Vida y tiempos de Fidel Castro

Diseñado por: Laura Gomez Traducido por: Maria A. Mazariegos

Juego de sobrevivencia SOCIALIZANDO - Kristopher Martinez (abajo), un estudiante de ingeniería mecánica, juega una version del juego Twister en Survivor, una junta organizada por la oficina de Vida Estudiantil. El propósito de Survivor es de ayudar a los residentes de los dormitorios a conocerse unos a otros. David Pax (derecha), que tambien estudia ingeniería mecánica, asecha su “presa” con los ojos bendados. Photos by Onydia Garza/The Pan American

RTS A EN T& E RTA I N M E N T

Editor’s Pick: Must-see Event Chris Fortier Salamandra Sat. Aug. 26, 2006 mile West of Shary Rd. on Old 83 at 10 p.m.

Reel-to-Red gives UTPA hallways a makeover

By TREY SERNA The Pan American In the past it was easy to spot the big, outdated television sets mounted on the walls of campus buildings. Now, The University of Texas-Pan American’s production company, Reel-to-Red (R2R), is improving the system with an $80,000 system upgrade - funded by the Student Affairs Advisory Committee that is making its premiere this fall. In previous years, school events, news or meetings were broadcast on the R2R system, but audio quality was bad and many just walked right past TVs, oblivious to what was airing. However, new, flat-screen televisions are being installed around campus and according to Chelse Benham, director of Reel-to-Red, all content on the new system will be controlled by the company. The majority of the programming will be aimed at students with events such as International Week, Greek Week and more. Student Government Association (SGA) meetings will also be filmed and aired after they’ve occurred. Since the meetings are public

record, they will be unedited. Text messages, which will be translated into Spanish, will run at the bottom of the screen to inform students about upcoming events. It will also serve as an informative emergency broadcast system. “The only feed the monitors will get is Reel-to-Red’s and the only time the feed will be intercepted to another major news [medium], will be in the case of an emergency, such as a hurricane, ” Benham said. Many students think the upgrade is a positive step. “Though it seems to be an expensive upgrade, I still think it’s a good means for students to become aware of social events they can’t attend,” said Chris Ramirez, a sophomore art/communication major. Oscar Humberto Garza, an R2R member since November 2004, is pleased that more of his and other members’ work will be brought to light with the upgrade. “It is exciting to know that we will finally have the entire campus as an audience,” Garza said. While R2R seeks out events to

Reel-to-Red Productions A NEW LOOK - Reel-to-Red Productions, after spending thousands of dollars, will present its new state-of-the-art television systems.

cover on its own, student and faculty suggestions are welcomed. “Students are encouraged to contact us so we can cover campus events for them,” Benham said. “If it’s not school-related, they can hire our talent and we’ll go out and work with them.” The new system has an Internet Protocol (IP) address and is controlled

through a wireless Internet system which sends signals directly to R2R’s office. The Internet protection helps ensure less tampering with the monitors. Unlike before, the TV screens will not be able to be turned off or tampered with because the front panels will be disengaged. “It’s built into the system so you can’t disengage anything. Also, all the

wiring is now done through the backside of the monitor, preventing people from unplugging them,” Benham said. A big reason monitors were turned off by unauthorized individuals in the past, were because of issues such as volume control, which Benham hopes to see this change with the new system. “We will set the volume so they can hear it at a reasonable level when they’re standing around watching so that it doesn’t interfere with the classroom,” Benham said. The system will shut down around 5 p.m. and will switch over to the Edinburg Cable Network (ECN) at night. Currently, 36 monitors are being installed and five more will be added in the new Wellness Recreation Sports Complex for a total of 41 monitors. Benham said that the system upgrade was going to originally cost $148,000 but they were able to get more monitors at a lower price and are installing them faster than originally planned. For more information please contact Benham at (956) 316-7996.

UTPA theater department announces fall lineup By LESLIE ESTRADA The Pan American The members of the theater department at The University of Texas-Pan American continue to be very busy, preparing a series of new plays for the new academic year. This semester, the public will have the chance to enjoy two especially exciting plays. The first one is “The Lion in Winter,” a play by James Goldman, Oct. 4-8. This famous play about King Henry, Queen Katherine and their three sons, still works as a great play about unforgettable historical characters. “Late Bloomers,” by UTPA professor Eric Wiley, will be presented Nov. 15-19. This brand-new play is set in a Rio Grande Valley trailer park at the end of the Winter Texan season. What happens when love comes late in life? This sweet, warm play has the answer, right at the start of the latest tourist season. The department will also be performing a soon-to-be-announced play at

the studio theater Oct. 22-23. “There are many exciting things going on,” said Jack Stanley, a professor in UTPA’s communication department. “Dr. Wiley’s new play is going to be presented. It is going to be very exciting to see something new and creative come out of the faculty here.” The new works are still in progress. “None of the plays have been rehearsed yet, since we don’t have the cast for them,” said Roel Cantu, a senior television-theater and film major. “Open auditions will be held. Depending on the director, they may want you to read things from the play, or come in with something prepared.” According to Cantu, anybody can audition. The theatre department is open to the community as well as people from the department and across campus. Audition dates have not been posted yet, but will be once the semester has started. Dr. Jack Stanley also pointed out that since the program began, the

department has never had a female director. "It is an odd thing that we just realized, there is only guys directing the plays," said Stanley. "We hope to make that change, as we are open to new things." The department also has a new costumer, as Stephanie Hawks from Connecticut has just joined the faculty and will be responsible for designing costumes for future plays. Stanley encourages students to attend the campus theatre productions as a way to round out their collegiate years, as well as for the entertainment value. “A lot of students miss a part of the college experience because they’ve never been to a play,” said Stanley. “They don’t know what it is like. They should come and experience this, since part of their fees goes to support the department.” Professors such as Stanley aren’t the only ones who feel this way. Many students agree that campus plays are very enjoyable.

“Students should be taking a part on this,” said Carlos Gonzalez, a junior mechanical engineering major. “I’ve had the opportunity to see plays in the past, and it was a wonderful experi-

ence.” For more information stop by the box office located in front of the Jeffers Theatre in the COAS building, or contact Elva Galvan at (956) 381-2583.

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Page 9 “There are so many young, talented people out there, but they sometimes only make films for themselves. They are not learning the elements of how to make their product successful,” he said. By bringing films, filmmakers, and actors who have made their way to the top, Garcia said he hopes to show young aspiring filmmakers the right way to begin in the business. “They don’t know how to get people to invest in their project,” he said. “These are essential parts of the film making business.” As a filmmaker himself, he said it is important for him to show the younger generation the way to go. “There are people in the Valley who are very driven and passionate about film making and I think that these few people have to carry the flag and do something locally,” Garcia said.

By: Sandra Gonzalez

“7 Days” follows a small-time Mexican concert promoter Claudio Caballero as he tries to bring the rock band U2 to Monterrey. However, to raise money for the concert, Caballero gets himself into trouble by cheating the Mexican Mafia out of a halfmillion dollars. After getting caught and being nearly put to death, Caballero tells the boss, whose son happens to be a huge U2 fan, the reason for his swindling. The boss then shows Caballero mercy by giving him seven days to make the concert happen, or face death. Received well by audiences, the film has made a strong impression; it even reversed some bad blood of the past between U2 and Mexico. Back in 1998, after being turned away from U2’s after party, the mayor of Monterrey’s son had his bodyguards angrily confront U2’s bodyguards who refused them admission. As a result, one of the band’s bodyguards was blinded. Following the incident, U2 claimed they would never return to Mexico. However, after the film was shot, it was screened for U2 in order to obtain permission for the use of their songs. They liked it so much that not only did they allow the use of the song, but they also decided to bury the hatchet and played a concert in Mexico soon after.

Director Rich Walton brings the audience a story chronicling the journeys of Lucha Libre luchadores in different stages of their careers. First there is Enrique Media, who at 55, is in the late stages. After making his debut as a luchador in 1971 under the name Dinamic, he remains a part of the world he was first introduced to by his luchador uncle and brother. The film also follows Kayam, 44, who came to the United States from Juarez, Mexico after his father began wrestling here. Kayam, together with his tagteammate brother Enigma de Oro, carry on the family tradition by eating, sleeping and breathing lucha. Then, there is Principe Unlimited, a 28-year-old, first-generation wrestler struggling to make a name for himself in an industry often dominated by luchadores who come from long bloodlines of champions. Lastly, there is Albert. At only 13, he follows in the footsteps of his father and grandfather, training every day and awaiting the chance to prove himself worthy of his lucha bloodline. Through these stories, Walton takes the audience beyond the masks and spandex costumes and into the culture, mystique and legend of luchadores.

This comedic documentary by director Michele Ohayon tells the story of a cowboy turned matchmaker named Ivan Thompson. Thompson makes his living by finding beautiful Mexican brides for American men in search of grateful, kind women, unlike the ones they have found in the United States. However while the 60-year-old “Cowboy Cupid” may be finding love for his clients, he has tribulations with his own love life. In her third feature-length documentary, Ohayon follows the witty Thompson as he finds brides for three love-troubled clients, who include a long-distance truck driver and a 70-year-old Vietnam Veteran. It was most recently awarded the distinction of best documentary film at the South By Southwest film festival.

Carlos Garcia grimaced this past May when the famed Cannes Film Festival screened the big-budget blockbuster “Mission Impossible III.” “I think people lost sight of what it is and made it into something it’s not,” he said. As new director of the Cine Sol film festival, currently in its 13th year, Garcia said he hopes to bring back the independent spirit of film. “The true nature of the independent festival is becoming a rare commodity. The goal for me as new director is to keep that essence, but Hollywoodize it a little,” Garcia said. “I think that they can compliment each other when done right. We can make it as big as we want, but keep the core values there.” Making good on his promise, Garcia announced that lhe opening of this year’s festival, which happens yearly in the Rio Grande Valley, will feature a live lucha libre match featuring Jack Black’s nemesis in the movie “Nacho Libre,” Ramses. The lucha libre match is being used to promote “Lucha Libre: Behind the Mask,” a film that will be screened on the festival’s opening night Sept. 8 in Brownsville at Ringold Pavillion. “Our culture is loud and boisterous. We like exciting things and that’s what Latino film festivals should be all over the country or else you lose that special flavor,” Garcia said. Garcia added that he hopes to reach many people, including as many students as possible, during the festival’s opening stop in Brownsville Sept. 8-10 and its tour around the rest of the Valley Sept. 11-16, which ends in a finale at Cine El Rey in McAllen. “A lot of the times, people think Cine Sol is for older folks, but that’s not the case,” he said. “One of my challenges with Cine Sol has been trying to attract that younger audience. I would love to get that market to the festival.” In fact, to entice more student turn out, Garcia said he will have “awesome student rates.” Ticket and pass prices range from $10 for two films to $75 for a pass for the entire festival; all prices will be slashed in half for students. In addition, he has made a special promotion just for The University of Texas-Pan American students (see WIN inset). Garcia said this focus on getting young people to the festival is so Cine Sol can promote the arts among the age group.

AMAZING RACE Another way Garcia and Cine Sol have planned on getting students excited about film is by having a 36-hour film race. In the given amount of time, teams of no more than 10 are expected to shoot and edit a 10-minute or shorter film on a given theme to be judged by a panel of local filmmakers. The top five will be screened at Brownsville’s Central Administrative Building on the opening weekend of the festival. Lupita Garza, an advisory board member who is helping with the race, said this year is the first time Cine Sol is undertaking this project. “No one knows what to expect,” she said. “We’ve been saying we were going to do this for a long time, and we finally said ‘we have to do this.’” With seven teams registered so far, she said they would love to have more students register. So much so, that they are accepting team registrations until the first day in hopes of having at least ten participating by the time the contest begins at midnight on Sept. 1. While making a film in 36 hours may seem like an arduous task, Garza said it’s all for the love of film. “We’re just going to have fun. The key is to be relaxed and not get up-tight about it,” she said. Registration for the race is $125 and editing software will be available for those without access to it. With several of Cine Sol’s events geared toward getting students interested in film, Flor Martinez, a junior business administration major, said she thinks it will work in attracting the college student audience. “It’s not every day that you see actors or those kind of events in the Valley, so I think it would be interesting to go,” she said. For more information on where to obtain tickets for Cine Sol or on the 36-hour film race, visit www.cinesol.com or call Carlos Garcia at (956) 793-8783.

Thirteen lucky students will win a ticket to Cine Sol and be entered into a chance to win one of four real lucha libre masks signed by Ramses to be given out at the festival. Please visit the Student Publications office in COAS 170 from Aug, 24 Sept. 1 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. to fill out an entry form. Students may also send their name, address, telephone number, classification and major to thepanamerican@gmail.com. Winners will be contacted shortly after.

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By: Sandra Gonzalez

A&E

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Disney musical becomes cult classic By ANGELA SALAZAR The Pan American What do you get when you mix cute singing teenagers, spontaneous yet choreographed dance numbers and a watered-down version of “Grease” and “West Side Story”? “High School Musical” or HSM. This Disney Channel original movie is by far their most popular since they began churning out movies of the month back in 1997. The plot is simple and to the point, and yet this musical is a big hit for the Disney Company. “I think this musical appeals to the Brittany Spears/Christina Aguilera pop sound which has managed to cross generational lines in popularity,” said Brian Warren, a theatre lecturer at The University of Texas-Pan Ameerican. “American musicals have traditionally, especially from the Golden Era of the 1950’s with the Rodgers and Hammerstein formula, followed the ‘boy meets girl/boy loses girl/boy gets girl back’ storyline,” Warren said. “The musicals you mention (‘Grease’ and ‘West Side Story’) certainly have that element, as does this one.” Troy (Zac Efron) meets Gabriella (Vanessa Anne Hudgens) during their holiday break. After exchanging numbers they go their separate ways but later come to realize they are actually attending the same school, and the romance is rekindled. However, they do not belong to the same cliques. Troy is captain of the basketball team, while Gabriella is your classic shy, science nerd. After Troy and Gabriella audition for the school musical, they run into problems. Well, two to be exact: the Broadway wannabe brother-sister duo Ryan (Lucas Grabeel) and Sharpay (Ashley Tisdale), who are afraid their titles as drama king and queen are in

jeopardy. With the help of Chad (Corbin Bleu) and Taylor (Monique Coleman), Troy and Gabriella try to change the rigid hierarchy of high school popularity that seems to plague everyone. The story line is classic Disney, with moral values and love interests who do nothing more than hold hands. However, one of the more contemporary moves for the Mickey Corporation is its ability to grow with the times. Although, it is never actually said aloud within the movie, the character Ryan appears to be gay. There is no one way to describe why, it depends on the person watching. “Though the movie seems determined never to mention the word ‘gay’ in any shape or form, Lucas Gabreel’s portrayal of Ryan Evans will live forever in gay iconography,” said an article written in fanzine.com, “…now come see it close-up, along with one million gay 7th- and-8th graders who now have someone to emulate.” And even though Disney will probably not acknowledge it, it is a step forward in openness. Even students have noticed the character of Ryan in the movie. “I think they put him there as a societal role, or the changing of the status quo with regards to homosexuality indirectly,” said Maricela De Leon, a senior finance major, “His character was not really necessary, he’s there to play a gay character that was not really gay according to Disney,” she added. Another key element to the success of the film is its director Kenny Ortega. This veteran of film and television has a resume that spans over 30 years of work. “I first noticed Ortega’s work in the largely overlooked 1992 movie musical ‘Newsies.’ I think he is very talented,” Warren said. “This musical features his same highly original and energetic cho-

reography.” The up-beat songs walk the audience through the story. One of the more complicated song-and-dance routines is at the end. The song “We’re all in this together,” is in the final scene that brings together everyone in the school in one giant pep rally and drives home the point that no matter how different everyone is, success is a group effort. It is positive messages such as these that have gained fans of all ages ranging from five to 35 and older. “Once, when I stumbled into my little girls’ room (they are 8 and 9) to ask them what they were watching, I was intrigued enough to watch with them for awhile,” said Warren, “I especially was intrigued by the basketball players’ song-and-dance. I don’t remember that happening when I, in my youth, had basketball practice!” The DVD version, which was released May 23, has been flying off the shelves with the original version and an encore version, which comes with the movie and sing-along disc. According to usatoday.com, the premiere brought in more than 7 million viewers and the repeat telecasts brought in 26.3 million new ones. “My little girls love it and demanded that I purchase the DVD. They often wander the house, loudly singing selections from the musical,” Warren said. The soundtrack album also proved a hit, reaching No. 1 in the music charts in January; it is currently in the top 20. There seems to be no end to the popularity madness that is “High School Musical.” Kids’ mouths are already watering for the much-anticipated sequel; however only time will tell if it can match the success of the first.

GILB

Renowned author inspires UTPA writing students By FRANK CALVILLO The Pan American This summer, the English department of The University of Texas-Pan American held its annual creative writing institute during summer session II. From July 12-18, the institute presented students with a combination of workshops, readings and panel discussions all aimed at prospective writers. It also offered students a chance to earn credit hours in their major, as well as the opportunity to express writing desires in fiction, poetry and non-fiction. The highlight of this year’s institute was a visit from award-winning author Dagoberto Gilb, who has published numerous fiction and non-fiction books. Gilb was on hand to offer his expert opinion on three panels. He also held a special evening reading of some of his work at a local café. In a recent interview with collectedstories.com, Gilb said he enjoys helping young writers find their voice. “One thing I do like about this college business - a surprise that I wouldn’t have thought of - is to help find and promote people who write weird, who are under regarded and underestimated,” he said. Jean Braithwaite, a recent addition to the English department faculty at UTPA, was enthusiastic about the impression Gilb made on the students. “He was such a good writer to have,” Braithwaite said. “Sometimes it helps for students to meet writers and talk to them about writing in the real world. I have to say that the students were very engaged.”

Braithwaite, who will teach a creative writing class in the fall, feels the institute was successful in getting the core message of writing across to students. “People who like to read think that books just come down from heaven or some other worldly source, but they don’t,” she said. “They come from regular people just like them. It shows that writers are people and that they can do it too.” The institute is just another example of the assortment of classes offered by the English department, which has been hoping to expand its horizons for some time now. “This year’s creative writing institute was also part of a long-range plan to establish an MFA program in the English department, which has been in the works for at least two years,” said Braithwaite. According to Braithwaite, the proposed program has generated a great deal of interest on the part of various English majors, who enjoy what the department has to offer. Josh Polinard, a senior English major, feels the department offers students what most other fields don’t. “Some of the professors in the department have their own style of teaching that isn’t like everyone else’s and no matter what class you take, you are encouraged to write more and more, which is being lost today with email and what not,” Polinard said. The creative writing institute is held every summer in the month of July.

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UNITY continued from page 1

PRICES continued from page 1 that in order to combat higher gas prices, he is taking courses on Tuesdays and Thursdays only. “But that’s only because I chose to live outside of Edinburg,” he added. “It’s a matter of either putting [money] in your tank or in a place to stay.” However, Rojas said many people think high gas prices are a much bigger problem than they actually are. “I don’t know what all the fuss is about,” he said. “For most people who live near school, it’s definitely not that big of a deal.” However, Orlando Silva, a junior computer information systems major who lives in Elsa, begs to differ. “Gas prices now are horrible. I mean, I pay at least $200 a month (on gas),” Silva said. Silva said that although a more

frugal driving routine alleviates his individual plight, he hopes to see widespread relief soon. Gokce Soydemir, an economics professor at UTPA whose specialization is in stock market contagion, forecasting and econometrics, believes that there is great uncertainty as to when gas prices will stabilize. “There is much concern about costpush inflation at this point. People are afraid this situation will eventually cause a decline in purchasing power, and about whether this will be a one-time event, or a sustained one,” Soydemir said. Still, the professor says that numbers recently released by the U.S. Commerce Department look encouraging, since national retail sales for the month of July rose by 1.4 percent, the most in six months and higher than the 0.8 percent gain

Higher gas prices are having an effect on UTPA commuting students. The map shows the total student distribution over the Rio Grande Valley and Mexico

4.2% 81.4%

6.9% 1.9%

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forecast by economists. Soydemir believes these numbers should give consumers peace of mind. Luis Trevino, owner and manager of Hidalgo County’s 32 Aziz convenience stores, emphasized that he has no control over how much he charges and always tries to keep them as cheap as he can. “Over the past four years, our prices have gone up,” he said. “I can tell you right now we change our gas prices every day, whether it goes up ten cents or down two cents.” However, since Valero Energy Corp. is the distributor for the Aziz chain and many other gas stations in South Texas, gas prices remain even across the Valley. “Valero’s a major U.S. company, and aside from them being our sole distributor, many variables come into play as far as gas prices are concerned,” he said. “We only raise prices because if we don’t, there will be no profit in it for us.” Valero Energy Corp., currently the largest independent oil refining and marketing company in America, owns 18 refineries in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean, according to its Web site. The San Antonio-based oil refinery has an estimated capacity of 3.3 million barrels of oil per day and runs more than 4,700 retail and wholesale stores.

Martin said increased interest in dorms is a good sign for the future. “I took the position four years ago and when I came it was our goal to make this a residential campus,” he said. “At the time, our occupancy was 66 percent. Immediately we changed different policies, got a better staff, started doing more programs to help keep the retention of residents. Because of that, we were full last year.” This year, Martin says Unity Halls, which houses predominantly freshman, is at about 95 percent capacity with a few single rooms left empty in case problems arise later in the year. He added that UTPA’s transition toward a more residential campus comes with great benefits. “When you have a residential campus like the University of TexasAustin or Texas State, the entire atmosphere of the campus changes,” he said. “It turns into a campus that is not just 9 to 5.” Currently, UTPA housing can accommodate 1,000 students, and the goal is increase that by 200 every year. However, while the students were already making themselves at home, the dorms themselves were not completely finished on the first day of move-in. Martin said while the main structure is done, small details remain to be finished. Despite this, Martin said Unity

Onydia Garza/The Pan American WELCOME HOME - Isaela Reyes, a sophomore communication disorders major, unpacks her clothes on her first day at Unity Halls.

Halls have raised the bar. “The UT System has never done a project of this size in this time frame before,” he said. “So we set all sorts of records.” Martin also added that while Aug. 1 had been advertised as the opening date for Unity Halls, plans had always been to open Aug. 20. As for the fate of Troxel and Heritage (formerly Women’s) Halls, Martin said they are hoping to give them a facelift as well. “We’re trying to make those more appealing by doing some remodeling.”

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ALCOHOL continued from page 3

FAREWELL continued from page 3 moments every now and then to sing with the student mariachis who served as the event’s musical entertainment, an event that had Tucker, as well as the crowd, smiling with delight. When she wasn’t serenading Tucker or the crowd, however, Cardenas was singing praises for the man of the hour. “I have said that from the moment

Wally stepped into that position, I breathed a real sigh of relief, because what the College of Arts and Humanities needed at that time was a gentle, caring soul who could create a safe space for people,” Cardenas said. “I think Wally did that brilliantly.” While Tucker admits he will miss the Valley, he says he is looking forward to getting a chance to partake in some of

Sandra Gonzalez/The Pan American TRIBUTE - Wallace Tucker (left), exiting interim dean of the College of Arts and Humanities, and President Blandina Cardenas listen as the UTPA mariachis play at his farewell party held at the Visitors’ Center on Aug. 18. Approximately 50 of Tucker’s friends and colleagues came to the event.

his favorite pasttimes such as karate and woodworking. He and his wife will be leaving directly. “We have a ranch in Commerce (in East Texas) and we recently renovated the ranch house up there,” he said. “It’s been our dream to go up there and do the things we haven’t been able to.” Among his many activities, Tucker lists woodworking, traveling and playing with his grandchildren as the top three things he’s most looking forward to. In addition, however, Tucker says he and his wife, Barbara have some travel plans.

“My wife is going to travel to recruit nursing instructors to teach nursing. So first we’re going to travel to do that,” he said. While it may seem like somewhat of a business trip, he countered, saying: “This seems like it’s going to be fun.” As the party came to a close, Tucker took a moment to acknowledge his appreciation for the people who attended. “All the wonderful things I’ve heard today, I take them to heart and I will remember them forever,” he said.

Sandra Gonzalez/The Pan American SING-A-LONG - Cardenas (right) and Ana Maria Rodriguez (left), associate vice president of the Office of Undergraduate Studies, try their hands at singing with Jose Rangel, a junior business major, from the UTPA mariachis. Tucker could not help but smile during the performance.

sure often plays a factor in the decision to consume alcohol. “When you can’t party or hang out and drink, you are automatically put on the lower social bracket by those initiating consumption,” he said. Peer pressure often plays such an important role that many do not realize when they are abusing alcohol and it actually becomes the socially acceptable and desired thing to do. “If people would learn that they can have a good time without alcohol, that would be fantastic,” Juan Carlos Lopez said. While some blame the increased alcohol consumption on the media, not all agree with this theory. “I think that the increase is because people are starting to drink at younger ages,” Alberto Aguirre, a graduate engineering student, said. “Drinking now is even begun in middle school.” UTPA has a zero-tolerance rule for alcohol consumption on campus and the possession and/or consumption of alcoholic beverages in residence halls. Those who fail to abide by the rules run the risk of being issued a citation, being put under arrest, or even getting expelled. “Whether to issue a citation or an arrest is up to the police officer,” said Mata.

CUBA continued from page 3 unknown, Fidel Castro chose to delegate his power while he was able. This power shift has many, including Fonseca, concerned. “I think he is going to be worse than Fidel. He will know that he CASTRO has to continue the Castro reputation,” Fonseca said of the younger brother. However, it is Fidel Castro’s friendship with Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez, not his successor, that most intrigues Mounce. He says that Chavez has several interests riding on Cuba’s continued governmental prac-

tices. “Cuba needs Venezuelan oil; Venezuela needs Cuba’s medical knowledge and assistance,” Mounce said. Most recently, the two leaders were seen on Cuban television celebrating Fidel Castro’s 80th birthday on Aug. 13. On the same day, Castro published a letter to the public in Granma, Cuba’s official Communist Party newspaper. “I am feeling great,” Fidel Castro wrote. However, he also added “To affirm that the recuperation period will be short and that no risk exists would be

absolutely incorrect.” It is the uncertainty of Fidel Castro’s health that has some skeptical as to whether or not the government would be ready to fully function if the leader were to succumb to his illness. “I think things will change [if Fidel Castro dies]. In my personal opinion, I think the control will be lost for a bit, and also the Cubans will be confused by this change,” Patricia Elizondo, a sophomore international business major, said. While Fidel Castro urged his countrymen to be optimistic, he warned in his letter to “always be ready for bad news.”

Onydia Garza/The Pan American CHECKING THE NEWS - Ana Fonseca reads up on the latest news of Fidel Castro, his health and the possible future of Cuba after his death.

MEMORIAL continued from page 3 Accomplishments 1960 Joined PAU faculty

1970 Developed PanAm Dancers (Now known as UTPA Folklorico Dance Company)

1981-1986 Chair of dance department

1992

THOMAS

Inducted into the Rio Grande Valley Sports Hall of Fame

dance programs at UTPA and said even after her retirement, she kept working until a degree program in dance was in effect. Thomas’ other accomplishments include being department chair from 1981-1986 and being inducted into the Rio Grande Valley Sports Hall of Fame in 1992.Because of her contributions to the department, health and kinesiology is trying to arrange for UTPA to have one of the dance studios named after her as a tribute.

JOSEPH PARKINSON Parkinson joined the faculty at Pan American University in 1967 as a professor in the department of health and kinesiology. He was appointed chair in 1986 and served until his retirement in 1991, when he was awarded emeritus status. Louis Semper, an associate professor in the health and kinesiology department, said he will remember nothing but good things, both professional and personal, about Parkinson.

“Dr. Parkinson was a very dedicated professional who always had high expectations of his students,” he said. “And he always has a joke or story to tell.” However, Parkinson’s dedication to education did not end with his accomplishments at UTPA; he also aided in the writing of the Texas Health Education Public School Curriculum. Funeral services were held at 4:30 p.m. on Aug. 18.

August 24, 2006

SPORTS

SPORTS CLIPBOARD Baseball adds local talent to squad Leal drafted by Cincinnati Reds On Aug. 17 The University of Texas-Pan American head baseball coach Willie Gawlik announced the signing of former Mission High School standout Jerry Leal Jr. He will be eligible to play ball this spring for the Broncs. Leal was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in the 43rd round of the Major League Baseball amateur draft. He decided to hold off on his professional career and join the Broncs. An honor student at Mission, Leal posted a .480 batting average as a senior, hitting eight home runs and driving in 42 runs. He also excelled on the mound, pitching in 34 innings of action and striking out 64 hitters, nearly a two strikeout-per-inning ratio. For his numbers, he was named Most Valuable Player of District 32-4A. Leal also made the first team All-Rio Grande Valley as a first baseman, and participated in the Valley All-Star Game. This summer, Leal helped the Rio Grande Valley A’s capture the 2006 Palomino National Championship. The team traveled to Puerto Rico, where they finished second in the Palomino World Series Championship.

2006-2007 golf season schedule released Broncs open up in Boston Following a strong finish to the 2006 spring season in which the The University of Texas-Pan American men’s golf program posted four top-five finishes, including a National Minority College Golf Championship, head coach Andrew Tredway decided to up the ante on the Broncs this season as he released the 2006-07 schedule last week. “I think we have assembled a schedule that is going to help us reach that next tier in college golf,” said Tredway. “I think we have a chance to win every tournament we play in, and I can’t wait to get this season started.” The Broncs, who are traveling coast to coast this season, will open up their 2006 fall campaign at the University of Hartford at the Hawks Invitational which will tee off on Sept. 7 for a twoday, 54-hole tournament in Boston. UTPA will remain on the East Coast for its next tournament at Francis Marion in Florence, S.C., for the Raines Group Development Intercollegiate Sept. 18-19 followed by its first tournament in the state of Texas Oct. 9-10 at the Crown Classic in Lufkin, hosted by Stephen F. Austin. The conclusion of the 2006 fall season will have the Broncs traveling to Louisiana for the Battle on the Bend Intercollegiate hosted by the University of Louisiana at Lafayette Nov. 5-7. After a two-month break, the Broncs begin their 2007 spring season in San Antonio, at the UTSA Roadrunner Invitational Feb. 19-20 followed by their first trip to the West Coast March 5-6 at the Braveheart Classic hosted by The University of California-Riverside in Beaumont, Calif. The Broncs will have one tournament in the Month of April at the Branson Creek Invitational hosted by Missouri State, April 2-3 in Branson. Following a month layoff, they will look to repeat their crown at the National Minority College Golf Championships in Port St. Lucie, Fla., May 5-7. UTPA Sports Information

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August 24, 2006

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Veterans, talented youth striving for triumphant year By KRISTYNA MANCIAS The Pan American The start of the 2006-2007 UTPA volleyball season begins Friday and this year, the Lady Broncs will face some tough opponents such as the University of Southern California, Texas Tech, and The University of North Florida. With three experienced seniors and a talented group of underclassmen, this year’s squad is on a mission to improve last year’s record of 10-19. The Lady Broncs will be led by seniors Heather Bravo, Karen Lyons and Chrissie Carrigan. Bravo became the third player in program history to record over 300 kills and 300 digs in a single season. She finished eighth among all NCAA Division I Independent players in total attacks (1,005). The experienced senior believes that this is the year that the program can make a name for itself. “I want the program to go somewhere that it’s never gone before. I feel like I’m taking it into my hands because I’m a senior and a leader,” Bravo said. “I have a lot of expectations for myself and for the team.” Along side Bravo is McAllen Memorial product Lyons. The setter/libero is ranked 10th among all NCAA Division I Independent players in assists and assists per game. Last season Lyons broke the program record with a 79-assist performance against Texas-Arlington, surpassing the old mark of 78 set by Lorena Lopez in 2000. She is ranked second on the

squad with 447 assists, averaging 4.76 assists per game. Chrissie Carrigan completes the trio of seniors. Last season, she made the transition from the outside hitting position to libero and was rewarded with an honorable mention AllIndependent selection. She averaged 4.91 digs per game, the second-best average among all NCAA Division I Independent players and the thirdhighest average in program history. With only eight home games, the Lady Broncs will take their efforts on the road as they will take on USC, Texas State and North Texas. The highlight of the schedule is at home against Texas Tech Sept. 2. “Anytime you get a Big 12 team down to our gym, that’s a big thing,” said head coach Dave Thorn. “[The match against Oklahoma] went five games and if we can do something like that against Texas Tech and even beat them then that’s going to show how much we have improved and it’s going to be a great showcase for volleyball in the Valley.” Playing big schools and playing on the road will be the toughest obstacles for the Lady Broncs this season but Thorn is confident in his team’s capability to overcome them. “It’s always a tough challenge. I think it’s just keeping the team fresh, keeping them excited in the practices and getting them focused on the game and just use the us-against-the-world mentality and we’re in this together,” he said.

Onydia Garza/The Pan American READY FOR SERVICE - Senior Chrissie Carrigan prepares to serve the ball at practice Tuesday. Carrigan is one of three seniors ready to lead the team toward improving upon a 10-19 record during the 2005-2006 season. Carrigan and the Lady Broncs will host Big 12 member Texas Tech Sept. 2.

Edinburg Coyotes make playoff run in strong inaugural season By HUGO GAMINO The Pan American

Onydia Garza/The Pan American RELIEVED - Jose Olmeda celebrates at home plate after a long home game against the Laredo Broncos. The Coyotes won 5-4 in the 12th inning.

The summer that was thought to be the beginning of the end for the Edinburg Coyotes turned out differently. With Coyotes in and the Roadrunners out, it was supposed to be a long hard battle, both to win games and to win over Edinburg fans. Regardless, the team was relatively confident. “I knew we would be in the chase for a championship because the confidence I had in Vince Moore and his track record for getting great players,” said Coyotes general manager Michael Beasley. Moore, a former player for the Roadrunners, has led the team into the United League Baseball playoffs, which start Friday. With only a handful of players returning from last year’s final Roadrunner season - including Eric Gonzales, Eric Montoya, and Ryan Harris – the team had a stellar opening start at 17-0, which turned a lot of heads.

There was sure to be a level of expectation after with a start like that, and the Coyotes were equal to the task, remaining in first place all season. They are, minus closer Edwar Ramirez – who

Q “There is nothing that we should try and do different.” -Omar Ortiz, pitching coach led the league in saves before becoming the first player from the United League to get picked up by a professional baseball organization. Ramirez was also leading the league in strikeouts, amazing for a reliever. Now that the Coyotes have won the regular season championship and clinched home field advantage, the true test lies ahead.

The Coyotes go to Laredo in the first round starting Friday, with games two and three at Edinburg Baseball Stadium Sunday and Monday. This playoff is set to be a great showing for fans of the Coyotes, although the Broncos beat them nine times during the 90-game regular season. When asked about facing the Broncos, Moore stated, “It’s good that we are playing close to home but they are a competitive team. They’ve played us well all year and it should be a good series.” The postseason is particularly critical for pitching, not only for the starters but bullpen as well. Edinburg has three of the top ERA leaders in the league in Harris, Bric Steed and Montoya. “The stats speak for themselves. There is nothing that we should try and do different; we have great guys out there; they just got to do what they do best and play,” pitching coach Omar Ortiz said.

SPORTS

Editor’s Pick: Game to Watch Date: Sunday, Aug. 27 Time: 7:05 p.m. Edinburg Baseball Stadium Edinburg Coyotes

Youth leading Bronc runners By MARY NICHOLS The Pan American The University of Texas-Pan American Broncs and Lady Broncs cross country team lost some key runners from last season, but with some new additions, a competitive running schedule and the help of experience on the team, head coach Ricky Vaughn feels there is no sign of the team slowing down. On the men’s side is a young team, consisting of sophomores and freshmen, but it’s more about the experience and talent than their age. “The men’s team may be young, but we have the best overall team we’ve had since I’ve been here,” said Vaughn. With a group consisting of runners like sophomore J. J. Hernandez from Pharr and incoming freshman Omar Doria of Edinburg North, Vaughn hopes to repeat history, with a 4th-place finish at regionals or higher. Doria, a state meet finalist in cross country while in high school, wants to do more in addition to helping the team reach that goal. “I want to gain the experience I need, help out the team and do well individually,” he said. Joining him on a 12-man team comprised entirely of Valley talent is high school teammate Wally Gonzalez. The Lady Broncs will also be

something to look out for. The team is made up of senior veteran runners such as Edinburg High product Karla Hernandez, along with some fresh faces like Carolina Irigary and Emily Vega. According to Vaughn, Vega and Irigary’s outstanding high school careers are going to benefit the women’s team. “These two women are going to

“Our overall goal has always been doing well at regionals, making it to nationals, and running well at nationals.” -Coach Brian Cunningham bring added depth to the team,” he said. Assistant Coach Brian Cunningham also feels that the new additions will make the women’s team – which has seven Valley kids of 11 on the roster - stronger. Even though they finished in the top 10 of several meets last year he feels there will be improvements in 2006. “It’s the best recruiting class in UTPA history,” he said. The Broncs’ fall schedule is also going to be a test. They will be compet-

ing against top teams like Kansas, Oklahoma and Arkansas. Races will be held at Baylor, Texas A&M and Oklahoma. The pre-nationals meet will be held at Indiana State University for the second straight year. The action takes place Sept. 1 at Baylor. Oklahoma is where Vaughn thinks the team will have its first test. He said the competition will show the athletes how well they will perform and where they stand. “It’s the best and toughest schedule we’ve ever had,” he said. Hernandez said she is prepared for the new season and is looking to make a strong statement in competition. “It’s a race I want to run. I’m a different runner now, and I’m not afraid,” she said. This schedule gives UTPA the opportunity to show the larger universities at nationals that the program is here and here to stay. “Our overall goal has always been doing well at regionals, making it to nationals, and running well at nationals,” said Cunningham. With a new team, new faces, and strong motivation, Hernandez said the competition should not underestimate the Broncs this season. “People will be surprised this year and should look out for us,” she said.

UTPA CROSS COUNTRY WOMEN

MEN Date Sept. 1

Opponent

Location

Baylor Relays Waco, TX Host - Baylor Sept. 16 Texas A&M College Station, Invitational TX Host - Texas A&M Sept. 22 UTSA Invitational San Antonio, TX Host - UTSA Sept. 30 Cowboy Jamboree Stillwater, OK Host - Oklahoma State Oct. 14 Brooks Pre-Nationals Terre Haute, IN Host - Baylor Oct. 29 National Independent Fort Wayne, IN Championships Host - IPFW Nov. 11 NCAA S. Central Waco, TX Regional Championships Host - Baylor Nov. 20 NCAA National Terre Haute, IN Championships Host - Indiana State

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Sept. 16

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Sept. 22

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Sept. 30

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Oct. 14

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Oct. 29

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Nov. 20

Baylor Relays Waco, TX Host - Baylor Texas A&M College Station, Invitational TX Host - Texas A&M UTSA Invitational San Antonio, TX Host - UTSA Cowboy Jamboree Stillwater, OK Host - Oklahoma State Brooks Pre-Nationals Terre Haute, IN Host - Baylor National Independent Fort Wayne, IN Championships Host - IPFW NCAA S. Central Waco, TX Regional Championships Host - Baylor NCAA National Terre Haute, IN Championships Host - Indiana State

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Madison joins Bronc hoops Onydia Garza/The Pan American

By RODERICK DORSEY The Pan American The University of Texas-Pan American men’s basketball team continued to add firepower to the coaching staff by hiring Lance Madison as an assistant coach on Aug. 18. “I’m very excited about this opportunity,” Madison stated. “Coach Schuberth brings a lot of energy to the program. I’m just thrilled to death that he’s giving me the opportunity to work with him.” Madison served as the Recruiting Coordinator of Junior College Prospects at The University of Texas-San Antonio during the 2005-06 campaign, his only season at the school. Also accredited to his career was a successful stint from 2002-05 at Redlands Community College in El Reno, OK. The former Cougars’ assistant head coach also served as the Intramural Coordinator and Recruiting Coordinator. Madison helped the Cougars post an incredible 94-9 record in his three seasons with the program, including an appearance at the NJCAA Division I National Championship game in 2004. With a strong resume backing him, Madison believes he has what it takes to successfully conquer the challenges ahead of him. “I’m looking forward to

9 a.m. 9 a.m. 9 a.m.

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UTPA

the challenges that UTPA (basketball) has to overcome,” insisted the new assistant. “I feel that we have a good group of young men that will work hard and will be enjoyable to coach.” Madison mentioned that good citizenship and sportsmanship on and off the court will be essential in developing a strong team, with a strong emphasis on achieving academic excellence. “We are going to try to give our best effort everyday, be good people and citizens of the community, and have success in and out of the classroom and on the court,” he said. “Doing well in school leads to a positive effect on an athlete’s play on the court, and that is why we must keep reinforcing our guys to do well in the classroom.” Madison indicated that the return of key players will allow an increase in leadership, and their experience will help in guiding the new recruits trying to acclimate to the environment and the higher expectations required at the college level. “Hopefully the guys returning will show some good leadership,” Madison said. “Coach Schuberth feels really good about the recruits that we got. Hopefully they’ll come in and add good pieces to the puzzle, along with the veteran leadership from the returning guys.”