October 12, 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

October 12, 2006

Friedman makes campaign stop at UTPA By ANA LEY The Pan American Donning a cowboy hat and clenching his signature cigar, Kinky Friedman lightheartedly pitched his grassroots campaign to an auditorium full of students, faculty and staff at The University of Texas-Pan American this week. His visit took place Oct. 10, the last day citizens could register to vote for the 2006

Texas gubernatorial race, in which Friedman is running as an independent candidate. The lineup is as follows: Rick Perry, Republican incumbent; Carole Keeton Strayhorn, a Republican choosing to face Perry as an independent during the Republican primary; Chris Bell, the Democratic Party candidate; James Werner, the Libertarian Party candidate;

James Dillon, the only write-in candidate for the Texas Secretary of State’s office; and Friedman. Eloy Vela, vice president of UTPA’s Kinky Club, along with president Martin De La Cruz, invited Friedman to the campus a few months in advance. “We collaborated with his campaign headquarters coordinators who

were very receptive to us,” Vela said. “Part of the reason he wants to talk to college students is so they know where he stands, whether they agree with him or not.” Vela believes that having direct contact with the state’s potential next governor is beneficial for the university, which is the primary reason Friedman was invited.

“Civil involvement is crucial for college students,” he said. “There are always opportunities to make administrative changes in the community, and being aware of issues helps people make those changes.” During his speech, Friedman frequently mentioned Jesse Ventura, wrestling celebrity and ex-governor of

See KINKY page 11

Big-name company goes green By ANA LEY The Pan American

month, there was 15 inches of rain. A majority of campus areas drained quickly, but certain ones collected water. Villarreal said the university would work to improve those areas. “We still have, especially the center part of the campus where it is not necessarily a developed area, a little bit of work to be done,” he said. He said it would be very difficult to

An aggressive new campaign to refashion Wal-Mart into a proenvironment company has created a divide within politically progressive communities around the globe. Last week, Jami Arms, spokesperson for Wal-Mart, said the company unveiled a five-year plan to reduce packaging. During this time, it will evaluate packaging methods of its 60,000 worldwide suppliers, determining whether they meet WalMart’s resource- conservation standards. The packaging move comes as part of a campaign launched a year after H. Lee Scott Jr., Wal-Mart CEO, delivered a statement to employees promising to turn the $312.4 billion company into a corporation that is supplied solely by renewable energy, creates no waste, and sells eco-friendly products. “If there is waste or pollution, someone along the way pays for it,” Scott said. “Why not make every aspect of our business the most productive in the world?” Some are pleased the retailing giant is making ripples in the pro-environment pond, influencing suppliers and other corporations. Others claim Wal-Mart’s

See FLOOD page 11

See WAL-MART page 11

UTPA drenched to the core The Pan American WET LANDS - Heavy rainfall over the past three weeks has led to standing water problems around campus, specifically in the Quad (seen above on Oct. 1) and outside the Communication, Arts and Sciences building.

By LUKE KOONG The Pan American Students at The University of Texas-Pan American have walked to class through rain during the past three weeks. But coming to class half-soaked was only half the story. The constant saturation of the ground caused several areas of the campus to collect water and create ponds. In places such as the Quad and outside the

Communication, Arts and Sciences (COAS) building, students and faculty had to walk through standing water to reach their destinations, further adding to the misery. Oscar Villarreal, director for facilities maintenance and operations, said while certain parts of campus have fairly old drainage systems, there is no need for concern. “While you may see the first two

inches of soil are fairly dry, the lower levels continue to be saturated,” Villarreal said. “When you get a follow-up rain where it really pours down on us, it’s only normal you get some standing water.” The Weather Channel recorded above normal average amounts of rainfall beginning Sept. 12 with 1.46 inches of rain. The following Monday, close to 3 inches fell on one day. Then on Sept. 24, 4.59 inches fell on Edinburg. For the

News

A&E

Sports

Marijuana arrests prove detrimental to students’ present, future

Orchestra leader talks about first show, upcoming concert

Basketball teams prepare for Midnight Madness, new season

See page 3

See page 8, 9

See Insert

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READER FORUM

October 12, 2006 THE

PAN AMERICAN

UTPA Writer’s Guild: “Sharp knives and the air of Miami”

1201 West University, CAS 170 Edinburg, Texas 78539 (956) 381-2541 Fax: (956) 316-7122 http://www.panam.edu/dept/panamerican 56th Year – No. 8 Editor Claudette Gonzalez ThePanAmerican@gmail.com News Editor

A&E Editor

Sandra Gonzalez sandra_panamerican@yahoo.com

Frank Calvillo

hennero@ msn.com

Sports Editor Luke Koong lkoong2004 @yahoo.com

Design Editor Erika Lopez lopez475@ yahoo.com

Photo Editor Onydia Garza north14star @aol.com

Designers Roy Bazan crazy_restless @yahoo.com

Laura C. Gomez lm.gomez@ yahoo.com

Gregorio Garza the_nataku@ yahoo.com

Reporters and Photographers Brian Carr Javier Cavazos Roderick Dorsey Leslie Estrada Trey Serna

Roderick Dorsey Ana Ley Maria Mazariegos Kristyna Mancias Angela Salazar

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

Asst. Ad Manager Lillian Villarreal

Advertising information spubs@panam.edu

Junior Communication Major The day is solemn and stormy... current mood.. erased.. blank.. the people are walking slow today.. dancing to the music in their heads.. the sky is purple.. the wind is whirling their hair.. a dance of hair and wind.. a song of steps on concrete and grass... the grass growing strangely fast.. it's quite entertaining as I stare out the window.. the picture is still outside.. yet the trees are dancing.. everything in song and dance.. the trees and their spirit.... let them grow.. and dance... Indian nature.. Miami seems quite alluring right now.. very random I think.. I have the urge to slide my shoes on and go.. in my my mind.. I'm already there..

Game corner: Sudoku

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.

6 3

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melancholy thoughts.. I like it.. it colors me.. for normalcy bores me.. I grow a pale look from my eyes at times.. I stare off into another place.. it's summer time.. take the drinks and drink.. dance to the rhythm.. scandalous like.. I'd like to leave now.. and have a relationship with my collection of sharp knives.. take a dip in the water.. it's summer time.. life makes no sense.. why should I.. I leave now it's summer time.. winds grow and skies whirl with dark purples and pinks.. lights will glow it's not Miami.. but I'll pretend...the Low riders and Choppers will pass by the streets in my head.. the music of Sublime will grow louder.. the drinks call louder.. I'm coming.. the tattoo shops open their doors.. I'll pass by as

the scents of herb grow stronger.. hey pass one by.. as I walk the streets of Miami.. I mean the Valley.. walk slowly now.....

Community Bulletin

How to play: There is only one rule: Every row, column and box of 3x3 cells must contain each of the numbers 1 through 9 with no repeats. See solution page 12.

Delivery Thursday at Noon

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.

walking in to see the Israeli.. and he's brainstorming for my painful sketch to be done when I arrive.. keep sketching, I'm on my way.. in time.. the city glows a shade of bright colors.. the air of tattoos and barbecue.. the scent of low riders and bikes.. too consuming and visually impairing.. it's love..for this atmosphere of fast pace and catchy things that aren't dull and normal..as it is at times here.. where was I going with this.. oh yes.. hmm.. perhaps these ramblings stem from my calming bipolar state.. it's comforting to know that's part of me.. I declare it to everyone..it's not my shame no more.. bipolar.. my acceptance now.. it explains my off-thewall-antics.. some of them at least.. the up and downess.. hyperactivity..

By: Melisa Escamilla

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Auditions for David Ives’s “Babel’s in Arms” will be held today from 1 p.m.- 5 p.m. in front of COAS 107. “Babel’s in Arms” takes place in 1000 B.C. and follows the lives of Gorph and Cannapflit and their fellow workers. The two elderly Babylonian workers soon realize that thier true mission in life is to build a tower high enough to reach God. The play was written by noted playwright Davd Ives who also penned such celebrated plays as “Time Flies,” “Arabian Nights” and “The Mystery of Twickham Vicarage.” The comedy will feature roles for three males and two females. Other individuals will also be needed for lighting, audio and stage crews. In addition, communication students who help with the production will receive practicum hours. If individuals are unable to

attend the audition, there will be another held next Monday at the same time. Interested individuals should call contact Anid Mosqueda at (956) 262-3752 or email br_nice@yahoo.com.

IN THE NEXT ISSUE OF

THE PAN AMERICAN

Available Oct. 19

Graduation debate

SPI revs up

- Find out why some students want commencement to be held at the Dodge Arena

- Get full coverage of the South Padre Island Bikefest happening Oct. 12 -15

NEWS

News in brief: Counseling and Psychological Services is sponsoring free and confidential mental health screenings today from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. in UC 109.

Drug arrests affect student financial aid

By JAVIER CAVAZOS The Pan American Every 40 seconds a marijuana arrest is made in the United States, according to the Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP) organization. However, many students fail to recognize the profound impact a conviction of drug possession or intent to distribute has on both their criminal record and academic record.

According to William Morley, assistant director for student financial services, the decision of whether a student is eligible for financial aid is made by the federal government. If a person is arrested for possession of marijuana, it could affect their eligibility. On the Free Application for Federal Student Aid or (FAFSA), question 31 asks whether the student has been convicted of selling or possessing illegal drugs.

“If the student has been convicted [not necessarily arrested] then they are asked to fill out an additional worksheet to determine if they are still eligible for aid,” said Morley. The eligibility questionnaire takes into account the age of the student at the time of conviction, whether it took place while the student was receiving financial assistance, and the number of convictions. The worksheet also asks for the

number of convictions for both possession and distribution, and eligibility is based upon the dates of the convictions. For each count of possession the student adds one year to the date when the incident occurred. In regard to the selling of illegal drugs, two years are added to the date their conviction occurred. The worksheet then asks the student to enter the expected year they will be eligible for aid. For example, a conviction of drug possession in 2005

Exchange student brings yoga to UTPA By LEZETTE VILLARREAL The Pan American Yang “Vivian” Yanwei tried yoga for the first time in fall 2004 when a close friend gave her a free class. Yanwei became more and more interested in it and soon realized she was more flexible than she initially thought. When Yanwei, a Chinese foreign exchange student, studying one-year of Spanish, came to The University of Texas-Pan American, she was surprised to find out that yoga was not available on campus to students. With help from the Office of International Programs and its director, Marilu Salazar, Yanwei organized free yoga sessions for all UTPA students, faculty and staff. The yoga classes are held Tuesday and Thursday from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the Gymnastics Room HPE2-117 and are open to all students, faculty and staff. Yanwei, who was in a yoga club back in China for two years, encourages anyone interested in joining her class to attend. “We can all learn together,” she said. Most of the techniques Yanwei

See YOGA page 12

would mean an eligibility date exactly one year after the incident. If a student were charged with possession and distribution they would add three years, making their next year of eligibility 2008 (one year for the charge of possession, and two for selling). PAST AFFECTS FUTURE Miguel S. Lopez, coordinator for the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Program at

See MARIJUANA page 12

Campus Internet overhaul By EDWARD PROA The Pan American

Jennifer Terrazas/The Pan American STRETCH - Yang “Vivian” Yanwei, a foreign exchange student, instructs a yoga class on Tuesday in Health and Physical Education Building II.

The staff at Information Technology (IT) has been working 12hour shifts in attempt to smooth the bumps that The University of Texas-Pan American Internet and e-mail system has been feeling in recent weeks, according to Steven Copold, director of Telecommunications Services. In the beginning of October, complaints of undelivered e-mail increased because UTPA’s campus pipeline website, cp.panam.edu, was deleted from the Internet, and the Webmail page was down. In the past few weeks, IT has worked overtime in order to complete a number of transitions that will enhance the speed of the Internet, and provide users the opportunity to download larger attachments.

See INTERNET page 12

Career Services survey shows mediocre graduate employment rate By EDWARD PROA The Pan American Going to college no longer automatically assures students financial stability or a job, according to the results of a survey done by The University of Texas-Pan American’s Office of Career Services (OCS) reflecting the number of unemployed graduates. The survey, distributed in spring 2005, showed that out of 370 graduates who responded, only 70 were employed in a position related to their field of study, according to Lourdes Servantes, assistant director for career services.

Servantes added that in fall 2005, 438 graduating seniors participated in an enhanced survey, and a few months upon graduation, only 80 were employed. Surveys were distributed during Senior Days and commencement exercises. The numbers reflect the responses of those students who returned the surveys and kept their contact information current, allowing OCS to check up on them via e-mail and phone. According to Servantes, these results are baffling as OCS holds many workshops every semester to help students at UTPA get a job in the field of

study they are interested in. “It is surprising to see how so few students actually get a job in the field they worked so hard in,” she said. “There are many ways to go about pursuing a career, and OCS works hard to provide this assistance to the students.” Nowadays, getting a competitive job requires far more that just graduating from college, said Debra Balderas, a student career adviser for OCS, where students have opportunities to learn interview, resume writing, and marketing skills “UTPA does not have classes that

students can take for college credit to develop these skills,” said Balderas. “However, OCS offers seminars that help students become expert job-getters.” The seminars cover every stage of the hiring process, and even the post-hiring process including dinning etiquette and fashion shows for men and women that help them define career styles, according to Balderas. However, Balderas said the problem occurs when students do not react to the services OCS offers. In an attempt to be more available, OCS created the Bronc Career Connection (BCC) in fall

2004. This Web site features job openings across the country. “What is neat about the BCC is that all the jobs posted in the Web site are there for students to view in their own time, and at the comfort of their home,” said Balderas. “All the employers are seeking college students and are willing to work with the students’ schedule.” By having the student referred by OCS, the employer can know that the student has at least had some sort of preparation, which would set the student over applicants that do not have a refer-

See SURVEY page 12

NEWS

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October 12, 2006

Chance meeting brings researchers together By CELINA GILPATRICK The Pan American Gerald-Mark Breen, a lecturer in the communication department at The University of Texas-Pan American and Ibrahem Bani Abdo, a Jordanian graduate student, became roommates purely by chance. In the end, the two ended up having a lot more in common than their fourbedroom apartment at Bronc Village. As it turns out, Abdo had done research and English as a Second Language teaching in his native Jordan as part of his graduate work. Breen, a former ESL teacher himself, immediately connected with Abdo and loved his ideas for research. As a consequence, they have developed some academic manuscripts that deal with ESL teaching strategies and how teaching English to Jordanian children can have a big impact on future prevention of terrorism and cyberterrorism. “If there’s increased advocacy of teaching to these Jordanian students, it will in fact improve communication skills between these people and other anti-terrorism groups who speak English,” Breen said. “It kind of goes hand in hand.”

Breen, an American, said he is lucky Abdo came to the U.S. because that meant he did not have to go to Jordan to conduct that part of the research himself. “While I have been to Israel on an extended tour of the country, I have not been to other parts of the Middle East nor do I intend to travel there in the near future,” Breen said. “Ibrahem is the one who has access to the Middle East, as well as contacts who live in neighboring countries.” While Abdo conducted the research before he came to the United States, Breen worked on organizing and editing the information. He also added an “American perspective” to the study. “I am working primarily on the editorial, scholarly, and promotional aspects of the works,” Breen said. So far, Abdo and Breen have submitted one paper on ESL teaching strategies used among Jordanian elementary and second level students to a journal and conference and are in the process of submitting another on the correlation between English and prevention of terrorism and cyberterrorism. While the two subjects may seem unrelated, Breen says bringing ideas that

seem scattered together is all part of the research process. Salma Ghanem, communication department chair, supports and recognizes the importance of research for the university. “I truly do believe that research is a vital component of an academic institution,” said Ghanem. “A major mission of an academic institution is to forward and discover knowledge.” Terrorism and cyberterrorism research is something that affects everyone globally, and this research is unique because of its subject matter and the combined perspectives of an outsider and an insider, said Breen. “The terrorism and cyberterrorism prevention research is of particular importance to the university, our departments and the United States,” said Breen. “With combined efforts of an American researcher and an indigenous Jordanian who has witnessed firsthand the conditions of terrorism and violent conflict in the Middle East, we are a great team to research and report on terrorism which is such a huge topic in global news.” Breen is also working with the departments of communication and

modern languages because of the variety of languages involved in the research, and hopes that the research brings success to all those involved. “The modern languages department teaches foreign languages, and is interested in exploring cultures and ethnicities, so they can teach about the results of our research and perhaps utilize the education system in Jordan and systems in other Middle-Eastern countries,” Breen said. The research spans the globe as

Breen, who lives in Edinburg, and Abdo, who lives in Jordan, study the education system in the Middle East in hopes of improving teaching and preventing terrorism. “The Middle East is a curious and suspicious area for research, and understanding the ESL pedagogical strategies from Jordan may shed light on how to improve ESL strategies in other MiddleEastern countries as well as here, especially if the students at UTPA are from the Middle East,” said Breen.

Sidney Meadows/The Pan American PARTNERS IN RESEARCH - Gerald-Mark Breen (left), communication lecturer, and Ibrahem Abdo, a graduate student, conducted research on ESL teaching strategies and its benefits for terrorism prevention.

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NEWS

October 12, 2006

Page 5

Traveling café highlights social issues By CLAUDETTE GONZALEZ The Pan American Noemi Martinez considers herself an activist for civil rights, both at work and in the community. Now, after years of organizing poetry readings and festivals, creating ‘zines (mini magazines), and working as a caseworker at Violence Against Women Act, The University of Texas-Pan

American student has come up with a new project. Café Revolucion, which made its debut Oct. 1, is a traveling café whose purpose is to highlight important issues such as domestic violence, child abuse, and police brutality against immigrants. “We don’t have a building. It’s not a brick-and-mortar café building,” said Martinez, an Edinburg resident and

Noemi Martinez ACTIVISTS - Arlene Conejo (left) and Mirna Herrera, a UTPA student, read poetry at Café Revolucion’s first event Oct. 1. The cafe focuses on increasing community awareness of important social issues such as domestic violence.

mother of two. “We have our mugs, we have our coffee pot and we just go places and take it with us.” Two weeks ago, Martinez, a senior anthropology and English double major, gathered a few kindred spirits at her home to brainstorm and organize Café Revolucion’s upcoming events. Among them was Hortencia Armendariz, a local activist whom Martinez refers to as her “partner in crime,” because they have collaborated on many projects in the past. “We’re trying to create a setting to bring about discussion and events on issues that are important to the community but that aren’t necessarily being touched upon by other organizations,” Armendariz, a union organizer from San Benito, said. “But we also wanted to make a commitment, a commitment of peace, a commitment of support, a commitment to help overcome [domestic violence].” The first issue the café addressed was domestic violence, in observance of National Domestic Violence Awareness month, which takes place in October. Rather than limit that issue to just one month, however, Martinez and her friends have decided to fashion a yearlong campaign with monthly events. One of their main goals is to make people realize how domestic violence

affects them, even if indirectly. “People look at it as data or fact and they don’t realize how it affects the whole community,” Martinez said. “We’re trying to tell everyone, ‘Hey, it affects you even if you don’t know it affects you.’” The café’s first event, held at the Service Industry Union building in McAllen, was a candlelight vigil on the eve of Oct. 1, which officially marked the beginning of National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The event also included a poetry reading, a film showing, and something that Armendariz calls an “artivist” exhibit – basically, an exhibit of activist art. “We had candles all around and people were holding candles. It was really nice,” Martinez said. “We put up different things like a cross and we had some Mexican folklore things.” At the event, the group took its message of non-violence a step further, allowing the philosophy to influence their choice of food offerings. “AVA, a vegan group from STC, took vegan food,” Martinez said. “It’s kind of like, we’re non-violent so it was non-violent food, too.” The next café meeting will be at 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 18 at South Texas College’s student lounge. Then, in

November, Café Revolucion will be hosting “Dia de las Muertas,” an event that will feature altars honoring immigrant women who died because of domestic violence. The title is a twist on the traditional Mexican Dia de los Muertos, on which families visit graves of dead relatives. So far, Martinez and Armendariz said the community response to Café Revolucion has been promising. They count many professors, lawyers, activists, and nonprofit organizations among the supporters. Martinez sees the opportunity for expansion beyond the confines of Hidalgo County or the lower Rio Grande Valley. “Someone asked me that day, ‘Can you do something like this in Rio Grande City for Spanish speakers?’” Martinez said. “Yeah of course we can, if there’s enough participants or support among Spanish speakers. If people want it, I’m sure it could happen.” For Martinez, the ideal scenario would include an actual café on wheels. “A dream would be a traveling van,” she said. For more information about Café Revolucion’s upcoming events, visit www.myspace.com/ voicesagainst or e-mail Martinez at noemi.mtz@gmail.com.

Organization celebrates National Coming Out Day By MARIA A. MAZARIEGOS The Pan American Activities to commemorate National Coming Out Day took place at the Student Union Wednesday. The University of Texas-Pan Americans’s gay and lesbian organization, Gamma Lambda Beta (GLB), played an active role during this day by giving out informational materials at their booth. “It is a good day, it is a support day and here at GLB people will find someone to talk to who has already come out,” said Ricardo Rios, GLB vice president and junior management major. National Coming Out Day is Oct. 11 every year to commemorate the first march in Washington by lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals, also known as LGBT’s.

This march took place in October 1987 and some 500,000 people paraded to highlight the LGBT struggle for acceptance in society. The first National Coming Out Day was held the next year. Although it is not a federally recognized holiday, it is a nationally acknowledged day. “It is a good awareness day because it is a national day celebrated across college campuses,” said Christine Carruthers, GLB adviser and assistant director of Student Life and Transition Services. The term “coming out” is defined as affirming publicly and announcing one’s sexual preference, a step some consider to be quite difficult. “It is pretty difficult because of conservativeness. Every once in a while there are harsh comments made,” said Rios, a Mission resident. It is due to the sensitivity of affirmation that those who thought about stating their preferences were able find support during National Coming Out Day. “It is a great opportunity to empower GLBT individuals to feel that they can come out and be accepted and it is sad that people feel that they need

to hide in the closet,” said Carruthers. There is not a specific age or moment that will be 100 percent right for every single individual to come out of the closet. That moment may come at a different point for each person, according to Rios.

“The advice I could give would be to choose your time wisely and to be sound of mind and make sure to have a firm ground for support,” said Rios,” Everyone will have their place and time.” UTPA’s GLB club is open to all

students interested in raising awareness about LGBTs. It meets every Tuesday at 4 p.m. in the Sage Room, located on the second floor of the Student Union. For more information contact the GLB via e-mail at: utpaglb@yahoo.com.

Sandra Gonzalez/The Pan American SHARING STORIES - Christine Carruthers, adviser for Gamma Lambda Beta, reads stories about students’ experiences disclosing their sexual orientation, Wednesday in the Student Union.

EN ESPAÑOL

Noticias en breve: La oficina de consejería y servicios psicológicos está ofreciendo entrevistas para evaluación de la salud mental en forma gratuita y confidencial. Las entrevistas se llevarán a cabo entre las 9 a.m. y las 3 p.m en UC 109.

Estudiante de intercambio trae yoga a UTPA Por LEZETTE VILLARREAL Traducido Por MERCEDES CANTU The Pan American Yang “Vivian” Yanwei, estudiante de intercambio de China, intento yoga por primera vez en otoño del 2004 cuando un amigo cercano le ofreció una clase gratis. Yanwei se intereso cada vez mas en ello y se dio cuenta que era mucho mas flexible que al principio. Cuando Yanwei llego a la Universidad de Texas-Pan American, se sorprendió al saber que no hubiera clases de yoga para los estudiantes. Con ayuda de la Oficina de Programas Internacionales y su directora, Marilu Salazar, Yanwei organizo sesiones de yoga gratuitas para todos los estudiantes y empleados de UTPA. Las clases de yoga se llevan a cabo todos los martes y jueves de 7:30 p.m. a 8:30 p.m. en el cuarto de gimnasia HPE2-117el cual esta abierto para

todos los estudiantes y empleados. Yanwei, que fue parte de un club de yoga durante dos años en China, anima a cualquiera que este interesado en yoga tomar la clase. “Podemos aprender todos juntos,” dijo Yanwei. La mayoría de las técnicas que Yanwei comparte con la clase son las que ha aprendido en el club al cual atendía en China. “Yo enseño lo que he estudiado en Qindao, China, y he aprendido nuevas técnicas del Yogazone,” dijo Yanwei. Tambien dice que mientras algunas personas piensan que la yoga no es un buen ejercicio ya que le faltan movimientos vigorosos o levantamiento de peso, es prácticamente lo contrario. No es tan agresivo como otros ejercicios, pero es bueno para el estiramiento y fortalecimiento de los músculos. Cruz Omar Martinez, estudiante de UTPA, dijo que parecía ser fácil,

pero que no es así. “La yoga no demanda tanto esfuerzo físico como otros ejercicios,” Omar dijo. “Pero garantizo que al siguiente día los músculos duelen.” Durante las sesiones, Yanwei trata de crear una atmósfera confortable y relajante utilizando música suave de China, así ayuda a los estudiantes a relajarse y liberar el estrés del día. Los cinco primeros minutos de meditación empiezan con el proceso de relajación. “Después de un largo y estresante día, la música empieza a relajar mis músculos automáticamente y mi cuerpo libera todo el estrés acumulado del día,” dijo Alcinda Pardo, estudiante de sistemas. “La música es pacifica y para el final de la clase, es mas fuerte y tiene mas energía, haciéndome sentir mas energético y cómodo conmigo mismo.” Muchos participantes dicen que continuaran asistiendo a la clase. La relajación y emoción de atender a la clase es suficiente para que a los alum-

Jennifer Terrazas/The Pan American FLEXIBILIDAD - Yang “Vivian” Yanwei, una estudiante de intercambio de China, enseña un curso gratuita de yoga el martes en HPE II.

nos les guste el yoga. “Me gusta que sea los martes y jueves, a veces es la única razón por la cual me quedo después de clase,” dijo Jason Landry, estudiante de guitarra. Aun así, por lo que Yanwei es estudiante de intercambio, su tiempo

aquí es limitado. Landry dijo que cuando ella regrese a China será extrañada por sus estudiantes. “Es una lastima que Vivian nos deje, pero le estoy agradecido que haya decidido compartir su amor por la yoga con nosotros,” dijo Landry.

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Editor’s Pick: Must-buy CD “The Information,” the new album from multi-platinum selling artist Beck

Valley Symphony Orchestra kicks off fall season

By LESLIE ESTRADA The Pan American Thursday night was full of excitement, elegance and great music as the Valley Symphony Orchestra (VSO) and Chorale performed at the Fine Arts Auditorium of The University of Texas-Pan American. The orchestra performed three pieces by famous composers. The group began with Gioachino Rossini’s “Overture to Semiramide,” continued with Mozart’s “Piano Concerto no. 21 in C Major, K. 267,” in three movements, and finalized with Johannes Brahms’ “Symphony No. 4 in E Minor, Opus 98.” This last piece was made up of four movements. One of the concert’s highlights was Ning Lu’s solo in the second piece. “We had a fantastic soloist originally from China,” said music director and conductor Peter Dabrowski. “We invited him specifically for this concert, and he was spectacular.” Dabrowski added that Lu has played all over the world. “He played in a newly purchased piano and it sounded great under his fingers,” said the UTPA conductor.

Genesis Moreno/ The Pan American CLASSICAL VARIETY - The Valley Symphony Orchestra began its six-part concert series with a performance Oct. 5.

“The orchestra really created a lot of excitement with his performance.” The audience responded with several standing ovations. “It was a wonderful concert, it was full of feeling and excitement,” said Lorena Covarrubias, who attended with friends. “I was not very convinced about coming, but I really enjoyed the orchestra’s performance. They were great.” Aside from having such a

famous performer accompanying the orchestra, this concert had two special events differentiating it from others. The concert started with a very original, short synopsis of what to expect. Nick Taylor of the information and technology department created a video clip that informed the audience about what they were going to be listening to. “Before the concert started we had a very interesting video presenta-

tion,” said Dabrowski. “It was a new form of introducing the program, and the audience liked it.” The Valley Symphony Orchestra originated in 1952 under the auspices of Pan American College as an ensemble of volunteer musicians performing free concerts in the Lower Rio Grande Valley. Members of the orchestra include professors of UTPA and UT- Brownsville, local educators from high schools, members of the

community, and select students who have to audition. Attendance to this event was of about 1,000 people, and Dabrowski stated that turnout has always been fairly good. “This concert created a lot of excitement among the audience,” he said. “It is the most sophisticated and highest quality of entertainment people around the Valley can attend.” According to Dabrowski, events like these are the only opportunity for people to listen to a live performance of symphonic classical music locally. “People are walking away mesmerized,” said Dabrowski. “They really enjoy the performance.” The VSO’s next concert will be Nov. 2 at UTPA’s Fine Arts Auditorium, and it will be an allRussian program followed by an additional holiday-themed concert on Thursday, Nov. 30 at 8 p.m. at the San Juan Basilica. For more information on concert dates, reservations, or ticket purchasing, please contact the Valley Symphony Orchestra office in the Fine Arts Auditorium at (956) 381-3471.

Poets lend voices to Hispanic Awareness Month By ANGELA SALAZAR The Pan American The Office of Student Life and Transition Services (OSLTS) hosted a poetry night on Oct. 5, in commemoration of Hispanic Awareness Month, a month-long event that runs from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15. “We wanted to do a sort of collaboration between Hispanic awareness and the individuals that are here,” said Sonia Olivarez, program coordinator for the OSLTS. The idea for the event came about after Olivarez noticed a trend in her graduate English classes. “Most of our writing is very cultural,” she said. “It was very much about the Valley and our own personal cultures.” Hispanic Awareness Month is a time to celebrate and embrace the Latino culture. And although the word Hispanic may cover a large range of people, not all have had the same expe-

riences. Poetry has always been a way for people to express their emotions or give an opinion about anything from politics to economic strife. It depends on the poet to express their feelings whether they encompass anger, love, struggle or passion, and Hispanic poets are no different. For more information on Hispanic Awareness Month, please visit the Office of Student Life or the Office of Transition services in the University Center. The participants were mainly University of Texas-Pan American students and faculty. Their writing ranged from prose to poetry, covering topics from politics to emotions. “I’ve been writing forever,” said Lori Escamilla, a senior English major. “My professor actually pointed me out and asked me to read, which was a surprise to me.”

Escamilla’s poetry touched on some basic human emotions such as love and admiration for her mother in one poem, and anger against a certain male in another. Another student poet, Noe Monsivais, wrote a poem that reflected his home life and his parents’ struggle to work, make ends meet, and balance the family life. “I usually look at what’s going on around in the house or in my surrounding neighborhood,” said the 21-year-old English major. Another source of his inspiration is the powereful, yet and universal influence of movies. “Sometimes a movie that I see will trigger an idea and I’ll just keep on thinking about it, and if I can’t get it out of my mind I write about it,” he said. The whole point to the poetry night was to get voices of Hispanics out for all to hear. It was a free forum of ideas, concerns and opinions.

Angela Salazar/ The Pan American POETRY AND CULTURE - Noe Monsivais, an English major, was one of several UTPA students who presented original creative works Oct. 5 in support of Hispanic Awareness Month.

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

October 12, 2006

October 12, 2006 Elizabeth Krismer is a 27-year-old engineer who lives in McAllen. A graduate of the University of Texas at Austin, the young woman has embraced the professional world. She has a mortgage, a car payment and by all customary accounts has achieved adulthood. Her iPod contains 18.2 days worth of music. If she chose to listen to her entire collection consecutively she would be fired from her job, lose her house and probably have her car repossessed. As she explains, it would be a costly “listening-of-absence.” iPod was introduced to consumers in late 2001. The first generation of the Apple-created devices were essentially 5GB hard drives with enough memory to store approximately 1,000 CD-quality MP3’s. Initially they were celebrated for their userfriendly interface, high-storage capacity and small packaging. Its predecessor devices the Walkman and Discman were considerably larger, heavier and only had the capacity to hold a single album. And while iPod was not the first portable MP3 player, it was the first to achieve wide scale recognition. This reticent recognition was largely achieved through strong branding and cross-promotional advertisements that paired the new media device with popular brands like Volkswagen. Additionally Apple targeted younger markets through band endorsements, and recording artists Eminem, Jet and U2 were used in several of the products more popular cam-

paigns. But the true discernable difference between the iPod and pre-existing MP3 devices is the unparalleled user-friendly features including PC and Apple compatibility, near idiot-proof computer interface and tandem music store and library iTunes, which Apple launched prior to the release of the iPod. In February 2006 Apple announced its one-billionth song sold from its online music store. As of now it is the most popular legal music site on the Internet. Cynthia de la Garza is a customer service representative at Best Buy where several MP3 devices are sold. She recommends iPod over any other MP3 player.

Story By: Brian Carr

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT “It’s easy to use and there are just so many accessories,” she says of the portable music player. “Most people can just figure them out, and if not we offer Geek Squad service that will help teach them.” According to de la Garza, the Fifth Generation iPod series is the most popular produced by the company and the devices in this category start at $249. The Nano is a cheaper alternative with fewer capabilities and far less storage and starts at $109. On a recent visit to Best Buy it was noted that six sales people were working in the MP3 department. There were zero representatives in the company’s compact disk section. Since its inception iPod has undergone various upgrades. The newest player, or Fifth Generation, can play videos, holds up to 80 GB of memory and is essentially the same size as the original. Various accessories allow the player to be recharged on the go, plugged into home entertainment systems and even be broadcasted over low frequency radio stations giving the device seemingly endless capabilities. This versatility may ultimately be the end of the physical single-album format. And while you cannot find a customer representative amongst the stacks of CD’s in the Best Buy music department you can find gift cards that are redeemable at iTunes. WHAT HAVE YOU DONE? John Neeley is a disc jockey at Q94.5 the Rock, a history teacher at B.L. Gray in Mission and a University of Texas-Pan American graduate. He has seen the effects iPod has had on the music industry and is unsure of his opinion of the device. “Love and hate are like horns on the same goat,” Neeley said. “And sometimes it's hard to tell the difference between the two.” Neeley believes the device has had both positive and negative implications, and he feels history will determine whether or not iPods are good for the industry. “Listeners who own an iPod are exposed to a larger variety of music because of the very nature and cost of the system,” Neeley explained. “iPods, in this type of situation, will foster variety and that's what the music industry wants.” Neeley, whose household

shares a single iPod, says the fact that you can store multiple genres and albums is good for the music industry, which is always looking for ways to expose their catalogs and artists to listeners. “On the other hand,” Neeley explained, “the music

Page 9 industry will have to come up with innovative ways to sell their artist and make their profits.” In a recent interview given to Celebrity Access Media Wire Barenaked Ladies manager Terry McBride explained that several approaches must be made to ensure sales. He also said that the Barenaked Ladies released their most recent album “Barenaked Ladies are Free” “in multiple formats, from physical CDs to digital albums, deluxe editions, USB flash drives, ring tones, multi-tracks for remixing, and stream.” The multiple-format release enabled the band to gross $978,127.99 in intellectual property sales in its first week of sales. This growing trend of alternative releases on nontraditional musical formats has pulled the industry away from physical-catalog retailers like Tower Records which announced bankruptcy last week and subsequently liquidated its assets after 46 years of musical retail. But while physical albums sales have been on the steady decline, iPod has managed to sell over 42 million devices since its debut five years ago. Apple projects that by the year 2009 that number should climb to 65 million. Many budding artists are using these less restrictive formats and online innovations such as MySpace to bypass record companies completely and produce independent albums that they sell or give away online. It is possible that physical albums, liner notes and cover art will soon be obsolete. This will make production less costly and less exclusive. Many critics and industry insiders feel that a less restrictive industry will have a negative effect on the quality of music in the future, and if that is the case devices like iPod, and the increasingly prolific pirating industry will hold responsibility. On the other hand the new system of independent producers will establish diversity amongst music fans, and iPod will be the catalyst of this barrier breaking. Neeley feels that will be the most positive contribution iPod makes upon music. “In time, I believe young people will become more opened minded and not walk down that narrow road that their parents have followed,” Neeley theorized. “[They will] enjoy more of a variety of music because of the sharing possibilities that iPods offers. [And] anything that fosters sharing rocks!”

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

October 12, 2006

Story By: Brian Carr

A&E

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October 12, 2006

Performance phenom comes to Dodge Arena By ERICK QUINTERO The Pan American Three years after opening its doors to the public, Dodge Arena has been host to top-notch performers that have entertained all types of audiences. The genres of music and entertainment are as diverse as the performers themselves; Blue Man Group is no exception. Blue Man Group (BMG) will bring its Mega Tour 2.0 Rock Concert to the Dodge Arena on Oct. 16 at 7:30 p.m. For Annie Amaya, a junior communication disorders major at The University of Texas-Pan American, the chance to attend a BMG show is one she can’t pass up. “My family and I went to one of their shows in Chicago during the summer break. It was so cool,” said Amaya, referring to one of the regularly scheduled shows in Chicago at the Briar Street Theatre. “It’s like a mixture of music, comedy and performance. They are big on audience interaction and completely random,” explained Amaya, referring to rolls of toilet paper handed out to audience members as they entered the theatre. “I didn’t know what to expect.” BMG was born in New York during the late 1980s and is the creation of longtime friends Phil Stanton, Chris Wink and Matt Goldman. The appeal of the trio of mute per-

formers lies in their persona; members wear blue grease paint on their heads, blue gloves and a black jumpsuit, which adds to their quirkiness and odd behavior. BMG can be best remembered from appearances in the Intel Inside Pentium computer advertisements of the late nineties, where they played with tennis balls and of course tubes, as well as numerous appearances on the Tonight Show where they banged on barrels and splashed audience members with paint. They once replaced Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie in the “running to the couch scene” in the opening credits for “The Simpsons.” What separates BMG from other entertainers is their creativity. The group incorporates new musical instruments many are not familiar with, making for quite a memorable experience. Fourteen different custom instruments can be incorporated into a show. PVC pipes, the most common instrument used, are tubes made out of two-inch pipes, which create a sound when being struck on an open end with a foam rubber paddle. Most of their instruments are made of different pipe sizes, such as the tubulum, a fourinch pipe with cardboard reeds on the ends that produces sound when struck with drumsticks; this device is designed to play bass notes. In fact BMG will make an instru-

ment out of anything, including Wink’s dog. According to their biography, on www.blueman.com, Wink’s dog is “stroked rhythmically until the dog enters a state of Zen-like complete contentment, the dog is then recorded and the vibe is included on the album mix.” In addition to musical instruments BMG is heavy into using different food items such as Twinkies, as well as paints of all colors, which usually end up being flung at the audience. The show tends to get a bit messy for front-row audience members; BMG provides ponchos to protect them. However audiences are instructed not to wear clothing that might be considered valuable. Performances are peppered with different themes, such as information overload, innocence, (in which the blue men will seem amused at anything and everything), self-conscious, the outsider, and rooftops. The latter seems to be the most recurring theme in all of BMG productions, which include numerous DVDs and CDs and is most evident in the Intel Inside Pentium advertising campaign. The show’s unpredictability figures to make for a night of random comedy, music and performance “There is no set storyline or set of performances, it is just sort of like random acts... and it really does seem like everything is happening randomly,” Amaya said. “It is very unpredictable but it keeps you on your toes.”

FEELING BLUE - With their unique blend of performance art and interpretive dance, the Blue Man Group has captivated audiences all over the world. The trio will perform at Dodge Arena on Oct. 16.

TOP DOG - Dane Cook (right) competes with Dax Shepard (left) for the affections of co-worker Jessica Simpson (center) and the title of “Employee of the Month.”

‘Employee’ aims high, but fails to deliver any side-splitting laughs By TREY SERNA The Pan American For employees of Super Club, the largest bulk-discount retailer in the nation, their job is about more than just providing excellent customer service. It’s also about winning the prestigious Employee of the Month award. “Employee of the Month” stars Zack (Dane Cook), who’s your typical smoothtalking slacker who still lives at home with his grandma and is content being a bum with his three co-workers, Russel, Lon and Iqbal (Harold Williams, Andy Dick and Brian George.) Vince (Dax Shepard of Punk’d fame and 2004’s buddy comedy “Without a Paddle) is an overachieving, brown-nosing employee who has advanced to the head cashier position and is winner of 17 consecutive employee-of-the-month awards. He has an awkward, funny homosexual relationship with Jorge, played by Efren Ramirez, who is most famous for his Pedro character in the 2004 hit movie “Napoleon Dynamite” and recently made an appearance at The University of Texas-Pan American’s HESTEC Community Day Sept. 30 The film is a comic rivalry between Zack, a mere box boy who is never concerned about trying to out-win Vince, the head cashier, until Amy (Jessica Simpson) transfers over from another Super Club store. This sets the stage for the two to battle it out for the girl and the award. The movie is filled with unrealistic exaggerations of real-life situations but the outrageousness of those circumstances provides a dose of humor.

Anyone who has ever had a parttime job will definitely be able to relate to some of the characters in the film. Also familiar is the over-enthused boss who wants everyone to be just as motivated as he is, when in reality, no one cares because they hate their job and employees who suck up to the head honcho. Cook, a well-known stand up comedian, delivers a rather dry performance from a more sensitive, drama-driven angle rather than a comedic one. The bulk of the comedy seems to be left over for other characters. Perhaps one of the funniest is Semi (Marcello Thedford), an overweight, tough-looking security officer of the Super Club. He looks intimidating at first glance but has the demeanor and heart of a sensitive child. Simpson, a well-known pop singer and aspiring actress who rose to fame in 1999 during the teen-pop music craze with hits such as “I Wanna Love You Forever” and “Irresistable,” delivers a mediocre performance. Her role would have been better played by an experienced actress and not some pop sensation known more for her lack of common sense than for her music. The character and role didn’t require much, yet Simpson still seems like she couldn’t pull it off that well. The PG-13 comedy is over 90 minutes, almost long enough to reach a “dragging” point, but ends just in time before your rear-end goes completely numb from sitting in those uncomfortable theatre chairs. It has its laugh-out-loud, witty moments, while still sticking to the typical boy-trying-to-get-the girl storyline. “Employee of the Month” may not be the “film of the month,” but it’s one that is definitley worth checking out.

NEWS

October 12, 2006

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KINKY continued from page 1

Sidney Meadows/The Pan American GETTING KINKY - Rather than making traditional campaign stops, Kinky Friedman, gubernatorial candidate, made a speech at UTPA on Tuesday.

Minnesota, who is a supporter of his. “Jesse wrote an article for Playboy in which he stated that most wars are caused by conflict of religion,” he said. “Rick Perry has criticized Jesse for this… what I ask you is, why is Perry

even reading Playboy to begin with?” Among the list of political issues the candidate promises to handle if elected is the No Child Left Behind Act, which Friedman believes was a flop that “we can only fix if we leave one gover-

nor behind.” He also thinks the state should stop administering standardized exams such as the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills. “Now, I ain’t ever met a teacher, a parent or a student who wants to keep the TAKS,” he said. “It’s expensive, it costs a lot to write it and distribute it, and it hurts certain cultural groups. If Thomas Edison or Albert Einstein were to take that exam, they’d fail.” Past the familiar Perry quips and self-proclaimed “Jewish cowboy” references, some attendees discovered a more serious side to the former novelist, songwriter and comedian. Ruben R. Ramirez, a senior international business major from Edinburg, doesn’t agree with all of Friedman’s political ideals, but he feels that Friedman’s leadership attitude is inspirational and necessary in politics. “I used to consider him a sideshow more than anything, and now I’m actually able to evaluate him as a candidate and base a solid decision about his stance on my concerns,” he said. Friedman spoke vehemently in favor of renewable energy. According to his Web site, only 0.7 percent of the state’s energy comes from renewable energy, one of the world’s biggest growth industries. “Willie Nelson uses biofuel, and that’s worked out pretty well for him,” he said. “We need to start using this new

technology for the good of the environment and the good of the state.” In addition, the candidate said that if enough Texans are against the TransTexas Corridor, a transportation network currently in the works, “the only way to stop it is to stop it.” Building the Tran-Texas Corridor would take up land about 1,200 feet wide and carry utility corridors for water, electricity, natural gas, petroleum, fiber optic lines, and telecommunications services. It would also be divided into truck lanes, passenger vehicles and rail lines for freight, commuter and highspeed rail. Since this will be very expensive – two sections of SH 130 will cost $1.3 billion to build – and will require 9,000 square miles of land taken by eminent domain, the plan has been highly criticized. Outside the auditorium, Holly Smith, a 47-year-old Pharr resident and volunteer campaign organizer for Hidalgo County, stood encouraging passersby to register to vote. “We’re also encouraging people to vote for Kinky, because he’s an honest man who doesn’t evade important issues like most politicians do,” she said. Smith, along with other Friedman supporters from Hidalgo County, collected 82 ballots on Tuesday. The election will be held Nov. 7, to select the next governor of Texas, who will serve a four-year term starting on Jan. 20, 2007.

But not everyone agrees Wal-Mart will make more money by going green. Amin Ibrahim, a chemistry professor at the university who specializes in environmental sciences, believes that since it is expensive to take on ecofriendly policies, Wal-Mart’s motive is not to make money, but to “greenwash” as a response to pressure imposed by the media and academics. He suspects the incentive pushing Wal-Mart to change its ways will ultimately lead to a loss in revenue. “It could be many things they are trying to distract attention from. Perhaps they are facing problems with the EPA, or maybe it is all those lawsuits,” he said. “Environmental friendliness is very costly, so they are clearly not doing this to save money. Dumping trash wherever a person pleases is cheaper than driving to a recycling center and paying for the service.” Ibrahim does not think Wal-Mart’s campaign will hit home, because “the Valley has more serious issues to handle, such as border and agricultural problems with maquiladoras.” But Mark Pena, chairman for the Edinburg Environmental Advisory Board, disagrees. He thinks that WalMart’s campaign is laudable, and that

past discrimination and employee exploitation complaints should not hinder the company’s eco-friendly efforts. “This is a win-win situation,” he said. “The company, like others such as Toyota, has picked up on the fact that being environmentally friendly is ultimately cost-effective.”

WAL-MART continued from page 1 sudden decision to “go green” is a strategy to save the company’s image from waves of bad publicity after discrimination and employee rights lawsuits, among other complaints. The new program, which will begin in 2008, is expected to reduce packaging by five percent. In addition, the retailer will set a “packaging scorecard” system with more than 2,000 private suppliers Nov. 1, giving shoppers the benefit of choosing from various packaging alternatives, such as produce wrapping made of biodegradable corn instead of plastic. According to a Sept. 22 press release, a new process at certain stores will help the company recycle plastic it used to throw away. If every branch were to participate, the company, currently No. 2 on the Fortune 500 list and the world’s biggest retailer, would save $28 million per year. Wal-Mart has publicized its campaign by distributing a list of environmental sustainability goals and achievements. In an effort to make buying green practical and affordable, the company claims it will stock its shelves with products such as cold water detergents and clothes made from organic cotton.

According to the list, 290 Sam’s Club stores recently sold 190,000 yoga outfits made from organic cotton within 10 weeks. This quickly prompted the retailer to become the world’s largest purchaser of the fabric. LOCAL CHANGES? Since the project is still in a preliminary stage, it is uncertain when, or even if, its ripples will reach the Rio Grande Valley. Marie Mora, an economics professor at The University of Texas-Pan American, says there is currently no way of telling whether the area will see much change as a result of Wal-Mart’s campaign, but that it mostly will depend on whether prices are affected. Mora believes that since Wal-Mart is such a big business, its project is certainly a tactic for profit. But it could also have other ramifications. “It will help Wal-Mart’s image and reverse negative publicity, but it’s good that it will also benefit the environment in the end,” she said. Still, she said recent reports finding “fair trade” coffee manufacturers guilty of paying their workers less than they claim may lead to more public relations problems for the company.

TRICKLE-DOWN EFFECT A local project introduced by the Wal-Mart on University Drive in Edinburg may be proving Pena’s case. Tanya Torres, general manager for the facility, says that aside from taking part in the company’s plans to support environmental sustainability, the store in conjunction with the city of Edinburg - is placing recycling bins inside employee lounges. “This is just something we decided to do with the city, to do our part in conserving the environment,” she said. “It doesn’t really have anything to do with changes in the company, but we thought it would be good to do this for our store.” Torres said that the city is planning to do the same with the Wal-Mart being built at the intersection of North McColl Road and Trenton Road.

FLOOD continued from page 1 have a campus without ponding water, citing monetary costs as a limiting factor. “It’s not very often that we have this type of rainfall,” he said. “It’s not something that we can say is a high priority and that we need to be able to do all of these different things, or spend all of this money to do these upgrades.” Villarreal’s staff, campus police and students help identify problem spots. Once they are identified, crews are sent out to pump the water into drainage canals. IS CAMPUS CLOSED? The rain that the Valley received during the past three weeks caused road hazards in several places. Flash-flood watches and warnings were issued for many of the surrounding communities. UTPA, however, remained open. Carol Rausch, assistant to the president, said the university does not normally close for flash-flood hazards since it does not necessarily affect all students and faculty members. Rausch added that each situation would ultimately be decided on a caseby-case basis. The last time UTPA was closed was during the threat of Hurricane Emily in the summer of 2005. President Cardenas is the only person who has the authority to close and open campus and cancel classes. Together with the university vice presidents, Richard Costello, director of environmental health and safety, and Quirino Munoz, Edinburg chief of police she closely monitors weather conditions and subsequent advisories. It takes a full day to completely shut down the campus, its facilities and secure university equipment, according to Raush. “We just can’t close it at the drop of a hat,” she said. In the event of a closure, the only official entities to release that information would be the President’s Office or University Relations. Students can watch for information on the television or tune in to radio. Additionally, they can visit www.utpa.edu/ehs/prog_hurricane.htm for information.

Onydia Garza/The Pan American PUDDLE OF FUN - Allan Rosales, a freshman computer science major, jumps over a puddle after an afternoon downpour.

NEWS

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October 12, 2006

SURVEY continued from page 1

YOGA continued from page 3 shares with the class are ones she learned at the club she attended in China. “I teach what I studied in Qindao, China, and I’ve gotten new techniques from Yogazone,” said Yanwei. Yanwei said that while some people may think that yoga is not a good form of exercise because it lacks vigorous movements or heavy lifting, it’s actually quite the contrary. Cruz Omar Montanez, a senior kinesiology major, said while it may appear easier, it is not. “Yoga may not be as physically demanding as other exercises,” Omar, from Arroyo, Puerto Rico, said. “But I guarantee the next day you will be sore.” During the sessions, Yanwei tries to create a comforting, relaxing atmosphere by playing soft yet upbeat Chinese music to help students relax and release the stress of the day. The five minutes of mediation that Yanwei begins with starts the relaxation process for many of her students. “After a long hectic day, the com-

forting music starts off by automatically relaxing my body and releasing my tensions from the day,” said Alcinda Pardo, a junior computer information systems major from Edinburg. “The music starts off peacefully and by the end of the class, it’s louder and more energetic, making me feel energized and comfortable with myself.” The relaxation and excitement of attending the class was enough for some students to begin to love yoga. “I look forward to Tuesdays and Thursdays, sometimes that’s the only reason I stay for my class before it,” said Jason Landry, a senior guitar performance major. However, since Yanwei is an exchange student, her time here is limited. Landry said if and when she returns to China, she will be missed by her students. “It’s a shame Vivian might leave us, but I’m grateful that she decided to share her love of yoga with us,” said Landry, an Edinburg resident.

Jennifer Terrazas/The Pan American ALL ARE WELCOME - While Yanwei has been practicing yoga for two years, she says everyone learns together during the Tuesday and Thursday classes.

MARIJUANA continued from page 3 the university, said marijuana convictions can have significant effects on a student’s career. “If they are trying to get a license for counseling they automatically have to wait six years before the license will be granted if they have a prior conviction,” Lopez said. Students whose records are marred with convictions hardly stand a chance of getting teaching certificates or jobs that require background checks. DOING WHAT THEY CAN Current UTPA policy requires the university police department to report all possession and selling of drugs to municipal authorities since UPTA has a zero-tolerance policy regarding illegal drug activity, according to Lopez However, Lopez added that the

university looks to help offenders rather than put their future in jeopardy. “We need to work with the users. They pose a much smaller threat and are definitely the type of people who can be rehabilitated,” said Lopez. According to Lopez, many students come to the university with the misconception that everyone smokes pot and that it is not addictive. If a university student is found to have broken UTPA drug policy they are suspended for one semester and are advised to receive counseling, which is offered by the university. Depending on the authorities involved, the university does what it can to help the student prepare themselves to be re-enrolled the following semester and overcome their substance abuse. “Any time a student uses, we need

to take a look at exactly what is causing the behavior. Right now we don’t look at possible mental health problems but simply focus on the use of the drug and not the underlying problems of why they’re using,” said Lopez While UTPA doesn’t see “too many” marijuana arrests or convictions according to Lopez, the numbers are increasing nationwide. In 2005, according to SSDP, more arrests were made nation-wide for marijuana than for all violent crimes combined, including rape, manslaughter and aggravated assault. “Drug policy in general has to be looked at closely, and instead of giving a criminal overview we should make a more health-oriented approach,” Lopez said. Lopez said marijuana abuse is more easily treated than cases involving

use of harder drugs. According to him the school offers counseling for drug users, not just jail time. “There is a big difference from the student who gets caught with a joint for personal use than someone who is a hardcore trafficker,” said Lopez, adding that the two shouldn’t be treated exactly the same. Kelly Cramer, a junior criminal justice major, said since many students around the country have had their lives ruined because of youthful indiscretions, universities need to re-examine how students can get their lives back on track, rather than making it harder for them to go to school or get a job. “I feel we need to take a more reasonable approach to how we handle certain drug laws and regulations,” said Cramer.

“Hotmail is a more reliable e-mail system,” said Carlos Magaña, IT Service Desk supervisor. “A student will not run into the problem of getting an ‘Internal Server Error’ during down times. Also a student can enjoy all the benefits that hotmail has to offer, including MSN Messenger with the UTPA account and an account that will not expire.”

However, the size of some of these attachments slows down the Internet connection, said Anne Toal, director of Academic Computing. “To solve this problem, we have installed a spam filter loaned to us for a 30-day trial period,” said Toal. “It is an industrial-sized Barracuda Networks appliance designed to filter out spam at a faster speed, and without infringing on the quality of service we get from the Internet.” Barracuda began to block span from the Internet Sept. 30. When Lightspeed was fixed to only collect spam from e-mails and not the entire Internet, the quality of service boomed immediately. The change turned out to

ral, added Balderas. Utilizing OCS’s services have proved beneficial. Dora Gonzalez, a PreK4 teacher at Alejo Salinas Jr. Elementary in Hidalgo, says that she got her first job through OCS as a tutor for elementary students. “The office helped me prepare my resume, choose the clothes to wear for the interview and provided me with tips to catch the eyes of my interviewers,” said Gonzalez. “Without their help, my interview would have been a mess, and I would not have the skills I acquired from that job to use as a tool to get hired at Hidalgo ISD.” Gonzalez added that she continues to have contact with the office that helped her so much. “To this day, I receive e-mail from CPS informing me of different job opportunities that are in my field of study,” she said. The office staff works day in and day out to find different and effective paths to reach students at the university said Servantes. Members are currently working on a campaign to increase student awareness. “We are continuing to work on new initiatives to help improve our services and welcome any feedback students and faculty may have,” said Velinda Reyes, OCS director. On Oct. 12, OCS will be hosting a dining etiquette workshop. There is a $5 registration fee. Anyone interested can call OCS at (956) 381-2243.

Game Corner answer key:

7 6 3 5 4 8 1 2 9

4 9 1 3 2 6 5 7 8

8 5 2 7 1 9 4 3 6

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INTERNET continued from page 3 “We’ve been experiencing a new problem in the ever-escalating arms race with the spammers,” said Copold. “The overall number of pieces of spam mail has only risen slightly, but the number of messages containing very large attachments (between 10MB and 50MB) has spiked dramatically.” R.I.P. CAMPUS PIPELINE Since the fall 2006 semester began, students and faculty ran into a disclaimer notifying them of the closure of the campus pipeline when they accessed it. Along with this disclaimer, a statement in red letters explained how to go about avoiding any sort of inconvenience. The number of people that reacted

to this message was very small, and still there are students who still have not performed the migration to the new system. “I was not able to see my e-mail messages after the campus pipeline was removed,” said Manuel Arambula, a graduate music student. “I knew I had to go to a different Web site to get my email, but I didn’t ask where until after the pipeline closed.” Students are urged to go to the IT Help Desk, located at the Academic Services Building 1.102 to change their e-mail from Webmail to Hotmail. Even though the Webmail page, webmail.panam.edu, is still accessible, this site will be deleted from the Internet on Dec. 30.

FILTERED The transition IT is working on involves a new network appliance design to filter out spam. Currently, the university works with Lightspeed, which sends e-mails to all campus email users listing all spam e-mails that were not delivered to their inboxes.

be most convenient because now Lightspeed can work faster because it has a smaller load to handle. Information Technology has sent timely notices to students and faculty to inform them of the changes to be made and how to go about performing these changes with the least trouble possible. As tedious as the transition may be, it is best to perform these changes soon to avoid having any problems with Internet services, said Toal. “The IT Division is constantly looking for ways to improve students' experience at UTPA, both by fixing problems when they arise, and by planning for needs in the future,” Toal added.

October 12, 2006

SPORTS

SPORTS CLIPBOARD Lady Broncs have impressive outing at SFA Invitational Lady Broncs tennis team succeed in first tournament The University of Texas-Pan American Lady Bronc tennis team had another successful day at the Stephen F. Austin Invitational in Nacogdoches, Texas, on Oct. 7, during their first tournament of the season. The Lady Broncs won two of three consolation finals and showed up strong in doubles play as well. Giana Oliveira (Porto Alegre, Brazil/Eckerd College) lost to Ursaa Dobersek of McNeese State (6-0, 7-6, 12-10) in flight one of the finals round. In flight three, Stephanie Willerding (Toronto, Ontario, Canada/Northview Heights S.S.) defeated Kim Kennedy of Tyler Junior College (6-0, 6-1). In the fourth flight of the consolation finals Megan Bedeau (Scarborough, Ontario, Canada/Northview Heights S.S) defeated Rebecca McCullough of Central Arkansas (6-3, 6-4). In the doubles matches, the Lady Broncs team of Oliveira and Bedeau lost to the Central Arkansas team of McCullough and Petra Keilova (8-6), but defeated Kristina Collins and Christine Majchrowicz of Centenary in the third/fourth place match (8-3). The second match of doubles, Julia Cirne-Lima (Porto Alegre, Brazil/Eckerd College) and Willerding lost to Pamela Martinez and Manijee Ashrafi of Lamar University (8-0), however, walked away with the win from the Stephen F. Austin team of Tatiana Smolnikova and Rijalda Zejnic (8-1) in the third/fourth playoff. Match three of doubles ended with Silke Buksik (Waiblingen, Germany/ SalierGymnasium Waiblingen ) and Sarah Burton lost to Natalie McLeod and McKenzie Farmer of Texas State (9-8), and lost the third/fourth playoff match to Colleen Lucas and Jordan Short of Central Arkansas (8-4). UTPA Sports Information

Onydia Garza/The Pan American BRING IT ON - Cassandra Trevino of Weslaco works the crowd at the Field House during Sundayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s camp held for Valley cheerleaders and dance teams. The camp was held to help familiarize the dancers to performing in front of a live audience.

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SPORTS

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October 12, 2006

UTPA prepares for night of Midnight Madness By RODERICK DORSEY The Pan American The University of Texas-Pan American men’s and women’s basketball teams are geared up for an actionpacked season, which will open with an exciting event celebrated at all college institutions around the country participating in NCAA basketball: Midnight Madness. First year men’s coach Tom Schuberth can sense the anticipation rolling through the minds of his studentathletes as Friday approaches. “I’m very excited, but to be honest, I truly believe our players are the most excited ones about this extravaganza,” the Mississippi State alumnus said. “The guys know that this event will be a lot of fun, and they will get a chance to be showcased in front of the student body.” Midnight Madness will take place Friday night, with the main festivities occurring at midnight, including activities involving players, students, and student organizations. Last year, some of the events that garnered the most attention included cook-off competitions, dance competitions, music, and performances by the UTPA cheerleaders. Then of course, there is the main event: the introduction of the basketball teams.

“The players will get a chance to be introduced and recognized by their peers and fans, and interact with the students during the event,” Schuberth said. Another activity offered to UTPA students during Midnight Madness will be a three-on-three basketball tournament sponsored by Recreational and Intramural Sports at 6 p.m. on Friday at the Health and Physical Education Building II. Cash and other prizes to be determined will be awarded to both men’s and women’s winning teams. Entry forms are available at the Recreational and Intramural Sports Office at Bronc Village, apartment 2101. A captain’s meeting for both the men’s and women’s teams will take place at the HPE II complex 15 minutes prior to the first game. Schuberth believes Midnight Madness will allow all parties involved to have a good time while experiencing the elements of the college basketball atmosphere. “There will be a lot of culture and activities that the fans can enjoy while getting a chance to see the guys do their thing under the lights,” he said. Things will be business as usual before and after the event, according to Schuberth. The team will have a practice at 8:30 p.m. on Friday, followed by participation in the festivities. After the

Claudette Gonzalez/The Pan American BURNING SPIRIT - Tomorrow marks the beginning of a new season for Bronc basketball. Both the men’s and women’s teams will hold their first practices starting at midnight following a bonfire and pep rally.

Madness, the squad will have a final small practice that night to sharpen their focus on the season ahead. They start the season with an exhibition Nov. 6 at the

Field House against Monterrey Tech. “We as coaches will be ready for the season, and I know these kids will be,” Schuberth said. “We do have to

keep focus on starting off on the right foot, and we want to stay conditioned so that we can come out looking our best, starting with game one.”

SPORTS

October 12, 2006

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Bronc volleyball senior recalls past By KRISTYNA MANCIAS The Pan American Many Valley athletes dream of competing with a Division I athletic program and Karen Lyons has done that successfully. The McAllen Memorial product came to The University of Texas-Pan American with high hopes and expectations. The athletic ability of Lyons, now a UTPA senior, was first brought to head coach Dave Thorn’s attention through a former assistant coach, who was her club

volleyball coach back in high school. “I knew Karen was an athlete, so I knew she was getting some good coaching and I thought she could be a great asset to the team,” Thorn said. “We were looking at her as both a setter and libero and there’s always that question on how she was going to transfer to the college level, but I knew she was athletic and I knew she could do it. So I was definitely excited to get her on the team.” Coming in as a freshman in fall 2003, Lyons had one thing in mind and that was to play volleyball the very best that she could and represent the Rio Grande Valley. She made a quick impact her freshman year, becoming the starting setter for the Lady Broncs. “I didn’t expect to have a starting spot my freshman year. That was unexpected but it was a nice surprise,” the

5-foot-7 Lyons said. “I don’t think I slept that night, I was so excited. It was amazing.” One of the greatest attributes that Lyons has is her ability to be a versatile player. Throughout her career, she has shifted to different positions, first as a setter, and now to libero. Lyons has also demonstrated the knack for motivating her teammates through leadership and charismatic attitude. “Karen is an incredibly positive person, very high energy, a real raw type. You need players like that to get your teammates fired up and get excited,” Thorn said. “She’s a senior and a captain and those attributes help her in that role.” The starting senior’s career has been a good one as her final season winds down. She has compiled numerous accolades throughout her four-year career. Lyons is currently ranked in the top 10 in several categories. She came into the season ranked second on the program’s alltime assists ranking with 1,975 and she reached 1,000 career digs last Saturday against South Dakota State. “Karen has passed 1,000 digs for her

Q “Volleyball has been good to me. It’s taught me about leadership, it’s kept me in shape and it’s been a great experience that not many people get.” - Karen Lyons Senior career, which is a benchmark number,” Thorn said. “She has had quite a good year and has done very well for herself.”

Karen Lyons

Onydia Garza/The Pan American GOLDEN GIRL - Senior Karen Lyons wears her uniform with pride, knowing that as she leaves the season behind, she walks away with 1,000 digs and is ranked in the top 10 in several categories for the UTPA volleyball program.

Lyons is a double major in biology and physiology and is in the process of applying to several different graduate schools in the state. If accepted, she will work toward a master’s with the goal of becoming a physician’s assistant in the work force. With the season and her volleyball career coming to an end, the veteran libero feels she has accomplished all the goals she set for herself, individually, athletically and academically. Now she’s getting ready for the next chapter in her life. “It’s a little bittersweet,” she said. “Volleyball has been good to me. It’s taught me about leadership, it’s kept me in shape and it’s been a great experience that not many people get. But, it’s good that it’s coming to an end because now I’m at a point in my life where I want to focus on my career and my academics and I know

what I want to do with my life.” When asked what she wants to be remembered for, Lyons giggled and simply said, “The Valley girl who made it and got to play here at UTPA and had success.”