November 9, 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

November 9, 2006

Faculty, students react to election results By SANDRA GONZALEZ The Pan American At just passed midnight on Nov. 8, the Democrats were being declared majority party in the House of Representatives and, with two seats still undeclared, the fight for control waged on in the Senate. Cecilia Sandoval, a political science lecturer at The University of

Texas-Pan American, could not draw herself away from the television. She had just left Casa del Taco in Edinburg where she met with several other political science professors to watch election results come in a few hours earlier; now s h e

found herself eager to see more coverage. “I left only to run home and put my pajamas on,” she said. For Sandoval, one of the night’s most proud moments was when Sen. N a n c y

Pelosi, D-Calif., new speaker for the House of Representatives, made her victory speech. “It was wonderful,” she said. “She’s got plenty of years behind her, lots of experience. I think we’re finally going to see change. I think it’s time.” However, Hidalgo County Republican party chairman Hollis Rutledge, said her time as speaker will

LULAC president speaks on higher ed

be a “disaster.” “Her views are so skewed to the left,” he said. “I foresee her being the best mascot [for the Republicans] to defeat the Democrats in two years because of the actions she will take.” According to Sandoval, the only action Pelosi will take will be trying to unify the two parties.

See ELECTION page 11

E-textbooks: next generation of education?

By EDWARD ELGUEZABAL The Pan American

By ANA LEY The Pan American

Newly elected League of United Latin American Citizens national president, Rosa Rosales, visited the Valley Oct. 10 to meet with the district councils in an effort to acquire more funds for college students. The communications director for LULAC, Lizette Jenness Olmos, said Rosales has worked as the group’s Texas director for years. The new leader has supported many educational programs that help the Latino community pursue further education endeavors by providing them with financial and academic assistance through the formation of many councils. “LULAC advances the economic condition, educational attainment, political influence, health, and civil rights of Hispanic Americans through community-based programs operating at more than 700 LULAC councils nationwide,” Olmos said. Rosales, elected July 1, is determined to get more young adults involved in LULAC, and through the organiza-

E-textbook enthusiasts are slowly growing in number among the learning community. In Texas, a vote to approve school bond packages could make the Lancaster and Forney school districts the latest to begin replacing traditional textbooks with electronic versions. The Plano and Irving districts have already introduced digital textbooks into some of their classrooms, and Midland is moving away from old-fashioned textbooks entirely, said Anita Givens of the Texas Education Agency in an Associated Press article released Saturday. The Forney school district is planning a school bond package that will provide nearly $12 million to buy laptops for students. The district hopes to have most students using only ebooks within two years, school officials

See LULAC page 11

said. Some colleges across the nation are working toward the same goal. At the University of North Carolina at Asheville, some professors offer an online forum for students, accessible 24-7. According to an article on CNN’s Web site, Michael Ruiz, an astronomy professor at the school, said one major advantage is the instructor’s ability to quickly update information. THE LOCAL PICTURE It is uncertain when students at The University of Texas-Pan American will have access to e-textbooks. The University Bookstore preferred not to comment on the matter, but Jade Roth, spokesperson for South Texas College’s Barnes and Noble bookstore, said the concept is nothing new to its store. “Although we offer many digital textbooks to students, there is a limited list of those that are available,” she said. “For example, literature antholo-

See BOOKS page 11

News

A&E

Sports

Seminar hopes to help students, faculty prevent holiday weight gain

Political themes have people buzzing about “Bobby”

Broncs welcome Bahamian, Olympian Darling to staff

See page 5

See page 8, 9

See page 16

PAGE 2

R EADER FORUM

November 9, 2006 THE

PAN AMERICAN

Letter to the editor

1201 West University, CAS 170 Edinburg, Texas 78539 (956) 381-2541 Fax: (956) 316-7122 http://www.panam.edu/dept/panamerican 56th Year – No. 12 Editor Claudette Gonzalez ThePanAmerican@gmail.com News Editor

A&E Editor

Design Editor

Sandra Gonzalez sandra_panamerican@yahoo.com

Frank Calvillo

Erika Lopez

hennero@ msn.com

lopez475@ yahoo.com

Sports Editor

Photo Editor

Luke Koong

Onydia Garza

lkoong2004 @yahoo.com

north14star @aol.com Designers Laura C. Gomez

Roy Bazan

crazy_restless @yahoo.com

Gregorio Garza

the_nataku@ yahoo.com

lm.gomez@ yahoo.com

Reporters and Photographers Brian Carr Javier Cavazos Leslie Estrada Patrick Kennedy Ana Ley

Kristyna Mancias

To the editor: On Oct. 26, 2006, a “Letter to the editor” by Esmeralda N. Guerra commented on my statement on the handicapped accommodations at the field house for the commencement ceremony. She stated: “I would like to inform Mr. Elguezabal and Mr. Francisco Alday that his grandmother would probably not have trouble getting to and around the field house.” First, I will like to make a correction in Mr. Elguezabal's article. It is my mother, not my grandmother, who is wheelchair-bound. With this cleared, I will like to inform Mrs. Guerra that my mother

and I attended the commencement ceremony last May, and it is because of this experience that I commented in Mr. Elguezabal’s article.

“I know this is not Mrs. Guerra’s or her teams’s fault. They are adapting to the facilities given to them. More of a reason to support a change of venue.” - Francisco Alday senior communication studies There are several problems that we encountered in our experience.

One problem was the restroom accessibility. Your VIP section is located on the east side of the field house and the restrooms are located on the west side. In order to use the restrooms we had to go down the ramp on the east side around the field house and back. The space in between the rows did not allow for free movement with a wheelchair or a walker. There was an incident with a lady with a walker who was not feeling well and was sitting at the end of one of the lines. We had to sit her in her walker, then move the rest of the people in the two rows in order to take her out using the ramp. Also, my mom had to see her

Photo Submission By: Nora Hernandez, junior graphic design major

grandson graduate using my video camera because of the distance the section is from the stage. The VIP section is located on the northeast side of the field house floor in between the camera crew on the south and a barrier on the north. I know this is not Mrs. Guerra's or her team's fault. They are adapting to the facilities given to them. More of a reason to support a change of venue. Please check out the Dodge Arena handicapped capabilities at www.dodgearena.com. Thank you. Francisco Alday senior communications studies major

Last Chance!

Maria Mazariegos Angela Salazar Trey Serna

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

Asst. Ad Manager Lillian Villarreal

Advertising information spubs@panam.edu 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.

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.

WINGING IT - I just want to submit a photo that I took this week around the Xeriscape garden at UTPA. I love the photo because I discovered that lot of butterflies hang out there. It is a beautiful spectacle. Hope you like it.

It’s your last chance to submit original photos, art work and poetry for publication in the fall semester. Please send all submissions to thepanamerican@gmail.com by Nov. 23.

IN THE NEXT ISSUE OF

THE PAN AMERICAN

Available Nov. 16

Reaching out?

Expert recommendations

- Get the scoop on the Catholic Church’s newest guidelines on ministering to homosexuals

- Notable Valley chefs single out favorite eateries that can be enjoyed even on a college student’s budget

N EWS

News in brief: The last of two forums on fees will be held today in the Engineering Building Auditorium at noon. They will be discussing fee change recommendations for 2007-2008.

Organization shares charitable plans of past, future By JAVIER CAVAZOS The Pan American In an unassuming office in the Business Building, a student organization is working to make the community a better place. The Forum on International Relations and Business Affairs (FIRBA) has been named UTPA Project of the Year two years in a row and now hopes to make this year number three. This month alone, the organization has a canned-food drive - with a goal of five tons of donations - and a toy drive planned. BACK FROM THE DEAD About two and a half years ago, Rubik Atamian, associate professor of accounting, saw something special in one of his classes. “I was teaching a summer marketing course and had a group of students that worked really well together. It actually surprised me how unified they

were,” said Atamian, FIRBA’s adviser. “I noticed my next class was an unusually bright group, but they didn’t work as a team so I challenged them to re-start the organization. I didn’t think anything would come of it.” But something did. The class went ahead and started by electing officers for the organization and set about deciding what sort of challenges to tackle with new members. GIVING BACK Two years ago, the organization marked its return with the 2004-2005 Project of the Year when members went to Reynosa to volunteer. While there, the group met a 14 year-old girl who was carrying twins and having a very difficult pregnancy, said David Facundo, president of FIRBA. “We didn’t care how or why she was in the position she was in. This poor girl was losing blood throughout her pregnancy and we just knew we had to

See FIRBA page 12

FIRBA HELPING HAND - David Facundo (left), a senior accounting major and president of the Forum on International Relations and Business Affairs, and Maribel Cortez, former secretary of FIRBA, interact with children at Vicente Lombardo Toledano school in Reynosa, Mexico.

UTPA alumnus leads UTPA PD searching for officers McAllen DPS crime lab By SIDNEY MEADOWS The Pan American

By CLAUDETTE GONZALEZ The Pan American When Joe Marchan Jr. graduated from what was then called Pan American University in 1980, he walked straight into a job as a forensic scientist for the Texas Department of Public Safety in McAllen. According to him, it was an unexpected option that just popped up. “For me, this job was accidental. Back then, forensic science was not well known,” Marchan said. “Originally, I was planning on working for quality control at Frito Lay or at one of a couple oil companies I was looking at.” Marchan heard about the job when someone went into the store he was working at and mentioned the opening. He applied for the job and was hired in September 1980, three months before his expected graduation. Today, 26 years later, he still works for DPS only now he is the crime laboratory supervisor. While at Pan American University, the Brownsville native lived in a four-bedroom Edinburg house with 14 other students. However, he didn’t actually spend much time there because he commuted

back and forth between Edinburg and his jobs in Brownsville. “My family’s always been in some kind of business,” Marchan said. “My parents owned an Italian restaurant, and then they had an ice cream parlor, and I was basically told, ‘You have to manage the ice cream parlor.’ My uncle owned a fish restaurant and he said, ‘I don’t have anyone to run my restaurant. Can you run it?’” Family was and still is important to Marchan, so he obliged and worked at both establishments throughout college. Today, Marchan lives on 80 acres outside Harlingen with his wife and two children. During his off time, he enjoys spending time with his children working outdoors with his five Labradors, two horses and orange trees. Despite working throughout college, Marchan says he got a lot out of his education. In particular, he remembers his organic chemistry class fondly. “I enjoyed organic chemistry a lot with Dr. Otken. He was a strange professor but what he did is he actually made you experience chemistry,” Marchan said.

See MARCHAN page 12

Police Officer Maria Hernandez has only been with The University of Texas Pan-American Police Department for a little over a year, but she wanted to be a cop all her life. “It’s been great,” Hernandez said. “I like being a field officer. No office for me.” Currently, UTPA PD employs 11 officers, three patrol sergeants, and six

guards, according to the department Web site. However, the department is looking to add a few new members to the organization; application tests will be held Nov. 11 at 8 a.m. to find six officers. “The school has a ratio of about one officer to 1,000 students,” said Howard Miller, chief of UTPA PD. “We have about 18,000 students, so we need about 18 officers.” The UTPA PD originally had no

weapons for its personnel, but now the officers are trained in one of the top five academies in Texas and the force is expanding. “As a university we have a microcosm,” Miller said. “We have to be able to handle the college and all different people that come here. This requires varied talents.” However, becoming part of the team will not be any easy feat. Qualifications needed are stricter

See POLICE page 12

Faculty to get latest on e-submissions By TERESA TORRES The Pan American Ernesto Santos, certified research administrator at The University of Texas Pan-American, remembers attending a grant seminar for the National Institute of Health and being shocked by what he saw. “There was a warehouse stacked to the ceiling with grant proposals,” said Santos, who is also a grants budget specialist. Thanks to the Internet those days of endless paper pushing are over.

To speed up the application process, many federal agencies now allow grants to be submitted electronically. While the e-submission process has been in development for the past 10 years, its popularity has increased recently. However, many are still not aware of what it is and how it works. To help UTPA faculty and staff become more familiar with the various electronic submission sites of major funding agencies, the UTPA Office of Research and Sponsored Projects will present a workshop Nov. 13 explaining the process.

The noon workshop in the UTPA Library will be presented by Santos, who realizes what a time saver e-submission is. “The old grant submission process took days and now the e-submission process takes minutes,” he said. Mircea Chipara, assistant professor in UTPA’s physics and geology department, says a smooth submission process takes about one hour. But she stressed that there are things that can go wrong if you don’t know what

See GRANTS page 12

Page 4

NEWS

November 9, 2006

The Law Offices of Daniel S. L贸pez, P.C. DWI LICENSE SUSPENSION OCCUPATIONAL LICENSE BOND REDUCTION MISDEMEANORS Call (956) 424-1600 to find out whether you are a candidate for a reduction to a lesser offense.

NEWS

November 9, 2006

Page 5

Avoiding seasonal food troubles

Seminar to teach healthy holiday eating habits By LUKE KOONG The Pan American The University of Texas-Pan American’s Border Health Office, Student Health Services and Department of Wellness & Recreational Sports are hoping that faculty, staff and students will be cutting more than turkey during the holiday season. Together, the three entities will host a seminar to teach healthy holiday eating habits. Jim Watson, director of Wellness and Recreation Sports, was the initiator of the idea. “The holidays are traditionally the time when you are tempted with a lot of food because of parties and family gettogethers,” Watson said. “The temptation to consume more and eat more frequently tends to occur more during the holidays.” Watson said the fact that there are three holidays in a row – Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year – encourages unhealthy habits to develop.

“When you look at that time span between Thanksgiving and the first part of January, there’s a potential for a person to consume quite a bit of food that is most likely unhealthy,” he said. He hopes people who attend the seminar Nov. 13 in the University Ballroom will be more aware of what they eat and realize that they can still have a good time while eating less. Denny Meline, health education coordinator at the Border Health Office, said the main goal of the hour-long seminar is to let people know how to control how much they eat. “This is a time when people go all out,” Meline said. “What we’re trying to do is tell them how to go about it differently, how to be healthier, and not to lose weight but know how to maintain their weight.” Laura Jimenez Garza, a registered dietician who works for South Texas Health Systems, will speak at the seminar. She said the main reason individuals gain weight is because of the proportions

of food intake. “As Texans, we choose to Texassize everything and Americans like larger things in general,” Garza said. “I believe it’s important to eat healthy through the year. A lot of the times we get wrapped up in using eating as an excuse for all of our functions.” While knowing how to eat is important, she stressed that exercise is still the most vital tool in living healthy. “You can’t control your weight by only choosing what foods you eat,” she said. Garza added that just because the holidays roll in, there is no reason why people can’t exercise. “A lot of people can’t leave the house, so a 30-minute walk around the neighborhood everyday would be good,” she said. She also said walking during Christmas shopping would be just as good, as long as it’s for a prolonged period. Watson encouraged people who

want to change their holiday eating habits to attend the seminar. “This is something where a person can’t go cold turkey,” he said. “You have to gradually over a period of time try to

change these habits,” he said. For more information on the seminar, call the Wellness Cemter at 292-0839, the Border Heallth Office at 381-3900 or Student Health Services at 381-2511.

Tips to healthier eating: Discard fat from poultry juices Use evaporated skim milk, not whole milk Use herbs instead of salt to add flavor Use pineapple juices instead of butter or brown sugar for flavor Sautee vegetables in wine instead of oil Skip high-fat snacks and instead have vegetables and fruit platters Laura Garza, dietician for South Texas Health Systems

Trans fat more common, deadly than ever By MARIA A. MAZARIEGOS The Pan American Not all fat is just fat. In fact, scientists say that a certain type contributes to

thousands of deaths a year. Researchers at Harvard School of Public Health estimated that trans fat contributes to 30,000 deaths annually. There are four different types of

Major sources of trans fat for American adults Cereal 1% Salad dressing 3% Shortening 4%

Candy 1%

Cakes, cookies, pies, bread, etc. 40%

Chips, popcorn 5%

Fried potatoes 8%

Animal products 21%

U.S. Food and Drug Administration

Margarine 17%

fat: monounsaturated fat, polyunsaturated fat, saturated fat and trans fat. Saturated and trans fat are the bad ones, with trans fat being the worst of all. Trans fat occurs naturally in small quantities in meat and dairy products. This animal-based fat was at one point the only type consumed. However, today the type of trans fat most consumed is one created by the processed food industry through the partial hydrogenation of plant oils and animal fats; this type is worrying health officials across the nation. “It has become convenient for people and the restaurant industry to use these types of bad fats, but I think our nation needs to seriously think about consuming this type of fat since it is more harmful than natural fats due to it being artificial,” said Mamisha Mayani, manager of Diet Center in McAllen. Trans fat has replaced natural solid fats and oils in the fast food industry, especially in fried foods and baked goods. However, it’s not only found in fast food. Even homemade meals can be loaded with the harmful substance.

“Margarine and vegetable shortenings contain a large percentage of this sort of fat and are used in everyday cooking for a lot of people,” said Oscar Javier Garcia, general manager for Onyx restaurant in McAllen. The benefit that food manufacturers obtain from using trans fat is that it increases the shelf life of products and decreases refrigeration requirements and expense. Trans fat is such a growing health threat that the American College of Cardiology recommended to the New York City Health Department early this year to prohibit trans fat from food preparation at restaurants. This advice was suggested to help fight obesity and heart disease, and provoked a proposal of a trans fat ban in the state. Under the New York proposal being reviewed, restaurants would need to get artificial trans fats out of cooking oils, margarine and shortening by July 1, 2007, and out of all other foods by July 1, 2008. “I agree with this proposal and hope it goes through,” Mayani said. “Trans fat is not needed. There are many other alternatives to a delicious meal that

will not involve artificial fat, such as preparing fresh meals and grocery shopping instead of dining out.” Trans fat is made synthetically when food processors harden oils. While these oils give French fries their crunch, they also raise cholesterol and contribute to heart problems in frequent consumers. “I love French fries, and I am young so I am not really worried about heart problems right now,” said Madalyn Ochoa, a sophomore biology major. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the average American consumes about 4.7 pounds of trans fat a year. “I usually eat fried foods about three or four times a week,” Ochoa, a McAllen resident, said. The trans fat ban is at the proposal stage in New York; the possibility of similar action in Texas is slim. “If it is an issue affecting New York right now, I am sure it won’t be until another 10 years before it affects us,” Garcia said. “ I think it is something that is needed. It is bad to think we use artificial fats. It is better to use natural ones.”

NEWS

Page 6

November 9, 2006

Princeton Review lauds UTPA business program College lands on 2007 list of top 282 nationwide By EDWARD ELGUEZABAL The Pan American The University of Texas-Pan American College of Business Administration has been featured on a list of the 2007 “Best 282 Business Schools” produced by the Princeton Review. The list was compiled using evaluations from students, who were surveyed during the academic years 2003 through 2006. Academic excellence achieved in the college was also a determining factor.

“Knowing that I am going into a recognized program just makes me feel that much more comfortable and proud.” - Amanda Babcock, senior business management major Amanda Babcock, a senior business management major and a prospective MBA student, said she was sur-

prised by the honor and is now more confident in the quality of education she is receiving at UTPA. “Knowing that I am going into a recognized program just makes me feel that much more comfortable and proud,” Babcock explained. “I honestly did not expect a school with our profile would rank so high, but now that I think about it, I can find many reasons for it.” WINNING MIX An important fact to keep in mind is that the publication does not show a list of overall ranks from one to 282. The Princeton Review does not believe there is a specific business school that is better than all others. The judgment is narrowed down to different categories that will help prospective students choose a business school that best fits all their needs. “Some schools, despite their prestige, are not the best places to attend,” said Rolando Guajardo, a business administration graduate from La Universidad Autonoma de Mexico.

“The Princeton Review has always done a good job with providing categories that help students find the right place for them, and now UTPA is definitely something people like me can look into.” A key factor in placing among the top ten schools in a category is the number of students who show a high regard for program facilities, professors, advancement opportunities, etc., based on survey responses. This survey can either be taken online or by paper, but most students take it online. This year, The Princeton Review took in over 18,000 surveys nationwide, and many included candid remarks about the UTPA MBA program. On top of this, schools also had to be accredited by the Association of Advanced Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), and fulfill all the criteria in academic excellence enumerated by The Princeton Review. Recently, AACSB began to require the globalization of business and the addition of technological resources in college classrooms as an extended part of the accred-

itation process. THE HONOR ACCEPTED Receiving a national ranking has changed some student views of the graduate situation at UTPA, and convinced others to consider entering. Raul Yzaguirre, a graduate student in the MBA program said that he can now show off that he earned a degree from a recognized place. “I am thrilled to know that I am getting my degree here,” said Yzaguirre. “I think that having our school published by The Princeton Review is the best thing that could happen to me because people looking to hire fresh graduates like me will know that I got a good foundation. “The quality of our professors was pretty much everything that has us going here,” Yzaguirre added. “Our test scores at an all-time high, the students are more confident and eager to just take on corporate America because they always go beyond the lectures and set us in real life scenarios.” For John T. Emery, dean of The

College of Business Administration, this honor goes to show that the MBA program at UTPA is equipped with great students, employees, and faculty who’re always looking for ways to take things to a higher level.

Q “The Princeton Review has always done a good job with providing categories that help students find the right place for them, and now UTPA is definitely something people like me can look into.” - Rolando Guajardo, graduate La Universidad Autonoma de Mexico “I am delighted to see the positive response we get from students when they hear about this honor,” said Emery. “This is definitely a good motivator for them to keep raising the standards and have them wanting more every year.”

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

Editor’s Pick: Must-read book “Coronado,” the new collection of short stories from the bestselling author of “Mystic River”

Acclaimed African theater artist visits UTPA

By ANGELA SALAZAR The Pan American Sierra Leone theater artist Charlie Haffner visited The University of Texas-Pan American Tuesday and spoke to students at the Student Union Theater as well as in selected classes. Haffner has been working in the theater business for 36 years, first parttime and now full- time. His interest in writing took shape when he was asked to write a song about a revolt called “Amistad Kata-kata.” Kata means revolt. This work later became a highly acclaimed and respected play. Ten years later, Steven Spielberg made the movie version, which is said to be different from the play. However, before he became the acclaimed theater artist he is today, Haffner pursued an interest in education. “I grew up in Sierra Leone. I was educated in Sierra Leone up to university,” Haffner said. “I taught geography in several schools.” Although he loved being a teacher, he also had a passion for acting and writing. After resigning from teaching in 1990, he “risked becoming

Onydia Garza/The Pan American PERSPECTIVES - Charlie Haffner brought the African view on slavery to the UTPA community in a series of lectures to both students and the general public. Haffner spoke in selected classes as well as at the Student Union Theater.

a full-time theater artist.” Soon he became part of the Free Town International Theatre Group and has been with that group for 16 years. “Today, we (Free Town) are known, we are a household name in Sierra Leone,” he said, “We do all kinds of theatre work with the Free Town Players. We are divided into branches; we do theatre specializing in a cappella singing.” By using their voices members can address issues that have affected the world and Sierra Leone. The Free Town players became almost a form of the media, helping to inform their community about political issues, and diseases that have plagued the culture. Haffner’s visit to UTPA came concurrent to the exhibit “A Slave Ship Speaks: The Wreck of the Henrietta Marie” which tells the story of a slave ship that traveled from London to West Africa and to the Americas, but sank off the coast of Florida. He gave a presentation about the history of slavery from his perspective to a crowd in the Union, speaking of slavery not as a form of currency, but what it actually was – mistreatment of humans.

“I found it interesting,” said Claude Reyes, a pre-med biology major. “[He} is a person with a different point of view about Amistad.” Matthew Christensen, a UTPA English professor who specializes in African and world literature, invited Haffner to speak to his classes, to offer a different perspective of the African culture that allowed insight into a past. As an outsider looking in, Haffner’s take was designed to open eyes. “I first saw his play when I was an undergraduate,” said Christensen, “I went on a study abroad program in Sierra Leone, in his country, and while I was at the university there taking classes one of our professors took us to Haffner’s cultural center.” Haffner’s perspective is not biased, said Kristy Flores, an English teacher at La Joya’s Jimmy Carter High School and a recent UTPA graduate. “The movie ‘Amistad’ is made from an American point of view and the play is from the African point of view.” Flores came to hear Haffner speak because she is introducing the study of African lit to her sophomore English class.

K-Fed’s debut album just as bad as expected By BRIAN CARR The Pan American Kevin Federline has been the heir apparent to the tabloid crown ever since he and post-pop princess Britney Spears became romantically involved. That involvement has led to a defunct reality series, suspicion of a Spears meltdown, countless rumors of break-ups, the birth of two children, and now “Playing with Fire,” the awkward hip-hop debut from the one-time backup dancer. The world has doubtlessly been pacing the proverbial floor with unbridled anticipation since K-Fed’s profanity-laden premiere performance at the Teen Choice Awards in August, longing for their white-rapper thirst to be quenched. And Federline’s fiery cocktail does not disappoint.

“Playing with Fire” is surely a reference to juvenile hijinx. And just like the “Billy Madison” lampooned antic, Federline’s debut is as entertaining as poop wrapped in a paper bag. Opening with mock news broadcasts that scrutinize the private life of the highly publicized gigolo, the album attempts to lend credibility to the hip-hop wannabe by reaffirming that he is, in fact, married to Britney Spears. Kudos, Captain Obvious. Unfortunately being married to a white-trash diva does little to bolster claims like “I’ll be damned if I ever gave a f—- what y’all think.” And the sub-par synthesized instrumentation does little to support the faux-Eminem vocals and mind-melting analogies such as “I put the Jeep in your Hummer, the sleep in your slumber.” But K-Fed was a backup dancer. Surely his album will be a nightclub mainstay and dance-floor catalyst, right? I tried to dance to it and ended up

looking like a chicken with a battery up my ass. Stock beats, computerized strings and bleep-bleep hooks equal undanceable craptacularness. If K-Fed was out to make the most fantastically bad hip-hop album, then he has achieved remarkable success. And he has parlayed this success into a pseudo-wrestling career. Late last month the would-be rapper appeared on WWE’s “Monday Night Raw.” He wore a black T-shirt that read simply “America’s Most Hated.” Who knows what the next stop on K-Fed’s train-wreck express will be? But it seems reasonable to believe that his self-degenerating career will osmotically taint the commercial successes of his wife and baby-momma, Spears. He seems to go to every length imaginable to destroy any hopes of success he might have. In the title track of his blatant headshaker he postulates simply, “I’m coming out like Janet’s titty at the Super Bowl.” But why would you want to do that?

cdnow.com FIERY FALL - The soon-to-be former Mr. Spears turns in a less than pleasing offering for expectant music fans.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

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November 9, 2006

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Page 9

“Now that Dr. King is gone, there’s no one left for us. No one but Bobby.”

Story By: Frank Calvillo

Layout By: Roy Bazan

In Hollywood, politics and movies do not always go hand in hand. Politically fueled films have sometimes been hit-ormisses with everyone from studio heads to moviegoers drawing on individual practices and beliefs. However, one film that currently has all of Tinseltown buzzing with curiosity is the much-anticipated “Bobby.” Written and directed by actor Emilio Estevez, “Bobby” tells the story of the last few days of Robert Kennedy’s life leading up to his 1968 assassination. Perhaps to ensure wide audience appeal, the film features a talented, if not overloaded, cast including everyone from Anthony Hopkins, Sharon Stone and Demi Moore to Elijah Wood, Lindsay Lohan and Ashton Kutcher, among others. When plans for the film were announced at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2005, many speculated as to whether or not “Bobby” would be yet another biopic issued by the Hollywood machine. However this is not the case. While Estevez’s “Bobby” definitely acknowledges the late politician’s life, the main focus of the film is the state of the country in 1968 and the people who lived their lives during that time. During that period, the country was seeped in political turmoil and frustration. “That was a really tense year,” said Micheal Faubion, a history professor at The University of Texas-Pan American. “Some historians see 1968 as a real turning point because of the war in Vietnam, which most of the U.S. didn’t want, civil rights were coming to a head and there was also campus unrest.” Indeed among many of the political issues of the day, civil rights was a subject that resonated with every member of a minority race in 1968. Kennedy fought for civil rights much like Martin Luther King, who had himself been assassinated months before Kennedy. “Bobby” also shines light on the kind of politician that Kennedy was and the

work leading up to his death, which, according to Faubion, is very diverse. “He had earlier worked with [Sen. Joseph] McCarthy and sought to end organized crime as well as the war on poverty,” he said. Eerily enough the film’s political issues seem to mirror those that surround us in 2006. “There’s the immigration issue, which is an offset of civil rights, and of course our war on terror,” said Faubion. It is perhaps for this reason most of all that the film is receiving such a large share of attention. Luis Munoz, owner of the independent film cinema Cine El Rey, feels that “Bobby” will resound strongly with those who clearly remember life during that era. “Bobby was a hero to all of us who grew up in that time, especially Hispanics, who have always had great respect for him and the rest of the Kennedys,” Munoz said. Beyond the subject of Kennedy, Munoz feels that people will turn out for the film, if nothing else, to see a plethora of their favorite stars share screen time.

“There will probably be a good crosssection of the community who will want to turn out the see the talent that’s involved in it,” he said. It looks as if Munoz may be right. According to UTPA freshman Cassandra Lozano, the main reason she may see this movie is because of certain cast members. “I’d probably see it because of actors like Lindsay Lohan, but honestly I don’t know anything about Kennedy,” she said. Lozano, an education major, admits that movies like “Bobby” are not what she’s usually drawn to. “I usually go for movies that are funny like ‘The Break Up,’ which I really liked,” she said. “Bobby” also has the unfortunate task of being released at a time when other politically charged films are considered dicey. Such films include “Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan,” and the long-delayed remake of “All the King’s Men,” both of which were mauled by some criti c s upon

release at the box office. Despite such obstacles, there are those, such as Munoz, who feel the film will succeed at the box office. “It won’t have the appeal of ‘Spiderman,’ and that’s unfortunate, but it’s coming from a good studio with strong publicity,” he said. “As an exhibitor, I want it to do well.” And so far it has. Early reviews for “Bobby” have praised everything from the script to the direction to the chemistry of the film’s actors. With the awards season approaching, the film has also began to rake in the accolades such as the Venice Film Festival award for director Emilio Estevez, and the Hollywood Awards ensemble acting trophy for its performers. Perhaps the biggest honor, however, came from the Kennedy family itself, led by Bobby’s widow, Ethel Kennedy, who praised its honest portrayal of Kennedy and all he fought for. “Our family is grateful to Emilio Estevez and the extraordinary cast of ‘Bobby’ for remembering Robert Kennedy’s life and his commitment to social justice, peace and equality. Hopefully the film will inspire a new generation to make gentle the life of the world,” Ethel Kennedy said in a statement. Though being released from a major studio, “Bobby” will only begin playing in select cities beginning Nov. 17 before being released to theaters nationwide Nov. 23. Munoz, who also plans to show the controversial film “Death of a President,” hopes to show “Bobby” at his theater. “It’s a film that I would like to show because it’s someone making a statement and you can buy a ticket or not,” he said. So while most political films may try to persuade their audience to grab hold of one side of the fence or change sides, along comes a film like “Bobby” that seeks to not only politically educate, but also appreciate and understand the world we live in, regardless of what a person may believe.

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

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“Now that Dr. King is gone, there’s no one left for us. No one but Bobby.”

Story By: Frank Calvillo

Layout By: Roy Bazan

A&E

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November 9, 2006

Latin music sensations rock Dodge Arena Don Omar brings ‘King of Kings’ tour to Valley By LESLIE ESTRADA The Pan American Friday night, crowds descended upon Dodge Arena and waited patiently for the doors to open for the much-anticipated performance of Don Omar. The Puerto Rican singer is currently on his “King of Kings” international tour. Besides enjoying his performance, the crowds were able to sing and dance to hits from Rakim & Ken-Y and Aventura, who opened the concert. Different age groups were represented at the event, as teenagers, children, parents and young couples filled the arena expecting to have a great time. Omar Aguilar, a sophomore manufacturing engineering major at The University of Texas-Pan American, was

impatient as he waited for the show to start. “This is the first time that I’ll have the chance to watch him perform,” Aguilar said of Don Omar. Aguilar, who is a big fan of reggaeton music, said he was expecting to have a blast. “I can’t believe I am going to have the opportunity to watch Don Omar perform,” he said. “To top it off, Aventura will also be performing. I don’t think that anything will ever be as great as this concert.” The concert started roughly at 8 p.m. with the performance of Rakim & Ken-Y, who, among other songs, performed their latest hit “Tu me pones down” (You put me down). Aventura continued the show, put-

ting on a great act. As they took the stage, the public made the arena shake with cheers and applause, singing along to various bachata hits, a form of music and dance that originated in the countryside of Dominican Republic. At about 10 p.m. Don Omar entered as crowds roared his name. Accompanied by a ballet of about 15 people, special effects and a great stage, he made everyone present get on their feet. Don Omar really knew how to please his audience by putting on an amazing performance, which consisted of various costume changes. His ballet made everyone dance along with it as they moved to the music’s beat in movements taken from capoeira, a Brazilian martial art.

After a couple of songs, Don Omar left the stage for a while. While the crowd waited for his return, a violinist took his place and performed several pieces. The stage began to fill with smoke, which made it seem like it was on clouds. The Puerto Rico native came on stage again and continued singing. The crowd responded with cheers when he finally sang “Angelito,” (Angel), his latest single. Other songs he performed were “Pobre Diabla” (Poor Devil) and “Dile” (Tell him), which have opened doors for him everywhere. The concert was full of memorable moments, and just before it finished, Aventura’s lead singer, Romeo, came on to stage to perform their smash hit “Ella y Y Yo” (She and I).

The public screamed and applauded as Don Omar left the stage for the final time. Everyone left with big smiles on their faces, still singing the songs that were performed by the different singers. After the concert, Dublesa Martinez, a Valley resident, said that it was one of the best concerts she has witnessed. “I really liked the show that they put on. It was great,” said Martinez. “I just can’t get enough of them. I would definitely want to see them again if they return someday.” Don Omar, Aventura and Rakim & Ken-Y ended their night at an after-party at Club Metropolis in McAllen, where fans were able to get a closer look of the performers.

Roy Bazan/ The Pan American ROYALTY - Puerto Rican singer Don Omar performed for a packed audience at Dodge Area Friday night.

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BOOKS continued from page 1 gies are a bit complicated, because there are different copyright perspectives to consider.” Barnes and Noble college bookstores offer about 700 books in digital format, and they are 40 to 50 percent cheaper than physical textbooks. While the length of time a student can access a textbook online is left to publisher discretion, some last as little as a semester while others offer permanent subscription. To prevent students from distributing pirated copies of their text, Roth said publishers go to measures such as

encrypting their Web pages or only allowing a student to print a limited number of copies of their text. Astolfo Benitez, general manager for Texas Star Bookstore on University Drive in Edinburg, doesn’t think e-textbooks will beat physical ones. “Students can’t sell back these books,” he said. “They also have to worry about having access to a computer, which makes it a big hassle.” He also thinks textbook subscription services are impractical because some publishers have expiration dates on their books, meaning students can’t

use the e-textbooks as a long-term reference. However, Jason Landry, a senior music major from Edinburg, thinks that the service could be useful because students can access books faster, but could also pose a problem for those who like selling them after the semester ends. “It probably could be a good thing that you don’t have your book available after the semester ends because it would really motivate people to get the most out of their purchase,” he said. “You won’t take your books for granted that way.”

Landry said he doesn’t usually visit UTPA’s bookstore, because it doesn’t offer most of the material he uses. “But when I take poetry and literature classes, I like to collect my books,” he said. “I’m a book junkie.” Mayra Abundis, a freshman biology major, said she would not use an etextbook service. “I’m not an Internet person. I don’t own a laptop, and I can’t really see myself studying in front of a computer screen,” Abundis, a Mercedes resident, said. “Some professors don’t like

students having computers in the classroom because it is a distraction, so I don’t think this would work for my classes.” Dina Abrego, a freshman biology major from Mercedes, thinks the benefits of online textbooks are that they are cheaper and that students don’t have to carry around heavy books. “But if you want to print your pages out from home, it could cost a lot of ink and paper,” she said. “I see the good and the bad in getting an online book subscription, but I guess it’s all up to each student.”

ELECTION continued from page 1 “They have not been together at all. They have no communication,” she said. Rutledge added that this year’s race was particularly difficult for the Republicans as several incidents placed the party in an unfavorable light, particularly the scandal involving Rep. Mark Foley, R-Fla., who was caught exchanging suggestive e-mails with young men who were former participants in a U.S. House page program. “We got hit when Republicans that were ousted for various ethical issues. That hindered our message,” Rutledge said. “They (Democrats) have no plan. They focus on the war and the ethical behavior on the Republican side. We have some bad apples, but they do too.” Sandoval said that the results of the election, which at press time had a Democratic majority sweep of Congress according to CNN, is a reflection of the public’s frustration. “People are tired of the lying and tired of being deceived,” she said. “You know what I can’t understand is that they’re defending the issues and having this ‘holier than thou’ mentality, yet you don’t know what things they’re doing behind closed doors.” Sandoval referred to Foley’s lobbying against child predators preceding his Internet scandal as an example. However,

according to Rutledge, the media are responsible for putting focus on the Republican Party’s scandals. “It’s unfortunate that no one focused on the fact that they had the same problems we did,” he said, adding that when Rep. William Jefferson, D-Colo., was caught with $90,000 in his freezer, no one made a big deal out of it. According to Rutledge, the

Q “You know what I can’t understand is that they’re defending the issues and having this ‘holier than thou’ mentality, yet you don’t know what things they’re doing behind closed doors.” - Cecilia Sandoval, political science lecturer Republican pary fared better in Texas elections than in national ones. Gov. Rick Perry retained his position by getting 39 percent of votes, beating out his democratic opponent Chris Bell, who received 30 percent. “In Texas (on the state level), we defeated the Democrats top to bottom,” he said, citing wins in races for lieutenant governor, agriculture commissioner and

Texas Supreme Court. Rutledge added when one party controls the White House, they typically lose “some control” in either the House, the Senate or both during mid-term elections. “Thank God the House elections are every two years and not every six like the Senate,” he said. “I predict we will probably be able to regain the House.” In the Rio Grande Valley, Henry Cuellar of District 28, Ruben Hinojosa of District 15, and Solomon Ortiz of District 27, all Democrats, retained their positions with 65 percent, 61 percent and 58 percent of the votes, respectively. Rutledge added that low Republican voter turnout was also in part to blame for the Election Day defeats. Samuel Freeman, a UTPA associate professor of political science, said that more than anyone, young voters should have been the ones at the polls this past week. “Voting participation varies directly with age,” he said. “The irony is the older people are more invested in the political system when it should be the 18-, 19- and 20-year-olds; it counts more for them.” Ashley Cedillo, a senior pre-law major, said the most important thing in an election is not who someone votes for. “It is more important that you are getting politically involved and stating your opinion,” she said.

* As of 9 p.m. Nov. 8 **Incl. Dem. majority

CNN.com

LULAC continued from page 1 tion, advocate education and help find money and resources they need to complete their college education. “There is an eminent need for Latinos in the Rio Grande Valley to pursue a higher education than a high school diploma,” Rosales said in her speech to 36 representatives of four councils comprising the South Texas district. “There may not be enough money to get everyone through a college education, but because the need is larger in Texas, I will work hard so that LULAC can get the most moneys possible down here in the Valley where there

are so many intelligent individuals that cannot go to college because they did not qualify for the opportunities the state has.” Elvira Rios, president of council number 4671, said that the four councils in the Valley need to work hard to develop programs that will encourage college students to participate in organization activities and represent young adults at the national conference each year. “In June, the four councils that comprise District 20 attended the National LULAC conference in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and we only

took six people between the ages of 18 to 24,” said Rios. “It was unfortunate that we did not take more because we are a region in the United States that has more Latinos than any other.”

Q “ There may not be enough money to get everyone through a college education.” - Rosa Rosales, LULAC president Ana Chavez, member of LULAC and former UTPA student, said she was

pursuing a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies with a concentration in bilingual education, but was unable to finish because she was no longer eligible for financial aid. As a result, she has to begin working and save money to continue her education. “I am so excited that Rosa Rosales wants to help people like me get a college degree,” Chavez said. “I have supported her ever since she announced that she was going to run for national president. She has created a lot of programs for students to stay in college and many people can agree with me when I say

that she is like a guardian angel for many people that have a degree that was paid with money that she worked in getting.” Rosales, who has held office with LULAC since 1995, has a long legacy among LULAC supporters of being an advocate for higher education among Latinos. “I am elated at being elected the new president of LULAC and I am ready to work with all groups to take LULAC to the next level of activism,” she said. “I am eager to work for the Rio Grande Valley so that together we can bring out the best attributes of our Latinos.”

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MARCHAN continued from page 3 “One day he would say, ‘Here’s these potatoes. I want you all to create starch.’ So these were hands-on experience, and that’s how our experiments were all the time.” In addition to the knowledge gained directly in class, Marchan said it’s important to go above and beyond that, and learn how to think and analyze. “Everybody should stay in school, but it’s not so much to stay in school to learn what the classroom is teaching you, but rather how to think,” Marchan said. “It’s not just to memorize this and pass the test. It’s to understand the background of why you’re doing this.” Marchan stresses the importance of that concept to the pending college graduates who visit him looking for a job. “A lot of students know how to do things but they don’t know why they’re doing it,” he said. “So I try to train them here as to why is the instrument doing that?” Marchan has been the crime lab supervisor since 1989. As such, his duties include dealing with administrative matters between his office and law enforcement, the district attorney’s office, and probation officers, among other things. He is also responsible for managing the analysts at the lab and reviewing their work. “My favorite part is when I see that

some of these analysts are learning to use more their brain than their actual schoolwork,” Marchan said. “To me the biggest joy is when I see somebody struggle and struggle on a case and all of a sudden they find a link.” According to Marchan, the Texas DPS crime labs analyze many different types of evidence from crime scenes, including DNA, blood alcohol, drugs, firearms and trace evidence. “Hit and runs are a big thing with trace evidence,” Marchan said. “If somebody gets hit by a vehicle and the person flees, then they bring in the clothing from that victim and we look for paint, glass, plastic, anything that may tie us back to that vehicle.” Marchan indicated that graduates with degrees in chemistry are in high demand at the crime lab, and he encouraged biology majors not planning on going to graduate school to switch to chemistry or to double major. “If you have a chemistry degree with a biology minor, you can do drug analysis, trace analysis, DNA analysis, blood alcohol,” Marchan said. “But if you have a biology major, the only thing that you could get into is potentially DNA. So, your options are limited with biology.” At the moment, Marchan is looking to hire someone with a bachelor’s degree

GRANTS continued from page 3

Claudette Gonzalez/ The Pan American HIGH-TECH - UTPA alum Joe Marchan, a forensic scientist for DPS, demonstrates how to operate a comparison scope, which is used to investigate crimes committed with firearms. Marchan graduated from UTPA in 1980.

in biology chemistry or forensic science to perform DNA analysis at the McAllen office. Starting pay is roughly $39,000 to $45,000. According to him, more jobs will be opening up soon.

For more information about working at the DPS crime lab contact Marchan at (956) 984-5600.

POLICE continued from page 3 then those of some outside law enforcement organizations, according to Miller. The candidates must be from ages 21 to 45 with at least 60 college hours under their belt. In addition, all applicants must take a written exam - which covers basic math and different scenario placements and a physical test, where they must complete a mile-and-a-half run under 14 1/2 minutes, among other tasks. The third phase consists of background checks and analysis of informa-

tion provided and statements given. Once these have been checked out, department officials begin calling and questioning references. Family and neighbors of candidates may find the department knocking on the door to ask a few questions. Candidates are also placed in the hot seat with all the expected wires when they sit down for a formal interview with a polygraph machine and a questioner. While the polygraph may be nerve-

racking for some, for others the one-onone interview with Miller, who has held his post since 1992, is even more stressful. The interview is the last obstacle before heading out to Austin for the UT System Training Academy. Each cadet stays a minimum of 17 to 18 weeks for intensive schooling. Besides physical training, they study the legal system and its penal code, as well as proper procedure to follow, such as how to use handcuffs. Miller added that because universi-

ties are state-run institutions, the university’s police department has jurisdiction throughout Texas. Consequently, the department makes sure it has the best officers possible, partly by offering the complex application process. “We are service-oriented,” Miller said. “We want to stay conductive to the community.”

was incredibly moving,” said Facundo. The second phase of the project was to help a small village near Rio Bravo get running water that was uncontaminated. “We saw the conditions these people were living in. There was no running water,” said Juan Jose Moreno, senior international business major and FIRBA’s vice-president. “The entire community depended on a canal, with animal carcasses and waste, that was full of dirty water to drink and bathe.” They talked to residents of the town and after being convinced that FIRBA wasn’t a politically motivated group, the town agreed to accept help in getting a new water pump.

“The last pump they bought was basically a lemon,” said Facundo. After more than 1,300 hours of volunteering and working with Hi-Tech Irrigation Inc., FIRBA was able to get a submersible water pump that worked for the community. “The general manager of Hi-Tech actually had family in the same community, so he knew exactly where we were coming from regarding the need to fix their water problems,” said Facundo. However, despite their successes, he and Moreno agreed that it can be tough at times to motivate everyone in the group. “Like any other organization, it can be difficult to make sure everyone is on

For more information call Sgt. Bryan Miller at 316-7151 or go to www.utpa.edu/police/index.html.

you’re doing. While the e-technique saves time, it can create problems that make the ordeal longer, according to Chipara. She said common problems include bad connections, slow communication and incompatible software. However, these problems are not the main issue. “The biggest problem for the proposal submission is the document in itself,” said Chipara, “If Word for Windows is required, the conversion to Adobe PDF files may be a nightmare as all the figures may appear randomly in the final file and you will need to start over again.” Although the workshop is primarily geared toward UTPA faculty and staff, students are welcome to attend, said Santos. There are about 15 people registered to attend the Nov. 13 event. Since seating is limited, anyone wishing to take part should register beforehand to ensure that there is enough room for everyone. This is not the first workshop held at UTPA to discuss the e-submission process. An earlier one was presented by a funding agency via satellite and was geared toward the e-submission processes of specific agencies. The Nov. 13 workshop will give more general information about various agencies that are using the technique. For those who can’t attend Nov. 13, there will be a repeat session of the workshop Nov. 16. This will be the last one the Office of Research and Sponsored Projects has planned for this year. However, the office is planning at least three in the spring. To register visit the Office of Research and Sponsored Projects Web site at www.utpa.edu\dept\sponpro and click on the registration link.

FIRBA continued from page 3 help her,” recalled Facundo, a senior accounting major. The club held fundraisers on campus and was able to raise more than $4,000 in donations. In addition, after over 1,000 hours of volunteering, fundraising and organizing their idea, they were able to completely pay the young girl’s hospital bills and donate all sorts of supplies for the twins, said Facundo. The organization, composed of about 30 members, has since been working on all sorts of charitable projects throughout the region including a school-supply drive for local elementaries. Members have also worked on helping entire communities secure basic

necessities that many take for granted. “Our 2005-2006 Project of the Year award is really what we consider our ‘baby,’” said Facundo. The project’s two phases included the refurbishing of an impoverished Mexican school and helping a small town get potable running water. “We helped restructure this school, paint it, and helped them get basic supplies so the children could have a chance to get a better education,” said Facundo. For him, the reward for this came in the faces of the appreciative children. “The kids were so grateful, and when we went back to see how things were going so many of them ran up to us and thanked us for what we had done. It

the same page. But when our members see the work we’re doing and the smile on a kid’s face it doesn’t take much to get them to put in some effort,” said Facundo. The organization likes to see its volunteerism as an honor, not a chore, said Moreno. “I was really inspired by a quote from John D. Rockefeller Jr. about how giving should be seen not as a duty, but as a privilege,” he said. Facundo said he remains hopeful about FIRBA’s future and the many activities to come. “I like to think that the university can’t stop us, but only hope to contain us,” he said. “There’s a lot of people out there who need help.”

November 9, 2006

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Men’s golf ends fall season at Battle of the Bend Golfers take 10th place at tournament The University of Texas-Pan American men’s golf team finished its fall season by capturing 10th place out of 13 teams at the Battle of the Bend Tournament held in Toledo Bend, La., Tuesday. Among the frontrunners of the Bronc team was junior Kyle Tudi who finished 13th place overall. Junior Jeff Hensley finished in 37th place, freshman High Wongchindawest was 45th, freshman Armen Kirakossian finished 54th and sophomore Shane Pearce was 58th. Although UTPA improved its standing in the tournament from last year when they ranked 12th, Coach Andrew Tredway expressed that he was “really disappointed” with the way that the team performed. “We played the worst that we could possibly play,” Tredway said. With the end of their fall season, the team now looks forward to utilizing the break between seasons to improve their game. “This team is very capable of being one of the best teams that this university has seen, but it will take a lot of hard work,” Tredway said. The Pan American

Volleyball players named to Academic All-Independent list Netters honored for classroom success Broncs Karen Lyons and Deanna Schneyer were recently recognized for off-thecourt accomplishments as both were named to the Academic All-Independent list on Oct. 26. Lyons, a senior biology major, received the honor for the second time in a row. With a 3.46 cumulative grade-point average, the McAllen Memorial alum has been a leader for the Lady Broncs. She ranks fourth in program history in digs per game, with 4.46 this season. In addition to her feats in the classroom, she has posted record numbers in her tenure at The University of Texas-Pan American. She recorded 1,000 career digs and became the second player in school history to compile over 1,950 assists and 1,000 digs. Schneyer, a sophomore marketing major from Edinburg, is a first-timer to the Academic All-Independent list. She currently holds a 3.82 cumulative grade-point average while serving as the middle blocker for the Lady Broncs. She was the leading blocker on the team with 54 this season. She was also fourth on the team in kills per game (1.77) and attacks (165). The sophomore has posted numbers to place her in the record books. She is ranked first in total blocks per game, seventh in total blocks and block assists. The Academic All-Independent team is selected by sports information directors from participating NCAA Division I schools. Each school is allowed to nominate students who have a minimum of a 3.2 GPA, are at least sophomores and who started or served as key reserves for their team. The Pan American Onydia Garza/The Pan American AND THE PITCH - Cody Cisper, a junior marketing major from Oklahoma, delivers the pitch during the annual Green and White game series held Sunday, Tuesday and Wednesday. In game one, the Green team was victorious with a score of 5-4. On Tuesday, the White team won 5-4. Yesterday, the Green team edged out the White team 7-5 for the championship.

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Marc Dopher talks sports in reporting By JEANETTE PEREZ The Pan American People watch television for various reasons as it has become a primary source for all kinds of different things. One major thing on TV is the news, but then there’s sports. Marc Dopher knows all about sports. Armed with two boxes of Krispy Kreme Donuts in hand, Dopher paid a visit to a Reporting I class Oct. 31 at The University of Texas-Pan American. Dopher works for KRGV-TV NEWSCHANNEL 5 as a reporter and anchor, covering the local sports scene including high school athletics. He came to the university to discuss his career with future journalists and give pointers about how to become professional journalists. Before settling in the Valley, Dopher attended Southwest Missouri State University (now Missouri State University) and majored in broadcast and mass media production. In three years, he has won several awards, including recognition from the Texas Associated Press for his 2004 story “Hearing Football.”

Upon arriving at UTPA, Dopher immediately took to the chalkboard and wrote out a ‘plan’ for students. First thing on the agenda: What do you want to do? Dopher stressed the importance of realizing that a job search requires effort. “Nobody’s gonna get you a job. Nobody’s gonna walk out and give you one, unless you’re extremely lucky,” Dopher said. “The first thing you have to do is plan it out. You’re here for a reason. Ask yourself what you want to do and how you’re going to get there; that’s a hard thing to answer.” Then the reporter discussed his own experiences in school. “When I was in college, the first day of class when they’d ask your name and what you want to do, I’d always say ‘My name is Marc Dopher and I want to be a sports writer.’ I knew where I was going,” he said. Dopher said without a doubt, experience is the key. “Nobody’s gonna hire you if you don’t have experience. That’s the most important thing in journalism,” he said. Dopher wasted no time as his college career developed. He took the first opportunity that presented itself and that

Dopher led to others. He worked on a sports talk show and did Internet radio. After a six month stint, he was offered a job on public radio. It wasn’t long before Dopher was offered another opportunity. The president of the public radio station happened to be a broadcast professor at his school. He took her class and the connection paid off. For an assignment, he decided to cover the sports section of two TV stations. In doing so, he made a good impression and was offered yet another leg up, this time, an internship. Doors were opening for him left and right, but it hadn’t always been that way.

The reporter flunked out of school in 2002. When senior year came around, he was taking 21 hours to make up for lost time. On top of that he had the 30hour internship he wasn’t getting paid for. But, “life was good,” he said, reminding students never to pass up a job in school, unpaid or paid. When spring semester came along and graduation was six months away, Dopher knew he had to look for a real job. Something had to go. He quit the radio station gig and focused full-time on his internship. At the same time, he finished up his resume tape. A huge St. Louis Cardinals fan, he decided to travel to Florida to cover the team in spring training for his tape. Dopher sent his resume to over 40 stations with zero callbacks, and began to support himself with odd jobs while waiting for the break. At one point he was hanging drywall to get by. In June 2003, his alma mater had a good run in baseball and made it to the College World Series in Omaha, Neb. Dopher was called by his former employer and asked to go to Omaha to cover the event. It was his first TV appearance and enhanced his resume tape further. He sent the new-and-

improved version out to 40 more stations. One offer that summer came from the RGV. “They were asking for three years experience. I had none,” he said. “The entire two days I was here, I was convinced I wasn’t going to get it.” He was right; he didn’t get the job, at least not right away. Dopher was passed over as the station decided to hire someone with six years experience. After receiving the news, Dopher decided to take an offer in South Dakota. However, 30 minutes later he received another phone call from KRGV. The first man had taken a job in Las Vegas instead and the position was now available. “Three years later, here I am. You have to have a plan, because if you work hard enough, someone’s going to give you a chance,” he told the journalism students. “You have to climb the ladder.” Dopher reiterated that the key to making it is experience. Other details pale in comparison. “It never ceases to amaze me that college students list their GPA on their resume,” he laughed. “Nobody really cares. What they’re gonna care about is what your experiences are and what you’re gonna do.”

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November 9, 2006

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Men victorious in first game By ERICK QUINTERO The Pan American The University of Texas-Pan American men’s basketball team got off to a fast start as it bucked Monterey Tech 78-57 in an exhibition game played at the UTPA Field House Monday night. “I love the unselfishness. You know I thought the guys have been doing what we’ve done all fall,” head coach Tom Schubert said. Schuberth started three junior guards, Paul Stoll, Brian Burrell and Dexter Shankle, in the backcourt. Colin Lien, senior center and Julius Allgood, junior forward rounded out the frontcourt for the Broncs. The Broncs opened up the game on a 16-2 run and never looked back. At the 19:19 mark, Burrell made his presence felt as he opened up the score with a long 3-point shot. Monterey answered with a quick two from David Cruz, prompting a run by the Broncs. The run was capped off by a Colin Lien lay-up, courtesy of a fast break, with less than 15 minutes left to play in the half. The senior leader finished with 15 points, eight rebounds, two assists and two steals. In the first half the Broncs roamed freely on offense with good passing and continuous off-the-ball player movement. Constant motion kept the

offense running at a fast pace. The Broncs managed to push the ball upcourt and made good use of the three-point shot. “Making the extra pass, hustling, running the floor - I was very pleased with our offensive play, even though we didn’t shoot the ball great at times. We got a lot of second and third shots,” Schuberth said. The game was headed for a blowout until Monterey Tech gathered its composure and came out with a 2-3 zone which slowed UTPA’s pace long

“Making the extra pass, hustling, running the floor - I was very pleased with our offensive play, even though we didn’t shoot the ball great at times.” - Head Coach Tom Schuberth enough to allow the Borregos to string a nine-point run of their own. After a couple of hustle plays down low by junior forward Zach Trader and sophomore forward Alex Robinson, the Broncs put an end to the Borrego run and the score stood at 2211 in favor of UTPA. In the final minutes of the half,

senior guard Jonathan Chatman found the bottom of the net twice from threepoint land and helped UTPA finish the half on a 9-2 run after Cruz scored two more for Tech. Chatman finished the game with nine points, all coming from downtown. The Broncs went into the half on top 43-22. Tech played better in the second half and tried to chip away at the lead by going to their inside game. Edward Leyva, the burly Tech center, battled Allgood time and time again with his elbows. Leyva finished with 11 points and eight rebounds. Allgood played a solid game in the middle for the Broncs, dropping 10 points and grabbing six boards. Every time Tech tried mounting a comeback the Broncs answered with a long-range dagger. Stoll sunk a higharching three over the outstretched arm of a Tech defender giving the Broncs a 25-point lead and making the score 5328 with 14:50 remaining. Stoll finished the game with 12 points and five assists. The man who did it all game long would do it again for the Broncs. Burrell connected on his last threepoint attempt, and put the game out of reach at 66-43 with 5:21 left. “I think he can be our go-to guy on offense, but he is such an unselfish player that he kind of takes what the defense gives him,” Schubert said of

his sharpshooter. The junior shooting guard looked extremely poised and displayed deadon accuracy from the field, but remained humble and attributed his success to his teammates. “We have real good screeners. I just feed off them and Paul (Stoll) is a good assist man,” Burrell said. “The more patient we are, that breaks down the defense. It’s hard to defend us if we keep reversing the ball. Breaking down the defense allows us to get open shots.” Tech shot 48.1 percent from the field, while UTPA shot 44.9 percent. The real damage however was dealt by the Broncs’ blistering 44.4 percent from beyond the arc. UTPA looked impressive on offense, but had occasional mental lapses on the defensive end. “I was a little disappointed on defense, but it’s more from my end rather than the players because there are things we haven’t worked on and I haven’t stressed, so it’s not their fault,” said the winning coach. The team will look to work on all aspects of defense in the coming days leading to the first official home game, against Incarnate Word on Friday at 7 p.m. “We all need to work on our defense, interior defense, help defense and just getting better as a whole unit,” Burrell said.

Lady Broncs edge out Javelinas 55-51 By KRISTYNA MANCIAS The Pan American Basketball season is here and smiles were on the faces of women’s basketball head coach DeAnn Craft and her squad as the Lady Broncs posted a 55-51 victory over Texas A&M Kingsville. In the opening minutes of Monday’s exhibition game, nerves played a role for many of the new faces on the squad as the Lady Broncs found themselves in a three-point deficit. The University of Texas-Pan American got on the board after sophomore La’Shae Woodward scored on a free throw. The Lady Broncs came back to tie at 7-7 at the 9:10 mark. After six lead changes in the first half, the Lady Javelinas took the lead 22-20 heading into the locker room. The Lady Broncs were explosive in the opening minutes of the second half, going on a 10-2 run to take a six-

point advantage. “We got it finally in the second half. We scored 35 in the second half and we just scored in a flurry right out of the gate,” Craft said. “That’s our forte. That’s when we are going to be good.”

“At times they were a little big-eyed but you expect that in their first game out.” - Head Coach DeAnn Craft The fourth-year coach said the team will be successful as long as they stick to their game. “We let our athleticism take over the game in a stretch and we’re going to be a pretty tough team to guard in the open floor if we settle for halfcourt basketball,” she said. She hopes her squad can remain vigilant throughout the season.

“The teams are going to be stronger. I think Kingsville was strong physically and we’re going to face stronger teams but if we keep the pace, I think the advantage will go to us,” Craft said. The Lady Javalinas came from behind to tie the game at 30-all at the 15:18 mark but UTPA sealed the deal going on a 14-3 run to take the biggest lead of the game at 11 points. With seven seconds to play, junior college transfer Tamara Vaughn put the game away from the line to make it a two-possession game. Vaughn finished with eight points as did lone senior MaHogany Daniel, who also collectd seven rebounds. Craft was excited with her team’s performance but feels there is still plenty to work on. “I think our defense really met our expectations. I think offensively we have a great deal of work to do in a short amount of time. I was real pleased,” she said. “We shared the ball pretty well but we do need to handle

double-teams better and that’s what this week is for.” NEWCOMERS CONTRIBUTE The new faces on the Lady Bronc line-up made their presence known, combining for 15 points. The coaches felt that one player who will see ample amount of playing time this season is freshman Aleeya Grigsby. She went 3-7 from the field and collected seven points in the contest. Craft sees great things to come from the talented newcomers. “I love them. I thought that they didn’t play scared,” she said. “At times they were a little big-eyed but you expect that in their first game out. They played hard, played with great passion in the game. I think they’re really going to hold their own.” The Lady Broncs travel to Shreveport, La., for a matchup against Centenary College on Friday. UTPA will be back home Tuesday for the home opener against Texas A&M-International at the Field House. Game time is set for 7 p.m.

SPORTS

Editor’s Pick: Game to Watch When: Nov. 12 Time: 7:15 p.m. Where: Giants Stadium Bears

Game will be aired on NBC

Giants

3-time Olympian signs on as coach By SAVANNAH MARTINEZ The Pan American

Onydia Garza/The Pan American GOING FOR GOLD - Dennis Darling, UTPA’s new assistant track & field coach hopes to bring prestige to the university’s program during his tenure.

The University of Texas-Pan American recently gained a new assistant track and field coach in Dennis Darling. The three-time Olympian and world champion was introduced to the UTPA family on Oct. 26. The arrival of the Bahamas native Darling to a coaching position at UTPA happened on a whim. He was speaking to former coach and close friend Leroy Burrell, a world class and world record sprinter sprinter, who mentioned that track and field head coach Ricky Vaughn was looking for a sprint coach in the Valley. Darling was interested and soon joined the staff as an assistant track and field coach. “We are extremely happy to have someone of Coach Darling’s caliber to join us. I think any time someone has been through three Olympics and five world championships, they bring something that we have never had here before,” Vaughn said. “The amount of people who have ever been to the Olympics is very small, but to be a three time Olympian and a medalist, that’s something really special.” Darling has been running international track for over 10 years, since his last year in high school (1995) and he has been traveling internationally

since then. “I want to bring my experience and my accomplishments and what I’ve learned from some of the best people in track and field to the program here,” Darling said. “I’m a real dedicated person - coaching is my passion and is what I want to do.” He has been in the presence of many famous track athletes, including Carl Lewis and Burrell. The sprint program has seldom been a focus at UTPA, which has been strong in field events lately. Darling is hoping to change that image and instill one that will be recognized around the country. “My main focus is to get UTPA known as a sprint school also, and try to recruit a little more sprinters here and from the surrounding area,” Darling said. Vaughn is excited that Darling is looking to strengthen the UTPA sprint program. “I think he is going to bring those experiences to the kids and really hit us in the right direction of what we want in our sprint program,” Vaughn said. “He is going to be such a positive role model because he has been there and done it.” Vaughn is expecting good results. “I was extremely ecstatic about getting Dennis to join our staff and we

are going to see a lot of great things out of our sprint group this year,” he said. Darling competed in the last three Olympics. In the Atlanta Games of ’96, he was on a Bahamas team that took fifth place. In 2000, they came close to bronze, but finished short at fourth place, and then won sixth-place accolades in 2004.

“He is going to be such a positive role model because he has been there and done it.” - Head track & field coach Ricky Vaughn

Darling has never received an Olympic medal. However, he earned a bronze medal at the International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) World Championships in 2003 in the 400-meter relay. He won 12 Conference USA titles, and a national championship in 1998 while at the University of Houston. LIFELONG GOAL Darling always wanted to compete in the Olympics. His junior year in high school he found he had the potential and talent to succeed. Thus, he applied himself to take it to the college

level and beyond. Being in the presence of other Olympians inspired Darling to become one himself. “The Olympics is the highest pinnacle of everybody’s track career. Everybody in track and field wants to make it to the Olympics,” the new Bronc coach said. “I think that is why we all train and that is our main goal. That is like a football player wanting to make it to the NFL or a basketball player wanting to make it to the NBA.” “To have a chance to compete in the Olympics three times and being one of the youngest athletes in 1996 to compete in the Olympics was a real great experience; just to be there was a great accomplishment for me.” Darling brings his strong belief in a good work ethic and determination to achieve dreams to the Broncs this season. “I ask for you to put your best foot forward, and that is all you can do,” he said. Darling’s success in athletics runs in the family. His wife Tonique Williams-Darling is the reigning Olympic gold medalist and world champion of the 400-meter race. His brother Devard is a wide receiver for the Baltimore Ravens in the NFL, and cousin Frank Rutherford received a bronze medal in the triple jump at the 1992 Olympics.

Season in review: Tennis teams look to improve on fall success By PATRICK KENNEDY The Pan American Now that mid-terms are over, many students around The University of Texas-Pan American will breathe a sigh of relief and relax. But that is not the case for the university’s men and women’s tennis teams, who just wrapped up their fall season and have begun to look forward to conditioning over the next few months for their spring season debut in January. “Overall, the season went well,” said coach Robert Hubbard, who is currently halfway through his first season at UTPA. “We’ve had some nice successes, which are a good indicator for things to come in the spring.” The start of the fall season signaled the beginning as a rebuilding effort for both tennis teams. About half

the men’s and women’s units are freshmen who have now gained valuable experience in the world of collegiate competition. “They are all at different stages, but we’ve had good results from the beginning,” said the former Bronc net star. The men’s team was slow to take off this fall as four of its top players had to sit out due to various NCAA restrictions. Regardless of the difficulties, the team still came out strong in competitions like the Ragin’ Cajun Classic last weekend. They were led by the talented duo of Brett Bernstein, a freshman undeclared major from Sugarland, and Ivan Avila, a sophomore general studies major from Edinburg. The women’s team enjoyed success from the beginning, winning in both singles and doubles play. At the Steven F.

Austin Invitational Oct. 3, they won two of three finals in the consolation bracket. At the tournament held at The University of Texas-San Antonio, the women’s team defeated top-ranked opponents Texas State and University of TexasEl Paso in head-to-head competition. “We may very well have the best women’s tennis team in university history,” said Hubbard after the fall success. The university’s tennis players will get the chance to improve their skills during the break between seasons. Hubbard is already getting ready for a fierce spring campaign. Although the schedule has yet to be released, both groups will be facing off against seven nationally ranked teams. Commenting on the upcoming season, Hubbard said, “We have to prepare for everybody, but I have high hopes that we will do well in the spring.”

Onydia Garza/The Pan American CONDITIONING - Oliver Steil, Rosendo Cantu, Brett Bernstein and Pete Taylor (left to right) practice their footwork during practice. Both the men and women hope to carry their momentum from the fall to the spring season.