February 1, 2007 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

February 1, 2007

SGA president faces group of upset senators By SANDRA GONZALEZ The Pan American Student Government Association president Argelia Barrera faced a group of distraught senators Tuesday evening after concerns were voiced about the student leader’s alleged lack of attendance at the organization’s meetings. Led by Senator at large Tony Villarreal, a junior biology major, a group of three senators recommended removing Barrera at a meeting held in the Library Media Theater. Specifically, the senators charged that excessive absences, alleged failure to issue president’s reports, and not appointing replacement senators to vacant positions in what they referred to as a timely man-

ner warranted her removal from office. However, after being notified of the intended removal at 10 p.m. the night before, Barrera, who has served as president since April 2006, came to the meeting prepared to make up for her shortcomings. “My point is that yes, I am the student body president. And yes, I am supposed to be leading you guys. And yes, I did fail you,” said the senior political science major. “But I don’t think I failed in representing the students. That I’ve never done. There is not a day that I haven’t represented UTPA students to my fullest capacity.” The senators had intended to impeach Barrera at the meeting. However, the SGA constitution and

bylaws state that before any officer is removed, the issue must be presented to the Student Supreme Court, which is made up for three students - whom Barrera appointed early in her term - and two faculty members. According to Jerry Price, dean of students and SGA adviser, the constitution and bylaws refer to the process for removal from office and impeachment, but they do not distinguish the difference between the two. With allegations and defenses in the air, Price added that the most important thing at this point in time is overcoming the miscommunication. “Spending a lot of time on this issue is not the most effective use of

See SGA page 12

Sandra Gonzalez/The Pan American CONCERNS - Senator at large Tony Villarreal voices his concerns about SGA President Argelia Barerra’s recent absences at a meeting Tuesday evening.

County surveys plight of homeless Locals seek shelter from grittiness of streets By LUKE KOONG The Pan American Volunteers from around the community came together last week to address the pressing issue of chronic homelessness. Under the guidance of Bruce Friedman, a professor in the social work department, volunteers marched around the 78501 zip code counting and interviewing homeless individuals from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Jan. 25. Vicky Lopez, a supervisor at Convergys clothing store, arrived for the last shift of the day. It was her fourth year helping out, but the intensity of the situation hits her anew each time. “Something as simple as showering, for us it might be something we do at 6 a.m. These people that we see don’t

University Drive under construction By CLAUDETTE GONZALEZ The Pan American

have a place to shower,” she said. “They don’t know where they’re going to get their next meal.” Her co-worker Ana Perez felt a similar mix of emotions. “Because I don’t see that very much, it’s very hard to see people that are struggling,” said Perez, who works in the human resource department at Convergys. “It’s sad. You definitely value what you have more.” While this year marked the first time Perez took part in the study, this is the fifth year the survey has been done. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development requires that counties conduct the study in order to receive Continuum of Care money to fund the creation of transitional homes and support services.

On their way in to campus, University of Texas-Pan American students have no doubt noticed a new wave of construction in the area. Along University Drive between Jackson Road and Ware Road, the Texas Department of Transportation has begun the long process of widening the road. “The purpose of the project is to improve the overall facility, to add capacity,” Pete Alvarez, assistant area engineer, said. “We’re going to have three lanes in each direction and a continuous median in the middle.” The project, a continuation of the work that was already done between the Edinburg Courthouse and UTPA, will cost an estimated $13.5 million, but will yield increased safety in the area. “There were a lot of accidents over

See HOMELESS page 11 Tabitha Arce/The Pan American

See CONSTRUCTION page 12

News

A&E

Sports

Census finds married women no longer the majority

Spirit of Irish ballet comes to life at McAllen Civic Center

Gray leads Lady Broncs as they face IPFW tonight in Indiana

See Page 3

See Page 7

See Page 16

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R EADER FORUM

Februar y 1, 2007 THE

PAN AMERICAN 1201 West University, CAS 170 Edinburg, Texas 78539 (956) 381-2541 Fax: (956) 316-7122 http://www.panam.edu/dept/panamerican 56th Year – No. 16

Images always accompany the confessions, with all art being chosen by the poster. For example, a picture of a Christmas light-covered house (We’re talking of Griswold proportions), accompanies a text stating: “Now I’m doing it just to piss you off. Sincerely, your passive-aggressive neighbor.” I didn’t see one graphic element that was not perfect for the message. This is an essential part of the site because it brings the messages to life. Well done.

Graphics/Photos:

A&E Editor

Sports Editor

Sandra Gonzalez

Frank Calvillo

Luke Koong

sandra_ panamerican@ yahoo.com

hennero@ msn.com

lkoong2004 @yahoo.com

Web site Review y:

News Editor

n dra G o nza

Design Editor

Photo Editor Sidney Meadows

Roy Bazan

outintherain@ aol.com

crazy_restless@ yahoo.com

Designers Gregorio Garza

Rick Gamez

the_nataku@ yahoo.com

rikgamez@ gmail.com

Reporters and Photographers Edward Elguezabal Jeanette Perez Leslie Estrada

Rafael Roux

Onydia Garza

Angela Salazar

Patrick Kennedy

Erick Quintero

Shhh. Gather ‘round. I have a secret: it’s time for another Web site review! Ok, that was a lame secret, but I figured beginning with a secret was fitting for this week’s Web site. And considering the fact that I didn’t have a real secret to share (at least one that was clean enough for printing), I had to improvise. Since the secret is as out as Lance Bass, let’s get this review on the road.

Up for review: www.postsecret.com

Kristyna Mancias Adviser Dr. Greg Selber Secretary Anita Casares Ad Manager Lillian Villarreal

Editor Claudette Gonzalez ThePanAmerican@gmail.com

Asst. Ad Manager Samantha Quintana

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.

RATING Frank Warren, Web dude extraordinaire behind PostSecret.com, has given all grownups a chance to relive their schoolyard days with this popular site, which currently has over 60 million views (just a few less than the number of people who have seen Paris Hilton’s crotch). Warren has said that he created the site as a nonjudgmental place where posters can “remove their social masks,” be who they are, and reveal the secrets that eat away at them day in and out. Posters seem to be doing just that, submitting hundreds of anonymous secrets via the site and snail mail every day. Short confessions about everything from raunchy sexual escapades (Visit the site and try to guess which is mine. Guess right and get a cookie) to suicidal thoughts (*rolls eyes*) can be read at the site. In addition, PostSecret’s best work has resulted in a number of books such as “PostSecret: Extraordinary Confessions from Ordinary,” released in 2005, and “The Secret Lives of Men and Women: A PostSecret Book,” which arrived Jan. 9.

Web site overview:

Half-hour per week. While they update with secrets every Sunday, no access to past weeks makes the site a quick read.

Hours of entertainment:

Leading this week’s update was a photograph of what appears to be Hannibal Lector’s brunch. Accompanying this bloody view of guts was a caption that read: “I just had lap band surgery…when people ask how I’m losing the weight, I tell them, ‘will power and self control.’” Confessions like this one are what PostSecret visitors can expect. Personally, they make me paranoid because I don’t like being lied to, and end up walking around wondering which other former plumpy has a twisty tie on their insides. After reading a couple of confessions on the site, I notice my eyes involuntarily becoming narrower in suspicion. While I’m usually the first one to scoff at the thought of receiving inadvertent therapy from others’ experiences, PostSecret turned out to be a pleasant surprise. It’s almost as though the suffering a person has gone through as a result of keeping a certain secret for so long has made it more meaningful to the reader. Like when someone sells you their soul, it’s just more gratifying when it’s a tormented one. I’m sure you can relate. My only gripe with the site is the melodramatic, self-loathing confessions made by people who wear too much eyeliner (boys and girls) and don’t wash their hair. Most of their problems aren’t anything a slap in the face and little shampoo won’t fix. And don’t even get me started on the eating disorder confessions by people who are clearly still fat. People need to stop making up problems for themselves. I came to PostSecret for amusement and there is nothing entertaining about angsty teens because it’s been done; I’m tired of it and they should be too. In case you are still confused about what kind of messages are posted on PostSecret, here are a few of the standout statements from this week’s confessions (of course with comments from yours truly): “The sex could have been better” (Can’t it always?); “It’s so much easier to love myself now that I’ve told you how much I hate you” (Considering how often I tell people I hate them, that offers a viable explanation for my enormous ego); “I pick notes up off the ground and read them” (When I find gum in the notes I pick up, I consider it punishment for being a snoop)

Content:

Since my real secrets are dirtier than a toilet seat at a by-thehour motel, maybe you can share yours. That’s right, if you got a secret, send it to me ala PostSecret and you could see it here next week. Don’t worry, I don’t care enough to try and find out who you are. And if you have a secret Web site you’ve been visiting and not sharing with me, send a link to Sandra_panamerican@yahoo.com. As always, nude photographs of Wentworth Miller are welcome. Nude photos of yourself are not. Have a day. Not a good one. Not a bad one. Just have one.

Sidenote:

Correction: In last week’s issue of The Pan American, there was a typo in “Prof. returns from faculty exhange in Vietnam.” The population of Da Nang should have read 752,000.

IN THE NEXT ISSUE OF

THE PAN AMERICAN

Available Feb. 8

Homecoming hopes

Feminist theater

- Learn what nominees for queen will do to win the crown

- Local organization brings hit play to the Valley

N EWS

News in brief: There will be a Texas Hold ‘em Poker Tournament Feb. 7 at 3:30 p.m. in the Student Union commons.

Census data finds fewer women married than ever before By BRENDA RODRIGUEZ The Pan American As a 39-year-old unmarried female, Danika Brown doesn’t spend her single nights sitting at home knitting. “I go out quite a bit,” Brown, an English professor at The University of Texas-Pan American. “A typical Saturday night would be out to a neighborhood establishment. I like to shoot pool, go out and talk with friends.”

According to 2005 census data analyzed by the New York Times, 51 percent of women in the United States are living without a husband, just like Brown. While Brown has lived with her partner Rick Lahr for the past four and half years, she said they have no intentions concerning marriage. “He’s a good catch, but I don’t need to marry him,” said Brown. “He

said the exact same thing.” This marks the first time that married women have been the minority in the United States, according to census data. The number is up two percent from 2000, the year of the previous census. Brown said she can see why the number of women living without spouses is growing. “More women are in the workforce so they’re more self-sufficient,” she

said. “And women [know they] have a harder time in the work force if they try to juggle family.” Alexandra Cavazos, a freshman education major from Weslaco, agrees with Brown that women have a more difficult time obtaining careers than men, especially if a child is present. However, she adds that not having a husband doesn’t exclude the option of having children anymore.

“The ideal household of having a mother, a father and a child is disappearing little by little every day,” said Cavazos. “Nowadays it’s common to see a single mother supporting herself and her child.” Cavazos said she thinks society plays a role in this new trend among women. “A lot of men feel that having a

See MARRIAGE page 12

Society hopes to encourage agricultural science Big-name locals to speak at conference

By SANDRA GONZALEZ The Pan American

Horticulture is not the most commonly circulated word among science majors at The University of Texas-Pan American, but The Rio Grande Valley Horticulture Society wants to change that. In the first step toward spreading word about agriculture science, the Weslaco-based society held their 61st Annual meeting Jan. 30 in the Engineering Building auditorium. Kenneth R. Summy, an associate professor in the department of biology, said the meeting was held at UTPA, as opposed to its usual venue at Texas A&M’s agricultural research facility in Weslaco for several reasons. “One of our main goals in holding the meeting was to provide the students, both graduate and undergraduate, an opportunity to learn how to present a scientific paper, how to speak, and how to make professional contacts,” Summy said. Daniel De Leon, a senior pre-med biology major, found out at the meeting just how beneficial such events can be after Eliezer Louzada, an associate professor of plant molecular biology at Texas A&M-Kingsville, announced to the crowd of about 30 an opportunity for students to work in his lab. Agriculture science was never

By KRISTEN VILLEGAS The Pan American

health later on. Some of these issues can potentially be life threatening for people.” Louzada said many people would

State rep. Aaron Pena recalls his days at The University of Texas-Pan American fondly. Pena will share his experiences from those days, which he says played a large part in his current success, when he speaks at the Student Leadership Conference Feb. 3. “This is a critical moment in people’s lives when deciding which way to go. This conference can ignite leadership in people,” Pena said. “There is nothing more important than grabbing hold of young minds and making a difference in our community.” Currently in its sixth year, the conference was organized by the Student Leadership Program and the Leadership Academy of UTPA with the goal of communicating with incoming high school seniors, according to Amy Martin, coordinator of SLP. “This is an excellent opportunity for students to gain leadership skills...,” Martin said.

See HORTICULTURE page 12

See LEADERS page 12

Sandra Gonzalez/ The Pan American OPPORTUNITY - Eliezer Louzada (left), an associate professor at Texas A&M-Kingsville, speaks with Daniel De Leon (center), a senior pre-med biology major, and Eduardo Hernandez, a senior biology major, about job openings in his lab.

something De Leon, who later inquired about the job, had considered before. However, he said any knowledge related to science could help him become a bet-

ter doctor. “Any field you go into, you have to know about everything,” he said. “Many of these issues can affect people and their

U.S. Department of State scouts UTPA for prospective employees By SANDRA GONZALEZ The Pan American The U.S. Department of State is working to increase diversity among its employees, specifically the Foreign Service. To that end, the department recently sent a career diplomat to The University of Texas-Pan American in hopes of tapping into the university’s

unique population. “In my area of responsibility, UTPA is one of the schools whose students have the ability to be successful in our selection process and whose backgrounds will help us achieve our diversity goals,” said Luis J. Nigro Jr., a career diplomat and senior member of the U.S. Foreign Service.

Nigro came to UTPA Jan. 29 and spoke to a small group of students in the Palmetto Room in the Student Union about the many career options in the Foreign Service. “What we offer is something unique NIGRO

in the federal government,” he said to a group of about 10 students. “It offers you an opportunity to pursue a career in public service that ensures that you will live and work overseas in often challenging circumstances to advance U.S. national interests.” According to Nigro, who is currently a Diplomat in Residence at the

University of Houston, the job is challenging, and important. While in another country, a Foreign Service employee will work with several big-name organizations, such as the United Nations, to engage in dialogue with representatives from that foreign country among several other duties.

See JOBS page 12

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NEWS

February 1, 2007

NEWS

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EN ESPAÑOL

Noticias en breve: Dile a tus queridos cuanto los quieres! Escribeles un mensaje en nuestra edicion especial del dia de San Valentin por solo $5. Llame al (956)3812541 o visite Payments and Collections para mas informacion.

Censo: aumenta el numero de mujeres solteras Por BRENDA RODRIGUEZ Traducido Por JAIME NAVARRO The Pan American Como mujer soltera de 39 años, Danika Brown no pasa sus noches solitarias sentada en el sofá de su casa, mientras teje. “Yo salgo bastante”, dice Brown una maestra de ingles de la Universidad de Texas Pan American. “Un típico sábado por la noche consiste en salir a algún local de la zona. Me gusta jugar billar o salir a charlar con amigos”. De acuerdo a la información analizada por el New York Times en el censo del 2005, el 51% de las mujeres en Estados Unidos viven sin esposo, justo como Brown. Aunque Brown ha vivido con su compañero Rick Lahr por mas de cuatro anos y medio, asegura no tener intenciones de contraer matrimonio. “El es un buen partido, pero no necesito casarme con el”, dice Brown.

“El contesta lo mismo”. De acuerdo a la información del censo de 2005, es la primera ves que las mujeres casadas son una minoria en los Estados Unidos. Este numero ascendió en un 2% en comparación del censo anterior (2000).

“Estoy segura que este fenómeno tiene que ver en parte con el hecho que las mujeres están tomándose su tiempo, enfocándose en sus carreras o simplemente intentando mejorar su vida, sin tener que esperar a un hmbre que lo haga por ellas.” - Jennifer Mata, Instructora de historia y filosofía Brown dice que ella comprende el por que el numero de mujeres sin esposo esta aumentando.

“Más mujeres se incorporan a la fuerza laboral permitiéndoles ser auto suficientes”, dice ella. “ Y las mujeres saben lo difícil que es tener que balancear la familia con el trabajo”. Alejandra Cavazos, quien cursa el primer año del la carrera de Educación, residente de Weslaco, coincide con Brown en que a las mujeres se les dificulta obtener empleo en contraste con los hombres, especialmente si tienen hijos. Cavazos asegura que la sociedad juega un rol muy importante en estas nuevas tendencias entre las mujeres. “Muchos hombres sienten que el tener un hijo puede frenar su educación pues se ven en la necesidad de encontrar un trabajo”, dice Cavazos. “O ellos quieren seguir solteros y pasar un buen rato de cita en cita”. Mas aun, la proporción de mujeres Afro Americanas casadas (30%) mantiene uno de los lugares mas bajos contrastando con las mujeres Asiáticas

(60%) quienes están al frente de la estadística seguidas por las mujeres blancas no Hispanas (55%) y detrás la comunidad Hispana (49%). Jennifer Mata, instructora del curso “Women´s Studies Research” (Investigación de los Estudios de la Mujer), comenta que series televisivas como “The Bachelor” y “Sex and the City” pueden ser una razón por la cual las mujeres optan por la soltería. “La cultura popular influye en la interacción entre hombres y mujeres. Se han realizado estudios que demuestran la magnitud de los efectos de la televisión en el publico” dice Mata. “Entonces cuando hombres y mujeres ven este tipo de conductas en los programas de televisión, las adoptan como propias”. Mata agrego que las mujeres están desarrollando espíritus mas independientes encontrando satisfacción en ellas mismas. Además sugirió “Estoy segura que

este fenómeno tiene que ver en parte con el hecho que las mujeres están tomándose su tiempo, enfocándose en sus carreras o simplemente intentando mejorar su vida, sin tener que esperar a un hombre que lo haga por ellas” Mata habla por experiencia cuando cuenta que tan presionante puede ser la sociedad para que una mujer se case. Ella recuerda que mientras estudiaba el pos grado su familia constantemente le preguntaba cuando pensaba arraigarse. “No tengo tiempo pues prefiero dedicármelo”, Mata recuerda haber contestado. Ahora recién casada, dice entender el significado de que las mujeres vivan sin marido. “Espero que este movimiento sea el cambio hacia un mundo mejor donde hombres y mujeres tendrán las mismas oportunidades”, dice Mata. “Es una lastima que las mujeres no puedan alcanzar las salarios que los hombres gozan”.

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

News Brief: Let that special someone know how you feel. Buy a dedication in our Valentine’s Day insert! Call 381-2541 or visit Payments and Collections for more info.

English department welcomes new program By FRANK CALVILLO The Pan American In yet another step on the road to transformation, The University of Texas-Pan American’s English department announced the addition of a new graduate program last week. The new program will join the other tracks offered by the department which currently include a master’s of arts in literature, English as a second language, and rhetoric and composition. Although the master’s of fine arts in creative writing will begin this fall, the process in getting this program established has been a long one. “The program has been under development for several years,” said Steven Schneider, department chair. “There were two stages of review by The University of Texas System and by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. We received final approval in December 2006 and are now gearing up to launch the program and accepting applications for admission.” The program will help students who wish to further their writing skills through a variety of courses including writing workshops, literature seminars,

composition studies and a variety of electives. Jean Braithwaite, a creative writing professor, believes the curriculum will be beneficial to students. “In this particular program, students will actually have the chance to design their own classes according to what they discuss with their adviser,” she said. According to Braithwaite, many of the classes, such as one dealing with literary translation, are well-suited to this

area. “Since we live in a border region with lots of interest in classes dealing in these types of subjects, it fits well,” she said. Despite the years in development, demand from students was always apparent. “We have had a high level of interest, both from undergraduate and graduate students at UTPA,” said Schneider. “We also conducted a student survey and found there was a high level of

demand for this program in creative writing.” On Jan. 24, an information session was held at UTPA’s Student Union Theater, where the program was officially announced and students wishing to pursue it were allowed to ask questions. Chris Ardis, a recent graduate from UTPA’s English department, is glad to finally see this program come to life. “The addition of this program creates one more opportunity for people who love the study of English,” said

Ardis, who writes for The Monitor in McAllen. “Those of us who create stories in our minds all the time and want to learn how to creatively put those stories down on paper now have an avenue of higher learning to pursue at UTPA.” Ardis, who works as an elementary teacher by day, knows exactly what she wants to take away from the program. “For me, one of my weaknesses is describing people and scenes, so I would expect to learn how to use words to allow the reader to clearly envision the person or the place about which I am writing,” she said. Beesides student interst, Schneider believes that the latest addition to the list of English degrees will enhance the department’s reputation. “This new program will raise the academic profile of the department of English at UTPA,” Schneider said. “It is an advanced degree in the field of creative writing so graduates will be eligible to teach in community colleges and universities.” The new MFA in creative writing will begin fall of 2007. For more information, please visit the department’s Web site at www.utpa.edu/dept/english/graduate.html.

Flavor of classic Ireland comes to South Texas By LESLIE ESTRADA The Pan American Ireland was represented Saturday at the McAllen Civic Center as the Dancentre of Edinburg presented its annual winter show “A Touch of Irish and Other Works.” The show presented two acts with an intermission. It was roughly two hours long and the public really seemed to enjoy the performances put on by the dancers. Both acts consisted mainly of ballet and modern dance, which is what the school specializes in, and since the winter show started, Irish pieces have been performed. “Last year was the first year that we had our winter show,” said Yvonne Guajardo, owner and director of the dance theatre. “We performed three Irish pieces and everyone really loved it.” Yvette Iannelli, who shares ownership of Dancentre with Guajardo and is

also a director, added that since the Irish pieces had a positive outcome in the past, they decided to include them again this year. “People asked us if we were going to do Irish again,” said Iannelli. “Since it had a great response we decided to perform it once more, but this time adding more pieces to the program.” The dancers, who are all students at Dancentre of Edinburg, performed pieces like “Birthday Variations,” “The River,” “Morning Glory,” and “Stolen Kiss,” among others. Some of the dances were set by the owners’ friends and former students. “Willy Shives, who is a friend of ours, set one of the pieces for our students,” said Guajardo. “Lauren McDonald, an ex-student, set many of the modern pieces.” She stated that students were always very dedicated and passionate about learning their dances. “We have to have everything set

during the summer,” Guajardo said. “Once school starts it is very difficult since students have classes and other activities.” The hard work and dedication seemed to have paid off when the public stood up to applaud all the performances, especially one from Natasha Mitra, who performed a solo. “We showcased our soloist,” said Iannelli. “Natasha won first place in a competition that was held at South Padre Island last week. We are very proud of her and her dedication.” Rio Grande Valley resident Alicia Damian enjoyed the show and left satisfied with the performances. “It was a fun and entertaining way to spend my afternoon,” said Damian. “Everything was very enjoyable and very well put together.” Damian added that she was surprised to see very young dancers performing advanced pieces. “I was really amazed to see such

Yvonne Guajardo/Dancentre of Edinburg LUCK OF THE IRISH - Dancers from the Dancentre of Edinburg performed Irishthemed works Saturday at the McAllen Civic Center.

young dancers perform so beautifully,” Damian said. “I liked it so much that I am thinking of coming to the other show.” Guajardo added that the Dancentre of Edinburg will be having more performances in 2007. “We are preparing a lot of surpris-

es and we would like to invite people to come watch us. It is an enjoyable experience and people can actually learn some culture.” For information about the Edinburg group, call (956) 3309439 or e-mail dancecentreofedinburg@yahoo.com.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

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February 1, 2007

Story By: Jeanette Perez

t’s 9 o’clock on a Thursday night. Flashing lights surround a stage. Heavy metal music blaring so loud ear drums could burst. This isn’t a music video you’re watching. For brothers Marc and Joey Velazquez, it’s just another Thursday night at Graham Central Station in Pharr. Designed By: Roy Bazan

February 1, 2007

Every week the Weslaco natives head down to GCS to take part in something they recently found themselves to enjoy – being music promoters. GCS has occasionally played host to several concerts, but never like this. It’s no longer just Texas Hold’em night on Thursdays; a music scene is now emerging from the shadows. Last November these two local bandmates dove deeper into the music world, not just as musicians for their metal band In Asunder, but as something more – the people behind the scenes. Marc Velasquez, who had previously worked at GCS, was offered the opportunity to hold metal shows at the local club. Having been unsuccessful in the past, he was a bit wary about taking it up again. “It was something I thought I would never do again, but I decided to go forth with it. But this time, with the help of my brother, Joey,” said the 31-year-old guitarist. It was then that In Pieces Productions was born. ORIGINS EXPLAINED Derived from their band name - which generally translates to “being in pieces,” - IPP is making its mark in the Rio Grande Valley’s music scene. It brings something the Valley hasn’t typically seen before. According to 23-yearold Joey, it’s something different and the first of its kind in the area. And although their focus is metal, the two brothers have found respect for other styles. “This is something that we started to get the bands out there, especially the newcomers, and break those barriers between the genres. It’s made to bring a variety of different kinds of

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

bands, not just one style,” said Joey Velasquez. “For example, one night we’ll have a rock show, then a metal show and a hardcore show. Or sometimes we’ll just mix it all in. We like to be diverse.” From the alternative tunes of Methmare Motorcade to the hardcore beats of Walk the Graves or the heavy sounds of In Asunder, it is obvious IPP has no boundaries on who can grace the stage. The more variety, the better the show. University of Texas-Brownsville computer science major and Embracing Doom guitarist Mark Gatica finds that very fact interesting. “I like how it’s universal,” said the 22year-old Brownsville native. “Death metal band after death metal band will sound boring. Mix it up with some hardcore and thrash and that’s a show. Mixing it up is what makes the night unexpected.” Local musician Bobby Brown looks at it from the same perspective. “They are also in bands, and know the struggle that comes with being a musician. They don’t limit other bands because they sound “different” from everything else on the bill that night,” said the 21-year-old from Mission. “You should never limit yourself to any one type of music. Once you narrow your mind to a certain type you start to limit yourself to everything else. You never know when someone in the crowd who’s never listened to a certain type of music might hear something that could change their life.” CHANCE TO SHINE Opportunity is another defining element IPP brings to the scene. “They offer a lot of bands a slot on their show,” Gatica said. “The other day I saw a bulletin for this. I’ve never seen any other venue or production company offer this kind of play time. It’s a great way for a band to start.” Gatica, who has played at the venue twice already, is more than just an avid metal man. He has his own role in IPP. As the creator of his own design company, Xeper Designs, he has offered his services to the two brothers by creating a

Web site and a banner for online promotion. For him, it’s all about the music. “I would like to be involved in this music industry any way I can, and this production company is what brings out the best in it,” he said. “In return, they’ve opened up a new venue for my band to play at. And with it being a constant venue, it’s great to know I will be back soon to play there.” Gatica isn’t the only musician lending a helping hand to the music duo. Serge Carrasco of South Texas Metal Productions in Harlingen and Mike Mena of Dead, But Walking Productions from McAllen take turns running sound for each show. Having played for both promoters, the Velazquez brothers had no trouble seeking their services. “I’ve known Marc and Joey for quite some time now and have always gotten along very well with them. So I guess friendship has a big part to do with it. They have a good thing going and are doing an awesome job with their shows,” said the 35-year-old singer/guitarist of thrash band Belligerency. “It’s an excellent place to do shows and Joey is booking different bands every week, so that’s a major plus.” The feeling is mutual. “Working with Serge and Mike has been a great experience. They have helped us out a lot when it comes to making last minute decisions,” Marc Velasquez said. The venue, as well as the promoters, offers a sense of comfort and friendship that a band can’t really find anywhere else. Fellow musician and University of Texas-Pan American English major John-O Matamoros can account for that. “Whenever my band, Walk the Graves, plays there we have a good time. It’s really just a hang-out kind of vibe, and being surrounded by friends is sick,” said the 23-year-old drummer from Weslaco. “It’s really laid back. Our friends go whenever they can, and the rest of them are in bands playing anyways. The fact that these guys are our home boys makes it different. You’re not playing for dudes that tell you when to go on, how long you play, and never talk to you again. So it’s a lot of fun.”

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No IPP show is complete without its dose of audience participation. For Gatica, that’s definitely something to look forward to. “The way the crowd is actually involved in the show is something new down here in the Valley,” he explained. “They greet you at the door and get the crowd involved throughout the show with contests, and it’s cool because the prizes are awesome.” Audience participation is crucial to IPP’s goal of promoting. “We don’t want to strictly have a show with just the bands doing everything,” commented Joey Velasquez. “We want to be able to interact with the fans and make them feel welcome, because really we’re all there to hear music and support the scene. The fans are the ones that make us want to keep going and bring in more bands.” “It’s really giving the people what they want,” continued his brother. Constant online promotion - done mostly through MySpace.com - and running the show can sometimes become overwhelming, but even when it seems difficult these brothers won’t give up easily. “It’s a lot of hard work to be a promoter and musician at the same time but it’s well worth it in the end because more doors are open when you’re doing things like that,” Joey Velasquez said. Opening doors is a big thing in this music scene. “They’re giving bands a place to cut their teeth, so to speak, and they’re giving them exposure too,” Matamoros said. “We’ve played with bands from other cities that we never got to before. Besides, they’re doing what they want and it’s turning out good.” So why is IPP so memorable? “All the bands and fan base there make it feel awesome,” Gatica said. “You walk in there and you know tonight is gonna be awesome.” For more information about the IPP shows/booking, visit www.myspace.com/inasunder

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

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February 1, 2007

Story By: Jeanette Perez

February 1, 2007

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

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A&E

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February 1, 2007

‘Aces’ proves to be wild hand at box office By FRANK CALVILLO

The Pan American January is generally regarded as the deadest month for Hollywood. Usually the first month of the year is the time when all major studios release films that aren’t fit to compete with those released in the spring, summer, fall or the holidays. Instead, these films are shuffled out in the deadest month of winter with minimal promotion, in the hopes that simple word of mouth will bring back a healthy return at the box office. The films in question usually contain flimsy plots, unmemorable stars and are usually gone within two weeks after release. Although the new action/comedy “Smokin Aces” was released just last week, it bears no resemblance to the criteria of other recently released films and proves to be an exciting ride in yet another dreary January at the movies. “Smokin Aces” deals with the story of famed Vegas magician Buddy Israel, whose celebrity and mob ties

afford him a lavish lifestyle. However after a deal goes bad and Buddy decides to turn state’s evidence by revealing everything he knows to the FBI, word gets back to his old buddies at the mob who decide that it’s time for Buddy to be taken out. But they’re not the only ones who want Buddy. Within the first 15 minutes, the audience encounters FBI agents, bounty hunters, a trio of nihilists, a pair of paid female hit men, a scheming lawyer and a European assassin, all with intentions of locating the elusive Buddy, who is secluded in a luxurious penthouse suite atop a Las Vegas hotel. By the time the movie is over, intertwining plots will have come together, secret identities will have been revealed and a countless number of bullets and bodies will have fallen to the ground. If there’s one thing that “Smokin Aces” isn’t short on (besides bullets) it’s stars. The fast-paced film boasts an array of well-known faces including Ben Affleck, Andy Garcia, Ray Liotta, Ryan Reynolds, Alicia Keyes, Matthew Fox, Jeremy Piven and Jason Bateman. Though the performances are good all

around (especially by pros like Garcia and Liotta), the true standout of the film is Piven. As the troubled Buddy, Piven not only brings his own trademark humor to the table, but also goes further by giving Buddy depth and a sense of humanity. There’s no question that “Smokin Aces” is a “guy’s movie” all the way. This became obvious when the only people in the audience laughing happened to be males. Perhaps it’s the movie’s excessive use of violence, most of which I might add is gratuitous and was only added to ensure the film’s two-hour run time, that would prove a turn-off for the average female moviegoer. Furthermore, the directing style of writer/director Joe Carnahan, the creator of 2002’s “Narc,” is chock full of bizarre angles and offbeat lighting. Perhaps someone forgot to tell him that he was directing a feature film and not a twohour music video. However, “Smokin Aces” has enough dark comedy to provide laughs throughout and its seemingly conventional plot is able to hold you long

Universal Pictures LUCK OF THE DRAW - Jeremy Piven stars as Buddy Israel, the notorious showman and mob contact being hunted by several parties in “Smokin Aces.”

enough until its surprising climax. The film’s soundtrack also proves to be a highlight, with many fast rock and electronic sounds echoing the adrenaline-pumping action on the screen.

So in a month filled with cheap horror films (“Blood and Chocolate”), throw-away romantic comedies (“Catch and Release”) and spoofs that nobody asked for (“Epic Movie”), “Smokin Aces” is a real winner.

NEWS

February 1, 2007

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HOMELESS continued from page 1 From the command center set up inside the Salvation Army, Friedman briefed the volunteer workers on what they were doing and the significance of the project. The emergency shelter and soup kitchen set up inside the building are the only ones in Hidalgo County. Occupants are limited to 30-day stays. After that, they have to wait before they’re allowed back in. “The shelter is one piece, but we have to look at it from a continuum standpoint of addressing a lot of the underlying issues and problems that led people to become homeless,” Friedman said. He added that street people in the

“You can put them in a house and you can put them in a bed but what are the services that exist in order to deal with preventative measures?” -Bruce Friedman Social work professor

Valley have an easier time in winter than in summer. “People can live outdoors in semicomfortable fashion. In the summer though, they have to deal with the heat and humidity,” he said. “That’s when homeless populations really strive to find housing.” Many of the homeless individuals are chronically homeless because of drinking, drugs or mental illness. In some cases, concurrent conditions exist (referred to as co-occuring), in which the individual suffers from more than one problem. Finding homeless individuals is no easy task. Because of paranoia, many would run away at the sight of the vol-

unteers approaching. “One girl thought that by surveying them, they’d be registered and we’d later track them by satellite,” Perez said. Last year, there were an estimated 4,555 homeless people in Hidalgo County, twice the number in Cameron County. In the entire Valley, there were as many as 39,000. However, the Department of Housing and Urban Development questioned Friedman’s accuracy and asked him how he arrived at such a number. According to the department, a homeless person is defined as one without a physical address or a roof over their head. However, while conducting the survey Friedman used the McKinney-Vento definition, which included households that were doubled or tripled up. Friedman said change was occurring but more cooperation between entities was required in order to continue the progress made. Without the proper infrastructure and policies to help them, the number of homeless individuals will not decrease. “You can put them in a house and you can put them in a bed, but what are the services that exist in order to deal with preventative measures?” Friedman asked.

One man’s hard story told When fate showed one of its heads to Alberto Castro, it was the ugly one. “The economy is no good and there are no jobs. Everything is bad here,” he said, finishing a piece of bread. At a little past 6 p.m. at the Salvation Army, Castro - who has been homeless for three years - and other homeless individuals were taking in the day’s warm meal. With bags and wrinkles creating signs of wariness around his face, Castro, who would not reveal his age, recalls his early life as a migrant worker. Growing up in the San Benito area, he traveled the country from the warm citrus groves of Florida to the frigid fields of Michigan. Most would consider that a difficult life in itself, but then it became worse. While working in Florida in March 1998, Castro was held up by another man. The robbery did not last long, but the pain and dire consequences he received from the gun shot to his back did. In fate’s typical cruel mockery, he lived but was left partially disabled.

Still able to control most of his body, Castro knows it could have been worst, but when walking became an arduous task, his work became scarce. After his recovery, he returned to the Valley. A friend loaned him a trailer and Castro looked for work. He was offered a job on one occasion outside of Brownsville. However, Castro said his employer worked him late into the night and did not pay him. He was left empty-handed and exhausted. “Some people are like that,” Castro said stoically. However there are people, like those at the Salvation Army, who want to help people in similar situations as Castro. Though he has been there more than 30 days, the usual limit, the emergency homeless shelter has allowed him to stay longer because he helps clean up once it closes. It beats staying in a cold trailer in San Benito without food, he said. “These people (the Salvation Army) help you, but you also have to do something yourself,” Castro said. He plans to do just that. “Maybe when the weather is better, then I’ll go back and try to work,” he said.

NEWS

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LEADERS continued from page 3 The conference will give students the opportunity to hear from Pena, as well as Action 4 News anchor Marcy Martinez, and motivational speaker Aric Bostick. Speakers will share their experiences and leadership techniques. Marisela Deleon, a Leadership Academy member, said that in being apart of the academy, she has participated with local leaders in discussions that are held in a leadership focus group on campus. “As an advanced academy member, I have benefited so much from the events I have attended, especially from the leadership conferences,” Deleon said. Pena, who will speak about the importance of risk-taking, communication and tenacity, said he feels that by appearing at the conference, he is helping the community by developing its future leaders. The Student Leadership Conference is open to all UTPA students. To register call The Dean of Students’ Office at 381-2260 or visit UC 104.

MARRIAGE continued from page 3 child will weigh them down from continuing their education, getting a good job,” she said. “Or they want to be a bachelor and just have fun dating around.” Moreover, the proportion of black women who are married, 30 percent, remains one of the lowest among all races, according to Census data. Asian women lead the statistics with 60 percent married; followed by non-Hispanic white women at 55 percent and Hispanic women at 49 percent. Jennifer Mata, who teaches a course called Women’s Studies Research, said television shows such as “Sex and the City” may be a reason why women in society remain increasingly single. “Popular culture has a lot to do with how men and women interact. I know there are studies that show how much television affects the viewing public,” Mata, a history professor, said. “So if men and women are watching these types of shows, they are seeing that and that is becoming a reality at some point.” Mata added that women are devel-

oping a more independent spirit, and thus find satisfaction on their own. “I’m pretty sure some of it has to do with the fact that more women are waiting because they are either focusing on a career or trying to just improve their own lives for themselves and not wait around for a male to do that for them,” she suggested. Mata speaks from experience and can relate to the pressure from society for women to get married. She recalls that while attending graduate school, her family constantly asked her when she would settle down. “I don’t have time. I have to take care of myself,” Mata recalls telling them. Now a newlywed, Mata said she understands the significance of women living without spouses. “I hope that it means that we are on the move to a better world where both men and women do have equal opportunities,” Mata said. “I mean it’s a shame that women still aren’t making as much money as men in the workforce.”

HORTICULTURE continued from page 3 be surprised to learn that agriculture science is a diverse field. “In the past, people have had a perception about agricultural science that it is just farming when indeed it is not,” he said. “Agriculture today is a very hightech science. They shouldn’t have this perception.” In addition, Louzada said the professional society decided to hold the conference at UTPA as a chance for two universities to partner up and teach each other. “This is a very agricultural area. A&M is a more research-oriented institution and UTPA is going through this avenue,” he said. “I think this is a good opportunity to get people here to pay attention to agricultural science.” Bhimanagouda Patil is the 2006 president of the Horticultural Society

and director of the Vegetable and Fruit Improvement Center in Weslaco. “We used to have it in Weslaco, but now there are a lot of things in agriculture where there is a human health value,” said Patil, an associate professor of horticulture at Texas-A&M in College Station. “So we thought it was good to expose this to this part of Valley so they can take this society to a higher level in the future.” Ensuring a healthy and safe agricultural future is what Louzada said the society is focusing on at this point, as there are always risks that could affect large populations. “People come from everywhere to this place. When they come, they sometimes bring their plants. However, with those plants they have the potential to

bring pests and diseases that can devastate the industry,” he said, referring to a possible risk the society is addressing. While that may seem like a slim chance of harm, he countered saying it was “better to prevent than have to deal with the issue later.” Prevention aside, Patil said the society is also working on partnerships between UTPA, TAMU, TAMUK, The University of Texas-Brownsville and South Texas College. “There is some partnership going on among faculty, but there is no partnership among institutions, so I want to showcase how they can do that,” he said. “We plan to address how the four institutions can help to partner and build partnerships to improve higher education in the Valley.”

following the meeting and all involved parties are planning on discussing the matter at length in days to come.

communication between all of us. If she’s willing to work with us now that she realizes [there’s a problem], I hope we can work together from here on, and I hope there is no animosity that enables us to get work done.” Price agreed, saying that sometimes meeting in a more comfortable environment is the best path on the way to a solution. “One of the things we have learned is that situations like this are best resolved informally through communication,” he noted. “That’s even how we deal with student discipline issues here in our office. If the informal resolutions don’t work out, that’s when you go to the formal processes.”

“In this case, we don’t want to spend too much time on it, but we would like to get it resolved and move forward.” - Jerry Price, Dean of students “This is not something I seek (Barrera’s removal from office). I’m not after personal removal. I just want what’s best for the organization,” he said. “And what’s best at this point is

JOBS continued from page 3 “[Those who choose a career in the Foreign Service] would be advocating U.S. government policies and positions on a whole range of international issues,” he said. “And, they would be resolving differences and solving problems on issues of mutual interest.” However, Nigro stressed that the program is not exclusively for those in the political science field, saying the Foreign Service is branched into five career paths: political science, economics, public affairs, management, and counseling. Nigro said the job demands flexibility as the organization requires its employees change location every two or three years. However, despite the challenges associated with the job, it also has several benefits. “It involves learning and understanding a multiplicity of cultures in a way that tourists will never do, because we live and work with our family in their society,” he said. Nigro said all interested parties

should visit www.careers.state.gov to learn more about the Foreign Service. He also invited people to e-mail him at Lnigro@uh.edu if they had any specific questions regarding the program. In addition, while the selection process is in the middle stages of being changed, Nigro said he will keep interested parties in the know about the proposed new testing system, which should be in place by the summer. Until then, Nigro, who has served since 1980, said his main focus is generating interest in the organization he has come to have great confidence in. “I believe that a Foreign Service career has given me an extraordinary opportunity to use the academic, professional and practical skills that I developed in school and out,” he said. “The times I felt that my service was most worthwhile were in crisis situations like Haiti and in developing countries in general, where the actions of the U.S. government made a difference in the daily lives of the people of those countries.”

CONSTRUCTION continued from page 1

SGA continued from page 1 time. The student government body should be focusing on the business of the university and there should be little diverting from that,” he said. “In this case, we don’t want to spend too much time on it, but we would like to get it resolved and move forward.” Price added that as student leaders, the SGA can learn from the events and use those lessons in their future lives and careers. “Many other students on campus will never experience a situation like they are. But while it’s stressful, it’s a learning experience,” he said. “If they were 40-year-olds, they’d still learn a lot from it.” Villarreal said he was approached

February 1, 2007

the years in front of Pan Am and in front of Wal-mart because there were just too many people wanting to do too many different things,” Alvarez said. “In order to help improve the overall mobility and safety in that area, we went ahead and added that raised median.” Now, they will add a similar median further west on University Drive. This proposal has received a mixed response from locals who have already gone through the addition of the median in the other section of road. “We’ve heard a lot of really good comments from some of the students there at Pan Am, who say it’s much safer to get into the university. Now they know exactly where they need to go as opposed to having a free for all,” Alvarez said. “We have also gotten some bad comments. Some of the businesses say it affects their business.” The project will comprise the addition of one lane in each direction - for a total of six lanes - and the addition of landscaping along the center median “This is to enhance the aesthetics of the area,” Alvarez said. For Elvis Cavazos, a senior biology major, the best part about the construction is the addition of bike lanes throughout the length of the project. Cavazos, who has used the existing bike lanes on Jackson Road and University Drive, says he feels more confident riding in areas with designated bike lanes. “I feel safer,” Cavazos said. “At least people know that there might be a biker. When there’s not a bike lane, it gets kind of scary because there isn’t always a shoulder and you have to ride on the street sometimes.”

While the project will improve safety and aesthetics in the long run, students will currently experience some inconvenience when driving to class. “We ask that everybody be patient with us,” Alvarez said. But, Alvarez said that students can avoid problems by following certain advice. “Allow extra time to reach your destination. Giver yourself some extra minutes to get to class safely,” he said. Some students have been perplexed about the removal of one of two left-turn lanes from University Drive onto Sugar Road. Alvarez said that originally there were plans to widen Sugar Road so that that turning lane would not be forced to immediately turn right into the parking lot. “Sugar Road was anticipated to have been widened by the time we did the widening of State Highway 107,” Alvarez said. “The idea was, as two lanes turned north on Sugar, we would have two lanes all the way north to the first stoplight.” When that didn’t pan out as soon as hoped, the department decided to remove one turning lane. However, according to Alvarez, as traffic warrants it and as Sugar Road gets expanded, the opportunity would be there to reinstate the second turning lane. In addition to the work currently being started on University Drive, TxDOT is completing work on a section of U.S. 281 between Trenton and University Drive. In addition to widening the highway, the project added continuous illumination and enhanced safety features such as shoulders and new entrance and exit ramps.

SPORTS

February 1, 2007

Page 13

Tennis squads falter away from home, remain winless By THE PAN AMERICAN The Bronc tennis squads are still chasing their first wins of the season. On the men’s side, the team was shut out by the Horned Frogs of Texas Christian University, 6-0, when they met on the court Jan. 24. TCU entered the fray ranked 36th in the nation. Junior Gary Bianco was defeated in two straight sets by Cosmin Cotet 6-0, 6-1. David Lopez-Heredia also fell when matched up against Chris Biro, by a 6-3, 6-4 count. Freshmen Nirvick Mohinta and Shashank Vij, both transfers from the University of New Orleans, didn’t fare any better. Mohinta lost his match to Kriegler Brink 7-5, 6-0 while Vij dropped his against Andrew Ulrich 7-5, 6-1. Freshman Brett Bernstein and

sophomore Rosendo Cantu suffered defeat at the hands of Caleb Bulls (6-2, 6-2) and Stuart Row (6-1, 6-0), respectively. The men could have wiped away the shutout when Bernstein and LopezHeredia played Biro and Ulrich in doubles. They were leading 6-3 before being bumped 8-7. Bianco and Mohinta lost 8-3 against Brink and Bulls while Vij and Cantu went down 8-4. The Lady Broncs haven’t had much luck either, as they dropped three straight matches in El Paso over the weekend. In Sunday’s match against Lamar, junior Giana Oliveira was the only singles winner as she defeated Tanya Roberts 7-6 (3), 6-3, and then teamed with Julia Cirne-Lima to take the number-one doubles’ competition against

Kaltrina Harbuzi and Roberts. Cirne-Lima didn’t fare as well on her own, as she dropped a 6-0, 6-3 match to Harbuzi. In other singles action, Stephanie Willerding was defeated by Maria Gutierrez (6-3, 6-2) while Megan Bedeau lost her match to Pamela Martinez (6-2, 6-1). Silke Buksik and Sarah Burton lost to Manijee Ashrafi (62, 6-0) and Manami Kuroda (6-0, 6-1), respectively. Doubles team Willerding and Garcia dropped an 8-4 decision to Ashrafi and Martinez while Bedeau and Buksik fell 8-3 to Gutierrez and Kuroda. Saturday and Friday’s matches were equally disappointing to the women’s team, as they fell to the University of North Florida (6-1) and to the University of Texas-El Paso (4-2).

Additional match results from El Paso Sat. Jan. 27 North Florida 6 vs. Texas-Pan American 1 Women’s Singles Vanessa Sanchez, North Florida, def. Giana Oliveira, Texas-Pan American, 6-4, 3-6, 6-1. Julia Cirne-Lima, Texas-Pan American, def. Natalia Sanchez, North Florida, 7-5, 6-3. Catalina Castillo, North Florida, def. Stephanie Willerding, Texas-Pan American, 6-3, 6-3. Florencia Torres, North Florida, def. Silke Buksik, Texas-Pan American, 6-2, 6-1. Ina Durcakova, North Florida, def. Megan Bedeau, Texas-Pan American, 6-3, 2-6, 6-4. Robin Rogers, North Florida, def. Nicole Garcia, Texas-Pan American, 7-5, 6-0. Women’s Doubles Natalia Sanchez/ Catalina Castillo, North Florida, def. Giana Oliveira/ Megan Bedeau, Texas-Pan American, 8-4. Ina Durcakova/Florencia Torres, North Florida, def. Julia Cirne-Lima/

Fri. Jan. 26 Texas-El Paso 4 vs. Texas-Pan American 2 Women’s Singles Weronika Bloczynska, Texas-El Paso, def. Giana Oliveira, Texas-Pan American, 6-1, 6-3. Julia Cirne-Lima, Texas-Pan American, def. Isabela Kulaif, Texas-El Paso, 1-6, 6-3, 6-1. Katherine Palider, Texas-El Paso, def. Stephanie Willerding, Texas-Pan American, 6-4, 6-3. Marina Deluca, Texas-El Paso, def. Megan Bedeau, Texas-Pan American, 6-1, 6-3. Silke Buksik, Texas-Pan American, def. Harmonie Chatagner, Texas-El Paso, 6-3, 6-3. Megan Pritchard, Texas-El Paso, def. Nicole Garcia, Texas-Pan American, 6-2, 6-4.

Men’s Basketball

ENLIGHTENED BY LUCAS

Sat. Jan. 27

Composing sonatas for the world’s athletes This is a request to any music majors out there for their assistance. If you have been drinking Sprite lately, you will have noticed a new promotion asking to help create LeBron James’ theme song. The winBy LUKE KOONG ner creates the beat The Pan American and gets to listen as it’s recorded by a celebrity artist. Total estimated value: $3,000. Wow. A theme song. That’s absolutely brilliant. How exactly is that going to work? Will someone follow him around with giant speakers blaring the tune? Or will it be his entrance music at basketball games? Well, if he gets a theme song, I think it’s only fair these athletes get one too. Carlos Valderrama – Yes, the famous Colombian with the big orange ‘fro. He captained the Colombians at the 1990, 1994 and 1998 World Cups. The 45-year-old midfielder is MLS’s alltime assist leader with 114. The imposing hairdo that kept his opponents at bay helped him to be considered Colombia’s best player. Theme song: “The Hairbrush Song,” by Larry the Cucumber. Lance Armstong – The seven-time Tour de France winner and native Texan. He survived can-

Stephanie Willerding, Texas-Pan American, 8-5. Vanessa Sanchez/ Robin Rogers, North Florida, def. Silke Buksik/ Nicole Garcia, Texas-Pan American, 8-3.

cer, dated Sheryl Crow and wasn’t a very good actor in “Dodgeball.” And what of rumors of running for Texas governor? One can only wait and see. Theme: “Bicycle Song” by Queen. Maria Sharapova – This female is hot. The leggy blonde from Russia made headlines when she won Wimbledon in 2004 and beat Serena Williams in two straight sets. She also won the last U.S. Open. Watching her in those Canon commercials makes me almost want to buy a camera. Almost. Theme: “Yummy,” by Gwen Stefani. Takeru Kobayashi – Nicknamed “The Tsunami,” he’s swept his competition away six years in a row in the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest. He set a record last time eating 53.75 hot dogs. Granted, his ability to eat so much is abnormal, because he has gastroptosis, in which the stomach is able to expand below his rib cage. Theme: “Eat It,” by “Weird Al” Yankovic. Bode Miller – You have to give props to someone who can ski down a slope at 60 mph and be wasted at the same time. Hell, you have to toast him. After showing the world his dedication by climbing back up a slope after missing a gate in the slalom event during the 2002 Winter Olympics, he got a goose egg for medal count during the games in Turin. Theme: “Alcohol,” by Brad Paisley. Please send all questions, comments and party invitations to lkoong2004@yahoo.com.

Texas-Pan American at South Dakota St. (Frost Arena in Brookings, S.D.) Texas-Pan American (10-10) Player FG-FGA 3FG-3FGA Shankle, D. 2-2 2-2 Allgood, J. 3-6 0-1 Stoll, P. 1-4 1-4 Burrell, B. 5-13 2-7 Lien, C. 1-2 0-0 Puente, D. 5-7 3-4 Chatman, J. 2-6 2-6 Smith, B. 0-0 0-0 Trader, Z. 3-7 0-0 Edwards, C. 0-2 0-0 Totals 22-49 10-24

FT-FTA 1-2 4-4 0-0 2-2 3-4 0-0 0-0 0-0 3-3 0-0 13-15

TP 7 10 3 14 5 13 6 0 9 0 67

A 2 0 3 1 2 2 2 0 0 0 13

S 2 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 4

B 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 3

REB 0 4 0 3 3 0 1 0 3 4 21

South Dakota St. (5-15) Player FG-FGA Williams, K. 9-13 Lonely, M. 3-6 Frias, J. 1-2 Callahan, G. 6-10 Cadwell, M. 5-10 Casey, M. 0-1 Wipf, T. 0-1 Kleinjan, A. 1-2 Yackley, B. 1-3 Basset, T. 0-0 Totals 26-48

FT-FTA 4-4 6-8 2-4 2-2 4-5 2-2 1-2 3-5 0-0 2-4 26-36

TP 24 12 4 15 1 2 1 6 2 2 82

A 0 2 2 5 0 0 0 1 1 1 12

S 0 1 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 4

B 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

REB 4 6 6 4 5 0 0 2 2 3 35

FT-FTA 5-6 6-6 4-4 2-3 1-4 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-1 3-4 0-0 21-28

TP 8 20 9 5 11 0 0 2 0 9 0 64

A 3 1 2 3 0 2 1 1 1 0 0 14

S 1 4 1 2 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 10

B 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 2

REB 1 6 9 5 2 1 2 5 2 2 0 39

FT-FTA 0-0 0-0 2-4 0-0 0-0 0-1 1-1 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 3-6

TP 4 15 8 9 0 5 9 0 0 0 2 52

A 3 3 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 3 1 14

S 0 4 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 1 9

B 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1

REB 0 1 5 5 0 1 1 3 0 1 2 23

3FG-3FGA 2-3 0-0 0-0 1-3 0-1 0-1 0-0 1-1 0-2 0-0 4-11

Women’s Basketball Sat. Jan. 27 South Dakota St. at Texas-Pan American (Edinburg) South Dakota St. (15-5) Player FG-FGA Verdegan, A. 1-5 Vogel, M. 5-12 Muchenhirn, A. 2-5 Warkenthien, J. 1-4 Grimsrud, C. 5-6 Anderson, A. 0-3 Cornemann, K. 0-0 Meier, M. 1-2 Kratovil, A. 0-1 Boever, M. 3-6 Nielsen, L. 0-0 Totals 18-44

3FG-3FGA 1-5 4-10 1-1 1-1 0-0 0-3 0-0 0-1 0-0 0-0 0-0 7-21

Texas-Pan American (9-13) Player FG-FGA 3FG-3FGA Jones, R. 2-4 0-0 Gray, L. 6-14 3-8 Daniel, M. 3-8 0-0 Vaughn, T. 3-11 3-9 Kostacky, D. 0-0 0-0 Winfrey, T. 2-5 1-2 Garrett, R. 4-4 0-0 Jean, R. 0-2 0-0 Schneider, T. 0-0 0-0 Ramirez, C. 0-2 0-1 Grisby, A. 1-1 0-0 Totals 21-51 7-20

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February 1, 2007

Broncs drop two games on roadtrip By ERICK QUINTERO The Pan American The University of Texas-Pan American men’s basketball team began its United Basketball League season on the wrong side of the win column with two road loses. On Thursday night the Green and Orange squad suffered an 88-58 setback at the hands of a more experienced North Dakota State, in a game plagued by turnovers on both sides. There were 44 total miscues, including 24 by UTPA that led to 29 State points. Turnovers, according to head coach Tom Schuberth, combined with a lack of concentration and too many defensive miscues, resulted in a 30point blowout, but he was quick to point out most of the defensive breakdowns can be corrected. “North Dakota State was playing very good; we just came off a 10-day layoff. I don’t know if that hurt us but it certainly didn’t help us,” Schuberth said. “I felt like we had been playing good at home, but we were not playing the type of caliber teams that North Dakota State has, so we got off to a decent start then we just kind of crumbled. Before we knew it they were increasing their lead and we just couldn’t get back in the game.” NDSU torched the nets in the first half by shooting 54 percent from the field. On the other side of the spectrum

things looked dismal as the Green and Orange offense sputtered to a mere 29 percent. The Bison went up at half 3923 and the second half would prove to be no different clip. The Bison outpointed UTPA 49-35. The Green and Orange were led by steady 6-foot-11 senior center Colin Lien, who tallied 15 points on 5-of-9 shooting and pulled down five rebounds. Junior forward Zach Trader also chipped in 12 points. Ben Woodside scored 23 points, Brett Winklemann added 21 points and Andre Smith racked up 19 for NDSU. OH-FOR-TWO UP NORTH The shooting woes continued for the men Saturday night during the first half of play against South Dakota State in game two of their short road trip; they dropped an 82-67 decision. UTPA shot seven of 24 from the field in the first half and the Jackrabbits did not hesitate to capitalize on their misfortune as they took a 37-24 halftime lead. The 15-point loss keeps the Broncs at a .500 winning percentage for the season with a 10-10 record. Junior shooting guard Brian Burrell led UTPA with 14 points and former McAllen Memorial Mustang Danny Puente added a career-high 13. “We turned around and went to South Dakota State and I just didn’t think we were as mentally ready as

we’ve been at all our other games,” Schuberth said. “I always felt like we had an opportunity each time the ball was tipped off to win the game but after about the first five minutes we just lost focus.” According to Schuberth his squad’s subpar defense has led it to rush shots on offense. Furthermore the squad’s two losses may not look pretty on paper but he said the players learned from the experience and are happy to be home where they remain undefeated. The men resume play on Thursday night against IndianaPurdue-Fort Wayne, at the UTPA Field House. Tip off time is 7 p.m. The game will prove to be another tough matchup for the Green and Orange as IPFW won both contests last season. Schuberth remained optimistic his squad would be re-energized when they take to Sam Williams Court. He challenged the student body to support their team. He said he understands most students are busy with work and other responsibilities but he also noted that UTPA’s president, Blandina Cardenas, who is by far the busiest person on campus, is usually in attendance. “It’s their university, it’s their basketball program, it’s their peers playing out there,” Schuberth said. “We need an involved and energized crowd. The loyal and local fans we get make the games fun.”

Onydia Garza/The Pan American REBOUND - Colin Lien (23) and the Broncs dropped their first two road conference games last week. UTPA and Lien, who averages 11 points and 6.5 rebounds per game, will face off tonight against IPFW at 7 p.m.

Bronc baseball looks forward to start of spring season By SAVANNAH MARTINEZ The Pan American

Onydia Garza/The Pan American IN AWE - Pitcher Shane Janecka, a sophomore undeclared major, looks at former Astros’ pitching coach Jim Hickey’s National League championship ring during Hickey’s visit on Jan. 19.

The University of Texas-Pan American baseball season opener, also known as the UTPA Classic Tournament, will begin this weekend. The baseball team has been hammering out imperfections and has used the offseason as a springboard to improve their gameplay. The Broncs were 24-29 last year. They will compete against Texas State and Oklahoma in the tourney. Saturday, the Broncs will take on Texas State at 2 p.m. Oklahoma at 7 p.m. On Sunday they will play Oklahoma at noon and Texas State at 5 p.m. All the games will be at Edinburg Baseball Stadium. They are hoping that the preparation will pay off this weekend. “We started our fall workout schedule at the beginning of school with offseason conditioning which includes weight training, running, hitting, pitching, fielding, defense and skill work,” said head coach Willie Gawlik. “We then had about

a 24-day session in October and November where we played as a team and worked on team skills.” Even during the Christmas break, the team worked overtime on conditioning their skills. “We started back up on Jan. 8 and we have been going full tail since then. There was some interruption by rain but we are pretty much on schedule,” Gawlik commented. The Broncs hope to use the UTPA Classic as the spark that will get them ready for annual powerhouses like The University of Texas-Austin. Senior education major Alex Guajardo expressed his eagerness to compete with the Longhorns and his expectations for the team this season. “This is the year that we are going to beat them. We have not beaten them since 1971,” said Guajardo, a righthanded pitcher from La Joya. “I expect for our team to be the first team in a long time to go to Regional and have a great year.” Fellow teammate, senior mechanical

engineer major Osiel Flores, agrees with Guajardo. “We were supposed to beat them last year but we came up short,” said Flores, a catcher who hit .300 with 35 RBI in 2006. Jim Hickey, former Bronc hurler and current pitching coach for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, was on hand Jan. 20 to offer some advice to the team as it prepared for the tournament. “Jim Hickey told us to go out and have fun,” said senior business management major Lyndon Bartosh. “He told us that we are in college, we are healthy, we are really blessed to be playing this game right now, the game has brought us many things and to look back on that and to know that you are having a good time and not to take it for granted.” Bartosh, who hit .292 in spot duty last season, said he and his teammates are excited about the new season. “We had a good fall season and we got a bunch of good recruits in, good junior college transfers and high school guys,” he said.

SPORTS

February 1, 2007

Page 15

Editors offer expert opinions on Super Bowl XLI

Colts 28-13 A little birdie (my good friend Elvis) told me Peyton Manning and the re-energized Colts D’ will be too much for Rex Grossman and the Bears offense. The Bears have a stiff defense, but it’s Peyton’s time.

Colts 31-10 Rex has had two decent games in a row. I think it’s time for him to choke. The Bear-ies will try to run the ball, but Indy will step up big again. And there’s no stopping Peyton. His comeback against the Patriots says it all.

Colts 9-2 Adam Vinatieri will continue his clutch kicking and that’s all the Colts are going to need to win. The Bears might get lucky, but it won’t be enough. The Colts better win too. I have to pay the rent!

Colts 27-21 The Bears, especially quarterback Rex Grossman, have been too inconsistent in their performance. Plus my best friend is from Indiana. I’ll be watching but the commercials better not suck.

Bears 14-3 I’m picking the Bears because they play in Chicago and that’s where Season One of Prison Break was filmed. Not to mention Oprah Winfrey lives there too.

Bears 42-34 A bear can totally take a horse down. No question about it. Of course, the prospect of them playing football brings up an interesting dilemma because neither have opposable thumbs or a way to grip the ball. Melissa Uriegas/ The Pan American

Designed by Rick Gamez WHO DO YOU THINK WILL WIN THE SUPER BOWL? - The Pan American polled 204 students, faculty, and staff members about who they think will win Super Bowl XLI. A majority, 111, think the Colts will win while 93 believe Chicago will take the prize. The results of this poll are not scientific and they are the opinions of those participating.

SPORTS By KRISTYNA MANCIAS The Pan American Big things come in small packages and that’s exactly what The University of Texas-Pan American Lady Broncs got with starting point guard Lekeisha Gray. In her first year at UTPA, the junior college transfer has made the transition to the Division I level. The quiet and respectful ballplayer may not say much off the court but once the ball is in play, she’s ready to lead her troops into battle. Gray, originally from Muskogee, Okla., started playing basketball in the fourth grade. Unlike many other basketball players though, she only participated in school ball. “I started playing basketball in the fourth grade and ever since then I knew I wanted to play college ball. I never played in AAU leagues,” said the 5-foot-4 guard. In her final year at Butler County College, she came to the attention of head coach DeAnn Craft, who was looking for talent after the graduation of former point guard Devin Reed. “I used to coach in that region and I knew her coach and we were able to hear about her early,” Craft said. “Obviously we needed a person in that position with the graduation of Reed the year before. Therefore, I felt that she fit our program’s needs.” Her explosiveness and her determination were things that Craft knew would be a valuable asset to the team. But one of the biggest questions a coach must face is, “How long will it take a player from the junior college level to transition to the DI level?”

Editor’s Pick: Game to Watch When: Feb. 4 Time: 5:00 p.m. Where: Miami, Fla. Colts

Game will be aired on CBS

sound junior college players that I’ve seen in quite some time. It’s just a rarity on the women’s side to find a kid like LeKeisha.” In her first year, Gray quickly stopped being a newcomer and has developed into a leader. In the team’s fourth game she led in scoring with 16 against

In Gray’s case, the answer wasn’t long in coming. “You can evaluate a player at the junior college level and still not know if they can transition to the Division I level,” Craft said. “She is one of the finest, fundamentally

Schreiner Nov. 21. Three days later she again paced the unit, scoring 15 at Texas State. She has the ability to drive to the basket or take the open look from the perimeter. And she knows when to give it up, as well. “I think her leadership has evolved from such a commitment to fundamentals because our young players can emulate,” said her coach. “If you want to showcase a perfect defensive stance all we need to do is look at her.”

Onydia Garza/The Pan American

Bears

On Jan. 15, Gray took it upon herself to give UTPA’s rival Texas A&MCorpus Christi one of its biggest losses in program history. The Lady Bronc led all scorers with 18 points on 7-for-13 shooting including a trio of three-pointers to go along with seven rebounds, two steals and one assist in a 54-48 victory. “LeKeisha propelled us in the Corpus game,” Craft agreed. “She was the best point guard on the floor and she went up against an All-Independent first team player..., so she was pivotal in that game.” On Jan. 23, Gray was named Independent Newcomer of the Week for the second time this season. She is the only Lady Bronc averaging in double figures with 10.4 points per game and leads the team in steals (38) and assists (46). She has been at her best against the toughest competition, notching 16 against Nebraska and 15 against Texas, both figures leading the Lady Broncs versus Big 12 competiton. One disadvantage that seems to have no effect on Gray is her 5-4 stature, and this fact has led to success throughout her career. “Sometimes my height seems to be a disadvantage but I’ve been dealing with it for a long time,” she said. “So now I try to work around it. I’m not intimated by big players at all, because I’ve always said that big things come in small packages.” With the Lady Broncs in the final stretch of their season, all eyes will be on how they will finish and on Gray, their biggest threat. When asked if there was something about her that people may not know, she smiled and said, “That I’m a nice person. I’m not the type of person to walk around with a smile on my face. I may look mean but I’m really a nice person.”