March 8, 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

March 8, 2007

Future of guaranteed tuition program in flux By VERONICA GONZALEZ The Pan American Since the deregulation of tuition at all Texas public universities in 2003, rates at state institutions have increased by an average of 37 percent. As a result, the Texas Guaranteed Tuition Plan, formerly known as the Texas Tomorrow Fund, has announced that it could be about $3.3 billion in debt after fulfilling

its tuition commitments through 2029. Since 1996, the plan, which has 158,000 active contracts, had allowed any parent to lock their child’s college tuition at the current rate and begin paying. Various plans allowed them to pay for all four years or just two years. While the plan has been closed to new enrollments since 2003, it continues to fulfill contracts that were purchased through its closing date.

“The fund was closed down to new people because it was not producing enough revenue. The fund would not have been able to grow anymore,” said Juan Hinojosa, Texas state representative. With tuition rates skyrocketing at a steady pace, there is no way the plan can reopen right now and calculate tuition rates. “We (state legislators) allowed

tuition to go through the roof,” Hinojosa said. “Therefore we need to find a way to open it and fund it for the public.” According to Hinojosa, the only way the state can help for now is to raise the amount of financial aid given to students. He praised The University of Texas-Pan American’s UTPAdvantage Tuition Guarantee, which allows any student with a family income of $25,000 or less to have all four years of college

Campus cat controversy By LUKE KOONG The Pan American The cats that have lived on The University of Texas-Pan American campus for years have become a commonality for students, faculty and staff. Yet for the most part, they are rarely seen by the public eye during the day, as they are active mainly in the early morning hours and late at night. As a result, most individuals at UTPA haven’t noticed that the population has decreased. About six to eight months ago, the university began relocating the cat clan. Richard Costello, director of environmental health and safety, said the university wants to bring the cat population down to a manageable level. One of their main concerns is safety. “We have had four catbites within the UTPA population just in the last two to three years,” Costello said. “In the words of an attorney who spoke to me regarding one of the catbites, our failure to manage the cat population poses a ‘dangerous condition’ for the student population.” Those bites caused $3,000 in emergency room visits and associated rabies shots. Costello said it could

Sidney Meadows/The Pan American

paid for. Hinojosa said he would like to see colleges given more money for programs like this. The amount of money from the state has steadily declined in the past decade. “Paying for college will always be a struggle for students,” he said. “We want to increase money given to colleges to see students succeed.”

See TUITION page 11

VP/provost appoints first fellow

cost the university up to $20,000 in the event of a lawsuit. “The institution has no choice but to address the cat population, regardless of whether there is contributory negligence on the part of the person who was bitten,” he said. In addition, some individuals have complained about the cats for various reasons. “This is especially true in the bench area near the Social and Behavioral Sciences building,” Costello said. “The students can’t enjoy a snack or lunch without a cat bothering them for food.” Others say the food left for the cats attracts rodents and other small mammals. In addition, plates and food have been strewn around the campus, a lessthan-appealing sight. Costello, who has two cats of his own at home, said he understands the importance of the cats to certain people at UTPA, but there are also people who don’t like them. “I think that the general consensus is that everyone wants the cats on campus. However, for every person that wants the cats there are others that do not,” Costello said. There are some at UTPA who disagree with the relocation, however. Ami Miell, a secretary for the university and an advocate for the felines, said the bite

As The University of Texas-Pan American continues to grow, the implementation of not only new programs but new positions is necessary. With that in mind, Paul Sale, vice president/provost for academic affairs, has added the title “provost fellow” to the list of administrators and appointed Ala Qubbaj to the position. As the university’s first-ever provost fellow, Qubbaj will have the duty of directly assisting the provost in policy analysis and faculty development. “I am honored and energized for the opportunity to join the team of our new provost and play a supportive role during this period of important transition at UTPA,” Qubbaj said. “It comes with a great deal of responsibility and expectations to be set for this new position.” Qubbaj is no rookie when it comes to taking on important roles. Since he started at the university in 1999, he has worked in various positions, such as chair of the Faculty Senate and associate professor in the department of mechanical engineering. In addition, he served

See CATS page 11

See FELLOW page 11

By ANNA FLORES The Pan American

News

A&E

Sports

Food Bank establishes new program to feed children of the RGV

Food, fun in abundance during festivities at Borderfest 2007

Photo montage of UTPA performance at Ogletree Classic over weekend

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See Page 7

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R EADER FORUM

March 8, 2007 THE

PAN AMERICAN

Cartoon By: Carlos Ortiz

1201 West University, CAS 170 Edinburg, Texas 78539 (956) 381-2541 Fax: (956) 316-7122 http://www.panam.edu/dept/panamerican 56th Year – No. 22 Editor Claudette Gonzalez ThePanAmerican@gmail.com News Editor

A&E Editor

Sports Editor

Sandra Gonzalez

Frank Calvillo

Luke Koong

sandra_ panamerican@ yahoo.com

hennero@ msn.com

lkoong2004 @yahoo.com 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 Leslie Estrada Jeanette Perez Onydia Garza

Rafael Roux

Patrick Kennedy

Angela Salazar

Kristyna Mancias Erick Quintero Savannah Martinez Adviser Dr. Greg Selber

Chess puzzle answers for March 1 KEY - P - Pawn; N - Knight; B Bishop; R - Rook; Q - Queen; K King; x - capture; + - check; ++ double check; # - checkmate

Secretary Anita Casares Ad Manager Lillian Villarreal

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.

Checkmate in four moves for white to win: 1. Nc7+ Kb8 2. Na6++ Ka8 3. Qb8+ Rxb8 4. Nc7#

Checkmate in two moves for black to win: 1. Qc1+ 2. Kxc1 Re1# ( if 2. Ka2 Qb2# )

Checkmate in two moves. Which side can win? 1. Pf3 Pe6 2. Pg4 Qh4# (other answers possible)

Spring Break bulletin Rip currents cause at least 100 deaths each year at United States coastal and Great Lakes beaches. This Spring Break, if you find yourself caught in a rip current, Texas Sea Grant recommends the following strategy: * Remain calm to conserve energy and think clearly. * Don't fight the current by trying to swim straight to shore. * Escape the current by swimming in a direction following the shoreline. When free of the current, swim at an angle - away from the current - toward shore. * If you are unable to escape by swimming, float or tread water. When the current weakens, swim at an angle away from the current toward shore. * If you feel you will be unable to reach the shore, draw attention to yourself - face the shore and call or wave for help.

The Pan American is the official student newspaper of The University of Texas-Pan American. Views presented are those of the writers and do not necessarily reflect those of the university.

IN THE NEXT ISSUE OF

THE PAN AMERICAN

Available Wednesday, March 21

Shut it down

Artists they don’t play

- Find out more about the day that is testing computer users’ willpower

-Take a second look at a few of today’s most underrated musicians

N EWS

News in brief: Classes will not be held between March 12-16 due to Spring Break. They will resume March 19.

Center for Academic Excellence opens with speakers By SARAH JESKE The Pan American March 1 marked the beginning of a movement in educating the next generation of national security and intelligence leaders at The University of Texas-Pan American, according to Van Reidhead, dean of the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences. Daniel Hernandez, a Mexican

diplomat, kicked off the Center of Academic Excellence speaker series for this semester with a lecture about constructing the most effective national security policy. While he spoke about preparing against possible terrorist attacks, Hernandez, a scholar in residence at American University’s School of International Service, made sure to talk about how this policy relates to Mexican

defense and security. Each semester the theme of the series will be different, allowing for more community education on national security and related topics. This spring the REIDHEAD topic is “Understanding United States and

Mexican National Security: Issues of Mutual Interest.” The Center for Academic Excellence was established in October 2006 after UTPA won a highly competitive grant. While its main focus is preparing students who are interested in careers in the intelligence community, the program is open to students who may seek careers in the global community in general, according to Reidhead.

Program tries innovative fundraising method By MANUEL TISCARENO The Pan American There are great hopes for a wheelchair enclosed in a Plexiglas cube, sitting idly in the Student Union at The University of Texas-Pan American. The chair, placed there by a group of physician’s assistant students, is

part of Bury the Wheelchair. As part of the charity program, students are asked to put dollar bills in the cube that encases a wheelchair in hopes of submerging it in money. It is one of several nationwide programs created by The Association of Physician Assistants, and Texas Academy of Physician Assistants to raise funding for local clinical programs.

Rafael Roux/The Pan American DONATION - Sandra Caballero, a freshman criminal justice major, places money in the wheelchair donation box located in the Student Union.

In order to fulfill these goals, the CAE is planning on offering a minor in Global Security and Leadership starting fall 2007, if it is approved by the Campus Curriculum Committee. The minor will include classes that focus on advanced interdisciplinary studies, research, team communication and problem-solving skills. “To solve global problems, a team

See CENTER page 12

Food Bank starts café for children

Members of UTPA’s PA program got the idea from a national APA conference and decided to use it to raise money for the local Hope Clinic, located at 2332 Jordan Road in McAllen. Yvonne Paulson, a junior human health services major, said she thinks the project has a very deep meaning. “I think it is a good idea, because when you actually see a wheelchair, it makes things more real. You understand the struggles that one faces in their daily life,” she said. The project is in the initiation phase and is currently estimated to have collected about 10 percent of the $1,000 goal. Half of the money will be donated to the Hope Clinic, a health center where several UTPA students have interned and volunteered; the PA program will keep the rest. Hope Clinic is a family center that provides holistic mental and physical treatments to those who cannot afford medical attention. According to Paulson, the clinic will use the money to improve their free services. Paulson added that the PA program will use its share of the proceeds to send representatives to

The Food Bank of The Rio Grande Valley has teamed up with the Boys & Girls Club in Edinburg and adopted a program in hopes of feeding underprivileged children in the region. The two institutions, who have had a five-year partnership, established Kids Café to help serve the estimated 44 percent of children who live below the poverty level in Edinburg, according to Libby Salinas, agency relations manager for The Food Bank of the RGV. “The average household has 3.4 children in it,” Salinas said. “So you’re talking about a family of four living under $14,000 a year who still has to pay rent, mortgage, car payments, light bills. Everything adds up and they need all the help they can get.” At the Kids Café, located at 2601 Zinnia in McAllen, children are served four out of the five major food group components. Salinas said this program is open for any child to use and estimates

See WHEELCHAIR page 12

See FOOD page 12

By BRENDA RODRIGUEZ The Pan American

Universities question Wikipedia’s credibility after series of events By SARAH JESKE The Pan American On Wikipedia, a web-based encyclopedia written by volunteers, it is easy to find information on topics ranging from microbiology to MTV, and if the topic you are researching is not found, it’s easy to create a page for it. Moreover, Wikipedia is available for any of the site’s registered users to

edit. While all changes go through editors, their job is not to hunt for accuracy and details. It’s to ensure users do not abuse editing abilities by posting blatantly false, partisan or libelous facts. The populist site has created controversy with its unchecked approach, and the fact that articles must not undergo stringent accuracy checks concerns professors at The University of TexasPan American.

“I ban it for several reasons,” said Peg Graham, a professor in the psychology department who said that her main reason for doing so is the lack of credibility. Wikipedia’s credibility was further called into question over the weekend when one of its editors, who claimed to be a professor of theology, turned out to be a 24-year-old college student. Even though Wikipedia posts a disclaimer about the reliability of its infor-

mation, “some panicky students who have a paper due in the morning don’t see that,” Graham said. Graham is far from the first professor to prohibit the sourcing of the Web site. At Middlebury College in Vermont, the history department outlawed the use of Wikipedia as a source for academic papers or exams, in late February. The decision came when a professor noticed several of his students incor-

rectly stated the Jesuits supported the Shimabara Rebellion, which took place in Japan from 1637-1638. He soon found out that all the students had used the site to prepare for the test. Plagiarism is another problem professors deal with because of such popular grass-roots Web sites. “It is too easy to plagiarize from sites like Wikipedia,” said Graham.

See WIKIPEDIA page 12

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NEWS

March 8, 2007

NEWS

March 8, 2007

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Shuttle driver keeps ‘em laughing, listening By CLAUDETTE GONZALEZ The Pan American As students clamber onto the shuttle that will whisk them from their last class back to their car, someone asks: “Have you heard the one about the midget?” Someone has, but since others haven’t, he tells the joke. Chuckles ensue. Why the impromptu comedy session? Regulars know that on Mike Metzger’s route, side-splitting laughter is the order of the day. And Mike likes audience participation. Metzger, a 63-year-old red-headed shuttle driver, may not be politically correct, but students sure find him funny. With his broad smile and Southern accent, he helps put everyone at ease. Originally from San Antonio, he and his family moved to the Valley when he was four. After graduating from the old McAllen High School in 1962, Metzger tried his hand at college, studying restaurant management at Delmar College in Corpus Christi. There, his college roommate introduced him to the lady who has now been his wife for just over 40 years. “We met on a blind date. Yeah, I’ve been blind ever since,” Metzger joked. “What it was is I had a car and my roommate didn’t. He wanted to see his girlfriend up in Sinton. Every time I’d take him up, he’d set me up with someone different. The third time was the charm.”

Mike’s tips for a pleasant shuttle ride Arrive early Be courteous “If you’ve got class at 9:10 “Let everyone get

Laugh often

Squeeze in tightly

off “Most everybody that “Sardines 101 is a very and you get on the bus at the shuttle before you rides with me, we all popular class here at Pan 9:10, there’s no way I’m get on.” laugh and joke.” Am. The synopsis? To see going to have you at class how many people we can on time.” pack on the shuttle bus.”

Tabitha Arce/The Pan American

After a bout of encephalitis, acute inflammation of the brain, which left Metzger paralyzed from the neck down and blind for about two months, the couple got married. However, soon after, Metzger joined the Marines and began boot camp. For Metzger, whose dad and uncle were also Marines, serving in the Corps was something of a family tradition. “When they started the Marine Corps League down here in the Valley, it was a bunch of old former Marines. We were the only ones that had a patio and a barbeque pit, so we’d have Marine Corp

League meetings in our backyard,” Metzger said. “I grew up with so many war stories about the Second World War.” After his four-year stint in the Marines, during which he saw action in Vietnam, Metzger completed a fouryear brick-laying apprenticeship with his father, a master bricklayer. For 14 years, Metzger taught brick-laying in the vocational program at McAllen High School. However, when federal funding for the program was pulled, he went to work at the Evins Regional Juvenile Center.

LATEST STOP More recently, Metzger has worked in various capacities in the safety department on campus, before finally becoming a shuttle driver, piloting one of the buses that circulate between the remote parking lots and several buildings on campus. “Our prime directive is to move students safely and as rapidly as possible,” Metzger said. “Depending on traffic, we try to get people where they need to be within ten minutes.” From the driver’s seat of his shuttle bus, Metzger keeps up a steady stream of

Sidney Meadows/The Pan American

stand-up comedy that rivals Comedy Central stars. But it’s not all fun and games. Metzger is also outspoken about his views on heavier topics, such as foreign policy and educational philosophies. With his vocational background, Metzger is passionate about adopting an educational system in which all grade-school students have the opportunity to study a trade in addition to or instead of completing a college prep curriculum. “In other countries, vocational is not a dirty word. Here everyone says, ‘Oh, we don’t want to work with our hands,’” he said. “But, even if you’ve got the capacity to work with your mind, you’ve still got to use your hands to use a pencil or type on a computer.” But for Metzger, his biggest priority is his family. He has two sons and three grandchildren, who he dotes on. “I love kids,” said the proud grandpa. “I’m looking forward to the week after spring break because that’s when San Antone has their spring break and I get to have my grandkids down here.” Early in the morning, Metzger had time to answer questions and tell his life story, but as it gets to be a bit later, rush hour sets in. “Come on in, gang. Sardines 101 is a very popular class here at Pan Am on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at about 8:45 a.m.,” Metzger jokes. “The synopsis of Sardines 101? To see how many people we can pack onto the shuttle bus so we can get to class on time.”

STAGED - Francisco J. Cavazos, a former Greek Council president and current member of Kappa Sigma, plays dead Tuesday afternoon as part of the “Shattered Dreams” project, which aims to reduce the number of fatalities caused by drunken drivers. The University of Texas-Pan American is the first university ever allowed to host the program, which usually takes place at high schools. Cavazos, along with three other students, acted out an alchol-related car crash in which he and Candace Miles, Delta Zeta president, were killed. Over 200 students and passersby stopped to see the scene which took place on Van Week street at noon. The project didn’t end with the crash, however. A fake memorial service was held yesterday on the Chapel Lawn for the crash’s two victims. At the service, various community members told stories about how their lives were impacted by teenage alcohol use and drunken driving.

EN ESPAÑOL

Noticias en breve: No habrá clases desde el día 12 hasta el día 16 de Marzo debido al Spring Break. Las clases se reanudarán el dia 19 de Marzo.

CAE intenta educar publico sobre problemas globales Por SARAH JESKE Traducido Por JUAN PINTOR The Pan American Marzo 1 señaló el comienzo de un movimiento para educar a la siguiente generación de líderes de seguridad nacional e inteligencia en la Universidad de Texas Pan-American, según Van Reidhead, rector del Colegio de Ciencias Sociales y del Comportamiento (College of Social and Behavioral Sciences). Daniel Hernández, un diplomático Mexicano, comenzó la serie de conferencias del Centro para la Excelencia Académica (CAE) con una presentación acerca de cómo se podría ver el plan de seguridad nacional más efectivo. Mientras hablaba acerca de la preparación contra posibles ataques terroristas, Hernández, un escolar en residencia en la Escuela de Servicio Internacional de la Universidad Americana, se aseguró de hablar de cómo este plan se relaciona con la seguridad y defensa Mexicanas.

Cada semestre, el tema de la serie será diferente, permitiendo mas temas de educación comunitaria sobre seguridad nacional y otros temas relacionados. Este semestre el tema es: “Entendiendo la Seguridad Nacional Estadounidense y Mexicana: Problemas de Interés Mutuo.” El Centro para la Excelencia Académica fue establecido en Octubre de 2006 después que la Universidad de Texas Pan-American ganara una beca altamente competitida. Mientras que su enfoque principal es preparar estudiantes que están interesados en carreras en la comunidad de inteligencia, el programa está abierto a estudiantes interesados en carreras en la comunidad global en general, según Reidhead. Para cumplir esos objetivos, el CAE está planeando en ofrecer una especialidad en “Liderazgo y Seguridad Global” comenzando en otoño de 2007, si es aprobada por el Comité del Programa de Estudios del Campus. La especialidad incluirá clases que se enfocarán en estu-

dios interdisciplinarios avanzados, investigación, comunicación en equipos y habilidades para resolver problemas. “Para resolver problemas globales, un equipo necesita personas con habilidades diversas,” dijo Reidhead. “Esto es uno de los obstáculos que estamos intentando resolver con el CAE y la posible especialización.” Junto con la nueva especialización, el CAE está en el proceso de desarrollar un programa de maestría en liderazgo y seguridad global comenzando en otoño de 2008. Tratará problemas similares que el nivel universitario, pero dará espacio para mayor estudio y más preparación para trabajos en la comunidad global y de inteligencia. También hay programas de corto plazo para estudiantes que quisieran aprender un poco mas sobre la comunidad global: una clase de verano en China, Instituto de Liderazgo de Verano en Washington D.C. y en el futuro, oportunidades de becas para estudiantes y profe-

sorado. Comenzando en otoño de 2007 también habrá un salón de recursos en la biblioteca universitaria dedicada a recolectar material que ayudará al programa en todas las disciplinas. Mientras que muchos miembros de la comunidad están emocionados por el comienzo de este nuevo programa y de las oportunidades que le dará a los estudiantes de UTPA, hay algunos que tienen dudas en aceptar el programa. Reidhead admite que algunos estudiantes buscarán trabajos en ramas de la comunidad de inteligencia como la CIA, pero dice que esos estudiantes que lo harán, ya estaban planeando en seguir esa carrera antes de mostrar interés en el programa. “Este programa no está exclusivamente para estudiantes interesados en la comunidad de inteligencia. Las habilidades enseñadas son necesarias para quien esté buscando una carrera en la economía global,” comentó Reidhead. El CAE espera traer más que sólo

cursos y programas a los estudiantes en UTPA. Los miembros quieren ayudar a la comunidad del sur de Texas. “Las tierras fronterizas necesitan una voz más poderosa en el desarrollo de políticas. Políticas hechas en D.C. no siempre reflejan las necesidades de las tierras fronterizas,” dijo Reidhead. “Muy frecuentemente ellos olvidan cómo los pueblos fronterizos contribuyen a la economía de la nación entera,” dijo. Este es un problema que el CAE intentará enfrentar con las series de conferencias, futuras especializaciones y otros programas. Entre futuros conferencistas para este semestre figuran Raul Benítez, profesor en la Escuela de Servicio Internacional de la Universidad Americana y antiguo profesor de relaciones internacionales en México, el cual tendrá su presentacion en Marzo 29; y David Shirk, director del Instituto Trans-Fronterizo de la Universidad de San Diego, quien la tendrá en Abril 29.

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

Editor’s Pick: Must-Read Book “When the Light Goes” is the final installment of Larry McMurtry’s classic “picture show” saga.

Rock group performs songs of meaning, purpose By LESLIE ESTRADA The Pan American

Blue Sky Nine, a band from Carmel, Ind., performed at a free concert Feb. 27 at The University of TexasPan American Student Union for students from all over campus to enjoy. The ensemble, brought by Campus Crusade for Christ, is a blended, unplugged, acoustic rock band with an emphasis on vocal harmonies; it started in 2004. “Blue Sky Nine is a band who’s been together for three years,” said violinist Sarah Maynard. “Our main focus is to share God’s love with people through our music.” The concert started exactly at 7 p.m., and the band performed varied songs from Sheryl Crow and Avril Lavigne to Red Hot Chili Peppers and John Mayer. “Music is a universal language, connecting in so many cultures on so many levels,” Maynard said. “The music people choose to listen to says something about who they are, what they’re dealing with and what they think about.” According to Maynard the music they choose to perform is mainly target-

Joey Cortez/The Pan American HEAVENLY MUSIC - The Christian rock band Blue Sky Nine performed for UTPA students Feb. 27, singing songs that dealt with various aspects of spirituality as well as general life lessons.

ed at young adults and college students. “We want to play stuff for our target audience,” she said. “People seem to like rock music and we perform it for them while trying to transmit the love that God has for us.” April Abesamis, a missionary for Campus Crusades for Christ and a UTPA graduate, said that the band con-

tacted her last year and has been in the loop ever since. “We just started our organization last year. When Blue Sky Nine found out, they contacted me right away,” Abesamis said. “They came down last year, and since right now they are touring Texas, we chose to have them perform again.”

The concert, which was half-full, went pretty well and the audience seemed to enjoy the music and the life experiences that some of the group members shared. Lucas Saenz, a sophomore international business major, attended and was satisfied with the overall performance of the band.

“I think that what they are doing is pretty neat,” he said. “Most of us don’t take time out of our schedules to dedicate it to God, and it is something that we should do,” he said. He also stated that many students have a misconception of Christianity and about religion in general. “Most people our age don’t even want to talk about God,” Saenz said. “It’s okay, every head is a world, but we should try and open ourselves to believe in something.” Abesamis stated that CCC will have more events like this one and encourage people to attend. “We would love to have more events similar to this one,” she said. “But, since we are barely starting, we are taking it one step at a time.” The band was founded to specifically connect with their audiences through music, talking honestly from the stage about their own life experiences – their search for purpose and meaning. Blue Sky Nine encourages students to think about life in a way they may never have considered before. For more information on the band visit their Web site at www.blueskynine.net.

New Carrey thriller fails to deliver at box office By FRANK CALVILLO The Pan American If you’ve seen any of the promotional trailers for “The Number 23,” the latest offering by Jim Carrey, you probably already know the plot of the film. Walter Sparrow (Carrey) receives a nondescript book titled “The Number 23” from his wife as a birthday gift. Upon reading the book, Walter soon discovers that he is encountering the number 23 at every turn in his daily life. Whether noticing the number on the side of a building or adding up the digits of his social security number, Walter is unable to escape the number and is eventually driven to madness. There are basically two types of audiences who will turn up to see this one. The first one will show up simply because of Carrey, a favorite of movie audiences for more than a decade now. The second audience is made up of conspiracy theorists and lovers of paranoia

who will find themselves intrigued by the bizarre nature of the plot. Both audiences will leave disappointed. Though the film does delve into the constant presence of the number 23 throughout, it is merely a sub-plot, not the main focus as the trailer otherwise suggests. Instead the film is an elaborate murder mystery that is told through the pages of a book, yet somehow eerily echoes Walter’s own life. The book tells the story of a private eye named Fingerling and his inability to save a blonde woman from committing suicide. The blonde’s death affects his relationship with Fabrizia, Fingerling’s girlfriend who has a penchant for kink and S&M activities. However after she too turns up dead, Fingerling begins to question his actions and his sanity. It is only when Walter is deep into the story that the number 23 starts to reappear constantly and when it is (final-

ly) addressed at the end of the film, the reason given for its existence is both weak and preposterous, even for a film such as this. On the upside, as a typical murder mystery the film does its job adequately. There are characters that have hidden pasts, dark secrets and revelations to unveil. Furthermore, the duality and the contrast between Walter’s world and the detective’s are handled well enough to give each environment its own personal feel. Carrey, who knows how to bring in an audience, makes his first foray into the thriller film genre with this vehicle. While some of his dramatic attempts have been laughable, his performance in “The Number 23” is just that: by the numbers. His performance deserves neither praise nor criticism, as it is too generic to warrant either. Perhaps this is attributed to the rather bland nature of the character that could have been played by Adam Sandler, Hugh Grant,

Luke Wilson or any other comedic actor you could name. The rest of the cast is comprised of standard character actors whose job it is to come in, speak the required bits of trivial dialogue and exit when appropriate. The one exception in the group is Virginia Madsen, who, as Walter’s wife Agatha, is the only secondary character with any hint of depth. However even Madsen, who’s been stuck in the “wife” role since her Oscar nomination three years ago, is wasted. Directed by Joel Schumacher, the film doesn’t come close to what the talented and versatile director is capable of. With credits such as “A Time to Kill” and “Flatliners,” it is puzzling to wonder why a director of Schumacher’s stature would be interesting in such a trite project. While “The Number 23” will undoubtedly disappoint most who see it and fail to offer anything new to its respective genre, the film will live on as

Salon.com BY THE NUMBERS - Walter Sparrow (Jim Carrey) questions his life and his sanity while trying to solve a murder in the new mystery-thriller “The Number 23.”

a halfway decent murder mystery that’s easily consumed and even more easily forgotten.

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

March 8, 2007

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

four, Cheney.”

ture. “[Students] had a curriculum built into their classes for the past two weeks regarding Ireland,” Madrigal said. “It was something that was done by the BorderFest Association in conjunction with teachers.” Students had the opportunity to learn about Ireland, its history and its culture. After taking in all they could about it, they had the opportunity to come to the festival and witness it all firsthand. About 2,000 students attended the extended field trip March 1-2. orderFest is a yearly festival in the Valley that has become the center for a cultural melting pot. Not only does this Hidalgo festival celebrate the culture close to home, but it also helps bring together cultures that are not so prominent in the Valley. Now in its 31st year of entertaining and educating the South Texas community, BorderFest features a different culture each year. This year, the spotlight for the March 1-3 event was on Ireland. “BorderFest’s mission is dedicated to cultural enrichment, arts education and heritage preservation in South Texas,” according to the festival’s Web site at borderfest.org. Shalimar Madrigal, the director of marketing for the Dodge Arena, where the latest Fest took place last week, was excited about this year’s event. In the past, BorderFest has drawn crowds of 35,000 people or more and the goal is always to bring in more people each year. “Every year BorderFest strives to do something different, something better to top itself from the previous year,” Madrigal said. To get the local community involved with the Irish theme this year, elementary and middle school students from around the Hidalgo and Valley View areas prepared for the event by learning all about the Irish cul-

FUN FOR ALL The different sounds of the festival surrounded visitors as they entered the arena. The laughter of children and loud applause came from one of the most popular shows of the weekend. Although, they didn’t get to talk much, the crowd roared. “This year we have the sea lion splash,” Madrigal said. “This is the only traveling sea lion exhibit in the country.” Families lined up for this show. Each sea lion seemed to have its own personality and traits that made it seem almost human. They not only swam, but would come up in front of the crowd and do tricks to make the trainer look like the animal on display. Although the sea lion splash did catch a great crowd, it had some competition in the cute animal department. The duck races also seemed to make quite a splash with people. Organizer Robert Duck (yes, Duck is really his last name) runs his traveling duck-race show around the country. The ducks run around free, to the late 1970s’ novelty song, “Disco Duck.” Members of the audience are chosen to help race the animals, which are held by chosen volunteers and are lined up at the starting gate. In lane one was “Aflac,” lane two, “Spongebob Squarepants,” in lane three, “Today’s Winner, Tonight’s Dinner” and in

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l a n e “Duck

RETURNING TO THE THEME Since the cultural theme of the year was Ireland, there were many performers and historians to help educate the crowds. A group from San Antonio known as the Ancient Order of Hibernians had a set-up that showed people passing by about bits of the history of the Irish. Geoffrey Meade, a Hibernian member and the Schannachea, or storyteller, for the group, likes to talk to people and help them understand the culture, which according to him, has something in common with the people of South Texas – a shared religion. “[Ancient order of Hibernians] is an Irish Catholic men’s organization,” said Meade, “it started back in Ireland back in the days when it was illegal there to be Catholic.” According to Meade, if a priest was caught practicing the religion or giving mass they were executed. In order for them not to be caught, mass was held in fields or caves, under Hibernian protection. “They would station themselves as sentries and warn them if they saw the British coming,” he said. “And they tried to hold the British off until the people could get away,” he said. Many non-Irish see leprechauns and lucky four-leaf clovers as integral parts of the Irish culture. But, while they are part of the country’s folklore and legend, they are by no means the only cultural symbols. In fact, according to Meade, these little creatures are somewhat scary and not pleasing to look at. They usually play tricks and enjoy doing so. Music was also a big part of the festivities. Ian Gould is a folk singer originally from Belfast, Northern Ireland, who was enjoying what BorderFest had to offer. “It’s great,” said Gould, “I came down from the ice and snow in Wisconsin where I live now.” While enjoying the Texas sun, Gould performed all weekend on the Irish stage. “I did a mixture of traditional Irish and stuff from old songs to contemporary Irish

stuff from U2, Gould said” Although at times the flow of people was slow, Gould says his voyage here has been a warm and inviting one. He hopes that his next trip back to the RGV will allow him more time to explore both the Valley and Mexico. However, one aspect of his visit has been a learning experience. “I was very impressed with the Spanglish,” he said, “I’ve never heard it quite as fluent as this before. The mid-sentence changing is pretty impressive.” Other musical acts and performers were the Alpenfest German Folk Band, who played an array of accordian-based music that to the native Valley-ite sounds just like conjunto music. “There’s a connection to the music [in Germany] in the music from Mexico,” said Tom Fuschetto, a McAllen resident who came to BorderFest to enjoy the fun. To a cheering crowd, the Alpenfest band played several songs that featured instruments such as the tuba, trumpet and guitar. They also dressed the part in their show costumes of lederhosen and folk dresses. Another important part to the festival was the carnival. With food, games and rides for all ages there was something fun around every corner. There were children laughing and playing the pick-a-duck game trying to win prizes, as well as parents acting like their kids by running around, talking and having a good time. However there were some people for whom fun was also a job. Jackie Barerra, a carnival worker who is originally from Mercedes, has been working for just a short while. “This is my second month,” Barerra said. “It’s pretty good. We travel a lot and get to meet new people.” The BorderFest weekend was something unique. Cultures blending and entertaining those who walked through the gates is what the event is all about.

For more information check out

www.borderfest.org

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

March 8, 2007

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

four, Cheney.”

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l a n e “Duck

For more information check out

www.borderfest.org

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By JEANETTE PEREZ The Pan American Winter time is on its way out and spring is nearing. That can only mean one thing – SPRING BREAK! It’s possibly one of the most awaited and anticipated events of the semester. Come this time of the year, you can’t pass through a hallway without hearing mention of the words “Spring Break.” Those two words go a long way. They can mean anything from partying to relaxing, but their universal meaning is always the same: time away from school. Many Spring Breakers will find themselves downing some cold ones and hanging with friends at the beach; others take the time to vacation elsewhere. Still others simply want to make up for their lack of sleep. Whatever the reason is, Spring Break is something you can’t escape, especially at the Island. South Padre Island was built for the week and March 12-16 marks Texas Week, when students from all over the state descend upon SPI for some fun in the sun and surf. This year the Island has more than cool waves and ocean breeze to offer. Want to hang

A&E

at the beach with friends or family? Head to the sand dunes with a beach buggy, go dolphin watching on a cruise, or enjoy some fishing by the shore. For those seeking excitement at the island but not necessarily with sand between their toes, Louie’s Backyard has several concerts going on with performances for every taste. Frankie J., Lil’ Scrappy, Cascada and Bowling for Soup will be among those hitting the stage in the next two weeks. If big concerts are what you want, big concerts are what you’ll get. This year the Bahia Mar Resort Amphitheater is hosting three huge concert events. Kicking off Texas week is Akon on Saturday. Rock out with Q 94.5 favorite Hinder March 16 and reminisce about the ‘90s with music icon Vanilla Ice. Although Spring Break is almost always associated with the beach, there are no restrictions on where or how it’s spent. For those not kicking up sand and water, events elsewhere are just as entertaining. In Pieces Productions will be having its first spring break fest, something organizers like to call “Metal Meltdown” on March 15 in Pharr. Five bucks will get you access to eight

of the Valley’s best in metal and then some. Dead Gift Entertainment of McAllen will also be rocking out in Metropolis with several shows, including a special suspension show featuring local bands, sure to keep you hanging on the edge of suspense. One thing not to miss is the annual Rio Grande Valley Livestock show in Mercedes, hitting the show grounds this Friday with tons of entertainment, food, rides, and friendly atmosphere. With everything you could want in a carnival, it is the perfect start to your break. Partying seems to be the norm; however Spring Break can also be a time for catching up on things - sometimes even school-related. Yikes. Angie Chavez of Edinburg does just that. “I look forward most to relaxing, catching up and starting at a new pace,” said the 21-year-old art education major. “Spring Break is important because usually I have to catch up on some work and that time is helpful to work on a lengthy paper or papers.” Business management major Isaac “Ike” Leal loves how much more time Spring Break allows him to spend with those he loves and

March 8, 2007

doing what he loves most, playing for an audience. “I’ll be back at my hometown hanging out with friends and with my girlfriend. I also have some shows with my band. Maybe I’ll go to the beach with some friends,” said the Rio Grande City native. “It gives me a good break from things to just relax and have a good time.” Whether you’re partying or simply hanging with some friends or family, the time off isn’t always fun and games. There’s always that possibility that it might get ruined. University Police Sergeant Delma Lopez encourages Spring Breakers to take precautions. “Always be aware of your surroundings. Never get in a situation where you are so out of control because of alcohol,” the officer advised. “Go partying with people you can rely on. Stick together, look out for each other.” And there is something every Spring Breaker should remember. “Don’t drink and drive. Before you go out, designate a non-drinking driver. Remember to buckle up,” said Lopez.

NEWS

March 8, 2007

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FELLOW

CATS continued from page 1 incidents could have easily been avoided had the victims used common sense. “The cats did not make this problem. Humans made this problem,” she said. Miell, who has developed a relationship with some of the cats, said that they are taught to be wary of humans by their mothers. She added that the animals are peaceful and only react in order to protect themselves and their young. “They’re not like domesticated cats and it takes a few generations to breed the feral tendencies out of them, but they can make good pets,” Miell said. Some are being relocated to the Port Mansfield area near Raymondville and others to a ranch north of Edinburg. The City of Edinburg also picks some of the tame ones up and takes them to the Humane Society for adoption. Keely Smith, a graduate student in rehabilitation counseling, said it doesn’t

make sense to remove the cats from the university grounds, since they help keep rats away. “Cats don’t run out and just attack people. In fact, they’re beneficial, keeping rats and such down,” she said. Miell, Smith and many of the other cat advocates feel some sort of education is necessary to inform the university about the situation. Miell is trying to get Sean Hawkins, the founder of Spay/Neuter Assistance Program, to speak at the university. SNAP help set up a spay/neuter program for the City of Houston. “What [the university is] doing in releasing them is inhumane. Trapping them and removing them from the campus is only a quick fix,” Miell said. “It’s not solving the problem. A trap, neuter and release program will go a long way toward solving the problem.” UTPA did have a similar program

at one point. Elizabeth Sterns, founder of Oasis Animal Sanctuary, had volunteered to take cats to the veterinarian. The university subsidized the costs for catching, vaccinating and sterilizing the cats, but the task became too much for Sterns.

“The institution has no choice but to address the car population...” - Richard Costello director of environmental health “The main problem was that I couldn’t get enough volunteers to help,” Sterns said. “I’m willing to help, but I can’t do it alone.” Costello and Sterns both said the process is very strenuous. Additionally, many of the cats have learned to avoid

the traps, compounding the problem of capturing them. “It’s a very labor-intensive program compounded by the fact that many cats will not go into the traps,” Costello said. Costello understands there are people who enjoy having the cats on campus, but the university’s concern for the welfare of people is the first thing the university will always consider. “Our chief concern - and the president articulated this in an e-mail to the UTPA community - is we do not want to see anyone injured,” he said. Currently, Campus Police will verbally warn offenders for feeding cats. On subsequent offenses, violators will be given written warnings. One individual was arrested for feeding the cats, but he was not affiliated with the university and was charged with trespassing.

TUITION continued from page 1

Sidney Meadows/The Pan American FAREWELL - Valente Rodriguez (right), who plays Ernie on “The George Lopez Show,” embraces retiring theater professor Marian Monta following a speech he gave at a celebration March 3 honoring her 35 years at the university.

Melissa Palomin, a UTPA junior education major and also a parent, wishes the fund was still available for enrollment. “It would allow me to help out my son a lot. Since I have to pay my own tuition, it makes it harder for me to provide for my son’s future,” she said. According to Jose A. Gomez, a registration accountant, the highest the fund can pay its participants is the average college tuition amount for that year. A survey is sent out to the universities in order to find out what the set tuition rate average will be for the upcoming year, Gomez said. Whatever the fund cannot cover, the universities have to handle. “We (UTPA) have always charged under the average,” Gomez said. “It’s when we charge over the average that we get affected.” Gomez is one of several accountants responsible for making sure students receive their credit from the plan. According to him, they don’t get involved with the actual money. All they

need is the students’ Plan I.D. number. “When students have issues with balances, we help them figure it out,” he said. “We try to make it easy for students.” Because Gomez and other accountants are partly involved in helping students receive their credit from the fund, they have seen the benefits of a prepaid college plan. “I hope they resolve the issue soon and open the plan again,” he said. “I want to be able to put my children on the plan.” The Legislature has yet to resolve the debate about whether or when to open the plan again. Its fate rests on the lifespan of the deregulation of tuition, according to Hinojosa. As long as representatives are in charge, the deregulation will continue. “There is no solid resolution. It’s always a process to fund,” he said. “But we will fight to provide for students.” For now, any shortcomings in the program’s budget will be funded by the universities and monies from the state.

continued from page 1 on the presidential search advisory committee and helped appoint current UTPA President Blandina Cardenas. Sale, who appointed Qubbaj in February, said he was chosen over seven other “well-qualified applicants.” “His extensive experience in faculty governance, as well as his willingness to relate to faculty and administration, were the main qualifications that made him stand out from the other applicants,” Sale QUBBAJ said. “I find him to be a good listener and he always carries through with what he proposes.” While serving on the Faculty Senate, Qubbaj led numerous committees and helped develop a number of policies such as the Faculty Development Leave Policy, Employment and Evaluation of Lecturers, and the Faculty Code of Conduct. Currently, he is working on developing a comprehensive plan for new faculty, which includes orientation, professional development and mentoring. According to Qubbaj, the idea is to provide the staff with the intellectual and resource support needed for them to achieve full potential as instructors and scholars, leading to an improved educational environment for UTPA students. “The key is being proactive, as a university, in helping new faculty get off to a good start and creating environments to better support that,” Qubbaj said. He also stated his interest in setting up the comprehensive plan as an ongoing process rather than a one-time event, which will consequently meet the university’s objectives in recruiting and retaining faculty. “As the new provost fellow, I will work in the spirit of communication, collaboration and shared governance,” said Qubbaj, who will hold the title until May 31, 2009.

NEWS

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WIKIPEDIA continued from page 3 Q

“I ban it for several rea-

sons.” - Peg Graham psychology department professor

Other ways professors reduce the use of unreliable sources is contouring their assignments in different ways. Shelia Pozorski, a professor in the anthropology department, said she assigns writing projects where Wikipedia will not be useful, to avoid that potential problem. While some students are frustrated by losing an easy source for research papers, some are not bothered by recent bans. “I like to use Wikipedia for general information, but I think twice before citing in academic papers,” said Dayanara Garcia, a junior communication disorders major. Garcia said she has had professors

who ban the use of Wikipedia and other similar sites that allow user entries. Although the ban makes students work harder to find reliable internet sources, Wikipedia can still provide a springboard for further research. Most of the postings have a reference section that lists books, magazines and web sites that offer more information on the given topic, many of which are usable sources for academic assignments.

WHEELCHAIR continued from page 3 national conventions. Michelle Medina, a junior marketing major, said she feels that Bury the Wheelchair is a very effective fundraiser because it keeps local clinics in mind and highly involves the donor in the process. “I think it’s ingenious,” said Medina, a McAllen native. “It has the element of sympathy, in a humanistic way, and a psychological connotation of burying it.” Medina also says that there is an odd appeal to the look of the project as well. “I think people will contribute because, I mean, who doesn’t want to see a big clear box full of money? It’s sympathy and desire at the same time,” she said. Erik Chaparro, a physician’s assistant student and Student Government Association representative for the PA program, said they had their doubts about the program, but hope for the best.

Q “It has the element of sympathy, in a humanistic way, and a psychological connotation of burying it.” - Michelle Medina junior marketing major “At first we were kind of iffy about it, but if you see a wheelchair, we would think you would want to help out,” he said. “We’re trying to raise money, of course, for ourselves, but also we want to give back to the community as much as we can.” The PA program plans to keep the cube in the union until the end of the semester. In addition, they hope to expand the wheelchair project throughout the city of Edinburg and to work with Doctors Hospital at Renaissance in the future.

March 8, 2007

FOOD continued from page 3 that 60 to 120 take advantage of this program. The cafe is set to serve a dinner Monday, Wednesday and Friday and a snack on Tuesday and Thursday. Salinas said that the kids feel comfortable at the Boys & Girls Club because they have friends there and many of them come from the same background. “The kids love the program. They’re able to study more because you know when a child is hungry it’s hard for them to think,” she said. “I mean even as an adult it’s hard to concentrate when we’re hungry, so imagine a small child who doesn’t have the money in their pocket to buy something to eat.” There are more than 1,300 Kids Cafes in the nation but this is the first one in the Valley. Salinas said she’s been in touch with several Boys & Girls Clubs around the Valley in hopes of setting up more of them. “The Boys & Girls Club works

because it’s in a set environment for these children,” Salinas said. “These kids know when to go and where and it’s set. We’re not going to just stop serving.” Legislative support for the Food Bank continues in light of high demand. In December 2006 Congressman Henry Cuellar awarded The Food Bank $247,500 from Housing and Urban Development. This program is only offered to children. Since the Boys and Girls Club houses this café there are strict rules when it comes to anyone coming into contact with the kids. If people want to volunteer specifically with the Kids Café they must undergo a background check. Salinas said anyone can help out the program by sponsoring the Kids Café or a child, donating canned foods, protein and dairy products or by spreading the word to other people and organizations about the café.

Salinas said on a yearly basis The University of Texas-Pan American students put in more than 16,000 hours of labor by volunteering at the Food Bank. She also notes that more students should get involved not only in volunteering at the Food Bank but also at the Boys & Girls Club as mentors or helping kids with their homework after school. Gina Pena, a freshman English major from Edinburg, is one UTPA student who’s planning to contribute food to the Food Bank. “I’m a member of the Outdoor Expedition Club and we’re planning to donate some food to the Food Bank. I hope some of that food will go to the kids,” Pena said. The Food Bank RGV is the fourth largest Food Bank in Texas, with over 200 food pantries, homeless shelters and soup kitchens from Brownsville to Roma. They deliver more than 21 million pounds of food per year.

CENTER continued from page 3 needs people with diverse skill sets,” Reidhead said. “This is one issue we are trying to address with the CAE and the possible minor.” Along with the new minor, the CAE is in the process of developing a master’s program in global security and leadership, which should be available in the fall of 2008. It will address similar issues as those at the undergraduate level, but allow for further study and more preparation for jobs in the intelligence and global community. There are also short-term programs available to students who would like to learn a little more about the global community: a summer abroad class in China; the Summer Leadership Institute in Washington D.C.; and in the future, grant opportunities for students and faculty. Starting next fall there will also be a resource room in the university library devoted to collecting material that will aid the program in all disciplines. While many community members

are excited about the start of this new program and the opportunities it will give UTPA students, there are some who are hesitant about embracing the program. There were voices of concern raised by campus activists who didn’t like the idea of the university being associated with an intelligence community that has taken its share of knocks in the recent past. Reidhead admits that some students will look for jobs in branches of the intelligence community like the CIA, but says that those students were planning on pursuing that career before showing interest in the program. “This program is not exclusively for students interested in the intelligence community. The skills taught are necessary for anyone pursuing a career in the global economy,” Reidhead said. The CAE hopes to bring more than just classes and programs to the students at UTPA. Members want to help the

community of South Texas. “The borderlands need a more powerful voice in policy making. Policies made in D.C. do not always reflect the needs of the borderlands,” Reidhead said. According to him, policymakers on both sides of the border treat this area the same – with little concern about it. “Too often they forget how much border towns contribute to the economy of the entire nation,” the dean said. This is a problem the CAE will try to address with its speaker series, future minor courses and other programs. Upcoming speakers for this semester include Raul Benitez, a professor at the American University School of International Service and former professor of international relations in Mexico, who will speak March 29. Also, David Shirk, director of the Trans-Border Institute at the University of San Diego, will speak April 19.

SPORTS

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ENLIGHTENED BY LUCAS

Baseball

Woo! Spring Break is here!

March 7 Texas-Pan American at Prairie View A&M (Panther Field in Prairie View) Texas-Pan American 10, Prairie View A&M 4 R Texas-Pan American 222 003 001 10 Prairie View A&M 200 002 000 4 Guajardo, Silva (7), Shepherd (9) and Flores; Salter, Herrel (5), Kendricks (9) and Texas-Pan American Autrey, FLores, Brooks, Garcia. Texas-Pan American 9-13, Prairie View A&M 13-9

H E 11 2 9 1 Whitby. W-Guajardo (1-1); L-Salter (2-2). 2B:

March 6 Texas-Pan American at Prairie View A&M (Panther Field in Prairie View) Texas-Pan American 12, Prairie View A&M 9 R H E Texas-Pan American 022 202 040 12 12 1 Prairie View A&M 010 250 001 9 11 4 Johnson, Hutcherson (5), Davila (8) and Flores; Mata, Almaguer (5), Vega (8) and Whitby. W-Hutchersom (1-0); L-Almaguer (0-1). 2B: Texas-Pan American–Flores, Hutcherson; PV - Christal, Johnson, Kendricks. 3B: PV–Davis. Texas-Pan American 8-13, Prairie View A&M 13-7

March 4 Texas-San Antonio at Texas-Pan American (Edinburg) Texas-Pan American 3, Texas-San Antonio 2 R H E Texas-San Antonio 100 000 010 2 10 2 Texas-Pan American 300 000 00X 3 7 3 Brannon, Ruffin (6), Mackey (7) and Etheredge; Smolen, Mancini (8), Davila (8) and Honeycutt. W-Smolen (2-2); L-Brannon (0-3); SDavilia. 2B: Texas-San Antonio–Etheredge. UT-San Antonio 7-13, Texas-Pan American 7-13 Sam Houston State at Texas-Pan American (Edinburg) Sam Houston State 11, Texas-Pan American 10

By LUKE KOONG The Pan American Finally, the long-awaited Spring Break is upon us. It’s time to get crunk, drunk and meet babes. I jest of course. Or do I... If you do choose to go out and party next week, keep five helpful tips in mind. First, always use protection. The sun can really burn you if you don’t have the right sun protection factor. SPF 45 is pretty good. Second, always drink in modera-

tion. You never know when you might get the urge to hit the surf. Cramping up wouldn’t be too fun. Third, if you’re a girl, travel with other girls when you go party. That means more ladies for guys like me to meet. Fourth, mind the jugs-to-person ratio. Everyone should have enough water to remain hydrated. Finally, do your homework. No, I’m serious. Send all comments, questions and pictures of jugs to lkoong2004 @yahoo.com

R H E Sam Houston State 121 400 003 11 14 3 Texas-Pan American 223 020 100 10 12 3 Gray, Spaugh (3), Baker (6), Prihoda (6) and Pugh; Linder, Cisper (3), Silva (5), Davila (8), Flores (9) and Flores. W-Gray (1-0); LDavila (0-1). 2B: SHSU–Verbick; Texas-Pan American–Hutcherson. 3B: SHSU–Mann. Sam Houston State 10-6, Texas-Pan American 6-13

March 3 University of Illinois at Texas-Pan American (Edinburg) Texas-Pan American 5, University of Illinois 3 R University of Illinois 000 012 000 3 Texas-Pan American 210 001 01X 5 Stankiewicz, Manson (7) and Davis; Wymer, Flores (9) and Flores. W-Wymer (3-3); Minton. University of Illinois 1-4, Texas-Pan American 6-12

H E 9 0 8 2 L-Stankiewicz (0-1); S-Flores. 3B: Illinois-Jett

Stephen F. Austin at Texas-Pan American (Edinburg) Stephen F. Austin 13, Texas-Pan American 11 R H E Stephen F. Austin 100 030 801 13 17 1 Texas-Pan American 300 010 007 11 15 1 Lehmann, Gregersen (7), Miller (9), Mayberry (9), Hardwick (9), Bone (9) and Sinclair; Guarado, Shepherd (7), Davila (7), Rodriguez (7) and Flores. W-Lehmann (1-0); L-Shepherd (0-1); S-Bone. 2B: SFA–Trevino, Hill, Long; Texas-Pam American–Gonzalez, Tognietti. 3B: SFA–Smith. Stephen F. Austin 7-9, Texas-Pan American 5-12

Men’s Basketball March 3 Texas-Pan American at Utah Valley State (McKay Center in Orem, Utah) Utah Valley State 66, Texas-Pan American 57 Texas-Pan American (14-15) Puente 1-1, 0-0, 2, Edwards 1-4, 2-4, 4, Burrell 4-12, 1-2, 11, Shankle 4-6,0-2,10, Lien 7-13, 4-7, 18, Stoll 1-5, 1-2, 3, Chatman 1-3, 0-0, 2, Trader 0-0, 3-4, 3, Allgood 2-3, 0-0, 4, Totals 21-47, 11-21, 57.

UTPA takes part in South Texas Shootout Bronc ballers take second place The University of Texas-Pan American took home silver in the second annual Intramural South Texas Shootout. The tournament featured teams from South Texas College, The University of Texas-Brownsville and Texas State Technical College. Each school sent two teams. The teams participated in pool play and then took place in single elimination. A team from UTB took first. “[The teams] did good and we are so proud of them,” said Art Cabrera, intramural assistant. A regional tournament will be held March 23-26 in Corpus Christi. The Pan American

Utah Valley State (22-7) Peterson 1-4, 0-0, 2, Bailey 2-4, 3-4, 7, Heck 5-10, 0-1, 13, Brady 1-2, 2-2, 4, Brown 1-3, 3-3, 5, Olsen 0-2, 1-3, 1, Toolson 9-15, 4-4, 26, Troyer 1-3, 0-0, 3, Walker 2-4, 1-2, 5, Totals 22-47, 14-19, 66. Halftime-UVS 25-23. 3 points-Texas-Pan American 4-14 (Burrell 2-8, Shankle 2-2, Stoll 0-2, Chatman 0-2), UVS 8-21 (Peterson 0-2, Bailey 0-1, Heck 3-6, Toolson 4-9, Troyer 1-3). Rebounds-Texas-Pan American 34 (Lien 8), UVS 27 (Troyer and Walker 7). Assists-TexasPan American 11 (Stoll 4), UVS 14 (Heck 4). Fouls-Texas-Pan American 20, UVS 20. A-2,196.

Women’s Basketball March 3 Utah Valley State at Texas-Pan American (Edinburg) Utah Valley State 60, Texas-Pan American 53 Utah Valley State (15-13) Marvin 2-3, 2-2, 7, Fairbanks 11-16, 6-10, 29, Grimm 0-1, 1-4, 1, Peterson 5-11, 1-2, 12, Beaman 0-3, 1-2, 1, McMurray 3-4, 0-1, 8, Ahlstrom 0-0, 0-0, 0, Nakayama 0-3, 2-2, 2, Schott 0-0, 0-0, 0, Cornejo 0-0, 0-0, 0, Totals 21-41, 13-23, 60. Texas-Pan American (11-18) Gray 2-11, 1-2, 5, Daniel 2-4, 2-6, 6, Vaughn 1-8, 0-0, 2, Garrett 3-4, 3-3, 9, Grigsby 4-10, 6-10, 14, Wilson 3-7, 0-0, 7, Winfrey 3-17, 1-2, 8, Jean 1-2, 0-2, 2, Ramirez 0-0, 0-0, 0, Totals 19-63, 13-25, 53. Halftime-UVS 27-19. 3 points-UVS 5-13 (Marvin 1-2, Fairbanks 1-2, Peterson 1-3, Beaman 0-2, McMurray 2-2, Nakayama 0-2), TexasPan American 2-26 (Gray 0-6, Vaughn 0-4, Grigsby 0-1, Wilson 1-5, Winfrey 1-10). Fouled Out-Grigsby, Jean, Nakayama. Rebounds-UVS 35 (Fairbanks 12), Texas-Pan American 41 (Daniel 9). Assists-UVS 14 (Marvin 4), Texas-Pan American 8 (Gray 3). Fouls-UVS 20, TexasPan American 21. A-200.

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March 8, 2007

Jalapeno Golf Classic loses funding from McAllen By PATRICK KENNEDY The Pan American In a blow to competitive international women’s golf, the McAllen City Commission voted 5-to-1 to end funding for the Duramed FUTURES Jalapeno Golf Classic, which has been held in McAllen for the last two years. The Jalapeno Golf Classic is a part of the Duramed FUTURES tour, the fastest growing women’s development tour in the world, and often propels young women who compete in it to the ranks of the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA). Prior to the establishment of the Jalapeno golf tournament in 2004, the D u r a m e d FUTURES T o u r , along with

the McAllen Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, signed a contract with the City of McAllen, which stated that the Jalapeno Golf Classic would be held at the McAllen Municipal Golf Course, one of the top 10 municipal golf courses in the state, and that the City of McAllen would provide $50,000 a year for a grand total of three years, in order to help the tournament grow. This year’s tournament, this weekend, is the last one to be subsidized by the City of McAllen, and the notion of providing subsidies for another three years came up at the last City Commission meeting. McAllen Hispanic Chamber of Commerce President Cynthia Sakulenski and FUTURES Tour president, Zayda Calderon, along with their supporters, attended the meeting to urge the commission to approve extension of the contract. What resulted was a short dialogue between the two parties and then a move by the commission to go into executive session to further discuss the outcome of the contract. The commission, in executive session, voted not to continue funding the tournament. Commissioner John Ingram, a self professed non-golfer, was the only commissioner to vote in favor of continuing funding for the event.

“This event allows McAllen exposure worldwide,” he said. “It also brings in players from all over the world and they get a chance to see what McAllen offers. It is an international experience for everybody.” The event brings in female golfers from around the nation, including golfers from The University of TexasPan American, as well as competitors from 26 nations. Of the reasons the commission gave for ending funding, three factors proved to be the dominant decision makers. The first is the idea that the event does not greatly benefit the city financially. The second problem revolves around the ability of the tournament to raise self-sustaining funds on its own. The third came from results of an audit conducted on the McAllen Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. “The event is funded through hotel occupancy taxes, but most of the players are staying in homes rather than hotels,” said Commissioner Jan Klinck. According to the McAllen Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, approximately half of the contestants stay in privately owned homes, rather than hotels. The commission believes that because of this, their stay does not generate enough revenue for the city. Proponents of the tournament say that although many of the players do stay in homes, about 70-80 of them do use hotels, along with their families

who accompany them. They also state that the homeowners who host the players buy extra groceries in order to feed the players, pay for meals around town, and usually take the players out for entertainment. The words of Commissioner Klinck echo the sentiments of the second snag which the commission used in its decision to cut funding. “We do not want to get into a long-term commitment,” Klinck said. According to Klinck, the money given by the commission to the McAllen Hispanic Chamber of Commerce was to be used as seed money to start up the tournament, with the idea that the event would eventually be able to raise enough sponsorship money to sustain itself without the use of taxpayer money. DIFFERING VIEWS Whether the chamber can raise enough sponsorship money to sustain itself has yet to be seen, due to the fact that this year’s tournament will be subsidized by the city. “I think that they believe that the city shouldn’t be underwriting sports events,” Ingram said. Proponents say that it is not uncommon for cities to enter into longterm commitments of subsidizing sporting events, pointing to the city of Green Bay, Wis., which subsidizes the Green Bay Packers. The third reason which the com-

mission pointed to was an audit of the McAllen Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, which found some inconsistencies with the bookkeeping. “The audit did not reveal any misappropriation of funds. All expenditures were legitimate,” argued Sakulenski. The audit found that receipts were missing for several expenditures made by the Chamber, although Sakulenski says that, “since then, all problems have been fixed.” Those who support the tournament have voiced concern about this issue, especially about Commissioner Marcus Barrera, who was the most vocal about his concerns over the audit. Barrera said that he had a personal problem with the audit. Those who support the tournament mentioned that although Barrera has his reservations about the work of the McAllen Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, he continued voting to sustain funding for the International Museum of Arts and Science, even though it was found guilty of misappropriating funds in 2004. As of now, the tournament is to be held this weekend at the McAllen Municipal Golf Course. The future of the tournament is in jeopardy, putting at risk the chances of UTPA Lady Bronc golfers advancing to the LPGA. Sakulenski said that although the City of McAllen may have cut funding for the event, four other communities have expressed interest in hosting it next year.

JALAPENO FUTURES GOLF CLASSIC Date: Purse:

$70,000

Winner:

$9,800

Runner up:

$7,000

Club:

Par: Format:

April 28-30

Palm View Golf Course McAllen 72 54 Holes

SPORTS

March 8, 2007

Page 15

Men’s hoopers end season with loss to UVS By ERICK QUINTERO The Pan American The first year of the Tom Schuberth era came to an official end March 3 when The University of Texas-Pan American men’s basketball team lost to Utah Valley State, 66-57. The loss dropped the Green and Orange’s record to 14-15, one game below .500. However the record is misleading in terms of success, considering the squad picked up only six wins last season. The performance this time is a clear indication the program is headed in the right direction. The Broncs’ recent success is due in large part to their four graduating seniors: shooting guard Johnathan Chatman, point guard Larry Sheppard, big men Colin Lien and Kano Edwards, players Schuberth asked to take charge of the squad. “We hold our seniors at a higher level than the other guys,” said the firstyear coach. “For one they’re more experienced, two it’s their last go around and

I tell them they will leave here with a sweet taste in their mouth or a bitter one based on their senior year. “I have asked them to take ownership. Sometimes they respond, sometimes they don’t.” The two low-block bangers, Edwards and Lien, responded. Just as expected, Lien led the Valley’s squad with 18 points and eight rebounds against the Wolverines and was the team’s leading rebounder for the year. The squad posted an impressive 12-2 record at home, under the watchful eyes of the Bronc faithful while pivot-man Edwards remained adamant in pursuit of a strong end to his playing days in Edinburg. Having been out of the rotation early in the season, Edwards came on strong after that. He averaged 14.5 in his last five games in the team colors, including a 24-point outburst on Senior Day against North Dakota State, the second ranked team in the United Basketball League. The Bridgeport, Conn., native said he was happy to finish his collegiate

career in Edinburg. “My career here at UTPA has been great. I love the fans. I love the people in the community - they’re great, and they’ve made me feel at home. I would do it again,” said the criminal justice major who didn’t rule out the possibility of playing overseas after graduation. Now the program forges ahead with the remaining Broncs, but its coach knows that replacing the foursome won’t be easy. “We’re going to miss our four seniors,” said Schuberth who added that the foundation has been set for a productive season next year. While it’s true the seniors will leave a huge gap in the roster, particularly in the paint, help could be on the way as UTPA is recruiting Weslaco High School phenom center, Francisco Rodriguez. The burly 6-10 center led his team to a Sweet 16 appearance in the state high school basketball season just completed, and was spotted at a couple of Bronc home games recently. Schuberth could not comment

directly on Rodriguez’ recruiting status because it would violate NCAA Division I recruitment rules. “Unfortunately I can’t really comment on him per se other than the fact we are recruiting him,” Schuberth said. “I love to have local players. I don’t think there is anybody that enjoys having local players more than the coach other than the fans themselves.” Schuberth is currently on the recruiting circuit looking to piece next year’s run together. If Rodriguez does sign up to sport the Green and Orange next year, UTPA could have five former Valley high school standouts including McAllen Memorial’s Danny Puente, PSJA North’s Ben Smith and Harlingen South’s Ryan Buck. Steve Silva from Sharyland redshirted this season. It’s a good time to be a Pan Am fan, given their recent success with Schuberth’s junior college recruits. Shooting guard Brian Burrell, point man Paul Stoll and Julius Allgood will all have one year of Division I experience under their belt.

Orange and Green fall in season finale, 60-53 By KRISTYNA MANCIAS The Pan American Last Saturday marked the end of the season for the Lady Broncs and after finishing with an overall record of 11-18, the Lady Broncs already have their sights on next season. They played their final game at home against Utah Valley State University, losing 60-53 to end the season 4-6 in league play and 7-5 at home. “I think we could have done better this season. We had a lot of newcomers. We adjusted alright and we’re looking forward for next season,” said junior point guard Lekeisha Gray. The conclusion of the season was also the ending to lone senior MaHogany Daniel’s four-year career.

Daniel was presented at center court alongside her parents and honored for outstanding performance throughout her years as a Lady Bronc. She played in her 111th career game, which tied her for most in program history, and she surpassed the 500-point mark. Daniel joins Naima Williams (1999-03) as the only two Lady Broncs to record more than 500 points and 500 career rebounds. “Mo’s legacy is three of the four seasons she’s played here are the three best seasons in UTPA women’s basketball history,” Coach DeAnn Craft said. “I believe that Mo has been a shinning example and a great leader for Aleeya Grigsby, Rose Ester Jean and for the interior play. “She was so dependable every day in practice and when she laced it up.

Onydia Garza/The Pan American STRONG BOARD - MaHogany Daniel takes a rebound Saturday against Utah Valley State in the final game this season.

There were very few times looking back at her entire career that she didn’t provide us with a dependable effort and that to me is the remark of a truly good player.” With only one senior on the squad this season and plenty of talented underclassmen, UTPA improved dramatically from last year’s overall record of 7-21. In their first season as Lady Broncs, junior college transfers Gray and Tamara Vaughn made their presence know, placing one-two in scoring. Gray made 306 points and led the team in scoring in 11 games. Not far behind, Vaughn finished with 271 total points and was the leading scorer in nine games. Individually, several Lady Broncs were recognized for their play by the Sports Information Directors at NCAA Division I Independent institutions. Both Gray and Grigsby earned Independent Newcomer of the Week honors twice this season. For her efforts in the second Annual Battle at the Border Tournament hosted by UTPA, Vaughn earned Independent Newcomer of the Week Honors. “I think I did alright for my first year and coming in as a transfer. It was difficult at first adjusting to the Division one level the exhibition games really helped,” Vaughn said. “I think I can improve for next year.” LOOKING BACK UTPA’S two biggest wins came against rival Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and nationally ranked North Dakota State University. Lady Broncs posted a 54-48 win over the Islanders Jan. 15,

handing Corpus Christi one of the biggest losses in program history. Gray led all scorers with 18 points on 7-of-13 shooting including a trio of three-pointers to go along with seven rebounds. On Jan. 25 UTPA created another upset by taking down nationally ranked league opponent NDSU at home 59-57. With 2.2 seconds remaining Cinthia Ramirez took a game-winning shot to lift her team past the Lady Bisons. “North Dakota State was our biggest win,” agreed Craft. “To win at home against a team that was 100 RPI points higher than us and then to have a player like Cinthia that wasn’t our leading scorer, but our leading assist player this season be the one to make the game winning, shot really encompasses what our team was really all about. “It really didn’t matter who got the glory with this team, what mattered was that this team found a way to win a game of that magnitude.” The Lady Broncs have 13 letterman coming back next season including four seniors with Gray, Vaughn, Ramirez and Tiona Wilson. The Lady Broncs will have all the firepower that they had this past season and expectations will be high for the upcoming one. “We just had a wonderful team meeting on where we want this program to go and there’s a fire in their eyes,” Craft reported. “And I think it is very significant that we had a great road win against Corpus and a huge upset against NDS, so now these kids have expectations. So now I think we can move forward.”

SPORTS

Editor’s Pick: NCAA Basketball Championship Selection Show When: March 11 Time: 6 pm Show will be aired on CBS

Emotions run high at weekend tourney Photos By: Onydia Garza/ The Pan American

Layout By: Rick Gamez

GAME FACES - At the Al Ogletree Classic March 3-4, The University of Texas-Pan American Bronc baseball squad squared off against teams from Stephen F. Austin, University of Texas-San Antonio, University of Illinois and Sam Houston State University. The Broncs won two of the four games, and dropped a heartbreaker against SHSU, which brought their record to 7-13. The Broncs have since won two more games, against Prairie View A&M bringing them to 9-13. (Clockwise, from left) Matt Shepherd stands at attention for the playing of the National Anthem at Saturday’s game against SHSU; Jonathan Hutcherson slides into home; Jeremy Johnson snags a high throw; Roly Gonzalez races the ball to second; The team huddles after a win against UTSA; Chad Linder pitches against SHSU; Brady Honeycutt catches a pitch during Sunday’s game against UTSA.