March 29, 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 29, 2007

Texas Youth Commission taking steps to heal name By VERONICA GONZALEZ The Pan American Texas legislators forced Texas Youth Commission board members to resign March 16, amid numerous allegations of sexual and physical abuse, and gross financial mismanagement. Legislators hold the board responsible for allowing abuse to continue. Before resigning, the seven men trans-

Delta Zeta debunks rumors of prejudice By LUKE KOONG The Pan American DePauw University in Greencastle, Ind., told its Delta Zeta chapter to leave March 12 after allegations of discrimination from 23 sorority members who were evicted from the Greek organization. The sorority, which had been part of DePauw for 98 years, was accused of kicking out girls who weren’t of a certain race or had unacceptable looks. The University of Texas-Pan American’s local Delta Zeta chapter was shocked at the allegations. “At first, we thought it was a prank. We didn’t know how to take it,” said Sofia Torres, vice president of membership for the local chapter. The senior communication major from McAllen said the news coverage came at a bad time. “This was the worst thing that could have happened to us right now,” she said. “Our chapter at UTPA has been working very hard to get the press and the media to accept us as a sorority, to cut down those boundaries saying that

See SHUTDOWN page 11

ferred power to Ed Owens, now acting as executive director. Since early 2005, Evins Regional Juvenile Center in Edinburg, the local TYC establishment, has faced allegations of excessive force, overcrowding and abuse. On Wednesday, news broke of grievances being filed by inmates and staff who claim they had limited access to bathroom facilities while at Evins,

making for unsanitary conditions. According to Sen. Eddie Lucio, legislators were first notified of the allegations in a report handed to them two weeks ago. The Texas Rangers, who have been doing most of the investigating, deemed the allegations credible and they were made known to the public immediately, amid much controversy. “Any time something like this happens, we try to make it as public as pos-

sible,” Lucio said. “The public has a right to know what’s going on with their tax money.” After reviewing the evidence collected by the Texas Rangers, a grand jury will decide whether the cases will come to trial. According to Phil Etheridge, professor of criminal justice at The University of Texas-Pan American, there has been a shortage of staff and a failure

to conduct effective staff background checks at TYC facilities. Several correctional officers employed by TYC had sexual abuse charges against them already, he said. On average, correctional officers received only 80 hours of training. Etheridge blames alleged physical abuse on the officers’ lack of training and patience for handling children with seri-

See TYC page 11

Apprehended: Robbery suspect leads police on chase that ends at UTPA By SANDRA GONZALEZ The Pan American A bank robber’s attempt to elude police came to, quite literally, a dead end at The University of Texas-Pan American late Tuesday morning. Francisco Torres, 31, of New Braunfels, was being chased by police after he allegedly used a Molotov cocktail, or gasoline bomb, as a weapon to rob the InterNational Bank at the corner of Sugar Road and Freddy Gonzalez Drive shortly before 11 a.m. After handing a note to the teller that demanded she fill his bag with money, Torres took off with $3,200 and was promptly followed by police. A 20-minute chase followed but ended when Torres drove his red Ford Mustang onto the concrete just north of the library, an area often used as a loading dock. John Darcy, an assistant professor in the College of Business Administration, was in his second floor office advising a student when he heard

the sirens. “I jumped up, grabbed my camera and saw the police pursuing the man. They had already run through the library,” he said. The suspect ran through the lobby and straight into the Bronc TV studios in the Media Theater, a room which has no back exit. Two employees, Mallary Bryant and Erin Menendez, then captured the subsequent events on video. “I didn’t think it was really happening. I thought it was a skit,” Bryant, a senior broadcast journalism major said. There were about 50 students in the vicinity when the suspect was apprehended, according to Darcy. He added that in his five years at UTPA, he has never seen an event quite like this one. “Among similar campuses this one can be noted for its outstanding, safe and nurturing environment,” Darcy said.

See APPREHENDED page 11

CAPTURED - Francisco Torres (left), 31 of New Braunfels, is arrested outside The University of Texas-Pan American’s library late Tuesday morning following a bank robbery and police chase.

John Darcy

News

A&E

Sports

Local cyclers attempt to join worldwide trend with little success

Reality show alumnus speaks on diversity, alcoholism

Norris brings leadership, passion to UTPA’s golf team

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R EADER FORUM

March 29, 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. 24

Hours of entertainment:

Sports Editor Luke Koong

sandra_ panamerican@ yahoo.com

hennero@ msn.com

lkoong2004 @yahoo.com

Web site Review y:

n dra G o nza

Design Editor 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

I know what you’re thinking; it has been too many weeks without a Web site review. I’m almost out of tears myself. The number of empty Kleenex boxes scattered around my bedroom rivals the number a common female produces during a single episode of “Grey’s Anatomy.” Nonetheless, stop crying (at least until the next new episode) because there is good news. If this T.V. show has taught viewers anything, it’s that adultery only leads to love triangles and binge drinking, so my advice is we should all just go fug ourselves.

Kristyna Mancias Erick Quintero Savannah Martinez

Up for review: gofugyourself.typepad.com

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

A&E Editor Frank Calvillo

News Editor Sandra Gonzalez

Photo Editor

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.

Ugly, as defined by the creators of Go Fug Yourself, is a condition that is unchangeable; think Star Jones. No matter how much weight the former “View” co-host loses, she will never be attractive…to anyone. Fugly, on the other hand, is a self-inflicted situation. Prime example: the possibly sexy Keanu Reeves insisting on wearing hobo attire and growing a mangy beard. The commentary on Go Fug Yourself brings a sense of humor to the unfortunately “fugly,” but also raises a number of intriguing questions based on the celebrity’s wardrobe. One of the most ponderous matters that Go Fug Yourself raised involves the dark world of celebrities. While I’m not one to believe in the underworld, I am a little concerned that the pale, forever black-clad Olsen twins are in fact blood-sucking vampires who carry pints of red gold in their giant purses. I am also deeply worried that the equally (if not more so) pasty Pete Doherty walks the streets in the cover of darkness in search of not only his precious blow, but fresh-blooded virgins. Vampire suspicions aside, Go Fug Yourself calls out celebs at their worst moments and it is something of a public service. I would hate for an impressionable young fan of J.Lo’s to see her wearing her favorite Muppet on stage and think that is acceptable attire for…well…anywhere. May you rest in peace, Gonzo. Major points off the site, however, for fugging one of the stars of “Prison Break,” Dominic Purcell. Not only does he play my lover’s brother on the show, but he’s really good-looking. I stick up for my fellow hotties when they’re insulted. Yes, the pants he was wearing were so baggy that they made his legs look slightly shorter than Vern Troyer’s, but again, he’s sexy. And for the record, I’ll be the only one fugging any of the stars of “Prison Break.” Oh, look! A typo. It’s actually spelled F-U…

Content:

Editor Claudette Gonzalez ThePanAmerican@gmail.com

Sidney Meadows

First time visitors: up to 2 hours. Loyal viewers: about 10 minutes an update.

RATING Every family has traditions. Some snuggle around a heavily tinseled Douglas Fir on Christmas Eve and pretend with great precision to like the person next to them; others have weekly meals of soul food with their future diabetic loved ones. In my family, we gather around the T.V. on award show days and make fun of people who paid way too much money to look so bad. Go Fug Yourself is the written version of all those things you say to the television, with a little added chutzpah. Time, Vanity Fair and Entertainment Weekly have all handed out accolades for the Web site. After nearly three years in existence, it attracts roughly 4 million viewers every month. The story of how Go Fug Yourself was created is about as fuzzy as my legs in winter. The only known story has two girls, who go by Heather and Jessica, making a Web site where they point out the daily fashion blunders of America’s favorite (and not so favorite) celebrities by way of an act they call “fugging,” the root of which is “fug.” Short blog-English lesson: “Fug” comes from the word “Fugly,” which means fascinatingly ugly. The word fascinating could also be replaced with a four-letter word starting with the same letter, which I can’t print because it is less acceptable than talking about assless chaps and fuzzy handcuffs.

Web site overview:

Pictures galore make the site a bit of a slow load, but what good would insults be if you didn’t see what was being made fun of? The site is a very easy read and visually stimulating. You can even check out the archives of fugs from the past. Not to mention, the pictures of celebrities looking their worst do make me feel better. I’m not afraid to admit it. They have teams of people tugging at hair, binding in muffin tops and exfoliating body parts. When the usually beautiful Keira Knightly looks more like Johnny Depp in the Secret Window (complete with creepy hat), of course I’m going to rejoice and poke fun.

Graphics/Photos:

I can’t believe it. I seem to have written another semi-positive site review. To prove I’m no bubbly Mary freaking Poppins, I’m asking, nay, begging you to send a Web site I will NOT like to Sandra_panamerican@yahoo.com. Of course, if you happen to come across something I will truly love, send it along too. For clarification, I especially like the following: Semi-pornographic pictures of hot guys (i.e. Wentworth Miller) and Web sites that make fun of other people. Have a day. Not a good one. Not a bad one. Just have one.

Sidenote:

Correction: Mike Metzger, a UTPA shuttle bus driver featured in the story “Shuttle driver keeps ‘em laughing, listening” (March 8), has five grandchildren.

IN THE NEXT ISSUE OF

THE PAN AMERICAN

Available April 5

Soultion on the horizon?

Singles into doubles

- Learn about a new bill that could end the illegal immigration debate

-Find out which tennis pair found love on the court

N EWS

News in brief: A new parking lot has opened north of the Human Resources building. It is available for use to all with a valid UTPA parking permit.

Biology department given $150K research grant By KRISTEN VILLEGAS The Pan American The biology department recently received a grant of over $150,000 for undergraduate research from the National Science Foundation. Zen Faulkes, a biology professor, will be in charge of organizing the research program, which will focus on

subtropical biology, in keeping with the local climate. Faulkes was informed about the grant, titled “Research Experiences for Undergraduates,” in early March and attended a workshop in Washington D.C. in order to receive the award. At the workshop, Faulkes said he learned the number of Hispanics going into science is not proportional to the

growth of the population, which he says is one of the reasons UTPA was able to receive the award. “This could be a really important place to get people into the pipeline, and get them into research and technical careers,” he said. FAULKES

Faulkes added that the region affords several different and interesting venues to study biology. “There are a lot of things that we have here that almost nobody else in the country has,” he said, adding that local researchers in general like to study regional environments. According to Faulkes, the Laguna Madre has a high salt concentration and

Riders share passion for cycling By MANUEL TISCARENO The Pan American A constant rise in gas prices, threatening greenhouse emissions and alarming obesity rates have people worldwide seeking solutions. Well, groups of “activists on wheels” have come up with an answer. Critical Mass, a large group of bike riders who gather together periodically, is not exactly an organization. In fact, members say so on their unofficial official Web page. They FREQUENT RIDER Mathew Terry, an asistant professor of biology, uses a bike as his main means of transportation and says the cities should improve road conditions for cyclists.

Sidney Meadows/ The Pan American

have no leaders or official members, “...It’s an unorganized coincidence. It's a movement...of bicycles, in the streets,” reads www.critical-mass.org. However, as confusing as defining Critical Mass may be, it stands true that the few who participate in the monthly event locally aim to be a political example as well as a unique culture. While overseas Critical Mass has numbers nearing 10,000 for a single event, the local movement, which according to members hit The Rio Grande Valley in July 2005, has not had the success of its predecessors. In fact, as compared to figures in the thousands, average figures for local Critical Mass events are in the teens. Angela Garza, a frequent Critical Mass participant, says the problem is not in spreading the word but comes from limitations on area roads, and occasional disagreements with local law enforcement. In one case, according to Garza, one of their riders was cuffed in McAllen for avoiding a police suggestion to change routes and take Main Street instead of the often congested 10th Street. Though the rider got off with a warning after a fellow rider came to his defense, Garza said they generally follow the law. “We are going by the rules. What we were doing was legal,” she said. “It’s just cops here don’t know that we can

take a lane if we need it or if the shoulder is full of clutter.” However, Armando Macias, a McAllen police officer, said all city ordinances are different, adding that marked bike lanes are the only lanes riders should use. Garza, who also goes by the name of Angela Ink, said in addition to road problems, they also struggle with locals who sometimes roll down their car window to scream curse words at them.

as a result is home to many different types of organisms perfect for study. There are only about three other lagoons like that in the world, he added. Each student will work on their own project, which they will devise with another faculty member. Faulkes said while subtropical biology is a general topic, students will be able to choose

See GRANT page 12

Future educators, students talk TAKS By BRENDA RODRIGUEZ The Pan American

“That’s kind of scary sometimes,” said the McAllen native. She added that biker problems with vehicle motorists is not exclusive to the Valley. “A friend of mine who started Critical Mass in New Orleans was riding her bike and this guy went near her, and tried to run her over so she would get out of the way,” Garza said. Mathew Terry, an assistant profes-

Students across the Valley are preparing to take the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills test next month. However, a longtime debate over the exam has many future teachers wondering if they are working toward their degree to simply “teach to the test.” Larry Reyes, a senior English major from Elsa, is going to become a teacher and will soon have to prepare students for the TAKS test. He said he’s not looking forward to teaching students just the standard material. “Taking those tests messes with your head because it kind of tells you whether you know this, which you weren’t taught, and then you’re given a test to test you on what you weren’t taught,” he said. “How is that fair?” Reyes will graduate in May and says that The University of Texas-Pan American “has gone over and above” to give him a vast knowledge of English, which includes literature and poetry, and

See BIKES page 12

See TAKS page 12

“A friend of mine who started Critical Mass in New Orleans was riding her bike and this guy went near her and tried to run her over so she would get out of the way.” - Angela Garza Critical Mass participant

International Programs prepares for Pan American Days festivities By SANDRA GONZALEZ The Pan American Eight months of planning by the Office of International Programs will soon culminate in a single week of festivities called Pan American Days. The celebration is coming upon its eighth year and Marilu Salazar, director

of the OIP, said the events should attract a wide range of audience. “Every year we have a new perspective and different people come in from several Latin American countries,” she said. “Every year we are open to new information. I think it’s really enriching every year.” This year, writer Ana Castillo, who

was made famous among the academics for her novel “Peel My Love Like an Onion,” will speak on Monday at 5:30 p.m. in the Student Union “Hopefully, we will have many students there because she is one of the foremost Latin, Spanish writers in the country,” Salazar said. Salazar cites Castillo as the week’s

premier event because of her popularity among the Hispanic community and her gift for writing. “She’s really one of our writers that we should we be proud of,” Salazar said. “What I liked about her was the way she puts emphasis on her roots. It’s original and very significant.” According to Salazar, the main

goal of the celebration is to spark conversation among students about the Latin culture, adding that bringing “Apocalypto” actress Dalia Hernández on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. was the best way to do that. “It’s a way for students to come and get into the debate and talk about

See DAYS page 12

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NEWS

March 29, 2007

NEWS

March 29, 2007

Page 5

FDA orders warning labels on sleeping-pill bottles By MICHAEL GARCIA The Pan American Recently, the Food and Drug Administration announced they would be placing new warnings on the labels of 13 different sleeping pills because the drugs have caused strange and unusual behavior. The drugs, which include the widely used Ambien and Lunesta, were targeted after they were found to cause users to eat, walk and drive while asleep. As a result, companies were ordered to make fliers and labels for patient knowledge on how and when to use theses drugs safely and effectively. The FDA has required that the fliers be present in pharmacies where patients fill their prescriptions. March 21, federal health offic i a l s warned that all prescription sleeping pills may cause sleepdriving. The announcement comes almost a year after this usual side effect made world-

wide headlines when Rep. Patrick Kennedy crashed his car after taking Ambien. The FDA would not comment on how many cases of side effect-related situations were linked to theses drugs, but it is estimated that the agency has uncovered more than a dozen cases and is worried that there are more unreported situations. Locally, Peter De la Garza, assistant chief of police for the Edinburg Police

Department, said sleeping pill-related accidents are uncommon in the Valley.

Q “I would get up and cook a whole meal. My roommates would catch me in the process, but were afraid to wake me up.” - Esmeralda Zuniga graduate student “As of right now, in this area, accidents or reckless driving that involves sleeping pills are very rare,” he said. “But we sometimes do find one person here or there who has fallen asleep at the wheel due to the side effects.”

known, many people choose to ignore warnings and instead focus on the benefits. Esmeralda Iris Zuniga, a first year art graduate student at UTPA, said she has taken several sleeping medications since first developing insomnia at the age of 14. “If I have a good night’s sleep, I know I’m in trouble. I realize I might not be able to sleep for the next two or three days, even with the pill,” she said. “It was much easier when I was younger, but now that I’m getting older, it’s taking a toll on my body mentally and physically.” While sleeping pills do help, Zuniga said she has expe-

rienced the side effects more than once. “I would get up and cook a whole meal. My roommates would catch me in the process, but were afraid of waking me up,” she said. Experts also warn of the possibility of addiction to pills. For this reason, Crystal Stewart, a registered nurse at the Student Health Center, said she often discourages their use. “We are very hesitant to prescribe anything that contains potential for addiction,” she said. “Instead, we try to get students to participate in various counseling methods, rather than relying on a pill to sleep.” Steward added that very few students inquire about obtaining a prescription for sleeping pills.

PAYING ATTENTION Although the dangers of sleeping pills are widely

Joey Cortez/The Pan American

Fast Eddie’s Billiards Is now hiring smiling faces. Waitstaff and Hostess needed. Flexible work schedules, Fun environment!

Onydia Garza/The Pan American SWEET FUN - Elvira Villarreal (right), a sophomore pre-law major, and Jose Chavez, an outreach specialist, serve ice cream at Troxel Hall to high school students from Galena Park and Channelview High Schools in Houston who toured the university as part of Bronc Expedition.

Apply @ Fast Eddie’s 815 N. Closner Edinburg TX, 78541

EN ESPAÑOL

Noticias en breve: La policía de Edinburg capturó a Francisco Torres, 31, de New Braunfels, Texas, de quien se sospecha haber robado un banco local, en los estudios de Bronc TV en la universidad en la mañana del martes.

TYC anuncia reformas después de alegación de abusos Por VERONICA GONZALEZ Traducido Por JUAN PINTOR The Pan American Con numerosas acusaciones de abuso sexual y físico, y con alegaciones de una mala administración financiera en contra de ellos, los miembros de la Comisión de los Jóvenes de Texas (Texas Youth Commision) fueron forzados a renunciar, por orden de los legisladores de Texas el 16 de Marzo. Los legisladores retuvieron a la junta directiva como responsables de dejar que el abuso continuara. Antes de renunciar, las 7 personas transfirieron su poder a Ed Owens, que ahora actúa como director ejecutivo. De acuerdo con el Senador Eddie Lucio, los legisladores fueron notificados por primera vez por medio de un reporte enviado a ellos hace dos semanas. Los Texas Rangers, quienes han estado haciendo la mayor parte de la investigación, demostraron que las ale-

gaciones eran creíbles. Se le hizo saber al público inmediatamente. “Siempre que pasa algo así, intentamos que el público lo sepa lo antes posible,” dijo Lucio. “El público tiene derecho a saber que es lo que está pasando con el dinero de sus impuestos.” Después de revisar la evidencia recolectada por los Texas Rangers, un Gran Jurado decidirá si el caso será llevado a juicio o no. De acuerdo con Phil Etheridge, profesor de justicia criminal en la Universidad de Texas-Pan American, ha habido una insuficiencia de personal y una deficiencia conduciendo investigaciones sobre los antecedentes del personal en las oficinas del TYC. Varios oficiales disciplinarios empleados por el TYC ya habían tenido cargos de abuso sexual contra ellos, comentó el profesor. En promedio, los oficiales disciplinarios recibieron solamente ocho horas de capacitación. Etheridge culpa el ale-

gado abuso físico en la falta de capacitación y paciencia para encargarse de los niños con problemas serios. “Cuando Evins (la instalacion de TYC en Edinburg) fuer construida, la idea era de que cada niño tuviera su propio cuarto. Ahora hay veinticuatro niños por oficial en un cuarto, asi que se requiere supervisión directa,” comentó el profesor. “Esto significa que necesitan estar altamente capacitados, o perderán el control.” Owens ha distribuido un plan de rehabilitación que se espera mejore el estado actual del TYC. El plan se asegurará que la agencia cumpla con las políticas fiscales del estado, que conduzca extensivas investigaciones sobre los antecedentes de todo el personal, que desarrolle un ambiente seguro y que establezca un Concilio Asesor Etico. “La última palabra es que queremos proveer un ambiente seguro para los detenidos sin importar si son niños o adultos,” dijo Lucio.

La junta legislativa de presupuesto destinó fondos para proveer al TYC con los medios para cumplir los requerimientos de la ley del senado. El dinero permitiría que los oficiales disciplinarios se sometieran a 300 horas de capacitación, y proveería un radio de personal de un guardia por cada doce jóvenes. Asimismo, mas inspectores podrían ser contratados para investigar ofensas dentro de las instalaciones del TYC. Sin embargo, Lucio, quien es miembro del la junta directiva del presupuesto, dijo que él no creía que la falta de dinero era la causa de la gerencia deficiente de parte del TYC. Esta no es la primera vez que el TYC ha estado envuelto en maltrato de menores. En 1974, la ley dictada por el caso Morales v. Turman declaró que un número de prácticas en instalaciones del TYC involucraban castigos crueles e inusuales como golpizas, confinamiento solitario, uso de aparatos químicos para

control de multitudes, y uso de drogas en vez de psicoterapia para controlar el comportamiento, dijo Etheridge. “Hace treinta años este escándalo fue confirmado,” dijo Etheridge. “La gran pregunta es: ¿Dónde estaban los legisladores en ese momento?” Jim Hurley, portavoz del TYC, dijo que el cambio no es fácil. “No se hizo nada por un tiempo,” dijo Hurley. “No se puede implementar todo al mismo tiempo.” Hurley está de acuerdo que el TYC ha tenido sus deficiencias, pero los entrenadores se han vuelto mas administrativos investigando quejas. Hay 900 entrenadores, los cuales Hurley dice, serán todos investigados. Los oficiales no están muy seguros de cuanto tardarán las investigaciones para que se resuelva toda la situación. “Esta es una situación muy seria. Esperamos que podamos traer justicia y restaurar la dignidad de los niños,” comentó Lucio.

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

Editor’s Pick: Must-Buy CD “Introducing Joss Stone” is the newest effort from the flaming-haired cult artist.

Local gallery exhibits art for worthy cause By LESLIE ESTRADA The Pan American The Loft Gallery hosted an opening reception March 22 for Kirk Clark’s latest exhibition, “Clark Art for Habitat,” which will be on display until April 22. The exhibit, whose proceeds will benefit Rio Grande Habitat for Humanity, is a colorful collection with new, never-before-seen artwork that Clark and his daughter, artist Anne Clark-Lawson, recently produced. Clark, who was born in McAllen likes what Habitat for Humanity is doing for Valley residents and wants to help the organization by doing something similar to what he recently did in Ciudad Victoria, Tamaulipas, Mexico, where he raised funds to help underprivileged children. Rio Grande Habitat for Humanity, located at 412 Ash Ave., is a Christian, non-profit organization that builds homes for people that need a hand. “The idea is to highlight Habitat for Humanity and really showcase all that this organization does for the people of the Rio Grande Valley,” Kirk Clark said. Lorena Reyes, who works at The

Sidney Meadows/The Pan American HABITAT ART - Local gallery “The Loft” has joined forces with charity organization Habitat for Humanity to put on a special exhibit of art with all proceeds going to benefit those in need of homes.

Loft Gallery and is familiar with Clark’s work, said that this collection is worth seeing. “The art is very contemporary,” Reyes said. “It is very appealing to the eye, just like everything Kirk does.” Clark’s unique work, ranging from drawings and ornate totemic sculptures to monoprints and jewelry, has been featured in galleries and universities in Illinois, New Mexico,

South Texas and Mexico. “Clark Art for Habitat,” which includes over 65 contemporary works, features a wide range of subjects depicted in sculptures, monoprints and drawings, specially made for this particular event. “The Ancient Ones,” a series of sand-cast aluminum sculptures, wood and copper sculptures, prints and drawings, was inspired by a special trip

Clark made to the desert just outside of Parras, Mexico. He studied petroglyph images from that site as well as images from Peru, Alaska, Africa, China, Indonesia, New Zealand and Australia. “They were beautiful. I found symbols that appeared to be Shamanic in origin and I began to speculate as to their meanings,” Clark said. “These images inspired me to create this particular series.”

“Shaman Conversion,” a collection of framed, ceramic crosses, is also shown. The crosses, according to Clark, are representations of mental images of the symbols held sacred by the Shaman, images which are surrendered at the moment of conversion to Christianity. “Often in my crosses, the sign of three serpents stands for the Trinity, bridging the gap between ancient Indian beliefs and Christianity,” Clark said. “In no way am I attempting to put the Indian culture down. Quite the opposite. Sharing Christ with all the people is a wonderful thought in my mind.” “Atomic Jesus Series,” which explores the moment just before Christ’s death on the cross, the exact moment of his death, and the moment immediately following, is another component of this exhibit. “Since I was a child, I have imagined that when Christ died on the cross, there was a burst of light as his soul left the body and returned to the Father,” the artist said. “It is a very personal conjecture.” To view “Clark Art for Habitat, visit The Loft Gallery at 501 W. Business 83 in McAllen.

‘Real World: Hawaii’ star pays visit to UTPA By FRANK CALVILLO The Pan American Many remember the eigth season of “The Real World” and its most notorious cast member, Ruthie Alcaide. With a penchant for alcohol and partying, the outspoken and rambunctious Alcaide lived life like there was no tomorrow. Now eight years down the line, things have changed for the now 29-yearold reality TV star. She is no longer the wild party animal that viewers knew her as, but rather a mature woman who spends her time on the college circuit talking to students about topics such as alcoholism and the importance of diversity in today’s world. On Tuesday, Alcaide shared her message with University of Texas-Pan American students, most of whom were fans of the show that made her famous. “I just came because I wanted to see if she was as tiny in real life as she looked on the show,” said Nina Kizzia, an

English major at UTPA. “Plus I’ve always thought she was really cool.” The discussion began with Alcaide going over the fine points and the ups and downs of alcohol and how it can seriously spiral out of control. “The scary thing about alcohol is that you do things that you wouldn’t normally do,” she said. “I made a fool out of myself, but I’m still here.” While filming “The Real World” in Hawaii Alcaide battled alcohol poisoning, faced an intervention and eventually entered a rehabilitation clinic – all in front of the cameras. “Honestly if I hadn’t done the show, I’m not entirely sure if anyone would have bothered to stop me,” Alcaide said. Alcaide went on to point out that a lack of education and drinking in excess lead to having a drinking problem. “Some people don’t know how to drink in moderation because they were never taught,” she said. “When I got help, I had to learn the proper way to

drink.” Another popular topic for the native Hawaiian is diversity. In all of her talks, Alcaide encourages students to explore other cultures and attitudes in the hopes of getting a much broader outlook on the world. “The minute I started speaking to people from other cultures, it was like a wake-up call,” she said. “We need to see people for who they really are and give them a chance to be themselves.” Alcaide, whose varied ethnic background includes Filippino, German and Spanish heritage, among others, feels that embracing other cultures can be eyeopening for young people if they want it to be. “People are not always what they seem to be, but you’ll never know that if you don’t step outside your own comfort zone,” she said. Her outlook on diversity as well as her popularity brought Alcaide to the attention of UTPA’s University Program

Board. “We thought she would be the perfect person to speak to students because she is so easy to relate to,” said Tania Chavez, committee chair for UPB. “She just seemed like such a good choice to speak especially when it came to celebrating heritage.” Though she is fully secure in her present-day life, Alcaide has no qualms about discussing her “Real World” past. However, she doesn’t have relationships with the majority of her cast mates. “I keep in touch with Colin as much as I can,” she said. “I also know that Amaya is living in Los Angeles; I just haven’t run into her, though.” She regrets attending the reunion show in 2000. “I wasn’t comfortable at all,” she said. “I just remember thinking at the time, ‘Get me out of here.’” And as for the state of “The Real World” today, Alcaide feels the show just isn’t what it used to be.

http://academics.georgiasouthern.edu REAL WORLD - Former real worlder Ruthie Alcaide talked to UTPA students Tuesday at the Student Union Theater.

“I think it’s gone beyond the mission statement and is just about sex ,” she commented. However rather than dwell on yesterday, Alcaide is satisfied with today. “I have some goals that I’ve set for myself that I’m trying to reach,” she said. “Really I just follow my heart wherever I’m going.”

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Offbeat clubs linked by overlapping membership Story By: Jeanette Perez ou go to school and expect to walk a mile to class because you couldn’t find parking, make the most out of 10-minute breaks, try desperately to keep awake, and sink into your car with relief once it’s all over. Video games, anime, ghost hunting and role-playing are just about the last thing you’d expect out of college. But at The University of TexasPan American, there are organizations that focus on each of those activities. Universities have a variety of clubs and organizations. The well-known ones are always the groups you see in movies: sororities, fraternities, and student government. But dig deeper and you’ll uncover a completely different world, one you might not have been aware of. A world of technology, costumes, spirits and cartoons. One of the most prominent of that world at UTPA is the Japanese Animation Club. The group, which was originally started in 1993, has made a name for itself. At one point, according to currently inactive member Margaret Rivera of Edinburg, it was the largest non-sorority/fraternity organization on campus. The club is a home for all things anime and manga. You don’t have to be able to speak or understand Japanese, or even know how to draw to join this club. Aside from the $5 fee, all there’s left to do is, well, watch anime. But members love the genre for more than its entertainment value. “Basically we watch anime and try to get people interested in the culture,” said Rivera, 24, an art major who’s been a member since 2002. “Nowadays the story an anime has are philosophical. Most people tend to look at it and think, ‘Oh, look. It’s a pretty cartoon.’ They have no idea about the story that goes into it or what it stands for.” As with any other organization on campus, the JAC holds weekly meetings for discussion. On Tuesdays, members bring in anime from home or mention something they’ve heard about and are interested in. Thursdays are what’s known as Fansub days. Sharing is encouraged. “You bring in something from

home. If they pick it, you watch it. It’s a free day,” Rivera said. But Friday nights is what it’s all about. Anime series run from 6 p.m. to midnight for anyone to see. In addition to sharing a love of anime, club members gather to work for a cause. “Usually we gather for school events. We did ‘Paint McAllen Beautiful’ a while back, in which we got together to paint residential houses for the disabled and elderly,” Rivera said. “We wanted to do some volunteer work to help out people and at the same time make a name for ourselves. We did s o m e t h i n g g o o d most people didn’t think we were capable of.” E v e r y year all their hard work is rewarded. “Right now we’re planning our annual trip to AKon in Dallas, which is held the first weekend in June. It’s basically three days of anime-crazy people,” Rivera said. What did she learn from all this? “You get to see a view into another culture that’s more than just Dragon Ball Z and Sailor Moon,” she said. Rivera knows all about different views. Her position in the JAC led her into another special- interest group not widely recognized on campus - the Gamers Club. The club, composed of more than 30 members, was started in spring 2005 by current president, 23-year-old Daniel Salinas of Weslaco, who felt the university was in need of a gaming group. After Daniel and a group of friends wanted to play video games at

Design By: Roy Bazan the Student Union but were denied the right to, Daniel and his friends took action. “It took a while. A lot of friends helped out. But after we got into the UC (University Center), everybody just started coming,” said the senior TV/film major. Among those were junior social studies major Joey Jauregui of Donna. Jauregui is an avid video game fan who loved the very thought of it. But his first impression of the club lacked the true essence of what it really was. “At first I thought it was just games, but it turned out to be something m o re , ” said the 2 0 yearold. “We also discuss what’s new in g a m e s , whether something will make it or not. We talk about more than, ‘Oh, its fun to play.’” The members are making their mark, attempting to break all preconceived notions of gamers. “We’ve been looked at as noisy. ‘What’s more time wasting than playing video games?’ they wonder. We’re on a quest to change that view about us,” said Rivera, who’s been in the club for about three years. Jauregui agreed. “We don’t want a reputation of being a bunch of babbling fools,” Jauregui said. “I think we’re showing an emergence of a different kind of interest. Games have always been there, but people think they’re just for kids. There’s actually a lot of enthusiasts and game professionals out there. It’s a sport to some people. We’re seeing how it affects our pop culture.”

To keep the community involved, the club hosts a tournament every semester, with games like Halo 2 and Super Smash Brothers. The UC is like a home away from home to the gamers. “We live here basically. You’ll always run into a member. Drop by, we’re here all the time. All day, all week. It’s very rare when we’re not here,” Rivera said. The club also opens doors to new experiences. “It’s really fun to be in. We get to play games, meet cool people and become friends. It’s never boring,” said Rivera, who was inspired to start a new club in September. Her new effort, the Ghost Hunters, goes around the Valley searching for haunted places. According to Rivera, that branch is currently dormant, but the hunger for the hunt is always there. Another notable neighboring group of the JAC and the GC is the Role Players Guild. The RPG, created less than two years ago, is a group of students that act out roles for characters they’ve created as part of a story, similar to an RPG video game. Manny Rojas of San Benito, although not an official member, never loses character. After all, he’s been playing RPGs for more than 10 years. Surprisingly enough, this activity has been around for decades, but has not been widely accepted. That’s what this club is for. “Being able to interact with people who share a love for role-playing is something that gives me great pleasure, especially in the Valley, where such activities are shunned or disliked,” said the 24-year-old CIS major. “It’s good to have a place to do what I like to do, with people with the same interests.” Although each club is different, there’s one thing that ties them all together – their friendship and unity. “We’re like a triad. The RPG, Gamer’s club, and JAC all share members. There’s a lot of diversity that comes into this club. It leads to a very interesting situation,” Rivera said.

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A&E

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‘Dead Silence’ scares phobics, non-phobics By FRANK CALVILLO The Pan American

Sidney Meadows/The Pan American FINE WINE - Once considered too cosmopolitan for the Valley, wine tastings have sprung up throughout the region, with the greatest concentration in the Edinburg-McAllen area.

Wine-tasting scene popular among hip RGV residents By ANGELA SALAZAR

The Pan American While college students don’t usually think of wine as their alcoholic beverage of choice, local wine tastings are beginning to change that. What exactly goes on at a wine tasting? People gather together and taste (note it says taste, not chug) different types of wine. Not only do they have the chance to sample fine wines, but also educate themselves in what to look for in a beverage. “We talk a little about the wine, the grapes and the legs (how the wine looks in the glass) of the wine and from what region it is from,” said Demetrio Petrides, owner of Casa Petrides in McAllen, where such events are held every Thursday from 7 to 8 p.m. According to tasting-wine.com there are three steps to tasting: look, taste and smell. The wine should be poured in a clear glass and held up against a white backdrop in order to see its color. Then, by swirling the wine

around in the glass and looking at the “legs,” one is able to detect the alcohol content and sweetness of the drink. After swirling, tasters should take one small sniff of the wine and one deep breath. Then finally it is time to taste. The initial taste is to get the taste buds to wake up. The next step is to see how it tastes after being swished around in the mouth. Finally the aftertaste is whether or not it was a pleasant taste after the wine has been swallowed. “What we try to do is cut the intimidation out of picking a wine,” said Angie Maldonado, manager of Wine Styles. Maldonado says the hardest part of wine selection is overcoming a lack of knowledge about the different wines. She and the other staff members try to make sure that tasting and buying wine is an enjoyable experience. Students, such as Erica Mendiola, a graduate student at The University of Texas-Pan American, are getting into the scene and letting others know about them.

“I think wine tastings are exciting,” she said. “My fiancé showed me how to drink a Martini Rossi once and I enjoyed the learning experience. He told me to sip some wine, swish it in my mouth and then swallow.” For those who want to hold a winetasting party in the comfort of their home, Wine Styles is more than happy to oblige. For $50 an hour, the group will bring samples of wine and a lecture on food and wine pairings to a customer’s home. Or just stop by on a Thursday or Friday evening for a free tasting in-store. How often have you wanted to take a bottle of wine somewhere, but are unable to because you do not know what exactly goes well with what food? By going to any of the wine shops around the Valley you are not only able to taste some of the finest wines of the wine region, but also gain knowledge that may be helpful in the future. For more information about local wine tastings contact Wine Styles at (956) 971-9463 or Casa Petrides at (956) 668-9686.

For anyone who has ever thought that dolls or puppets were scary, here comes a movie that will chill them to the bone. For anyone else that’s never had a phobia about these little creatures, the movie in question still has a chance of giving them a fright or two. “Dead Silence” tells the story of a man who returns to his hometown to bury his wife who has just died as a result of a highly questionable accident. Upon returning home, he encounters the tale of an old legend concerning a woman named Mary Shaw. It appears that Shaw was a ventriloquist back in the early 20th century who owned a vast collection of wooden dolls that she considered to be her children. After being accused of involvement in a local boy’s disappearance, she was murdered and buried with her doll collection. Now some feel she has come back to seek her revenge. Despite a very clichéd opening, which offers nothing but generic thrills and little plot information, the movie works. Once the setting shifts from the big city to the haunted town, the movie’s gears begin to go into overdrive. Through every scene there is a sense of tension and fear, even in the instances when we as audience members think we are safe. Filming techniques, including the tiniest ones, count for a lot here. For example, the majority of the film is shot in a blue tint, making the daylight scenes and any scene involving color appear dark and cold, which transfers well on

the screen. Another technique used to great advantage is the absence of music in scenes when tension is high. With only silence, wind and the dark, the level of fear rises dramatically. Sometimes it is tricks like these rather than gory images which make a horror film truly scary. Written and directed by the creative team that brought the “Saw” franchise to American audiences, “Dead Silence” in many respects has the same feel as the team’s previous films have, minus the excessive gore. Perhaps the most recognizable trademark that comes through is the ending. After nearly two hours of jumps and tension, the movie appears to be coming to an expected close. However it is only when we think we’ve reached the end that the audience is thrown for a loop and given one of the best surprise conclusions to a horror film in recent times. And in keeping with the filmmakers’ tradition, it’s an ending that no one will see coming. Released by Universal Pictures, “Dead Silence” is the first major studio release the team has produced. And it shows. While the “Saw” films paid close attention to detail, leaving nothing out, one can’t help but get the feeling that “Dead Silence” suffered a little in the editing room in the interest of screen time. As a result, some sequences will feel rushed, and others that require further exploration will not be given any. Regardless, “Dead Silence” works as a more-than-decent horror film that shows that the genre can still produce original works of fright.

UltimateImages.com A DOLL’S HOUSE - The new horror film “Dead Silence” boasts wooden dummies with a penchant for killing and a ventriloquist who has returned from the dead.

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APPREHENDED continued from page 1 University Relations released a statement that emphasized the university’s commitment to maintaining a secure environment. “Although this incident was out of our control, UTPA strives to keep the university community safe and out of harm’s way,” the statement said. One police officer was taken to the hospital with an injured knee as a result of a scuffle with the suspect during apprehension, according to a policeman on the scene. The suspect is currently being held in the Edinburg Municipal Jail and will be charged with aggravated robbery and evading arrest.

TYC continued from page 1 CNN approaches Bronc TV for tape

John Darcy BLOW OUT - The tire on Torres’ Ford Mustang was shot out by police.

Onydia Garza/The Pan American INVESTIGATING - Police search Francisco Torres’ vehicle after he was taken into custody. No students were injured as a result of the Tuesday morning incident.

When an unknown number appeared on lecturer Fred Mann’s cell phone caller ID on his way home, he was perplexed. “I picked up my cell phone and thought: ‘What number is this?’” he said. It was the assignments editor from CNN. The national network was interested in airing footage that broadcast journalism majors Mallary Bryant and Erin Menendez, both of Ennis, Texas, had gotten of bank robber Francisco Torres after he was arrested by police outside the Bronc TV studios. “It’s extremely exciting if it makes it on air,” Menendez, a junior, said. “Not only does it get recognition for me, but it gets recognition for the university.” Though senior Bryant admits to having had reservations about following the suspect outside with police, Menendez said she was fine with it “It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and that’s why I ran out there so fast,” she said. Mann, who has over 30 years of television production experience, knew his students could have been in serious danger, but said he is proud of how they acted. “They did the right things. They waited until things settled down,” he said. “I always tell my kids: don’t risk your life for a story.” There is no word yet as to if or when the video will air, but Mann said CNN has a copy of the video. “It’s still neat to be asked,” he said.

SHUTDOWN continued from page 1 sorority girls just party and get high all the time.” In a statement released Feb. 26, Delta Zeta’s national president vehemently defended the actions of the DePauw sorority. “We are offended at suggestions that decisions made at DePauw were related in any way to our members’ races and nationalities,” Debbie Raizano said. “We are proud of the diversity of our members and alumnae nationwide which reflects the mandate in our constitution that members will be selected solely on their merits and without regard to their race, color, religion, national origin or handicap. “On each of our campuses, our faces reflect those of the communities of which we are a part, and it is irresponsible to suggest otherwise.” Delta Zeta’s explanation of the dismissal of members is different from the university’s version. While the university alleges that social and demo-

graphic factors were used to determine who remained active members, Delta Zeta asserts that the criterion was a commitment to rebuilding the lagging chapter. According to the Delta Zeta Web site, the DePauw chapter had voted to close down. The university asked them to remain and subsequently the sorority’s national officers held a membership review to find dedicated members. In the end, those who didn’t want to commit were granted alumnae status and asked to leave the sorority house, which is only available for collegiate members. THE LOCAL STORY Joanna Coronado, a junior education major from Mercedes and vice president of programs for the UTPA chapter, said local Delta Zeta members pride themselves on their diversity. “Our chapter is very mixed. We always express that when we recruit, that everyone is their own person and we

don’t encourage you to be anyone else,” Coronado said. “You are who you are and we accept you that way.” The events at DePauw coincided with the week before Spring Break, when Delta Zeta and several other organizations put on the Shattered Dreams program. What happened nationally had a negative impact on the local chapter. “We got slammed in the face from one of the newspapers here in the Valley because of what happened,” Torres said. “Even The Monitor, who had the opportunity to interview their own Delta Zeta chapter in the Valley, basically copied and pasted the AP story that they wanted to run that week.” Coronado and her sorority sisters do not believe the allegations set forth at DePauw, reiterating that their chapter is very diverse. “I’ve never once been discriminated against and I always felt part of the group. I never felt singled out,” she said.

“If you look at the different chapters in the United States, you can’t be racist. If Delta Zeta were racist, our chapter here at UTPA wouldn’t exist.” Nationally, Delta Zeta is the second largest sorority but has been trying to increase membership for several years. “We’re just riding the wave,” Torres said. Torres said the goals of Delta Zeta are to develop women of high morals, standards, academic goals and values. The sorority attempts to promote those goals with community service and participation with campus activities. Delta Zeta works with the other Greek organizations to find members that are the best fit. They collect names and invite anyone who is a full-time student with a 2.5 cumulative GPA to Information Night, where potential members learn more about the group. The only way to be removed from the sorority is to engage in illegal activities.

ous issues. “When Evins was first built, the idea was that every kid would have their own room. Now there are 24 kids per officer in a room, so direct supervision is required,” he said. “This means they need to be highly trained, or they’ll lose it.” Owens has issued a rehabilitation plan aimed at improving the current state of TYC. The plan will make sure that the agency complies with state fiscal management policies, conducts thorough background checks on all personnel, develops a safe environment, and establishes an Ethics Advisory Council. “The bottom line is that we want to provide a safe environment for detainees regardless if they’re a child or adult,” Lucio said. The legislative budget board appropriated funds to provide TYC with the means to carry out senate bill requirements. The money would allow correctional officers to undergo 300 hours of training, and would provide for a staffing ratio of one guard to 12 youths. In addition, more inspectors would be able to be hired to investigate offenses within TYC facilities. However, Lucio, who is a member of the budget board, said he doesn’t think the lack of money was the cause of poor management on TYC’s part. SAME OLD STORY? This is not the first time TYC has been involved in the mistreatment of juveniles. In 1974, a ruling issued in Morales v. Turman declared that a number of practices at TYC facilities involved cruel and unusual punishments such as beating, solitary confinement, use of chemical crowd-control devices and use of drugs instead of psychotherapy to control behavior, Etheridge said. “Thirty years ago this scandal was confirmed,” he said. “The big question is where were the lawmakers at the time?” Jim Hurley, spokesman for TYC, said change doesn’t come easy. “Nothing was done for some time,” he said. “Not everything can be implemented at once.” Hurley agrees that TYC has had its shortcomings, but trainers have become more administrative in investigating complaints. There are currently 900 of them, and Hurley says all will be investigated. Officials aren’t sure how long investigations will continue. “This is a very serious situation. We hope we can bring justice and restore the dignity of the children.” Lucio said.

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TAKS continued from page 3 he wants to share that with students without worrying about how they will pass the TAKS. The test covers what the state of Texas considers students need to know to be academically successful. In addition, passing scores on the test are sometimes required in order for students to continue to the next grade level. Miranda Migoni, a senior English major from Austin, said the TAKS is a good tool, but that it is emphasized too strongly. “We do need some standardized test because we have to have something

we can judge students’ progress. But to give them the importance that it does is ridiculous,” said Migoni. Criselda Garcia, an assistant professor in the UTPA department of curriculum and instruction, said she believes too much rides on passing the TAKS. “This test is high stakes. The score makes a lot of decisions about the students’ school placement, academic level, reading level, in general the achievement level of students based on one score,” said Garcia, also coordinator of the Instruction and Reading Middle School Program.

Reyes suggested that an alternative to the TAKS be administered, adding the test should not determine a student’s promotion to the next grade. “I know that I’ll have to teach that (TAKS test) because a lot of schools are based on it and it’s required,” he said. “But I don’t want students to base their knowledge on or what they know about themselves based on a test that’s not up to their standards.” Garcia added that she would like to see changes made to the test that would help students in the RGV excel, especially since statistically they are behind

BIKES continued from page 3 sor of biology at The University of Texas-Pan American, said he uses his bike as his primary means of transportation and has seen the shortcomings in infrastructure. “I guess people don’t think about bicycles when they are building streets. There’s not much of a shoulder,” Terry said. Garza, who helped organize Critical Mass in the Valley with Bobby Guevara, a McAllen native, said the monthly rides didn’t always have such a poor turnout. In Critical Mass’s first local ride, 50 people showed up. However, the police stopped the riders and asked them for a permit. This came much to the chagrin of many riders because some didn’t feel one was needed; others just felt it was best to avoid problems with the law. Annette Villarreal, a secretary at McAllen City Hall who issues permits,

“We do need some standardized test because we have to have something we can judge students’ progress. But to give them the importance that it does is ridiculous.” - Miranda Migoni senior English major other ethnicity groups in performance on the English section.

“What happens in highly minority, segregated areas like our area is that teachers tend to shift instructional delivery to just teaching to a test,” she said. According to the Texas Education Agency, 93 percent of Hispanic seniors who took the exit TAKS exam in 2005 passed, compared to 94 percent of African Americans and 98 percent of whites. However, Hispanics performed better than African Americans on the math and science sections, according to the figures. In both instances, whites had the highest percentage of passing students.

DAYS continued from page 3

said due to safety issues, a permit was indeed needed. Such permission, she added, take about five business days to process and requests are only denied in cases involving possible danger. However, the struggling group has not become discouraged. Garza hopes to continue spreading the word on Critical Mass and is devoting herself to yet another project, The Valley Bike Collective. This will help riders obtain accessories for their bikes, such as spare wheels and bike reflectors, in exchange for donations. She also adds that she will be willing to share any of the 10 bikes stored in her garage, including an adult-size tricycle. Moreover, the Rio Grande Critical Mass will celebrate its two-year anniversary in July and the goal is to increase the number of riders to at least 100. The next ride is scheduled to take

place March 30. There are no sign-up sheets; interested parties just need a bike and a lot of energy. For more information on local Critical Mass rides, visit www.myspace.com/mcallen_critical_mass.

The next Critical Mass:

March 30 6 p.m. Archer Park McAllen

CONGRATS TIPA WINNERS! Representatives from each of The University of Texas-Pan American’s media outlets brought home many honors from the Texas Intercollegiate Press Association Convention in San Antonio March 22-24. Students from The Pan American, Panorama, Bronc TV, Bronc Radio and Gallery competed in on-site contests and received the results of work which had been previously submitted for judging (See TIPA results below).

TIPA Results

the history and the civilization,” she said. “Apocalypto,” directed by Mel Gibson, was released in December and drew complaints from the Mayan community, who claimed their group was misrepresented in the film and portrayed as brutal and savage. Despite the controversy, Salazar said it should be an interesting speech and discussion. Moreover, Salazar said the office aims to give students in all vocations a chance to learn from the speakers. For the first time in three years, the event will host representatives from the Latin American science community, including Eduardo Osquiguil, an Argentinean Fulbright Visiting Scholar in physics and astronomy, and José Daniel De Mello, a Brazilian Fulbright Visiting Scholar in

mechanical engineering. “This is unusual [because the event tends to focuses on art and literature], but for us very exciting because it is good to SALAZAR have the scientific aspect of culture being represented,” she said. With over 50 participants, this year’s Pan American Days will be the largest ever, according to Salazar. “We’re just one small office in a big campus. So doing this is a great challenge for us,” she said. For a full schedule of events visit www.panam.edu/dept/internationalprograms.

GRANT continued from page 3 any subtopic such as animals, bacteria, plants or ecology. Faulkes said they will have the luxury of time to show reasonable progress. Many other programs funded by the NSF are usually 10-week summer programs that don’t allow the students much time to finish what they started. “Our program will allow students to do original genuine research,” Faulkes said. The program will also aim to help undergraduates get published in journals. Faulkes, who said it was his fourth time applying for the grant, knows it was highly competitive and was very excited to finally be given the opportunity to work on this research. “It is a great example of what the university is trying to build and accomplish,” Faulkes said. His next step is to raise consciousness about the program, as it is a great way to prepare students for graduate school. Six students will be chosen for the research per year and each one will have a different project. The program is only for UTPA students, although several out-

side students have already contacted Faulkes for information. Students will be taking classes together, attending conferences, and will be provided a housing scholarship in their second summer to focus and concentrate on finishing their project. Students in the program will be getting paid for their work and will take a Graduate Record Exam preparation course worth $1,000. They will also attend development workshops and travel to at least two scientific conferences. “It’s a very good deal for the students and obviously for the faculty as well,” Faulkes said. Application deadline is April 23. To apply, submit a written statement of 500 words or less describing career goals and how the program would impact your life and future to Faulkes at zfaulkes@panam.edu. Two letter of recommendation are also requested. While the current grant has allocated funds for the first two years of the program, Faulkes is hoping to receive around $130,000 more after the completion of the two years if the results are satisfactory.

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ENLIGHTENED BY LUCAS

A colorful ending to the Big Dance This year’s NCAA tournament has been quite bland. There were no Cinderella stories like last year’s George Mason. Both Texas teams were eliminated. Most importantly, my By LUKE KOONG bracket died early when The Pan American No. 11 Virginia Commonwealth defeated No. 6 Duke, 79-77. Coach K had a 27-1 record in the first round of the NCAA tournament before then. Unfortunately, their loss and my incorrect picks will leave me without a cookie, the prize for the pool I was in. I really thought I had a hang on this year’s field. I researched for about an hour before setting up my bracket. Logic should have prevailed when I said No. 15 Texas A&M-Corpus Christi was going to beat No. 2 Wisconsin. Instead, they lost 76-63. It is my goal to pick the winner this year, though. And I have a surefire way to make sure I get the right one. Going into the record books 20 years back, I have made some important observations. I credit my major in biology for helping me with the discoveries. Out of the teams in the Final Four for the

past 10 years, teams wearing cool colors have often come away with victories. The sole exceptions have been Syracuse in 2003, Maryland in 2002, Arizona in 1997, Arkansas in 1994, UNLV in 1990 and Indiana in 1987. Fifteen teams with cool colors on their uniforms have won the title. The most recent of course was Florida. And yes, they were wearing blue. The Bruins were wearing white. I haven’t found any information about what colors both teams will be wearing this time around, but the winner will most definitely be wearing a cool color. Then, you come to Ohio State and Georgetown. Both typically wear their gray uniforms. History says we need to have a team with warm colors to lose in the finals. The only team that meets that criterion is Ohio State with red ringers and numbers. What happens in the final? If it also follows history, the game should be close. Assuming the teams wear the proper colors, Florida will be able to defend their title against the Buckeyes. My estimated score is 77-69. If by some freak chance that ends up being the score, I’ll run around the campus without any shoes... Maybe pants... I am a bit semi-conscious about my smooth Asian legs though. Please send all comments, questions and requests for personal appearances to lkoong2004@yahoo.com.

BASEBALL SCHEDULE March 30 March 31 April 1 April 5 April 6 April 7 April 10 April 11 April 14 April 15 April 17 April 18 April 19 April 20 April 21 April 24 April 27 April 28 May May May May

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vs. North Dakota State vs. North Dakota State vs. North Dakota State at Northern Colorado at Northern Colorado at Northern Colorado at Texas State at Texas State vs. Prairie View A&M vs. Prairie View A&M at Texas-San Antonio at Texas-San Antonio at Dallas Baptist at Dallas Baptist at Dallas Baptist at Texas vs. Dallas Baptist vs. Dallas Baptist vs. Dallas Baptist vs. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi at TCU at TCU at TCU

MEN’S TENNIS March 25

San Antonio

Edinburg Baseball Edinburg Baseball Edinburg Baseball Greeley, Colo. Greeley, Colo. Greeley, Colo. San Marcos San Marcos Edinburg Baseball Edinburg Baseball San Antonio San Antonio Dallas Dallas Dallas Austin Edinburg Baseball Edinburg Baseball Edinburg Baseball Edinburg Baseball Fort Worth Fort Worth Fort Worth

Stadium Stadium Stadium

6 p.m. 5 p.m. Noon 2 p.m. 2 p.m. 2 p.m. 3 p.m. 3 p.m. 3:30 p.m. Noon 6 p.m. 3 p.m. 7 p.m. 6 p.m. 1 p.m. 6:30 p.m. 6 p.m. Noon 4 p.m. 6 p.m. 6 p.m. 2 p.m. 1 p.m.

Stadium Stadium

Stadium Stadium Stadium Stadium

WOMEN’S GOLF March 27 Hot Springs, Ark.

Elizabeth Rodriguez - 235 (80-77-78) 45th overall Jennifer Marks - 237 (78-80-79) 52nd overall Singles Mariale Camey - 240 (81-82-77) Piotrek Banas, ULL, def. Ivan Avila, UTPA, 6-2, 6-2 62nd overall Dusan Tabak, ULL, def. Gary Bianco, UTPA, 6-2, 6-2 Mronwyn Sandberg - 265 (92-97-76) Shaun Allison, ULL, def. Shashank Vij, UTPA, 6-1, 6-4 84th overall Jorge Delgado, ULL, def. David Lopez-Heredia, UTPA, 6-1, Rebecca De Leon - 269 (85-96-88) 6-2 85th overall Arlen Domoney, ULL, def. Brett Bernstein, UTPA, 7-5, 6-4 Nirvick Mohinta, UTPA, def. Ben Melangon, ULL, 7-5, 6-4 Total - 969 (324-335-310) Louisiana-Lafayette (7-5) Texas-Pan American (6-12)

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SPORTS

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March 29, 2007

Ladies enter road-trip on high, men seek better seeding By ERICK QUINTERO The Pan American

Onydia Garza/The Pan American ON THE ROAD - Stephanie Willerding, a freshman from Toronto, Ontario, Canada, returns the ball during practice. The women will travel to Houston Friday while the men head to Beaumont Sunday.

The University of Texas-Pan American men’s and women’s tennis programs have a busy road schedule ahead as they will play crucial matches and face nationally ranked opponents over the weekend. The women will travel to Houston on Friday for a 1:30 p.m. match against Rice, a top-60 team all year, followed by a Saturday noon game versus the University of Houston. The women have come on strong as of late, winning five of their last six games, and head coach Robert Hubbard credits many tangibles that don’t show up on the scorecard for his team’s recent surge. “This might be the best team that’s ever been put together here at UTPA, at least in a long, long time,” said Hubbard, who added his freshmen players have turned it up a notch and challenged the upperclassmen. In addition, Hubbard said the squad’s recent success, combined with the maturation of upperclassmen and a

possible strong wave of recruits on the horizon, couldhelp the team jump into the national spotlight. “We can potentially move into the national rankings,” Hubbard said. “We’ve made a big jump in the level of our team; I don’t have a recruiting class next year. All our scholarships are out. So our next recruiting class will help us get to the next level.” One of the bright spots for the squad has been the emergence of freshman Luisa Cantu. The Victoria, Tamaulipas, Mexico, native has won four out of five in singles competition, and three out of five in doubles action. “I had some difficulties getting on the court when I first got here, so when I got the chance I was very eager to play with the squad, and it made me play better,” said Cantu, who had to re-take her SAT to comply with NCAA regulations. “The squad also raised my level of play, because we support each other so much and this makes you play better for your squad.” In order to maintain the current peak, Hubbard has been mixing up his

doubles lineup in hopes of keeping the women fresh. The men’s squad will also be on the road as they travel to Beaumont, Texas to face off against Lamar Sunday at 2 p.m. The men have already clinched a berth on the Southland Conference Tournament and their meeting with Lamar will play a huge role in their seeding. “We played them already once, but that was a non-conference match and we lost 4-0,” said freshman Shashank Vij of the Feb. 10 meeting with Lamar. Vij added that fatigue might have played a factor in their earlier season loss. “We didn’t play that well because the day before we beat a ranked Division II team,” he said. “We played well but the next day we were kind of tired.” The men have played nationally ranked opponents all year in preparation for their conference tournament and will follow their Lamar game with a stop in Dallas to face SMU Monday, match time yet to be determined.

Local sports teams prepare for new season in Valley By PATRICK B. KENNEDY The Pan American The Rio Grande Valley Dorados and the Edinburg Coyotes are back on the green and shaping up for another season of competitive action. America’s favorite pastime returns to Edinburg on May 8 when the Edinburg Coyotes take to the field to avenge their loss in the United League Baseball championship series last year. For arena football fans, April 7 sparks the beginning of a season in which the Dorados buckle down and try to return to their form of two seasons ago with another visit to the playoffs. Valley baseball and arena football fans are heralding the upcoming seasons as the ones to watch. “I’ve been a fan of the Dorados for a long time,” says Pharr native Aaron Cabrera. “I’ve seen what they have accomplished and I believe that they have what it takes to bring a championship trophy home to the Valley.” Many other Dorados fans share Cabrera’s enthusiasm. Diehard fans can been seen at the open-field practices being held at P-SJ-A Stadium in Pharr. Many of them watch what they believe will turn out to be a winning team. Some arena football fans say they follow the sport closely because they believe that football is “the greatest thing since fajita tacos,” as one fan said.

Others are intrigued by the unique style of play that the sport has to offer at the Dodge Arena. “Because of the size of the field, games are much more offensive and high scoring,” said Rich Bocchini, Dorados broadcaster and director of media relations. “It offers a lot more action than a normal game of football.” Currently, the Dorados are holding practice with approximately 34 players, but that will all change Sunday when the official roster is penned. They will have to cut 12 players from the squad to reach the 22-man limit. The Doradoes coaching staff will be looking to pick only the best players for the team and players currently on the field have only three days left to do any last minute convincing that they are, in fact, the best. The official roster will be released Monday. Five days after the official roster is released, the Dorados will be headed to Corpus Christi to play their first game of the season. Though football is practically a religion in South Texas, the Dorados aren’t the only professional sports team with a loyal fan base. The Edinburg Coyotes, who replaced the much debated Edinburg Roadrunners last season, came close to a championship bid in their first season. “Some thought that they would never be as good as the Roadrunners but

they are,” said Art Longoria of Edinburg. Baseball fans were quick to pack Edinburg Baseball Stadium last year to see the Coyotes trounce opponent after opponent in dominating fashion. They were in first place from wire to wire after winning their first 17 in a row, but lost in the title series. For the Coyotes, the offseason has been about conditioning and rebuilding. Reconstruction efforts have taken place

throughout the roster, including mascot tryout auditions March 2. Not limiting themselves to mascot auditions, the Coyotes and the Rio Grande Valley Whitewings based in Harlingen are planning to hold a dual tryout session for any locals who feel that they have what it takes to play on a professional baseball team. The tryouts are to be held at 9 a.m. on April 29 at the Stadium in Edinburg. Those trying out are asked to register by 8:30 a.m. the day

of the event. Although May 4 may sound like a far-off date, players for the Coyotes are taking the off time seriously, making use of their time by working out and honing in on their baseball skills. A zealous Longoria had one last comment about his beloved Coyotes. “We know that they are working hard, and we know that they are going to make us proud,” he said.

SPORTS

March 29, 2007

Senior leads golf team By SAVANNAH MARTINEZ The Pan American University of Texas-Pan American golfer Colin Norris was taught by his Scottish father the art and glory of golf. The senior psychology major from Calgary, Alberta, Canada, came to the United States when he was 17. Though Norris learned at an early age, the years did not diminish his love for the game. “My father, growing up, inspired me to play golf. I loved the game so much, I played it growing up,” Norris said. “Now I can’t imagine doing anything else.” But golf isn’t as simple as it looks. It takes true emotional control and a positive mentality to achieve such seamlessness and perfection on the course. “You have to be able to forget a bad shot and move on to the next one. I think that is a difficult thing for most golfers to do,” Norris said. To date, Norris averages 76.9 through three tournaments and nine rounds. His best finish was a tie for 22nd at the Rice Intercollegiate. Norris’ attitude is often appreciated and inspiring to his teammates. “Colin is the backbone of our team. Since he is a senior, everybody sees him as the leader of our team,” junior business management major Jeff Hensley said. “Every time we start playing bad we just look at him and it helps us calm down.” Freshman business management major Armen Kirakossian agrees. “He looks out for everyone,” Kirakossian said. “Colin helps me a lot around school and shows me the ropes to everything.” With each smooth golf swing, there is a lot of toil to achieve perfection. No one would know that better than UTPA head golf coach Andrew Tredway. “The most gratifying part of coaching golf is seeing my team grow and mature on the golf course, school and their personal lives,” Tredway said. There are only two more tournaments left in the season, at Missouri State April 23, and then the National Minority Championship in Florida, May 11-13. UTPA won the latter event last year and hopes to defend the title.

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Volleyball team set with new head coach By KRISTYNA MANCIAS The Pan American The wait and anticipation is over for The University of Texas-Pan American Lady Broncs volleyball team. On March 23, it was announced that Angela Hubbard had been hired as the head women’s volleyball coach. Hubbard, 25, becomes the fourth volleyball coach at UTPA and is the second woman to ever coach the Lady Broncs. The last female head coach was back in the 1987-91 seasons, where the Lady Broncs were coached by Becky De Los Santos, who posted a career mark of 21-124. Hubbard, who will be head coach for the first time in her career, comes to UTPA from Nicholls State University, a member of the Southland Conference. There, she served as the assistant coach during the 2006 season. “I’m very excited to be given the opportunity to coach at UTPA,” Hubbard said. “What I want to do is

bring some excitement to the game of volleyball and I want the girls and fans to have something to be proud of.” Hubbard served as the recruiting coordinator at Nicholls State while holding down responsibilities for on-floor coaching, scouting, film breakdown, tape exchange, conditioning, game management, travel and other administrative duties. In her one season, Hubbard helped the program improve by eight wins over the previous season. Before that she also served as the assistant coach at the University of West Georgia, an NCAA Division II program in the Gulf South Conference, with responsibilities on the defensive side of the net. In her first season with the Wolves, West Georgia went to the Gulf South Conference Tournament for the first time in 16 years. During Hubbard’s college career at the University of West Georgia, she was the program’s starting outside hitter before switching to libero. She ranked first nationally among all NJCAA players in hitting percentage and won numerous honors during her two seasons at Cedar Valley College in Lancaster, Texas. She graduated from the University of West Georgia in 2004. In 2006, she

earned her master’s degree in business administration from the University of Tennessee-Martin. The Lady Broncs have been without a head coach since the resignation of Dave Thorn in the spring. Thorn’s resignation came only days after the Lady Broncs wrapped up the 2006 season with a 6-25 record and a fifth-place showing at the National Independent Tournament. The Lady Broncs recorded the lowest number of wins since the 1994 season, when they also won six matches. Thorn coached for nine seasons, is the program’s all-time leader in career wins with 112, and guided the Lady Broncs to a pair of National Independent Tournament Championships (2000 and 2001). Following the 2000 season, he was selected Independent Coach of the Year after leading the team to a school record-tying 19 victories. THE PLAYERS REACT Junior college transfer Monique Schaal shared her enthusiasm for her new head coach. “I think we are all very excited because we have gone so long without a coach and I think we are all ready to play and ready to get on the

court,” Schaal explained. “When someone has a vision for us and a direction for the program it really brings a lot of comfort.” This year the Lady Broncs will have their hands full in replacing two of the best stand - out seniors that UTPA has had in years Karen Lyons and outsider hitter Heather Bravo. “I think in order to be successful this upcoming season we just have to better ourselves, better our skills and improve the way we all work with each other,” Schaal said. “After we do all this then we can try to replace Karen and Heather. We just need to step our game up and we’re looking forward to the new recruits coming in.” UTPA has three starters back next season including setter Chelsea Blakley, outside hitter Kellie Phillips and middle blocker Deanna Schneyer, all of whom were solid in 2006. Recruiting is looking really good as well, as Hubbard has already been in contact with several players and feels that next season should be extremely promising. Though she has yet to meet with her team as a whole, UTPA’s newest leader has been communicating with individual players through e-mail and phone conversations.

Onydia Garza/The Pan American

NORRIS

NEW MANAGEMENT - Angela Hubbard, recently named UTPA’s new head volleyball coach, will have the task of rebuilding the university’s volleyball program, which went 6-25 last season. Chelsea Blakely (11) and Mallorie Wilson (far right) will return to the team.

RUNNING HOME - McAllen High ex Abraham Garcia and the Broncs begin a three-game homestand Friday against North Dakota State.

Onydia Garza/The Pan American

UTSA loss leaves Broncs 11-21 on season By RAMIRO PAEZ The Pan American The University of Texas-Pan American baseball team took an early lead in the first inning but couldn’t hold on to it as the University of Texas-San Antonio Roadrunners knocked off the Broncs 7-3 on Tuesday at Edinburg Baseball Stadium. The Broncs have dropped two straight games and fell to 11-21 while the Roadrunners made it four in a row and improved to 14-11. “We didn’t capitalize on key situations,” said McAllen’s Abraham Garcia, the team’s second baseman. “Our hitting and defense wasn’t there either. It was just an overall thing.” The Broncs took an early 1-0 lead in the first inning when Osiel Flores

scored from third base off a hit to center field by Dominic Tognietti, who was named the Independent Newcomer of the Week last week. The Roadrunners got close to scoring in the second when the bases were loaded, but an out by James Keithley ended that threat. The Roadrunners tied the game in the fourth when Mitch Ponza scored from second after a single to center by Marshal Davis. They added two more runs and took a 3-1 lead in the fifth inning. Trent Lockwood hit a line drive down the right-field line for a triple, bringing in Michael Rockett from second. Then, Ryan Saltzgaber hit a single to center, which brought in Lockwood. The Broncs kept it close in the bottom of the fifth inning when Nick Bourn scored from third base off of a single

into left field by Patrick Brooks. His hit off came off of reliever Josh Blakley making the score 3-2. But that was the final time the Broncs would be close in the game. In the sixth inning, the Roadrunners kept adding to their total and upped the lead to 5-2. The pitching performance was the enemy of the Broncs. Josh Wymer pitched six innings and allowed five runs. Wymer dropped his record to 3-5 and three other pitchers were used in the final three innings. “We didn’t pitch well,” said Coach Willie Gawlik. “We had many errors and our bullpen didn’t come in for us either. We can’t give up stuff like that.” The Roadrunners made the score 72 in the eighth inning with two runs off reliever Steven Davila. The Broncs

made a last attempt in the final inning to catch up but could only muster one run. UTPA will be back in action on Friday when they start a three-game series against the Bison of North Dakota State. The first game will be at 6 p.m. at the Edinburg Baseball Stadium. The Bison are coached by Mitch McLeod and are led by Matt Mossey with a .357 batting average. The Bison currently sit at 2-13 and have dropped 11 straight games. They are coming off a four-game series sweep loss to the Iowa Hawkeyes. Three out of the four games against the Hawkeyes were determined by only two runs or less, so the Broncs are not going to overlook them. “We have to come out and play hard,” Garcia said. “They are a big

school and we have to treat them like any other team. I hear they’ve had a tough schedule, so we need to come out and play aggressive baseball.” Even though the Bison don’t sport a winning record, they have been in many close games throughout the season and have also had a series against the Kansas Jayhawks cancelled. Gawlik knows his team will need to stay focused in order to come out successful in the series. “Regardless of their record, we need to make sure that we play good, sound baseball,” Gawlik said. “We need to make sure that we pitch well and play good defense.” Game two of the series will be on Saturday at 5 p.m. and game three will be on Sunday at noon.