Thursday April 17, 2008
59th Year No. 27
THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER
BORDER
Fenced in Officials say government not properly communicating on Border Wall issue
By J.R. ORTEGA The Pan American he topic was the economical and environmental impact the proposed Border Fence would bring to the region, and possible solutions, as a panel of Texas and Mexican mayors and business and environmental officials at The University of Texas-Pan American Tuesday. One of the main reasons for the forum was to bring attention to the perceived lack of communication on the part U.S. government officials with people and groups in this area. Both sides of the border argue that business and environmental sectors of the Valley and its neighboring country, Mexico, would be deeply impinged on. In fact, recent immigration crackdowns across the board, from increased number of Border Patrol agents to employer accountability and raids on businesses, have changed the local number of daily crossings. Brownsville mayor Pat Ahumada said the number of people crossing every day had decreased by one million people, and that this lessening of traffic has affected local business. “Brownsville has already witnessed a
THIS WEEK
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SGA
NEWS Residents benefit from housing program See Page 3
A&E
SPORTS Hardship no match for track standout Doria See Page 16
ACADEMIC
By ANA VILLAURRUTIA The Pan American
big
See Page 8 & 9
See FORUM page 11
New president realistic Math alternative anticipated about goals, challenges By SANDRA GONZALEZ The Pan American
DJ scene next ‘movement’
decrease in crossing,” he said. “The problem with a physical wall is that our nature reserves will be affected…our historical corridor will be affected, those are historical monuments and sites that will be affected. “ Ahumada, who is a member of the Texas Border Coalition, opposes the physical barrier that became a pending fact last year through lesiglation, adding that alternative forms of security should be implemented instead of a wall that will disturb of wildlife and history. Proponents of this tack recommend electronic technology for a sort of “virtual fence,” among other options Del Rio mayor Efrain Valdez said the proposed Texas wall differs from the partially constructed one along the California and Arizona border because of the rich environment present in the Valley. With its world famous habitat and numerous wildlife refugees, the Texas border has a lot more at stake than the sparse desert land of the other states. Valdez added that the Texas Border Coalition is not against border security, but rather the construction of a physical fence. “A one-size-fits-all attitude doesn’t work here,” he said. “What works in Arizona and New Mexico doesn’t work in Texas because we already have a natural border, the Rio Grande.” Most of the contributing panelists saw eye to eye when it came to finding creative ways to secure the border without a fence. Ahumada said a project proposal out of Brownsville calls for the water level of the Rio Grande to be raised from 12 to 26 feet, widened up to 300 feet and backed up for 32 miles upriver. He said by implementing more surveillance and security technology along with the “natural barrier,” Brownsville’s historical sites such as Fort Brown - which is on the river can be preserved. Wayne Bartholomew, director of Frontera Audubon Society in Weslaco, said the environmental impact a physical wall would have on the Valley is “catastrophic.” According to him, a physical wall would roll back 30 years of wildlife preservations and natural environment. Another concern discussed was border-crossing waiting times. Those who cross often have gone from waiting for 10 minutes to about 30 minutes at some bridge crossings. The Real ID law and other more strict policies have also threatened to extend the downtime for people who work or go to school on one side and live on the other. Monica Weisberg-Stewart of the TBC said that the points of entry
Marcos Silva didn’t enter the Student Government a year ago with dreams of becoming its president. But it happened anyway. He didn’t start a recycling program last year in hope of laying the groundwork for bigger, future earthfriendly plans. But that’s how it has shaken out. Much behind Silva’s rise to the
head of SGA has been a series of things that he didn’t plan with a specific goal in mind, but curiosity carried the day. As recently elected campus president, the junior psychology major will continue his give-it-a-try approach and hopes to bring about a new era for the student group. Silva, of McAllen, and now SGA Vice President Raghuveer Puttagunta beat out Yuri Bazan and Michael
See SGA page 11
If you’re not good at it, math can be a nightmare. But Students at The University of Texas-Pan American whose major does not fall under math, engineering or science will soon have another option for their required math course offered through the philosophy department. Last fall, the philosophy department’s request for a new course, Introduction to Formal Logic 1320, was approved by the Texas Higher Education
Coordinating Board. The course will be offered beginning this fall and is a requirement for philosophy students. Formal logic had only been briefly mentioned in Introduction to Philosophy classes. It was a five-year long endeavor but they finally named Greg Gilson, philosophy program coordinator, as the logic professor. “It’s been a group effort among the philosophy department,” said Gilson. “We were taking a while to develop it but it was approved in one year.” According to assistant philosophy
See MATH page 11