Men’s tennis season preview, See Page 16
SINCE 1943
Volume 65, No. 8
October 16, 2008
T ATHLETICS
UTPA accident disclosed Cross-country season delayed after rollover By Ramiro Paez & Gregorio Garza THE PAN AMERICAN The University of Texas-Pan American men’s and women’s crosscountry teams are three meets into the 2008 campaign and have experienced much success even after a slow start to the season. The season was scheduled to begin with the San Antonio Relays Aug. 29 and continue with the Texas State Invitational Sept. 5 and Texas A&M Invitational Sept. 13, but due to unfortunate events all three meets were canceled. On Sept. 5, the cross-country teams failed to arrive at the Texas State Invitational in San Marcos after an accident involving the UTPA women’s vehicle. According to the Texas Peace Officer’s Crash Report, men’s and
women’s coach Dennis Darling was in Jourdanton. According to Darling the driver of a 15-passenger van that and Interim Athletic Director Ricky was rented from Enterprise Rent-A- Vaughn, only minor injuries were susCar, with five tained, however members of the “It’s just not me in the car. I one athlete required women’s team on stitches on her leg. board. Due to have six other passengers’ Ebrom, a Texas restrictions by the lives at stake also.” highway patrolFamily Educational man, charged Rights and Privacy Darling with failDennis Darling Act (FERPA), the ure to drive in a Cross-country Coach athletes’ names single lane and were not disclosed. issued him a citaThe vehicle was traveling north- tion. Other factors/conditions issued bound in the left lane on Interstate 37 by the investigator that may or may in Atascosa County, 6.2 miles south of have not contributed included “faulty Pleasanton. A half mile south of evasive action” and “fatigue or Milestone 103, the vehicle veered left asleep,” according to the report. into the center median, then swerved Enterprise official Ned Maniscalco back to the right where the van lost said the damage exceeded $11,000 and control, skidding sideways and rolled the vehicle was totaled. over onto its left side. The vehicle Darling stated in the police report came to a final rest in the left lane of that he might have fallen asleep but I-37 northbound, facing east. was not sure, and also said he did not The emergency dispatch was noti- feel tired. The second-year coach later fied at 2:05 p.m. and investigator reiterated that he did not fall asleep. Lucian P. Ebrom arrived at the scene at “I’ve been driving for a long time. CHEK CHEONG 2:14 p.m. The six people in the vehicle If I’m tired, I’ll stop on the side of the were transported by Atascosa EMS to road,” Darling said. “It’s just not me WRECK - A women’s cross-country van rolled over on its way to a South Texas Regional Medical Center SEE ACCIDENT || PAGE 11 track meet in Atascosa County while traveling northbound on I-37.
T EDUCATION
Congressman introduces higher-education initiatives By Brian Silva THE PAN AMERICAN Congressman Ruben Hinojosa, DMercedes, highlighted various features of the 2008 Higher Education Opportunity Act last week at the ITT building on campus. He was joined by the leadership of Valley higher educa-
tion, including UTPA President Blandina “Bambi” Cardenas, who expressed appreciation for the congressman’s efforts. Hinojosa, whose district includes Edinburg, is the chairman of the Subcommittee on Higher Education. He spoke about the act’s benefits regarding Pell Grants, Work-Study,
T ADMINISTRATION
financial aid, and an increase in monies to Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HISs). The act passed the House Feb. 7 by a vote of 354-58, then on July 31 the Senate passed it by 83-8 and then was sent to President Bush and signed into law Aug. 14. “I drew on the advice and counsel of our higher education leaders in South
Texas,” Hinojosa said. “That is why the new law emphasizes making college more accessible and affordable for communities like ours.” The act will gradually increase the maximum amount a student can receive from the Pell Grant, to $8,000 within the next six years. The Pell will now be offered year-around instead of
just within a particular academic year. He added that because of the College Cost Reduction and Access Act, students are receiving maximum Pell Grants of $4,731 up from $4,050 two years ago. Both the House and the Senate passed the bill Sept. 9, 2007, and was then sent and signed into law by President Bush
SEE FINANCIAL AID || PAGE 11
T INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS
Vice president named Breaking the language barrier after national search By Ana Villaurrutia THE PAN AMERICAN
By Abigail Muniz THE PAN AMERICAN The University of Texas-Pan American has appointed a vice president for the Division of University Advancement. Janice Odom, who leaves her eight-year post as assistant vice president for advancement services at The University of Texas at San
INDEX
Antonio will start serving in her new position Nov. 1. The job Odom will soon take previously belonged to Roland Janice Odom Arriola, who was also the former vice president of External Affairs. When the Division of External
SEE POSITION || PAGE 11
FEATURE
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“Do not use your tongue, do not use your lips,” said Smail Haddad while teaching his University of Texas-Pan American students to speak again, this time in Arabic for their Language and Culture Session at the Communication Arts and Sciences building. Languages like Arabic and Russian may seem esoteric to the Rio Grande
NEWS
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Valley, however, some UTPA students have found great use from these shortterm language and culture sessions offered by the Office of International Programs. “As a political science major and history minor I would like to work abroad like in an embassy,” said 19year-old Mission native Karen Dorado. “I’d like to put this on my resume.” The classes last only a few months and meets twice a week for two hours,
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but Haddad and Russian teacher Maya Zhivokina said they believe they can teach students to speak, read and write in Arabic and Russian if they take both beginner and intermediate sessions. These language programs have been offered every semester since 2005 and have included Turkish, Arabic and Russian which cost $24.95. “This is their challenge,” said Haddad, who taught language and
SEE LANGUAGE || PAGE 11
SPORTS
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