September 9, 2010

Volume 67, No. 2

THE PAN AMERICAN

September 9, 2010

One-stop website now off and running

By Belinda Munoz The Pan American With so many websites to navigate, it is no surprise that most students at UTPA don’t know where to start when accessing account information online. To diminish confusion, the university has developed a new portal system called My UTPA that offers access to important university websites, on one convenient page.

Funding for the program was provided by the Division

of Information Technology and supervised by Vice President for Information Technology Bob Lim. The project cost an estimated $150,000 to complete.

Kumar Raman, 34, director for internet services at UTPA, feels that the website will help students achieve better efficiency with their personal and educational issues.

“My UTPA is sort of a onestop shop, an information hub for students where they can find services and information across campus all centralized in one

place,” Raman explained.

He also commented on the convenience of the newly designed portal.

“Once they log into the portal they essentially don’t need to log in again into services like blackboard or email or assist. It’ll just be one click access to all these different services on campus,” Raman said.

“It eliminates the need to remember ten different websites.”

My UTPA was driven by the Student Government Association (SGA) with collaboration from

“My UTPA is sort of a one-

stop shop, an information

hub for students where they and

can

find

information

services across

campus all centralized in one place.”

Kumar Raman Internet services

departments such as Enrollment and Student Services Department and the Center for Online Learning.

“We have these quarterly meetings with the Student Government Association and the student organization leaders,” Raman explained. “That’s where we get feedback from them. We are here to serve the students. We just had to keep in mind the needs of everybody else, that’s why we worked closely with all these

SEE PORTAL || PAGE 6

Faculty action in progress as parking situation continues

By Roxann Garcia The Pan American Reaction to parking redistribution in lots B and B-1 near the Communications of Arts and Science building and the University Center continues to pour out as disgruntled faculty members have conjured creative alternatives to the situation.

The Aug. 5 decision to redistribute lot B as residential parking and lot B-1 strictly for faculty shook up members of the college closest to the lots. Stella Behar, a professor of Modern Languages and Literature in the COAS, is one of the many faculty/ staff members who were displaced from their usual parking area at the start of the new semester.

“I find the situation to be absurd and frustrating,” Behar said. “To me, there is not enough space to honor the commitment that parking

management is making. You anticipate a parking space when buying a parking permit.”

Faculty and staff have been miffed over the lack of notice given by the Parking and Traffic Committee about the decision, which was made during its last official meeting, in June. Many felt it was a breach of the shared governance understood between the university community and the university itself. “ T h e process used was not one faculty, staff and students felt like they had a voice in,” Faculty Senate Chair Linda Matthews said at a town hall meeting

held by the College Council Tuesday.

“That does not work.”

However, many of the people have banded together to create new ideas and solutions for the issue, including a petition protesting the change that has been passed around the college.

Another town hall meeting on the issue is scheduled for Friday at 1 p.m. in the Student Union Theater, hosted by Parking Services.

The petition, drafted by Behar, has been passed throughout the different departments in the COAS. The French professor Behar, who has been at the university since 1993, notes that she has yet to pick up all of the copies but can attest to over 100 signatures so far.

In the brainstorming group is professor of history and philosophy Amy Hay, who along with Behar is compiling drafting solutions for the issue. The professors have e-mailed back and forth the past two weeks sharing horror stories and calling for collective action.

“One of the wonderful aspects of this college is that there are a lot of creative people here who have come up with ideas and solutions to present to the committee,” Hay said.

The solutions presented

by faculty members during a town hall meeting held by the College Council Tuesday, consisted of immediate, short and long-term ideas. Among the immediate suggestions was an agreement between residents and faculty to share lot B. Other ideas included a possible valet parking system, an arrangement between residents and faculty in which residents will remove their vehicles by 8 in the morning to make room for the workday rush, and finally, turning the field north and adjacent to the residence halls on the corner of Sugar Road and Van Week streets into an added parking lot.

“A few of us have even suggested car pooling and mandating a designated spot for those types of vehicles,”

SEE PARKING || PAGE 6

Photo illustration by Alma E. Hernandez / THE PAN AMERICAN Page 2Editorial: - Big business Nomight have packed their bags, but gubernatorial debate? they never left

Page 3 - Jobs after Extreme makeover: graduation becoming scarce Fine Arts edition

Page 11 - Holiday gift guide Student Union

turns 10

Inglés 4320: Temas Page 14 - Q&A with volleyball player Rebecca Fronterizos y Toddy el uso de la tecnología en UTPA

Injury doesn’t faze volleyball spirit

2

September 9, 2010 Vol. 67, No. 2

Gov. Perry, what’s a debate without an opponent?

On this campus, there are more than 18,000 students/potential voters. As residents of this state, the November elections allow us the opportunity to choose the leader and the person who will hold the future of our university in their hands. But the best way to learn about a candidate is to see them in action…in debate. But what’s a debate without an opponent?

Five prominent state newspapers have agreed to provide state voters with a gubernatorial (state governor) clash between incumbent Rick Perry and Democratic rival Bill White.

The only problem is, Perry refuses to attend. So there is a big chance that the scheduled debate, Oct. 19 on the UTAustin campus, will turn into more of a Q&A with the Democratic candidate instead of an intellectual debate between opposing sides.

The event is about giving voters the opportunity to make an informed decision as well as allowing voters to hear positions straight from the horses’ mouths, instead of reading it online or getting information from other sources.

Perry’s refusal to attend stems from White’s refusal to release his tax returns to the public, for a period covering his service in the Clinton administration in the ‘90s as assistant secretary of energy.

Though White’s rejection of making the papers public is questionable, it is by no means grounds to halt the progressive learning process of an open debate. It could be said that by not attending, Perry is acting like a 5-year-old child folding his arms and refusing to do what is asked of him because he can’t get his way.

The people are curious. As voters, they need to learn about and see a candidate in action and this is far more important than numbers on a tax form from a time when most college students were either in diapers or Power Ranger pajamas.

Not that White is behaving much

THE PAN AMERICAN 1201 West University, CAS 170 Edinburg, Texas 78539 Phone: (956) 381-2541 Fax: (956) 316-7122 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 paper or university.

better, but since the tax returns are such a sore subject for the two, bring it before Texas citizens and duke it out instead of relying on PR reps and news releases.

This is Texas! We do the walking, not just the talking. And we would expect our governor (and/or future governor) to do the same. The Pan American asks Gov. Perry to attend the open forum and give his constituents an opportunity to see for ourselves the campaign platforms each candidate stands on, side by side. That way we can decide who to support.

EDITOR IN CHIEF: Kristen Cabrera kmcabrera22@gmail.com NEWS EDITOR: Roxann Garcia roxx.gar11@gmail.com ONLINE/SPANISH EDITOR: Denisse Salinas dns_145@hotmail.com ARTS & LIFE EDITOR: Benny Salinas 9_benny_9@live.com SPORTS EDITOR: Sara Hernandez shernandez261@gmail.com PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR: Alma E. Hernandez alma.e.hdz@gmail.com SENIOR DESIGNER: Jennifer Tate jen489@gmail.com DESIGNERS: Alexis Carranza alexis091@aol.com

Editor’s Note:

The Pan American teamed up with 10 other college and university newspapers around the state to push for the debate. You can read the other newspapers’ editorials by going to panamericanonline.com.

Anthony Salinas/THE PAN AMERICAN

Ashlynn Biel ashlynn.biel@gmail.com ADVISER: Dr. Greg Selber selberg@utpa.edu ADMINISTRATIVE ASSOCIATE: Anita Reyes areyes18@utpa.edu ADVERTISING MANAGER: Mariel Cantu spubs@utpa.edu WEBMASTER: Jose Villarreal josemvillarrealcs@gmail.com

Delivery

Thursday at noon Letters to the Editor

Elias Moran/THE PAN AMERICAN

The Pan American accepts letters of 300 words or less from students, staff and faculty regarding recent newspaper content, campus concerns or current events. We reserves the right to edit submissions for grammar and length. We cannot publish anonymous letters or submissions containing hate speech or gratuitous personal attacks. Please send all story ideas to thepanamerican@gmail.com.

Individuals with disabilities wishing to acquire this publication in an alternative format or needing assistance to attend any event listed can contact The Pan American for more details.

September 9, 2010

3

Music, art flex with upcoming changes

By Pamela Morales The Pan American Between classes and buildings, the campus overflows with students and faculty. The elevators are full. The hallways sometimes are hard to pass through. The Student Union is packed and seating is out of the question.

Sometimes one has to wonder: is UTPA getting too small for its 18,000 students?

That’s the question the representatives of the Fine Arts Center asked about six years ago, eventually leading to a long process of finding more space.

On the southeast side of campus, the Fine Arts Center is composed of three buildings and one auditorium, all built during the 1960s. About 500 music and art majors share it. Art majors attend classes across campus – usually at the Communication, Arts and Science Building for graphic design classes - while almost 300 music majors have a 25-to-1 ratio for the current six practice rooms,

with a band hall that can only occupy 80 band students and one director at a time.

“We can have two bands with the number of people in our department but only one fits,” said Gumaro Barrera, a senior music major. “And the drumline can’t practice inside. We always have to practice outside.”

In 2006, it was hoped that the creation for more space would take place but budget cuts and the economic crash in 2008 stalled the projects. Also, decisions from the administration were never settled because of different visions; one wasa new facility behind Luby’s, where the university owns land.

Eventually, standards mandated by the music department’s accreditation group, the National Accreditation Schools of Music came into play. According to the accreditation group, the facilities are too small for its numerous students, has an outdated central air system that sickens its singers every semester, there is mold

SEE ARTS || PAGE 7

Andrew Sanchez/THE PAN AMERICAN

EXTREME MAKEOVER - Seating inside the UTPA Fine Arts Auditorium Sept. 1. The university will seek to expand the amount of space for its music and art departments.

University governance turns on use of HOP

UTPA veteran Vale facilitates evolution of dynamic System-mandated rulebook

By Alejandra Martinez The Pan American is

As a living document that continuously changing, the

Handbook of Operating Procedures is currently undergoing a period of revision on some of its policies.

Sections under review on campus include section 3.4.4 on Academic

Committees and Councils, 5.1.4 on Competitive Scholarships, and 5.5.2 on Student Conduct Code, to name a few.

Every institution under the

Alma E. Hernandez/THE PAN AMERICAN

MAESTRA - Cathy Vale helps the Handbook of Operating Procedures through multiple steps along the chain of command. Most policies are reviewed and/or revised within a 5-year period.

UT System is required to have a Handbook of Operating Procedures that leads the governance of the university. It is mandated by the UT System Board of Regents that every president follow the handbook procedures and that he/ she must have the last word in all policies within it.

Suggestions for revisions and updates on the HOP are always being made from within the university or from the Board of Regents.

Policies are reviewed and revised on a five-year cycle, or when the need arises said Cathy Vale, coordinator for policy, planning and analysis for the Office of Institutional Research and Effectiveness.

Recent revisions to the HOP include the travel policy for faculty and staff; university payroll distribution confirmation for grants, contracts and other agreements; and university telephone services; to name a few.

“There are a lot of policies that are in the process for students, student travel is one that is being revised,” Vale said.

One of the revisions under discussion for student travel policy is to widen its scope to

include students who participate in University programs such as the College Access and Support Programs (CASP). The policy is still in the early stages of revision and is being reviewed by various stakeholders including the Office of the Dean of Students and the Student Government Association.

According to Vale, it is also mandated by the Board of Regents that students be able to see every policy in the handbook that affects them. Student and student life policies are under section five of the document, which can be accessed at www. utpa.edu/hop.

If someone wants to make a change to a policy under the student section, the suggestion has to go through the Dean of Students office, which has to approve and send it to any stakeholders that might be associated with it. After that it will go to the HOP committee to be reviewed and approved there.

The committee is comprised of the university president, the provost, all the VPs, chief of staff, faculty senate chair, staff senate chair, SGA president, coordinator for policy planning and analysis, and the office of the president.

SEE HOP || PAGE 7

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Page 5

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PARKING

PORTAL

continued from Page 1

continued from Page 1 departments so we could take into account their needs as well.”

My UTPA has been one year in the making and is the result of constant tweaking and testing.

“We had a group of about seventy students beta test the portal for us and we got a lot of feedback on them. What’s good.

What’s bad. What’s working.

What’s not working,” Raman explained. “The students gave us feedback on what they wanted to see in the portal helping us shape it so that we could deliver something that the students would like to use on a daily basis. For example, the Calendar feature within the portal, financial aid information and other such features were added based on direct feedback from the students.”

In order to ensure the highest quality convenience, the site was designed to meet each student’s specific needs.

“Once a student logs into the portal everything in there will be personalized, to their interests,” Raman said “If a student is living in the dorms they will be able to get announcements only related to them.”

My UTPA currently allows students to simultaneously sign

September 9, 2010

NEWS

onto Blackboard, Assist, Bronc Print and Virtual Labs. Raman hopes to expand the menu down the road.

So far there are mostly positives responses about the program.

According to opinion polls, which can be informally taken on the My UTPA website, only around 9 percent of users feel that the system can be improved.

“The overwhelming majority seems to like what they are seeing right now,” Raman reported. “This is just our first version of it and we are still working on new features.”

One improvement that Raman hopes to see in the future is the range of audience that My UTPA targets.

“Right now the portal is targeted towards current students,” he noted. “Everything in there, all the content, all the services is catered around what a student who’s enrolled at UTPA would need. As we go forward, we would also add a broader audience, like maybe to prospective students or maybe alumni.”

My UTPA currently can be accessed on any computer on campus or at home by visiting www.utpa.edu and clicking on the “My UTPA” tab, or by directly entering the url: my.utpa.edu into a web browser.

Behar noted “Other faculty members suggested safer biking lanes but not all of us can rely on biking everyday.”

English professor Deborah Cole agreed with the latter notion, adding that on rainy days or when carrying many items at once, she can’t look to bike every day.

“I had to deal with this nomadic issue of parking so far away last semester,” she said during the meeting. “Parking was a huge issue even then. It’s a big problem for the university and I don’t feel like it’s been addressed.”

A few faculty members in the COAS have been conducting their own research by keeping track of the parking spaces used in the lot, Hay noted. Police Department officials are conducting their own count until mid-October. Some professors have even snapped photos to present to the committee at the Friday meeting.

The solutions and the petition were discussed at Tuesday night’s meeting. Not many were present but that didn’t stop the flow of ideas in preparation for Friday’s get-together.

Some professors noted that faculty morale has suffered because of the change, mainly due to the prevailing complaint about the lack of shared governance and opportunity for input. This along with the state mandated budget cuts that have

resulted in no pay raises for faculty has added strain to faculty retention, Kristine Wirts, chair of the College Council, said at the meeting.

“We are in a recession and there will be cuts made, we understand these circumstances,” Wirts said.

“It would only be more helpful if administration was more helpful in communicating with faculty.”

Others joked about the issue, wondering if Wal-Mart was interested in handing out parking

permits for the university.

“If I had known before purchasing my $100 parking permit – maybe I would have just parked elsewhere and walked to campus,” Melynda Nuss, professor of English, joked. “I wonder if they’d refund my money.”

Nonetheless everyone at the meeting agreed that they were merely interested in coming to an agreement with the committee.

Matthews and Hay both noted that an agreement could be reached.

Tammy Ayala / THE PAN AMERICAN

A ‘LOT’ OF CONTROVERSY - Professor Stella Behar concentrates Tuesday at a town hall meeting. The second chance to discuss parking will be Friday at 1 p.m.

September 9, 2010

NEWS

Page 7

ARTS

continued from Page 3 creeping around corners, and unavailability for rehearsal space.

This quickly forced the decision for demolition of the Fine Arts Center in late August/early September of next year.

“It’s not just an auditorium.

It’s an academic facility as well,” said Dahlia Guerra, dean of the College of Arts and Humanities. “That’s why it’s called the Academic Performing Arts Complex, or APAC, because

Pedro Martinez, chair of the music department, said that although he has been at UTPA for six years, it feels like he has been waiting for a new facility for 20.

“Nothing is officially set in stone yet,” Martinez explained. “Right now, we’re still trying to figure out the best way to go for functionality . . . and we want it to be an aesthetic staple for the community and university so it’s important that we have a nice visual aspect.”

of the fact that it’s including rehearsal area for students . . . and a beautiful lobby that’s being planned that will seat 200. So as much as we use the Ballroom, it’s going to give us a second place to reach out into the community and activities on campus.”

The project for the new building and remodeling of the two buildings, named B and C (just west of the auditorium) will take about two years to complete.

Starting next August, members of the music department will have to pack their instruments and

HOP

wait for their new facility. This has some students worried about where classes and performances will be held.

“Where are we going to have our performances?” asked Rebeca Trevino, an entering freshman in music performance. “I think they should build the new auditorium somewhere else because we need our places for rehearsals.”

Marta Salinas-Hovar, project manager for facility planning and construction, said the first step would be to relocate the art department off campus in December and then move it into a new building at the old Haggar site in June. Then the demolition will begin.

“I really cannot tell you exactly when construction would begin on buildings B and C of music,” Salinas-Hovar said. “But we are looking at trying to relocate music faculty and staff to Troxel Hall.”

Martinez also added that portables may be involved, along with the use of three other auditoriums. The Jeffers Theater, Student Union Theater and Library Auditorium may be used for performances.

Guerra stressed that the goal of the renovation is to meet standards and make everyone welcome, plus to have the new venue become a focal point for the community in Edinburg and

possibly, surrounding cities. Also, part of the push to make UTPA more community-friendly is getting separate space for the art department, currently residing in the Fine Arts Center. The group will be moved from campus into a remodeled Haggar building at the intersection of Highway 281 and Freddy Gonzales in Edinburg.

When asked about the move by an art student at an Art Department assembly last week, Guerra was quick to answer.

“It was the administration’s decision to grow outside of this particular campus,” Guerra said.

“They had been eyeing the Haggar Building for art space when they first bought it. And really, it’s not unusual for campuses to build art space outside of the area.”

Susan Fitzsimmons, new chair of the art department, said she doesn’t feel the administration is kicking them out; she is is glad to have space.

“I think it’s a wonderful opportunity for us,” she said.

“We’re going to be in a space that we can grow that is really designed exactly to our specifications.”

Although the chair calls the opportunity “fabulous,” some students find it worrisome. Another student piped up at the meeting, asking how they were going to be able to take classes at the Haggar building and on campus.

“What if I need to take some core requirement classes but also take major courses in the same semester but only have ten minutes to get to class?” the student asked.

“How am I going to make it on time to class?”

Both Fitzsimmons and Guerra suggested students find a way to plan ahead with their schedules and also to use shuttles rotating from campus to Haggar and vice versa.

Some observers felt the move will disconnect them from campus, but the leaders of the charge had an answer.

“I contend that we will be able to develop more of an arts community together,” Fitzsimmons said. “Since students and faculty will be all in one place, it will eventually become an attraction when people see it as an arts space.”

It will take time for both departments to adjust to the changes and eventually, new facilities.

Both chairs say they understand there may some unintended consequences, such as losing students to other universities.

“We’re trying to do what is best for everyone,” Guerra concluded.

“But it’s hard to please everyone.”

The University will be paying for the remodeling of the Haggar Building, at a cost of $3 million.

A state approved fund will pay for the remodeling, demolishment and construction for the new music department, to the tune of $47 million.

Soaking it up

continued from Page 3 Vale says that sometimes there As a coordinator of the committee, Vale submits the are several policies, addressing revisions to the president’s office the same issue, leading to a for final review. After that they revision to avoid redundancies or go to System for final approval. contradictions. Six travel policies The whole process can take up to for staff and faculty were combined into one to avoid such problems. six months.

“We’ve tried “We try to to make the include everyone whole process who’s going to “ My responsibility is to not very transparent. be affected by have a stake in anybodyʼs When we make the outcome of any changes the HOP or the change. I make sure that to the HOP, implementation nothing of it. We try everyone that needs to there’s secret,” she said. to have a have a say, has a say in the “Everybody can consensus,” see what the said Vale, a policy. ” policy looked like Louisiana native before and who who has been a made the changes UTPA employee Cathy Vale later. for over six OIRE “ M y years. Prior to responsibility is to that, she was a not have a stake in research analyst anybody’s change. for the office of Institutional Research and I make sure that everyone that needs Effectiveness. She has lived in to have a say, has a say in the policy.

McAllen for 17 years and worked I make sure that it gets to all the right as a sociology instructor at South people and that it’s an open process so everybody can see it.”

Texas College.

Tammy Ayala/THE PAN AMERICAN

SOLAR POWER - The engineering department along with Physical Plant and Environment Control have formulated a 10-year campus plan that will help the university become more energy efficient. Leading the sustainability efforts is a set of solar panels found in front of IT2. For information check out the story online at panamericanonline.com.

Page 8

THE PAN AMERICAN

September 9, 2010

September 9, 2010

By Lupe A. Flores The Pan American They aren’t like fraternities and sororities portrayed in the media, that humiliate new members and binge on alcohol and sex.

There are firm standards which all Greek organizations must adhere to.

And the 17 chapters at The University of Texas-Pan American, according to Greek Life Adviser Jorge Zamora, are nothing short than traditional, philanthropic entities that recruit membership to further specific causes and promote a lifelong cycle of reciprocity among its past and present members.

“Since my involvement, I’ve learned that it’s not what you see out there,” said Zamora, who‘s in his third year as adviser.

“The Greek community is something that, when they have the opportunity to work together, they jump on it and try to do something for the common good.”

Nationally, Rush Week, which usually lasts well over a week, is a process and time when such organizations set up meet-andgreets to promote their respective chapters.

A student can request bids (or formal invitations), or if lucky, he/she is offered one to ultimately participate in an initiation ceremony that marks their entrance into the band of sisters or brothers.

“They try to spread out around campus over [the 2-week long event], to bring out their wares, their achievements and information to recruit quality students that

THE PAN AMERICAN

have a connection with what the organization believes in, what their mission is, and it’s values” added Zamora. “That way, students have a chance to grow as part of a chapter and become part of traditions here.”

However, not all fraternities and sororities have similar programs and standards. Even though each individual organization has their own process of accepting newcomers, they must comply with recommendations set by their national charters.

“When it comes to the Greeks, we look more specifically at whether or not they’re compliant with their nationals as far as recruitment numbers go, their GPA and awareness on hazing,” Zamora said.

Alpha Sigma Tau is a sorority on campus founded in 1899 at Michigan State Normal College (now Eastern Michigan University).

It became part of UTPA in 2004.

Osmara Perez, president, said it takes about a month for her organization to distribute their bids. The chapter currently has 13 members, and each year is expected to raise at least 36 total.

“We go a bit longer than the (designated) Rush period,“ the 20-year-old McAllen native said. “We get to know the girls a lot more and whoever we notice going to all our events, those are usually the best choice for our sorority.”

The new girls “have 24 hours to accept or decline the invitation.” After attending two subsequent ceremonies, undergoing a 6-week new member process and passing an exam, the girls are invited to an initiation ceremony.

NOT JUST A CERTAIN TYPE Greek Council President Michaela Flores, 19, who is part of Kappa Delta Chi, said even though a fraternity or sorority was founded a certain way, it doesn’t mean they can’t accept you.”

“We are open to every ethnicity and origin,” said Flores, a criminal justice and social work major who is the youngest person at UTPA to ever hold her position.

“We don’t’ just wear the letters and think we’re really cute and pretty.”

When approached by students on campus with a misconception or negative attitude toward K-D Chi, one of the leading Hispanicbased sororities in the nation, Flores said it’s her priority to emphasize that there are goals all chapters must reach and a professional image they all must uphold.

“I tell them we’re a service organization and explain what we really do… that we are interested in philanthropy, that we get involved and push for academics, and that after college, we do go succeed,” she said.

K-D Chi was pioneered at Texas Technical University in 1987. Flores maintains it’s, “Latina founded, but multiculturally grounded,” adding that, “we’re hoping to expand and get more Greeks in the sense of acceptance.”

The mission of expansion and acceptance is present in fraternities as well.

Beta Xi Chi has been a multicultural fraternity on campus since 1998, the same year it was founded at Texas A&M-College Station.

Its objective of “inclusion,” according to its pamphlet, offers the men on campus “an opportunity to share their own unique culture in order to exchange knowledge and perspectives in hopes of creating an

Page 9

understanding of individual differences.”

Second-year graduate student Joe Caraveo, 24, president of Beta Xi Chi, said his chapter will give a chance during Rush Week for interested students to volunteer and see if they possess what it takes to become part of what he calls a brotherhood of giving.

“We have a certain amount of hours we have to reach with our community service, so what we have planned (for Sept. 11) is just to get those interested ready for what’s coming up if they get accepted,” said Caraveo, who is in the sociology graduate program. “But our main priority as brothers is to have everybody in good academic standing.”

During a semester, each brother must commit to four hours of weekly volunteer work, as mandated in their charter. Caraveo said the hours easily surpass 200 on any given semester, since volunteering with Beta Xi Chi usually takes a workday‘s time.

With that said, it comes to no surprise that the Rush activities on campus, with more still to go, will give students an opportunity to become invested in a team aimed at giving to local and national charities, for an experience that Caraveo said is always a two-way route.

“We let them know what we can offer them and they show what they can offer us,” the Pharr native said. Whether they rush or don‘t, we stay friends. And we encourage each student to do their research and stay open to the organizations that best suit their interests.”

Rush Week officially began Tuesday and runs through Sept. 14 with the fraternity showcase, and Sept. 16 with the sorority showcase in the UTPA Ballroom.

Page 8

THE PAN AMERICAN

September 9, 2010

September 9, 2010

By Lupe A. Flores The Pan American They aren’t like fraternities and sororities portrayed in the media, that humiliate new members and binge on alcohol and sex.

There are firm standards which all Greek organizations must adhere to.

And the 17 chapters at The University of Texas-Pan American, according to Greek Life Adviser Jorge Zamora, are nothing short than traditional, philanthropic entities that recruit membership to further specific causes and promote a lifelong cycle of reciprocity among its past and present members.

“Since my involvement, I’ve learned that it’s not what you see out there,” said Zamora, who‘s in his third year as adviser.

“The Greek community is something that, when they have the opportunity to work together, they jump on it and try to do something for the common good.”

Nationally, Rush Week, which usually lasts well over a week, is a process and time when such organizations set up meet-andgreets to promote their respective chapters.

A student can request bids (or formal invitations), or if lucky, he/she is offered one to ultimately participate in an initiation ceremony that marks their entrance into the band of sisters or brothers.

“They try to spread out around campus over [the 2-week long event], to bring out their wares, their achievements and information to recruit quality students that

THE PAN AMERICAN

have a connection with what the organization believes in, what their mission is, and it’s values” added Zamora. “That way, students have a chance to grow as part of a chapter and become part of traditions here.”

However, not all fraternities and sororities have similar programs and standards. Even though each individual organization has their own process of accepting newcomers, they must comply with recommendations set by their national charters.

“When it comes to the Greeks, we look more specifically at whether or not they’re compliant with their nationals as far as recruitment numbers go, their GPA and awareness on hazing,” Zamora said.

Alpha Sigma Tau is a sorority on campus founded in 1899 at Michigan State Normal College (now Eastern Michigan University).

It became part of UTPA in 2004.

Osmara Perez, president, said it takes about a month for her organization to distribute their bids. The chapter currently has 13 members, and each year is expected to raise at least 36 total.

“We go a bit longer than the (designated) Rush period,“ the 20-year-old McAllen native said. “We get to know the girls a lot more and whoever we notice going to all our events, those are usually the best choice for our sorority.”

The new girls “have 24 hours to accept or decline the invitation.” After attending two subsequent ceremonies, undergoing a 6-week new member process and passing an exam, the girls are invited to an initiation ceremony.

NOT JUST A CERTAIN TYPE Greek Council President Michaela Flores, 19, who is part of Kappa Delta Chi, said even though a fraternity or sorority was founded a certain way, it doesn’t mean they can’t accept you.”

“We are open to every ethnicity and origin,” said Flores, a criminal justice and social work major who is the youngest person at UTPA to ever hold her position.

“We don’t’ just wear the letters and think we’re really cute and pretty.”

When approached by students on campus with a misconception or negative attitude toward K-D Chi, one of the leading Hispanicbased sororities in the nation, Flores said it’s her priority to emphasize that there are goals all chapters must reach and a professional image they all must uphold.

“I tell them we’re a service organization and explain what we really do… that we are interested in philanthropy, that we get involved and push for academics, and that after college, we do go succeed,” she said.

K-D Chi was pioneered at Texas Technical University in 1987. Flores maintains it’s, “Latina founded, but multiculturally grounded,” adding that, “we’re hoping to expand and get more Greeks in the sense of acceptance.”

The mission of expansion and acceptance is present in fraternities as well.

Beta Xi Chi has been a multicultural fraternity on campus since 1998, the same year it was founded at Texas A&M-College Station.

Its objective of “inclusion,” according to its pamphlet, offers the men on campus “an opportunity to share their own unique culture in order to exchange knowledge and perspectives in hopes of creating an

Page 9

understanding of individual differences.”

Second-year graduate student Joe Caraveo, 24, president of Beta Xi Chi, said his chapter will give a chance during Rush Week for interested students to volunteer and see if they possess what it takes to become part of what he calls a brotherhood of giving.

“We have a certain amount of hours we have to reach with our community service, so what we have planned (for Sept. 11) is just to get those interested ready for what’s coming up if they get accepted,” said Caraveo, who is in the sociology graduate program. “But our main priority as brothers is to have everybody in good academic standing.”

During a semester, each brother must commit to four hours of weekly volunteer work, as mandated in their charter. Caraveo said the hours easily surpass 200 on any given semester, since volunteering with Beta Xi Chi usually takes a workday‘s time.

With that said, it comes to no surprise that the Rush activities on campus, with more still to go, will give students an opportunity to become invested in a team aimed at giving to local and national charities, for an experience that Caraveo said is always a two-way route.

“We let them know what we can offer them and they show what they can offer us,” the Pharr native said. Whether they rush or don‘t, we stay friends. And we encourage each student to do their research and stay open to the organizations that best suit their interests.”

Rush Week officially began Tuesday and runs through Sept. 14 with the fraternity showcase, and Sept. 16 with the sorority showcase in the UTPA Ballroom.

10

September 9, 2010

Student Union turns 10, looks to expand

By Yngrid Fuentes The Pan American

After 25 years at the helm of CNN’s 9 p.m. spot, Larry King will by stepping away from his nightly interview show. “America’s Got Talent” judge Piers Morgan will replace him in the fall.

Hip-hop is hard to do. Just ask Joaquin Phoenix. “I’m Still Here,” a documentary chronicling Phoenix’s decision to leave acting and pursue a hip-hop career, will be released this Friday.

Student Union celebrates a decade of existence with a birthday party that took over the south quad with live music and cake for everyone on Sept.1.

Showing images of the SU through the years, a screen next to the band playing all sorts of music showed the past of the SU, making it hard not to wonder how will it be by the time it celebrates its next birthday, after the expansion.

The music was loud and the colors green, white and orange were held high in the Quad during the union´s birthday party. Celebrating 10 years of serving students, offering entertainment and a place to relax, the living room of the university invited everyone to be part of the noontime celebration.

“The Student Union caters to the student so that the student can socialize and meet new friends,” commented 19-year-old biology major Erik Valdez.

“There´s a theatre where you can go and be entertained, there´s a game room, there´s a lot of ways to socialize, there´s a lot of services that are offered.”

The 44,000-square foot building opened back in 2000, and even though the structure of the building has remained the years, the activities, and the approach to students has evolved.

“What has happened within the last 10 years is, the number of students visiting the building has increased, and they stay much longer,” explained Edna Zambrano, director of the Union. “Because our campus is mostly commuter, a lot of students back then would just come and eat

and then leave, they wouldn´t really hang out. But we made a commitment that we wanted to keep the students here longer, we wanted to give them a reason to hang out not only on the building but just on campus.”

Zambrano said that along with the number of activities offered, another significant change over the last decade has been on the nature of the activities, now more tournaments and engagement activities are offered.

“The Union right now offers over 40 student activities a semester,” Zambrano continued. “So, when you take everything together that we do in a year, even when we partner with other departments, there´s over 100 student activities that we sponsor.

“We´ve also changed the type of activities that we offer. Before, maybe, we just did movies or maybe a comedian.

Well, now we have poker tournaments, air hockey tournaments, and we also opened the game lounge upstairs.”

Zambrano suggested that ironically, the biggest challenge that the SU faces right now is the increasing number of students that go through the building, hang out and stay longer.

“That also has to do with the fact that the university has a more traditional student now,” Zambrano explained.

“That maybe they only come to school or they don´t work as much as maybe students did 10 years ago, that´s the only way I can describe it.”

The growing number of students and the increased amount of time that they spend at the facility has been one of the reasons behind SU expansion plans.

The growth project started in 2009 with the construction of canopies at the

east and south patios to facilitate outside played an active role involving students activities, Zambrano explained that this with workshops and presentations. was done with SU savings, but that “Yeah, we do a lot of fun stuff in here further projects, such as more lounge too, but we wanna do educational things areas and more variety on food, need too.” Zambrano said. cooperation from SGA and students.

Perhaps, at the next Student Union Some of the ideas for the SU expansion birthday celebration, student will be came from student surveys, 1600 looking at a totally different place. students responded to them.

“When the time is right the proposal “What we have done, is that we will go to student government, they will have put together actually decide a study, we hired whether or not a company to they wanna have a “We made a commitment conduct a study referendum to vote to tell us kind of on the expansion,” that we wanted to keep what could go in Zambrano said, the building if we “The only way the the students here longer, expanded it, we building can expand we wanted to give them also conducted is a student vote, student surveys, students have to vote a reason to hang out not asking them what and say yes, we vote only on the building but they would want for an expansion in the building.” and they would also just on campus.”

Zambrano said. obviously have to Regarding the agree to an increase expansion of the fee, because the fee SU some students would have to expressed interest go up.”

Edna Zambrano and curiosity to the “Right now Director of the Student Union idea of more space students pay a to hang out.

30-dollar fee “I’m actually per semester very interested to support the (about the Student Union and expansion) because so that fee would it´s now gonna cater to a lot more have to go up,” Zambrano said. “The students,” Valdez said. good thing is we never raised that fee.

Even though the Union offers It has been 30 dollars a semester for mostly fun and entertainment, 10 years, we never raised it, we´ve Zambrano explained that she is looking been very good with our money, so into adding more civic engagement we know that would be challenging activities, such as the presidential for students. But ultimately would be elections and the census, where the SU up to them.”

A full year after their last album, “Not Without A Fight,” New Found Glory makes their way to the Palmas Event Center on Sept. 9. At $16.50 a ticket, the night will be an eventful one with Madore and Lyndell opening for them.

Using shoes to get rid of spiders is so last century. A 28-year-old man decided to use an aerosol can, a notably bad move after he used a lighter to find the spider, which in turn blew up the can and sent the man to the hospital.

Tammy Ayala/THE PAN AMERICAN BIRTHDAY BASH - SGA President Alex Rodriguez (left) and Vice President Mark Allen blow out candles to celebrate the Student Union’s 10th birthday. Students, faculty and staff gathered in the South Quad Sept. 1, to enjoy games, live music and prizes.

9 de septiembre del 2010

11

Vaho, a presentarse por primera vez en UTPA Distrto Federal que cuenta con una historia que se remonta a tiempos arcaicos posteriores a la caída del importante centro religioso y cultural Vaho es el primer largometraje de conocido como Teotihuacán. Una ficción escrito y dirigido por Alejandro zona olvidada, sedienta, humilde y Gerber Bicecci, producido con el con una fe religiosa impresionante, es soporte del FOPROCINE (Fondo de el escenario para la problemática que Fomento a la Calidad Cinematográfica) enfrentan Andrés, José y Felipe, tres y el apoyo a la postproducción del jóvenes lidiando la post- adolescencia Fondo Hubert Balls,el festival de atormentados por el recuerdo del Rotterdam (Selección de Primavera linchamiento de un hombre, el cuál 2009). Obtiene su nombre de una fue provocado indirectamente por ellos durante su infancia. antigua leyenda Éste evento se del Popol Vuh encarga de unirlos, ó el “Libro del Consejo” de los “El corazón del cielo les pero al mismo tiempo de impedir mayas quiché. Los echó un vaho sobre los su reencuentro. dioses deciden A pesar de ser enceguecer al ojos, como los cuales se catalogado como hombre y que no empañaron como cuando un filme demasiado pueda entender ambiciosos, y tras el mundo en se sopla la luna de un haberse criticado la que está. “Basta espejo.” falta de experiencia mirar alrededor de Gerber como en la ciudad director, Vaho fue para ver que nos Popol Vuh ganador de una comportamos “Libro del Consejo” de los mención especial como ciegos”, Mayas Quiché” del jurado en dijo Gerber.

Octubre del 2009 Después de durante su primera haber editado el documental Voces de la Chinantla, exhibición pública en el VII Festival en la Universidad Autónoma Internacional de Cine de Morelia.

Metropolitana plantel Iztapalapa, Durante el presente año ha sido exhibida Gerber quedó fascinado por los temas en el 39o. Rotterdam Film Festival y lugares de la delegación. Así es (Holanda), y el 13°. Festival de Cine de como decide retratarlos en su primer Málaga (España), entre otros.

Gracias a The Global Film largometraje ya que considera son rasgos característicos que definen a la Initiative, el cual es un fondo para Ciudad de México y pocas veces son la distribución de películas, Vaho ha llegado a diversos escenarios del llevados a la pantalla grande.

Iztapalapa es una delegación del mundo entre ellos EE.UU y Canadá.

Por Karen Velázquez The Pan American

Hoy, la Universidad de Texas-Pan Americana, es la primera del Sistema UT en presentar The Global Lens Series, siendo Vaho, el primero en pantalla.

“El hecho de que haya mucha gente de diversos países en el Valle, no quiere decir que la mayoría de las personas entienda todas esas culturas” dijo Virginia Gause, bibliotecaria de medios y mercadotecnia.

De acuerdo a Gause, el tener la oportunidad de presentar p e l í c u l a s extranjeras e independientes en la universidad, es la mejor manera de promover la diversidad cultural en el Valle de Texas.

El evento comenzará el 9 de septiembre www.vaholapelicula.com/www.imer.gob.mx con una recepción en el lobby de la LOS PROTAGONISTAS - Las vidas de Andrés, José y Felipe (arriba) son empeñadas por un biblioteca a las sentimiento del pasado en esta producción original de Alejandro Gerber Bicecci.

Una clase actual, un temal local: Inglés 4320, Estudios Fronterizos Por Sergio Giron The Pan American

Todos los días la población americana es constantemente asediada con información sobre los cambios en la política de migración y sus consecuencias en nuestra vida diaria.

Gracias al esfuerzo del departamento de inglés, los estudiantes que deseen ser portavoces de su comunidad y aprender de este tema más a fondo podrán obtener el conocimiento y las herramientas necesarias con la clase llamada “Temas en estudios fronterizos, Ingles 4320”; enseñada por primera vez este semestre en la Universidad de Texas-Pan Americana.

Este naciente y moderno curso enfocado en el estudio de las complejas relaciones binacionales de la frontera entre México y Estados Unidos ha sido abierto a los estudiantes con el fin de que a través de literatura, música, filmes y debates sobre la cultura fronteriza puedan expandir sus conocimientos y ampliar

sus puntos de vista sobre unos de los tópicos de más relevancia nacional en estos tiempos de cambio.

“Ingles 4320: Temas en estudios fronterizos”, es el nombre que el departamento de inglés le ha asignado a este curso y la profesora encargada de dirigir esta innovadora clase es la Dr. Marci McMahon, que muy amablemente describió la singularidad de este curso: “La clase consiste en una asociación entre una clase del Colegio Kalamazoo de Michigan dirigidos por mi colega la Dr. Barraclough y un salón de clases homologo en UTPA con el fin de intercambiar puntos de vista entre dos grupos de estudiantes con ambientes e influencias muy distintas”, menciono la profesora asistente. “Se enseñara paralelamente a ambos grupos con el mismo material y los estudiantes tendrán la oportunidad de interactuar entre ellos discutiendo literatura especializada, tareas, presentaciones etnográficas, proyectos de colaboración y puntos de vista a través de la tecnología digital y del Internet.”

La contemporaneidad de esta grupo de UTPA la mayoría de los dinámica clase, única en su tipo en estudiantes son méxico-americanos, UTPA, agrega un valor extra al incluir el grupo de estudiantes de Michigan en sus lecturas y discusiones temas de esta casi enteramente conformado relevancia actual como las reformas por anglosajones”, dijo McMahon, “es este contraste migratorias del de entorno gobierno, la socio-cultural lo imposición de la ley SB1070 en “La clase consiste en que generara la lluvia de ideas y Arizona, la guerra intercambiar puntos de puntos de vista contra las drogas, que mi colega la el trafico de armas vista entre dos grupos de Dr. Barraclough y la inmigración estudiantes con ambientes y yo ansiamos ilegal. poder observar y Al ser e influencias muy distintas del cual basarnos cuestionada sobre para futuras la importancia de a través de la tecnología.” investigaciones”. la colaboración Originalmente con el colegio Marci McMahon se planeaba que Kalamazoo de Asistente de profesor del ambas clases Michigan, la Departamento de Inglés se tomaran al Dr. McMahon mismo tiempo resalto: “Uno de y que cámaras los aspectos mas importantes a notar es la diferencia digitales transmitieran en tiempo étnica y cultural entre ambos grupos real imágenes y sonidos de la de estudiantes, mientras que en el contraparte estudiantil de cada grupo

a manera de videoconferencia, pero desafortunadamente la dificultad para igualar los horarios de ambas clases impidió la temática original y ha tenido que ser sustituida por una relación cibernética en la que durante cualquier momento y día de la semana se pueden revisar en línea las tareas y trabajos en colaboración.

Cabe destacar que como ultima característica especial de este curso, al final del semestre ambos grupos colaboraran para escribir un articulo que se planea sea publicado sobre los frutos de esta interesante cooperación y los resultados obtenidos de la interacción no-física entre los jóvenes interesados en una de las cuestiones mas complejas y de mayor discusión en América; cuestión de la cual dependen relaciones internacionales y el bienestar de un creciente numero de personas que han venido o vendrán a ser la base de la economía del país.

Page 12

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14

September 9, 2010

Injury affects newcomer, spirits still up

By Dionicio Rodriguez The Pan American

It was a reoccurring theme; they showed heart and determination but fell a few points short of the goal at hand. The Broncs took to the road to participate in this year’s Maverick Classic in Arlington Sept.

3-4. Coming off a 1-2 performance in the UTPA Fall Tournament, the ladies were eager to take on their next opponent and add a couple wins.

“We had a lot of intensity and excitement to get on the court and repeat our performance against Lamar,” said senior libero Ariana Bermea transfer from Laredo Community College. “We played well but let teams stick around instead of finishing them off when we had the chance.”

The Broncs got off to a good start in each of the games with early leads, but left a window of opportunity that was found and utilized by their opponents.

The opening match between Louisiana Tech proved to be a nail-biter, going to five games with the scores of 26-24, 16-25, 20,25, 25-12, 9-15.

“We are going to go and back to practice and figure out the kinks to make it work for Tuesday’s game (Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi),” said starting outside hitter Ijanae Holman from Niceville, Fla. “The team as a whole needs an extra little push when the end of the game comes so we can change these outcomes.”

No strangers to change and adversity, the Broncs are playing without their 6-foot starting sophomore from Berlin, Germany Maria Kliefoth, due to a devastating season ending injury she suffered in the first game of the season against Idaho State University. Coach Angela Hubbard explains that even though it was a freak injury, Kliefoth’s spirits are high.

“She will start therapy in about a month and a half and we will monitor her progress from there,” Hubbard noted.

Her tendons were detached from her ankle and Lionel Stacy Mitchell (team doctor) had to go in and reattach them. She went into surgery a few hours after injuring herself on the court.

Rita Gonzalez expressed that although the loss of Kliefoth will affect the team, the team will be able to recover and will take the accident as a learning factor.

“We love Maria, and it is really tough to lose a player like that, but we have people that can fill in her spot and we are going to get familiar with this and take it as a learning curve,” said the senior from Phoenix. “We are going to be fine, we just needed to get used to the new players and positions and I think we did that this past tournament.”

Despite the high spirits, Bermea said that more could have been done to obtain positive results this weekend.

Alejandra Moreno/THE PAN AMERICAN

STILL GOING - Despite undergoing a six-game losing streak the Lady Broncs have their hopes up for conference play which starts Sept. 18 in Houston against HBU. “We could have beat every single team we played this weekend,” she admitted. “We did not play to our full potential, they were good volleyball teams but we beat ourselves by not playing good team volleyball through each game.”

The Broncs will try to tap into that unreached potential the rest of the season and try to be hitting

on all cylinders before Great West Conference play starts Sept. 18 against Houston Baptist University at 2 p.m.

“We have to start believing that we are good enough to win,” Hubbard stressed. “Individually, player for player, we match up as the better team every time. Not until we can collectively play at our best from point 1 to point 25 will it matter.”

The Lady Broncs fell 3-0 Tuesday against Texas A&M-Corpus Crhisti at the UTPA Wellness and Recreational Sports Center; their record is now 2-7.

This weekend, they travel to San Antonio to participate in the UTSA Classic, where they will face UTSA Friday and Davidson College and UTEP Saturday.

Soccer Club kicks off season, former coach helps organize

By Sara Hernandez The Pan American

While the Rio Grande Valley enjoyed a rainy Labor Day weekend, the UTPA Bronc Soccer Club traveled to Austin and Fort Worth for their second and third games of the season, against the University of Texas and Texas Christian University.

Although the weather was near perfect for soccer, the Broncs struggled in Saturday’s game against the Longhorns and lost 6-0, but played better against TCU, scoring a 1-1 tie when forward Adrian Flores scored after a free kick served by Tony Salinas in the second half.

“There was a hundred percent difference from the first game to the second game, the first game we didn’t really have a plan on how to attack and work together as a team and we really didn’t put in play what we had practiced for the previous month,” defender and political science senior Miki Ehimika said. “Saturday we had a chance to regroup, we had perfect passes and everybody knew what they were supposed to do, where they

were supposed to go on the field.”

Despite the team’s improvement, the players realize that the group, in its sixth year, still has a long way to go; members hope good results will be achieved once the individual talent comes together to play as a team and benefits from the experience of Coach Carlos Trevino.

“We haven’t been together for a long time, so we need to play as a team a lot more with all the members and the help of the coach,” said Flores, an international business senior from Miguel Aleman, Mexico.

UTPA’s soccer team is part of the Lone Star South Conference of the Texas Collegiate Soccer League along with Lamar, Sam Houston, St. Edwards, San Antonio College and Houston.

The Broncs finished second in the conference in 2009 with an overall 3-5 record and 3-2 in conference, but missed regionals for the first time in five years after falling 2-1 against firstplace Lamar.

The team will have its first home encounter of the season Oct. 18 against St. Edward’s at the Wellness and Recreational Sports Center soccer field, in what will also be the

conference opener. The first game of will help to take advantage of each of the season was a 4-0 setback against the player’s qualities.” the University of Texas at Brownsville The coach works at Company last month.

International, “Every game is a which sells auto learning experience, parts, and has been it was a chance “Every game is a coaching children for us to go out and adults since he learning experience . ” and compete and got to the United measure our strength States from Mexico against other teams,” in 1985. said Ehimika, who is He mentioned from Harlingen. he didn’t know Miki Ehimika anybody back then Senior L E A D E R and decided to go Political science major NEEDED out to a soccer field, Trevino coached where he soon made the Broncs in 2007 acquaintances and, and has been aiding the team for four not too long after, started coaching his weeks after the group asked him for help. first children’s team.

Still, he said that it has been difficult for When he guided the Broncs in him to commit because of work.

2007, the team went undefeated in “The point was to help this group the regular season but he was told he and make it strong, united and couldn’t continue coaching because coordinated, with a strong base,” he he wasn’t employed by the university. said. “The team is lacking work and Kinesiology professor Marcelo a team-play concept because it’s a Schmidt took charge of the squad in group of young players eager to play 2008 and 2009. but who don’t have a lot of experience.

His return has been fun so far So we finally came up with a base that despite the time constraints.

“When you’re on the soccer field you forget all your problems… I’m happy being there and being able to yell at the guys,” Trevino said. “But I can’t leave work for soccer.”

However, the coach mentioned that he has already engaged with the players and that he knows that at this point, the team needs guidance. He is willing to commit to the team if the players commit to him.

“They have to learn to be organized and they need somebody to help them do this and to put together all their ideas,” he added. “I’ll be with them as long as I can; a coach needs the players as the players need experience and the opportunity and learn to get ready to give results.”

For this reason, after guiding them on the phone because he wasn’t able to travel with the team this weekend, the coach said he would return to keep aiding the team although he had told the players he would not be able to continue coaching them.

“I told them I wasn’t going to come back,” he said. “Then I talked to one of them and told him, ‘See you Tuesday.’”

September 9, 2010

Bizarre sports: wives, cheese, and facial hair

SPORTS

Page 15

Cross country conquers the swamp

By Sara Hernandez The Pan American

Last Friday at the UTPA Buster, a friendly country-competition between TAMUCC and UTPA, it rained so much that saying that it rained like crazy would definitely be an understatement.

The rain turned the dirt into mud that soon became a swamp, making it almost impossible for the runners to move.

I know they were really trying to get a good race going, but as I watched under an umbrella that did its best to protect five people, I started wondering about funny, weird sports that had people doing strange things like running in the mud. So I researched and found many bizarre disciplines of which I picked my favorites, not because I’d like to try them, but because…why not?

1)Bog Snorkeling – The cross-country team could’ve as well tried this one, it consists of swimming in a waterfilled trench cut through a peat bog, using “non-traditional” swimming techniques. The competitors wear snorkels and flippers. The annual World Bog Snorkeling takes place every August in Lanwrtyd Wells in Wales.

2)Toe Wrestling – Two competitors lock toes together and force the opponent’s foot into the ground. The sport was born in Dervyshire, UK, in 1976 and in 1997 applied to be included in the Olympics, but wasn’t approved. I wonder why…

3)Wife Carrying – Male competitors race while carrying a female teammate (not necessarily their wife) through an obstacle course. Anybody up for that?

4)Cheese Racing – This is my personal favorite; in fact, I’ve already started training for it. A round piece of Double Gloucester Cheese is rolled down a hill and competitors chase after it. Even though people try to catch the cheese, no one has ever accomplished this task. Still, the first one to cross the finish line wins the cheese.

5)Shin Kicking – This must be ridiculously painful. It’s similar to box, there are three rounds and the opponents kick each other in the shin until someone falls. Every time the adversary falls, you’re given a point and the player that earns the most points wins.

This sport is practiced in the “Cotswold Olympics” in England.

6)Lawn Mower Racing – Self-explanatory, but the best part is that there is a United States Lawn Mowing Association. For more information go to letsmow.com. Really.

7)Zorbing – The participant is placed in a plastic, inflatable ball and rolled downhill. It became an official extreme sport in 2008 and can be played in grass or snow.

8)Mustache Growing – For the high-testosterone males, there is a World Beard and Mustache Championship, which takes place every two years. The next one takes place in Tordheim, Norway in May 2011, so you still have time.

Freddie Martinez/THE PAN AMERICAN

TOUGHER THAN TOUGH - Senior Omar Doria (pictured) and junior Mathew Kotut led the Broncs Friday evening at the UTPA Buster, they came in second in the meet after TAMUCC’S Daniel Barlow and Patric Kimeli.

By Mauricio Razo The Pan American Despite the muddy path and purring rain, the UTPA Cross Country got a glimpse of what this year’s season is going to bring. A small crowd, a thunderstorm and the Broncs and Lady Broncs were all part of Friday evening’s excitement.

Friday evening seemed like an ordinary day, it was cloudy with a cold breeze and it just seemed like the perfect day for the runners to compete.

Head coach David Hartman was confident that his team is off to a good season after a good summer training program.

“We’re looking forward to seeing what we can accomplish, we’ve been training hard and today we’re going to see at what fitness level we are at and what we need to do to improve,” he said.

The team opened the 2010 season with Bronc Buster, a friendly encounter against Texas A&M-Corpus

Christi on a dirt course located on the old Edinburg Reservoir.

Before the race, there were scattered thunderstorms, but Hartman was still feeling confident that his runners were going to triumph and the weather would not going to be a factor.

“It’s a very beautiful day out here, we have nice cool weather and it’s a perfect day for running,” he said.

But his confidence didn’t last too long as things were about to get ugly. Soon after the race started, a

thunderstorm arrived, wet the course and had the competitors slipping and struggling to run.

Although the rain added another difficulty to an already tough sport, it didn’t stop Omar Doria, a grad student from Edinburg, from finishing his share of the race.

“This is just going help us get ready for the upcoming season and even though we didn’t get to finish the race,” Doria said. “We understand now what we need to do to go further and perform better.”

The event consisted of a relay-like race in which runners from the same team were placed in pairs to run a lap of one mile each. Although the women were supposed to run three times each and the men four times each to total six and eight miles per pair, the race was stopped after four laps due to the condition of the terrain and the duets that finished these four laps first were given the win.

On the men’s side, Daniel Barlow and Patrick Kimeli from TAMUCC came in first, UTPA’s Doria and Mathew Kotut trailed and Islanders’ Jacob Abrego and Arisel Perez got third.

In the women’s race, TAMUCC obtained the first three spots with the Bree Ann Brigs/Julia Sambu, Courtney Johnson/Kristine Torres, Sarah Kimayo/Caitlin Arambula pairs.

Judith Chumba and Lilian Lagat from UTPA came in fourth place.

Regardless of storms, slips and mud that have continued to add an extra hurdle to the teams’ practices, the Broncs and Lady Broncs keep on preparing for their next race, which will be hosted Texas A&M in College Station Saturday.

In the last issue of The Pan American, Miguel Angel Ramirez was referred to as a returner to the cross-country team; he will not be part of the team this season.

WRSC INTRAMURALS CALENDAR EVENT

DEADLINE

MEETING

START

Soccer (M, W)

Sept. 16

Sept. 17 @ 5 p.m.

Sept. 20

Flag Football (M,W, CR) Dodgeball (M, W, CR)

Sept. 9

Sept. 23

Sept. 10 @ 5 p.m.

Sept. 24 @ 5 p.m.

Sept. 13

Sept. 26

Table Tennis (M, W, CR)

Sept. 23

Sept. 24 @ 5:15 p.m.

Sept. 26

Softball (M, W, CR)

Oct. 21

Oct. 22 @ 5 p.m.

Oct. 25

Beach Volleyball (M, W, CR)

Sept. 30

Oct. 1 @ 5 p.m.

Oct. 4

Racquetball (M, W, CR)

Oct. 21

Oct. 22 @ 5:15 p.m.

Oct. 25

Indoor Volleyball (M, W, CR)

Oct. 28

Oct 29 @ 5 p.m.

Nov. 1

Tennis (M, W, CR)

Nov. 11

Nov. 12 @ 5:15 p.m.

Nov. 15

Kickball (M, W, CR)

5 on 5 Basketball (M, W)

Team Handball (M, W, CR)

Oct. 28 Nov. 11

Nov. 18

Oct. 29 @ 5 p.m.

Nov. 12 @ 5 p.m.

Nov. 18 @ 5 p.m.

Nov. 1

Nov. 15 Nov. 22

Page 16

the pan american

September 9, 2010