October 21, 2010

Volume 67, No. 8

THE PAN AMERICAN

October 21, 2010

So, why should we vote?

Youth interest on campus wanes after increase during 2008 presidential election

By Kristen Cabrera The Pan American

It’s been two years since the 2008 presidential election, where youth came out in droves to vote for whom they thought should lead the nation. For the midterm elections this year and despite the return of the UTPA polling site 57 percent of students surveyed by The Pan American who were eligible

Español

to vote said they would not in do so on Nov. 2.

Political science professor Xi Chen said one reason students might be staying away from the polls is because of cynicism after watching a stagnant democracy.

“There is a lack of interest because they(students) don’t think voting will foster concrete change, so what’s the purpose of bothering to vote?” Chen said. “A student can become a little more cynical;

after criticizing the civic result they think that voting will not change policy, so that may be one of the biggest factors stopping students going to the voting booths.”

Jackson Hoerth said he was tired of the ‘political carnival’ and would sit this voting year out.

“It’s a conscious decision,” said the 20-year-old

SEE VOTING || PAGE 6

Estudiantes se unen para apoyar el DREAM Act

Con pancartas marcharon para apoyar esta ley que también haría un cambio.

Por Denisse Salinas The Pan American

Con el fin de informar a los estudiantes y maestros de la Universidad de TexasPan Americana, el pasado viernes 15 de octubre a las 18:00 horas, se hizo una junta afuera del Student Union sobre el tan afamado DREAM Act. El Acta de Fomento para el Progreso, Alivio y Educación para menores extranjeros, mejor conocido como el DREAM Act por sus siglas en inglés, ayudaría a estudiantes indocumentados que fueron traídos a los Estados Unidos siendo menores de 16 años de edad a tener residencia legal mientras estudian y poder aplicar para residencia permanente después de graduarse.

“Quiero que los estudiantes sepan lo que realmente es el DREAM ACT”, dijo Josse Alex Garrido, quien recientemente creó un grupo llamado Coalition for Educational Opportunity. “Mucha gente solo dice que apoya o no pero realmente no sabe lo que es”.

El grupo Coalition for Educational Opportunity creado por Garrido, se compromete a promover, fomentar y educar sobre la importancia de la educación superior como una herramienta para mejorar la sociedad independientemente de su color, raza, Page 2 - Big business might Denisse Salinas’ have packed their bags, but upgrade they never left

Alma E. Hernandez / THE PAN AMERICAN

DREAM ACT - Apoyando la causa - Estudiantes que asistieron a la junta el pasado 15 de octubre marcharon en la Avenida University. La demostración del DREAM Act será el jueves 28 de octubre a las 12:00 horas afuera del Student Union. sexo o nivel socioeconómico.

“Para nosotros como estudiantes indocumentados que nos trajeron en contra de nuestra voluntad es muy difícil completar nuestra educación”, dijo Page 3 - Jobscandidates after Registrar graduation becoming scarce hit campus

Garrido a quienes acudieron a la junta. “No nos dan ayuda financiera, y ni siquiera nos ofrecen préstamos. Mucha gente piensa que venimos a quitarle el dinero a la gente que paga impuestos, pero no es así”.

Online Exclusive: Page 11 - Holiday gift guide

UTPA acquires new art prints

Durante la junta, se hicieron equipos para que los estudiantes y profesores se conocieran mejor, después de platicar por unos minutos,

For English version of the Dream Act rally visit on PanAmericanOnline.com

Festejo delwith Díavolleyball de los Page 14 - Q&A player Rebecca Muertos en elToddy Museo de

Athletic Dept. join to promote success

SEE RALLY || PAGE 6

Historia del Sur de Texas

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October 21, 2010 Vol. 67, No. 8

THE PAN AMERICAN

Commentary

More technologically savvy with upgraded Smartphone

Denisse Salinas Spanish/Online Editor Before Tuesday, I was a notso-into-technology type of girl. I refused to buy a Smartphone or something similar because I did not want to become one of those people that are always looking down at their cell phones as they walk.

I even remember being in the anything was not on my priority Health and Sciences building once, list of things to buy.

On Monday I decided that it was waiting for my advertising class to start, and in the same hall, around time for an upgrade, and besides, Sprint was 10 people were offering a great waiting as well, discount of $200 all of them were off any phone. I using their cell had only a few phones. We (my “ In America, 83 percent options to choose friend and I) even from since my took a picture of people own cell phones phone is from because it was and 25 percent of them Nextel, but I had really funny an idea of what I that no one was use Smartphones. ” wanted. talking, they It was between were just very a Blackberry quiet, using their phone or a HTC phones. touchscreen I always used phone but I did the phone just not even know to make calls or the difference so send texts but never for something else. I am not I didn’t hesitate to ask Yeri, the saying that I don’t use computers, girl that was helping me. Her being I have a Facebook account, a really nice, began telling me that Twitter account and a Youtube they were both awesome with tons account just like everyone else, of applications. Sorry friend, but but for me a phone that could do that did not help me at all… I was

stuck.

In America, 83 percent of people own cell phones and 25 percent of them use Smartphones, but that number is rising fast thanks to all the promotion brands (let’s say Apple, Blackberry, Palm etc..) create. It’s funny, even my parents have Smartphones, but I was resisting!

So, after a 15-minute break to think about it, I remembered that I’ve seen a lot of people using Blackberry and since the girl that was helping me had one, I just made my decision, I was going to get the Blackberry Nextel.

It’s been two days since I had my phone and sure enough, I already have applications that keep me looking down while I walk. Now I understand, but it also helps me because now I can check my e-mail wherever I go without carrying my laptop.

But I promise, I won’t be another consumer who is obsessed with technology! Really…

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.

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 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 Selvino Padilla selvinop3@gmail.com DISTRIBUTION MANAGER: Steven Kennedy srkennedy56@yahoo.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.

October 21, 2010

Registrar candidates hit UTPA

By Alejandra Martinez The Pan American The search for a new university registrar is now in its final stage at The University of Texas-Pan American.

The quest, which began Sept. 1 of last year, has now been narrowed down to two final candidates, and both visited campus last week.

The candidates are Jeffrey Rhodes, who served as dean of enrollment management at Southeastern Louisiana University, and Matthew Hebbard, current dean of admissions

and registrar at South Texas College.

The new registrar will replace William Morris, who left the position to serve as director of the Student Data Analysis and Projects office on campus.

Rhodes came to UTPA Oct. 14 to meet with the university community and answer questions from various campus representatives.

During an open forum at the board room located the Administration Building, Rhodes emphasized that his main goal as university registrar would be to ensure student success.

“UTPA has an outstanding reputation for facilitating success for students who need an opportunity,” he said. “And that ethos for reaching out to students who need assistance is a good fit with my personal philosophy of opening doors to those who are less fortunate.”

He said that if chosen for the job, he plans to work closely with students, faculty and staff to address any issues they may have.

“I would have ongoing discussions with the Student Government Association, and conduct focus

groups,” Rhodes said. “I also have an open-door policy so students, faculty and staff can express their concerns at any time.”

Rhodes has been involved in higher education for 15 years. Before moving to Louisiana in 2008, he was director of admissions at St. Cloud State University in Minnesota for two years. Previous to that he served as dean of students at Clarendon College in Texas. From 2001-2005 he was the registrar at Odessa College.

SEE REGISTRAR || PAGE 7

Stagnant process: no agreement

Parking and Traffic committee remain undecided on lots B, B-1

By Roxann Garcia The Pan American The stakeholders at hand for lots B and B-1 outside of the College of Arts and Humanities met Friday to discuss a proposal that would benefit all parties, but toward the end of the meeting, no agreement could be met.

Plans are moving forward to create a subcommittee of those affected including students, faculty and staff.

A joint proposal will be drafted and then presented before the Parking and Traffic Committee. According to Parking Manager Melissa Sandoval, the committees plan to meet between now and early November.

The committee specifically called Friday’s meeting to discuss the recent uproar over the redistribution of lot B and the transfer of faculty one lot over in front of the University Center. The decision resulted in the loss of one space bringing the 145 count to 144 parking spaces.

Kristine Wirts and Melynda Nuss, members from the COAS College Council, were present at the meeting along with a group of student commuters, residents and Student Government Association representatives. There was one staff member as well.

The council presented a proposal to the committee and SGA representatives citing that the last two rows of lot B be returned to faculty and staff.

The discussion began with Mark Allen, vice president of SGA, posing the question, “Why more spaces should be allotted to faculty and staff when there is the same amount of spaces as before, minus one?”

Currently there are 258 faculty and staff in the COAS but staff member Eric Booth, who works in Residence Life, noted statistics are malleable therefore should not be the total basis

Roxann Garcia/THE PAN AMERICAN

LOST IN TRANSITION - Mark Allen, vice president of Student Government Association, engaged in a discussion with the stakeholders of lots B and B-1 during Friday’s meeting at the UTPA Police Department. for a final decision.

“The one thing that really concerns me is that I don’t want us to be looking at specific numbers because they are known to fluctuate,” he said. “We’ve already determined the total number of residents could easily exceed, in any semester time, the number of spaces that are available to them.”

The staff member was referring to a discussion brought about by resident Amy Davila who has been a member of SGA since May 2006. Davila, an office assistant at the Residence Life, emphasized the continuous increase of incoming residents.

“The office does have an expected amount of residents ready to move in already this coming spring,” she said.

“The numbers are always changing but we’re always guaranteed a great increase.”

According to Sandoval, there are 667 residents currently living on campus with 283 parking spaces available for them. Of the 667, 558 hold a parking permit. With the

redistribution, the number of spaces was bumped up to 428.

During the meeting Davila asked the council about the difficulty many are experiencing finding parking when, “you have the privilege of parking in general parking, while residents are allocated to specific areas.”

“I think it’s a matter of room,” Nuss, who was recently named as chair for the council, said. “Faculty and staff really never did have enough parking and I don’t think you want to send us over to take up general spaces.”

Another voice heard during the meeting was from Benjamin Abbitt, a commuter as well as a senator for SGA. Abbitt began by emphasizing that all contingents are part of the dynamic situation.

“However, my concern is these students live here; this is their home,” he said. “They can’t park in their driveway, which is the problem.

Faculty and staff are paid to be here. You are providing a service,

respectfully. But you have the privilege of overflow into general parking.”

Nuss, an associate professor of English, replied with a different view on the matter. The professor believed the equities shifted toward the other side because “faculty, staff and commuters need to get to class; residents don’t need parking to get to class.”

She continued, noting most universities designate parking for residents away from the campus. The parking system at the University of Texas at Austin requires a universal permit for lots around campus but there are no designated parking lots near residential halls. On the other hand, at Texas A&M Kingsville residents do have their own lots near dorm halls.

Once the dust began to settle, it was clear no agreement could be reached between the parties. Allen, along with other members of SGA, noted the need for more time to develop a well thought out plan.

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UWC celebrates National Day of Writing

By Abel Prado The Pan American As part of a national initiative by the National Council of Teachers of English to improve writing among American students, the University Writing Center took part in the annual National Day of Writing on Wednesday in the University library.

Fourteen different members of the UTPA faculty and staff, as well as UWC writing tutors, spoke about topics ranging from the basic mechanics of writing to writing professionally for a news organization.

Other speeches included help for doctoral students on how to conduct extended research for an honors thesis, and a seminar on how to use resources in the Archives and Special Collections Department to improve student research projects about the Rio Grande Valley.

Official attendance numbers were not immediately available but Writing Center interim director Rebekah Hamilton estimated that perhaps 120 people were in attendance, up from last year’s event that had two speakers and about 20 in the crowd.

As part of the National Day of Writing the NCTE encourages participants to enter a sample of their work to the National Gallery of Writing, a digital archive of compositions and other writing samples available for free online at galleryofwriting.org.

Hamilton said the Writing Center plans to celebrate the National Day of Writing next year as well and hopes that more advertising will bring a larger student turnout.

For more information check out an exclusive online package of the event at panamericanonline.com.

Editor’s note: Due to a journalism conference The Pan American team will not put out a paper next week, Oct. 28.

Check in for online exclusives including stories, photos and video at panamericanonline.com

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October 21, 2010

NEWS

VOTING

continued from Page 1 senior. “Someone might consider it voter apathy, but its just pure unhappiness with the candidates and with the system, its not going to matter.”

Voter apathy seams to be prevalent in more than just national and local bodies of government, but in student bodies as well. In April 2010 the Student Government Association held its presidential election, with only 1,000 of 18,000 students voting.

Alex Rodriguez, the victor in a run-off election, pleaded for students to make their voice heard in their communities, on campus and off.

“I think that we need to develop a habit of voting,” he said. “Especially among our students because I don’t think that they realize how important it is. I’m not sure they realize the impact it has on them.”

A DECLINE? In the 2008 Presidential Election, 22

million 18-to-29-year-olds submitted a ballot, an increase of 2 percent from 2004, according to the Center for Research on Civic Learning and Engagement.

But has this increase held steady two years later in the UTPA community?

In an unscientific poll done by The Pan American, 80 percent of students surveyed said they were eligible to vote.

Of those, 57 percent said they will not vote Nov. 2, while 41 percent said they would and two percent didn’t care.

Chen says a presidential election brings out a larger crowd because of the time and attention it garners from the press.

“Well actually,” she said, “for national level the increase is because there is more media exposure and coverage than for smaller elections, which are of a more immediate interest to students.”

Veronica Gonzales incumbent state representative for District 41 said that the

influence of local leaders is essentially of greater importance to the students.

“While the president is the nation’s most visible office holder, “ she said, “the truth is state and local leaders make decisions with greater local impact, such as college tuition rates, financial aid, property tax rates, driving laws, gun laws, access to health care and so much more. If college students care about these things, then they should vote in the November 2 election.”

Psychology senior Pearl Cano, 26, of Edinburg, is planning to vote. She said for her, it is about the effect her vote will have on others in the future.

“I think that one voice can influence change,” she said. “It might not make a huge difference, but maybe over time it might change someone else’s perspective.”

Elizabeth Ibarra just turned 18. She said she is excited to vote but is doing it just to do it. She doesn’t know yet whom

she is voting for.

“It’s the first experience I just need to get more informed,” said the freshman and McAllen native.

According the survey of those eligible to vote, 52 percent said they did not know enough about U.S. Congress or state governance to cast a ballot in the upcoming election. Twenty-six percent said they felt they did know enough, and 4 percent said they didn’t care. Of those not eligible to vote, 16 said they did not know enough to vote, 2 said they did and 4 said they didn’t care.

The lack of interest could also be attributed to a lack of knowledge, Chen said. The impression that students left has led her to believe that a lack of civic education before they joined UTPA may be another reason students are staying away from the voting booths.

She said her students come in and “they don’t know, they think, what is politics? How does politics function?

Students come to the class room without the basic civic ideas.”

And the SGA president can’t agree more.

“I think we need to educate our students to know how voting really effects them,” said Rodriguez. “We have early voting stations next week and we have a problem with students going out to vote, and I think that this is an opportunity for us to prove that we need those polling stations on campus.”

Rep. Gonzales feels students need to take advantage of the opportunity that was given to them.

“Exercising the right to vote is one of the greatest privileges of living in a democracy,” Gonzales stated. “We all need to realize that many people around the world still do not have a say in what their governments or leaders choose to do. Making your voice heard at any level is the best way to influence the decisions of those in power.”

Alrededor de 60 estudiantes acudieron al evento, que es el primer evento grande del club fundado por Garrido a finales de septiembre luego de que esta pieza de legislación no fuese aprobada.

“UTPA tiene una población bastante grande, 602 estudiantes en el campus son indocumentados y queremos que tengan una educación protegida”, dijo Silva, estudiante que junto con

Garrido ayudó a fundar el grupo. “Si ellos viven todos los días con el miedo de que pueden ser deportados y sin saber que pasara con su educación, si las clases no se transfieren, si todo este tiempo ha sido tiempo perdido o simplemente no saben que pasará es increíblemente injusto en una sociedad americana ahorita”.

Alrededor de las 19:15 horas, el grupo de estudiantes partió del Student

Union a la avenida University donde caminaron y gritaron el cambio que quieren. Conforme los autos pasaban, las ganas de las personas que acudieron al evento fueron aumentando cada vez que los automóviles sonaban las bocinas para demostrar el apoyo.

“Solamente quiero que la gente se dé cuenta que no somos criminales”, aseguro Griselda Lozoya, estudiante de terapia física. “Yo quiero graduarme

y ayudar a la gente del Valle porque para mí, aunque no sea americana, es importante ayudar a mi comunidad”.

En dado caso que esta ley sea aprobada en un futuro, alrededor de 65 mil estudiantes tendrían permiso legal de vivir en los Estados Unidos al menos por 6 años, solo habrá que esperar a que el próximo año se den los votos suficientes para pasar esta ley que ayudara a seguir el sueño de muchos.

RALLY EN ESPAÑOL viene de la página 1

hicieron pancartas que usarían para caminar en la avenida University.

“Quiero que se pongan en equipos para que se conozcan, que no sea solamente una persona que han visto, si no alguien de quien ya saben la historia”, agregó Garrido. “Después de aquí vamos a caminar por la avenida University para que la gente que valla pasando se dé cuenta de cuantos somos los que apoyamos esta causa”.

Nursing students raise diabetes awarness through teaching fairs

By Pamela Morales The Pan American

Each year, 13,000 children below the age of 20 are diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. It has also been noted that Hispanics are the least likely to be diagnosed with diabetes but suffer from the disease at a 10.4 percent rate.

In the Rio Grande Valley, an area with a population of about 1.2 million, it’s estimated that one in five have diabetes, about three times the national rate. Although statistics for children are not readily available, a 2007 report from the Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention noted that in Hidalgo County, 10.3 percent of adults ages 20 through 48 are diagnosed with diabetes.

These findings encouraged nursing students at UTPA to speak up for awareness on the issue by creating Diabetes Awareness Teaching Fairs.

The events were initiated throughout the Valley last week.

On Oct. 14, senior nursing students held five fairs at various middle schools across the Valley from La Villa Middle School to McAllen’s Morris Middle School, at which junior high students were given details about the problem and solutions to help and/or manage diabetes.

Aubre Rodriguez, a nursing senior, was one of the students who organized the fairs because as she learns more

about the disease and its consequences, she has wanted to raise awareness.

“We wanted to help educate the community about diabetes because diabetes is very prevalent especially here in the Rio Grande Valley,” Rodriguez said. “It’s also becoming a lot more prevalent in children.”

Among the participants were 11-yearold Paulino Guerra from McAllen and his mother, Eloisa Nariscal. The 29-yearold mother said it’s time-consuming to make homemade meals because she’s always working, but that she’s come to realize eating healthy is important.

“I try to put vegetables in the food,” Nariscal said. “We just started doing it because one of my friends’ little boy got diabetes. And he’s around his (my son’s) age so now we’re concerned and talking about it.”

She added that her son enjoys eating fruit and he agreed, saying, “I love sandia,” referring to watermelon in Spanish.

Not only is eating the right foods important but size matters. At the fair held at Morris Middle School, portions on a plate was theme at “The ‘Pourtion’ Café” hosted by Edwardo Bernal, a senior seeking a bachelor’s degree in nursing. To present his case, Bernal offered two different size plates to the groups of students and parents.

“One is a 15-inch plate,” said Bernal to a group of students. “This smaller

one is 10 inches so, pick one and place the foods you would eat.”

Many chose the bigger plate because they said it gave them more options to eat what they felt would fill their stomachs up. Bernal explained that even though one has more options, sometimes eating too much of one thing is unhealthy.

“Meat portions shouldn’t be bigger than a box of cards because too much has unhealthy fat,” said Bernal to a student. “Also, rice shouldn’t be more than the size of a stress ball because it’s a carbohydrate.”

The students seemed to be on board.

“At least I had the green beans,” said the student. “That’s healthy, right? I like eating green beans, right Mom?” One of the booths, however, was a sponsor, the Rocky Chocolate Mountain Factory from McAllen, who was promoting chocolate. “Sugar-free chocolate,” read the sign hanging across the table. The store was included when a regular customer, who happens to be a UTPA nursing student, invited it. Veronica Barrera, store manager, said she was more than happy to promote her sugar-free selection at a diabetic teaching event.

“When people come in and say, ‘Oh I can’t have any of this,’ we ask why,” said the 34-year-old manager from Weslaco.

“They say they’re diabetic or can’t have caffeine…so we always do recommend the sugar free or if they can’t have

caffeine, we have an alternative called ‘white confection’…it has no caffeine or cocoa. We are a chocolate store and we want to serve everyone across the board.”

Barrera said that even though most people blame stores for promoting sweets that cause diabetes or obesity, she does not feel guilty because it’s a personal choice for individuals and they should be aware of what they should or should not be eating.

Another factor impacting the rising number of children diagnosed with diabetes is the fact that schools are still serving unhealthy foods in their own cafeterias. Head coach B. James was one among the seven staff members at Morris Middle School who got involved after UTPA students asked the school to host the event. James said there are always ways for improvement in making students aware of health issues even in the face of a severe state budget shortfall.

“Children do have choices,” explained James of Sharyland. “They have a snack bar but there’s several choices in the cafeteria…there is salad and yogurt. We have been doing this for a while. I think if the school makes smart choices [about the budget] then I think we can still offer a lot of healthy choices.”

As the event went on with more and more participants coming in listening to solutions or playing video games on the Wii, UTPA nursing students said they

were glad people were so interested in finding out not only about diabetes but about other health issues. As they saw others become so keen to learn, students also mentioned that they are finding out firsthand about the many consequences of unwise choices.

“Every day we learn about new a disease and ways on how to prevent it and signs to look for,” said Leslie Limas, a junior nursing student. “But our eating habits, exercise and sleep says something else. We’re college students.”

The event taught younger children what to look for when they decide to eat and how parents can make the right decisions for their children and family. UTPA nursing students also had the opportunity to learn what their community is made of and what issues they will be dealing with in their first health-care job.

Rodriguez added it’s about reaching out and helping others make the right decisions when knowledge is at hand especially at a young age.

“Everything is fast pace,” said Rodriguez. “And it’s better to expose your child to healthier food choices but it’s just not realistic. Our lifestyles are fast pace and our poverty here in the Rio Grande Valley is also contributing . . . I think it’s just important to expose your child to healthy foods . . . so when they grow up they are accustomed and can show their kids.”

October 21, 2010

NEWS

Survey ponders networking said, adding that the data will be used to learn how UTPA might be able to better serve students through online With the surge in popularity of innovations such as social networking.

“There are a number of aims,” social-networking sites like Facebook, elaborated Grant Benham. “One is which recently passed the 500-million user mark, the University is not simply to gather some descriptive data on what standing idly by types of online as the technology “I have problems social networking waves passes. students, faculty, An online social communicating with and staff are networking survey commonly using, e-mailed out to professors and I feel more and how much they UTPA students, faculty, and staff, comfortable with email. are used.”

Another aim closed at midnight to examine But in the real world, in is Wednesday; it is whether online being conducted graduate school and on social networking is under the direction of Chelse Benham, the job, you need to have related to a feeling of being connected the head of and involved with social skills.”

UTPA digital and campus life and social media, whether that might and her husband, Martha L. Calderon relate to satisfaction Grant Benham, with UTPA. psychology Psychology major “While we’re professor, and not able to UTPA Institutional Review Board for the Protection of examine this directly in our study, there is research that suggests social Human Subjects (IRB) chair.

The survey asked volunteer integration (that feeling of being respondents about what types of connected) is associated with student social networking sites they use, retention,” Grant Benham said.

Grant Benham expects data how frequently they check them, how connected they feel to the to confirm that students feel their world around them, and how they participation in UTPA functions would feel about UTPA’s present and future be greater if the events were promoted through social networking sites like involvement with such.

“The purpose of the study is to learn Twitter and Facebook.

Chelse Benham predicts that most how engaged UTPA social network users are, what they do there, and how students will report that they do not they feel about it,” Grant Benham know about their respective college’s Facebook page. She hopes that the

By Karen Antonacci The Pan American

survey will prompt students to search for them and be aware of them.

Although some remain wary of UTPA being accessible through social networking, Chelse Benham asserts, “We have to engage students on their terms, not on the university’s. “ Still, not everyone is as excited about the project.

“To be honest, it might work for some students, but for me, I can be doing homework, but if I go on Facebook, I lose my train of thought and I stop doing what I was supposed to,” admits Martha L. Calderon, 22, a psychology major who is trying to cut back on Facebook to better focus on her studies.

Although she is trying to cut back, Calderon feels that for most students it would be extremely helpful to be able to access UTPA announcements and updates from the sites they visit the most, “Having UTPA on Facebook would be helpful, because people are still going to be on it, so you might as well inform them about what is going on,” she commented.

Some say, however, that catering to students’ reliance on online and impersonal interaction could have adverse effects on them in the future.

“I have problems communicating with professors and I feel more comfortable with e-mail,” Calderon said. “But in the real world, in graduate school and on the job, you need to have social skills.”

After the survey closes Wednesday night, data will be compiled and the findings eventually published.

Page 7

REGISTRAR

continued from Page 3 Although some people may there are also some differences.

“You have the ability to make question his record when it comes to moving around, he considers it things happen a little bit quicker with the resources you have,” he said. “I an asset.

“The benefit of moving around really see it as a challenge, maybe the is that I have a variety of different next step for me, professionally.”

Previous to his job at STC, experiences that have given me a lot of different perspectives on what works Hebbard served as assistant registrar or doesn’t work and what it takes to at the Dallas Theological Seminar from 2002-2005. He also worked as a facilitate student success,” he said.

Hebbard, who serves as adjunct graduate teaching assistant there.

The office of the instructor at STC, also registrar is part of the named students as one of Division of Enrollment his top priorities. and Student Services.

“I always tell my It serves as the official students that, ‘I teach… record keeper of the if you come to my office university and is and you need help, I’ll responsible for the stop what I’m doing to maintenance and talk to you,’” Hebbard certification of student said. “I want to make sure that the student Jeffery Rhodes academic records. The office is in charge of feels listened to, feels important, and that somebody cares.” registration, dropping and adding He expressed great respect for of classes, final degree requirement neighbor school UTPA and the work checkout, graduation, distribution of the institution carries on. He noted diplomas, official transcripts, among that being part of the UT System is a other things.

The search committee is strength for the university.

“Professionally I’d like to be able evaluating both applicants and the to go into some areas, like cutting edge final decision should be reached technology, and be able to automate in the next couple of weeks, said some more systems and make them Magdalena Hinojosa, associate vice president and dean of admissions more student-friendly,” he said.

He added that although there and enrollment services. are similarities between the “The search took this long because university and community college we wanted to make sure we had a settings, such as fast growth, good pool of applicants,” she said.

Surge in federal grants for Health Science majors

By Belinda Munoz The Pan American

The College of Health Sciences and Human Services has accepted almost $4 million in federal grants from the U.S. Department of Education and U.S. Department of Health, to finance scholarships for health students pursuing master’s degrees.

According to Tony Casas, special projects coordinator for the Department of Health Sciences and Human Services and grant writer for the project, grants for scholarships will be available for students pursuing rehabilitation counseling, clinical laboratory sciences, dietetics, occupational therapy, nursing, and the Physician Assistant Program.

One of the most prominent ways that the university plans to award students is through the Scholarship for Disadvantaged Students, which helps students from low-income households receive financial assistance.

“The scholarship for disadvantaged students has been around for awhile,” Casas said. “They base it on the criteria, on the parent’s income. So you could be an older student, you are already moved out of the house, but they still determine whether you

are eligible based upon your parent’s income, which can be advantageous.”

Under the Disadvantaged Student scholarship, determining if a student is economically disadvantaged is based on their parent’s adjusted gross income and family size. Based on figures for the 2004-2005 academic year, scholarship awards increased by $6,360 for each added family member. For example, parents with a family size of one would generate a $18,620 scholarship for a student pursing a Disadvantaged scholarship, while parents with a family size of two would generate a scholarship amount of $24,980, etc.

Bruce Reed, dean of the College of Health Sciences and Human Services, believes that scholarships will help students who have financial need to be able to work less, study harder, and be debt-free upon graduation.

“Many of our students cannot go to college without financial support,” Reed said. “They are working for their extended families and they cannot just quit a job to go to school.

So our scholarships help them with that... Just the ability to get a degree and not have a lot of financial debt when you graduate is just a wonderful thing. We all hear these horror stories

of people that graduate with $50,000 in debt from going to college.”

Other prominent awards like the Rehab Counseling Scholarship are more focused and dependant on individual work ethic.

“Although economic need is part of it, it’s really based more on past academic performance and their commitment to working in the field,” Reed explained.

The scholarships, while awarded for different purposes, all define their own method of “sufficient academic progress” that must be met, in order for students to keep them. This usually means that students must not get on any type of academic suspension.

The university has already accepted $1.98 million in federal grants from the Department of Health over a 5-year period, which will allow $22,000 for tuition, fees and books, to students in the Physician’s Assistant Program.

It has also received $750,000 for full-ride scholarships and stipends for students pursuing occupations as vocational rehab counselors; this award from the U.S Department of Education, extends over five years.

Lastly, UTPA was awarded $900,000, through a project called

Center for Hispanic Resources and Rehabilitation (CHRR), which has cooperated with UTPA for about 10 years and will dispense money over a 3-year period. According to Reed, the CHRR is a federally funded outfit that provides consulting to MinorityServing Institutions (MSI) that count at least 25 percent of minority students attending. As of fall 2009, UTPA has reported 4.8 percent as White-Non Hispanic and 95.1 percent of its total student population as minority and/ or non-residential aliens. The CHRR helps MSIs develop rehabilitation counseling programs by helping universities write and compete for federal grants.

In addition to helping students support themselves and their families, the health scholarships are expected to aid the Rio Grande Valley community and Winter Texans by producing more doctors, nurses and pharmacists.

“We are in a medically underserved area of the U.S. It’s shown that students in health-care tend to stay in the area they get their degree from,” Casas explained. “As a result, many health care graduates will stay within the RGV and serve the community here.”

Through the scholarships, an increase in Spanish-speaking health care professionals is also expected.

For those wanting a change of scenery, it is likely that a secure job will be waiting for them pretty much anywhere in the nation, with the increased demand for culturally diverse health-care professionals.

“As a nation we need more Hispanics, really Spanishspeaking people,” Reed stated.

“Employers from outside the Valley and outside of Texas are always trying to hire our graduates to help in their areas.”

Students are encouraged to visit the college website or contact the department if they are interested in finding out more information on scholarships.

“We have many scholarship programs that the department has gotten,” Reed explained. “The student has to be admitted into (a) program to qualify. So when they get admitted they are given lots of information on ‘here are these scholarships.’”

All scholarships are on a firstcome, first-served basis and the number of recipients for awards is dependent on the program’s allotted budget.

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2010

THE PAN AMERICAN

October 21, 2010

MIDNIGHT MADNESS THE NIGHT WHEN STUDENT BODY AND ATHLETICS GATHER TO CELEBRATE UTPA SPIRIT

Photos by Alma E. Hernandez, Freddie Martinez, Tammy Ayala and Mayra Godinez

October 21, 2010

THE PAN AMERICAN

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2010

THE PAN AMERICAN

October 21, 2010

MIDNIGHT MADNESS THE NIGHT WHEN STUDENT BODY AND ATHLETICS GATHER TO CELEBRATE UTPA SPIRIT

Photos by Alma E. Hernandez, Freddie Martinez, Tammy Ayala and Mayra Godinez

October 21, 2010

THE PAN AMERICAN

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October 21, 2010

Rocky Horror Theatre hits McAllen

By Adriana Trevino The Pan American

The Obama Administration filed an emergency request to stop the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” just days after the president reaffirmed “the policy will end and it will end on my watch.” Way to be hypocritical, B.

Just in time for Halloween, Paramount Picture’s sequel to wildly successful supernatural thriller “Paranormal Activity” is set to hit theaters this Friday.

Country cutie Taylor Swift will drop her much-anticipated third effort “Speak Now” Oct. 26. The record is a shoo-in for number one, with hype surrounding some of the album’s recently leaked tracks about John Mayer and Taylor Lautner.

Celebrity stalking just got digital, and a whole lot easier.

‘Justspotted.com’ went online Tuesday and uses public Twitter feeds to place celebrities in exact locations in close to real time.

MCALLEN - Glitz, music and darkness sparkled on 17th Street at Cine El Rey Oct. 15 with the second showing of “Rocky Horror Picture Show.

People from the community gathered at Cine El Rey for The Lime Light Theatre’s shadow-cast production of the ‘70s cult classic, this time directed

by Amanda Sasser.

“Rocky Horror Picture Show,” written by Richard O’Brien, is about an engaged couple stranded in an isolated town who have to make a phone call to Dr. Frank-N-Furter, a flamboyant transvestite from Transylvania. The film didn’t gain popularity until its midnight release in Los Angeles and developed a cultlike following after its showing in New York in 1976. Its creative costumes and offbeat style captured an alternative ethos of the 1970s.

Sasser, a Valley native and Baylor University theatre design grad, felt that the Valley’s downtown scene needed a mix.

“It’s the show’s 35th anniversary. I am an advocate for theatre and felt this would be the perfect time to direct one of my favorite films,” she said.

Sasser has worked on 11 previous theatre projects and hopes to continue “Rocky Horror Show” along with other musicals. She liked the set-up for this one.

“The owners of Cine El Rey were extremely helpful and supportive,” Sasser said. “The cast and crew came together and dedicated their time to making the show a huge success. We even had people buy tickets for all four shows, and our last show was sold out!”

As people walked in, they were handed bags full of trinkets, some with

toilet paper and squirt guns, and others containing toast and newspaper to use in conjunction with the story line so that attendees could follow the ritual of participating in the show.

The glowing cast of the play went on stage with exuberant makeup, lipsyncing the lines of the movie showing behind them. Characters yelled lines from all areas of the theatre and interacted with the audience.

“I was the ‘Joe Cool,’ sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll kind of guy,” said Marc Solis, a student at The University of Texas Pan-American who played Ed. “It was challenging and exciting at the same time.

Mostly the rush is what got me. Waiting for the show to begin, the camaraderie between the cast and myself made me feel confident about my performance.

It was tough sacrificing time from work and studying, but it paid off.

“It was an experience out of my typical norm that can’t be replaced. I’d do it again in a heartbeat.”

The Time Warp, the movie’s signature dance, was a success and the actors performed every song and dance to keep energy flowing in the crowd.

The overflowing cinema house was packed with fans dressed up as their favorite character, and they sang along during the majority of the show.

“I really appreciated the dancing and costumes. They looked identical to the actors on screen. I’m in theatre, and can appreciate a good show when I see it,” said Joel A. Garza, a communication graduate student at UTPA. “Aside from being an entertaining show, I feel that the only thing I would have changed was the acoustics. It sounded a bit muffled, but other than that, performance was fantastic.”

The production is slated for approximately two hours

Alma Hernandez/THE PAN AMERICAN SWEET TRANSVESTITE - Anthony Liberati plays Dr. Frank-N-Furter in “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” playing Friday nights in October at Cine El Rey. and will run Oct. 22 and 29.

For more information on the next showing of “Rocky Horror Picture

Show,” contact Cine El Rey at (956) 971-9825 or visit them on Facebook at: Facebook.com/cineelrey

‘Evil Dead’ sings and dances its way to UTPA

By Yngrid Fuentes The Pan American

A troop of possessed dancers moving to the rhythm of ancient demons will take over UTPA during a freakish musical where blood, dismembered body parts, and humor offer students some Halloween entertainment and fun.

“Evil Dead,” story starts off with five college students who decide to spend a weekend at a remote cabin in the woods. The musical adds singing and dancing to a situation where, after finding a book with incantations and a taped translation of the text, the students end up releasing a horde of demons after playing the tape. The characters are then possessed one by one and start killing each other until only one remains.

“The musical is based on a film that was extremely violent and gory for its

time, when the film came out nobody would release it,” said 25-year-old Jonathan Torres, an “Evil Dead” actor.

“They were able to take a movie that was full of jokes, it’s got a lot of humor but is also very scary and they made a musical.”

Based on the “Evil Dead” film series that began in 1981 and includes three installments including the latest in 1992, the musical has elements of the trilogy, offering a burlesque approach to rendering horror movie clichés.

“You know, I would say that the focus of this show isn’t really to scare as much as it is to laugh at what horror movies do, how they make us scared; things that come out of the closed, blood and zombies,” said director Brian Warren, creative drama specialist at UTPA. “Evil Dead, The Musical” will be open to the public at the

Albert L. Jeffers Theatre in the Communication Arts and Sciences Building Oct. 27 and 29 at 8 p.m., Oct. 30 at 7 p.m., and Oct. 31 at 2 p.m.

“This is something to do on Halloween or around it, I think it’s gonna be great for people to come to,” Warren said.

The idea to do the show comes in the wake of the success of “Night of the Living Dead” a university Halloween production three years ago also under Warren’s direction.

“A couple of years ago I did a studio show for Halloween, ‘The Night of the Living Dead’ and we sold out,” Warren noted. “We sold out every show and I was like wow, college students love zombies, they like that sort of frightening thing, so I thought, let’s do it again. This time is a musical, so we just hope to get a large crowd to see it.”

Warren expressed content at working on the musical, not only because of the play itself, which is funny and entertaining, but because of a talented cast that has truly gotten into the work also.

“I love it because we get to be as vulgar as we wanna be without anyone saying, ‘Be careful, watch what you’re saying,’” said actress Rosa Nicholas, who has died about 20 times in rehearsals.

“We get to dance, we get to sing, we get to do everything we want, it’s amazing; but we’re still under a lot of direction.

“It’s such a different experience because we’re not restricted to following a certain pattern and abiding by what the audience wants to see and by what they’re expecting. It’s nothing that an audience would expect, it’s fun.”

For more information contact the Box Office at (956) 665-3581 or e-mail galvane@utpa.edu.

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Día de los Muertos tiene festejo especial Museo de Historia del Sur de Texas ofrece actividades familiares Para el altar de Rutledge, Frye utilizó una técnica distinta a la de sus creaciones anteriores en conjunto con su nieta Kirsten Rawson. “Éste altar es diferente porque Kirsten y yo trabajamos con corazones de madera hechos por otros artistas y miembros de la comunidad”, dijo Frye al ser cuestionada sobre su experiencia trabajando en el altar de este año. “Ha sido un reto, pero el resultado final es hermoso, justamente como la persona que éste representa”.

Además de los altares, el público disfrutó de un cuarto dedicado en su totalidad a la interpretación del Día de Muertos del artista local, Adrian Cavazos. Ward S. Albro presentó y discutió su libro “Día de los Muertos”, además de realizar una firma de autógrafos.

“Las Muertes de Frida Kahlo”, acto protagonizado por Pedro García fue otra de las presentaciones de las cuales disfrutaron los asistentes a la celebración ofrecidas por el Museo de Historia del Sur de Texas.

“Día de los Muertos es un día festivo muy importante además de significativo. Se celebran las vidas de los seres queridos que han fallecido manteniendo vivos sus recuerdos”, dijo Melissa Tijerina, directora de eventos especiales del museo.

En México, el homenaje del Día de los Muertos se remonta a hace aproximadamente tres mil años. Antes de la llegada de los españoles al nuevo continente, las tribus mayas, mexicas, totonacas y purépechas, ya veneraban a Mictecacíhuatl, diosa de la muerte, durante una excéntrica celebración en la que mostraban los cráneos de los difuntos para simbolizar y conmemorar su partida del mundo físico hacia el renacer espiritual.

De acuerdo a Eduardo Merlo Juárez, arqueólogo mexicano, la creencia azteca considera que cuando el individuo muere su espíritu continúa viviendo en Mictlán, lugar de residencia de las almas que han dejado la vida terrenal. Éste recinto ó plano existencial fue creado por los dioses para que Aprilynn Sanchez/THE PAN AMERICAN las almas puedan reposar plácidaHEAVY DUTY - Gabriel Hernández examina el mural de aluminio hecho a mano que se mente en la espera expuso en el Museo de Historia del Sur de Texas el sábado 16 de octubre.

de actividades para niños como la creación de flores de papel y decoración de las famosas calaveritas La muerte es un símbolo de azúcar, las cuales simbolizan emblemático que desde los inicios de los cráneos humanos utilizados la historia ha generado incertidumbre durante las celebraciones de nuestros y temor en el ser humano. Por otra antepasados. Éstas actividades parte, también ha sido motivo de recreativas permitieron a los niños veneración e incluso, en su afán de divertirse además de aprender no temerle, el sobre la folclórica hombre ha llegado tradición del Día a burlarse de la de Muertos. también llamada “Mis hijos están “Catrina”.

“El Día de los Muertos es muy contentos, me Con motivo de parece excelente un día festivo importante la proximidad de la que el museo haga fiesta a los difunestas fiestas en además de significativo. tos, el Museo de las que podamos Se celebran las vidas de Historia del Sur de transmitir a nueTexas, llevó a cabo stros hijos la cullos seres queridos que la celebración del tura mexicana y se Día de Muertos el han fallecido manteniendo diviertan al mismo pasado 16 de octutiempo”, dijo Marvivos sus recuerdos ” . bre a partir de las cela Gutiérrez, 10:00 horas. originaria de HiEl Día de dalgo, Texas.

Muertos es una Cada año, la Melissa Tijerina galería de “La Cárcelebración de Directora Eventos Especiales origen prehiscel Antigua” (The pánico que ha Old Jail Gallery), sido fusionada es transformada con las festivien una espectacudades católicas del “Día de los Fieles lar exposición de altares típicos Difuntos” y “Día de Todos los San- dedicada a aquellos seres amados tos”. La conmemoración a los que que han abandonado éste mundo. han dejado el mundo terrenal se lleva Por sexta ocasión, Kathleen a cabo los días 1 y 2 de noviembre Carrizal-Frye, artista local, en países de Centroamérica, México presentó un altar dedicado a y Estados Unidos.

Michael Rutledge, quién falleció en La celebración ofrecida por un accidente automovilístico en el el Museo de Historia del Sur de 2007 y sus órganos fueron donados Texas comenzó con la presentación por desición de sus padres, Melvin del Mariachi Los Coyotes de la y Nelda Rutledge, para impedir la Preparatoria La Joya, seguida muerte de seis residentes texanos.

Por Karen Velázquez The Pan American

Aprilynn Sanchez/THE PAN AMERICAN

CALAVERA ARTESANAL - Después de haber sido una sátira, la Catrina se convirtió en el símbolo oficial del folklor mexicano. del día en que puedan regresar a visitar los hogares de sus familiares.

Lejos de ser un día de llantos y lamentos, el Día de Muertos, es una fiesta de alegría en la que la hospitalidad prevalece en todo momento. El objetivo principal es complacer y deleitar a los difuntos brindándoles todo aquello que durante su estancia en la Tierra les dejó un buen sabor de boca ó dibujó una sonrisa en sus rostros.

El banquete mortuorio es desde la antigüedad un complemento esencial en los hogares que llevan a cabo la celebración del Día de Muertos.

Dependiendo de cada comunidad, la ofrenda puede presentarse en mesas simples, o en altares con diferentes diseños. Sin embargo, la finalidad es la misma, ofrecer a los visitantes difuntos una probadita de los placeres terrenales, además de recordarles y celebrar con júbilo su visita.

Incienso, velas, agua, sal, mole, fruta, pulque, dulces, el camino de pétalos de flores de cempasúchil, pan de muerto, y fotos son sin duda parte característica del Día de Muertos, pero cabe destacar que esta fiesta no estaría completa sin la figura de “La Catrina”, creación de José Guadalupe Posada, caricaturista mexicano.

La Catrina que en un principio era una crítica al gobierno de Porfirio Díaz al representar de manera irónica a la sociedad de esa época, se ha convertido en un icono de la celebración del Día de Muertos. Una calavera, con atuendo femenino, exquisitamente vestida con sombrero, es una imagen recurrente en la idea que los mexicanos tienen sobre la muerte.

La aportación de Posada al folclor mexicano ha creado una imagen colectiva distinta a la de muchas culturas en las que la muerte es considerada algo escabroso.

Posada se encargó de personificar a éste terrorífico mito además de darle la característica de ser un personaje muy interesante.

En su afán de preservar una de las costumbres más bellas de la cultura latina, el Museo de Historia del Sur de Texas, abrió sus puertas para que las familias del Valle del Río Grande pudieran disfrutar de la legendaria tradición. Altares, música y comida recrearon una típica celebración del Día de Muertos dejando satisfechos a chicos y grandes a dos semanas del esperado festejo.

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21 de octubre del 2010

ESPAÑOL

Tiempo de reestructuración para el Tri

Por Daniel Cuevas The Pan American

La Participación de México en el Mundial de Sudáfrica 2010 terminó el 27 de Junio de éste mismo año y desde entonces a la fecha, México no a determinado quien será el sucesor de Javier Aguirre.

Propuestas ha habido muchas, desde traer a un técnico extranjero como Luis Felipe Scolari, campeón del mundo con la selección Brasileña en 2002, o lo mas lógico, un técnico Mexicano, que conozca el medio, la eliminatoria de la CONCACAF, la idiosincrasia del jugador Mexicano, pero sobre todo la Mafia que hay dentro de la Federación Mexicana de Fútbol.

Hablando de la Federación debemos tener en cuenta que pese a que haya 18 equipos en el máximo circuito del fútbol mexicano, y cada uno tiene a su respectivo presidente con propia voz y voto, sabemos que no es así, por que México es el único país del mundo donde existe la multipropiedad de equipos.

Tal es el caso de Grupo Televisa, encabezado por Emilio Azcarraga Jean, dueño del América, Necaxa y San Luis.

Por otro lado tenemos al empresario Ricardo Salinas Pliego, quien encabeza el Grupo Salinas, quienes controlan los intereses de Monarcas, Morelia y Jaguares de Chiapas.

Otros dos personajes de peso específico serían Jorge Vergara, del club Guadalajara y Jesús Martínez presidente de los Tuzos del Pachuca. A fin de cuentas los resultados deportivos que entregue la Selección Mexicana les importa poco. Para aquellos que no se han dado cuenta, el Tri es una minita de oro, la famosa gallina de los huevos de oro, aquí claramente los intereses económicos están muy por encima de los intereses deportivos.

Hay quienes dicen que es injusta la destitución de Néstor de la Torre, ex director de selecciones nacionales, que él cargue con toda la responsabilidad, que él pague los platos rotos y Justino Compeán, Presidente de la Federación, y Decio de María, Secretario de la Federación sigan muy campantes en sus cargos.

Siendo que éstos empleados de la federación han arrojado los siguientes ‘logros’; perdieron la final de la copa oro 2007, no se asistió a juegos

olímpicos 2008, no se clasificó a la copa confederaciones 2009, solo por nombrar algunos.

Lo único que se logró fue la participación de la selección en el mundial en Sudáfrica, y vaya papelón que tuvieron, siendo eliminados en octavos de final, igual que en las cuatro ediciones anteriores.

A final de cuentas quieren seguir vendiendo ‘humo’ y pasan a lo que sigue, que en este caso es dictaminar quien será el nuevo Técnico Nacional.

Ya se tenían a los últimos dos candidatos para dirigir al Tricolor, Víctor Manuel Vucetich y José Manuel De La Torre.

Vucetich declinó la propuesta en las últimas horas, argumentando que se quiere dedicar más a su familia. Por motivos y razones personales decidió quedarse con los Rayados de Monterrey.

En cambio el ‘Chepo’ De La Torre aceptó la propuesta, pese al entorno incierto, pues aun no se tiene al director de selecciones nacionales, y el siguiente partido sería aparentemente hasta el 9 de Febrero, contra los Estados Unidos, precisamente en suelo Norteamericano.

De La Torre tomará el cargo al terminar su participación con el Deportivo Toluca en el actual torneo de liga Apertura 2010.

Sin embargo, esto no resuelve nada, el problema hay que solucionarlo desde la raíz, y sabemos exactamente que mientras las televisoras sigan controlando a la Selección Mexicana, seguiremos obteniendo los mismos resultados.

Es una tristeza que le sigan viendo la cara al aficionado, pero sobre todo a los que radican en los Estados Unidos, por que ellos

pagan el doble o hasta el triple por un boleto, comparado con lo que cuesta en una taquilla en México. Eh ahí la razón por la cual el Tri juega tantos partidos contra otras selecciones ofreciendo un paupérrimo espectáculo en diferentes ciudades de la unión americana, todo para seguir llenando de dólares las arcas de la Federación Mexicana de Futbol.

Gráfico por Sara Domínguez/THE PAN AMERICAN

REPRESENTANDO AL TRI - “Chepo” de la Torre acepta la propuesta para ser el siguiente Director Tecnico del Tri.

Exposición del envejecimiento llega a UTPA Por Sergio Giron The Pan American

Tammy Ayala/THE PAN AMERICAN

OBSERVANDO SU VEJEZ - Alvin Lopez. estudiante de UTPA, visitó la exhcibición que se está llevando a cabo en el edificio de visitantes desde el 27 de septiembre hasta el 9 de enero del 2011.

Cuando uno nace se dice que solo hay una cosa segura: la muerte, pero si tenemos la oportunidad de extender ese momento por muchos años experimentaremos un fenómeno propio de todos los seres vivos: el envejecimiento.

Del 27 de septiembre al 9 de enero en la galería del centro de visitantes en la Universidad de Texas-Pan Americana, una nueva exhibición ha llegado con el fin de mostrarles a estudiantes, maestros y visitantes en general la maravilla del proceso de envejecimiento y con esta varias experiencias anatómicas que van de la mano con los años venideros.

Con interesantes y llamativos temas sobre el envejecimiento en el mundo animal, degeneramiento de las células cerebrales y métodos para un sano envejecimiento corporal, la exhibición ataviada con el tema de una antigua feria alegórica recibe a todo aquel interesado desde las 8:00 hasta las 17:00 horas.

Gaby Luna y Jeniffer Prieto, estudiantes de UTPA, pasaban por la exhibición, la cual comentaron fue bastante cautivadora. “La máquina de envejecimiento me pareció muy interesante, pero no me gusto nada como me vería cuando sea viejita” comentó Luna, estudiante de la carrera de educación.

Entre los alrededor de 15 estantes de exposición con los que cuenta esta exhibición, el mas interesante

para Prieto fue “La edad de las “Me gustaría ver otras exposiciones células en el cuerpo”. en el futuro, como algo de magia o “Una de las cosas mas animales, incluso me agradaría que interesantes que aprendí fue regresara algo de dinosaurios ya que que las células de la piel son no me toco verlo cuando vino” dijo regeneradas cada día, mientras Prieto cuando fue cuestionada sobre que las del cerebro difícilmente futuras exposiciones que se podrían vuelven a regenerarse alguna vez”. traer al centro de visitantes.

Eddie Treviño, Una gran estudiante de ingcantidad de ineniería civil habló teresante insobre su experienformación que cia con los diver“Me parece muy adecuado oportunamente le sos y coloridos esconcierne a absoque la universidad ofresca tantes, “me parece lutamente todos muy adecuado seguirá esperaneste tipo de exposiciones; que la universidad do por dos meses he obtenido unos consejos ofrezca este tipo y medio mas a de exposiciones; aquellas personas sobre como prevenir he obtenido unos interesadas en su consejos sobre futuro, que tal una vejez enfermiza y como prevenir una vez sea unos de que hábitos evitar para vejez enfermiza y los únicos temas que hábitos evitar que nos unen a mantenerme sano”. para mantenerme todos los seres lucido y sano por humanos y seres el resto de mi vivos en general, vida, lo recomienpues nos recuerEddie Treviño da la importancia do altamente”.

Estudiante de Ingeniería Civil Desde la máquina de cuidar y velar del envejecimiento, por la salud. pasando por las E s t a tablas de expectativa exposición de vida humana a comenzó el 27 través de los últimos 150 años, hasta un de septiembre se quedara en la entretenido juego sobre la lucha contra universidad para que sea visitada los radicales libres (principales por alumnos y profesores de otras causantes del envejecimiento), escuelas, como ya lo han sido por los estantes divierten y enseñan las preparatorias locales. Para más diariamente a aproximadamente información contacte a la oficina de 100 visitantes. visitantes al 665-7338.

October 21, 2010

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From the classroom to the field and back Athletic Department and LAC join to promote student-athlete academic success.

By Sara Hernandez The Pan American The UTPA Athletic Department is ensuring that student-athletes in the University receive a well-rounded education providing the means for them to succeed both academically and athletically.

“Our number-one priority is that we’re here to graduate studentathletes and provide them with the proper foundations,” said Chris King, athletic director.

The ways in which this goal is being achieved are outlined in the Academic Services Evaluation for NCAA that is being developed by the Academic Integrity Committee, part of a comprehensive NCAA Self-Study Report to be finished in 2012.

“We have to show that we are doing, actually, an excellent job in supporting student athletes,” said Richard Trevino, executive director of the UTPA Learning Assistance Center.

“We don’t want to abuse our students just for their athletic ability, we truly have an interest in them.”

The evaluation also includes areas of governance and compliance, gender issues, diversity issues and studentathlete well-being. Each area is being evaluated by a group of faculty that analyzes past and current policies and practices to ensure that NCAA requirements are met.

The Academic Integrity committee is focusing on several areas, including ensuring that potential student-ath-

letes do not get preferential admission privileges, making sure that support is provided to help them perform well in the classroom, an overview of processes followed in order for athletes to be eligible to compete, and proof that student-athletes do not suffer disadvantages for participating in a varsity sport.

In order to be eligible to be an NCAA Division I student-athlete, a person must be a full-time student (enrolled in at least 12 credit hours) and maintain a GPA of 2.0 or higher.

Starting this semester, the Athletic Department and the LAC have joined forces to make sure that student-athletes are excelling in the academic field. In the past, the overall athletic grade-point average has been higher than the student body’s.

According to the Office of Institutional Research and Effectiveness student-athletes had a 45 percent fouryear graduation rate in 2008 compared to the overall student population’s rate of 33 percent. That same year, studentathlete’s six-year graduation rate was of 50 percent, while the entire student population totaled 36 percent.

In the Spring 2010, 15 student-athletes graduated from UTPA. “Really, they come here first of all as students and that they progress academically so that they will graduate and to build their lives,” Trevino said.

“We have to have all these elements in place that, yes, we’re going to allow them compete, but with the understanding that there are certain things

academics often gets put in the back. that we need to fulfill.”

“Because their true love is their In September, Student Athlete Adviser Chelsea Garner came to the Uni- sport, so they have to be very careful versity to serve as a link between the and keep up their grades to make sure they’re able to do what they’re here to Athletic Department and the LAC. “There’s a direct connection to the do and what they’re here to do.”

An addition to this policy is that academic support services the student athletes will need,” Trevino said. student-athletes can use different areas of the LAC, cam“Chelsea will pus activities, and be working very college-specific closely with the adin order visement center.”

“Why not bring them into tutoring to fulfill study Garner will hall hours. enforce already a department that provides Moreover, existent policies student-athletes such as the conacademic services to all the will now be part tinuation of manof the Promote datory study hall. students?”

Overall Wellness, Study hall consists Excellence and on that incomResponsibility ing freshmen and (POWER) Life transfers are reRichard Trevino Skills Program. quired to complete Learning Assistance Center In it, students a number of study perform athletic, hours. After finishing their first semester at the univer- academic, personal growth and career sity, the number of hours that student- and leadership development activities.

The POWER program will orgaathletes need to fulfill is proportional, or completely eliminated, in propor- nize a competition where teams will earn points for their members’ acation to their GPA. “I monitor their grades, their eligi- demic achievement, sports activities’ bility, their NCAA compliance, and attendance, developing life skills by make sure they’re doing okay when attending workshops and involving in they’re on the road and keeping up community outreach.

“It provides life skills and career with their stuff,” Garner said. “It’s very important because there are so many development and resume-building day demands on the student-athlete; there’s in and day out to make sure we’re eduso much time for them to do the actual cating well-rounded student athletes,” sport and travel and everything else that King said.

Besides study periods and community service, already performed by some athletes, this program is designed to motivate them to attend university events and enhance their involvement with the university community, as well as provide events and presentations specifically oriented to student-athletes.

THE CENTER One of the main changes implemented this year is the conjunction of the Learning Assistance Center with the Athletic Department to oversee academic performance of student-athletes. And it happened that a chance occurrence helped matters greatly.

A couple of years ago, athletes would complete study hall hours and receive advisement in a building within the Athletic Department where the women’s basketball office is currently located. When the room had to be remodeled, student-athletes were relocated to the LAC temporarily, but the department realized that this was Alma E. Hernandez/THE PAN AMERICAN

MAKING THE GRADES - Sophomore track and field athletes Veronica Tabb (left) and Samantha Villarreal study at the student-athlete area of the LAC Wednesday afternoon to complete mandatory study-hall hours.

probably the right place for studentathletes to be so they could focus on academic development.

“We began to figure it out that it just makes sense,” Trevino noted.

“Why not bring them into a department that provides academic services to all the students?”

Along with bringing athletes closer to the rest of the student population, the LAC provides better services for these students because it had experienced staff whose specialty is to support students academically.

Trevino explained that UTPA’s LAC is one of the best tutoring centers in Texas; UTPA spends almost half a million dollars in tutoring annually, and in contrast to many other universities’ services, are free and allow walk-in tutoring.

Now, the LAC controls the academic progress of student-athletes and reports directly to the coaching staff, allowing them to take necessary measures when requirements are not met.

“We connect them to advisement, counseling, supplemental instruction, writing center,” he said. “We oversee the study halls and we report directly to coaches if they’re not attending. And we measure their academic progress.”

Garner, a University of Miami graduate and former soccer studentathlete, explained that unlike other universities, UTPA has the advantage of having a one-to-one relationship between the staff and student athletes.

In addition, one of the most important factors that the LAC brings to the equation is encouraging studentathletes to engage with the rest of the student community.

“I love having it in the LAC, it’s apart from athletics there’s a little bit of a separation from the athletic world,” she said. “The LAC is… everything wrapped up into one little building; every tutor, every academic thing that you can possibly imagine and more is right here, and that athletes have access to it is very nice.”

Trevino reiterated that it’s important to remember that the LAC not only brings student-athletes closer to academic success, it also serves as a bridge to bring any other students closer to achieving their academic goals.

“The services we have in the LAC are for everybody,” he said. “We do make accessible to them on a daily basis, a student-athlete adviser who will meet with incoming freshmen and transfers on a daily basis to make sure that they’re on the right track. Other than that, anybody and everybody can use our services.”

ONLINE EXCLUSIVE

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THE PAN AMERICAN

October 21, 2010