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Volume 67, No. 15
First cut is the deepest Initial House bill tabs drastic education reductions
By Roxann Garcia The Pan American
More bad news is flooding in after the 82nd Texas Legislature released House Bill 1 last week, the first of many versions to come. With it, Texans received their first glimpse at the proposed budget cuts public education will undergo, though a later Senate bill attempt to trim expenses has been a bit more palatable. Local educators, students and parents are blasting the House proposal that would mandate cuts of nearly $14 billion in spending on public K-12 and higher education over the next two years. In a memo sent out to faculty, staff and students Sunday night, President Robert S. Nelsen updated the university community with a breakdown of the nearly $27 billion deficit the state faces. “I do not believe that there is any reason at this early stage to panic, but we do have concerns,” Nelsen wrote. The proposed cuts include slashing arts education, pre-kindergarten programs and college
financial aid. The number of people receiving the Texas Grant would fall by 69 percent between 2011 and 2013 under the House proposal, amounting to nearly 70,000 students. In 2009, UTPA awarded Texas Grants to 2,005 new students. “This will mainly affect incoming students but there isn’t a plan as of yet,” said Texas Grant coordinator Susana Hernandez. “We won’t reach a decision for some time.” Community colleges didn’t escape the ax either. Four two-year colleges are threatened with closure in the proposed bill: Brazosport College in Lake Jackson, Frank Phillips College in Borger, Odessa College, and Ranger College. The drastic measure would save $39 million and affect nearly 12,000 students. “It’s disappointing and disheartening to see the lack of importance our leaders are viewing our educational system,” said Irma Guadarrama, a bilingual education professor at UTPA. “Our congressional leaders are not doing enough. They’re playing politics at the expense of our system.” A memo sent out by Francisco Cigarroa, chancellor of the University of Texas System, also showed disapproval over the bill. “Even though universities in Texas account for 12.5 percent of the state’s budget, the cuts we suffer accounted for 41 percent of the total mandated
reductions,” he said. “We have now been required to cut an additional 2.5 percent in the current biennium and to prepare plans for an additional 10 percent cut for the next biennium. We cannot continue to absorb cuts without directly and negatively impacting all whom we serve.” Senate leaders released a more lenient and relaxed bill this week, cutting a larger chunk from Medicaid. The Senate would trim higher education funds by 5.3 percent, or nearly $1.2 billion, compared with 7.6 percent, or $1.7 billion in the House, according to the San Antonio Express-News. Neither the initial House or Senate drafts would raise taxes or dip into the state’s $9.4 billion rainy day fund. But public reaction seems to suggest that this is not a good idea. “If we need it bad enough, it’s understandable,” Guadarrama said. “We’re trying not to touch our rainy day fund, but how much gloomier can it be?” After a brief break that began Wednesday, the Senate is set to reconvene on Jan. 31. A second and third reading of its bill is required before the Legislature can make a decision. The second reading for joint resolutions is scheduled for May 12. The session is set to adjourn May 30.
Illustration by Chris Ponce, Alexis Carranza and Jennifer Tate
CHECK THE WEB
Live Blog: Broncs at the Capitol || Follow along as fellow UTPA students meet with Texas legislators for UTPA Day.
It’s Tennis Time Back to the courts || UTPA net programs begin 2011 fighting, look to improve after setbacks. PAGE 11
January 27, 2011
University prepares
for predicted
budget shortfall
By Alejandra Martinez The Pan American A new year has begun but the same old financial troubles continue. The state of Texas has proposed a budget cut of about $27 billion that will have a significant impact on different public sectors including education, leaving The University of Texas-Pan American no choice but to scour for funds elsewhere. The Office of Development along with the Office of the President and the vice president for university advancement have agreed on outlining fundraising needs, in order to have a more focused approach on how and who to talk to about money, said Lydia Aleman, associate VP for university advancement. “Part of our effort is working with foundations and corporations,” Aleman explained. “We also work with the alumni and friends of the university to ensure that they are engaged with what’s going on. We have been making a stronger push for additional support to meet our program needs.” Currently UTPA collaborates with Baylor College of Medicine on the Premedical Honors College (PHC) program; the partnership was established in 1994 and its focus is to locate funds in the form of scholarships for students who want to become physicians. “We’ll probably see a decline in scholarship support to our students,” Aleman said. “So, we’re going to run ads to ensure that people know that the need is out there with the hope that we’ll receive additional support.” One way the university supports scholarships is through endowments, a gift accepted on
SEE FUNDING || PAGE 3
Media Matters UTPA professors lend expertise to local news outlets PAGE 3
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January 27, 2011 Vol. 67, No. 15
Letter from the Editor
Where the Heck’s My Passport?
Sara Hernandez Sports Editor As the winter break came to an end, I realized that my student visa was to expire in less than a month. I had just obtained my new I-20 (basically a piece of paper with a bar code where UTPA certifies that I am an international student in the University after pretty much having proven that, by all means, I am of no harm for the country) because I changed my level of studies to the graduate level after the Fall 2010 semester, I rushed to Edinburg two Fridays before school started so that the Office of International Admissions at UTPA could staple it to my Mexican passport – where
my student visa, and now my new I-20 are found. As a new, supposedly simpler, process to renew visas got implemented in 2011, I scheduled an appointment with the consulate in order to renew it and have it “before school started.” In the old days, or about a month ago, one would call the consulate to schedule the appointment to go to the consulate of the United States in your city of preference (in this case my hometown, Matamoros). Here, you would go talk to an immigration official and answer a few (or a whole lot of ) questions regarding where you live, where your parents work, who’s paying for your education and the amount of time you’ve been in the United States , among and infinite number of potential inquiries that you should be able to answer correctly. Sometimes you were asked for documentation such as bank statements, proof of housing, or salary checks to prove that you were answering truthfully. After this, they would give you, or not, the much valued student visa.
Stressful, huh? Well… not really. On the date of my appointment I got to the consulate offices at 9:15 a.m. (because they tell you not to get there more than 15 minutes before your appointment) for the appointment I had made online for $140, for 9:30 a.m. the day before. I stood in the cold weather for about 15 minutes before they started admitting the five people who got there before me, one by one. I entered the place at about 9:45 a.m. and two employees told me that all I would need was the document I printed out that proved that I had made the appointment, and my passport (including the new I-20 and the old student visa). After a short security check, they allowed me to sit in front of another employee, not an official, who went over my documents, took a picture of my face, and registered my fingerprints several times (apparently, the fingerprint scanner wasn’t working properly, everybody around me seemed to be having trouble with it).
After watching the lady ask a few questions to other workers who observed everything from behind the approximately 10 glass windows that we, the applicants, were sitting in front of, she took my passport and told me it’d be mailed to my house in Mexico as soon as the decision of whether I would be given (or awarded, I feel) the student visa. Not cool. The passport, as other international students will understand, with the student visa, is the one thing we know not to leave behind. It’s our identity, the pass to education, so one feels kind of naked when they take away that little booklet that we hold on to so strongly. So although this new process may be more convenient when it comes to not having to prove your entire identity once again, international students beware, as you may be sitting waiting for the precious document for a few weeks instead of walking out of the consulate with your fresh student visa. Go ahead, bid farewell to your dear passport and explain to it that it will all be okay.
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.
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 DESIGNER: 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 WEBMASTERS: Jose Villarreal josemvillarrealcs@gmail.com Selvino Padilla selvinop3@gmail.com
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“Cutting the deficit by gutting our investments in innovation and education is like lightening an overloaded airplane by removing its engine. It may feel like you’re flying high at first, but it won’t take long before you’ll feel the impact.” -President Barak Obama 2011, State of the Union Address Chris Ponce/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.
January 27, 2011
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South Texas news stretches far and wide By Belinda Munoz The Pan American When it comes to getting dependable news in the Rio Grande Valley, residents expect up-to- data
and quality information from reliable sources. For this reason it may not come as a shock to discover that a few UTPA professors are using their years of expertise in teaching and journalism to better enrich newspapers
Illustration by Hector Gonzalez & Chris Ponce
like The Monitor and The Guardian online newspaper. Olaf Frandsen, regional vice president for Freedom Communications Incorporated and the publisher of The Monitor for the last eight years, believes the role of the paper in the RGV is important because it covers topics that community members need to know about. Frandsen credits The Monitor’s steady stream of information through broadcast, online, and print media as the key to its success, as well as that of the local community. “We provide the information that the community’s leadership can use to help grow and nurture and shape the community,” he said. “Without us the people who are the leaders in the community wouldn’t have nearly as much information as they would need just to live. There is absolutely no one else that can even come close to the local information that we provide.” In addition to his role at the area’s largest daily paper, Frandsen is also a lecturer at UTPA who teaches classes in Media Law and Ethics and Writing for Mass Media. “Print journalism, broadcast journalism and PR (public relations) majors should take Media Law and Ethics…(It) provides a really good foundation of what you legally can do and what you legally can’t do as a reporter,” Frandsen said.
“Writing for Mass Media really is designed for those students who think that they might want a career in print or broadcast journalism or PR. It’s a very basic entry-level course that is designed to teach them how to write a news story and how to write a press release and how to do a TV reporter’s job.” Also contributing to the South Texas news community is Samuel Freeman, associate professor of political science, who has worked at UTPA for 31 years. Along with his duties in class, Freeman has also served as a guest columnist for The Guardian for the last year and a half. In addition to its wide geographical range of news coverage, The Guardian has an advantages in terms of how easily and affordably it can be accessed by local and non-local readers, who have an interest in RGV/South Texas news. It is entirely Web-based. “It’s an online newspaper so it’s free. Anyone can go to riograndeguardian. com and they’ll find the paper,” Freeman said. “The focus is obviously news stories about the Valley, oddly defined, so from here to El Paso.” Steve Taylor, editor of The Guardian for the last five-plus years since the paper’s beginning in 2005, believes the product portrays its strengths in informing people about topics that are relevant to their lives. “The Guardian provides in-depth coverage of issues important to working people,”
Taylor said. For Taylor, the most gratifying aspect of overseeing the online newspaper is having the opportunity to cover stories that other media might miss. Some topics commonly expressed in the paper include health care, education, veteran’s issues, local politics, as well as, any legislation passed that may affect the South Texas border region. Looking to the future, Freeman feels that The Guardian will keep contributing to the rising popularity of online newspapers. “Increasingly, people are going to the Internet for information and that’s a real mixed bag because there are some excellent sources of information on the internet and there are also some absolutely atrocious sources of information,” Freeman said. “What’s probably coming down the line is, we will probably get away from print news and go to online newspapers. So in that sense, The Guardian is part of what probably is a coming trend. “In fact, even the major newspapers now have online editions. They see the declining circulation. They see the declining subscriber base in terms of print. So all of them now have online. So I think part of the value of The Guardian is that it is part of this essentially advanced movement from print journalism to online journalism.”
Online Preview
FUNDING
continued from Page 1 behalf of UTPA by The University year,” Aleman said. of Texas Board of Regents and then Aleman added that a 5 percent deposited into an account in the Long increase in giving to the university Term Fund of The University of Texas is expected this year due to the fact Investment Management Company that there are more people out there (UTIMCO). Gifts may also be made making funding requests. to the UTPA Foundation, which will Through the Office of invest the funds Development the through designated university also has f i n a n c i a l something called “ Whatʼs ideal about institutions gift planning, according to which allows endowment funds is that the guidelines donors to choose it creates a sustainable adopted by the from different Fo u n d a t i o n’s gifting strategies way to support a program Board of Trustees. such as charitable gift annuities, In 2009 the because the endowment bequests, life UTPA Foundation keeps on giving year after insurance, gifts received more than of stock, and real $750,000 from the year. ” estate, to name a Louis C. Draper few. Family Trust to “Much of my fund and endow time is dedicated scholarships and Lydia Aleman to developing future needs of the VP for university advancement meaningful university. And relationships last year UTPA received a $1 million donation with donors who are interested in from Valley Alliance of Mentors planning future gifts for UTPA,” for Opportunities and Scholarships said Cecilia Johnson, director of planned giving. “Before talking with (VAMOS). “What’s ideal about endowment any donor or prospective donor funds is that it creates a sustainable about ways to structure a gift, I way to support a program because the must see things from the donor’s endowment keeps on giving year after perspective. Then, together we can
explore ways to help shape the future that he or she envisions for the university.” A study done by the Office of Institutional Research and Effectiveness (OIRE) early last year showed UTPA’s economic impact in FY2009-10 on the community at $492.8 million. This is a result of University-related spending on operations and new construction, as well as expenditures by students, faculty and staff. The study also found that UTPA is one of the top 10 employers in Hidalgo County, producing a total of 5,873 full-time jobs. The study also concluded that UTPA’s 2010 fall enrollment was the highest in its 84-year history at 18,744, and that 93 percent of the students were from the Rio Grande Valley. For 2015 the goal is to reach an enrollment of 20,000 students, so as the number of students, faculty and staff grows, so does the economic impact on the region, noted UTPA President Robert S. Nelsen.
Christian Matabalan/THE PAN AMERICAN
SHOPPIN’ B - Alin Martinez (left), a nursing freshman and Jeremy Morel, a pre-med freshman, shop for school supplies at Walmart and Staples during a break from classes. To find out more about the university’s impact on local businesses look online at www.panamericanonline.com.
Page 4
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THE PAN AMERICAN
Página 6
27 de enero del 2011
Licenciaturas y Posgrados en Estados Unidos. [Historia por Karen Velazquez] [Diseño por Hector Gonzalez y Jennifer Tate]
Nombres/Name
BUCKY
27 de enero del 2011
Página 7
[TIPOS DE VISAS] F-1:
Estudiantes académicos.
M-1:
Estudiantes vocacionales (duración máxima de un año).
A:
Nacionalidad/Nationality
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Lugar de nacimiento/Place of Birth
B1/B2:
Fecha de expedicion/Date of issue
E-1/E-2:
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 27 Jan 2011
Fecha de caducidad/Date of expiration
27 Jan 2016
Facilidad para algunos, todo un reto para otros. A pesar de los problemas que ha enfrentado la economía de éste país, miles de estudiantes extranjeros deciden realizar una licenciatura y posgrados en Estados Unidos. Para muchos, es el sistema descentralizado el que llama su atención ya que a diferencia de muchos otros países, los programas universitarios de EE UU exigen cursar materias adicionales a las de la carrera seleccionada. Propiciando así una cultura más amplia y brindando al estudiante las herramientas para desenvolverse en un mundo de contantes cambios económicos, sociales y culturales. Y claro, para otros es simplemente el prestigio que da ser egresado de una universidad de un país líder, y la oportunidad de sumergirse en una cultura diferente ampliando así sus horizontes y perspectivas. En los últimos años, la demanda de estudiantes extranjeros ha ido variando de manera notable. Cuando en algún momento los estudiantes latinoamericanos eran mayoría, ahora han sido rebasados por los asiáticos. Según el informe Puertas Abiertas 2010 del Instituto de Educación Internacional (IEI) por sus siglas en inglés, de Nueva York, durante el año pasado hubo un crecimiento del 5% de estudi-
antes asiáticos alcanzando la cifra de 435.667. Por el contrario, el número de estudiantes latinoamericanos en EE UU cayó más de un 3% llegando únicamente a un total de 65.632. De acuerdo a Peggy Blumenthal, vicepresidenta del IEI, en lo que respecta a México, la reducción que tuvo de un 9% se debe a la crisis económica del año 2008. A diferencia de estudiantes provenientes del Asia, la mayoría de los demás países no reciben fondos suficientes por parte de sus gobiernos para patrocinar a estudiantes para realizar sus estudios en el exterior. Mucho menos de universidades estadounidenses para investigar o trabajar como profesores asistentes, lo que disminuye sus probabilidades de venir a EE UU. Al igual que Alan Adelman, director de la división latinoamericana del IEI, otros consideran que en el caso de países como México, la disminución de estudiantes viajando al extranjero se debe a medidas inmigratorias y cortes financieros en estados fronterizos como Arizona. También comentó que los recortes de las becas del Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología (CONACYT)
por sus siglas, han influido notablemente. Actualmente 643 alumnos son patrocinados por el CONACYT para estudiar en EE UU, cuando en 1997 eran 1.862 los estudiantes becados. De acuerdo a The Global Education Digest 2009, publicado por la UNESCO, Organización de las Naciones Unidas para la Educación, la Ciencia y la Cultura, el 3% de universitarios surcoreanos y alrededor de 2% chinos y vietnamitas realizan estudios en el exterior, mientras que solo el 1% de mexicanos y el 0.4% de brasileños y argentinos tienen la oportunidad de estudiar fuera de casa. Independientemente de los cambios en las nacionalidades de los estudiantes extranjeros, EE UU es y seguirá siendo por muchos años el país con las universidades de mayor demanda a nivel internacional. El diario londinense “The Times”, indicó que siete de las mejores universidades del mundo están en EE UU. Sin duda un motivo más por el cual naciones extranjeras apoyan a sus ciudadanos a obtener una educación que les permita convertirse en profesionistas con una visión global, capaces de hacer crecer a su país.
G-1/G-3/G-4:
H/L/O/P/Q/R: I: B: H/P/O/L/Q:
J:
Diplomáticos- Únicamente para participar en actividades representando a su gobierno. Negocios y Turismo- Negocios temporales/ Actividades turísticas, obterner tratamientos médicos. Comerciante e Inversionista- Para proseguir con un negocio considerable entre EE UU y su país o desarrollar y dirigir las operaciones de una compañía en la cual el individuo ha invertido dinero o está en proceso de invertir un gran capital. Miembros de una misión permanente de un gobierno reconocido a una organización internacional, representante de un gobierno, o para viajes a citas asignadas de alguna organización internacional
Permiten al portador trabajar en EE UU basado en petición.
Representantes de medios de información cubriendo eventos. Representantes de medios de información que van a reunions como participantes ordinarios. Representantes de medios de información que viajan como participantes en la producción de programas de contenido artístico.
Visitantes de intercambio- Diseñada para promover el intercambio de personas, conocimientos y habilidades en campos de educación, arte y ciencias (investigadores, alumnos recibiendo capacitación laboral).
THE PAN AMERICAN
Página 6
27 de enero del 2011
Licenciaturas y Posgrados en Estados Unidos. [Historia por Karen Velazquez] [Diseño por Hector Gonzalez y Jennifer Tate]
Nombres/Name
BUCKY
27 de enero del 2011
Página 7
[TIPOS DE VISAS] F-1:
Estudiantes académicos.
M-1:
Estudiantes vocacionales (duración máxima de un año).
A:
Nacionalidad/Nationality
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Lugar de nacimiento/Place of Birth
B1/B2:
Fecha de expedicion/Date of issue
E-1/E-2:
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 27 Jan 2011
Fecha de caducidad/Date of expiration
27 Jan 2016
Facilidad para algunos, todo un reto para otros. A pesar de los problemas que ha enfrentado la economía de éste país, miles de estudiantes extranjeros deciden realizar una licenciatura y posgrados en Estados Unidos. Para muchos, es el sistema descentralizado el que llama su atención ya que a diferencia de muchos otros países, los programas universitarios de EE UU exigen cursar materias adicionales a las de la carrera seleccionada. Propiciando así una cultura más amplia y brindando al estudiante las herramientas para desenvolverse en un mundo de contantes cambios económicos, sociales y culturales. Y claro, para otros es simplemente el prestigio que da ser egresado de una universidad de un país líder, y la oportunidad de sumergirse en una cultura diferente ampliando así sus horizontes y perspectivas. En los últimos años, la demanda de estudiantes extranjeros ha ido variando de manera notable. Cuando en algún momento los estudiantes latinoamericanos eran mayoría, ahora han sido rebasados por los asiáticos. Según el informe Puertas Abiertas 2010 del Instituto de Educación Internacional (IEI) por sus siglas en inglés, de Nueva York, durante el año pasado hubo un crecimiento del 5% de estudi-
antes asiáticos alcanzando la cifra de 435.667. Por el contrario, el número de estudiantes latinoamericanos en EE UU cayó más de un 3% llegando únicamente a un total de 65.632. De acuerdo a Peggy Blumenthal, vicepresidenta del IEI, en lo que respecta a México, la reducción que tuvo de un 9% se debe a la crisis económica del año 2008. A diferencia de estudiantes provenientes del Asia, la mayoría de los demás países no reciben fondos suficientes por parte de sus gobiernos para patrocinar a estudiantes para realizar sus estudios en el exterior. Mucho menos de universidades estadounidenses para investigar o trabajar como profesores asistentes, lo que disminuye sus probabilidades de venir a EE UU. Al igual que Alan Adelman, director de la división latinoamericana del IEI, otros consideran que en el caso de países como México, la disminución de estudiantes viajando al extranjero se debe a medidas inmigratorias y cortes financieros en estados fronterizos como Arizona. También comentó que los recortes de las becas del Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología (CONACYT)
por sus siglas, han influido notablemente. Actualmente 643 alumnos son patrocinados por el CONACYT para estudiar en EE UU, cuando en 1997 eran 1.862 los estudiantes becados. De acuerdo a The Global Education Digest 2009, publicado por la UNESCO, Organización de las Naciones Unidas para la Educación, la Ciencia y la Cultura, el 3% de universitarios surcoreanos y alrededor de 2% chinos y vietnamitas realizan estudios en el exterior, mientras que solo el 1% de mexicanos y el 0.4% de brasileños y argentinos tienen la oportunidad de estudiar fuera de casa. Independientemente de los cambios en las nacionalidades de los estudiantes extranjeros, EE UU es y seguirá siendo por muchos años el país con las universidades de mayor demanda a nivel internacional. El diario londinense “The Times”, indicó que siete de las mejores universidades del mundo están en EE UU. Sin duda un motivo más por el cual naciones extranjeras apoyan a sus ciudadanos a obtener una educación que les permita convertirse en profesionistas con una visión global, capaces de hacer crecer a su país.
G-1/G-3/G-4:
H/L/O/P/Q/R: I: B: H/P/O/L/Q:
J:
Diplomáticos- Únicamente para participar en actividades representando a su gobierno. Negocios y Turismo- Negocios temporales/ Actividades turísticas, obterner tratamientos médicos. Comerciante e Inversionista- Para proseguir con un negocio considerable entre EE UU y su país o desarrollar y dirigir las operaciones de una compañía en la cual el individuo ha invertido dinero o está en proceso de invertir un gran capital. Miembros de una misión permanente de un gobierno reconocido a una organización internacional, representante de un gobierno, o para viajes a citas asignadas de alguna organización internacional
Permiten al portador trabajar en EE UU basado en petición.
Representantes de medios de información cubriendo eventos. Representantes de medios de información que van a reunions como participantes ordinarios. Representantes de medios de información que viajan como participantes en la producción de programas de contenido artístico.
Visitantes de intercambio- Diseñada para promover el intercambio de personas, conocimientos y habilidades en campos de educación, arte y ciencias (investigadores, alumnos recibiendo capacitación laboral).
8
January 27, 2011
Don Quixote revived Call it the “fist pump” felt around the world. The cast of MTV hit show “Jersey Shore” will be going overseas to their roots for their fourth season. The season is expected to air some time later this year according to an MTV press release.
Even for a Beatle, teenage years are no picnic. The new John Lennon bio-pic, “Nowhere Boy,” depicting his teenage years between 1955 and 1960, following the creation of “The Quarrymen,” was released on DVD Tuesday.
Iron & Wine have returned, further exploring their pop sensibilities. “Kiss Each Other Clean” was released Tuesday and “sounds like the music people heard in their parents’ car growing up” according to front man Sam Beam.
Jail-breaking your iPhone 4 just got a bit harder. Upon receiving an iPhone for repairs, Apple will send it back with harder to remove screws in order to prevent hacks. However, the screwdriver for the new screws is available for $10 online from a third party.
>> Albert L. Jeffers Theatre celebrates 25th birthday by re-performing ‘Man of La Mancha’ By Yngrid Fuentes The Pan American The Albert L. Jeffers Theatre will celebrate its 25th anniversary and 400 years of the writing of Don Quixote with a production that sings a different and creative story about the making of the renowned book. It all takes place in prison, where author Miguel Cervantes, after being thrown in prison by the inquisition, tells the story of Don Quixote. As fellow prisoners are invited to become part of the play that portrays the life of the “mad” knight, the production becomes a play within a play, where improvisation, creativity, and change become the driving force. “Man of La Mancha” will be presented in the University of Texas-Pan American theatre from March 2 through March 5 at 8 p.m., and March 6 at 2 p.m. “This play was done 25 years ago, when this theatre first opened it was the opening show, and I recommended that they might want to put it back as their 25th anniversary show because is the same show that they first did in 1986,” said director Kent Smither. “This is the second production, for the silver anniversary of the theatre, and the man that is playing the lead, Cervantes and Don Quixote, was in the original production as a student playing the padre, so he’s still here 25 years later. He used to be a student here and now he is a professor, and that´s his favorite book, he even has Don Quixote tattooed on his leg.” Brian Warren, the lead actor who was part of that inaugural show, will be playing Don Quixote and Cervantes. Now a theater professor at UTPA, he said that since he performed the first time for the play, he felt that he wanted to perform one day in the lead role. “From the back of my mind I think I always thought I’d love to do it before I die, and I don’t know if I was consciously saying. ‘I must perform this role,’ but now that I’m doing it I’m like, ‘Yeah, that’s very cool because like I said, I love the character,’” Warren said. “It is very coincidental because I got that (the tattoo) really before I was a theatre person, I just was a fan of the novel and I was serving in the army very briefly and at one point I just wanted this tattoo so I got it on my leg. It’s the Picasso drawing of him.” Smither, also a long-time veteran of the UTPA stage, said that this production is significant not only because it celebrates the theatre’s 25th anniversary, but also because it coincides with the 400-year anniversary of the writing of the work, as well
Freddy Martinez / THE PAN AMERICAN
ACTING OUT – From left, actors Rosa Nicholas, Brian Warren and Luis Moreno prepare for “Man of La Mancha,” the upcoming play scheduled to run from March 2-5 and on March 6 at the Albert L. Jeffers Theatre. as the program’s five-year alumni reunion. “We have three different celebrations going on. It’s a big thing,” Smither commented. “Valente Rodriguez was in the production 25 years ago, so hopefully he may come back as an alumni to visit.” Rodriguez, perhaps the university’s best-known theater grad, worked on “The George Lopez Show” after growing up in the Valley and attending UTPA. HOW THEY MATCH UP Comparing the play 25 years ago to the one set for March, Smither said that one of the main differences was that for the first one a professional actor was hired to play the lead role. “They haven’t done that very often here but they felt they needed somebody, it’s a very difficult part because he (the lead role) is playing Cervantes and Don Quixote, and has to sing as well because it is a musical, so there’s a lot of demands on the lead actor to play, so they hired somebody,” Smither explained. “But we now have somebody here and is going to be just wonderful, Brian is a very good actor and really good singer, and so we are very fortunate to have somebody that strong to play the lead and we have a very strong cast overall. It’s very exciting.” Smither, who has been doing shows since 1974 and works at Edcouch-Elsa HS as an English teacher, noted that beyond the history of the work, there are other, subtle reasons to check out the latest version of the classic. “The other thing that we’re doing that we’re really playing with is the idea that this show is about things that are transformed, because through the process, Cervantes’ view of Don Quixote changed as the book went along, at first he made complete fun of him and then he becomes more noble. The idea of things being transformed into something else and people’s views changing and being transformed is all part of it, and
that’s part of what doing a play is, it’s kind The enthusiasm shared by the cast of about what theatre is about.” comes from already being familiar with Some of the actors seemed to agree either the play or the book, plus the muthat one of the biggest challenges of this sic involved and the challenge the project production is the element of change; since represents. it is about a play within a play, they all per“This is one of the greatest characform two characters and have to change ters in the history of Western literature, back and forth between them. I think,” suggested Warren. “A lot of “We have to play two characters simul- people, I think, have an idea: ‘Oh yeah, taneously, characters on stage,” said Rosa he was crazy and he thought he was Nichols, the actress interpreting Dulcinea. something that he wasn’t,’ but there’s “We’re playing a so much more character for Don than that. What Quixote the story came out was a and we’re playing a character that was “ The idea of things very complex, at character for ‘Man of la Mancha’ the first very foolbeing transformed into play, so, to be able ish but generally, to distinguish those as the director something else and two characters is and I discussed peoples views changing hard for everyone.” the character, he The director becomes almost and being transformed is and the cast note mystical and wise that the energy and aware of the all part of it and thatʼs part shared by everyone truth more than of what doing a play is, is participating will any other person make the producin the books… kind of about what theatre tion a success. imaginative, and “I like the peocreative and he is about. ” ple, the enthusiasm says those are that we have, the the keys to life, need to bring this and I agree with out, to bring a play that, so I really Kent Smither of this much caliber identify with this Director and beauty,” said guy. It’s a really Luis Moreno, who well-written play, plays Sancho Panza. very emotional, I “Because I personlike that, it´s very ally think that this play holds a lot of ideals penitent, it´s funny and it goes in the that are lost or almost gone in this society, range of being a comedy because he is like chivalry and things like that. It’s very this guy that is making fun of what it hard to find someone like Don Quixote, is to be a knight but then it gets really who sees the beauty in everything no mat- touching and, emotionally moving, I ter how horrible it may be seen, and for all like that it has all this ranges.” of us to come together and try to bring that For more information contact the Uniup is an amazing opportunity.” versity Theatre Box Office at 665-3581.
January 27, 2011
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27 de enero del 2011
Pura inteligencia texana: Lino García Por Sergio Giron The Pan American Al momento de entrar a la oficina de Lino García, profesor emérito de la literatura española, se siente un aire distinto a cualquier otra oficina de la Universidad de Texas-Pan Americana, entrando primero por los ojos al observar la acaparada pared de su oficina invadida por múltiples diplomas, reconocimientos entre otras distinciones y después por la nariz al percibir el olor de cantidades grandes de papel y libros que durante años se han acumulado sobre los estantes.
Sin duda alguna pocos profesores tienen la fortuna de trabajar tantos años ejerciendo en lo que mas aman como el profesor oriundo de Brownsville. “En la universidad estudié español como minor y después tuve la posibilidad de ejercer como maestro de español en San Antonio”, afirmó García. “Me gustó y fue ahí donde empecé mi carrera; me gustó mucho la literatura y después quise estudiar la maestría y el doctorado”. El experimentado profesor quien también es fundador, organizador y presidente del Simposio Anual
Internacional de Español también comentó que después de 7 años de ser profesor en una escuela militar en San Antonio, y como su esposa también es del Valle del Río Grande, después de adquirir su maestría en español en la Universidad de North Texas solicitó un puesto en UTPA. Inmediatamente lo aceptaron en 1967, hace 44 años exactamente hoy 27 de enero y ya se celebran 4 décadas sirviendo a los estudiantes del Valle de Texas y 52 años en la profesión. El doctor García quien es defensor y uno de los principales expertos de la lengua española texana ha
Alma E. Hernandez/THE PAN AMERICAN
ORGULLOSO DE SU ORIGEN – Posando rodeado de todos los diplomas adquiridos, Lino García también escribe para periódicos locales para informarles sobre el origen de la cultura del Valle del
impulsado la investigación de esta dijo García, quien a través de los años ha variación del idioma hispano como estado en contacto con esta fusión cultural un reconocimiento a la cultura y la ha observado evolucionar. “Yo opino autóctona del valle del sur de Texas. que se le debería denominar ‘español del “El español de sur de Texas’, por aquí es auténtico por que la palabra ‘tex“Yo opino que se le debería mex’ se usa para que lo trajeron los españoles en 1689 denominar [al español del humillar y sobajar junto con las familias a la gente, por que fundadoras y ha evo- Valle] ʻespañol del sur de no es un español lucionado hacia el Texasʼ, por que la palabra autentico, no viene siglo XXI con la mezde España o de se usa para México; algunos cla de muchas pa- ʻtex-mexʼ labras naturalmente humillar y sobajar a la gente. piensan que la del idioma indio, del gente de aquí habla idioma inglés pero Algunos piensan que la gente ingles y ‘tex-mex’ fundamentalmente de aquí habla ingles y ʻtex- y no español con en forma de estructal de desvalorizar tura es muy similar mexʼ y no español con tal de la variación que al español ibérico tenemos aquí”. desvalorizar la variación que que se hablaba en el El respetado siglo XVI”, comento tenemos aquí”. académico quien el profesor sobre la por su estatus importancia de estuemérito solo ofdiar la variación narece dos clases este Lino García semestre le cuenta tiva que se influencia Profesor de literatura española a la comunidad del español mexicano y del castellano espaestudiantil sobre ñol. “Aun se usan paellas, con el fin de labras como: muncho, truje, ansina, entre animar a los alumnos a interesarse en los otras. Palabras que ya cayeron de uso pero estudios avanzados del español. “Tengo eran muy comunes en el habla de la gente una clase que me gusta mucha la cual es de esos tiempos”. una clase avanzada de redacción de 24 Uno de los fenómenos en lingüística personas, en la cual vemos lingüística y mas controversiales en la actualidad es composición; también estoy dando un el uso común de la mezcla del español curso de postgrado la cual es una clase esy el inglés que aparece ante cualquier pecial sobre la novela picaresca en la cual sociedad latina que lidia día a día con el hay 16 personas”. encuentro de la lengua anglosajona. Después de la interesante entrevista y la “Se habla sobre el Spanglish, que yo no vasta cantidad de conocimientos e historias estoy de acuerdo con esa palabra, el español que fueron compartidas por García es que se habla aquí entre los estudiantes importante recalcar que en UTPA los y la gente, es un español auténtico que estudiantes de español deben estar carentes si acaso le quitamos los ingredientes de alguna duda con respecto a la suerte que extranjeros que han llegado aquí, es un la universidad tiene al tener en sus filas a tan español también hablado pero no escrito”, experimentado instructor.
WRSC motiva a la comunidad a ejercitarse
Por Denisse Salinas The Pan American
Normalmente cuando se piensa en ejercicio o en estar en forma, a la mayoría de gente le da flojera por lo pesado y muchas veces lo aburrido que puede ser, pero el lunes 24 de enero el Consejo Recreativo de Bienestar y Deporte (mejor conocido como WRSC por sus siglas en inglés) demostró como estar en forma de una manera muy divertida. Zumba es un ejercicio de cardio que combina salsa, merengue, reggaeton, banda y cumbias y que se ha convertido desde el 2001 en un programa de ejercicios de los mas importantes en Estados Unidos. Este lunes mas de 100 estudi-
antes en su mayoría mujeres asistieron al Zumbathon que se llevó a cabo desde las 18:00 horas. Brenda Díaz, coordinadora del centro recreativo afirmó que la razón por la que hicieron el evento fue para que los estudiantes de la Universidad de Texas-Pan Americana se dieran cuenta que ya no es aburrido ejercitarse si no al contrario, dan ganas de hacerlo mas seguido con ese tipo de actividades como es el baile. Y es que el Zumbathon no es lo único que el centro deportivo esta haciendo para informar y ayudar a los estudiantes de UTPA y al público en general a estar en forma. Hoy jueves a partir de las 18:00 hasta las 21:00 horas se estará enseñando como tener una vida mas saludable. “Vamos a tener ejercicios en grupo, entrenadores personales, esta-
remos respondiendo preguntas sobre que ejercicios y que comer”, dijo Itzel Mora, estudiante de UTPA e instructora. “Será un evento abierto al público y lo hacemos cada semestre, de hecho lo hicimos el semestre pasado pero en sábado y ahora lo estamos haciendo entre semana para que mas gente asista”. Mora afirmó que en los eventos siempre hay cosas muy interesantes e informativas que se pueden poner en practica en la vida diaria y tener un cambio positivo, aparte de ser gratis y la mayoría de las veces dan premios. Ultimadamente, el fin de este tipo de eventos es para que el público sepa sobre como mantenerse saludable y al mismo tiempo verse bien sin que sea aburrido o complicado.
Próximos eventos
Healthy YOU! Para ayudarte a evaluar tu cuerpo. Rock the Rec
Ejercitate con música muy prendida.
Clínica de Salsa Todos los lunes para hacerte un mejor bailador.
27 de enero de 18:00 a 21:00
2 de febrero de 17:00 a 20:00 A partir del 14 de febrero a las 20:00
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January 27, 2011
Starting from scratch Bronc volleyball announces new coach on board
By Sara Hernandez The Pan American
Alejandra Moreno/THE PAN AMERICAN
BREAK IT IN - Freshman Sebastien Job from Belgium played his first regular season match last weekend. Teammate Aswin Vijayaragavan said the matches were good practice for the rookies.
Tennis under way UTPA net programs begin 2011 fighting, look to improve after setbacks.
By Sara Hernandez The Pan American
as sharp as we need to be, but we are content with the performance.” Bernstein explained that these early The men’s tennis team finished its vis- setbacks are natural when playing topit to North Texas last week with two 6-1 30 ranked teams after the winter break. “There’s nothing wrong with these losses. But although the numbers of their first matches of the spring season seem losses especially in the beginning of alarming, the Broncs assure the team is the season,” he said. “You haven’t moving in the right direction to the ulti- been playing matches of that caliber for a while or have had the pressure mate goal of winning conference. “We battled with them the whole of the matches.” Vijayaragavan also mentioned that way… the doubles points could’ve gone either way,” said head coach Chris Taylor. this weekend was a good learning ex“It’s very early in the season… it’s hard perience for Ricardo Hopker, and Seto come back right away and play that batien Job, two of the three freshmen who joined the team last semester. Viccaliber of a team.” On Saturday, when UTPA vis- tor Alves, the third rookie, and Matt Tevians, a junior, ited Dallas to play were also new to Southern Methodthe team in the fall. ist University, only “ There are similarities Although all Aswin Vijayaraganewcomers lost van and Beau Bern- and there are differences their matches, Testein grabbed a win, between champions: the vians took his to against Artem Baraa third set against dach and Joseph similarity is that they both Gaston Cuadranti Hattrup in a tie- make mistakes and the from SMU and breaker. In singles difference is that a champion Hopker played Marcus Dornauf close games against obtained the only doesnʼt make them twice.” SMU’s Toby Flood. win against Bryan “They did pretty Griffin (3-6, 7-6 (7-5), 11-9). Chris Taylor well,” mentioned The doubles Head coach V i j a y a r a g a v a n . “I’m sure that if teams weren’t as we keep hanging in lucky against Texas there, the losses we Christian University Sunday in Forth Worth as they have will turn into wins. It was a pretty lost all three matches. This time in good eye opener for the freshmen.” the singles, it was Vijayaragavan who defeated Emanuel Brighiu in a tough ONE GOAL After the women fell 7-0 to both match that went on to three sets, two SMU and TCU last weekend Taylor decided in tiebreakers. “We could’ve played better,” Vi- commented that although the UTPA jayaragavan said. “We’re probably not tennis programs still have areas to
work on after a rusty, but solid start last weekend, the ultimate objective of playing day in and day out is to prepare to win the Great West Conference Championship that will take place in Chicago in the last days of April. Additional victories, as said by Taylor, are like icing on the cake. “There are similarities and there are differences between champions: the similarity is that they both make mistakes and the difference is that a champion doesn’t make them twice,” Taylor said. “We’re going to take note of what we need to get better at and we’re going to work on it and get better.” As the Great West Conference does not include men’s tennis, the Broncs play the Southland Conference Championship in San Antonio, also in late April. The women travel to San Marcos and San Antonio to face Texas State and UTSA this weekend as the men prepare to host Nicholls State University and Laredo Community College Feb. 5 and Feb. 9, respectively. After shaking off the dust from their rackets on the first weekend of activity, Bernstein reiterated that the teams are ready to take on the following challenges and obtain the final price. “We’re definitely on the right track… doubles matches could’ve gone either way and all the other matches were tied, tied, tied,” he said excitedly. “We’re definitely in the right direction and we’re definitely going to be giving people trouble especially in conference.”
It seems like a new beginning for UTPA volleyball. Barely a month after former coach Angela Hubbard was relocated as associate athletic director for student services and the senior woman administrator, a new face was announced to lead the Broncs. Brian Yale takes over the program that went 9-22 in 2010, after having spent the past six seasons as an assistant coach for Debbie Humphreys at Stephen F. Austin and aiding the Lumberjacks’ first NCAA national tournament victory against Alabama in 2006. “I’m really excited, it’s a great opportunity for me and for my family, there is a lot of potential at the UTPA volleyball program, we’re just going have to make a few changes here and there,” he said. One of the most immediate changes, according to Yale, is to bring in more players for the 2011 season, as seven Broncs completed eligibility this school year and only five, all underclassmen, remain. “There were so many seniors last year that there aren’t a whole lot of players there right now, I will have to make changes but we’re on a recruiting trail already, we’ll bring in some new players,” mentioned Taylor, who completed his collegiate career playing volleyball at Bowling Green University in the mid-90s.
By the end of 2010, Hubbard had signed three players to national letters of intent. Brittanie Best and Macey Singleton will begin the 2011 season as freshmen. Best is a McAllen native and Nikki Rowe HS standout, while Singleton comes to UTPA from Flower Mound High School in North Texas. Juri Frazen is a junior transfer from Laredo Junior College who will also be arriving to UTPA for the 2011 season. As Yale will arrive to campus late this week to start activities as the fifth volleyball head coach in school history, current players look forward to meeting the new coach and seeing what new techniques and players he will add to the team. “We’re pretty excited, we don’t really know him but we have heard good things, we’re glad to have him,” said Maria Kliefoth, a Germany native who missed most of the 2010 campaign due to an early-season ankle injury. Other returners are libero Kristi Garcia, Ijanae Holman, Krissy Perez and Sarah Davis. All of them, with the exception of Garcia and Kliefoth, will be juniors next season. “Everyone seems pretty excited, we want to start the new season, we’re excited to see what he is going to be like and how’s the season going to go,” said freshman Garcia. “I’m excited to see how he’s going to change things around and the kind of different players he’s going to bring to the team and different techniques, skills and how it’s all going to work out.”
WRSC CALENDAR OF EVENTS INTRAMURAL SPORTS EVENT 5 on 5 Basketball (M,W) Indoor Soccer (M, W, CR) Flag Football (M, W, CR) Table Tennis (M, W, CR) Softball (M, W, CR) Racquetball (M, W, CR) Indoor Volleyball (M, W, CR) Kickball (M, W, CR) Tennis (M, W, CR) Dodgeball (M, W, CR) Ultimate Disc (M, W, CR)
ENTRY DUE Jan. 27 Feb. 3 Feb. 10 Feb. 10 Mar. 10 Mar. 10 Mar. 31 Mar. 31 Mar. 31 Apr. 7 Apr. 7
MEETING
START
1/28 (5 p.m.) 2/4 (5 p.m.) 2/11 (5 p.m.) 2/11 (5:20 p.m.) 3/11 (5 p.m.) 3/11 (5:20 p.m.) 4/1 (5 p.m.) 4/1 (5:20 p.m.) 4/1 (5:30 p.m.) 4/8 (5 p.m.) 4/8 (5:20 p.m.)
Jan. 31 Feb. 7 Feb. 14 Feb. 14 Mar. 21 Mar. 21 Apr. 4 Apr. 4 Apr. 4 Apr. 11 Apr. 11
SPECIAL EVENTS EVENT
DATE
Basketball All-Stars Week NCAA Tournament Pick ‘Em Chess Tournament 5th Annual Round Ball Classic (v. STC, TSTC, UTB)
2/21-2/24 3/16 4/13 TBA
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January 27, 2011