February 17, 2011

Volume 67, No. 18

WWW.PANAMERICANONLINE.COM

February 17, 2011

GOING BEHIND THE NUMBERS Part 1: Budget presentation to students misses mark

By Kristen Cabrera The Pan American The Student Union Theatre was far from being filled last Friday afternoon, but the presentation that took place did have a captive audience.

About 40 people attended the Annual Financial Report presentation given by the Office of the Comptroller for the student body, and about half were students. Of those students in the audience, most were representatives from Student Government Association, whose usual meeting time was during the presentation.

The report touched on the University’s budget and spending from the 2009-2010 fiscal year. It was first presented to administration on Jan. 18 and faculty and staff on Feb. 7.

Concerns were raised about the lack of student body present due to the 3 p.m. Friday presentation time as well as grievances on the amount of information given at one time.

Alex Rodriguez, SGA president, agreed that one cause for the low turnout was because scheduling landed at a time where most students were off campus in preparation for the weekend.

“The reason why I asked all the senators to come,” he said, “is because we represent the students and it’s our responsibility as well to share that [the Annual Financial Report] is available online, that we came and the information that we gathered here is to be spread among our constituents.”

The presentation consisted of charts, graphs and slides that condensed the 179-page booklet into not-so-laymen’s terms while different speakers from the Comptroller’s office explained the slides to the group. Still the amount of information, which was for warned to the audience in the beginning, was too large of an amount to take in for some.

“The report looks good and you’re reading slowly,” said Essie Morris, graduate student in communication and education, who raised the concern during the forum. “But that’s a lot for us to comprehend just sitting here and listening and looking at that report. It’s saying a lot but be we’re seeing a circus and we don’t really know [what is happening] without having the chance to see below the circus,”

Despite the outcome, Mark Allen Vice President of SGA said the presentation brought progress and better understanding to UTPA’s financial situation.

“I think it was a big step forward from last year,” Allen said, “and the next year will be even better.”

Overall, Allen was pleased with the outcome of the event and is open to the idea of holding another discussion with more of the student body in attendance.

“I don’t think it would hurt to have it again,” he said. “If anything, it would be beneficial. Even if you went the first time, you might catch things you didn’t catch before.”

The slides used in the address can be downloaded from the Office of the Comptroller’s home page at utpa.edu/comptroller under ‘FY2010 AFR Presentation.’

BIG DEALS Several hot-button issues were discussed Friday.

From 2006 to 2007, the Operation Margin Ratio was in the negative, or “in the red” which meant the revenue the University generated was less than the amount it spent. In Spring 2008 the budget was reconfigured and eventually, the current Operating Margin Ratio picked up to a positive 3.4 percent. It should continue to be “in the black” or positive margins.

“When I got here we were in the red, Charles Sorber brought us up to barely in the black. We are now to where we are stable and we can move forward, and it’s because of these guys,” President Robert Nelsen said, gesturing to the comptroller staff.

One topic brought up during the forum was the allocation of more than 40 percent of student service fees to athletic’s budget.

“I’m very concerned,” Nelsen said. “But it used to be 49 percent and now it’s dropped down 40 percent.”

Another worry is the $1.3 million that was taken from Institutional Enhancement funds - where Texas Grant and University Scholars scholarships come from - and added to the Operating Budget. >> FEB. 24 PART 2: BREAKING DOWN THE BUDGET

Breaking down the numbers of ‘10 Student Service fees Institutional Enhancement funds

Q & A

“I’m more afraid of our resources experiencing a cut.

When it comes to organizing and promoting events, it’s already hard, as it is locating the funds to do so.”

Dana Castillo, 20, junior Chemistry and pre-pharmacy major

CHECK THE WEB Mourners celebrate the life of former UTPA professor || David Carter remembered

40% $1.3M

Athletic Budget Operating Budget

“I imagine student organizations such as Student Government Association will get some cutbacks; that only lowers the voice of the students.”

Daniel Lopez, 25, senior Theatre production major

“I hope student life doesn’t get too many cuts. Students will be less aware of what our campus has to offer and as a result become less involved.”

Brayath Cano, 18, sophmore Pre-med/biology major

Grad makes good Del Barrio commandeers sports information effort at alma mater. PAGE 11

Música y negocios Mercadotecnia a la orden. PÁGINA 10

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February 17, 2011 Vol. 67, No. 18

Commentary

Letter to the Editor

Why is Arcade Fire under fire?

Professor questions logic of recent construction decisions

I didn’t watch this year’s Grammy Awards (and haven’t bothered watching the past few years) but I’ve heard a lot of buzz about the big upset in the Album Alma E. Hernandez of the Year Photo Editor category. People are all in a rage over Arcade Fire picking up the Album of the Year. They’ve even created a Tumblr page just to vent, titled “Who is Arcade Fire?” Most of the posts involve lots of cussing and yelling, calling Arcade Fire names like “faggots.” Now is that really necessary? I think everyone needs to just calm down. Just because you’ve never heard of them doesn’t mean they aren’t good.

So who is Arcade Fire? They’ve been around since 2001, released their first EP in 2002 and released their first album, “Funeral,” in 2004. I first heard “Funeral” in 2005, at the suggestion of a friend (the best way to learn about new music in my opinion) and to this day it’s one of my all-

time favorite albums.

I had no knowledge of the band and just wanted to listen to something new and different. I bought it solely on his recommendation and didn’t bother listening to any of it before purchasing it. I’m not the only one who thinks Arcade Fire is pretty great.

In 2005 “Funeral” was nominated for a Grammy in the Best Alternative Music album category. It’s listed as No. 6 in Rolling Stone Magazine’s top 100 albums of the decade, and the UK’s Q Magazine lists it as No. 19 for best album of the past 25 years.

That same year I saw them perform at the Austin City Limits Music Festival, nine very passionate people on stage creating music cementing their place as one of my favorite bands. It was my favorite performance of the whole festival.

Their second album “Neon Bible,” released in 2008, was also nominated for a Grammy in the Best Alternative Album category. I think the win for Arcade Fire is a step in the right direction for the Grammys. It’s about time creativity and originality tops seniority or album sales. I might even have to start watching the Grammys again.

Correction: In last week’s “Planetarium” article there was a factual error in the cost of attendance. The university planetarium and portable planetarium are free to all attendees.

Dear Editor, After reading through the February 10 issue of The Pan American I would like to respond to the article entitled ‘Funding for new digs in the offing’ by Alejandra Martinez.

It is all very well to put the new buildings up on UTPA campus but what about the work that needs doing on the campus as it stands today??

I am fortunate to be at UTPA as a Fulbright Fellow, here from New Zealand as part of my PhD studies in collaboration with the Mechanical Engineering. What I find unbelievable is the fact that Engineering have been so squeezed for office space that they found it necessary to take out the Professors social hub and put in offices.

The university needs to get serious about what it wants for its students as pushing the faculty to this type of action can only hurt and end result cost a lot more financially than the meagre amount for a decent social spot for the Professors, staff and graduate students.

I have been fortunate enough to spend time in many universities around the world, including Europe, UK, Oceania and Asia and have seen first hand the benefits of a well resourced and comfortable lounge. It is the place where colleagues can meet and discuss course issues and colaborate on projects away from the pressures of the lecture

THE PAN AMERICAN

room, laboratory and office. It is where colleagues can meet and discuss ideas, current and future projects. It also allows staff, post-docs and faculty to build solid relationships and to enable a whole of department understanding in relation to a lasting work focused atmosphere.

Lastly it allows graduate students a place to be at ease with the Professors and take away the aprehensions many may have to be fully engaged with project planning and allow them to get closer to the environment that many graduates would aspire to when studies are completed here at UTPA. And finally it is a place that in some way would provide a tangible study path option for many undergraduates who would no doubt see graduate study as a lonely and often solitary place not worth their consideration.

So UTPA, it is all very well to be considering expanding and you should be commended for that, but what about those who are currently in need of space are they not worthy?

Kind regards, Paul Ewart

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

Delivery:

Thursday at noon Letters to the Editor

Anthony Salinas/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.

February 17, 2011

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Chemistry work to be presented at Feb. 19 symposium

By Belinda Munoz The Pan American

Alma E. Hernandez/THE PAN AMERICAN

Alvarez uses life experience in class

The field of chemistry is to be honored April 9, with the department’s first student/faculty symposium.

According to Bimal Banik, President Endowed Professor at UTPA, efforts and advancements in research are to be presented to students and colleagues in the hopes that learning and fellowship will be increased in the department.

“The Department of Chemistry has never organized a local symposium with the students,” Banik said. “We believe that this sort of symposium will help people, not only know what kind of research we are doing on campus and in the department, but also what students or some faculty are doing research in other departments and other universities and also overseas.”

The symposium is set to begin with a breakfast at 8 a.m. and lunch at noon. The department currently has 16

professors, including Banik, who conducts research on scientific hypotheses and projects, usually assisted by UTPA students.

For the symposium, each professor has been asked to invite one or two students to do an oral presentation for an audience in rooms 2.102 of the Science Building. There will also be a question-and-answer session after each presentation.

Due to time constraints, all other students will present a poster summarizing their research project, to be displayed in the hallways of the building.

Some of the few research projects within the Chemistry Department include the study of new organic compounds concerning organometallic reagants and organic synthesis. Professor and chair for the department of chemistry, Naryan Bhat, and his undergraduate students are conducting the study. Also being studied is the synthesis of conjugated polymers, by Jose J. Guitierrez, with a special interest in soluble poly-p-phenylenevinylene (PPV) derivatives and how they can be used in light-emitting diodes.

Spanish professor celebrates recent award

By Alejandra Martinez The Pan American

Growing up in a time when speaking Spanish was frowned upon in the United States made Stephanie Alvarez shy away from her Cuban heritage to avoid discrimination. Now as an adult, she fully embraces her background and uses it to guide her students.

“My father never spoke Spanish to us (Alvarez and her sister), even though that was his first language,” the UTPA professor recalls. “That was his way of protecting us, of making sure we assimilated and that we would be successful. But I’m grateful that my grandparents were in the house with us, and we did grow up speaking Spanish.”

From an early age, Alvarez discovered her passion for teaching. She came to the Valley in 2006 right after earning her Ph.D. in Spanish from the University of Oklahoma. In September of that year, she began working as a lecturer at UTPA. “I knew my whole life I wanted to teach, but I didn’t know what,” the Miami native said. “I went from physical

education to elementary education to bilingual education, and I ended up doing Spanish, which pretty much everyone in my family is shocked about.”

During her time here, she has been studying the use of Spanglish within Latino literature and for the past three years has been working on rebuilding the Mexican-American Studies program.

Most recently her research has focused on the role that Spanish departments play in the education of Latino students.

“We talk about being a Hispanicserving institution,” she explained.

“But I think we need to start looking at how academic programs become Hispanic-serving.”

Not long ago, Alvarez was selected as the Outstanding Latino Faculty in Higher Education for the American Association of Hispanics in Higher Education (AAHHE).

She will be awarded at the 6th Annual National Conference on March 5.

She attributes the honor mainly to a project called Cosecha Voices, in which she and poet Tato Laviera teach a class to migrant farm workers, and the

class documents their experiences as migrants.

“They learn from that experience and hopefully empower themselves to be more successful students and more successful people in life,” she said. “I think it’s very important to have a good understanding of where we come from.”

Alvarez earned a bachelor’s degree in Spanish from the University of South Alabama in 1995, and a master’s in Spanish from St. Louis University three years later. She worked as a lecturer at the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor from 2001-2004, and taught Spanish at the National Hispanic University in San Jose, Calif. in 2005. She has been married for seven years and is mother to 5-year-old twin girls and a 1-year-old boy.

“In every place that I’ve been, I’ve learned a lot of good stuff,” she said.

“And I think I brought some of those experiences here with me and I try to use them as learning experiences, not just for me, but for my students as well.”

We talk about being a Hispanic-serving institution, but I think we need to start looking at how academic programs become Hispanic-serving.

Stephanie Alvarez || UTPA professor

Alma E. Hernandez/THE PAN AMERICAN

IT MATTERS — Professor Bimal Banik lectures about dibromo compounds to his chemistry class Wednesday morning.

HIV risk to be topic at Friday health event

By Pamela Morales The Pan American

According to a 2010 report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2008 Hispanics/ Latinos accounted for 19 percent of the 42,439 new diagnoses of HIV cases in 37 states.

As part of the South Texas Border Health Disparities Center Lecture series, Antonia Villarruel, a professor from the School of Nursing at the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, will discuss research findings on HIV Latino cases and how to address the issue.

“Dr. Antonia Villarruel has an extensive background in health promotion and health disparities research and practice,” said Dejun Su, director of South Texas Border Health Disparities Center. “Her research focuses on the development and testing of interventions to reduce HIV sexual risk among Mexican and Latino youth, a topic we know little about here in the Valley.”

Faculty, staff and students are invited to the presentation Feb. 18, which will begin at noon in the Executive Room of the ITT Building. For further information or questions please call 665-7937.

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February 17, 2011

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THE PAN AMERICAN

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HOMECOMING PRIDE Being homecoming king and queen is more than just getting a crown and walking around wearing them. It is about having school spirit and wear your colors with pride and honor, something Annette Torres and John-Robert Iruegas have done throughout the last year. This Saturday Feb. 19 will be Homecoming and they will give their crowns away to the future king and queen of UTPA.

The Pan American: When did you decide you wanted to run for homecoming queen?

ANNETTE: It all started in the fall of 2009, I had just come back from an internship I had in San Antonio and I knew I wanted to run so from there I added a lot of UTPA students on Facebook, I tried to go to more on-campus events and just try to get to know as many people as I could, so when it was time to turn in the application to run for homecoming queen, and by the time the whole marketing started, a lot of people had already seen my face.

TPA: What did you feel when you were announced winners?

A: I was really excited and very proud to represent UTPA, it was a great way to end my last year.

JOHN-ROBERT: I was shocked but I was extremely excited, I was glad enough people thought of us to vote and let us represent them.

TPA: What duties have you had as the homecoming queen and king?

BOTH: The main purpose is to represent the student body in events either on campus or off campus and the sports games. We also had to go to activities such as the Bucky Block Party, Welcome Week, Spirit Week, Midnight Madness, as well as volunteering We even made T-shirts that said king and queen since we did not want to volunteer in our polos, we did it so we could represent UTPA when we were doing volunteer service.

John-Robert Iruegas Graduation: Fall 2010 Major in psychology, minor in leadership

TPA: What type of community service did you do?

BOTH: Make a Difference Day, Students With a Purpose Alternative Break Program, The Food Bank and any other opportunities that were presented to us. We did a lot of volunteering throughout the year.

TPA: What example did you give to students while being homecoming king?

JR: We were able to show school spirit and be involved in on-campus activities, we showed students that there are people that love this school and want great spirit. I believe our spirit is the big example we gave, to be able to show other students they can have fun in school too.

TPA: What do you want to say to the future king and queen?

JR: I know all of the candidates so I know all of them are really good leaders and are very active on campus and I want them to keep being active and wish them good luck.

A: I wish them the best of luck as well, I have conďŹ dence in all of them and I know that whoever wins is going to represent the campus with pride and continue leading.

TPA: What are your plans for the future?

JR: Right now I am a student assistant at the Student Leadership Program on campus, after May I will be going to graduate school for a counseling degree to become a licensed family therapist and professional counselor.

A: I will be graduating in May and the career fair is in a week so I will be prepared for that.

My main area of focus is human resources so it is what I want to go into. I plan to leave the Valley but eventually come back, it would be good for us to leave so we can represent UTPA outside of the Valley as well and show that this is a really great school and we got a very good education.

TPA: What would you like to say to the students?

JR: My heart is in this place and I want everyone to enjoy UTPA. Take advantage of what our school has to offer because we’ve got more to offer than meets the eye, and I want them to really understand the commitment this school has for the students.

Annette Torres Graduation: Spring 2011 Major in communication studies, minor in human resources

Photos by Freddie Martinez

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THE PAN AMERICAN

February 17, 2011

February 17, 2011

THE PAN AMERICAN

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HOMECOMING PRIDE Being homecoming king and queen is more than just getting a crown and walking around wearing them. It is about having school spirit and wear your colors with pride and honor, something Annette Torres and John-Robert Iruegas have done throughout the last year. This Saturday Feb. 19 will be Homecoming and they will give their crowns away to the future king and queen of UTPA.

The Pan American: When did you decide you wanted to run for homecoming queen?

ANNETTE: It all started in the fall of 2009, I had just come back from an internship I had in San Antonio and I knew I wanted to run so from there I added a lot of UTPA students on Facebook, I tried to go to more on-campus events and just try to get to know as many people as I could, so when it was time to turn in the application to run for homecoming queen, and by the time the whole marketing started, a lot of people had already seen my face.

TPA: What did you feel when you were announced winners?

A: I was really excited and very proud to represent UTPA, it was a great way to end my last year.

JOHN-ROBERT: I was shocked but I was extremely excited, I was glad enough people thought of us to vote and let us represent them.

TPA: What duties have you had as the homecoming queen and king?

BOTH: The main purpose is to represent the student body in events either on campus or off campus and the sports games. We also had to go to activities such as the Bucky Block Party, Welcome Week, Spirit Week, Midnight Madness, as well as volunteering We even made T-shirts that said king and queen since we did not want to volunteer in our polos, we did it so we could represent UTPA when we were doing volunteer service.

John-Robert Iruegas Graduation: Fall 2010 Major in psychology, minor in leadership

TPA: What type of community service did you do?

BOTH: Make a Difference Day, Students With a Purpose Alternative Break Program, The Food Bank and any other opportunities that were presented to us. We did a lot of volunteering throughout the year.

TPA: What example did you give to students while being homecoming king?

JR: We were able to show school spirit and be involved in on-campus activities, we showed students that there are people that love this school and want great spirit. I believe our spirit is the big example we gave, to be able to show other students they can have fun in school too.

TPA: What do you want to say to the future king and queen?

JR: I know all of the candidates so I know all of them are really good leaders and are very active on campus and I want them to keep being active and wish them good luck.

A: I wish them the best of luck as well, I have conďŹ dence in all of them and I know that whoever wins is going to represent the campus with pride and continue leading.

TPA: What are your plans for the future?

JR: Right now I am a student assistant at the Student Leadership Program on campus, after May I will be going to graduate school for a counseling degree to become a licensed family therapist and professional counselor.

A: I will be graduating in May and the career fair is in a week so I will be prepared for that.

My main area of focus is human resources so it is what I want to go into. I plan to leave the Valley but eventually come back, it would be good for us to leave so we can represent UTPA outside of the Valley as well and show that this is a really great school and we got a very good education.

TPA: What would you like to say to the students?

JR: My heart is in this place and I want everyone to enjoy UTPA. Take advantage of what our school has to offer because we’ve got more to offer than meets the eye, and I want them to really understand the commitment this school has for the students.

Annette Torres Graduation: Spring 2011 Major in communication studies, minor in human resources

Photos by Freddie Martinez

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February 17, 2011

In a not-entirely-surprising outcome, Ken Jennings and Ken Rutter failed to beat IBM’s new supercomputer, “Watson,” in a special two-game tournament of “Jeopardy!” “Watson” came away with an impressive $77,147 at the end of the tournament, beating Jennings’ $24,000 and Rutter’s $21,600.

Based on the successful science-fiction novel of the same name, “I Am Number Four” is set to hit theaters this Friday. The story follows an alien refugee struggling for survival amid an interstellar hunt for his species. This is the first of six planned movies.

Finding balance

Student parents struggle to meet domestic and academic responsibilities

By Nadia Tamez-Robledo Photo by Tammy Ayala The Pan American

It’s finally here. After nearly four years, breakup rumors and precious few interviews Radiohead has announced their eighth album “The King of Limbs.” The album will be digitally released this Saturday and physically released on May 9.

Can’t stand that minty flavor of toothpaste? Wish you could add a little more bacon do your dental hygiene regimen? The people at Archie McPhee hear you loud and clear and have produced Bacon Toothpaste.

The paste cleans teeth and leaves a coat of bacon flavor.

On a day in August 2006, Anthony Beltran drove to McAllen-Miller International Airport without incident. But upon returning to his car, he couldn’t move. He couldn’t will his foot to push the break or his hand to shift the gear from park to drive.

When he arrived at the airport, Beltran had just been a freshman starting his first semester at South Texas College. Before driving back home that same day, he had become the primary caregiver to his threemonth-old son, Ashlin.

“I couldn’t function,” he recalled. “I put him in the back and just sat in the driver’s seat like, ‘I feel like I don’t even know how to drive right now,’ and he was in the back just sucking on his bottle. It was a very big slap of reality.”

Beltran had wrapped up six years of service in the U.S Army earlier that year, which included time in Iraq. Having grown up in the major Texas metropolises before enlisting at 18, the then-24-year-old longed to return to the Valley and get to know family members he had never met. His son’s mother, however, wanted to stay in Georgia and further her career in the military. “[Because] her schedule is practically insane…the lack of stability in raising children pretty much forced her to rely on me in order to raise our son,” Beltran said. “Things have calmed down for

her…and now we share him whenever she’s settled. She’s getting to enjoy him while she’s stateside before deploying to Afghanistan in May.” The early days were tough for Beltran, now 29 and a graduate student in the clinical psychology program. As a single parent, he had to balance school, the pressure to make ends meet, finding childcare for Ashlin, and daily duties of parenthood.

“Academics were the furthest thing from my mind,” he recalled. “My priorities were somewhere else because I was managing things at home. It was a very hard transition, but today I think it has completely paid off.”

ONWARD AND UPWARD Beltran’s hectic schedule mirrors that of business administration major Liz Rivera, a full-time project coordinator for a local non-profit organization and parttime student who has a 5-year-old daughter and 4-year-old son.

“After work and school, I still have to go home and feed them, bathe them, get them ready for the next day and then still have to worry about homework,” she said of her routine, adding that study time usually begins at 11 p.m. “Sometimes my son won’t go to sleep until I’m with him in bed, so he’s there with me until I finish. Or sometimes I just put the homework aside because it’s too late for him, and I have to wake him up early the next day.”

One source of support Beltran found when he transferred to The University of

Texas-Pan American was the Child Devel- him. If I want to be part of the leaderopment Center, which offers childcare ser- ship core at Pan Am, it would be imposvices to university students, faculty and staff sible to do if I needed to leave my son throughout the year. here or there.” “[Student parents] struggle with Caring for her family as she pursues work, school, and childcare,” said CDC her degree, Rivera does not have much Director Elda Perez. “‘I can’t go to school sympathy for her non-parent classmates if I don’t have somewhere to leave my who complain about time constraints child.’ Do you when they miss bring your child to assignments. class? Do you miss “If you’re class? How many not a parent, you “ [If youʼre not a parent], don’t have another times are you going to miss class?” person to worry you donʼt have another According to about,” she sugit’s website, the person to worry about. gested. “Right now Child DevelopI have two other Right now I have two other ment Center is people to worry capable of proabout, so it’s myself people to worry about, so viding full-day plus my two kids environments for and my husband. itʼs myself plus my two 140 children.

If I can have time, kids and my husband. If “Overall, it’s you can have time a win-win situato do it, so don’t I can have time, you can tion for everyone,” come up with she said. “We have excuses.” have time to do it, so donʼt their kiddos, we While adding come up with excuses. ” educate them, and school organizaat the same time tions to an already we give them peace full to-do list may of mind for them seem like too much to go and study for some parents, Liz Rivera and participate Beltran actively Business administration major in extracurricular encourages his felactivities.” low UTPA parent And particistudents to take pate is exactly what part in campus Beltran has done. activities.

In addition to earning his bachelors de“They have every potential to lead, grees in psychology and criminal justice and I strongly promote that because last December, he is also a member of our parents have done things that five honor societies and serves as presi- others haven’t done yet,” he stressed. dent of SALUTE, the Veterans National “They do it on a daily basis. It doesn’t Honor Society. stop for us. We long for breaks, but “Parents usually have to work twice …after finding out that our children as hard, and in some cases, myself for are growing in the right way, it’s reexample, I usually end up taking my son warding in itself, and the investment with me,” he said. “I can’t do it without is practically eternal.”

February 17, 2011

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17 de febrero del 2011

Enamórate de UTPA

Para que los próximos graduados sepan de todo lo que UTPA ofrece, se lleva a cabo evento para que ellos y sus padres conozcan más sobre la universidad.

Siempre vigilante Por Sergio Giron The Pan American

Freddie Martinez/THE PAN AMERICAN AYUDANDO – La oficina de ayuda financiera respondió preguntas a estudiantes el pasado sábado 12 de febrero en el WRSC.

Hay cosas que ninguna medida de seguridad, ni ningún método de prevención podrán evitar que sucedan y ante esta clase de situaciones la mejor herramienta que posen los estudiantes es un ojo vigilante que se encarga de procurar a la comunidad de la Universidad de Texas-Pan Americana.

El sistema de seguridad escolar BroncAlert que fue implementado en el 2008 cumple ya tres años de constante vigilancia durante los cuales ha alertado a todos aquellos que estén dados de alta en su sistema de mensajes de texto (ya que el de correos electrónicos es automático y no necesita suscripción) con distintas alertas pertinentes al estado del tiempo, la temperatura, una falla en el sistema de luz e incluso sobre precauciones contra posibles robos en el campus.

Detrás del sistema BroncAlert se encuentra la división de información tecnológica (IT por sus siglas en

El arte y los negocios van de la mano Debido a la importancia de la industria musical, UTPA ofrece la clase de “marketing musical”.

Por Karen Velázquez The Pan American La industria musical actual, es sin duda un campo muy extenso para el cual el uso de la mercadotecnia es imprescindible. Por ello, y debido a que muchos estudiantes de distintas carreras desean incursionar en las diversas áreas de ésta industria, el Colegio de Administración de Empresas de la Universidad de Texas- Pan Americana cuenta desde el 2007 con la opción de tomar la clase 3395 de “marketing musical”. Éste curso cubre estudios de edición musical, entretenimiento en vivo, compañías de grabación, producción y artista y repertorio, además de la comercialización desde un punto de vista práctico y teórico.

Al cursar ésta materia, el alumno tendrá la oportunidad de examinar los principales actores de organización y se le proporcionará una visión general de la industria musical. Una de las labores para quienes toman la clase éste semestre, es ayudar en la creación de planes de mercado en la propuesta para el Distrito de Entretenimiento de Edinburg.

De acuerdo a Michael Minor, profesor

del departamento de gestión (manejo), mercadotecnia y negocios internacionales, el objetivo principal de la materia es ayudar a los estudiantes a encontrar empleo en la industria del entretenimiento, ya sea como intérprete o ejecutante, o en un papel como director, productor, etc.

Con estudiantes de licenciaturas como comunicación, biología, música, mercadotecnia y gestión, la matrícula de “marketing musical” ha crecido de manera notable desde hace cuatro años.

“Muchos estudiantes de mercadotecnia, además de otras carreras buscan obtener un empleo dentro de la industria musical o del entretenimiento, por lo que éste curso está dirigido a ese fin”, dijo Minor.

Además, el departamento de mercadotecnia cuenta con el curso de marketing deportivo, el cual es una materia electiva y no asume ningún fondo de comercialización o de negocios. Minor también comentó que en un futuro le gustaría ofrecer un curso de marketing de la moda, y así expandir las opciones para aquellos interesados en las áreas artísticas y de entretenimiento.

inglés), quienes se encargan de proveer a la universidad con la tecnología necesaria para mantenerla a la vanguardia en el ámbito de servicios estudiantiles. “Éste sistema de alerta de emergencia fue implementado por Richard Costello, director del departamento de salud y seguridad ambiental”, dijo Lorenia Rodríguez, estudiante de terapia y parte del departamento IT sobre los orígenes del proyecto. “Fue creado en el 2008 bajo la presidencia de Blandina Cárdenas y durante un principio solo contó con 1,700 estudiantes registrados, en éste momento contamos con 7,400 de una comunidad de más de 25,000 estudiantes”.

Rodríguez, quien trabaja en el escritorio de recepción del departamento también habló sobre la importancia de tener este servicio. “Después del incidente del pasado septiembre en la Universidad de Texas-Austin, todos nos dimos cuenta que una evacuación pronta es necesaria para evitar cualquier desastre y éste clima que, durante la semana antepasada impidió las clases, solo reitero más la necesidad de hacer saber a los estudiantes, el estatus inmediato de

lo que para muchos es su segunda casa, o su trabajo”.

Alejandra Elizondo, estudiante de diseño fue una de los muchos beneficiados por los servicios de BroncAlert y comentó sobre las ventajas de éste sistema ya que durante las clases de verano estaba en Mission atendiendo asuntos familiares y tuvo la suerte de recibir un mensaje que le avisó sobre el cierre de la escuela. “Debido a las fuertes lluvias se cancelaron las clases y gracias a ese mensaje evité tener que dar una vuelta tan larga hasta Edinburg”.

BroncAlert también ofrece servicios de alerta de emergencias fuera de los salones en el campus. Con la ayuda de más de 50 bocinas distribuidas estratégicamente en puntos clave de la universidad y un sistema de atención al estudiante, éste siempre vigilante servicio de alertas, es capaz de mantener segura a la comunidad de UTPA que tiene que atender diariamente los terrenos tal como si fuera un guarda espaldas cibernético que vela por todos los estudiantes, en sus celulares.

February 17, 2011

11

BRONC BRIEFS

By Sara Hernandez The Pan American

Norma Gonzalez/THE PAN AMERICAN

CATCHING UP - Alex Del Barrio (middle) and members of the UTPA statistical crew, Bryan Smith (left) and Robby Garcia keep track of last week’s UTPA home game against HBU. Del Barrio is the recent addition to the UTPA Athletic Department staff.

Playing at home

UTPA graduate brings passion to alma mater after years of experience in the sports media industry.

By Lilli Lopez The Pan American Alex Del Barrio, director of athletic media relations at UTPA, has dreams of making it to the NBA. However, his dream doesn’t involve suiting up in a uniform.

Del Barrio played basketball as a kid and realized his freshman year of high school that he wasn’t going to land a career as a professional athlete. Broadcasting was one outlet that stood out to the young sports enthusiast; he began announcing softball and baseball games at Mission High School.

After graduating from high school in 2001, the novice announcer went to Boston University to study journalism.

As a college student, he got deeply involved with the university radio station while also gaining experience in sports marketing. He announced games for soccer, lacrosse, wrestling, hockey, and other BU sports on campus.

In 2004, after three years, he returned to South Texas and began working full-time as the media relations contact and traveling radio announcer with the Edinburg Roadrunners, a semi-professional baseball team.

“I kind of thought my career was going to keep going that way in base-

Del Barrio has established himself ball,” said Del Barrio of his transition into another sport. “But I had always as a sports authority since his return from the East Coast. wanted to work in basketball.”

The broadcaster worked two years After two years with the Roadrunas a sports anchor ners, Del Barrio got for FOX 2 News his chance in basin McAllen and ketball with a team reported on high he grew up listening “ Iʼm from here. I grew up school football for to and admiring. here. My degree says ʻTexas KGBT-TV Chan“One of the nel 4 news. More things that I always – Pan Americanʼ on it. It recently, Del Barremembered grow- means something to me to rio got the opporing up was listening tunity to announce to the Bronc games be here.” eight games for the on the radio,” said D-League ShowDel Barrio of his case at South Payounger years. dre Island, which In 2005, the aired on NBA TV basketball connoisAlex Del Barrio last month. seur got his break Del Barrio has with the Bronc basDirector of athletic ketball team to travmedia relations also contributed his broadcasting skills el with it throughto the Killer Bees out the season and hockey team, the broadcast games. late Dorados inHe did this for two door football team, seasons until 2007, when he graduated from UTPA with a and the Coyotes baseball team that succeeded the Roadrunners in 2006 and degree in broadcast journalism.

After graduation, Del Barrio began became the Roadrunners again two working with the Rio Grande Valley years ago.

During his stint with the Coyotes, Vipers, an NBA Development League team, as an announcer, for which he still in 2007 Del Barrio was named the director of player personnel and media recontinues to do radio play-by-play.

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lations for United League Baseball.

This year, he carries on his reputation in sports in a new position with UTPA athletics, bringing a fresh, new design and enthusiasm to the job description.

As the new director of athletic media relations, Del Barrio expresses that he brings “passion” to his role and views his job as a stepping-stone.

“I’m from here. I grew up here.

My degree says, ‘Texas-Pan American’ on it,” he said. “It means something to me to be here.”

Del Barrio explained that he’s “playing catch-up” and taking notes on what needs improvement in the department’s marketing area. He began work in January.

“How do I do my job effectively here without burning out, but still giving all the teams the credit they deserve,” said Del Barrio of his long work days. “It’s definitely not a 40-hour-a-week job.”

Although some days may be much longer than others, Del Barrio shares an enthusiastic outlook on the job and what it means to him.

“The work you put in now, it’s going to pay off later,” he said optimistically about his future in sports casting.

The UTPA basketball teams finished their road schedule falling to Utah Valley.

Go to P A N A M E R I C A N O N L I N E . C O M for the full story.

WOMEN’S GOLF The UTPA women’s golf team kicked off the 2011 spring season at the Claud Jacobs Challenge hosted

by Texas State. The women finished in 15th place after three rounds of 18 holes played Sunday and Monday.

The top finisher for the Broncs was senior Haley Hocott from San Antonio, who shot rounds of 79, 85 and 75 for 239 hits, placing her tied in the 34th spot.

Juniors Majo Camey (Guatemala) and Sarah Kothny (Kingwood) finished tied in 60th and 62nd place respectively. Camey had a score of 250, one stroke less than her classmate.

Freshman Elena Arroyo from Sacramento, Calif., finished in 79th while junior Edinburg native Melinda Uriegas placed 82nd with 262 and 264 strokes each.

The winner of the tournament in which 17 schools participated was Texas State with 912 points; the individual winners were Krista Puisile from the host school and Kamryn Ruffin from Tulsa (which finished third) with scores of 225. UTPA totaled 999 strokes in the competition.

The women will compete next at the Islander Spring Classic hosted by Texas A&M-Corpus Christi at the end of the month.

WOMEN’S TENNIS The Broncs traveled to the Houston area last weekend and dropped matches against the University of Houston, Lee Community College and Rice.

Friday, the women visited the Cougars and fell 6-1. The only win of the day was Russia native Dana Nazarova over Dianne Sanders 6-3, 6-2. Then, the Broncs traveled to Baytown to face the Lady Rebels from LCC, losing 6-1 before returning to Houston Sunday, when they lost 7-0 against Rice.

The team kept the same lineup for the weekend, playing French freshman Wanda Beguelin in the first spot, sophomore Malin Anderson from Finland in the second, and junior Nazarova in the third.

Sunny Strkic, junior from BosniaHerzegovina, played on the fourth court and freshman Blanca Garcia from Victoria, Mexico played in the fifth.

The Broncs did not play a sixth match in the singles or submit a third duo for the doubles, which were made up by the Beguelin/Strkic and Anderson/Nazarova pairs.

Wednesday, the program dropped its first home match against Laredo Community College 4-3.

The team will have three weeks to prepare to face Texas Tech and Abilene Christian at Lubbock and Abilene the first weekend of March.

Online photo galleries for these events.

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the pan american

February 17, 2011