May 5, 2011 by UTRGV Student Media

Volume 67, No. 27

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New system promises student access, ease of coursework planning By Roxann Garcia The Pan American Despite the current budget woes circulating the University and the Lone Star State, administrators on campus continue to push creative means of making college easier for students. In his first year here, Registrar Jeffrey Rhodes, among other collaborators such as the University’s Student and Academic Divisions, is anticipating the arrival of new software, DegreeWorks. Still in its infancy, the degree audit system will be replacing the current system, Curriculum Advising and Program Planning, or CAPP. The program allows students to instantly get a look at where courses fit into a degree plan, including courses they’ve taken, are taking, would like to, or need to take. It has more functionality than CAPP and it’s more user-friendly, Rhodes said. The intent is to provide up-to-date information for students so that they stay on track to graduate within four years. the software is done by SunGard Higher Education for close to $300,000;

this is the same company that built the student information system currently in use at UTPA, as well as ASSIST. “DegreeWorks is right from the same company,” Rhodes said. “So it goes right alongside what we currently use.” The software also makes room for ‘what if’ scenarios. “Students will be able to access this through the web, so say a student is registering at two in the morning, like most do,” Rhodes joked. “If they have a question and they try calling their adviser at two in the morning, obviously they’re not going to answer. This way they’ll have help.” The program allows advisers to look ahead and build planners for students. The idea is to predict the need for various courses. This semester’s advising period began March 21 and wrapped up April 28. “Say we have 300 students that need a particular management course or a biology course for fall 2012, this allows us to get a more accurate picture of the demand for specific courses,” he said. When building schedules, administrators typically use trend data from the past, but now they will be able

to look at future demands, and make better use of funds used to create classes, the registrar said. “Our goal is to go live December 1 to use for advising during the spring semester,” Rhodes said. There is also additional functionality to the software. Alongside the degree planning aspect is the ability to view financial aid status. This includes eligibility or adherence to requirements. Also enveloped in the program is an NCAA functionality that allows advisers to determine and better track the eligibility of student-athletes. “Now those functionality portions will be implemented after the degree plans,” the registrar said. “Those are future steps.” The Information Technology department on campus is also part of the collaboration and implementation process, while working on easy accessibility for the software. “We are looking at the possibility of a direct connection from MyUTPA tab at the UTPA website,” Rhodes said. UTPA President Robert Nelsen

Adminis t

Allows administrators to get a more accurate picture of the demand for speciﬁc courses needed by students.

tion ra

Geared for students

May 5, 2011

What DegreeWorks does:

de Stu nts

is Adv ers Allows advisers to look ahead and build course paths for students in their degree plan online.

was t h e initial reason for the software transfer, according to Rhodes. “It is my understanding that he had some experience with the program at another institution and saw all of the good things it can do,” he said. Rhodes, who is a Texas Tech graduate,

Allows students to instantly lay out courses in their degree plan online, including past, present and future classes.

can attest to many scenarios where he was sitting across from students calculating by hand the required and accumulated hours needed to graduate. “This product allows students to do that at two o’clock in the morning,” he concluded.

Pell Grant uncertainty keeps students guessing Funds up in the air due to pending Congressional budget decision

By Roxann Garcia The Pan American As the U.S. economy remains uncertain, one issue that will remain constant for students is figuring out how to pay for a college education. The Federal Pell Grant, which is commonly offered to UTPA students, is one type of grant t h a t helps students

trim down tuition costs during the fall, spring and summer semesters. But this may not be the case for long. As of last month, Congress voted to do away with the availability of Pell Grant money in the summer. This means that legislation passed in 2009-2010, establishing a Second Pell Award effective at UTPA beginning in the summer of 2010, would no longer be able to offer students that money for summer classes. “The Pell Grant is one of the financial aid programs that may be affected by legislative action,” Garcia said. “Currently

the U.S. House of Representatives is proposing a reduction to Pell Grants. Whether there are any reductions to Pell Grants depends on the budget resolution worked out between the Senate and the House of Representatives.” A final decision on whether Congress will reinsert funding for programs, like the summer Pell grant, will likely be determined during budget talks for 2012. According to the Student Financial Services webpage, eligibility for receiving the award is determined by the Department of Education on the basis of each student’s Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which can be filled out at www.fafsa.gov, and helps determine a student’s Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) to tuition.

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Remembering || Holocaust survivor

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in 2007, $16,428,110,000 in 2008, $25,328,889,000 in 2009 and $32,295,226,000 in 2010. With the state of the Pell Grant still unknown, Garcia is concerned about what will be decided. Should a decision to reduce Pell funding succeed, it would mark the first negative effect to Pell grant that Garcia has seen in her working experience at UTPA. According to Student Financial Service, the 2010-2011 Pell award has provided a maximum monetary yield of $5,500. Eligibility factors like a student’s financial need or EFC, cost to attend school, status as a full-time or part-time student, and whether a student will attend school for a full academic year or less, are considered before grant money can be awarded.

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DREAM

BORDRETRER 10

“Since the Pell Grant award varies for students with different EFCs and it prorates based on enrollment, then how much the Pell Grant will cover of tuition and fees, depends on that student’s EFC and their enrollment for the period,” Garcia said. Federal Pell Grant is allocated differently each year depending on annual program funding. The availability of annual funds is also the reason for varying Pell awards for students on a year to year basis. In the recent past, the differences in awards for students have been advantageous, as funds for Pell have almost always increased with each passing year. As reported by the U.S. Department of Education webpage, past budgets for Pell Grant have provided available aid for students totaling $13,989,305,000

IS WAY

Look for it May 18.

speaks to students

May 5, 2011

Letter from the Editor

Still more to come...

Kristen Cabrera Editor in Chief Yet another year has gone by for us here at The Pan American. We’ve covered various things concerning the UTPA community from budget cuts to the happenings of the NCAA Broncs. We’ve also taken budget hits of our own, going down from a 16-page paper to a 12-pager and instead utilizing the website more. Adding Flickr slide shows and so many more photos than we could for the printed paper, it is quite possible that you might be in one of them. But just because the year is over

doesn’t mean we stop working. Coming this summer you can expect four special summer issues, the first coming out June 2 continuing coverage of the Texas congress legislation responsible for deciding exactly how much money UTPA gets from the Education budget. Along with the four summer issues we will be bringing more photos and video of all the goings on at and around campus from Artist Unanimous art shows to unique and interesting classes offered during the summer. The summer also gives us a chance to try out new talent in our high school summer internship program. In this issue our first intern Analisa Cantu from Brownsville makes her Pan American debut. Although, you don’t have to be a high school student to join our team. If you want to take on a fun, challenging and exciting experience working on the paper just might be where you should be. I know it was for me. I’ve had the most enjoyment

and learned so much working from reporter, editor then Editorin-Chief at The Pan American. I’ve also gained an immense amount of valuable experience working in this fast-paced career-type environment in addition to the work I’ve done at school, I feel confident that I can successfully go into a professional atmosphere and execute my duties effectively. These past years have honestly been amazing, unforgettable and just an all around blast. If you have a knack for graphic design, writing, taking photos or editing video join our team by stopping by COAS 170 and filling out an application. And if not, its fine, continue reading on into the summer and follow us online. Thank you for reading! Sincerely, Kristen Cabrera Editor-in-Chief 2010-2011

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Vol. 67, No. 27

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 DESIGNERS: Alexis Carranza alexis091@aol.com Erick Gonzalez erick.drg@gmail.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.

May 5, 2011

Lim to Kansas, Graham to take reins By Nicole January The Pan American Memories of contribution and success are some of the things that Bob Lim, vice president for Information Technology, will take away after six years at The University of Texas-Pan American. Lim, who has more than 20 years of experience in IT, will be departing for a position at Kansas University as its chief information officer. “My role at KU will be similar to the role I play now at UTPA,” Lim said. “I will provide the institution with wide oversight of Information Technology resources and lead the development and ongoing updates of a campus IT strategic plan.” The MBA graduate of St. Mary’s College (California) came to UTPA in 2005 as assistant chief information officer of the IT division and was named vice president in 2006. The bulk of Lim’s responsibilities has been to serve as the University’s senior spokesperson concerning technology, computing, operational security, and system issues as they relate to administrative, fiscal, student support, academic areas and daily operation of the Division of Information Technology. The San Francisco native recalled his experience in the Rio Grande Valley and his admiration for the students of UTPA. “I love the Valley and the many wonderful people we have met,” Lim said. “My wife, my kids and I have met

many great people we called friends. What I will miss most is working with our students. Many of the students remind me of myself. I was the first to go to college and graduate in my family. Like me, many students continue to support their families even when they have their own family.” In his time at UTPA Lim has gone beyond expectations and responsibilities and made numerous plans to support the mission of the university. He is a member of the President’s Cabinet, UT System’s Strategic Leadership Council, information resource manager to the State of Texas, board member of the Lone Star Education and Research Network (LEARN), and has served on the Finance Committee. NEW BLOOD According to Lisa Prieto, UTPA presidential chief of staff, the president’s cabinet discussed the future of the IT division and was able to make a decision on who would be the successor; this they announced in a memo last week. Jeff Graham, hired in 2010 and originally from Michigan, is the current associate vice president. He will be promoted as CIO after Lim leaves the university early in the summer. “I am definitely looking forward to my new position, as it is a chance to work with a much larger section of the University,” said Graham, who came to the Valley in 1988 to work for General Motors. “There are so many talented

people here at Pan Am both inside and outside of IT.” Graham explained that as associate vice president he dealt with many internal workings, whereas the chief information officer post entails more focus on how IT will serve the university and its mission. To prepare for the new position Graham has worked alongside Lim and been trained by him as well, and they will continue to enjoy that professional interaction until the final transition June 1. “I am working with Bob to understand everything that is going on so that nothing is lost in the transition,” he said. “There are many important initiatives underway right now and we cannot afford to let any of them drop. I have enjoyed working for Bob over the last year as I have been able to learn a lot from him. I like how he treats and respects people and celebrates their successes.” While Lim is excited for the move and the progression of his career to a highly respected institution like KU, he expressed his pride for his students and faculty at UTPA. “In reflecting on my time here, I am so proud of all the employees of Information Technology,” he said. “Without their support and dedication, none of our achievements for students, faculty and staff would have been possible. They deserve and should be given big applause. Go Broncs!”

Bronc ex Trevino using all college lessons in campaign effects in Trevino’s life. The son of Hidalgo County Sheriff Lupe Trevino, he graduated with a degree in criminal When J. Chris Trevino came to justice/police administration in 2003 The University of Texas-Pan American, and went on to work as a probation he thought, like many do, that he officer and risk management specialist for Hidalgo County. would just stay Eventually Trevino for undergraduate decided he would classes and then go back to school to transfer to another complete the Certified place. But he Public Manager changed his mind. certification program. “I got accepted to “I liked that other schools,” said program so much and Trevino, who moved I learned so much, I to the Valley at age was part of the first 10 and attended high graduating class,” school in McAllen. Trevino said. “They put “I said, ‘You know, you in scenarios where I’ll do two years you’re a city manager at UTPA then I’ll or a councilman and leave for Southwest, you have a problem for UTSA,’ just votejchristrevino.com like ‘Do you want to like a lot of people outsource it, or do it do. But I liked the experience, I liked the people, I liked in-house? Why do either one of the my surroundings – the city, and I so I two?’ The experience was invaluable, it really helped me.” decided to stay in Edinburg.” While Trevino was going through That decision had far-reaching By Karen Antonacci The Pan American

the CPM, he was also getting his master’s degree in Public Administration, graduating with it in 2010. “A lot of people go the college and get degrees, graduate degrees and some don’t really use it in their field. Me, I use it every day,” said Trevino, who is now general operations manager for County Precinct 4 and is running for Edinburg City Council. Trevino is not the only UTPA alum in the on the May 14 ballot for the council seat vacated by Alma Garza. Bank vice president Elias Longoria and businessman Homer Jasso Jr. also have degrees from UTPA while incumbent Gene Espinoza does not. “(At UTPA) I have teachers who I’ve built lifelong relationships with, and some who are very involved in my campaign now,” Trevino said. “I’m a product of the UTPA system: bachelors, master’s, CPM. Running, I hope to make them proud over there.”

Larissa Garza/THE PAN AMERICAN

FAREWELL - As VP of IT Bob Lim prepares to leave UTPA, he reﬂects over the six years he spent at the University.

High schoolers deal with budget crisis on personal basis By Analisa Cantu The Pan American Intern Corina Medina clung to the car door, not wanting to close it, not wanting to close herself off from her dreams. “Goodbye, Johns Hopkins,” she muttered to herself. Several months later she was in the same car, parked in front of St. Mary’s University, in San Antonio. “Instead of going to my dream medical school, the economic crisis and budget cuts have me falling short,” said the Brownsville Hanna High School senior. “I almost opted in to just going to UTPA, before St. Mary’s gave me a good offer. Don’t get me wrong, UTPA is still a prestigious university, but not my first choice either. Although a plethora of ‘help’ is being offered, it’s not enough anymore.” With the economy in an ongoing crisis, that ‘plethora of help’ will

now become even less frequent. Higher education in Texas will probably come out with many bruises from the controversial Legislative session in Austin, some that may not be able to heal for a very long time. “My options were to go out of the Valley,” Med-Tech junior Cecily Gonzalez said. “Now I can’t even imagine it. I’m going to have to get a job too, even though my parents hate the idea. It’s become necessary.” The projected state budget shortfall is said to be over $24 billion, and although funds for colleges only make up 12 percent of the budget, as much as 41 percent of cuts could be made in that area. “We need more college graduates, not more people going to class,” is the excuse that many important men, such as Bill Hammond, president of the Texas Association of School Business Officials, are making for the unequal

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ANALISA

PELL GRANT

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continued from Page 1 having free money for summer school is still possible this summer, by qualifying for a second Pell award. Unlike loans, Pell Grants do not have to repaid. “The purpose of the additional Pell amount is to help needy students accelerate their academic progress by enrolling in additional terms during a year and thus complete their degree faster,” Garcia said. There is no additional application required for the Second Pell award for summer. Students that have completed a FAFSA for 2010-2011 and may be eligible for this Second Pell amount will automatically be offered this grant and receive an award letter showing their maximum possible eligibility for 12 hours of enrollment during summer, Must be undergraduate pursuing first bachelor’s degree she continued. However, U.S. citizen or permanent resident students that have not filled out Fill out a FAFSA before the deadline, online at www.fafsa.gov their FAFSA for the current year Demonstrate financial need by having an Estimated Family are urged to do so because their Contribution (EFC) of no more than $5,273 eligibility cannot be determined Meeting satisfactory academic progress without one.

Pell seekers must be undergraduate students working on their first bachelor’s degree, U.S citizens or permanent residents, demonstrate financial need by having an EFC of no more than $5,273 and be able to meet the standard for Satisfactory Academic Progress in order to receive and maintain their Pell award. For Jovan Paez, a 24-year-old junior pursuing music at UTPA, the last two years of receiving the Pell grant for the entire academic year have been the answer to increasing his class schedule to 16 hours. “A friend of mine told me about the Pell Grant and how it could benefit me paying for school. Although, I had

already known about it through the Internet,” Paez said. “It helps a lot. I can now be a full time student taking more classes that benefit me for my studies in music. I can take about eight classes per semester.” With a one-income household salary that is less than $20,000, Paez is grateful to be receiving the award, since it helps him pay for necessary expenses like tuition, books, supplies and other miscellaneous items. “Without the Pell Grant I wouldn’t be where I am today. I wouldn’t have the opportunity to study what I truly love; music,” Paez said. “Plus, it helps with gas, because today’s prices are just ridiculous!” Potential budget scares aside,

Pell Grant Requirements

cuts. It is an excuse that just doesn’t fly with the more than 27,000 high school graduates who may not be receiving funding this upcoming fall semester. “I feel cheated out of everything that they have been telling us since elementary is ‘possible,’” Brownsville St. Joseph’s Academy junior Samantha Garcia said. “I have many friends who don’t know the best English but are incredibly smart- with already low hope and confidence because of their language barrier…what will this do to them?” Top 10 percent and ‘Early Grad’ scholarships may soon be few and far between, with funds dropping an anticipated 79 percent and the famous Pell Grant’s funding also at risk. For awhile the TEXAS Grant was in danger, but recently it was announced that the grant has been renewed for the near future. It helps fund higher education for thousands of students, 60 percent of whom are minorities. After long hours of studying, fatigue and sacrifice to get themselves into the Top 10 percent or meet other grant criteria, many

students feel they met their end of the bargain, and Texas has not. “I always thought education was priority for the future of our community and America as a whole,” said Brownsville Pace High School senior Pepe Fabos. “So many people transfer to different, ‘easier’ high schools just to get on the top 10, all that work is worthless now.” Many universities are entering survival mode, dipping in to reserve funds, offering fewer remedial classes, increasing tuition, and cutting course selections. All these moves will make it difficult for many to finish degree plans. Texas A&M and UT Austin are also now sharing lobbyists to try to stave off disaster, and community colleges in Texas have either had their taxes raised or been shut down. Brazosport, Frank Phillips, Odessa, and Ranger colleges have been axed. Hope, just like funds, is quickly being slashed away from the hearts of many potential college graduates. “We, as incoming freshmen could be forced to go without 71 percent of programs,” Los Fresnos High School senior Brooke Kretz said. “It’s too hard to even believe yet. I really feel messed over by my own state.”

May 5, 2011

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UTPA BRONCS: ALL YEAR, EVERY YEAR

rom beginning to end, student-athletes and coaching staff work hard to bring recognition to UTPA on and off the field. As the school year concludes, The Pan American recognizes individual and team achievements in UTPA athletics.

10/13 - UTPA hosts GWC Cross Country Championships. Women get second; Matew Kotut, Lilian Lagat and Judith Chumba receive ﬁrst team accolades. Omar Doria makes second team.

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December 12/13 - Petty Perry is given GWC Player of the Week recognition. 12/14 - GWC announces Bianca Torre as Player of the Week. CeʼMonay Newell & Erin Lewis tie single-game school records. Newell with 9 three-pointers. Lewis with 15 assists.

CeʼMonay Newell

2/24 - Bronc Basketball Athletic Association donates $35,000 for Sam Williams Scholarship. 2/28 - Oscar Barrera wins GWC weight throw Indoor Championship in NY. Omar Doria gets second in the mile run with 4:11.13 and Andy Lopez gets second in the 800. Menʼs DMR Relay wins indoor conference title.

Freddie Martinez/THE PAN AMERICAN

February

Erin Lewis

Norma Gonzalez/THE PAN AMERICAN

9/28 - Marci Logan named GWC Volleyball Player of the Week.

10/12 - Aswin Vijayaragavan advances to second round of the Hill Country Classic, a professional tournament held in Austin

Alejandra Moreno/THE PAN AMERICAN

September

October

THE PAN AMERICAN

May 5, 2011

Norma Gonzalez/THE PAN AMERICAN

May 5, 2011

Alma E. Hernandez/THE PAN AMERICAN

THE PAN AMERICAN

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March 3/8 - Bianca Torre earns ﬁrst -team All-Conference and Newell makes all Newcomer team in the Great West Conference in Chicago. 3/9 - Brandon Provost makes GWC All-Conference second team 3/13 - Newell hits GWC record with 100 three-pointers.

Freddie Martinez/THE PAN AMERICAN

Aswin Vijayaragavan

November 11/4 - Marci Logan reaches 1,000-kill mark. 11/23 - CeʼMonay Newell is recognized as GWC Basketball Player of the Week. 11/29 - Aaron Urbanus is named GWC hoops Player of the Week.

Alma E. Hernandez/THE PAN AMERICAN

Oscar Barrera

Brandon Provost

April

4/5 - Omar Doria and Melinda Sarmiento are ranked nationally in NCAA Division I. Doria 50th in the 1,500 run and Sarmento 54th in the high jump. 4/27 - Womenʼs golf gets third at GWC Championships Haley Hocott and Majo Corey place second and third, individually. 4/27 - Bernstein and Vijayaragavan make All-Southland Conference honors.

Marci Logan

4/30 - Jameson Strachan breaks school record in the 400-meter; named GWC Athlete of the Year.. Womenʼs Golf

UTPA BRONCS: ALL YEAR, EVERY YEAR

10/13 - UTPA hosts GWC Cross Country Championships. Women get second; Matew Kotut, Lilian Lagat and Judith Chumba receive ﬁrst team accolades. Omar Doria makes second team.

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CeʼMonay Newell

Freddie Martinez/THE PAN AMERICAN

February

Erin Lewis

Norma Gonzalez/THE PAN AMERICAN

9/28 - Marci Logan named GWC Volleyball Player of the Week.

10/12 - Aswin Vijayaragavan advances to second round of the Hill Country Classic, a professional tournament held in Austin

Alejandra Moreno/THE PAN AMERICAN

September

October

THE PAN AMERICAN

May 5, 2011

Norma Gonzalez/THE PAN AMERICAN

May 5, 2011

Alma E. Hernandez/THE PAN AMERICAN

THE PAN AMERICAN

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Freddie Martinez/THE PAN AMERICAN

Aswin Vijayaragavan

November 11/4 - Marci Logan reaches 1,000-kill mark. 11/23 - CeʼMonay Newell is recognized as GWC Basketball Player of the Week. 11/29 - Aaron Urbanus is named GWC hoops Player of the Week.

Alma E. Hernandez/THE PAN AMERICAN

Oscar Barrera

Brandon Provost

April

Marci Logan

4/30 - Jameson Strachan breaks school record in the 400-meter; named GWC Athlete of the Year.. Womenʼs Golf

May 5, 2011

“Workaholics,” the Comedy Central television show about three loveable slackers and their cubicles, has just received the green light for a second season. The current 10-episode season airs Wednesdays at 8:30 p.m.

Freddie Martinez / THE PAN AMERICAN

The pieces of “The Avengers” puzzle are coming together in preparation for a 2012 release. The latest is the tale of “Thor.” The movie will focus on the story of Asgard and the Frost Giants. The ﬁlm will be released Friday.

Biases examined Food panel discusses social issues related to weight, farm labor By Nadia Tamez-Robledo The Pan American

Atlanta-based band Manchester Orchestra will release their third album, “Simple Math,” on Tuesday. Front man Andy Hull, 23, calls the album a conversation between himself, his wife and God.

Call it sad or a creepy addition to your long-distance relationship. The Kajimoto Laboratory has invented a device that allows users to French kiss online. The device is controlled by a user’s tongue which causes a response in another device.

LISTEN UP!— Criminal justice major Chris Prado speaks about animal cruelty in the SBSC building Friday during the Social Justice and Peace Conference.

The realization hit Marilyn Carren all of a sudden. The friendship that eventually bloomed between her and a classmate might never have happened if they hadn’t been the only two students who consistently arrived early to their art class. The reason why? Her friend was fat. “Because Emi was so large when I met her, I think I was conditioned by the media and my upbringing to ignore her,” said Carren, an MFA candidate at Goddard College in Vermont. “I hadn’t made an effort to speak with her…because I didn’t know what to say. Then I realized, ‘I’ve got some misconceptions here.’” Carren partnered with UTPA English professor Jean Braithwaite to conduct a presentation on their experiences with lipophobia, or “fatphobia.” The pair presented one of four panels that wove issues of body image and food into an overarching theme at the Social Justice and Peace Conference on campus last week. Carren began to examine her own biases and decided to create a short documentary called “Confessions of a Lipophobe,” on the topic when her friend, Emi Zuniga, announced she would undergo weight-loss surgery. A working single mother and graduate student, Zuniga had reached 406 pounds at the time of her surgery and drew up a will in case anything went wrong. “People are prejudiced against

overweight people, and they don’t even realize it because it’s allowable in our society,” Carren said. Braithwaite shared her own struggles with weight gain and loss with a reading from her memoir, “FAT: The Story of My Life and My Body.” She also discussed the discrimination faced by overweight people, called sizeism, which affects everything from the quality of medical care they receive to their likeliness to attend college. “To be prejudiced is part of human nature, but we can fight it,” she said. “If it made even a little tiny difference to [students’] subtle beliefs of what fat means, I would feel like it’s a success because it’s engrained in there pretty deep by our cultural habits.” While the concept of lipophoia may be new to some, criminal justice junior Martha Davila discussed an issue that can be raised by flipping open almost any magazine during the panel, “Sexual Politics of Meat: An Exploratory Research of Advertisements.” “Women in ads often only eating vegetables, when food is present, but are referred to as ‘pieces of meat,’ the 23-year-old said during her presentation, “Fragmented and Consumed Women.” When combined with the observation that meat-eating is largely associated with masculinity and power, the result is an underlying message that women’s social role is to remain passive and submissive to men. “It’s degrading the way they portray women,” Davila said. “We’re so used to it because we see it a lot going through

magazines and listening to music that chapter of the Student/Farmworker we don’t see anything wrong with it Alliance who presented “Modern Day Slavery and the Consumer Connection.” until it’s pointed out.” English major Teresa Hernandez isn’t “We have a strong voice on the other a fan of meat in any sense, as she expressed side of things in demanding that our while moderating “Chican@s and Meat: food come from fields where human A Panel on Veganism/Vegetarianism rights and dignity are respected.” within the Chican@ and RGV.” The average farmworker would “Initially, it will be met with a lot have to pick over two tons of tomatoes of resistance because…you’re breaking each year to make minimum wage, said Torres, and what’s considered a seven cases of social norm in your forced labor family setting,” involving over she said of the 1,000 Florida common reaction workers have to Valleyites who “ When you start opening been prosecuted choose a meatless peopleʼs eyes just a little by the federal diet. “A lot of government people think that bit, they open their own food is something since 1997. that we do just S F A eyes the rest of the way. to sustain our partners with Through education … we lives, but it really the Coalition is an emotional, of Immokalee can invite people to learn psychological, a Workers, a political, cultural grassroots more, to open their eyes thing.” Florida workers a little bit, and see the rights group, and W h a t have convinced vegetarian and bigger picture. ” large produce non-vegetarians buyers like alike may not Burger King and know is that if Sodexo to pay the tomatoes they one cent more buy come from John-Michael Torres per pound for Florida, there’s a their tomatoes. chance that the first Presenter person to touch Their current the vegetable was focus is on a farmworker in Quiznos. Immokalee, a town “ W h e n whose agricultural workers are in a you start opening people’s eyes just a struggle against what they call modern- little bit, they open their own eyes the day slavery. rest of the way,” Torres said. “Through “Slavery doesn’t exist in a vacuum,” education…we can invite people to said 27-year-old John-Michael Torres, learn more, to open their eyes a little bit, a community organizer for the Valley and see the bigger picture.”

May 5, 2011

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5 de mayo del 2011

Cortos en 24 horas Por Karen Velázquez The Pan American

El festival de cine CineSol, es un festival creado para promover y enaltecer el arte del cine del Valle del Rio Grande. Ésta organización se dedica a apoyar a los aspirantes a cineastas fomentando alianza entre la comunidad para darse a conocer. CineSol hizo su debut en septiembre de 1993 durante la celebración del mes de la Hispanidad y realizó artísticos cultuales en las ciudades de Matamoros y Reynosa. Entre las diversas actividades y programas con los que cuenta CineSol, se encuentra el concurso de 24 horas para crear un cortometraje. Éste año, el evento se llevó a cabo el pasado 30 de abril en las instalaciones de Cine El Rey en el centro de McAllen. La hora de registro fue entre 8:30 y 10:30 horas, para mas tarde comenzar el reto. Fueron diversos los equipos y la temática de los cortometrajes, pero todos ellos lograron la creación de un material muy presentable a pesar de solo contar con pocas horas para realizar la selección del elenco, el desarrollo de la trama y la edición. Los jueces de éste año fueron Álvaro Rodríguez, Omar Rosales y Jay Cantú. Rodríguez es escritor desde la infancia y en colaboración con Robert Rogriguez, escribió una serie de cortos, además del famoso largometraje del 2010, Machete. Por su parte, Rosales, quien cuenta con una formación en Derecho y Antropología, es un cineastra multipremiado por su primer largometraje llamado “El cielo en el exilio”, en donde Rosales retrata la vida actual de los refugiados tibetanos y el Dalai Lama. En el Festival de Cine de Inglaterra ganó el premio a mejor película documental, al igual que es el festival de Sudáfrica, además de ser nominado al premio Rising Star. Se vivió un ambiente de camaradería y sobre todo mucho dinamismo por parte de los equipo creativos para cumplir con el cometido y presentar su proyecto el primero de mayo. “Creo que eventos cómo éste son los que nos motivan a seguir creando arte y a no desanimarnos”, dijo Mariana Gutiérrez, 25, actriz originaria de McAllen Texas. “Muchos cineastas y actores dejan sus sueños atrás al creer que sólo pocos cuentan con la suerte de lograr posicionarse en el mundo del cine, sin embargo, considero que se debe luchar siempre por los sueños”. CineSol planea seguir con éste evento anual esperando convocar más artistas cada año y demostrar y promocionar el talento del Valle de Texas. La presentación de los filmes será éste próximo siete de mayo a partir de las 19:00 horas en Cine El Rey, en donde los afamados jueces seleccionarán un ganador.

Las imágenes de mi infancia Una exposición con corazón mexicano nos regresa el folklor típico de una niñez en México. Por Sergio Giron The Pan American

El arte es una de las formas mas bellas y sofisticadas de transmitir una idea. Con un poco de inspiración un artista tiene la habilidad de comunicar un concepto que transmite amor, época, juventud y emoción al mismo tiempo. Así lo hizo Diego Monterrubio, un recién graduado de la maestría de artes finas, con una exposición titulada “Las imágenes de mi infancia: una memoria visual”. Esta exposición artística tomo lugar en la gallería Clark de el edificio de artes finas de la Universidad de Texas-Pan Americana el pasado tres de mayo y acogió a sus invitados con tentempiés como tamalitos norteños y aguas frescas típicas. El evento artístico, que duró aproximadamente tres horas, consistió de 23 piezas acomodadas alrededor de la galería pintadas fina y precisamente con temas de la cultura popular de México. La lotería, los juegos, la comida y el honorable puerto de Tampico fueron los tópicos que, a base de fuertes colores y cambiantes perspectivas, tomaron a los asiduos al arte a ver la vida desde

Reynaldo Leal /THE PAN AMERICAN TODO UN ARTISTA - Diego Monterrubio (izquierda) explica su exposición de Posgrado a un amigo y partidario. La exposición se extenderá hasta el 19 de mayo en la galería Clark. el punto de vista de un niño en un México menos contemporáneo. Monterrubio, quien es oriundo de Tampico y graduado de la universidad de Fresno, California comentó de donde provino la magia con la que pinto sus recuerdos: “Mi inspiración para este exposición viene de las imágenes de mi infancia; crecí en Tampico y esos momentos están grabados eternamente en mi corazón y alma. El titulo de la exposición es ‘Las Imágenes de mi Infancia: a visual memory’ y en estas piezas, trato de demostrar esos lindos momentos y artículos de ‘nuestra’ infancia”. Monterrubio, quien también ha expuesto mas de 30 veces sus obras en varios estados de la nación y hasta en Vietnam, declaró que ya logrando

Reynaldo Leal /THE PAN AMERICAN TOMA-TODO - Un toma-todo gigante estuvo en medio de la exposición que reﬂejaba la educación y herencia hispana de Diego Monterrubio.

este titulo de la maestría en UTPA en un cuadro con el fin de profundizar este 14 de mayo, regresa a California en la idea de la exposición. “Con vida, a seguir con sus exposiciones en Junio cada individuo debe encontrar un y Septiembre en Fresno, California y sentido de la serenidad. Para mí, para otro en San Francisco en el Otoño del crear, para pintar, es mi propósito, mi 2011. trayectoria a la paz. Fueron muchos Mis pinturas de arte los asistentes a tan son embajadores “ Mi inspiración para esta del pequeño reino, nostálgico evento artístico, diferentes exposición viene de las a veces entendido personas con mal, de nuestras imágenes de mi infancia. i m a g i n a c i o n e s diferentes historias se congeniaron, y en este reino Crecí en Tampico y para ver a través de mis imágenes esos momentos están materializan los ojos del artista. y “Pude visualizar a saturan mi trabajo. grabados eternamente la perfección los Todo lo que temas de inspiración imaginas, lo puedes en mi corazón y alma ” . del artista, me lograr” dijo con gustó mucho que muchísima alegría fue una exposición el ahora graduado grande con cuadros de la maestría con el divertidos, de esos fin de alentar a otros que puedes ver por Diego Monterrubio entusiastas del arte. horas pero lo que Fue así como Graduado de UTPA más me agrado fue la otro vástago del perinola gigante que colegio de artes finas le daba la bienvenida a los visitantes”, dejo su marca en el mundo artístico dijo María Sanmiguel, quien arribó utilizando el bello folclore de una por consejo de su maestro de diseño. infancia que lo marco para siempre. El orgulloso pintor, que además Junto a el partirá otra generación de de pintar cuadros también recurrió estudiantes cuyo intelecto y habilidad al arte plástico como una perinola se forjo en los recintos de UTPA pero gigante y un altar de la inspiración, cuyo legado se quedara para inspirar escribió un pensamiento que plasmo a muchos y aconsejar a otros.

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May 5, 2011

Broncs make it a good one Senior track and field athletes strive to finish collegiate career with regional-qualifying marks. By Michael Saenz The Pan American

would keep setting new goals. My goal this year was to hit 5-7 consistently and I’ve hit it three times so far.” Even though Sarmiento has inFor Melinda Sarmiento, participating in the high jump was never easy or creased in her jumps from year to year, clear. But through practice and great she wasn’t always sure that would hapcoaching she has overcome an early pen. She says that at her high school lack of experience to become an excep- things were disorganized and that things were very unclear for her especially in a tional leaper. “I had only one year of experience sport in which she just joined because coming out of high school, but the she wanted to stay active and have fun coaches were interested enough in me throughout her last days at Progreso. “I’ve accomplished much during the to help me and I knew it was a process,” Sarmiento said. “I was so inexperienced whole process of learning the sport in as a freshman that I learned something general. I love the competition and it new every day. There was always some- has become fun now, but there was a time when I had thing new for me no idea how the to do when I would sport worked. I come to practice.” “ I love the competition didn’t even know The Progreso nawhat regionals or tive knew she had a and it has become fun anything was,” chance at becoming now, but there was a Sarmiento said. a good jumper since “Once I got to she was fairly good in time when I had no idea UTPA and as I bevolleyball and baskethow the sport worked.” gan to gain knowlball in high school. edge about the The trick was whethsport itself, I starter or not she would ed understanding learn the sport quick Melinda Sarmiento that there were enough to reach her full potential. Senior ways to get better when at times “As I say, I was I had no idea that very inexperienced was possible. They and my freshman showed me techyear I learned a lot. During my sophomore year I began to niques that helped me get to where I learn the detailed version of things. After am now.” During Sarmiento’s junior and seI was confident, I began to set goals for myself. I’m Five-foot-four and I wanted nior year she has improved greatly, and to jump 5-5 consistently,” Sarmiento is currently ranked first in the Great said. “After I would accomplish one I West Conference and in the top 50 in

the nation. She looks to improve and complete her goals, which are to qualify for regionals and ultimately nationals. “I’m just trying to do it an inch at a time, next up is to hit 5-8 and I’m waiting for the moment,” she said. “I’m hoping to qualify for regionals after the Great West Conference Championships. I’m working hard each day for that moment.” If her accolades don’t speak for themselves, Assistant Track and Field Coach Xavier Richardson has seen Sarmiento day in and day out at UTPA and has nothing but praise for the senior jumper. “I came in here junior year, and she has been the hardest worker out there. You don’t have to keep watching her to make sure she does what she’s supposed to do. During practice she works hard and takes care of business,” Richardson said. “This year she has jumped much higher than the past years and we can attribute that to her hard work, dedication, and diligence. At times she’s looking up, literally, at her competition and she has mastered that mentality of not being intimidated. She loves what she does and is very passionate and focused.” Sarmiento is a senior majoring in criminal justice. After graduation she hopes to enroll in the academy in Austin to become a DPS trooper. JAMESON STRACHAN BREAKS SCHOOL RECORD The University of Texas-Pan American’s Jameson Strachan continued his vast improvement with another great

Alma E. Hernandez/THE PAN AMERICAN

MOST IMPROVED - Although Melinda Sarmiento of Progreso joined the UTPA track team only with one year of high-jump experience, she is now one of the most successful members of the team.

Jason Smith/THE PAN AMERICAN

ONE STEP AT THE TIME - Jameson Strachan broke the 400-meter dash school record last weekend at the Bobcat Invitational with a time of 46.60. performance at the Bobcat Invitational meet at Texas State University last week, breaking his own school record in the 400-meter dash with a time of 46.60. “Basically I’m taking it one step at a time. Every race is an obstacle and I’ve been able to overcome every one. I’m trying to keep my body healthy and stay focused on my next goal, which is to run an equivalent time of 45 seconds or better,” the senior sprinter said. “At this time I’m focused and ready for the Great West Conference Championships and beyond. The pressure is gonna be on me. Everyone is going to try to beat me, but I’m ready to take it all on full force.” After last weekend’s meet Strachan is ranked No. 33 in the nation in the event, and maintains a 1.53-second lead on Skylar Burningham of Utah Valley in the GWC individual standings. On Strachan’s recent success, track and field coach Dave Hartman had high praise. “Jameson ran an amazing race that will put him in position to advance to the NCAA Championships,” he exclaimed. Strachan arrived at UTPA in the spring of the 2008 semester after transferring from Dickinson State University. He is originally from Nassau, Bahamas. This year, he has progressed during each meet he has participated in and has broken his own school record in the 400m for the second time in the outdoor schedule. Yesterday the Great West Conference announced that Strachan was named Athlete of the Year for the week ending May 1. Next up on Strachan’s list is trying to break that 45-second barrier and advance past the conference level to regionals and beyond. “I would say getting that mark would be a career achievement for me, along with gaining my degree of course,” said the business major, who will graduate next weekend. “Last year I ran in the 47-second range and this year I’m trying to hit 45 seconds or under. I’m looking forward to the opportunity to finish my career here at UTPA on top.”

Besides Strachan and Sarmiento, Edinburg North ex Omar Doria broke Westly Keating’s 1,500-meter run school record by almost one second at the Stanford Cardinal Invitational. Keating’s record was 3:49.69 (2003); Doria ran a time of 3:45.57 last weekend at the track meet held in Palo Alto, Calif. Strachan, Sarmiento and Doria will look to improve and qualify for regionals at the GWC meet in Orem, Utah, May 12-14.

BRONC TRACKER WOMEN’S TENNIS GWC CHAMPIONSHIP Seattle 4, UTPA 0 North Dakota 4, UTPA 0

BASEBALL SERIES AGAINST HBU 4/29 4/30 4/30 5/1

W 16-4 W 10-2 L 13-12 L 12-9

MEN’S GOLF AMERICA SKY CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP 9 T17 T20 T37 T45 DQ

UTPA Santiago Bueno Kevin Kirakossian A.J. Gonzalez Johnatan Sloss Walker Barrett

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the pan american

May 5, 2011