September 22, 2011

Volume 68, No. 4

Fulbright Scholar resides at UTPA

WWW.PANAMERICANONLINE.COM

September 22, 2011

TIME FOR TUTANKHAMEN

By Alma E. Hernandez The Pan American

Bronc Village will be home to an international artist for the next nine months, as Mark Cloet, recipient of a Fulbright Scholarship and Belgianborn sculptor, will be UTPA’s Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence. Cloet received one out of approximately 50 Fulbright SIR grants awarded annually to international scholars. The grants give preference to college and universities with large minority populations and international programs. The Fulbright Scholar program was established in 1964 by Sen. J. William Fulbright of Arkansas and is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs. Susan Fitzsimmons, chair of the University art department, is responsible for bringing Cloet to the university. “When I first arrived at UTPA as chair, I thought the opportunity of bringing an artist of international fame to our campus would open the dialogue between students, faculty and the international art world,” she said. Because he was working for universities in Africa and Italy when he caught the attention of Fitzsimmons, Cloet says he was in the right place at the right time. Though they had never met she knew of his work, and was impressed by his involvement in the art communities of Belgium, France and Italy. Based solely on his work she took the initiative and worked on a proposal for the Fulbright grant Cloet received.

SEE FULBRIGHT || PAGE 5

Famous pharoah on display

Reynaldo Leal/THE PAN AMERICAN

THE KING IS HERE - The artifacts in the King Tut exhibit arrive at the Visitors Center for a show that will run Sept. 26 to Jan. 4. The artifacts are the only authorized replicas of the pharoah and his family. By William D. Mainous II The Pan American Reproductions of the Egyptian pharaoh King Tutankhamen and the artifacts found in his tomb will be on display at the University Visitors Center from Sept. 26 until Jan. 4. The exhibit will be open Monday through Friday between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Visitors may walk through alone or groups may request a tour through a form that is available at the front desk. Admission is free. Most of the 130 artifacts are made

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of wood and painted to look like golden treasures, and some are carved from alabaster. A few of the pieces are actual artifacts from the time period when King Tut lived (over 3,200 years ago), but most are fairly recent. The objects are all “cast to look like the real thing, with the flaws and all,” said Marty Martin, curator from The Origins Museum Institute, in an interview with the Arizona Daily Star earlier this year. This collection of treasures of the pharaoh is on loan from The Origins Museum Institute in El Paso, the Cairo Museum, and from private collectors. Some notable artifacts include the royal chariot and the iconic golden

mummy case. King Tut became the ruler of Egypt at age 7 in 1333 BC, and ruled Egypt until his death roughly a decade later. He reigned as pharaoh in Egypt’s eighth dynasty and was the 12th king in that dynasty. This magical figure’s death is a great mystery as there are no surviving records of Tut’s final days. Some research suggests he may have been assassinated. Other scholars, however, think an accidental death, like a broken leg that became infected or malaria, is a more likely explanation. After being hidden beneath the deserts of Egypt for thousands of years,

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Tut’s tomb was discovered by British archaeologist Howard Carter in 1922, and is the most complete Egyptian royal tomb ever found. It is also responsible for the infamous myth that anyone disturbing a pharaoh’s resting place will meet an early death. Researchers who have studied death records and journals of people involved with the discovery of a mummy say there is no evidence to support this claim. As HESTEC kicks off next week, the University will have twin fall highlights, with the King Tut exhibit expected to draw in thousands of visitors. “I am happy that the university will house the exhibit,” curator Martin said.

Making a Splash Cross country teams compete in Corpus Christi this weekend. Check out the story online Saturday.

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September 22, 2011 Vol. 68, No. 4

Opinion

THE PAN AMERICAN

A HEALTHY LAMENT TO NO ONE IN PARTICULAR

Karen Antonacci NEWS Editor During Bronc Camp this past summer, a group of incoming freshmen was treated to a presentation by the Office of the Dean of Students about A Complaint Free World. A Complaint Free World is a program started by Rev. Will Bowen in 2006 that wants people to wear their purple bracelets and when they catch themselves in a complaint to someone who can’t directly affect the problem, switch the bracelet to the other wrist. The idea is eventually people will stop deriding and griping and the world will be a better place…or something. The website puts it this way: “(Participants should) leave the toxic communication of complaining behind and experience an internal shift toward being more positive, hopeful and optimistic,” Of course the people at A Complaint Free World are all very hopeful and optimistic that participants will shell out bucks for Bowen’s books, DVDs, packages of bracelets or coffee thermoses. At the camp, people from the Office of the Dean of Students explained A Complaint Free World and

handed out the violently violet rubber wristbands to those new Broncs in attendance. Part of the Office’s mission states that the aim is to, “actively engage students in enriching opportunities that augment students’ intellectual and personal growth, and prepare them to be positive role models in a dynamic society.” That’s an admirable goal for sure, but does learning not to complain when something is unsatisfactory really help in personal growth or prepare people to be positive role models? I disagree on both counts. Sure, positive thinking is important, but I would venture to say that keeping a healthy, critical mind trained on the world around you is more vital by a hundredfold. The reality is that general complaints get things accomplished. A bevy of complaints and made to anyone who would listen (or not) have prompted mass action and exciting potential changes during the Middle East’s Arab Spring. I think it’s inappropriate for the office that coordinates so many student services and activities to send the message to a room full of impressionable almost-college students that they, basically, don’t want to hear it. So I encourage you, especially if you are new to the University, to complain. If you don’t like it, let someone know by all means. Make this place yours. Leave it better than you found it. A college education is not about, ““being more positive, hopeful and optimistic,” it’s about learning to be critical of the world around you and form your own opinions. And if you are reading this right now and you disagree vehemently, by all means, write us a Letter to the Editor and complain. We love ‘em.

1201 West University, CAS 170 Edinburg, Texas 78539 Phone: (956) 665-2541 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.

CO-EDITORS IN CHIEF: Alma E. Hernandez alma.e.hdz@gmail.com Roxann Garcia roxx.gar11@gmail.com NEWS EDITOR: Karen Antonacci keantonacci@gmail.com SPANISH EDITOR: Saira Trevino sairatrev@gmail.com SPORTS EDITOR: Michael Saenz mike_s2208@yahoo.com ARTS & LIFE EDITOR: Nadia Tamez-Robledo ntamezrob@broncs.utpa.edu PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR: Reynaldo Leal reynaldo_lealjr@yahoo.com DESIGN EDITOR: Erick Gonzalez erick.dgr@gmail.com INTERIM MULTIMEDIA EDITOR: Veronique Medrano veroniquemedrano@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

Francisco Rodriguez /THE PAN AMERICAN

The Pan American accepts letters of 300 words or less from students, staff and faculty regarding recent newspaper content, campus concerns or current events. We reserves the right to edit submissions for grammar and length. We cannot publish anonymous letters or submissions containing hate speech or gratuitous personal attacks. Please send all story ideas to thepanamerican@gmail.com. Individuals with disabilities wishing to acquire this publication in an alternative format or needing assistance to attend any event listed can contact The Pan American for more details.

September 22, 2011

Stepping up to the plate

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University administration fronting grant funds

By Karen Antonacci The Pan American Even though budget cuts have battered higher education since 2009, administrators can occasionally step into the breach to stem the tide of bad news. Due to a computer glitch with the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, TEXAS Grant disbursement was delayed for all state institutions. When The University of Texas-Pan American administration learned last Thursday of the pending delay of at least a week, a meeting was held to discuss what could be done to help the 4,500 students waiting on a check. “We determined that our students were not going to get funds and we know our students really depend on this so we wanted to see if there was anything we could do,” said Martha Cantu, acting vice president for the University. UTPA emailed the affected students and posted the status on Facebook, where many students expressed their dissatisfaction through comments. “We knew the students would be upset, and certainly it’s understandable,” Cantu said. “Many have been waiting on this money to buy books, or a lot indicated on Facebook they were waiting on the money to be able to

buy groceries, pay rent or to buy gas. That gave us even more reason to come together and try to find a solution.” UTPA’s TEXAS Grant allocation comprised the largest award in the state, because about a quarter of students enrolled receive the grant. Threequarters of students here receive some sort of financial aid. “We’re very unique in that it’s a large amount of money,” Cantu said. “It’s a lot harder for an institution to find funding when we have such a large amount.” The administration decided to look into existing financial resources to cover the $8 million that was owed to UTPA students, and then wait for the THECB to reimburse the University. “We looked at local dollars that we collect in tuition and things like that,” said Marty Baylor, vice president of business affairs. “So it’s money taken in in the past that hasn’t been expended yet.” The administration determined that the money would go first to students with direct deposit, and that disbursement would be posted to their accounts Monday. Checks were mailed out to the remaining recipients that same day. UTPA administrators expect the reimbursement to come from the THECB Sept. 22.

8 million

Approximate total Texas Grant dollars delayed

4,500

Students at UTPA that receive a Texas Grant

6 3

Days students would have to wait on money from the Coordinating Board Days students without direct deposit would have to wait

X 8,000,000 x 4,500

MONTH S M T W T F S

Erick Gonzalez/THE PAN AMERICAN

Student government outlines plans for campus By Daniela Diaz The Pan American The Student Government Association’s 7th Annual State of the Student Body Address was held Tuesday. The ballroom, where the event was held, was filled with athletes, students, faculty, and staff. The purpose of the address was to inform the student body of the four goals that the SGA will be working on during the school year: spirit, growth, accomplishment, and expansion on campus. After the address, everyone who attended was invited by SGA to go watch the volleyball game and support the Broncs. Among the speakers was President Robert Nelsen, who followed sophomore Matthew Garcia, a senator for the College of Science and Mathematics and a sergeant of arms for SGA. “I thought we had a great turnout tonight. There were great speeches by both of our presidents - our

UTPA president and our SGA president,” Garcia said. “It sounds like we’ve got a good year coming and I’m very excited.” The first goal SGA President Stephanie Corte introduced was the idea to strengthen and increase school spirit at UTPA. The group had been working on a partnership with Bronc athletics to execute the first SGA Olympics later this year. The event is designed to help promote athletics and increase turnouts at UTPA games. “We don’t want students to only experience a partial university life, but a full student life,” said Corte, a journalism student who was elected in the spring. The second goal was to promote student growth by helping students to become aware of what SGA does for them as well as the organizations on campus. The third goal was to promote student accomplishments by aiding students in acquiring internships and other career opportunities

through the career services office that will help prepare them for the job market. The last was expansion of SGA by reaching out to other such organizations in the Valley, at UT-Brownsville, South Texas College, and TSTC in Harlingen to form the first Rio Grande Valley SGA conference. “These four SGA’s will unite to share ideas, create innovative plans to benefit the valley as a whole and initiate friendships,” Corte said. George D. Galindo, SGA vice president, was also among the speakers at the event. He informed the audience on background information about student government during his speech and helped introduce Corte. “UTPA is my home and SGA was a family that I never knew until I became part of them,” Galindo said after the address was over. “They’ve opened up their arms to me and the community has never stopped helping us from the beginning. I thank everyone as a whole.”

Adrian Castillo/THE PAN AMERICAN

STUDENT IN CHIEF - Student Government Association President Stephanie Corte speaks to the student body during the Annual State of the Student Body Address Sept. 20 in the ballroom.

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September 22, 2011

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DREAM ACT SABBATH PLANNED By Susan Gonzalez The Pan American

Religious organizations spotlight immigration bill

A DREAM Act Sabbath will take place from Sept. 23-25 across the country in an effort to promote involvement and discussion of the pending law. Sen. Dick Durbin and Sen. Michael Bennet, of Illinois and Colorado respectively, initiated the event in order to raise awareness for the act, whose real name is The Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act, and enlist involvement from faith and spiritual organizations. The DREAM Act is a bill that is designed to give undocumented students the opportunity to earn legal status if they came to the United States as children, are long-term residents, have good moral character, and complete two years of college or military service in good standing. The bill was first introduced to legislation on Aug.1, 2001 and was reintroduced to the Senate on May 1, 2011. So far it has not managed to gain enough traction to become law. Now faith leaders such as UTPA Baptist Student Ministry director Robert Rueda are commonly in support of the controversial statute. “As a college pastor I pray for students that are affected by not being able to experience the American dream,” Rueda said. “I support and pray for the passage of

the DREAM Act. There Oct. 24, 2007 May 11, 2011 Act falls eight votes May 2006 are no documented and Sen. Harry Reid short of closure in Passes full Senate as Reintroduces act undocumented college Nov. 18, 2005 part of Comprehensive the Senate June 28, 2011 Reintroduced by Imigration Reform students in the eyes First-ever Senate July 31, 2003 Sen. Richard Durbin hearing before the of God. Only college Reintroduced in the Judiciary Commitee Congress, passes the students that God loves. Senate Judiciary I have faith that the day Commitee Sept. 23-25, 2011 will come when students Sen. Richard Durbin Aug. 1, 2001 will no longer have to Initiates Dream Act Bill first introduced live in fear or feel trapped to Congress Sabbath because they don’t have their legal status resolved. I can’t wait to see all college students having access to all the opportunities and experiences that a college education affords.” This opinion is also shared by BSM intern Tom Centrella. “I think that it is really unfair that people Karen Villarreal/THE PAN AMERICAN who have lived here their whole lives would since 2010. Josse Alex Garrido, an get deported,” said Centrella, who is organizations, they try to view the way we can. “I think it’s very diff erent here. Th is is situation from a spiritual standpoint. undocumented student who had originally from New Jersey. “Obviously if “In Jesus’s ministry he would say an immigrant country, and the laws need lived in the United States for nine you commit a crime and you’re an illegal citizen, then that’s a different case. But if to be good to the alien and treat them to somehow be fairer. But faith does play years, spoke out in favor of the bill you’re here and you’ve grown up here and with respect,” Centrella explained. a large role in treating them with dignity last September in a widely publicized you go to school here, and your whole life “Treat brothers and sisters with love and respect. Loving them no matter act. In addition, the Coalition for has been in the United States, and they and respect. I think that Jesus would where they come from, their background, Educational Opportunity led a march look at the situation in a similar way. nationality, country. If they’re here we along University Drive in October happen to catch you, then that’s unfair.” to support the cause. This same As of now, BSM does not have any And to treat those people that are here, need to show them that love.” UTPA students have expressed even if they are illegal, with respect organization also held a food strike plans to participate in the DREAM Act Sabbath, but like many religious and love and to help them in any their opinions on the DREAM Act and food drive in November.

SABBATH

FULBRIGHT continued from Page 1

Alma E. Hernandez/THE PAN AMERICAN

HERE TO WORK - Mark Cloet speaks with Mary Williams, a UTPA graduate student, in her studio Sept. 19. Cloet was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to spend the academic year at UTPA as a visiting scholar.

Having worked as an artist for over 25 years in Europe, Cloet describes an artist as the perfect union of three elements. “I think for me an artist is putting three things together,” he explained. “What he’s seeing, the way he’s thinking about what he’s seeing, and then his dream about those things. When someone has the possibility to put all those things together, maybe that’s an artist.” Cloet describes himself as a sculptor, stating that most of the time his end product is a bronze sculpture. What is produced, however, is not the most important part. “More important is the process, from the beginning to the end,” he stressed, “Once at the end there is an object, but before the object there are a lot of things going on. I’m making drawings, I’m talking with people, I’m working together with dancers and musicians sometimes. All of those pieces, the process, also that makes part of what is my art.” According to Cloet, if he had been asked two years ago where he would like to go, America wouldn’t have been very high on the list, and out of all the states in America, Texas was last on the list. But his feelings have changed. “If I have to be in America, I think

I have to be in this village, in the Rio Grande, because you can’t understand America without being here,” he said. “Here in Rio Grande you have really feeling with difference between cultures, with the border, with the consequence and inconsequence of life, what makes America. It’s very important to be here and I think there’s a lot of potential here, a lot of pure potential. So I’m happy to be here…the more I see, the more I want to see.” Cloet has only been in the area for about a month but is already making an impact on the Art Department, according to Fitzsimmons. “He has bought his energy and creative commitment. He is planning projects, working with students and faculty, and continuing his own creative work,” she reported. “He was a visitor artist in my drawing class, and I think he presented a fresh view on how to teach drawing, and where the students could take their work. Also, his interdisciplinary focus on philosophy and art is very interesting.” Currently Cloet has many projects in the works, so beginning next month look for exhibits, lectures, and workshops both on campus and at the IMAS Museum in McAllen.

THE PAN AMERICAN

Page 6

September 22, 2011

THE PAN AMERICAN

September 22, 2011

Imagen distorsionada Viviendo un trastorno alimenticio: La Bulimia Por Saira Treviño The Pan American

Foto por: Reynaldo Leal Diseño por: Erick Gonzalez Special Thanks to:

Kate Dirrigl

“Es una voz que me habla. No me deja. Es una fuerza mayor que yo. Una fuerza mayor que mi propia fuerza de voluntad, no me dejaba,” dijo Patricia. “Baje de 136 libras a 104 en menos de dos meses y medio. Estaba muy débil, anémica, frecuentemente me desmayaba, y siempre viva con cansancio,” comento Kate Dirrigl. La bulimia es un trastorno alimenticio relacionado con una imagen corporal distorsionada. Por el momento, la vulnerabilidad biológica sobre ella se desconoce. Lo único concreto que se sabe es que provoca una imagen distorsionada a la víctima de este padecimiento. Este reportaje relata la vida de tres jóvenes de la University of Texas Pan-American que sufren de alucinaciones corporales. Dos de estas estudiantes, Patricia y Daniela, son nombres utilizados para ocultar su identidad; en cambio, Kate Dirrigl es el nombre verdadero de esta estudiante de Teatro. “La verdad no sé como comencé con esto,” informo Patricia, quien presentemente comienza su segundo año en Panam. “Al principio me sentía orgullosa de mi misma, pero después me empecé a atar y mi libertad se fue disminuyendo, llegó un momento en que no pidia dejar de hacerlo (vomitar) sin sentirme culpable de lo que comía,” comparte Daniela, quien también empieza su segundo año universitario. Patricia ha sufrido de bulimia por un poco más de un año y comenta que cada día es una dolorosa batalla que ella misma intenta combatir desde sus 18 años, ahora ella tiene 20. En cambio Daniela comenzó a vomitar a sus 14 años de edad y Kate a los 15. Todas comparten que carecían de autoestima. “Estaba desesperada y quería bajar de paso. Eran mas grandes mis ganas de verme al espejo y que me gustara lo veía que mi salud,” mencionó Daniela. Victimas de la Bulimia sufren de imágenes distintas a las que en realidad presentan. “En mi última relación íntima recuerdo que miraba mi estomago para asegurarme que no estuviera de fuera y lo sumía. Era ridículo porque la persona me quería por quien era no por si mi abdomen estaba plano, pero como quiera no lo podía evitar,” cuenta Kate. La Bulimia no necesariamente es la actividad de sobre comer y luego eliminarlo por medio del vomito, sinó también el restreñimiento de alimentos necesarios. “Yo no como productos lácteos, pan blanco, papa, tortillas, carne roja, o cosas con mucha azúcar entre otros,” dijo Patricia. Kate relata que comenzó con memorizar “los contenidos caloríficos de todos mis alimentos, en un bufet yo veía números. Una manzana ya no era una fruta sino 80 calorías, si era de tamaño mediano o 120 si era grande.” Esta deficiencia se desarrolla con factores biológicos que se entrelazan con detalles sociales y psicológicos. Es importante reconocer que es difícil detectar la Bulimia ya que el peso del enfermo es normal y poco notable al bajar. “Cuando era pequeña se burlaban de mí porque estaba gordita. Al recordar lo que sentía me prometo jamás volver a engordad tome lo que tome,” recuerda Patricia. Cabe mencionar que este desorden se relaciona mayormente al temor de burlas sobre la apariencia física. Parte de los síntomas de la Bulimia son muy similares a los de la anorexia. “Era mi impulso a verme mejor y gustarme mas a mi misma,” menciona Daniela. Son señales

digeridas con la falta de satisfacción propia, la desintegración familiar, el abuso de bebidas alcohólicas y las drogas. Los individuos que se encuentra esclavizados frecuentemente temen engordad y constantemente se ven gordos a pesar de que su peso sea normal. “Las personas que sufren de Bulimia comen como locos, sin embargo pronto el temor a subir de peso se apodera de ellos causándoles el provocarse el vomito,” informó el Doctor Segundo Lizardo quien esta titulado como Doctor de Medicina en Pediatría y quien trata desordenes alimentarios en su consultorio en Mercedes, Texas. Lizardo comenta que la bulimia esclaviza comúnmente a las mujeres. Durante las edades entre 15 a 25 años, regularmente jóvenes universitarios son los que frecuentan desarrollar esta enfermedad. Se debe tomar en cuenta que muchas de estas obsesiones corporales se desarrollan en etapas cruciales en los adolecentes, ya que están experimentando nuevas fases en sus vidas. “Los jóvenes que tienen estos desórdenes comúnmente los mantienen en secreto. El anonimato sobre su enfermedad es algo que los ayuda a satisfacerse a sí mismo, es su escape,” comparte Rochita Sharma, quien trabaja en el Centro de Consejería de Panam. “No, nadie sabía. Yo no le decía a nadie, pero luego se comenzó a hacerse muy evidente. Me empezaron a salir pequeñas pecas rojas en la cara de tanta presión al vomitar. Siempre vivía con dolores de cabeza, de garganta, de estomago, incluso hasta dolor de dientes. Llegó un punto en que varias venas de mis ojos se reventaron por la presión que hacía,” recuerda Patricia. Esto no es solo mental, también se comienzan cambios negativos en el cuerpo. “Se empieza a crear una deshidratación y malnutrición muy grave. Gracias a los jugos gástricos del estomago, rupturas en el esófago y el estomago se comienzan a ver, también es muy probable que se desarrolle un desgaste dental. Llegara un punto en el que el cuerpo ya no podrá absorber ningún tipo de alimento,” informo Lizardo. Es más, una de cada cuatro mujeres Bulímicas muere a causa de esta atadura. “La mejor ayuda que se le puede dar a una persona que sufre de cualquier tipo de desorden es el poder escucharlos, en nuestro departamento de consejería brindamos toda la atención que se necesita,” da a saber Rochita Sharma. “La base principal de combatir con la Bulimia es aceptarse tal como Dios te creo. Aprende a amarte primero que nada y reconoce que tienes un problema,” aconsejo Lizardo. “No hay nada glamuroso en esto, el estar extremadamente flaca se siente muy feo. Han pasado tres años y aun sufro con mi visión corporal. La verdad no me avergüenzo de sufrir de esto, me gusta ser ejemplo y poder ayudar a otros,” comparte Kate. “Para curarse solo con terapia y ayuda psicológica. Hay medicamentos que ayudan a controlar el desorden al comer,” informo Lizardo. También informa que cuando la persona madura la imagen corporal también va cambiando. Si tú sufres de bulimia o algún otro trastorno al comer no estás solo, existe mucha ayuda que podrá sacarte de esa obsesión. Puedes acudir al Centro de Consejería de la universidad que se encuentra en el “University Center” salón 109 o puedes llamarles al 956-665-2574 o mandar un correo electrónico al counseling@utpa.edu. “Sola no pude combatir esta obsesión pero gracias a Dios y a otras que sufren lo mismo es menos la carga. Sé que nunca se irá pero poco a poco esa voz se callará y muy pronto me podré ver en el espejo y aceptarme como Dios me izo,” termina Patricia.

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THE PAN AMERICAN

Page 6

September 22, 2011

THE PAN AMERICAN

September 22, 2011

Imagen distorsionada Viviendo un trastorno alimenticio: La Bulimia Por Saira Treviño The Pan American

Foto por: Reynaldo Leal Diseño por: Erick Gonzalez Special Thanks to:

Kate Dirrigl

“Es una voz que me habla. No me deja. Es una fuerza mayor que yo. Una fuerza mayor que mi propia fuerza de voluntad, no me dejaba,” dijo Patricia. “Baje de 136 libras a 104 en menos de dos meses y medio. Estaba muy débil, anémica, frecuentemente me desmayaba, y siempre viva con cansancio,” comento Kate Dirrigl. La bulimia es un trastorno alimenticio relacionado con una imagen corporal distorsionada. Por el momento, la vulnerabilidad biológica sobre ella se desconoce. Lo único concreto que se sabe es que provoca una imagen distorsionada a la víctima de este padecimiento. Este reportaje relata la vida de tres jóvenes de la University of Texas Pan-American que sufren de alucinaciones corporales. Dos de estas estudiantes, Patricia y Daniela, son nombres utilizados para ocultar su identidad; en cambio, Kate Dirrigl es el nombre verdadero de esta estudiante de Teatro. “La verdad no sé como comencé con esto,” informo Patricia, quien presentemente comienza su segundo año en Panam. “Al principio me sentía orgullosa de mi misma, pero después me empecé a atar y mi libertad se fue disminuyendo, llegó un momento en que no pidia dejar de hacerlo (vomitar) sin sentirme culpable de lo que comía,” comparte Daniela, quien también empieza su segundo año universitario. Patricia ha sufrido de bulimia por un poco más de un año y comenta que cada día es una dolorosa batalla que ella misma intenta combatir desde sus 18 años, ahora ella tiene 20. En cambio Daniela comenzó a vomitar a sus 14 años de edad y Kate a los 15. Todas comparten que carecían de autoestima. “Estaba desesperada y quería bajar de paso. Eran mas grandes mis ganas de verme al espejo y que me gustara lo veía que mi salud,” mencionó Daniela. Victimas de la Bulimia sufren de imágenes distintas a las que en realidad presentan. “En mi última relación íntima recuerdo que miraba mi estomago para asegurarme que no estuviera de fuera y lo sumía. Era ridículo porque la persona me quería por quien era no por si mi abdomen estaba plano, pero como quiera no lo podía evitar,” cuenta Kate. La Bulimia no necesariamente es la actividad de sobre comer y luego eliminarlo por medio del vomito, sinó también el restreñimiento de alimentos necesarios. “Yo no como productos lácteos, pan blanco, papa, tortillas, carne roja, o cosas con mucha azúcar entre otros,” dijo Patricia. Kate relata que comenzó con memorizar “los contenidos caloríficos de todos mis alimentos, en un bufet yo veía números. Una manzana ya no era una fruta sino 80 calorías, si era de tamaño mediano o 120 si era grande.” Esta deficiencia se desarrolla con factores biológicos que se entrelazan con detalles sociales y psicológicos. Es importante reconocer que es difícil detectar la Bulimia ya que el peso del enfermo es normal y poco notable al bajar. “Cuando era pequeña se burlaban de mí porque estaba gordita. Al recordar lo que sentía me prometo jamás volver a engordad tome lo que tome,” recuerda Patricia. Cabe mencionar que este desorden se relaciona mayormente al temor de burlas sobre la apariencia física. Parte de los síntomas de la Bulimia son muy similares a los de la anorexia. “Era mi impulso a verme mejor y gustarme mas a mi misma,” menciona Daniela. Son señales

digeridas con la falta de satisfacción propia, la desintegración familiar, el abuso de bebidas alcohólicas y las drogas. Los individuos que se encuentra esclavizados frecuentemente temen engordad y constantemente se ven gordos a pesar de que su peso sea normal. “Las personas que sufren de Bulimia comen como locos, sin embargo pronto el temor a subir de peso se apodera de ellos causándoles el provocarse el vomito,” informó el Doctor Segundo Lizardo quien esta titulado como Doctor de Medicina en Pediatría y quien trata desordenes alimentarios en su consultorio en Mercedes, Texas. Lizardo comenta que la bulimia esclaviza comúnmente a las mujeres. Durante las edades entre 15 a 25 años, regularmente jóvenes universitarios son los que frecuentan desarrollar esta enfermedad. Se debe tomar en cuenta que muchas de estas obsesiones corporales se desarrollan en etapas cruciales en los adolecentes, ya que están experimentando nuevas fases en sus vidas. “Los jóvenes que tienen estos desórdenes comúnmente los mantienen en secreto. El anonimato sobre su enfermedad es algo que los ayuda a satisfacerse a sí mismo, es su escape,” comparte Rochita Sharma, quien trabaja en el Centro de Consejería de Panam. “No, nadie sabía. Yo no le decía a nadie, pero luego se comenzó a hacerse muy evidente. Me empezaron a salir pequeñas pecas rojas en la cara de tanta presión al vomitar. Siempre vivía con dolores de cabeza, de garganta, de estomago, incluso hasta dolor de dientes. Llegó un punto en que varias venas de mis ojos se reventaron por la presión que hacía,” recuerda Patricia. Esto no es solo mental, también se comienzan cambios negativos en el cuerpo. “Se empieza a crear una deshidratación y malnutrición muy grave. Gracias a los jugos gástricos del estomago, rupturas en el esófago y el estomago se comienzan a ver, también es muy probable que se desarrolle un desgaste dental. Llegara un punto en el que el cuerpo ya no podrá absorber ningún tipo de alimento,” informo Lizardo. Es más, una de cada cuatro mujeres Bulímicas muere a causa de esta atadura. “La mejor ayuda que se le puede dar a una persona que sufre de cualquier tipo de desorden es el poder escucharlos, en nuestro departamento de consejería brindamos toda la atención que se necesita,” da a saber Rochita Sharma. “La base principal de combatir con la Bulimia es aceptarse tal como Dios te creo. Aprende a amarte primero que nada y reconoce que tienes un problema,” aconsejo Lizardo. “No hay nada glamuroso en esto, el estar extremadamente flaca se siente muy feo. Han pasado tres años y aun sufro con mi visión corporal. La verdad no me avergüenzo de sufrir de esto, me gusta ser ejemplo y poder ayudar a otros,” comparte Kate. “Para curarse solo con terapia y ayuda psicológica. Hay medicamentos que ayudan a controlar el desorden al comer,” informo Lizardo. También informa que cuando la persona madura la imagen corporal también va cambiando. Si tú sufres de bulimia o algún otro trastorno al comer no estás solo, existe mucha ayuda que podrá sacarte de esa obsesión. Puedes acudir al Centro de Consejería de la universidad que se encuentra en el “University Center” salón 109 o puedes llamarles al 956-665-2574 o mandar un correo electrónico al counseling@utpa.edu. “Sola no pude combatir esta obsesión pero gracias a Dios y a otras que sufren lo mismo es menos la carga. Sé que nunca se irá pero poco a poco esa voz se callará y muy pronto me podré ver en el espejo y aceptarme como Dios me izo,” termina Patricia.

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September 22, 2011

Hit it and Quidditch Film

We need more zombies! The Pan American is putting together a short ﬁlm. No auditions are necessary to participate in the ﬁlming on Friday, Sept. 30. Contact Martha Flores to sign up: (956) 328-8654

Theater

Cine El Rey in downtown McAllen will kick off ﬁve Fridays of absolute pleasure with its ﬁrst screening of Rocky Horror Picture Show tomorrow. Tickets are $10 at the door. All showings start at midnight. Doors open at 11 p.m.

By Nadia Tamez-Robledo The Pan American The Valley could be poised for a shortage of brooms, dodge balls and lighting bolt-shaped temporary tattoos if the University’s newest club has its way. The Muggle Quidditch League at UTPA will have its first meeting at noon today in the Student Union’s Sage Room. The club hopes to recruit at least two teams’ worth of players for quidditch, a fictional sport played by the broom-flying wizards of author J.K. Rowling’s “Harry Potter” series. While it has been adapted for ground play by muggles, or non-wizards, dust-sweeping apparatuses are still a part of the action. “We run around with brooms between our legs,” communication major Mariely Segovia, the group’s vice president, said matter-of-factly. “It’s a cross between rugby, tag and dodge ball. Mostly dodge ball.” What started six years ago as a game adapted by students at Middlebury College in Vermont has transformed into a world-wide alternative sport with its own governing body, regulations, and World Cup. The International Quidditch Association oversees Harry Potter fans on six continents who have taken the fictional

Francisco Rodriguez/THE PAN AMERICAN

snitch.” In the muggle version of the game, a cross-country runner dressed in yellow from head to toe plays the part of the golden snitch. Seekers must grab a ribbon,

flag-football-style, from the snitch’s belt. “The snitch can get really dirty with you, and they don’t have brooms, so they run faster,” Segovia said.

SEE QUIDDITCH || PAGE 9

Skaters to promote unity, culture

By Roxann Garcia The Pan American

Brandon Garcia will belt out the 80s ﬁnest hits Tuesday at Simon Sez in McAllen. The show starts at 10 p.m. 21+

game from the silver screen to their own backyards and college quads. “The objective of the game, like any game, is getting the ball through the hoop,” said Julio Cruz, a business major and president of the Muggle Quidditch League at UTPA. “It’s kind of like dodge ball where you’re supposed to score while avoiding getting hit.” Like the magical sport that inspired it, muggle quidditch is played with seven members on each team. PVC pipemounted hula-hoops that serve as goals are on opposite ends of the playing field. “Chasers” try to score points by throwing a ball through the hoops while “beaters” pelt them with “bludgers,” dodge balls whose magical counterparts were infamous for sending quidditch players to the sidelines with a cadre of injuries in the books and films. “Keepers” act as goalies. “We went to downtown McAllen, and we got seriously creative with this,” Raye Dickenson, a senior psychology major and club secretary, said of gathering materials to play a practice game. “We don’t have anyone to regrow bones here, so that was an issue.” In the books, the match is over when players called “seekers” capture a hummingbird-size golden ball known as the “golden

Among the things two students who spend most of their time on opposite ends of campus have in common are a board with wheels and a passion for skateboarding. Freshman Krystal Esparza and junior Enrique Soto are forming a new club called One Foot Forward, which will be dedicated to the on campus skateboarding culture that is evident by the dozens of students seen rolling around on a daily basis.

“We chose this name because you’re always standing on your board with one foot forward, whether it’s your left or right,” said Esparza, a business management major. “But the message is that no matter what, we’re pushing forward, whether it’s just skating, school or everyday.” San Benito native Soto and Mission native Esparza ran in the same social circles around the Rio Grande Valley but finally met via Facebook after Soto recognized Esparza, who is sponsored by American Athletics, through her Youtube.com videos.

Only 19 years old and in her first year on campus, she’s already quickly moving to making the club a reality. The idea didn’t bloom overnight. Esparza had conjured the idea after meeting a fellow skater from Washington. “We like to skate stair sets and handrails, but when you’re not from the area, you don’t know where anything is,” she said. “Initially I thought, ‘Why don’t we make a group and invite people from out of town so that they can meet locals? We could all skate together.’ From there, all these ideas

just grew.” Soon after, Esparza contacted other members of the campus skate community with her idea. It was then that Soto jumped in on the plan. “Six months ago when I moved here, I wanted to do something like this,” said Soto, a psychology and philosophy double major. “I wanted there to be a skating culture, but I never thought this could get passed. Instead of trying, I just let the idea drift away, but then Krystal approached me with this, and we’ve been all about it since.”

SEE SKATE || PAGE 9

Beneﬁt

Valley environmentalists will march, bike, and scoot from McAllen City Hall to Archer Park Saturday in support of making the city less reliant on fossil fuel-using transportation. The meetup is at 6 p.m. and will end with a pachanga in the park. Call (956) 6488831 for more information.

Freddie Martinez /THE PAN AMERICAN

KICKIN’ IT - Enrique Soto, a junior philosophy and psychology double major, performs a series of tricks at the Edinburg Skate Park on the corner of Jackson Road and Sprague Street.

September 22, 2011

QUIDDITCH

SKATERS

continued from Page 8

club to be.” She hopes to teach people how to skate while also broadening the understanding of the skateboarding lifestyle. Once they’ve attained enough members and funds, the next goal is to create a local competition for skateboarders. Esparza and Soto also hope to help in renovating old skate parks in areas such as Edinburg and Mission. “We want to Freddie Martinez/THE PAN AMERICAN help in fixing battered and VERTICALLY INCLINED - Freshman beaten down Krystal Esparza lands a “pop parks, maybe shove tail grab.” even open up With close to 12 members a new park,” behind them so far, the duo Esparza said. “Our community is in the process of filling out involvement will mainly the necessary paperwork at the be getting with the skate Office of Student Development. community and helping it grow “I’m excited about writing up and get better. We don’t have a our own constitution,” Esparza lot here in the Valley. We have said. “We’re going to make it maybe one good skate park and exactly with what we want the it’s in Brownsville.”

continued from Page 8 Soto has been skating for 12 years now while Esparza has cruised the local parks for nearly six. Both skateboarders became interested in the sport after having watched friends and family take it up as a hobby. One of their goals is to alter the bad reputation skateboarding has in the community. “It has its pros and cons,” Esparza said. “There’s always some who ruin it for the rest. Sometimes it’s bad attitudes or they become bad influences to younger kids.” Although this may be true for some, Soto believes there is still a strong sense of unity in the culture. “At the park, it’s a brotherhood,” he said. “Even if there’s someone you don’t like, your goal is to one-up that person, and that just adds to your skating.” The duo hopes to have the project off the ground by midsemester. Esparza isn’t worried about interest on campus. “Once you start, it’s like a crazy addiction,” Esparza said. “Nothing else compares. You can go play any other sport and it’s not going to feel as good as skateboarding.”

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