August 29, 2011

Volume 68, No. 1

IS YOUR DEGREE STILL WORTH IT?

WWW.PANAMERICANONLINE.COM

August 29, 2011

UTPA lands $72M

By Roxann Garcia The Pan American

Part I of “The Identity of the University” Series

Reynaldo Leal/THE PAN AMERICAN

By Karen Antonacci The Pan American “Q: How do you improve the aerodynamics of a music major’s car? A: Take down the pizza sign.”

Gabriela Bravo, a 19-year-old San Juan native who is double majoring in music and nursing, said she was all too familiar with this type of liberal arts major stereotype.

“A common one is when I tell them that I’m a music major, the next thing I hear is, ‘OK, what’s your real major?’” she said.

In regard to her double major, Bravo said that both of them interest her, but nursing offers more job security.

“In the event I don’t do well in music, nursing is a guaranteed job and it pays well enough to survive off of,” she said. “People are always sick.”

While the high school counselor mantra about earning more money with a college education than without holds true – just a bachelor’s degree caused incomes to jump up an estimated $26,000 annually according to the National Center for Education Statistics -- not just any degree will nab those higher salaries.

Science, technology, engineering and mathematics students are more in demand than others, leading many to wonder if, in

this economy where a job offer can be rare, is it still worth it to incur considerable debt for a non-STEM major?

Shaney Flores, former chair of the UT System Student Advisory Council who recently graduated with a English/ psychology double major said that life after graduation was uncertain for a while.

“I spent a lot of time filling out applications, trying to get interviews and find out about openings from anyone I knew who could help me,” Flores said.

Not only do non-STEM majors take longer to find a job, they also earn less per year than their peers. A 2009 NCES study recorded median annual income for students a year after they received their bachelor’s.

STEM students pulled in an estimated $12,000 more than their counterparts.

With student loan debt a major player in household finances, that salary difference would allow STEM students to pay off loans more quickly and make way for other expenses and/or investments.

OUTLOOK BLEAK FOR CREATIVE FIELDS So-what does all that student debt buy you? Many see college as an investment for a future career but a similar NCES study that caught up with students 10 years after

they earned undergrad diplomas suggests that for some majors, a bachelor’s is not very useful.

While the majority of business and education students had careers pertaining to their major, those from arts and humanities and social and behavioral sciences had extremely low numbers of students working in those fields after 10 years.

On the STEM side of things, however, every single major sent the vast majority of students into their chosen careers. Looking at the majors individually, for example, shows that both computer science and engineering students are a full four times more likely to work in their field than are those from arts and humanities subjects, such as English, sociology, or art.

The few number of professional musician positions compared to the high demand for nurses prompted Bravo in her plans to try music first and then go back and finish nursing if it doesn’t work out.

“The nursing degree is obviously more useful than the music, but it depends on what kind of job you’re looking at,” she said. “Plus, if you want a job in the music area, you need a degree plus a considerable amount of luck, connections, and of course, talent.”

Although many of the non-STEM

Median Annual Earnings for Full-Time Young Hispanic Workers

majors went on to work outside their chosen field, interestingly, data on career perceptions were very similar for STEM and non-STEM students.

About 90 percent of both groups said they considered their current work a career and about 60 percent said that their undergraduate education was very important to their job.

Flores agrees. After adamantly searching for a job for three months after graduation, he landed a position managing a cognitive psychology lab at Washington University in St. Louis.

Even though it only officially makes use of one of his degrees, Flores said he would major in psychology and English again if given the chance.

“One got me my current job while the other one helps me to better understand and interpret materials I have to read,” said the 22-year-old Harlingen native. “A STEM field degree would have certainly gotten me a job faster and that paid more, but I have learned that while those things are important, what is more important is that you do what you love. In the long run, I don’t mind sacrificing money and job offers for something I love doing.”

Student debt and median salary STEM vs Non-STEM Salary

Salary

$ 48,000

Bachelor’s degree or higher Some College

$ 34,500

vs Debt

$ 22,800

73.4% 56.8%

Debt

$ 22,800

62.5%

56.0%

High School or GED STEM

Non-STEM

BA Required in Job Source: HTTP://NCES.ED.GOV

STEM

Non-STEM

Job Related to Major

Erick Gonzalez/THE PAN AMERICAN

In one day the Rio Grande Valley received over $72 million in funds to be directed at creating a long-awaited home for the arts, as well as support for science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and healthcare education at UT institutions.

The University of Texas System Board of Regents approved a $30 million plan to expand educational programs, recruit faculty and bolster operations in the lower part of the RGV while also approving the construction of a nearly $42.7 million Fine Arts Academic and Performance Complex at The University of TexasPan American.

“With over one-third of all UT System students attending institutions in South Texas…investments such as the board is making in this region are vital…to a chronically underserved area of the state.” Regents’ Chairman Gene Powell said in a news release.

The decision comes almost two months after a controversial 30-day special session held in June where the 82nd Texas Legislature slashed funding for programs in health and human services and education.

After all that painful budget cutting in the past year, the Valley is getting a helping hand, as Thursday the Regents unanimously approved an action plan recommended by UT System Chancellor Francisco G. Cigarroa. And UTPA had some input sometime ago, as it turns out.

“When I first got here there was a retreat where all the presidents got together,” President Robert Nelsen said. “The Chancellor came forward and asked us what are some of the things we want to focus on to make sure we succeed. We then came up with several initiatives. One was keeping Austin at the level they’re at, another was emerging research universities and making sure they got Tier One. But one was to do something for education in the Valley.

We just kept morphing a plan. It was once a booklet of 40 pages and then it became three pages. We finally had something for the Regents.”

As part of the “Framework for Advancing Excellence throughout The University of Texas System,” the recommendations of the Task Force on Productivity and Excellence and the Task Force on Blended and Online Learning, the LRGV plan reflects important steps forward in increasing productivity and improving academic quality.

Within the framework the board also committed $234.6 million for projects across the 15 other institutions and System Administration.

SEE UT SYSTEM || PAGE 5

2

August 29, 2011

Letter from the Editors

Alma Hernandez & Roxann Garcia Co-Editors in Chief With a new year comes not one, but two new editors-in-chief - Roxann Garcia and Alma E. Hernandez. With these two there’s always two points of view.

Alma, or “Almz” came out of the womb with a camera in her hand. The Weslaco native started studying photography in Austin

Former Photo Editor vs. former News Editor

before transferring to UTPA. She started at the paper as photo editor and is always pushing the visual quality of the newspaper and website.

Roxann, or “Rox” on the other hand, can win the prize in AP Style trivia and has a love affair with journalism. The San Benito native came on the paper as a reporter and then served as news editor. Rox always wants the best reporting on the most relevant topics.

Here’s the marriage-like bickering that produces our tightrope-walk of a paper: R: I like photos but not when they take space from a story.

A: The first thing someone looks at is photos, then the cutline.

R: No I think the first thing an eye is drawn to is the headline.

A: Eyes are drawn to a photo, especially if it’s a good photo.

The main goal of this duo has been, however, to bring a more collaborative effort to the table whether it’s photo- or story-driven.

With the combined efforts we produced this quality paper, with many more to come.

Last year, just like everyone else, The Pan American felt the effects of budget cuts and we’ve reduced our print edition from 16 pages to 12 pages. This means more content will be delivered through the website at panamericanonline. com and in an effort to make the site more user-friendly staff webmasters have redesigned it.

And a second redesign will debut in January, with each successive innovation emphasizing stories you can only find on the Web, with more videos and plenty of image galleries.

Tackling social media, The Pan American has also introduced Facebook, Twitter and Flickr pages to keep readers better connected.

This is only the first step in our Public Relations outreach project. Another endeavor is our 5th Annual High School Conference set to take place Sept. 24. Invite your little brother or sister.

Every year the first paper of the fall semester includes a Letter from the Editor announcing the new direction for the semester.

And it’s always boring. The

bottom line of ours is keep up with your university news, so check out our website and most importantly send in any ideas or concerns.

Believe it or not, we’re interested.

We hope you enjoy a brand new semester.

-EICs

Vol. 68, No. 1

THE PAN AMERICAN 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

Illustrations by Francisco Rodriguez

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.

August 29, 2011

3

UTPA staff accepts voluntary separation plan Veteran librarian George Gause and VP of UTPA Advancement Janice Odom discuss their years of service and their decision to take early retirement

By Belinda Munoz The Pan American

For the New York native, who first began working with Pan American University at Brownsville in 1973 As the University sought to as a library coordinator, the love for continue its budget cuts that libraries and gathering information have now totaled an estimated $4 started with an out-of-state trip to visit his friend in Austin. There, Gause billion, a number of encountered employees accepted the Texas the voluntary State Library separation plan offered in the “ So I figure, okay six and Archive, where he spring and will monthsʼ salary. Iʼve got discovered an soon bid farewell unexpected to UTPA. two months of vacation. branch in his According to family tree.

So that is eight months.

George Gause, “Really, it long-time special If I take all of that, by was a (family) collections librarian, branch from taking the voluntary the time that runs out, I the Carolinas separation plan that migrated will be 65.

Hasta Luego! seemed like the best to Texas and fit for him at the Basic mathematics. Good f o u n d e d right time.

Gause, Texas,” “As you know, opportunity. ” he recalled.

Pan Am, and the “There was state of Texas, is i n f o r m a t i on experiencing some on Gause, George Gause economic difficulty, Texas (and) Special Collections librarian and Pan Am as a Bill Gause, the whole offered a founder…I volunteer retirement started doing package,” Gause said. “What that would be is, for all this photocopying…and I knew anyone who took them up on it, we had to be related. I went home to six months’ salary. So I figure, okay the family Bible and it went all the six months’ salary. I’ve got two way back to 1762.”

After concluding that he was in fact months of vacation. So that is eight months. If I take all of that, by the related to Bill Gause, Gause’s passion time that runs out, I will be 65. for acquiring information grew.

Hasta Luego! Basic mathematics. He went on to obtain his masters in library science from George Good opportunity.”

Peabody in Nashville, Tenn.

Gause has kept his passion for archiving alive in the past 38 years he has spent as librarian for UTPA. Here, he obtained and identified materials that pertain to Laredo, Corpus Christi, Brownsville, Victoria and the Mexican regions of Tamaulipas, Nuevo Leon and Coahuila.

He explained that one of his most important duties is finding information for students, which piques their interest and is Reynaldo Leal/THE PAN AMERICAN simultaneously READY TO RETIRE- After nearly four decades assisting students at the university helpful for their essays, research library, George Gause is trading stacks of books for rows in his garden. and dissertations.

“I try to get the relations and director of development to move us ahead a little further than student to think, ‘why are you writing at UTPA (from 1994-2000) and is I have been able to.” on that, how much breadth do you currently vice president of university Odom, whose current duties want to give it? ’’ he said. “Don’t advancement since returning from include fundraising for the university come in here with high hopes going, The University of Texas at San and working with university ‘I want to do the history of the Rio Antonio in 2008. For her, the marketing and communications in Grande Valley in two pages.’ That’s decision to relinquish her position the areas of public affairs, media impossible. So we start working and was a tough one to make. relations and alumni relations, will getting it down... Don’t write on “I love being on a university pass on her duties Aug. 31. She said something that campus. I love working on behalf of she hoped that the next vice president doesn’t interest students,” she said. “Down here it is will continue to make fundraising for you, unless you like everything we do matters, you the university a top priority. just have to.” know, whether it is out there raising Admittedly, Odom explains that Upon his money for scholarships or raising she does have a few loose ends to tie departure Gause money for an endowed chair in up upon her retirement. admits that he engineering or “I’ll stay busy,” will miss the money for preOdom said. interaction with medical honor “Eventually I “ I love being on a university both UTPA college.” might have to get students and At 68 years a paying job but campus. I love working on others that come old and with I’m going to take to do research an estimated some time and go behalf of students ” from UT Austin, 50 years of to my 50th high the University e x p e r i e n c e school reunion in of North Texas, in higher the fall at Irving Harvard, Yale e d u c a t i o n , High School and Janice Odom and Stanford. Odom stated go way out to VP of University Advancement However, Gause that she never Mexico Highlands is also excited felt pressured to for homecoming, about having retire, but took which I have more time to read the option to not had time The Monitor, leave since she would have most likely to do since I worked out there for take siestas, retired in about a year or two anyway. my master’s.” and maintain “When the opportunity for the While Odom was asked by her his garden. voluntary separation came, I was on son and daughter-in-law to serve the President’s Cabinet and we talked as an assistant editor for their PR ODOM ALSO a lot about that and the budget and marketing company based in SAYS GOODBYE situations and so forth,” Odom said. San Antonio, she has not accepted.

“It’s a good opportunity for me, Instead, Odom would like to stay in Reynaldo Leal/THE PAN AMERICAN Janice Odom with the voluntary separation plan, Edinburg where she will be readily once served but also I truly feel it is the right available to volunteer with the UTPA NOT YOUR AVERAGE VP - Janice Odom has done much to advance the university as director time for the university to bring new alumni office this fall and attend and, even after retirement is looking forward to remaining active with UTPA. of university leadership into this division and try Bronc ball games.

Page 4

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August 29, 2011

August 29, 2011

5

Degree 37 years in the making

Rancher granted diploma for his life experience

By Roxann Garcia The Pan American The University of TexasPan American President Robert Nelsen awarded an unsuspecting Commencement Speaker Carlos Guerra after the latter had concluded his speaker’s address in front of a crowd of 413 graduates, provoking a tear-jerking moment for many.

Guerra, only three hours shy of a degree in 1974, was the first to receive his bachelor’s degree in business administration Aug. 20 during the first of two commencement ceremonies at the McAllen Convention Center.

“I was humbled and shocked; it was a dream come true,” Guerra said.

“I had no clue; as a matter of fact, I’ve always told my daughters that I was going to be their roommate in college.”

Nelsen took pleasure in handing the 59-year-old his well-earned degree.

“This made me very happy to give it to someone who definitely deserves it,” said Nelsen, who begins his second year in the UTPA presidency.

“He’s completely dedicated to the university.”

According to Nelsen, the successful cattle rancher and owner

of La Muneca Cattle Co. completed a statistics course in ’74 with a D. The grade kept him from getting his diploma.

“We were doing some research on Mr. Guerra for his biography,” Nelsen continued. “We found out that he did not pass his statistics course and once he got married, and had his kids, he was unable to continue. We then researched if we could give him a degree based upon experience.”

The University quickly discovered it was possible to award hours based upon experience and appropriate in this situation since Guerra, along with his wife, Ofira, have operated the La Muneca since 1989. Guerra has been a part of the cattle business since 1963 along with his father and brother.

The Edinburg native is an avid supporter of the University, having donated over $600,000, according to Nelsen. The Guerra family has sponsored the honors program as well as a scholarship fund that awards money to 30 to 40 students every year.

Guerra was more than happy to return to the University, especially as commencement speaker.

“It was a tremendous honor for me to be able to come back to this

institution that we love and be a part of this,” he said.

Guerra noted in his speech a conversation he once had with a friend in which they discussed their favorite years in college. He quickly admitted his senior year was his favorite because that’s when he met his future wife. His friend soon revealed that his freshmen year was his favorite.

“He said those were the best three years of his life,” Guerra repeated to a room filled with laughter. “Do not let this happen to you.

You’re going to drop Alma E. Hernandez/THE PAN AMERICAN a class or two, make a ‘D’ or two and have LEVEL UP! - Carlos Guerra gives a commencement speech at UTPA to retake those classes.

It may not seem that graduation Aug. 20 at the convention center. President Nelsen important then but, surprised Guerra who was three hours short of earning his degree guess what, four years during the ceremony. later when your fiancé Guerra is not quite sure as to some words of wisdom for him. is graduating and has a job and you “My son says I have to get a job still have to take six to nine more what he’ll do next with his newfound degree.

His son however, does have now,” he said with a smile. hours, it’s going to hurt.”

As part of a joint endeavor with UT-Brownsville the 15,000-squarefoot simulated teaching hospital at the Regional Academic Health Center in Harlingen, a branch of the UT Health Science Center San Antonio, will simulate care in the real world through planned events that are coordinated with the curricula of the programs involved, according to Cigarroa’s recommendation.

The new facility will include 20 fully functional simulates hospital beds and designated teaching areas for Trauma/ER, Obstetrics and Pediatrics and Medical/Surgical simulations. Approximately $10 million has been allocated for the hospital and $4 million for biomedical research program, another joint endeavor including UTB, Regional School of Public Health in Brownsville, and the Laredo Regional Campus.

The multi-campus and communitybased research program is expected to leverage existing research strengths among its entities and lay a foundation for students to engage in STEM and health research.

Such a move improves the chances of locating a future medical school in the South Texas region, an idea discussed

during the 81st Texas Legislature in 2009. Currently a number of medical students from UTHSCSA

UT SYSTEM

continued from Page 1 The Chancellor’s framework was initially presented at a Board of Regents meeting in May while Powell, a Weslaco native, formed the special task forces in February.

“The initiative is based on the principle that higher education can continue to make a marked difference in this vital region of Texas, but there is still much to do,” stated the recommendation from Laredo native Cigarroa. “The LRGV region has potential for further economic development…but is challenged by explosive population growth, a lower per capita income, and educational opportunities that do not meet the demand.”

BREAKING DOWN THE NUMBERS According to Matthew Flores, spokesperson for the Board of Regents, funding comes from two places, permanent university funds and institutional funds. According to UTPA President Nelsen, very little of the latest funding will come from the first area.

“Most of the money is coming from interest,” he said. “That means all of the interest the University is making off funds that we have invested in other projects.

A little bit (of Permanent University Funds) will only go to the simulated teaching hospital.”

$ 72 Million Erick Gonzalez/THE PAN AMERICAN

complete clinical rotations at the RAHC in Harlingen. However because there is a limited number of existing residency opportunities in South Texas, the LRGV plan will focus $1.5 million in order to expand these residency programs.

The Regents or Cigarroa did not take the goal ‘of faculty recruitment’ lightly, in that with the biomedical research program another $4 million has been allocated to establish UTeach programs in STEM education and engineering.

UTeach is a teaching recruitment program that prepares students who are pursuing their degree and who may have an interest in teaching. Both UTB and UTPA in collaboration with Texas State Technical College and South Texas College will team up to eventually train 200 LRGV teachers and serve over 1,200 students.

“You work with cohorts of kids over the years and so you identify yourself as a teacher early on in a STEM field,” Nelsen said. “By the time you leave, you’ve worked fours years with students, you know whether or not you want to be a teacher. It’s a great opportunity.”

In addition, $9.5 million is allotted to establish a faculty recruitment

program to attract STEM educators and researchers looking for teaching opportunities in the area.

“We’re looking for starters,” he said.

“These will be people with national reputations. We need new faculty and to have the quality of high-caliber faculty such as these is really going to be marvelous.”

Lastly $1 million has been appropriated to augment philanthropic efforts at UTB and UTPA through the Strength in Numbers program.

The proposed center to replace the University’s existing Fine Arts Auditorium and Fine Arts Annex will be a modern, state-of-the-art facility that will add nearly 14, 500 square feet of space to current capacity. Completion of the projected 1, 000-seat theater is expected by October 2014.

This is a project that has been on again, off again, for some time. But now it appears headed for fruition. So are some other University plans, as the chancellor’s plan was music to the ears of the UTPA administration.

“I’m thrilled, I really am,” Nelsen said. “We’ve been through some tough times, some really tough times. The sheer fact that they’re willing to invest in us and believe in the Valley makes me proud.”

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August 29, 2011

UTPA theater group gains national attention

Art

The university library will unveil Gerardo Gonzalez’s art exhibition “Interlocking Animals” at a reception in its first-floor gallery Tuesday. The event begins at 5 p.m., and the artwork will be on display until Sept.

30. Refreshments will be served.

CineSol will kick off its 18th annual film festival Saturday at the Texas State Technical College Cultural Arts Center in Harlingen. Films and workshops start at 12 p.m. Admission is $5 per day event and $10 per evening event. www.cinesol.com

The South Texas Rolleristas will host a benefit show Saturday to help cover the medical bills of an injured comrade. The music starts at 9 p.m. at Club Euphoria in Harlingen. Bands include Black Lung, Suicide Drive and Seafoam Green.

Benefit

Roosevelt’s at 7 in downtown McAllen will host an extra special happy hour Thursday.

Your first drink is free with a $10 at-the-door donation to benefit the McAllen Children’s Cancer and Hematology Clinic. www. facebook.com/rooseveltsat7

By Alma E. Hernandez The Pan American

For the first time in University history, its theater group has made a habit of performing outside of the state of Texas, telling personal stories of how the violence in Mexico has forever changed people’s lives. The Latino Theater Initiative is made up of current and former UTPA students living on both sides of the border and has done its work in New Orleans, Chicago, and New York City so far.

Its mission is to strengthen the presence of Latino theater at UTPA, bring more cultural, Latino-style theater to the Valley and build networks with Mexican theater and theater artists. Conceptualized in December 2009 by Eric Wiley, associate professor of communications and faculty adviser to the Latino Theater Initiative, the group didn’t officially apply to become an organization until last winter.

Members began performing informally in the spring of last year. Their first work was “La Lente Maravillosa,” (The Marvelous Magnifying Glass), a Spanishlanguage children’s play. They performed in local elementary schools reaching over 1,500 Spanish-speaking students. Next, the troupe intended on travelling south of the border to perform for audiences in Northeastern Mexico but a University of Texas System ban on universitysponsored travel prevented them from entering Mexico.

From this experience, “Crawling With Monsters” was born, a theater/commentary piece written anonymously about violence on the border and its consequences. The show features 17 performers and according to Wiley is targeted toward audiences outside the Valley who aren’t familiar with the situation across our border.

“We’re not reporters,” he says.

“It’s more a human interest perspective, about children, stories that children tell, things that children say. That’s, I think one

of the reasons the show moves audiences, it’s not the usual newspaper story about how many people were killed last night or about how many pounds of marijuana were found, it’s kind of a disarming piece that has more to do with the consciousness of children and the effects of the fear on families and people…it’s kind of moving and different than the usual stories.”

Over the past year the troupe has performed in New Orleans, Chicago and New York City. The first of those performances was last November as part of the third annual New Orleans Fringe Theater Festival. It was in New Orleans that “Crawling With Monsters” drew the attention of Joe Furnari, treasurer of the American Alliance for Theatre and Education, a leading organization of educational theatre. The show had such an impact on Furnari that he invited the group to perform at this year’s AATE’s annual conference as well as submit a scholarship proposal to AATE to help fund their trip to the conference.

This year’s AATE conference was held in Chicago from July 27-31. The Latino Theater Initiative performed “Monsters” twice, and according to Furnari, both shows received standing ovations.

“Both here and in New Orleans, people were so moved by it, they wanted to talk and find out more and just really embrace the students, their courage in doing it. It had such a profound impact on everybody,” he said. “You get a real clear sense of what is truly happening, also a feeling of helplessness because there’s nothing you can do about it. Not only is the show wonderful, because seeing and

Filmmakers gear up for local competition

By Nadia Tamez-Robledo The Pan American

The faces of those who complete the CineSol 36 Hour Film Race say it all after spending a day and a half running off adrenaline and energy drinks.

“They look like zombies,” Henry Serrato, the CineSol festival director, said.

Those who turn in their final product – a 10-minute film written, shot and edited over the weekend – have gotten little or no sleep during the previous two nights. A few teams pull up to the final meeting place just minutes after the deadline. Some don’t show up at all.

“It’s an adrenaline rush the whole 36 hours,” said Serrato, who competed in the first film race in 2005. “Overall, I think it’s a great way to showcase local filmmakers.”

The sixth annual film race will kick

off Friday night in Harlingen. Festival organizers will reveal a theme, location, prop and line of dialogue that each film must contain. Teams then have 36 hours to return to the meeting place with a short film.

“It’s pretty intense,” said 11 Mario de Leon, a UTPA 10 alum and CineSol board member. “You really have 9 to be close to who you’re working with.”

8 De Leon, 35, and his 7 team have competed in the race for four years. As part of the strategy last year, the San Juan native read the required film elements over the phone to the screenwriter after leaving the meeting.

“He went into the office, and we locked him in there and said, ‘Don’t come

Photo courtesy of crawlingwithmonsters.com hearing this story about what’s happening there, they could be so angry, they could have this feeling of helplessness and fear and yet you don’t get that sense.

“They have such a positive attitude and they wanted to do this because they really believe that telling this story in a theatrical form can make a difference. It just makes me like them and care about them all the more because they have such a positive attitude towards the whole thing and they are actually trying to do something in a positive manner and I think that’s amazing and wonderful.”

Each member of the group has personal reasons for telling this story, Augusto Contretas, president of the Latino Theater Initiative, graduate student and former resident of Monterrey, was personally affected by a cartel when one of his cousins was kidnapped. From that point on he said his life changed 180 degrees and his father decided to move his family to Mission.

“This play is important because we are giving the people at least the chance to speak for us, because people should know

what is happening in Mexico,” he said. “It’s affecting us in so many ways, we don’t even notice yet.”

The group just got back from New York City, where they did five shows from August 19-24 at the New York International Fringe Festival, the largest multi-arts festival held in the United States featuring performers from all over the world. David Sheward, a member of the New York Drama Critics’ Circle for 20102011, reviewed the show on Backstage, a premiere theater magazine, calling them a Critics Pick.

Contretas described his experiences performing across the United States.

“It’s an amazing experience, we get to know people better, we get to grow as students of Pan Am, we have a different perspective on things now,” he said. “Dr. Wiley is doing an amazing job with the students, he’s making us think outside the box and it’s amazing.”

At the moment, “Crawling With Monsters” does not have any scheduled performances but could make the stage again in the future.

out until you have a script,’” de Leon said.

“By midnight or one o’clock, we already know where we’re shooting.”

The fast pace of the race gives teams little time to improvise when things go wrong. Izreal Rojas, a UTPA theater graduate, and the other members of CAB Films learned that when they were shooting in Harlingen during last year’s competition.

“We thought we had permission to shoot at a restaurant, but when we got there they were closing,” the Edinburg resident said. “We finally found one, and that worked out.”

12 1 While crew members 2 set up and the director coaches the actors, film 3 editors are putting together video from the last scene, 4 Rojas said.

“Nobody is 5 6 sitting around,” he explained.

“You’re thinking of the next thing and the next thing.”

Competitors will have a week to recuperate before their films are screened Sept. 11 at the 18th Annual CineSol Film Festival, which opens Sept. 10 at Texas State

Technical College in Harlingen. Judges this year are KGBT Interactive Manager Sergio Chapa, KISS 106.3 deejay Amanda Flores, and The Monitor’s Crystal Olvera.

“It’s like playing in the Super Bowl,” de Leon said. “It literally takes you a week to recover. You just want to find a quiet spot to lie down and cry.”

Some teams are out of the race before it begins when members switch teams or back out altogether at the last minute.

Others fall apart mid-competition, splitting up over arguments under the pressure of the tight deadline. But 90 percent of teams turn in a film, even if they’re late, Serrato said.

“That’s what filmmakers live for,” de Leon stressed. “Yeah, you want to finish on time and you want to win, but you want to tell a story.”

Rojas said it’s the camaraderie between teammates and the chance to keep making films that pushes him to compete.

“If you stop doing it, the months will go by, the years will go by, and then you’re not doing anything,” he said. “We jump right into it knowing this is for us. Everybody who worked on that film project will have something that they’re proud of.”

August 29, 2011

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August 29, 2011

La Gran Mudanza

2011

Las vacaciones terminaron más pronto de lo que se esperaba. El regreso a clases ha llegado. El 25 de agosto se tomo a cabo “Freshmen Move in Day” para ayudar a los nuevos estudiantes que habitaran en los dormitorios de la universidad a integrarse más fácilmente. Una gran cantidad de miembros de la comunidad de los Broncs ayudaron a darles la bienvenida a más de 730 estudiantes.

Reynaldo Leal The Pan American

“Minor” en español con el examen “CLEP”

By Ale Roman The Pan American ¿Alguna vez te has preguntado cómo obtener un “minor” en español?

Muchos estudiantes bilingües de nuestra universidad Pan-Americana no conocen lo fácil que puede serlo con la ayuda de un examen llamado “CLEP” o College-level Examination Program.

Este examen tiene una duración de 90 minutos. La calificación es basada en una escala de promedio de entre 20 y 80 puntos, los cuales el estudiante requiere obtener un mínimo de 75 como puntuación para pasarlo.

Con la ayuda del examen “CLEP” estudiantes quienes desean completar un “minor” en el área de español recibirán crédito por 12 horas sustituyendo clases como SPAN 1303, 1304, 2307, y 2308 las cuales son requeridas por el Departamento de Español.

“Muchos estudiantes universitarios tienen un pie en el mundo de la profesión mientras van a la escuela.

Tuve la oportunidad de avanzar clases con tomar un examen y con solo dos clases mas yo obtuve mi “minor” en Español gracias al CLEP,” informo Lizbeth Muriel, Senior, quien estudia

Relaciones Publicas y Publicidad con un “minor” en español.

Según la profesora Carmela García, titulada como Profesora y Asesora de Pregrado, al tomar este examen el alumno necesitará 6 horas de trabajo avanzado para un plan de estudio no certificado y 12 horas para la certificación.

Estudiantes quienes tomen la iniciativa de tomar el examen “CLEP” tienen la ventaja de adquirir créditos en otras áreas de estudio además de la de español, tales como BIOL 1401,1402, CHEM 1301,1101, 1302,1102, HIST 2314,2313, MATH 1340, 1450,1460,

entre otras.

El “CLEP” tiene el precio de 77 dólares por examen. La prueba de cargo debe de ser pagada con tarjeta de crédito, que es el método preferido de pago, o con cheque o giro postal a nombre de “College-Level Examination Program.”

“Es grandioso que pueda hablar español, muchas personas aquí en el Valle lo hablan, en cambio yo estoy certificada y eso me hace diferente,” presume Lizbeth. “Las ventajas son inmensas. No solamente es económico sino también te quita una gran carga de en sima.”

Los horarios para tomar este examen son los martes y jueves de 9:00 a.m. o 2:00 p.m. o los viernes solo a las 9:00 a.m.

Para poder registrarte y tomar este examen debes de acudir al UTPA Annex, en Programas y Servicios de Pruebas de la Universidad de TexasPan American. El UTPA Annex se encuentra localizado en el 2412 South Closner Blvd. en Edinburg, Texas.

Si te interesa tener un “minor” en Español y deseas obtener más información puedes llamar al UTPA Annex salón 180 atreves del teléfono (956) 665-7570.

August 29, 2011

2011 - 2012 game schedules released Bronc basketball teams ready for the challenge

By Michael Saenz The Pan American Both the men and women’s basketball teams released the 2011-2012 schedules a few weeks ago and there are some pretty bigtime schools on tap. The women, who finished last season 12-19, will visit The University of Miami for their regular season opener Nov. 11, while the men (6-25) face DePaul on the same day in Chicago.

Other quality opponents on the men’s schedule include Ohio State (Dec. 3), St. John’s (Dec. 21), and TCU (Jan. 11).

There’s no doubt that the headlining team on the list is the defending Big Ten Champion and Sweet 16 Buckeyes. They may even be ranked number one in the nation at the time the two clash in December. But even though many see games against teams from the Big Ten and Big East as major mismatches, coach Ryan Marks knows exactly what he is doing when scheduling these top dogs.

“We see a lot of positives to this schedule. We will see some national exposure in some very high profile places and we have

15 home games, which is the most we’ve had here at UTPA in a long time,” Marks said. “With the difficult non-conference, it will prepare us for the conference play well. We should be battletested by January. This is also the best team, I believe, that I’ve had here at UTPA and the depth of our team will definitely help us during the grueling travel we will encounter this season.”

The men’s team will began Great West Conference play Jan. 19 when it visits Chicago State, and will conclude the season there as well when the Great West Conference Tournament kicks off on March 8.

A few of the notable nonconference opponents for the women’s team are Nebraska (Dec. 4), Oklahoma State (Dec. 18), UTEP (Nov. 22), and TCU (Jan. 5). Adding to the difficult non-conference schedule is the handicap of only having 11 of 27 games at home. Coach Dennis Downing knows the task at hand isn’t going to be an easy one, but as he stated in a recent release, he is confident in the team that is coming back.

“This is one of our toughest schedules that we’ve had in our three years here, with

only 11 home games and 16 roads,” Downing said. “This should create a very challenging opportunity for us, but with a senior-laden team we should be up for the challenge.”

The upside is that the women bring back a veteran team that should help with their grueling schedule and during that fight toward capturing a Great West title. The Broncs have 12 upperclassmen on their current roster and are led by senior point guard Erin Lewis, who led the team in assists with a programrecord 194, and three-point specialist Ce’Monay Newell, who broke the UTPA single season record for three-point field goals with 108.

The difficult schedules are just the first step for this basketball season. The next one is preparation, training, and practicing. The coaches’ sought these challenging opponents to better prepare their ball clubs for Great West Conference play, which is the ultimate goal at the end of the day. Win a conference title. That remains to be seen, however coaches Marks and Downing are doing everything in their power to better prepare the squads.

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Karen Villarreal/THE PAN AMERICAN

Check panamericanonline.com for the 2011 - 2012 schedule

SAVE THE DATES - Don’t miss the second half of the season when the Broncs open Great West Conference play.

Cross Country to emulate success with Valley runners

Andrew Lopez

By Alejandro E. Peña The Pan American The Broncs women’s and men’s cross country teams placed second and third, respectively, behind champion Utah Valley in the 2010 Great West Conference championship held here in Edinburg, but this year, the championship site is Grand

Forks, N.D. on Oct. 29.

If UTPA wants to emulate that success this year, it must do it with revamped teams. While the women return the majority of a young squad, the men took quite a huge blow after graduation.

“We lost some key runners. Omar Doria, Wally Gonzalez, Rolando Vera are all gone,” UTPA cross country and track and field coach Dave Hartman said. “We made some good additions, we added quite a few freshman, we have three men that have potential to compete.”

The expectations do not change despite the shakeup in lineups. Hartman still expects the women to give the Lady Wolverines a fight for the top spot.

“I think for women, it’s to repeat in the top two, we want to shoot higher,” he said. “We were very young so we’re definitely going to shoot to capture the championship but Utah Valley is going to be strong. I’m looking forward to seeing Beatriz Garza from Mission, Tania Fabian from Rio Grande City and several other

girls that had a great freshman season.”

“We also want to compete well in the NCAA South Central Regional, where we think we can get a top spot.”

Hartman is also excited about the men that return.

“Andrew Lopez from Rowe, he’s more of a track athlete, but runs cross country and we’re hoping of great things from Luis Serrano who also had a great freshman year,” Hartman said.

The uniqueness of cross country is unlike any other sport such as basketball or baseball where teams play each other multiple times, runners only compete once in conference.

One bad outing on the championship day means the difference between a top-3 finish and a bottom finish, and there are no mulligans. Hartman experienced that last year in the South Central Regionals where the Broncs men placed 12th and women’s 17th overall and some of his runners barely missed out on a national spotlight appearance.

“Last year in Waco we just didn’t have a good day,” Hartman said. “We competed well against teams like Auburn and LSU, and Omar (Doria) was on the brink of competing in the NCAA championship.”

The Broncs’ first test of the season is the Bronc Buster Invitational at the Monte Cristo Golf Course in Edinburg Sept. 2.

It’s not a big meet, but it’s still a way to get preparation.

The Bronc Buster Invitational is in direct connection with the Rio Grande Valley high school invitational, and the school does this because it understands the Rio Grande Valley has a history of producing great distance runners. Texas A&M Corpus Christi will be the only other university joining UTPA on that day in Edinburg.

Out of the 27 runners that compose this year’s men and women’s cross country team, 17 are Valley natives, including eight incoming freshman. Hartman has clearly taken advantage of homegrown products.

“The Rio Grande Valley has tremendous tradition in distance running,” Hartman

said. “The advantage, and what we are striving for, is to continue to develop the RGV athletes and I think we have some great ones in our roster. I really like the group that’s coming in (to UTPA).”

The meets the school will compete in will be within driving distance for supporters to attend. Following the Bronc Buster Invitational will be the Ricardo Romo/Six Flags Fiesta Texas Classic in San Antonio 14 days later. On Sept 23, the Broncs head to Corpus Christi for the Islander Splash.

“We had such a great support locally during the GWC championship,” Hartman said. “I hope the success from last year can transfer over into support for this year.”

UTPA travels to Austin on Sept. 30 for the Grass Roots Run Invitational and ends the season in Fayetteville for the Chili Pepper Cross Country Festival Oct. 14 before preparing for the GWC championships.

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