Space Rocks
UTPA professor proposes new observatory, meteorite explodes over Russia
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February 28, 2013
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Photo and story By Norma Gonzalez The Pan American As Jasmine Davison’s weight-throw championship medal was placed over her head and hung around her neck, a great load was lifted off her shoulders. She said she worked hard for her first-place finish in the competition at the Great West Conference championships in Houston and earned her way there, making a comeback from last year’s fifth-place finish. As the San Antonio sophomore completed her winning throw of 16.97 meters, she wasn’t sure if it was enough to take the title - the gold medal. Davison knew she could have done better because she still had some power left. But that’s her mentality - she knows she can always do better. According to Davison, this is what she lives for. She practices and lifts weights daily, lifting and squatting over 200 pounds, trying to improve her throw stats. “They see now that we’re not ones to be reckoned with,” she said. “We come out and we mean business and we take what’s ours.” The women’s and men’s track and field teams competed in their final GWC indoor championships Feb. 23-24 in Houston. Although both placed third out of five, they accumulated six gold medals, nine silver and five bronze medals. “I don’t know that anyone goes into a meet wanting third place - we always want to aim for higher and that was certainly what we spoke to the team about going into the meet,” said track and field head coach Xavier Richardson. “The place itself on both sides wasn’t as impressive as the point total we accumulated, which was the highest in recent seasons.” Junior Martin Casse won the gold for the men’s mile run (4:14.61) and the 800-meter run (1:58.18) and silver for the men’s distance medley relay (10:19.43). Two-time GWC Runner of the Year Judith Chumba captured the women’s mile (5:08.56) and placed third in the women’s
2
opinion
February 28, 2013
photo of the week
nothin’ wrong with a beer on instagram Lea Victoria Juarez Arts & Life Editor
Congratulations on the new job! Oh no wait, the Instagram photo of that night at the Drunken Clam is too scandalous. Sorry, but the company decided to go in another direction. Next! Thanks to the birth of Twitter, Facebook and other social media outlets, rulers of the workplace have resorted to scoping out online profiles for a brief summary of prospective employees. God forbid someone says “shit” while tweeting, but that kind of content could be the end of one’s future. According to the online employment website CareerBuilder, 37 percent of hiring managers use social networking sites to scan online profiles to research applicants in 2009. But if companies stress the separation of personal and professional lives, why would they deliberately go snooping into the personal lives of their potential or current employees? The office is the place to be professional, slip on the pumps and tighten the tie, but there is a person beyond the straight-laced and polished demeanor. This
Businesses look at social media profiles If the person’s work and work ethic are not affected by social networking content, it shouldn’t matter what’s posted on a personal account. person might like to have drinks at a bar and exhibit a less than “appropriate” sense of humor in the Twittersphere. They might be, believe it or not, a real person. Someone shouldn’t have to hide who they are off duty for some suit in an office. As long as
37% of hiring managers use social networking sites to scan online profiles to research applicants
the professionalism is maintained in the workplace, what does it matter if their Vine video is of an old man’s buttcrack? Stay out of employee’s personal lives, execs of the business world. Let people be. If the person’s work and work ethic are not affected by social networking content, it shouldn’t matter what’s posted on a personal account. And if one must go through an employee’s online account, isn’t it better to know what kind of person they are working with than some false, burnished version? Professionals are people too. They should be able to express themselves online without their bosses peering over their shoulder, stalking their profiles.
Michelle Garcia /The Pan American RGV Marrow Match representative Melissa Elizondo registers students Feb. 25 to take part in a bone marrow donor program that aims to help patients with blood diseases like leukemia or sickle cell anemia.
COMIC
Letter to the Editor I appreciated Jamie Leal’s article, “Locked or Loaded”. It brought attention, at least to me, the issues of concealed carry on campus; an imperative topic that is worth discussing. Though Leal’s article and others have been balanced in regards to both sides of the aisle, I feel that one side, those who are opposed to concealed carry on campus, are receiving more attention. Perhaps this feeling is attributable to my zeal when it comes to the issue of concealed carry on campus, but the ignorance generated from those who are opposed, which includes President Nelsen, is becoming unbearable. I understand the need to provide balanced coverage, but I believe that the UTPA student body would greatly benefit from an article that depicted, in sufficient detail, the misconceptions of concealed carry on campus. www.concealedcampus.org Respectfully, Charles Manning
#thepanamerican Here are this week’s favorites from the Instagram competition! Remember, we’re awarding a gift card to the end-of-thesemester winning photo. Just tag your Instagram photo #ThePanAmerican to enter.
Francisco Rodriguez /The Pan American
#UTPA Tweet at and follow us @ThePanAmerican
If you wear a university shirt that isn’t UTPA while you are attending UTPA better believe I’m judging you. - @AshlyChuChu I like how happy the shuttle drivers are #UTPA - @youarehomeforme So today has been mildly interesting. Saw the weinermobile at UTPA, had a hour and half long discussion about sex in my art class - @AdrianSauce
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Editor 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 cannot publish anonymous letters or submissions containing hate speech or gratuitous personal attacks. Please send all letters to:
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Vol. 69, No. 20
The Pan American
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February 28, 2013 January 31, 2013
3
Part 2 of 3 of The Pan American’s series on the LGBT community
beyond lgbt UTPA students find a better fit in another letter
By Karen Antonacci The Pan American UTPA student Ana* can’t sleep and is having nightmares. She is entering into her third week with a new girlfriend, Beatriz*, but the stress of living as an out lesbian at school and going home and pretending to be straight is getting to her, she said. “It’s just exhausting. It’s emotionally exhausting. It’s easier to come out to friends than family...I mean because you just never want to disappoint your family,” she said, adding that her father believes lesbianism is a genetic disease. In a 2012 Gallup poll, 42 percent of a sample of Americans said they believed lesbian and gay relations to be morally wrong, while 54 percent found them to be morally acceptable. Beatriz isn’t out to her family either, but she said it’s a bit easier on her because she has a close circle of gay and bisexual friends at the University to rely on. Ana doesn’t. “I mean, sometimes, if I am having a problem...” Ana starts. Beatriz smiled and provided some clarification. “When she wants to bitch about me, she means.”
ity,” Beatriz said. “They see it as wrong, it’s the old Mexican way.” Danny Arredondo, a 19-year-old biology major, is also living out as a bisexual at UTPA but not at home. Bisexual people are romantically attracted to both genders. “If (my boyfriend and I) broke up, I would get feelings for either a guy or a girl,” he said. “I would fall in love with a random-ass person... as long as we have some connection and they are making me happy.” Arredondo echoed the sentiment that the Mexican culture’s feeling toward homosexuality and bisexuality seeps into the Valley. “You don’t really see much of a community here, mainly because the Mexican culture, just alone, is very suppressive of that,” he said. “You go to Mexico and you don’t really see what you see here. It’s like, hidden, for lack of a better word. Here I wouldn’t be able to say there’s a community and we meet every day. We’re blended in with everyone else and if there is one, it’s just cliques of friends that hang out.” In a 2010 poll by the Pew Research Center, American Hispanic Catholics that were polled were almost evenly split on same-sex marriage with 43 percent opposed
You don’t really see much of a community here, mainly because the Mexican culture, just alone, is very suppressive of that. - Danny Arredondo 19-year-old biology major
“Yeah, basically,” Ana said. “She has her best friend and some people but I don’t really, and it’s very stressful.” Beatriz said she doesn’t think she and Ana are alone in living two lives - one in school and another at home. “It’s because we think, on a college campus, I mean there are still people that are like, ‘No, that’s wrong.’ But here, people are more open than home where people have that old-fashioned mental-
and 42 percent in favor. MARRIAGE? In the state, about 76 of voters approved the Texas Marriage Amendment in 2005, which defined marriage as between a man and a woman, according to The Texas Tribune. Texas Sen. Jose Rodriguez, Rep. Rafael Anchia, and Rep. Garnet Coleman each proposed constitutional amendments that would repeal the TMA. The
amendments to appeal the TMA will be put to a vote in November. McAllen Sen. Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa also filed a bill Feb. 11 to the current legislative session that would grant same-sex
LGBT community is not of one mind, it seems. “Totally, no one has the same political views about anything,” Arredondo said, adding that while he believes same-sex mar-
Most individuals, if you were to ask them, say they’ve known their orientation for a long time. - Jeanine Harris
Human sexuality professor
couples the ability to enter into civil unions and receive the same rights heterosexual spouses do. A 2010 poll by the University of Texas and The Texas Tribune found that 30 percent of those polled opposed same-sex marriage and civil unions, while 35 percent would allow civil unions and 28 percent would allow same-sex marriage. UTPA human sexuality professor Jeanine Harris said increasingly favorable results in the polls also reflect more coverage in the media of same-sex marriage and other LGBT political issues. “It has received more coverage, and while it’s controversial, it’s still being discussed and states are passing these laws,” she said. Nationally, there are nine states that allow same-sex unions, including Massachusetts, New York, Washington and Maine. However, the federal government does not recognize gay marriage due to the Defense of Marriage Act passed in 1996. Last month, President Barack Obama became the first U.S. President to state his support for the LGBT community in an inaugural address and the U.S. Supreme Court is expected to release its decision regarding same-sex marriage by June. Windsor v. United States is about Edith Windsor, who married her long-time girlfriend, Thea Spyer, in Canada in 2007. When Spyer died in 2009, Windsor had to pay taxes on her inheritance, which a heterosexual couple would not have had to do. On same-sex marriage, the
riage should be instated, he believes it’s a religious issue rather than a governmental one. “They are telling the government to allow us to get married, and it should be pointed towards the pope, or I don’t know, the other religious leaders,” he said. “It’s like me going to pay my water bill where I go to pay the garbage, it just doesn’t make any sense.” On political issues in general, Arredondo said he just doesn’t feel the passion about them the way that other parts of the LGBT community do. “I’m just going to live my life and even though some people say I should, I don’t see myself as an activist. I’m happy with my life,” he explained. “I understand some people want to fight, but me? If they don’t allow us to get married, OK I’ll just move to another country that does, or another state.” Beatriz agreed that not every member of the LGBT community sees eye-to-eye on political issues or the proper degree of political activism, but that doesn’t mean she agrees. “For sure people have different opinions. I don’t see why, but they do,” she said. “It’s not something I get. How can you be gay and not want the right to get married? It’s a right, plain and simple.” CHOICE? Political issues are not the only thing the LGBT community is not united on. “Research indicates that there is a lot of animosity between the
gay community and the bisexual community,” Harris said. “Where it stems from, I’m not sure.” Arredondo said he gets flak from gays and lesbians that say it is easier to be bisexual than homosexual. “It isn’t, because the lesbian and gay communities do shun out bisexuals,” he said. “I’ve been reading articles about how it’s, ‘We don’t see them as our group because they can go straight at any moment.’ But bisexuals have it harder because lesbians and gays don’t agree but also straights (ask me) ‘Why do you like guys?’” Often, Arredondo, Harris and Beatriz said, bisexuals are pressured to ‘make up their minds.’ “Yeah people would always ask ‘Do you like girls or guys?’” Arredondo said. “And it’s frustrating because it’s like, ‘Why are you so interested in my life? It’s none of your concern.’” Additionally, for members of both the homosexual and bisexual community, the question of whether human sexual orientations are biologically wired or are a personal choice is a hot topic of debate, both in the political field and off. “Most individuals, if you were to ask them, say they’ve known their orientation for a long time,” Harris said, clarifying that sexual orientation as the internal drive for each individual person is different than the way that individual may choose to express it in society. Ana and Beatriz, meanwhile, are working out the kinks in their new relationship, and making plans for eventually telling their families. Arredondo said despite the nasty looks he gets every once in a while out in public, he’s going to keep living his life the way he wants. “I’ll be holding hands (with my boyfriend) and people are staring,” he said. “But we’re already in 2013 and it’s like, get with the program. It’s not going to change.”
* Names changed to protect privacy
Alphabet soup
L G B A P Q A Q T I
Lesbian - a woman attracted to another woman
Gay - a man attracted to another man ; also used as an umbrella term Bisexual - a person attracted to two genders, but not necessarily at the same time Asexual- a person not sexually attracted to any gender
Pansexual - a person fluid in sexual orientation and/or gender identity Queer- An umbrella term sometimes used to mean thinking of sexual orientation and gender identity as fluid; some see it as an older, hateful term Ally - Someone who advocates for members of another community Questioning - A person unsure or in the process of figuring out their sexual orientation or gender roll Transsexual - A person experiencing a mismatch of gender between what they were born as and what they identify as Intersex - A person born with chromosomes, genitalia or reproductive systems that are not considered “standard” for either male or female
Source: UC Berkeley Gender Equity Resource Center
Page 4
THE PAN AMERICAN
Asteroids in the atmosphere Professor hopes to build giant telescope to detect future threats
Professor proposes new observatory, meteorite explodes over Russia Story by Charles Vale The Astronomy Planning Committee has made plans to build an off-site observatory that might help sound the warning bells a little earlier, preventing situations such as the recent meteor that exploded over Russia Feb. 15. The committee, chaired by Physics and Geology Professor Hyunchul Lee, has been working on the plans for the past four months. Lee has already scouted out Moore Air Base in Mission as the possible location of the observatory. “There is a great demand from students to learn about astronomy,” Lee said. “That is part of the reason we want to build this luxurious cutting-edge technology observatory.” UTPA originally had an observatory during the 1960’s, but was torn down in 1995 to make way for the construction of the $26 million science building complex. METEOR OVER RUSSIA In recent news, the astronomy world has focused its attention on two events. In the early hours of Feb. 15, a meteor streaked across the sky, at 40,000 miles per hour before exploding over Russia’s Chelyabinsk region, injuring about 1,500 people. Initially estimated to weigh 7,000 tons, the meteor is now judged by NASA to have weighed to 10,000 tons. The meteor exploded in the atmosphere, sending fireballs raining down on the area. The majority of injuries sustained stemmed from shards of building glass sent flying during the meteor’s impact. According to CNN, damage is estimated at 1 billion rubles, or $33 million, with over 4,000 buildings affected. The meteor came as a surprise to the world because attention was focused on an asteroid that was scheduled to pass by the Earth that same day. The asteroid, roughly the size of a football field, missed hitting the Earth by about 17,000 miles. “Astronomers knew that this big-sized asteroid was com-
Design by Karen Villarreal ing, but that it would not hit the earth. They’ve known that for several months,” Lee said. “Several hours before, this thing (Russian meteorite) happened. Even though it was much smaller, it hit the earth so it made more impact to humans compared to the big asteroid that didn’t.” The proposed observatory would utilize several telescopes that could be controlled remotely from office computers, classrooms and even student’s home computers. Students would be able to move the telescope and take pictures of celestial objects for research. “Who knows, while taking these images, we (students or faculty) may accidentally capture an incoming object before real astronomers,” Lee said. “So we would be able to contribute in this ‘protecting the Earth’ activity from the University.” COSMIC HAPPENINGS Typically, a 1-meter asteroid, which would cause an atmospheric explosion and small crater, enters the atmosphere once every few weeks. A 10-meter asteroid comes once a year and a 1-kilometer asteroid once every million years, according to “Cosmic Perspective,” a textbook on astronomy. The last asteroid that passed by the earth was called Toutatis, and approached at a distance around 4.4 million miles Dec.13, 2012. NASA has identified another near-Earth asteroid named 99942 Apophis that has a significant probability of impact. NASA estimated that the asteroid, first discovered in 2004, would have a high chance of impact April 2029. That has now been ruled out, but there is still a chance it will collide with the Earth after 2029. According to Lee, in this kind of event the speed of the incoming asteroid is much faster than the speed of sound, so it makes a sonic boom when it impacts in the air. The shock that is created after would shatter all the glass windows in
an area. The blast zone would depend on the size of the asteroid. If some pieces survived the atmosphere, they would hit the ground and could damage buildings and create impact craters. Asteroids are rocky airless worlds that orbit the sun and are too small to be called planets. These “minor planets” orbit in mass amounts in the asteroid belt located between Jupiter and Mars, about 158 million miles from the Earth. Because of the large
out breaking it apart. There is even a plan that would use solar radiation, reflected off solar sails made of mirrors, that would gently push the asteroid off its path, according to online website Discovery. However, Lee also stated that if an asteroid were to slip past detection and hit Earth, damage would depend on the size of the asteroid. “Obviously, if a big object the size of the moon hits, which is a quarter size of the earth, then it will break apart,” he said.
It’s like a security camera, not just covering in front of your house, but the entire sky. We are detecting more and more fainter asteroids that are coming to the earth.
- Hyunchul Lee
Chair, Astronomy Planning Committee
amount of asteroids in the belt, collisions are common. When a collision happens, these asteroids are knocked off their orbiting trajectory, which sends them hurtling off, sometimes toward earth. Lee stated that the risk of a major asteroid hitting a populated area has grown significantly smaller thanks to the efforts of modern day astronomers. “Astronomers just started monitoring the entire sky real -time 24 hours a day, seven days a week, as we have a bigger number of telescopes,” he said. “It’s like a security camera, not just covering in front of your house, but the entire sky. We are detecting more and more fainter asteroids that are coming to Earth.” Because of this, Lee explained that if a big rock were headed toward Earth, with a high chance of collision in a metropolitan area, measures could be taken to prevent the collision. NASA has several prevention plans in the case of a large asteroid hurtling toward Earth. One is to simply nuke it. Another would be to cause it to collide with a minor object that would knock it off course with-
“Let’s say a rock the size of the Chase Building hit the earth, then it would be more powerful than those nuclear bombs that happened during World War II.” The meteorite that exploded over Russia released an estimated 500 kilotons of energy, according to NASA. A kiloton is equivalent to 1,000 metric tons of TNT. The bomb dropped on Nagasaki in 1945 released an energy equivalent to 20,000 metric tons of TNT.
this brand new facility.” Permanent University Funds direct money from West Texas oil lands to members of both the UT and Texas A&M University systems. For students like 23-yearold physics and mathematics major Charles Cartwright, the new observatory serves as a source of hope for astronomy at UTPA. “All of this stuff is just going to stimulate more interest in STEM and primarily astronomy,” Cartwright said. “We are barely meeting the minimal number of students in the astronomy minor.” Jesus Garza agreed. “This is going to be amazing for the Valley,” the physics and mathematics major said. “The Rio Grande Valley is perfect. This is prime viewing ground; very little light pollution.” Lee stressed that the observatory is still in the planning stages, and that nothing has been finalized. However, the committee is hoping to present by next month. If all goes well, the observatory could be built by next year. According to Lee, the estimated cost will be $350,000 to $500,000 to build the observatory with 12 telescopes, but if they only acquire $200,000 or less, then they will start with four to six telescopes instead.
This is going to be amazing for the Valley... The Rio Grande Valley is perfect. This is prime viewing ground; very little light pollution.
- Jesus Garza
Physics and mathematics major
February 28, 2013
Meteor, meteorite, or meteoroid? All NEOs.
Is this a meteorite?
Near-Earth Objects (NEOs) are space rocks that have entered Earth’s surrounding area. Comets are formed in the outside edges of the planetary system, which is colder. They’re made mostly of dust particles frozen together with ice. Most of the rocky asteroids are formed in the warmer inner solar system between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter.
Once a meteor lands on the Earth, it is known as a meteorite. They look similar to Earth rocks, but have different properties. Here are some ways to test whether a rock is just a terrestrial rock or something out of this world.
Metal Most meteorites are made of some sort of metal. If you can see metal shining on broken surfaces of the rock, that’s the first clue that it might be a meteorite.
Comet
A relatively small, at times active, object whose ices can vaporize in sunlight forming an atmosphere (coma) of dust and gas and, sometimes, a tail of dust and/or gas.
Density Meteorites that have a lot of metal tend to be very dense compared to regular rocks. Remember that density is mass divided by volume.
Magnetic Properties
Meteor
A lot of meteorites contain shiny iron-nickel metal grains, which attracts a magnet. But remember that many earth rocks are magnetic as well.
The light phenomena which result when a meteoroid enters the Earth’s atmosphere and vaporizes; a shooting star.
Regmaglypt texture/thumbprints Asteroid
A relatively small, inactive, rocky body orbiting the Sun.
Meteorite
A meteoroid that survives its passage through the Earth’s atmosphere and lands upon the Earth’s surface.
Meteoroid
A small particle from a comet or asteroid orbiting the Sun.
can we deflect an asteroid? paint it white
nuclear bomb
A nuclear blast’s radiation - not brute force - would destroy the asteroid’s outer crust, shrinking its mass
Coating an approaching astroid with white powder would cause it to reflect more solar radiation, moving it off course
Nudge the asteroid off course without fracturing it. Would have to be done 20 years before collision
Russian impact
“We need to make a good case and then propose the idea to the dean, provost and even the president,” Lee said. “The idea is to attract many brilliant students from the local area, so we can accommodate a higher number of astronomy demands.”
Streak Most meteorites won’t leave a mark on a ‘streak plate’, but the surfaces of some meteorites might leave a reddish streak if they have been oxidized (rusted). Otherwise, only Earth rocks will streak the plate.
“Let’s say a rock the size of the Chase Building hit the earth, then it would be more powerful than those nuclear bombs that happened during World War II.”
- Hyunchul Lee
Chair, Astronomy Planning Committee
gravity tow truck
Navigate a hefty robot close to the asteroid and tow it away with the gentle pull of gravity, cost may be astronomical
A carbon-fiber net would increase the amount of solar radiation absorbed and emitted by the asteroid, guiding it away
common impacts
Feb. 15, 2013 Released the energy equivalent of 500 kilotons of TNT
(30 times the energy of the Hiroshima atomic bomb)
Sparked a blast equivalent to a 300-kiloton explosion Traveled at 40,000 mph Damages cost 1 Billion Rubles ($33 million in U.S currency)
- Over 4,000 buildings damaged - 1,500 people injured
Estimated size - about 50 feet across Shockwave injured hundreds in the industrial city of Chelyabinsk 54 miles away
sources
When the surface of the meteorite begins to melt during entry into the atmosphere, some areas of the meteorites are eroded by melting more than others, leaving small dents in the surface of the rock, known as Regmaglypt texture.
net it
kinetic interception
(mostly due to flying glass)
THE OBSERVATORY With the recent plans to merge both the UTPA and UTB campuses, creating a Rio Grande Valley University, Lee expressed how important having access to Permanent University Funds would be. “Very opportunistic because the so-called PUF will be available,” he said. “This may be the perfect timing to make
THE PAN AMERICAN
February 28, 2013
http://impact.arc.nasa.gov/intro_faq.cfm
according to nasa.gov
Tunguska impact June 30, 1908
Every day, Earth is bombarded with more than 100 tons of dust and sandsized particles
Released the energy equivalent of 30 megatons of TNT
About once a year, an automobilesized asteroid hits Earth’s atmosphere, creates an impressive fireball, and burns up before reaching the surface
Traveled
Every 2,000 years or so, a meteoroid the size of a football field hits Earth and causes significant damage to the area The asteroid that brought the Ice Age 65 million years ago was 15 km in diameter and caused mass extinctions with its 100 million megaton explosion
http://neo.jpl.nasa.gov/faq/#diff http://dsc.discovery.com/space/top-10/asteroid-stopping-technology/index-09.html
(180 times the energy of the Hiroshima atomic bomb)
at
35,500
mph
Monetary damage cost unknown
(had it hit a city, the damage would have been catastrophic)
-flattened 2,000 km2 of forest (80 million trees)
One person died as a result of being blown into a tree. several hundred herds of reindeer were also killed.
Estimated size - about 120 feet across The shockwave would have measured a magnitude of 5.03
Page 5
Page 4
THE PAN AMERICAN
Asteroids in the atmosphere Professor hopes to build giant telescope to detect future threats
Professor proposes new observatory, meteorite explodes over Russia Story by Charles Vale The Astronomy Planning Committee has made plans to build an off-site observatory that might help sound the warning bells a little earlier, preventing situations such as the recent meteor that exploded over Russia Feb. 15. The committee, chaired by Physics and Geology Professor Hyunchul Lee, has been working on the plans for the past four months. Lee has already scouted out Moore Air Base in Mission as the possible location of the observatory. “There is a great demand from students to learn about astronomy,” Lee said. “That is part of the reason we want to build this luxurious cutting-edge technology observatory.” UTPA originally had an observatory during the 1960’s, but was torn down in 1995 to make way for the construction of the $26 million science building complex. METEOR OVER RUSSIA In recent news, the astronomy world has focused its attention on two events. In the early hours of Feb. 15, a meteor streaked across the sky, at 40,000 miles per hour before exploding over Russia’s Chelyabinsk region, injuring about 1,500 people. Initially estimated to weigh 7,000 tons, the meteor is now judged by NASA to have weighed to 10,000 tons. The meteor exploded in the atmosphere, sending fireballs raining down on the area. The majority of injuries sustained stemmed from shards of building glass sent flying during the meteor’s impact. According to CNN, damage is estimated at 1 billion rubles, or $33 million, with over 4,000 buildings affected. The meteor came as a surprise to the world because attention was focused on an asteroid that was scheduled to pass by the Earth that same day. The asteroid, roughly the size of a football field, missed hitting the Earth by about 17,000 miles. “Astronomers knew that this big-sized asteroid was com-
Design by Karen Villarreal ing, but that it would not hit the earth. They’ve known that for several months,” Lee said. “Several hours before, this thing (Russian meteorite) happened. Even though it was much smaller, it hit the earth so it made more impact to humans compared to the big asteroid that didn’t.” The proposed observatory would utilize several telescopes that could be controlled remotely from office computers, classrooms and even student’s home computers. Students would be able to move the telescope and take pictures of celestial objects for research. “Who knows, while taking these images, we (students or faculty) may accidentally capture an incoming object before real astronomers,” Lee said. “So we would be able to contribute in this ‘protecting the Earth’ activity from the University.” COSMIC HAPPENINGS Typically, a 1-meter asteroid, which would cause an atmospheric explosion and small crater, enters the atmosphere once every few weeks. A 10-meter asteroid comes once a year and a 1-kilometer asteroid once every million years, according to “Cosmic Perspective,” a textbook on astronomy. The last asteroid that passed by the earth was called Toutatis, and approached at a distance around 4.4 million miles Dec.13, 2012. NASA has identified another near-Earth asteroid named 99942 Apophis that has a significant probability of impact. NASA estimated that the asteroid, first discovered in 2004, would have a high chance of impact April 2029. That has now been ruled out, but there is still a chance it will collide with the Earth after 2029. According to Lee, in this kind of event the speed of the incoming asteroid is much faster than the speed of sound, so it makes a sonic boom when it impacts in the air. The shock that is created after would shatter all the glass windows in
an area. The blast zone would depend on the size of the asteroid. If some pieces survived the atmosphere, they would hit the ground and could damage buildings and create impact craters. Asteroids are rocky airless worlds that orbit the sun and are too small to be called planets. These “minor planets” orbit in mass amounts in the asteroid belt located between Jupiter and Mars, about 158 million miles from the Earth. Because of the large
out breaking it apart. There is even a plan that would use solar radiation, reflected off solar sails made of mirrors, that would gently push the asteroid off its path, according to online website Discovery. However, Lee also stated that if an asteroid were to slip past detection and hit Earth, damage would depend on the size of the asteroid. “Obviously, if a big object the size of the moon hits, which is a quarter size of the earth, then it will break apart,” he said.
It’s like a security camera, not just covering in front of your house, but the entire sky. We are detecting more and more fainter asteroids that are coming to the earth.
- Hyunchul Lee
Chair, Astronomy Planning Committee
amount of asteroids in the belt, collisions are common. When a collision happens, these asteroids are knocked off their orbiting trajectory, which sends them hurtling off, sometimes toward earth. Lee stated that the risk of a major asteroid hitting a populated area has grown significantly smaller thanks to the efforts of modern day astronomers. “Astronomers just started monitoring the entire sky real -time 24 hours a day, seven days a week, as we have a bigger number of telescopes,” he said. “It’s like a security camera, not just covering in front of your house, but the entire sky. We are detecting more and more fainter asteroids that are coming to Earth.” Because of this, Lee explained that if a big rock were headed toward Earth, with a high chance of collision in a metropolitan area, measures could be taken to prevent the collision. NASA has several prevention plans in the case of a large asteroid hurtling toward Earth. One is to simply nuke it. Another would be to cause it to collide with a minor object that would knock it off course with-
“Let’s say a rock the size of the Chase Building hit the earth, then it would be more powerful than those nuclear bombs that happened during World War II.” The meteorite that exploded over Russia released an estimated 500 kilotons of energy, according to NASA. A kiloton is equivalent to 1,000 metric tons of TNT. The bomb dropped on Nagasaki in 1945 released an energy equivalent to 20,000 metric tons of TNT.
this brand new facility.” Permanent University Funds direct money from West Texas oil lands to members of both the UT and Texas A&M University systems. For students like 23-yearold physics and mathematics major Charles Cartwright, the new observatory serves as a source of hope for astronomy at UTPA. “All of this stuff is just going to stimulate more interest in STEM and primarily astronomy,” Cartwright said. “We are barely meeting the minimal number of students in the astronomy minor.” Jesus Garza agreed. “This is going to be amazing for the Valley,” the physics and mathematics major said. “The Rio Grande Valley is perfect. This is prime viewing ground; very little light pollution.” Lee stressed that the observatory is still in the planning stages, and that nothing has been finalized. However, the committee is hoping to present by next month. If all goes well, the observatory could be built by next year. According to Lee, the estimated cost will be $350,000 to $500,000 to build the observatory with 12 telescopes, but if they only acquire $200,000 or less, then they will start with four to six telescopes instead.
This is going to be amazing for the Valley... The Rio Grande Valley is perfect. This is prime viewing ground; very little light pollution.
- Jesus Garza
Physics and mathematics major
February 28, 2013
Meteor, meteorite, or meteoroid? All NEOs.
Is this a meteorite?
Near-Earth Objects (NEOs) are space rocks that have entered Earth’s surrounding area. Comets are formed in the outside edges of the planetary system, which is colder. They’re made mostly of dust particles frozen together with ice. Most of the rocky asteroids are formed in the warmer inner solar system between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter.
Once a meteor lands on the Earth, it is known as a meteorite. They look similar to Earth rocks, but have different properties. Here are some ways to test whether a rock is just a terrestrial rock or something out of this world.
Metal Most meteorites are made of some sort of metal. If you can see metal shining on broken surfaces of the rock, that’s the first clue that it might be a meteorite.
Comet
A relatively small, at times active, object whose ices can vaporize in sunlight forming an atmosphere (coma) of dust and gas and, sometimes, a tail of dust and/or gas.
Density Meteorites that have a lot of metal tend to be very dense compared to regular rocks. Remember that density is mass divided by volume.
Magnetic Properties
Meteor
A lot of meteorites contain shiny iron-nickel metal grains, which attracts a magnet. But remember that many earth rocks are magnetic as well.
The light phenomena which result when a meteoroid enters the Earth’s atmosphere and vaporizes; a shooting star.
Regmaglypt texture/thumbprints Asteroid
A relatively small, inactive, rocky body orbiting the Sun.
Meteorite
A meteoroid that survives its passage through the Earth’s atmosphere and lands upon the Earth’s surface.
Meteoroid
A small particle from a comet or asteroid orbiting the Sun.
can we deflect an asteroid? paint it white
nuclear bomb
A nuclear blast’s radiation - not brute force - would destroy the asteroid’s outer crust, shrinking its mass
Coating an approaching astroid with white powder would cause it to reflect more solar radiation, moving it off course
Nudge the asteroid off course without fracturing it. Would have to be done 20 years before collision
Russian impact
“We need to make a good case and then propose the idea to the dean, provost and even the president,” Lee said. “The idea is to attract many brilliant students from the local area, so we can accommodate a higher number of astronomy demands.”
Streak Most meteorites won’t leave a mark on a ‘streak plate’, but the surfaces of some meteorites might leave a reddish streak if they have been oxidized (rusted). Otherwise, only Earth rocks will streak the plate.
“Let’s say a rock the size of the Chase Building hit the earth, then it would be more powerful than those nuclear bombs that happened during World War II.”
- Hyunchul Lee
Chair, Astronomy Planning Committee
gravity tow truck
Navigate a hefty robot close to the asteroid and tow it away with the gentle pull of gravity, cost may be astronomical
A carbon-fiber net would increase the amount of solar radiation absorbed and emitted by the asteroid, guiding it away
common impacts
Feb. 15, 2013 Released the energy equivalent of 500 kilotons of TNT
(30 times the energy of the Hiroshima atomic bomb)
Sparked a blast equivalent to a 300-kiloton explosion Traveled at 40,000 mph Damages cost 1 Billion Rubles ($33 million in U.S currency)
- Over 4,000 buildings damaged - 1,500 people injured
Estimated size - about 50 feet across Shockwave injured hundreds in the industrial city of Chelyabinsk 54 miles away
sources
When the surface of the meteorite begins to melt during entry into the atmosphere, some areas of the meteorites are eroded by melting more than others, leaving small dents in the surface of the rock, known as Regmaglypt texture.
net it
kinetic interception
(mostly due to flying glass)
THE OBSERVATORY With the recent plans to merge both the UTPA and UTB campuses, creating a Rio Grande Valley University, Lee expressed how important having access to Permanent University Funds would be. “Very opportunistic because the so-called PUF will be available,” he said. “This may be the perfect timing to make
THE PAN AMERICAN
February 28, 2013
http://impact.arc.nasa.gov/intro_faq.cfm
according to nasa.gov
Tunguska impact June 30, 1908
Every day, Earth is bombarded with more than 100 tons of dust and sandsized particles
Released the energy equivalent of 30 megatons of TNT
About once a year, an automobilesized asteroid hits Earth’s atmosphere, creates an impressive fireball, and burns up before reaching the surface
Traveled
Every 2,000 years or so, a meteoroid the size of a football field hits Earth and causes significant damage to the area The asteroid that brought the Ice Age 65 million years ago was 15 km in diameter and caused mass extinctions with its 100 million megaton explosion
http://neo.jpl.nasa.gov/faq/#diff http://dsc.discovery.com/space/top-10/asteroid-stopping-technology/index-09.html
(180 times the energy of the Hiroshima atomic bomb)
at
35,500
mph
Monetary damage cost unknown
(had it hit a city, the damage would have been catastrophic)
-flattened 2,000 km2 of forest (80 million trees)
One person died as a result of being blown into a tree. several hundred herds of reindeer were also killed.
Estimated size - about 120 feet across The shockwave would have measured a magnitude of 5.03
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6
arts & life
February 28, 2013
borderline hilarious Improv club at forms UTPA
By Monica Rodriguez The Pan American
From the shadows to the stage Mariachi opera based on UTPA student’s struggles
Adrian Castillo /The Pan American UTPA Mariachi Aztlán trumpet player David Moreno performs at the Texas State Capitol during RGV Higher Education Day Jan. 30. By May Ortega The Pan American Two weeks after becoming a United States citizen, 22-year-old David Moreno from Rio Grande City was a guest in the White House and met President Barack Obama. The University’s Mariachi Aztlán, including Moreno, played for President Obama at his second inauguration, then began to tour with the Houston Grand Opera in February. The group performed a mariachi opera called Past the Checkpoints, a story based on a turning point in Moreno’s life. Feb. 22 the mariachi performed the production for the public at Edinburg Conference Center at Renaissance. Moreno, a UTPA music major, was born in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico, and moved to Rio Grande City at age 5. He grew up in the area with his family and learned when he was 12 years old that he was not a legal citizen of the United States. He struggled with it for 10 years, saying that he lived in the shadows. According to Slate Magazine, there were 1,650,000 other undocumented immigrants living in Texas in 2010. In seventh grade, he joined the middle school band and played the trumpet throughout junior high. He became a part of the Cascabel Mariachi at Rio Grande City High School, something he kept at for four years. Mariachi music, which is usually played by string instruments and trumpets, is known for its bold sound and big voices, as well as the colorful and shiny charro outfits the members of the mariachi wear. And for Moreno, it has always been a vital part of who he is. “Mariachi was a whole dif-
ferent thing from band. It wasn’t easy but I really liked it,” Moreno said. “The beauty of mariachi music and how it represents Mexican culture make me proud of my heritage.” After a decade of living in fear of being discovered as an undocumented immigrant and beginning to lose hope of a successful life, he discovered UTPA. David Hanlon, both a music director and composer of the HGO, already knew Moreno from the time the former performed a mariachi opera in 2010 named Cruzar la Cara de la Luna, or To Cross the Face of the Moon, with the Mariachi Aztlán. “I heard that there was going to be an article in the Houston Chronicle about David and I thought it was fantastic to have an article written about his talent,” Hanlon said. “I didn’t know (he was undocumented) until I read
immigrants should be deported. MARIACHI OPERA A mariachi opera has opera singers, but they perform to music played by mariachi instruments. Moreno plays the trumpet in Past the Checkpoints, while actor Gabriel Gargari sings to what he plays. “It was very important to me to make something that felt true and honored not only what David went through, but what many others also go through,” explained Hanlon, composer of the opera. The set of the performance in Edinburg last week consisted of three large rectangles covered in solid black cloth; the rest of the props were small cubed crates, stacked so the characters could sit, stand and sing on them. The opera began with Moreno’s fictional counterpart, Gabriel (not to be confused with Gar-
I’ve met so many great people and seen so many amazing things. It’s all a dream come true and I love every second of it. -David Moreno
Senior Mariachi Aztlán trumpet player
about it.” White House representatives recently released information on a proposal for an eight-year path to legal residency for undocumented immigrants. They must learn U.S. government history and how to speak English. Though the representatives are making plans to help undocumented immigrants stay in the country, according to a poll conducted by online news source Reuters, 23 percent of people said that all undocumented
gari, the performer), practicing his trumpet along with peers, for an upcoming audition at Baylor University. Gabriel is the top trumpet player at his school, but he becomes apprehensive when he realizes that he must cross the checkpoint in Falfurrias. “He was afraid to be discovered or to bring any kind of scrutiny on his family since they were undocumented citizens as well,” Hanlon said. From the get-go, Gargari’s
every emotion was reflected by Moreno’s trumpet playing, along with Robert Wolf on the electric guitar and Teruhiko Toda on the piano. When Gargari’s character is faced with the risk of being discovered as undocumented if he travels north, Moreno plays slowly and quietly while Gargari sings in despair, his head hanging low as he kneels on the ground. Gabriel is greatly conflicted, but ultimately decides to skip the Baylor audition, while Moreno plays his trumpet glumly. When Gabriel is at his lowest point and thinks he will never make it to college, his teacher shows him that UTPA is another option. Once his hope is restored, Moreno’s playing becomes lively, as does Gabriel’s singing. “If I hadn’t gone to UTPA, I wouldn’t be here. I wouldn’t have met the President. I don’t know where I would be,” Moreno said. Past the Checkpoints will be performed only in Houston until March 1. After the Mariachi Aztlán’s touring with the Houston Grand Opera is over, the group will perform Cruzar La Cara de la Luna in Chicago in April. Dates and ticket information on Past the Checkpoints can be found on houstongrandopera.org and information for Cruzar La Cara de la Luna can be found on lyricopera.org. Moreno said he feels blessed and wants the production to give hope to others that things can change for the better. “I’ve met so many great people and seen so many amazing things,” he said with a smile. “It’s all a dream come true and I love every second of it.”
Party Quirks is the name of the game. Juniors Olivia Cruz and Cougar Garza required students to play it as part of the audition process for their new improvisation club at UTPA. Improvisation is theater without planning, requiring actors to perform without practice beforehand. The object of Party Quirks is for the actors to practice their improv skills and act on the spot while figuring out which party guest has a quirk. Auditioners caressed furniture, whisked their head back and forth as if lost or averted their eyes when the party host so much as glanced at them. Cruz and Garza held auditions for the club, known as Borderline Theater, Feb. 14 and Feb.15. The two started throwing the idea of the club around in spring 2012 when they met in their TV Production class and finally took action. After posters appeared emblazoned with a chihuahua -- which might be used as their mascot according to 22-year-old Garza -- and headlines blaring
The pair wanted to form a creative outlet available for students on campus besides the University theater program and McAllen group Thirteen O’ Clock Theater. Borderline was organized to allow students to develop their creativity and have fun while doing so. “UTPA should have this organization because we should be exposed to every opportunity we can,” the 21-year-old Cruz said. “There is a lot of great talent here. People with a lot of potential and organizations like this one help students exercise that talent and do what they love.” The club uses exercises and games like ones used in the improv TV show Whose Line is it Anyway?, where performers act, sing and create characters in the form of games. As in the setup of Saturday Night Live, a show where actors perform comedic skits in front of a live audience, the members of Borderline hope to have a few guest appearances from the student body. “I’m anxious to see what this group will become once we’re all more familiar with each other and develop timing and chemistry,”
Norma Gonzalez /The Pan American Borderline Theater members (from left) Olivia Cruz, Ricky Uribe, Cougar Garza, Josh Rodriguez and Carter Coplen act out a hostage situation Feb. 27 in the ARHU building. “Sex, Drugs and Money” to catch students’ attention, a total of 10 students auditioned. Auditions included brainstorming while acting and demonstrating the ability to perform before an audience. The judges, Cruz and Garza, who are TV/ film majors, gave the performers a character and a situation to act out. If they successfully carried out the improvisation, they were given a spot as a club member. Out of the 10 auditioners, eight became members, and of the eight, three became the club’s writers. The writers are in charge of creating sketches, characters and having material ready for performances. The first meeting was held Feb. 22 and the group discussed its purpose, meeting hours and got to know each other.
Garza said. “A few of our writers are going to have some sketch ideas for next meeting so I can’t wait to see what they come up with.” The group meets every Friday at 2:30 p.m. Currently there is no set room for the meeting to take place. Those interested in joining can contact opcruz@rocketmail. com or cougar.garza@gmail.com. Auditions will remain the same. The club plans to have small performances or shows available for the UTPA community and the members hope to receive a positive reaction from the student body. “I want them to laugh obviously and enjoy whatever it ends up being,” Garza said. “I think we’ll get some chuckles but this is going to be a work in progress.”
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February 28, 2013 January 31, 2013
Track and Field brings home various titles Great West Conference Indoor Championship Final Standings
GOLD
Continued from Page 1
HBU 175
Men’s
UTPA 101 NJIT 50.50
1st
2nd
198
Norma Gonzalez/The Pan American UTPA Track and Field athletes Jesus Alvarez (left), Martin Casse, Jasmine Davison and Judith Chumba take a break after their morning practice. All four won gold medals: Alvarez in the men’s weight throw, Casse in the men’s mile run and men’s 800-meter run, Davison in the women’s weight throw and Chumba in the women’s mile run. spread ourselves as thin in order to cover the opportunities the top 2 teams had.” Although UTPA didn’t have the quantity, they had the quality. Casse understood the importance of conference championships and made sure to give it his all. “It was different because
baseball Beat Northwestern State University Feb. 22 4-1 in the first of three games of the series in Louisiana Lost Game 2 to the NSU Demons 6-4 Feb. 23 Lost final game of the NSU series 10-4 Feb. 24 Lost 7-1 against University of Texas at San Antonio Feb. 29 in San Antonio
Placed 11-of-13 at the San Antonio Shootout hosted by UTB/TSC and Oklahoma Christian University Feb. 29 with 644 strokes
of the stake,” Casse said about the meet. “Every time we compete it’s kind of for the team, but this time is was really like a team honor. Everybody’s really together, supporting each other. When you race, the feeling’s not the same as other competitions. That’s conference, that’s what it’s about.”
The team is now working on transitioning from the indoor to the outdoor season, getting off the 200m indoor track and moving to the 400m oval. “I think a lot of people have that morale and momentum to do it and I’ve heard a lot of people talking about how they want to beat HBU,”
women’s golf Placed 13-of-14 at the Islander Classic hosted by Texas A&MCorpus Christi in Corpus Christi Feb. 29 with 673 strokes
men’s basketball
Beat Chicago State University 55-51 Feb. 23 in Illinois Next home game March 3 at 2 p.m. against University of New Orleans at the Field House
women’s basketball
Beat Houston Baptist University 67-59 Feb. 23 in Houston Beat University of New Orleans 60-59 Feb. 27 at the UTPA Field House
3rd
UTPA 95
HBU
WEEKLY UPDATES
men’s golf
UVU 167
Women’s
3,000-meter run (10:18.79). Both Davison and Jesus Alvarez won their weight throw title, Davison and Alvarez with 17.27m, and each took second in shot put, with distances of 13.16m and 15.26m, respectively. Rounding out the group was Macario Zarate, who paced the field in the men’s 60-meter hurdles with a time of 8.22. “We certainly pride ourselves on coming away with six individual champions and having 17 top-three finishes at the championships,” Richardson said. “It shows that although we may not have the quantity, we absolutely have the quality when we measure up against the other teams.” For each first-place individual finish the team is awarded 10 points, eight for second and six for third. The men’s racked up 101 points, 74 points behind winner Houston Baptist University, and the women scored 95, 103 points behind HBU. “I think for the most part, everybody left their hearts on the field,” Davison said. “Coach X told us those were the most points we scored in the past four, five years.” Second-place finisher Utah Valley University has the largest track and field team in the GWC, with 53 athletes on the men’s roster and 51 on the women’s. By having more athletes, universities have a higher chance of having multiple top finishers and therefore rack up more points. “At conference it becomes a numbers game, if you have more bodies in more events, you have more point opportunities,” Richardson explained. “Unfortunately, we didn’t have the depth - or didn’t
CSU 25.25
5th
4th
NJIT 25
CSU 16
UVU 184
“They see now that we’re not ones to be reckoned with. We come out and we mean business and we take what’s ours.” - Jasmine Davison Sophomore thrower
said Chumba about gearing up for outdoor, which begins March 16 at the Cactus Cup in Kingsville. “Especially the distance (runners) because they beat us in cross country and we are still mad about that.” This is the last chance the Broncs have to win GWC titles as the University will change over to the Western
Athletic Conference in July. “It was just important for me because we are going into another conference and I wanted them to know that we are coming with a bang,” Davison said. “I don’t want them to think, ‘Oh, just come in and try to be in our conference.’ No, I’m coming and I’m coming with intentions to win.”
men’s tennis Next home matches March 1 at 10 a.m. against University of the Southwest and 4 p.m. against St. Mary’s University at the Orville Cox Tennis Center
women’s tennis
Lost to the University of Houston 7-0 Feb. 24 in Houston Next home matches March 1 at 10 a.m. against University of the Southwest, 2 p.m. against St. Mary’s University and March 2 at 9 a.m. against USW at the Orville Cox Tennis Center
track and field Both Men’s and Women’s placed third in the Great West Conference Indoor Championships Feb. 23-24 in Houston
THE PAN AMERICAN
February 28, 2013
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