Smithsonian comes to UTPA
Journey Stories exhibit makes rounds in Library
Page 4
February 19, 2015
Volume 71, No. 19
ONLINE CONTENT
panamericanonline.com
SGA constitution
Preparing for the merger
Weekly updates on current events
Season begins
Broncs start first weekend 2-2
Anime Blog
Black Butler review
By Elsa Cavazos The Pan American
Junior golfer proves locals have the goods
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Described by his current golf coach as a quiet guy who likes to keep to himself, Ricardo “Ricky” Solis II is anything but shy on the golf course. The four-time high school
MVP player and tournamentconquering college student has shown that great athletes can be produced in the Rio Grande Valley. Born in Corpus Christi, Solis and his family moved to McAllen when he was a few
weeks old. While playing many sports in school, he took a particular interest in golf because his father was an avid linkster. Solis said he enjoyed “hanging out” with his dad and his dad’s friends, and eventually started to beat him at the game.
Solis played golf at McAllen High School, from which he graduated in 2012. There, he quickly became a star golfer. “In high school, all four years, I was our MVP with the
lowest scoring average,” the 21-year-old said. “My junior year I was co-MVP. My senior year I got first team all-district and second team all-state.”
CONTINUES ON PAGE 7
2
opinion
February 19, 2015
So you think you can carry?
The Pan American
thepanamerican@gmail.com 1201 West University, ARHU 170 Edinburg, Texas 78539 Phone: (956) 665-2541 Fax: (956) 665-7122
Why allowing guns on college campuses is a huge mistake
Editors-in-Chief: Andrew Vera May Ortega
Andrew Vera
Sports Editor:
Marco Torres
Arts & Life Editor: Nerio Celaya
Photography Editor: Jon Nutt
Design Editor:
Francisco Rodriguez
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Dr. Greg Selber
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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.
Letters to the 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:
thepanamerican@ gmail.com Vol. 71, No. 19
Tweet at and follow us @ThePanAmerican Gotta love pan am, girls in thigh high boots & dudes in onesie pajamas #diversity #utpa #coldAF -@_____Joie_____ People in #UTPA need to learn to walk on the pedestrian lines, NOT THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD!!! -@itzah21 Birthday suits tailored here! -@utpa_wellness
Co-Editor-in-Chief Nearly 50 years ago Charles Whitman opened fire at the University of Texas at Austin, ultimately killing 16 people and injuring 31 more. A week ago, the Senate State Affairs Com-
Support for the bill came from Committee Chairwoman Joan Huffman, R-Houston, and Texas A&M University Chancellor John Sharp. Opposing the bill, however, is newly appointed University of Texas System Chancellor William McRaven. Supporters argue that allowing students to carry on campus creates a “safer environment” in case of a shooting. They might
Huffman said this bill is giving people the right to “protect themselves in a legal way.” First Amendment laws are all fine and good when you are sitting on your property or protecting your home, but a college campus has a much greater population than your backyard. By allowing guns on college campuses, lawmakers are opening the door for more trouble and are perpetuating a far more concerning issue: suicide. According to Emory Uni-
The logic that allowing guns on campus will prevent a possible shooter from killing or attacking others is flawed. It’s the same as fighting fire with fire someone will get burned. mittee approved the Campus Carry Bill that will allow guns on university grounds across the state. Without taking this fatal incident (or any others, for that matter) into account, lawmakers voted 7-2 on the issue, allowing licensed gun owners to carry on a college campus. The bill came with great support and much opposition. The issue cuts right through party lines with Republicans supporting the bill and Democrats widely disagreeing with it.
versity’s website, one in 10 college students have made plans to comitt suicide. Also, there are more than 1,000 suicides on college campuses each year. Easier access to guns not only worsens these stats, but creates an unsafe environment for students. Lawmakers are looking at this issue from one side: gun rights. But without looking at the wider scope, they fail to realize many more lives are put in danger.
The solution here is a simple one: train the law enforcement of our college campuses. By putting trust in the men and women who serve to protect these mini-cities, students, faculty and staff can feel safer and far more protected. Rather than allowing a person who could have no gun training at all to control a deadly situation, why not train a professional to care for his or her constituents?
PHOTO OF THE WEEK
even rely on statistics, like the ones stated in Campus Safety Magazine, that say one out of every four college campus police departments are not prepared for an active shooter situation. But what statistics show safer numbers for John Doe carrying a gun? The logic that allowing guns on campus will prevent a possible shooter from killing or attacking others is flawed. It’s the same as fighting fire with fire someone will get burned.
Juanita Renee Rivas/ The Pan American Members of the Minority Affairs Council gather in reaction to Brownsville Judge Andrew S. Hanen’s granting of a preliminary injunction on Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), and Deferred Action for Parental Accountability (DAPA) Feb. 18. MAC serves as a support system for minorities in the Rio Grande Valley and stands up for minority issues.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
BOOTCAMP WELLNESS
& REC SPORTS
FEBRUARY 3 - MARCH 12, 2015 TUESDAYS & THURSDAYS
6:15 - 7 A.M. REC MAIN GYM
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PARTICIPANTS WHO COMPLETE 80% OF CAMP QUALIFY FOR A PRIZE.
stay connected For more information or special accommodations
(956) 665-7808
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As a college student, you already know how much GPAs matter. Your grade point average determines whether or not you keep your scholarships. It affects your chances of getting into grad school. It could be the tie-breaker when you’re competing for a job. But grades also matter because they are supposed to reflect what you know and can do. While everyone wants good grades, it’s generally a bad sign when everyone gets them. If that’s happening, the bar for “excellence” is too low. Some people are getting high grades for doing less, cheapening the value of an A so that truly exceptional students don’t stand out. A recent report, Easy A’s and What’s Behind Them, by the National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ) looks at more than 500 colleges (includ-
ing University of Texas – Pan American) and finds that, on average, about 30 percent of all students at these schools graduate with grade-based honors. What’s troubling for NCTQ, a research organization that advocates for improving the instruction of K-12 students by improving the preparation of their teachers, is that Easy A’s also found that teacher candidates at the schools we reviewed are nearly 50 percent more likely than their peers across campus to graduate with honors. At the University of Texas – Pan American, however, there is no worrisome discrepancy between the proportion of teacher candidates who earn honors and other majors. Specifically, insert 25.5 percent of soon-to-be teachers at the University of Texas – Pan American graduate with honors, which com-
pares with 22.54 percent for all programs on campus. We hope to see more institutions follow this example. For teacher candidates and all other students, if virtually everyone has stellar grades, an easy A doesn’t really help you get a job, and it definitely won’t help you keep it.
-Kate Walsh President of the National Council on Teacher Quality in Washington D.C.
news
February 19, 2015
3
Austin native makes UTRGV history Raul Munguia to serve as school’s first police chief
By Denise Garza The Pan American
The upcoming establishment of University of Texas Rio Grande Valley through the merger of the University of Texas at Brownsville and UTPA has placed students from both universities through a series of changes. The next step in deciding the future of UTRGV was taken at the beginning of the spring semester with the hiring of the new chief of police, Raul Munguia. The law enforcement veteran is scheduled to serve as UTRGV’s first chief starting this fall. The police department in Brownsville, currently under the leadership of Chief Michael Holguin, is looking for a new assistant chief. UTPA’s acting chief, James Loya, will remain in the Edinburg department as assistant chief. While Munguia is excited about his appointment, making history as the school’s first chief requires serious changes in Munguia’s life and career. For Munguia, the last 31 years have been all about serving Austin. After graduating from Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls with a bachelor’s in applied arts and science, he began his career in law enforcement by joining the Austin Police Department in 1983. Years of working for Austin P.D. led him to the position of assistant chief in 2010. Three years later he was appointed chief of staff. His retirement from Austin P.D. marked the beginning of a new phase in his life. For the recently appointed Austin native, his new role isn’t
just a job. Accepting the position of chief of police of UTRGV required life-changing steps. Assimilating to a different region and culture was the easy part of moving away from Austin. He said leaving his community, friends, neighbors and family were the real challenges. His fiancée, a Harlingen native, is one of the few familiar faces Munguia will have in his future home in Brownsville. He said finding a place to live and building a new life with her have been some of the most significant features of his move to the RGV. While Munguia will miss Austin dearly, he embraces the challenges of moving to the Valley and looks forward to building a life here. “The people are very friendly and welcoming in the Valley,” Munguia said tothe PanAmerican. “I can’t wait to settle down and start mixing with the community down there.” Although this is the first time he will serve an academic institution, Munguia believes this job will not be too different from his previous work experience. “Providing public safety is what I’ve been doing for Austin for the past 30 years. It’s very similar to what I’ll be doing for UTRGV. The end goal is everybody’s safety,” he said. In his previous job, Mungia had the opportunity to serve communities surrounding the University of Texas at Austin. The experience gave him the knowledge needed to work with student populations. Once it falls under his command, the UTRGV Police Department will continue UTPA’s mission of
public safety. “We want to ensure an environment conducive to learning for the UTRGV community,” the 54-year-old said. “My goal is to provide a safe learning environment to UTRGV students and staff.” Munguia plans to become familiar with students once UTRGV’s first semester kicks off. As a father of a college student, he hopes to help the Vaqueros feel at home and understands that the first years away from home can be tough times, especially for international and out-of-state students. “For most students it’s their first time away from home and some of them are naïve,” he explained. According to Munguia, the most common issues univerisity departments deal with relate to public disturbances, such as breaking curfews and excessive drinking. He believes a fear or lack of trust in law enforcement is a leading cause of most preventable crimes. One of the most common problems to go undetected among students, he said, is dating violence. “We can’t address (crimes) if we don’t know about it,” the new chief said. Munguia said he hopes to avoid this by reaching out to students, staff and the community. He aims to deter those types of crimes by analyzing and improvising the department’s response. “We want to ensure that when there is trouble or suspicious activity, students will not hesitate to call the police,” Munguia said.
The changes taking place under UTRGV may be confusing for new and returning students alike. The police department hopes to make the transition as smooth as possible. “We are considering an open forum to address any questions or concerns students may have about safety and other issues,” the former patrol officer said. In the meantime, organizing the police departments in Brownsville and Edinburg is Munguia’s major task. He plans to coordinate and oversee the performance of the departments; a task that will require frequent travel of more than 60 miles between both campuses. All officers currently employed with both universities have been offered extended employment under UTRGV. Once the semester kicks off, Munguia plans to consolidate and evaluate the department’s resources and personnel. “We need to consider the manpower needs before the decision to hire new staff is made,” Munguia said. Loya’s 22 years of experience serving the UTPA community will be a valuable resource for the new police chief. The assistant chief has served UTPA’s Police Department since 1993 and has become one of the most familiar police figures on campus. “Both campuses are already operating under one set of policies and procedures set in place by the UT system,” Loya said. He is familiar with the police department in UT Brownsville, having worked with them on many occasions. Loya’s history and position have provided him
with a unique glance at what the future of the department holds. “UTRGV will formally unify both departments but we have been working closely with UT Brownsville for several years now,” Loya said. The departments have received training together and often assist each other with campus events. Loya had the opportunity to meet Munguia a few weeks ago and is pleased with the latter’s appointment. “He has a lot of experience that he is bringing to us and I look forward to working with him,” Loya said.
Munguia considers his leadership style as “hands-on” and plans to use his experience patrolling the streets of Austin to learn more about key issues facing the Rio Grande Valley, such as organized crime and drug trafficking. “I plan to be more proactive when it comes to applying the law and want to be transparent about what we are doing,” he said. He begins his new role this month working on the consolidation of the departments. A commissioning ceremony was held for the new chief of police on Tuesday at the Regional Academic Health Center in Harlingen.
Paul Chouy/ UT Brownsville
Keeping the dream alive
UTRGV officials, students advocate a stay for Texas Dream Act
By Claudia Lemus The Pan American
New University of Texas System Chancellor Bill McRaven has expressed his support for keeping in-state tuition for undocumented students after several legislators filed bills repealing or altering House Bill 1403, better known as the Texas DREAM Act. “My job is to help educate the young men and women of Texas,” McRaven said in an article published in the Texas Tribune earlier this month. “If we have been doing that for these undocumented students for, at a minimum the past three years as they’ve made it through high school - and in many cases since they were in elementary school - I think it’s appropriate to continue to educate them.” According to an article by the Rio Grande Guardian published
Jan. 24, former Gov. Rick Perry signed the Texas DREAM Act in 2001. The bill allows certain non-immigrant and undocumented students to attend Texas universities and pay in-state tuition rates, along with qualifying for state financial aid like the Texas Grant and the Top 10 Percent Scholarship. As a result, undocumented students who meet the following requirements outlined in the Texas DREAM Act were granted access to public institutions of higher education in Texas: • Have resided with a parent or guardian while attending high school. • Graduated from a public or private high school or have a GED. • Lived in Texas for three years leading to their high school graduation or receipt of their GED. • Provide a signed affidavit
to the institution stating their intent to apply for permanent resident status as soon as they’re able to. Based on financial information on UTPA’s website, in 2014 non-Texas residents paid $17,182 in tuition and fees, nearly three times as much as the estimated amount for Texas residents, $6,134. Because of the higher cost of tuition to non-Texas residents, lawmakers such as Rep. Mark Keough, R-The Woodlands, have filed bills to repeal or alter HB 1403, claiming it is unfair to citizens in other states. In a statement to San Antonio Express News in a January article, Keough explained the purpose of his bill. “HB 360 will take steps to reduce the magnetic draw or allure that exists within Texas due to programs that provide benefits
to those who are here illegally,” he said. Another bill designed to alter the Texas DREAM Act was HB 209, filed by Rep. Jonathan Stickland, R-Bedford. It is meant to eliminate provisions allowing undocumented students to qualify for in-state tuition and would get rid of the provision for Texas high school graduates. While Texas was one of the first states to offer in-state tuition for undocumented students since 2001, about 16 states have taken similar steps via legislative action, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. The other states include California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Kansas, Maryland, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Utah and Washington state. Despite numerous states offering in-state tuition for undocumented students, there are those
like Arizona, Georgia and Indiana that have opted to prohibit such measures. As UTPA Vice President of University Advancement Veronica Gonzalez said in a recent interview with the Rio Grande Guardian, UTPA and the UTB have the highest number of undocumented students in the UT System. This makes sense given the institution’s proximity to the border with Mexico. Because of this, the vice president said the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley will be one of the loudest Universities supporting in-state tuition for DREAMers. “UTRGV’s position is that instate tuition has helped so many of our students to be productive citizens, so we are very supportive,” Gonzalez said. “We have 880 (undocumented) students between UTPA and UTB who benefit from in-state tuition.”
As a result, during the interview the former State Representative from 2004 to 2012 explained how a repeal of the Texas DREAM Act would impact undocumented students. “We keep talking about what a great state we are and we have so much hope and we do not want to kill dreams,” Gonzalez said. “This (repeal of HB 1403) would kill dreams for so many students if they were not allowed in-state tuition because … taking away the in-state tuition you have basically killed the opportunity for them to go to school.”
To read the full article, visit our website: www.panamericanonline.com
Page 4
February 19, 2015
THE PAN AMERICAN
February 19, 2015
Everyone has a journey story UTPA houses traveling Smithsonian Journey Stories Exhibition
Story by Scarlet Sawyer Photos By Sarah Carvajal The Pan American
Some came in chains, some looked for a fresh start and others were forced to move from their homes. These souls comprise America’s history as a nation of immigrants. The Smithsonian Journey Stories exhibition shows what is was like to be mobile from colonial to modern times in America, whether the movement was voluntary or not. Virginia Gause, a media and marketing librarian at UTPA, attended training for the event last September in the East Texas town of Marshall in order to put the exhibit together. She is now running the weeklong exhibit that opened to the public Tuesday, Feb. 17 in the UTPA Library’s Shary Room. It will close March 27. “Journey Stories” is a Museum on Main Street Project, which is a
travelling exhibition program that caters to small-town audiences. According to Gause, the goal is to get members of the community to come together and celebrate their heritage. Gause, graduated in 1973 from George Peabody College for teachers in Nashville, receiving her master’s in library science. She said she is looking forward to the community’s connection with history being brought to life through narrative voices, photos and artifacts that capture this human experience. “I think it is a grand opportunity for (UTPA),” said Gause, who has worked at the UTPA library for 42 years. “I know there are some people enrolled here that just may not get to go to Washington D.C. or New York and not get to see a Smithsonian Institution museum. Maybe it will inspire students to go and see what the Smithsonian
has to offer.” The exhibit is geared toward people of all levels of education and divided into sections that depict each type of trek to the Americas. The tales told encompass some taking a one-way trip in search of religious freedom, African Americans ripped away from their homes by slavery, and Native Americans being forced off their land, and the shifting of borders to allow some to take over foreign soil. Six years ago the exposition got its start in Utah with the ambition to reach all the United States. Texas is getting its turn this year, with six destinations hosting a threedimensional 8-foot-tall setup with instructional floor guides. Edinburg is the 12th stop on the exhibit journey, which heads to three more Lone Star cities-Claude-Bryan and Alpine-before venturing overseas to Guam. In an article by The Victoria
Advocate, Journey Stories is the first Smithsonian exhibit of its kind to come to Texas. Donald Zuris, who works with the Smithsonian in Washington D.C., is responsible for bringing it. “Our nation really has been a nation of immigrants and once we arrived here we migrated within the country,” the Corpus Christi native said. “We are one of the most mobile people in the world and for the younger students it is important to look on their older generation as a resource for family history and the struggles they went through to get here.” Along with the exhibit, there will be a myriad of guest speakers throughout the week including faculty members as well as local historians, each focusing on crucial parts of America’s diverse history. The week started with a book launch of Living the Dream: New Immigration Policies and the Lives
of Undocumented Latino Youth, by author and associate professor Jessica Lavariega Monforti of the UTPA political science department. Her book wasn’t influenced by the exhibit but shares a timely common interest. “It was really great timing that they were coming on to campus and the book was coming out, so we decided to pair up,” the Ohio State and Florida State University graduate said. “But I think that shows the importance of the issue, the fact that we have major institutions like the Smithsonian talking about people’s journeys at the same time we have major policy happening. It’s really at the top of people’s minds.” Some attendees of the book reading were junior Andrea Salinas and freshman Larry Sanchez, who are a part of the College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP). “My dorm mentor told me
about the book reading and I felt like it was a good idea to come and check it out,” Salinas said. According to the U.S. Department of Education, the CAMP program helps students who are migratory workers or are children of such in the funding of their first year of undergraduate studies. It has been active at UTPA since 1972. “I came because I was interested in learning more about her book and the issues going on around the border,” Sanchez explained. Crossing boundaries and comfort levels, immigrants have made America what it is today, and this exhibit shares only some narratives of these experiences and asks through a tagline, “everyone has a journey story, so what’s yours?”
Page 5
THE PAN AMERICAN
nueva sucursal en edinburg, TX 2801 w. university DR. STE. 12 I (956) 287 4228
_
PROXIMAMENTE AL NORTE DE LA CALLE 10 __
Calle 10 al Sur Frente a HEB (956) 627 2853
Page 4
February 19, 2015
THE PAN AMERICAN
February 19, 2015
Everyone has a journey story UTPA houses traveling Smithsonian Journey Stories Exhibition
Story by Scarlet Sawyer Photos By Sarah Carvajal The Pan American
Some came in chains, some looked for a fresh start and others were forced to move from their homes. These souls comprise America’s history as a nation of immigrants. The Smithsonian Journey Stories exhibition shows what is was like to be mobile from colonial to modern times in America, whether the movement was voluntary or not. Virginia Gause, a media and marketing librarian at UTPA, attended training for the event last September in the East Texas town of Marshall in order to put the exhibit together. She is now running the weeklong exhibit that opened to the public Tuesday, Feb. 17 in the UTPA Library’s Shary Room. It will close March 27. “Journey Stories” is a Museum on Main Street Project, which is a
travelling exhibition program that caters to small-town audiences. According to Gause, the goal is to get members of the community to come together and celebrate their heritage. Gause, graduated in 1973 from George Peabody College for teachers in Nashville, receiving her master’s in library science. She said she is looking forward to the community’s connection with history being brought to life through narrative voices, photos and artifacts that capture this human experience. “I think it is a grand opportunity for (UTPA),” said Gause, who has worked at the UTPA library for 42 years. “I know there are some people enrolled here that just may not get to go to Washington D.C. or New York and not get to see a Smithsonian Institution museum. Maybe it will inspire students to go and see what the Smithsonian
has to offer.” The exhibit is geared toward people of all levels of education and divided into sections that depict each type of trek to the Americas. The tales told encompass some taking a one-way trip in search of religious freedom, African Americans ripped away from their homes by slavery, and Native Americans being forced off their land, and the shifting of borders to allow some to take over foreign soil. Six years ago the exposition got its start in Utah with the ambition to reach all the United States. Texas is getting its turn this year, with six destinations hosting a threedimensional 8-foot-tall setup with instructional floor guides. Edinburg is the 12th stop on the exhibit journey, which heads to three more Lone Star cities-Claude-Bryan and Alpine-before venturing overseas to Guam. In an article by The Victoria
Advocate, Journey Stories is the first Smithsonian exhibit of its kind to come to Texas. Donald Zuris, who works with the Smithsonian in Washington D.C., is responsible for bringing it. “Our nation really has been a nation of immigrants and once we arrived here we migrated within the country,” the Corpus Christi native said. “We are one of the most mobile people in the world and for the younger students it is important to look on their older generation as a resource for family history and the struggles they went through to get here.” Along with the exhibit, there will be a myriad of guest speakers throughout the week including faculty members as well as local historians, each focusing on crucial parts of America’s diverse history. The week started with a book launch of Living the Dream: New Immigration Policies and the Lives
of Undocumented Latino Youth, by author and associate professor Jessica Lavariega Monforti of the UTPA political science department. Her book wasn’t influenced by the exhibit but shares a timely common interest. “It was really great timing that they were coming on to campus and the book was coming out, so we decided to pair up,” the Ohio State and Florida State University graduate said. “But I think that shows the importance of the issue, the fact that we have major institutions like the Smithsonian talking about people’s journeys at the same time we have major policy happening. It’s really at the top of people’s minds.” Some attendees of the book reading were junior Andrea Salinas and freshman Larry Sanchez, who are a part of the College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP). “My dorm mentor told me
about the book reading and I felt like it was a good idea to come and check it out,” Salinas said. According to the U.S. Department of Education, the CAMP program helps students who are migratory workers or are children of such in the funding of their first year of undergraduate studies. It has been active at UTPA since 1972. “I came because I was interested in learning more about her book and the issues going on around the border,” Sanchez explained. Crossing boundaries and comfort levels, immigrants have made America what it is today, and this exhibit shares only some narratives of these experiences and asks through a tagline, “everyone has a journey story, so what’s yours?”
Page 5
THE PAN AMERICAN
nueva sucursal en edinburg, TX 2801 w. university DR. STE. 12 I (956) 287 4228
_
PROXIMAMENTE AL NORTE DE LA CALLE 10 __
Calle 10 al Sur Frente a HEB (956) 627 2853
6
arts & life
February 19, 2015
An ally on campus Training provides safety zone for students By Ramiro Rios The Pan American During the most recent Ally training at UTPA in November, a student came out as gay during the “Coming Out Letter” activity where students write a pretend coming out letter to a family member or friend. It was an emotional moment for the student and everyone in attendance, including Intercultural and Diversity Programming intern Claudette Guerrero. “It was hard to contain yourself. The student started crying and it helps you empathize how emotional the process can get,” the 26-year-old said. “Everyone gathered around and they were very supportive.” Students are encouraged to participate in the “Coming out Letter” activity. According to Guerrero, this helps them put themselves in the “shoes” of those involved. Ally training has been active at the university for four years and is part of the Office
for Student Involvement’s Intercultural and Diversity Programming. The next training is scheduled for Feb. 20 at the Student Union in Palmetto Room 2.418 from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. Its purpose is to provide a network of safe and supportive allies to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) community at UTPA. “Participants are trained on what to do if someone comes out (as gay) to them or if they hear others on campus using the terminology incorrectly,” Guerrero said. “We teach them how to be an advocate and at the end of the training they choose whether to become an ally or not.” Trainings usually last three hours as attendees are educated in depth on LGBTQ symbols and meanings such as the rainbow, transgender, pansexual and bisexual flags. Phrases used within the LGBTQ community are also discussed and explained as well as the extra hurdles Latinos and African
Americans have had to overcome when coming out within their respective cultures. According to Guerrero, language differences often make finding resources and support difficult for Latinos in a state that is Republican and a culture where the dominant religion is Catholicism. Meanwhile African Americans face racism within the broader LGBTQ community. A list of resources including UTPA’s Counseling and Psychological Services and the Office of Victim Advocacy and Violence Prevention are provided should students who decide to become allies need help with any issues that may arise. Guerrero serves as a moderator with small groups of five to six in each meeting. Topics discussed during training include the benefits and risks of becoming an ally. Following these topics is becoming less locked on gender role expectations, such as how a person should dress, talk and act based on their sex.
Zen the mind into recovery UTPA offers students help in recovery from addiction
By Tabitha Trujillo The Pan American In attempt to address the issue of addiction, in April 2014 UTPA introduced the Zen Recovery Center to help students suffering from addiction to alcohol or drugs. The Zen Recovery Center is funded by the University of Texas System in order to help students maintain their sobriety and get back on track with their studies. According to Center Director Miguel Saenz Lopez, the Center helps them by allowing them to talk to others facing the same struggles. The people who use the resource learn how to develop healthy relationships with family, friends and peers. “It was developed once universities across the nation realized that alcohol and drugs are a big cause as to why students are dropping out school and discontinuing their education,” Lopez said. According to the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence approximately 1,700 college students between the ages of 18-24 die from alcohol-related injuries and 600,000 students are injured while under its influence. In addition, one-fifth of college students abuse prescription stimulants, 36 percent use marijuana
and 39 percent use illicit drugs. Having worked in the field of addiction for more than 30 years, Lopez has seen how debilitating such problems can be and the extense of the road to recovery, especially with the way drugs are so easily attainable in the Rio Grande Valley. “Living in the RGV and so close to the border gives people more of an accessibility to different drugs and making them more addicting since they are a lot more pure here,” said Lopez, a licensed chemical dependency counselor. According to the National Drug Intelligence Center, South Texas – including Laredo - is a major trafficking point, accounting for 55 percent of all drugs crossing the U.S.-Mexico border. The Zen Recovery Center currently helps more than 35 students who are refocusing on their education and straying from addiction. Electrical engineering major and Zen member Sam explained how he first heard about the program at the University Center through Counseling and Psychological Services in April 2014. “I would attend individual sessions at the counseling center with Lopez and from there he received a grant to open the Center and I wanted to become part of it,” Sam said.
The Counseling and Psychological Services is located in the first floor of the University Center, which is staffed by licensed mental health professionals. They mainly meet with students individually to help them with any personal issues. Although the campus has a counseling program, the Zen Recovery Center was made to focus on substance abuse. They have group meets in the University Center in room 102 every Tuesday at 6 p.m. where they have group discussions and members share stories of their progress. Every Thursday they meet at noon in the same room and have “12 step pizza.” This is the program’s form of Alcoholics Anonymous’ 12-steps. Similar to the original program, 12 step pizza is meant to help students understand the guiding principles to their sobriety. This includes admitting to a problem, examining past mistakes with attempting recovery, making amends with those mistakes and learning to live a different lifestyle. Kait, a Zen Recovery member, discussed how helpful the group meetings have been. “It is a place where I can go and get away from everybody,” Kait said. “I can go there and talk about drugs and everyone understands the issues with dependency. If you ever need to go
Students who decide to become allies are put on the UTPA Student Ally Contact List, comprised of 56 faculty, staff and students, where they can be contacted by anyone in the UTPA community regarding LGBTQ issues or if a student needs someone to talk to. Everyone who becomes an ally also receives a rainbow triangle decal. STANDING UNITED One ally is UTPA graduate student Natalie Tupta. The West Virginia native decided to join in fall 2013 because she believes it’s an important step for creating a safe space for learning and growth. According to Tupta, becoming an ally is her contribution to the effort. “I hope that my attending the training was beneficial to others in that they could see me standing in solidarity with them. No matter what your sexual identity, it’s nice to know you’re not alone in the way you think,” said Tupta, an vent, there is someone there.” Not only does the program have group meetings, but it hosts events that are open to all students and faculty to help them deal with stress, anxiety and depression. An example of one of these events is Tai Chi, a form of martial arts which is offered every Monday and Tuesday from 9 to 10 a.m. in the University Ballroom. “It is really helpful, especially for students that are trying to stray from their addictions, in that it helps them focus on their mind and body as well as allows them to work on their social skills with others outside of drugs and alcohol,” said Lopez, a certified anger resolution therapist. In addition to Tai Chi, the Center hosted a Canvassing for Recovery Workshop Feb. 12 at the University Center room 102 which was not only for those in recovery, but for anyone that would like to express themselves through art. The event consisted of an instructor that taught how to create a canvas step by step while still allowing the students to be creative. The canvases will be displayed around the Student Union the week prior to Spring Break. The Zen Recovery Center also began a Women’s Recovery Support Group where women with addictions can discuss their recovery and personal problems in confidence that might be difficult to talk about with a larger group. UTPA graduate Elda Garcia is a faculty member at the Zen Center as well as a coordinator of the women’s group. With a bachelor’s in rehab counseling,
English as a second language master’s student. “I hope that my presence at the training and my name on the official campus ally list shows others that they are not alone.” The training has helped Tupta understand the views of people in the Rio Grande Valley, plus how issues have been historically handled at UTPA. The meeting gave her insight on how she fits into the local community with her beliefs. “I’ve been fortunate to attend universities in the past that embrace diversity and welcome the conversation about tough issues,” the 23-year-old said. “I understand that many people in the Valley are not accepting of people who identify as LGBTQ and I think UTPA has a responsibility to be a place of progress, justice and equality in the community.” During the November training, Tupta recalled, a student shared an campus experience involving a professor who used an offensive, anti-gay example to demonstrate a course conshe can understand the issues that addicts have and how to support them. The group’s meetings take place every Wednesday and Friday from 10 to 11 a.m. in the University Center in room 102. The Center can also be a study hall for the students by providing snacks, coffee and computer access to assist in their studies. “It helped me find a pattern, a routine to study,” business management major Kait said. “If I am there I am forced to study. It is something that I need.” Lopez said the Zen Recovery Center’s main priority is to help students through their struggles in any way possible and make sure they are being encouraged along the way. “The hardest part is fighting the addiction,” 21 year-old Sam said. “The drugs are everywhere.
cept in a chemistry class. Guerrero remains hopeful as the program only has two employees. She hopes that with the new university, OSI will expand the Intercultural and Diversity Programming to become its own department and include more staff. She’s also kept in contact with the student who came out privately during the last meeting. “It’s a process. It’s not something that happens overnight for them and it’s all about timing,” Guerrero said. “But that’s what allies are here for - to show their support.” The best thing for me, in my situation, was to avoid people and environments that were surrounded by drugs. Zen Recovery has been helpful in that way.” After visiting the Center, one can ask for one-on-one time with a counselor and eventually meet with the group or they can keep it individual. The Center’s office is located at the University Center in room 102 and their contact number is 665-2660. For Kait, Sam and the other members, fighting their addiction is a daily battle. The Zen Recovery Center is a place where students can face the same struggles together. “I can go here and not feel judge,” Sam said. “I can become myself here at the Center. This is my second home.”
Omar Casas/ The Pan American
sports
February 19, 2015
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 After graduating from high school Solis received a fullride scholarship to UTPA. His books and tuition were covered as long as he continued to play golf for the Broncs. Once he arrived on campus, his success continued and his game improved. Solis’ freshman year proved to be a stellar start to his collegiate golf career. At his very first college tournament in the fall 2012 he placed 11th and in his first career round went two under par. According to Solis, most players are nervous at this initial tournament and have trouble placing at all. Next, he took home first place at the Chicago State Invitational in fall 2013. This was the first tournament of his sophomore year which was preceded by a freshman year of traveling; he had qualified at every tournament he played as a fish. Armen Kirakossian, men’s golf head coach and a UTPA alumnus, said that Solis’ talents will take him far beyond college in the golf world. “I’m hoping that from now
until (he graduates) he can develop the fine-tuned skills that he needs to elevate his game to the next level,” said Kirakossian, who graduated from UTPA in 2010 with a bachelor’s in business management, and was an excellent Bronc golfer himself. “As far as the physical abilities, he’s got it. If we sharpen up his golf mind a little bit, he can really take off.” Aside from success in national tournaments, Solis noted the experiences he’s had traveling around the U.S. Never having left Texas before beginning at UTPA, he said he’s seen things he may not have had he not joined the team. “San Francisco was nice. My previous coach took us out and we went to see a bunch of stuff. He knew I hadn’t been (further) than Corpus (Christi),” the criminal justice major said. “Going to California was super nice. Chicago was another one; seeing big buildings. I had never seen that before.” As for Solis’ future with the sport, he and Kirakossian are both optimistic. Solis plans to pursue a professional career
post-graduation in hopes of making it big. “My dad is giving me a couple years of playing, qualifiers, travel, to see if I can do something with it,” said Solis, who plans to graduate with his bachelor’s in spring 2016. “But he’s only gonna give me a couple years to play and if I don’t make it, I have to go look for work.” Kirakossian has faith that with a mix of talent and hard work, Solis has a chance at becoming a professional golfer. “You can never really tell who’s going to make it and who’s not (in pro golf ). All I can tell you is that I will be his biggest advocate and his biggest help. I will let him know my experience and try to guide him down the best path that I think he should take and what I think is the best path to success,” the 26-year-old said. “Ultimately, I think with his attitude he’s got a great chance.” Some notable UTPA alumni who have gone pro after playing on the Bronc team include Mike Brisky who played from 1984-1987, Manuel Inman and Luis Arechiga who both
played from 1998-1999, and Kirakossian who played from 2006-2010. UTPA’s spring golf season began Monday with the Bronc Intercollegiate held at Los Lagos Golf Club in Edinburg. Playing this tournament was UTPA, Arkansas State, LoyolaChicago, Prairie View A&M, and Abilene Christian. The 54hole event featured 36 holes on Monday and the remaining 18 holes on Tuesday. Solis had a combined score of 246 which tied him for 20th. The team will go at it again in Louisiana Feb. 23 for the Atchafalaya Intercollegiate hosted by Nicholls State University. Solis showed excitement for the start of this season and said he and his team’s hard work are precursors to the remainder of the season. “We have a conference coming up; we always look forward to that. A lot of these tournaments build us up to the conference and we have to perform there,” he said. “That’s the main title right there, so we can advance to regionals.”
Jon Nutt/ The Pan American Junior “Ricky” Solis chipping out into the fairway Feb. 16 at the Bronc Intercollegiate, where he finished in a tie for 20th place.
Women’s tennis team has abundance of “lefties”
By May Ortega The Pan American
Left-handed individuals tend to have difficulties in day-to-day activities, according to UTPA tennis player Camilla Trujillo, such as using scissors or avoiding smudges when writing with a pen. Most things are made for right-handers, as they comprise the lion’s share of people in the world. However, being a “lefty” on the court can be an advantage. This season five of the nine ladies for the Broncs women’s tennis team lead with their “foreign” hand. Trujillo, a psychology major, said meeting fellow “lefties” is exciting because they’re rare. According to ABC News only 10 percent of the world’s population is left handed, but it can be boon in head-tohead sports like tennis, boxing and fencing. Greek native Katia Stavroulaki has brought her left-handed skills to the team for two years and is aware of the uniqueness in the current roster. “The most important thing is that, compared to right-handed tennis players, we’re not so many. I know that our team has more lefthanded and that’s unusual, but on other teams they don’t have a lot of left-handed people,” the 21-yearold explained. “For the other teams it’s a disadvantage when they play us because they have a lot of lefthanded people in front of them so
it’s completely different.” From serves to returns, lefty gameplay is distinct. Instead of hitting the ball crosscourt, left-handed players send it to their right-handed opposite’s backhand. After the fuzzy yellow target is ricocheted off the lefty’s racket, its topspin revolves in the opposite direction, throwing off the opponent’s response. Being left-handed does not guarantee a great tennis player, although there have been some successful ones in tennis history, one being Rod Laver. He won all four Grand Slams twice - in 1962 then again in 1969 - a feat that no other player has ever accomplished. In 2010 left-handed Spaniard Rafael Nadal came close to winning all four in one year, but a loss at the Australian Open dashed that possibility. He is one of the best ever, nonetheless. At UTPA, head coach Stephanie Vallejos said such athletes possess beneficial skills such as the “kick serve.” This means the ball bounces high and twists away from the opponent, increasing physical and mental effort needed to return the serve. Instead of reacting with the usual forehand, the receiver must often use a hurried backhand swing, increasing the possibility of an out. “I think it’s a little bit of a challenge for your opponent when you don’t get a lot of practice
against a lefty, if you’re against a lefty player with your typical lefty serve and spin, just because it’s a different type of spin that’s coming at someone,” said Vallejo, who is in her fourth season as a Bronc coach. “For us, it is now just a normal thing, so when we come across opponents who are lefties it’s basically another match and there’s no additional factor in there for us.” A left-handed player’s returns are the complete opposite from a righty’s, according to Stavroulaki, often playing at No. 1 this season. She explained that this is yet another plus especially when it comes to doubles matches with her partner, Reegan Greenwood. Stavroulaki is left-handed Greenwood is a righty, so the pair keeps the ball coming in every which way and they can cover the entire court with their strong racket hand. “I have differences from my partner. I have a different game style,” said Stavroulaki, a kinesiology major. “My ball for example is higher with lots of spin and hers is flat. So you can imagine in the same point we play completely different balls, a variety of shots. So of course the opponents feel like ‘What is happening here?’” Being right-handed, British product Greenwood said practicing with and against lefties on a regular basis has improved her game.
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“When I first (joined the The team currently stands at women return home to player reBroncs) it was hard for me be- 3-4 after losing against the Uni- match against Texas A&M Unicause left-handed players are quite versity of Texas-Arlington Mav- versity-Corpus Christi Feb. 26, rare, but now with our team … ericks Feb. 14. Their next match after losing a match to that squad I’m kind of used to that now,” the will take place in San Marcos earlier in the month on the road. 20-year-old said. “It’s different, the against Texas State University The Broncs tackle University of spin they put on it. Sometimes if Feb. 20. Following that game, the Incarnate Word the following day. you’re not used to playing a left-handed player you have to adjust to that spin on the ball. I think I’m used to it now.” Vallejos, who was a successful college player at Northern Arizona University, feels that Greenwood isn’t the only one who’s gained something from the team’s rare variety. “I think if anything it’s benefitted us because they have sort of become comfortable with (playing lefties) now,” she said. “You might hear in other matches, ‘She’s left handed, I can’t get used to the way her ball is kicking on the serve,’ especially in doubles when you’re rotating service games. That does have a factor and it’s not so much a disadvantage if our Michael Aguilar / The Pan American opponents are leftAfter practice the women’s tennis team gets together and breaks from the day’s handed.” workout Feb. 5 at the Orville Cox Tennis Center in Edinburg.
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