Hunger Action Month RGV groups tackle ‘silent epidemic’
Volume 69, No. 3
Volley-busts
Page 3
September 13, 2012
West NileWorries
Broncs drop 3 of 4 in Louisiana Page 7
Fashion Blog
‘The World is My Runway’ covers fall school fashions Online
OpportunityWall Website created by student, for students Page 2
panamericanonline.com
Fast, Curve, Circle, Slider Pitcher Dylan Badura teaches four ways to throw a baseball
Mosquito-spread virus not a significant threat to Valley residents, experts say Page 5
2
editorial
September 13, 2012
Photo of the Week
pay attention Daniella Diaz News Editor
It’s Tuesday morning, and I put my backpack on, grabbed my keys, walked out my apartment door and started my small journey to school on foot. While I was crossing the intersection of Sugar and University Drive, a driver started turning right and didn’t see me. The middle-aged man behind the wheel braked and honked at me angrily. I glanced up and remembered that I had already seen the symbol of the digital man on the crosswalk sign. It had been my right of way. There’s something wrong with the area we live in when a pedestrian has the constant fear of getting hit by a car. If you ever see me walking, RESPECT ME. I have every right to walk as you do to drive. Besides, I’m a driver too. The only difference is I decide to keep my car
at my apartment complex so that I can walk to school and let a commuter have a parking spot instead. I was born and raised in the Valley, but I believe the RGV has a sort of backwards mentality when it comes to pedestrians and cyclists. We are a community that relies too
There’s something wrong with the area we live in when a pedestrian fears getting hit by a car. heavily on the automobile. If you’re just visiting the corner store, why not walk or bike there? Two weeks ago, world-renowned urban planner Gil Penalosa (google him) visited Edinburg City Hall to speak to city officials and the public about his recommendations
to improve the design of the city. Penalosa gave examples of how to redesign McAllen and Edinburg to accommodate pedestrians and cyclists. A Gallup and Healthways survey released in 2011 calculated that 38.8 percent of residents in McAllen and Edinburg are obese, making the area the worst in the country. During the presentation, Penalosa referenced a huge issue concerning the RGV: we have an obesity problem down here. I want to spark conversation about this issue. I’m just a reporter, but I care and I believe in raising awareness of pedestrian and cyclist rights. Something you can do now is watch out for pedestrians and cyclists on the road. If you do already, good for you. If you don’t, make it a point to start. It’ll keep me, and other pedestrians like me, safe in the long run. If you have a chance, please watch the short, free documentary Two Wheels at http://twowheelsrgv. com/.
On Tuesday, Sept. 11, UTPA paid its respects to the victims of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center by displaying the flag in front of the Student Services Bldg. at half-staff. The four terrorist attacks in 2001 were carried out on the Twin Towers of New York City and the Pentagon in Virginia with a combined death toll of almost 3,000 people.
Michelle Garcia/The Pan American
news
1102 ,01 rebmevoN
OpportunityWall aims to help students communicate By Charles Vale The Pan American Walking down the halls of the University, it’s not uncommon to see walls and bulletin boards plastered with event posters and fliers. One student’s web project, however, is looking to revolutionize the way information gets passed around on campus. OpportunityWall.com is the brainchild of Jorge Vivanco, a 21-year-old management major. The idea for OpportunityWall first came to Vivanco when he noticed the disorganized and messy way many of the fliers on campus are posted. At the time, he was competing in the Great BizIdea, an annual contest through the College of Business that promotes entrepreneurship and innovative ideas. Vivanco lost the contest, but from the ashes of defeat came the spark of inspiration for OpportunityWall when a judge suggested to him that he make the idea digital. Vivanco, who is from Reynosa, Tamaulipas, worked throughout the summer on the development process for the website, hiring a web programmer and a graphic designer to help with its construction. The result was a website, which is still in beta, or the testing phase, that Vivanco hopes to release some time in November.
“This will be a new platform for students to buy or sell their books, post events and job offers,” he said. The website works like a bulletin board where digital fliers can be posted for others to see. Each type of flier, or ad, is separated into categories that can be accessed by clicking on tabs located on the web page. Students will have to create an account in order to view and use the functions that OpportunityWall offers and this will come at no expense to the user. “It’s going to be free. It’s a non-profit project, and I have no plans to charge for it,” Vivanco explained. “It’s to help our student community.” Anyone can create an account with the website, not just students. Given the anonymity of the Internet, it’s not hard to see how this might be a problem. “Even if it is a non-profit venture, he will have to ensure that any legal condition is not violated,” said Punit Ahluwalia, professor with the department of computer information technologies. “(Like) in the areas of copyright or offensive content.” Although the site has a buying and selling section where students can post information on books they want to sell, Vivanco does not want to be involved in the actual transaction process.
Vol. 69,tweets No. 3
The Pan American thepanamerican@gmail.com 1201 West University, CAS 170 Edinburg, Texas 78539 Phone: (956) 665-2541 Fax: (956) 316-7122
This will be a new platform for students to buy or sell their books, post events and job offers .
Editor-in-Chief:
Karen Antonacci
News Editor:
Daniella Diaz
Sports Editor:
- Jorge Vivanco OpportunityWall Creator
Norma Gonzalez
Arts & Life Editor:
Lea Victoria Juarez
Photography Editor: Adrian Castillo
Design Editor:
Erick Gonzalez
Multimedia Editor:
Dimitra Hernandez He won’t leave the members of his website completely vulnerable to misconduct and abuse. “There is going to be an option so that if students catch on to a scam or other form of misuse, they can report it and I can review it,” he noted. As the creator of the site, Vivanco’s account has moderating options that allow him to manage it from anywhere with access to a computer. Initially he will do this on his own, but as the site begins to grow, Vivanco plans to hire people to help with the upkeep. GROWING BUSINESS Vivanco isn’t the first to ex-
plore the idea of an online board in which students can post information. There is also campuscyber.com. Much like OpportunityWall, it allows students and teachers who register to post advertisements and schedule meetups, and to post about books for sale. However, campuscyber.com isn’t specific to a single university. Visitors of the site are able to select what state they live in, and are then taken to a directory listing all the universities within that state that are able to use campuscyber. com, including The University of Texas-Pan American. Activity on campuscyber.com
since publication of this story appeared low with few posts, if any at all, on several of the universities boards. Vivanco has already made plans to spread the word about his website. Social sites such as Twitter and Facebook are two ways in which he will do so. His target audience is currently students because they are the people he hopes the site will help out the most, but it’s not something that is going to be restricted to the University. “I won’t hold it back if it wants to grow,” he concluded.
Adviser:
Dr. Greg Selber
Administrative Associate:
Anita Reyes
Advertising Manager:
Mariel Cantu
Webmasters:
Jose Villarreal
Social Media Editor: David Alvarado
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.
Next Delivery:
Sept. 20 at noon
arts & life
Hunger Action Month looks at impact of ‘silent epidemic’ By Nina Avila The Pan American
In the early morning hours, a middle-aged woman waits for a food pantry to open. Her gaunt face shows she has not had much to eat lately and her eyes have dark circles under them. She holds on to her squirming child’s hand and whispers to him in Spanish, paciencia, or “have patience.” The Donna native, who chose to remain anonymous, opened up about her experience with this stark reality. She has found no choice but to turn to Open Hands Community Charitable Services, a food pantry located in the Mid-Valley town. “I’ve actually gone days at a time without food, so that my children can have enough,” she said. “Open Hands has been a
RGV Food
&
food insecurity last year, ranking Texas as the second hungriest state in the nation. In order to help address this issue, Hunger Action Month was launched by Feeding America, a non-profit organization that consists of a nationwide network of food banks. Every September, various organizations strive to shed light on America’s fight against domestic hunger. This year’s slogan reads “Speak Out Against Hunger”. Open Hands is just one of the charitable organizations offering food service to the community. Loaves & Fishes of the Rio Grande Valley in Harlingen provides not only food, but shelter and work assistance, as well. Pastor Bill Reagan is the executive director of Loaves & Fishes, which is fully supported by 35 Harlingen churches. Out of the five programs the Banks/pantries organization runs, the Bread of Life Dining Hall aims to bridge the hunger gap. In the month of August, alone,14,443 meals were served. “We have a dining hall that’s open seven days a week for breakfast and dinner,” Reagan said. “We serve meals to anyone who comes in and Source: feedingamerica.org asks for a plate of food, no
big help for my family. Every first of the month they give out food, so you’ll see cars filling up in the parking lot and a big line down the street.” This non-profit organization is directed by David and Kathleen Green, and helps the hungry by distributing boxes of uncooked food, delivering food to handicapped and elderly citizens and providing food to children in rural areas during the summer when free school meals are not available. Almost a quarter of Hidalgo County has to decide whether to pay bills or buy groceries, according to a study by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Having to make this decision is called having food insecurity, which is not uncommon. According to the USDA, 18 percent of Texans experienced
questions asked. They can have as many plates of food as they ask for.” The Food Bank of the Rio Grande Valley, located in Pharr, works to raise awareness of the high amount of food insecurity in the community. The organization
The whole point of Hunger Action Month is to engage the public, educate them, let them know that there is hunger in this country and that there are ways to help fix that problem. -Omar Rodriguez RGV Food Bank has four main programs that provide food assistance, including the Emergency Food Program, Commodity Supplemental Food Program, Product Recovery and Kids Cafe. “The whole point of Hunger Action Month is to engage the public, educate them, let them know that there is hunger in this country and that there are ways to help fix that problem,” said Omar Rodriguez, the manager of
communications and advocacy at the food bank. Some of these ways include donations of time, money or creativity. “One hour of volunteering actually saves enough money for the organization to provide 105 meals,” Rodriguez explained. “We are also asking for artists and photographers to depict an image of an experience they’ve had with hunger, or someone they’ve seen. A picture, drawing or painting can be used as a cover photo on Facebook or our website.” Across the nation, there are many different types of activities going on throughout the month, and locally as well. These include mixers at various local restaurants, food drives and fundraisers. Wednesday night was Whataburger Fundraiser Night, in which 20 percent of the proceeds from meals purchased between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. at both Pharr locations were donated to the food bank. The Pharr bank hosts two special events: Empty Bowls, an annual fundraiser set for Sept. 20 at the Pharr Events Center, and the Sort-A-Thon, in which volunteers sort donated food and are given free tickets to the Action Against Hunger concert.
3 Source: feedingamerica.org
September 13, 2012
WhatMcAllen.com will present this benefit concert Sept. 29 and some of the acts to appear include Mayberry, Jungle Bodies and Tim’s Myth. An interactive calendar can be found at hungeractionmonth.org. “Awareness in the Valley has grown,” Rodriguez explained. “It used to be just one big event every year, but now there’s something to do every day of the month. The community has gotten very involved.” Rodriguez has been involved with non-profit organizations for more than 15 years and has worked with the food bank for the past two. His experience with this work has given him the expertise needed to help educate the public. “There are many ways to speak out, to talk about hunger,” he asserted. “It’s one of those things that’s a silent epidemic in the country.”
Page 4
THE PAN AMERICAN
Pinch Your Pennies
TheY Won’T crY
September 13, 2012
THE PAN AMERICAN
September 13, 2012
Mosquito don’t bites? panic! According to Google Trends, West Nile virus has become an increasingly searched topic this summer. After one confirmed case in Edinburg Sept. 7 and a few newspaper articles, it has become the discussion topic in the Rio Grande Valley. “I really want to stress it’s not a panic situation. West Nile
virus is not an incredibly dangerous virus in and of itself,” said Christopher Vitek, a University biology professor. “There would need to be more confirmed cases before (panic begins). It’s something to be aware about.” The virus is transmitted through the use of a vector, which in this case
is a mosquito. A vector is any living organism
Page 5
What is west nile virus? The disease is a virus that is transmitted through female mosquitoes. It flares up in the late summer or early fall months. There is no specific treatment for the disease.
After a female mosquito bites an infected bird,
“I really want to stress it’s not a panic situation. West Nile virus is not an incredibly dangerous virus in and of itself.” - Christopher Vitek Biology Professor at UTPA that transmits a virus from one host to another.
the mosquito then has the potential to transmit
NY 1999
West Nile is a viral encephalitis disease first detected in 1999 in New York City.
TX 2002
It rapidly moved across the country...
It first appeared in Texas in 2002.
How can I Reduce my risk of getting the west nile virus?
Take these Precautions:
the disease to horses and humans. Currently, there is no vaccination to prevent contracting the virus, but Rick Gray, director of Student Health Services, advised students not to worry because the drought has kept mosquito populations low in the Valley. “Some diseases have
Symptoms & Risks
80% NO symptoms of
people
infected
show
20% MILD symptoms 1in150 of
people
infected
show
renT TexTbooks
Avoid spending time outside during dawn and dusk. This is when mosquitoes are most active.
Eliminate potential breeding grounds. Mosquitoes lay eggs in still water so tip over buckets, flower pots, buckets and pools.
From AmAzon
sAve uP To 70%
Wear light colored clothing with long sleeves. Mosquitoes are attracted to dark colors and have a hard time biting through fabric.
Use bug repellant. One with DEET is one of the most effective. Also consider sprays with Picaridin, Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus, or IR3535.
Put screens on the windows and doors of your house. Mosquitoes can get in through tiny cracks and holes.
Remember the “four ds” DEET, Dress, Dusk and Dawn, drain
better press agents than others,” Gray said. “Folks who are generally normal, healthy individuals can fight off the virus.” The University community received a Bronc email Sept. 8 asking them to take extra precautions to prevent contracting the disease.
Infection awareness level: No Clue
CLUE
Fevers Headache Nausea Body Aches
people infected show SEVERE symptoms
Seizures Disorientation Paralysis High Fever Unlucky Coma
Severe symptoms include neurological effects that may be permanent Nile Virus Fact Sheet” by Christopher Vitek, UTPA Source: “West
Page 4
THE PAN AMERICAN
Pinch Your Pennies
TheY Won’T crY
September 13, 2012
THE PAN AMERICAN
September 13, 2012
Mosquito don’t bites? panic! According to Google Trends, West Nile virus has become an increasingly searched topic this summer. After one confirmed case in Edinburg Sept. 7 and a few newspaper articles, it has become the discussion topic in the Rio Grande Valley. “I really want to stress it’s not a panic situation. West Nile
virus is not an incredibly dangerous virus in and of itself,” said Christopher Vitek, a University biology professor. “There would need to be more confirmed cases before (panic begins). It’s something to be aware about.” The virus is transmitted through the use of a vector, which in this case
is a mosquito. A vector is any living organism
Page 5
What is west nile virus? The disease is a virus that is transmitted through female mosquitoes. It flares up in the late summer or early fall months. There is no specific treatment for the disease.
After a female mosquito bites an infected bird,
“I really want to stress it’s not a panic situation. West Nile virus is not an incredibly dangerous virus in and of itself.” - Christopher Vitek Biology Professor at UTPA that transmits a virus from one host to another.
the mosquito then has the potential to transmit
NY 1999
West Nile is a viral encephalitis disease first detected in 1999 in New York City.
TX 2002
It rapidly moved across the country...
It first appeared in Texas in 2002.
How can I Reduce my risk of getting the west nile virus?
Take these Precautions:
the disease to horses and humans. Currently, there is no vaccination to prevent contracting the virus, but Rick Gray, director of Student Health Services, advised students not to worry because the drought has kept mosquito populations low in the Valley. “Some diseases have
Symptoms & Risks
80% NO symptoms of
people
infected
show
20% MILD symptoms 1in150 of
people
infected
show
renT TexTbooks
Avoid spending time outside during dawn and dusk. This is when mosquitoes are most active.
Eliminate potential breeding grounds. Mosquitoes lay eggs in still water so tip over buckets, flower pots, buckets and pools.
From AmAzon
sAve uP To 70%
Wear light colored clothing with long sleeves. Mosquitoes are attracted to dark colors and have a hard time biting through fabric.
Use bug repellant. One with DEET is one of the most effective. Also consider sprays with Picaridin, Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus, or IR3535.
Put screens on the windows and doors of your house. Mosquitoes can get in through tiny cracks and holes.
Remember the “four ds” DEET, Dress, Dusk and Dawn, drain
better press agents than others,” Gray said. “Folks who are generally normal, healthy individuals can fight off the virus.” The University community received a Bronc email Sept. 8 asking them to take extra precautions to prevent contracting the disease.
Infection awareness level: No Clue
CLUE
Fevers Headache Nausea Body Aches
people infected show SEVERE symptoms
Seizures Disorientation Paralysis High Fever Unlucky Coma
Severe symptoms include neurological effects that may be permanent Nile Virus Fact Sheet” by Christopher Vitek, UTPA Source: “West
the pan american
September 13, 2012
Page 6
The University of Texas-Pan American
is pleased to present
MICHIO KAKU
Famed Futurist, Physicist, Bestselling Author & Popularizer of Science
Monday, September 24, 2012 UTPA FIELDHOUSE, 7:30 p.m. Doors will open at 7 p.m. for UTPA students, faculty and staff with a valid UTPA ID. No guests allowed. The general public may take available seats at 7:20 p.m. View the program live at www.utpa.edu/live.
Known as the popularizer of science, Dr. Michio Kaku is the co-founder of string field theory. A radio and TV personality, he is also the author of several international bestsellers. In his latest book, “Physics of the Future: How Science Will Shape Human Destiny and Our Daily Lives by the Year 2100,� he presents the revolutionary developments in medicine, computers, quantum physics, and space travel that will forever change our way of life and alter the course of civilization itself.
FREE ADMISSION. SEATING IS LIMITED. For more information or if special accommodations are needed, call (956) 665-7989.
September 13, 2012
Pitcher looks ahead to baseball future
One day at a time By Norma Gonzalez and Dina Vera The Pan American
For extended story go to panamericanonline.com
During his sophomore year in college, a year after deciding to take his baseball career seriously, Bronc pitcher Dylan Badura almost called it quits. It was too hard and things weren’t going as planned. But his mother wouldn’t let him. Instead, she motivated him to push past that difficult time. Badura completed his first baseball season at the University in May, but continues his training to better himself for next year. Raised in Omaha, Neb., he attended Indian Hills Community College for two years in Centerville, Iowa before transferring to UTPA last fall. Although his parents divorced when he was 7, and both always supported him in his dreams, Badura considers his mother the driving force -the one pushing him to succeed, inspiring him to test his abilities and never underestimate what he is capable of. Because of it, Badura pushed his limits in baseball. “She has a lot of drive and commitment which I admire,” he said. “But what I admire the most is that she won’t let anyone tell her she can’t do something, which is where I
IT'S NOT NORMAL THAT WE COOK
also think I get that from.” Both his parents would make the four-hour trip to watch him play at Indian Hills whenever they could, but Tracey Badura made sure to stay in touch with her son, calling to check up on how things were going and sending him positive quotes, videos and music. “Yes, like videos of guys in the pros talking about their struggles and how they coped with it,” he explained. “Quotes like ‘never, ever, ever give up’ and my personal favorite, a clip from The Pursuit of Happyness about protecting your dreams.” THE LOVE OF THE GAME Although none of his family members played baseball or pressured him to join, Badura grew up playing the sport. He was self-motivated to do something he had a passion for, and baseball fit in just right. It was around Christmas when the then 2 year old was taken to a Las Vegas Stars baseball game. Badura walked out of the minor-league stadium with a children’s plastic baseball bat. From then on, it seemed the kid never put the bat down, playing with it day and night. “He just wanted to play all of the time. He wanted to have me throw at him,” Tracey Badura recalls. “He just picked it up himself. He always felt like he could handle the ball.” According to the left-handed pitcher, baseball came naturally.
When he was a junior in high school, his team won the state championship and he played for Team USA the summer after his freshman year at Indian Hills, a definite highlight. Badura pitched a total of 24 games while at Indian Hills. Now he readies for the second year at the DI level. Badura’s bold optimism allowed him to break through challenges and improve on the diamond; he pitched a total of 27.1 innings, including a careerhigh five innings against NYIT
The culture at UTPA is like a family... It felt like he was at home. - Tracey Badura last year, while with the Broncs. After being part of the Bronc team that posted its first winning record in 12 years, Badura will not slack on training for his last collegiate season. He hopes to continue in the game after graduation and will keep pushing his limits in hopes of a victorious season next year. Thanks to the training he has acquired from his head coach, Manny Mantrana, and the assistant coaches’ motivation,
Badura couldn’t have been more grateful for his improvement and performance on the field. “I’ve never played for a coach who teaches the game the way he does, and how he cares for his players is a lot different than most,” Badura said of Mantrana. Because of Mantrana’s behavior toward his players, Tracey felt comfortable having her son move even further away from home. “The culture at UTPA is like a family. The coaches are impeccable. Coach Manny and (assistant) coach Norbert are really kind and welcome. It felt like he was at home,” she said. Badura’s potential has captured the coaches’ attention. His vigor is noticeable on the field and his drive for improvement still has room to grow. “Dylan is a great young man and a true student-athlete,” Mantrana said. “He works just as hard on the field as he does in the classroom. Dylan has a very good arm and is still a work in progress, but he has the potential of becoming a very good lefthanded specialist and a very good reliever.” According to Tracey, she always knew Dylan was a better baseball player than he thought and always knew he would continue playing the game. “I just want him to have fun. That’s number one,” she said. “He takes himself too seriously. I just want him to live in the moment.”
EVERYTHING FROM SCRATCH
EVERY DAY. LIKE HOW WE SLOW ROAST OUR NATURAL PORK CARNITAS. IT'S NOT NORMAL THAT WE GRILL ONLY TENDER CUTS OF GRASS FED STEAK AND HORMONE FREE CHICKEN. IT'S NOT NORMAL TO OFFER OVER 40 FREEBIES SO YOU CAN CUSTOM BUILD YOUR OWN TOTALLY KILLER, ABSOLUTELY CRAVEABLE BURRITO.
ALL DAY EVERY DAY
NACHOS CHOICE OF MEAT OR VEGGIE
2 TACO COMBO 2 TACOS, CHIPS & SALSA, FOUNTAIN DRINK
MISSION | 2521 E EXPRESSWAY 83
7
BURRITOS VEGGIE HYBIRD INCLUDES GUAC
AT TAYLOR AND 83
Page 8
the pan american
September 13, 2012