TheSouthTexan!"#$ Texas A &M University-Kingsville Award-Winning Student Publication
Monday, February 21, 2022
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@thesouthtexan
Vol. 96, Issue 9
Suspected shooter raises emergency alert questions Suspicious person reported on campus !"##$%!&'#( |!"#$%&'($)(*+$,!"#$%&$'#()*+("$,)-("($./0&!)1
Recent reports of an unknown person with concerns among students about Texas A&M University Kingsville’s emergency alert notification system. On the evening of Feb. 7, rumors of a suspected ac-
tive shooter spread among students, with no immedi-
of Police Felipe Garza chose not to send a noti-
university. Students were sheltering in place in different locations on campus while some buildings went on lockdown. Had an immediate response taken place, fear and panic among students would have subsided quicker, students said. An email regarding the possible sighting of a man outside or near the Rec center holding what
“Because we have ROTC on campus and a lot of other activities - we have a lot of students, it’s a hunting area - so you’ll see students walking around campus or around their vehicles with real weapons. It was my decision to not send out one of those messages to people’s phones using the Rave system,” Garza said. Rave Guardian is a campus safety app which students can download. Had Garza sent out a no-
sent over an hour after the initial report was made. On the night of the reported sighting, Director of Public Safety and Chief
with this app would have received it. All students
Ronni Reyna
The Sports Rec Center at night while students work out inside.
and employees are automatically enrolled in TAMUK’s emergency
their university email. These two notification systems are two separate systems - one used strictly
by the university and one, Rave Guardian, by UPD. However, if you wish to !""#-$./0&!'(!!)
What it takes to uplift a community A conversation of race, family, empowerment with the BSU women )(*('+(,%-,(.&/ |! ./)/0$)0!"#$%&' 1/0/2#02&$'#()*+("$,)-("($./0&!)1
Texas A&M University Kingsville’s (TAMUK) Black Student Union (BSU) power the black community throughout Black History Month. The BSU is an organization that promotes black unity and success and focuses on building alliances on campus in order to showcase black excellence and accomplishments. “Being that this is a predominantly Hispanic university, personally for me, the BSU was one of the biggest attractions because it was an opportunity to meet more people like myCourtesy of TAMUK Facebook self,” Social Media CoordiAutumn Robinson, Kamryn Ware, Alicia Grey and Christine Limbrick (left to right) posed in BSU shirts with their Js up. nator and Recruitment Ofstudents on campus in or- celebrate black excellence, a time to uplift each other For its members, the Being that this is Black der to celebrate unity and acknowledge the struggles and our peers every day to BSU provides a sense of History Month, the uni- the achievements of those we came from and how it show that we are resilient family, belonging, familversity is dedicated to who came before them. has made us who we are and we will continue to be iarity and a place to call recognizing and com“Black History Month today. It is a time to un- successful,” BSU President home. They provide an memorating groups of is a time where we truly derstand one another and Kamryn Ware said. opportunity for students
Online Beat Do you not subscribe to !"#$%&!"!#'()*+%,? Catch up on exclusive stories about our campus and community when you sign up for our newsletter. Here’s a sneak peak of what you missed online.
Slam poetry night featuring Joan ‘Lyric’ Leslie the Javelina Student Engagement Center (JSEC) as students got ready slam poetry event on campus.
to have a voice and know that they are heard and seen. “I felt like I was going to be alone on campus because I was from a place four hours away, but when I came to preview day the BSU made it seem like it was a family and that’s what it truly was. That’s when I decided to join, on preview day,” Ware said. The BSU strives to be inclusive and to collaborate with not just organizations here on campus, but by building more alliances with other BSU groups at nearby universities in order to leave a good foundation for future members. The members of the BSU advocate for change and by doing so, dive into deep conversations about race, role-models and what black excellence means to them. “My inspiration is Mary !""#*+,&!'(!!)
Mold remediation to be completed by mid-March Classes being relocated again )(*('+(,%-,(.&/ |! ./)/0$)0!"#$%&' 1/0/2#02&$'#()*+("$,)-("($./0&!)1
In early September, the Department of Art, Communications and Theatre (ACT) responded to ongoing mold and air conditioning problems affecting the Drama/ Arts building by relocating students and faculty to nearby classrooms to continue their classes environment uninhabited by mold. Many students, specifby the mold, with health being a major concern while working in their art studio. As a result, the art students were relocated to the vacant Bellamah Music Building to
continue their classes and create art. Recently, students were to relocate back to the Drama/Arts building because Bellamah will soon be rented to Santa Gertrudis ISD. An agreement was signed between the university and the academy which was approved by the University Space Committee. If for some reason there are delays with the completion of the Drama/Arts building, the university and department will not move students to another location. Instead, they will make the necessary adjustments and arrangements with Santa Gertrudis ISD and the move will still take place once the Drama/Arts building is completely ready and safe for students to return. “We will not place any into the unsafe space,”
The Dran/Arts building as ceilings and ducts are replaced to combat mold.
College of Arts & Sciences Dean Dolores Guerrero said. Because the Drama/
Arts building did not have a functioning climate control system at the beginning of the Fall 2021
Makaylah Chavez
semester, it was in the best interest of the students !""!"#$%&!'(!!)
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Campus
February 21 , 2022
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Crimes of passion Cut(out) ex-lovers, friends from your life !"#"$&'()" |!"#$%&'!()*+,!"#$%&'()*+,-.+/(&,%+/+(0"1'!,#
love, teddy bears, candy and hearts, Texas A&M University-Kingsville’s (TAMUK) Criminology Club and the Forensic Science Organization wanted to celebrate the death of students’ past relationships, whether it be lovers or friendships. The Anti-Valentine’s Day event gave students the opportunity to decorate a cutout of their ex
then destroy them “like the trash they are.” Students were also death to signify the end of the relationship. “Since it [was] Valentine’s Day and everyone is looking forward wanted to break that and do an Anti-Valentine’s event, so you don’t have to be alone on this day,” Criminology Club Secretary Skyler Rayos said. semester the Forensic
Organization is on campus, so members are trying to promote their name by hosting events throughout the semester to raise money for an visit a prison. “At the prison, we spend a day with the inmates, eat their food, get a tour and just see what life is like as an inmate,” Criminology Club Historian Marianna Olazarán said. Although this is the -
Rae Martinez holding her self-made cutout.
ti-Valentine’s event, the organization hopes this is something they can continue to host in the future. “It’s really cool how TAMUK is always having things going on,” BioMed major Elizabeth
Montes said. “I was very excited to stop by and check this Anti-Valentine’s Day event and participate in it.” If students are interested in joining the Criminology Club, they
Submitted Photo
can visit the Psychology department at Manning Hall and speak to the organization’s sponsor, William McClendon, for more information about their bi-weekly meetings and how to get involved this semester.
Children’s show returns with a witch Pan dulce, friendship, necessary for this journey
wanted it to be normal for them to see,” Ginnett said. The show centers around Princess Cassie as she travels through the enchanted woods to
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TAMUK’s Art, Communication and Theatre Department hosted its annual children’s show for surrounding schools and the community. Witch of the Enchanted Woods, written by student Erica Garcia Ginnett, was the show performed this semester. “What inspired me to write the show is so often we see the prince rescuing the princess and I think girls are stronger than boys. I wanted the kids to recognize that. I
captured by the evil witch. As she travels to rescue the prince, Princess Cassie meets friends along the way who help her on her journey. Art Major Nadia Hernandez, who played Princess Cassie, mentioned she always liked theatre ever since she was a little kid and as soon as she heard of the opportunity for this show she knew she had to take it. “I love the take that Nadia does on the Princess. I love the voice
she does for it because I didn’t imagine that voice. I imagined a regular person’s voice and when she went up and auditioned with her chosen voice, it was like we found our princess,” Ginnett said. First-time director Edgar Vazquez mentions that directing came with a lot of feelings as it was a mix of excitement and nervousness. He was not alone throughout the process as his stage manager was right by his side as well advice. Although nerves and hard work were put into the show, a special guest appearance may have made it all worth it. Blues Clues host Steve Burns made a surprise
pop-up during rehearsal to say hello and to check in on the actors. “It was a very memorable moment because not only did he say hi and wanted to take a picture with us, he actually started asking questions and wondered what the show and the annual children’s show was about,” Vazquez said. While the actors and crew had fun putting the show together, such as witnessing clumsy moments between them, many wished they were provided with more equipment and time. Due to lack of equipment and budget, many creative thoughts were not able to reach reality as the crew had very few props to work with. Vazquez mentioned they
Annalisa Perales
Erica Ginnett does Omar Moreno’s makeup backstage.
did try to get as creative as they could to make the show worthwhile for the kids. But as many say “the show must go on” and it did as this crew and cast did not let anything stop them from having fun rehearsing or perform-
ing. Art Major Micaaela Carrales expressed that this cast was really fun and enjoyed being around each other. “I hope the kids learn
“I encourage all clas-
start of the pandemic,” Joshua Macareno said. “However, now that we are getting back to somewhat normal, having an in-person Career Expo allows us to network with employers face to face and maybe land a full-time job or internship.” Career Services will also host a virtual Career Fair April 6 for employers who will not make next month’s in-person event. If students would like help with their resumés or cover letters prior to March 2, they can reach out to Career Services via email (careerservices@ tamuk.edu) or by phone at (361) 593-2217.
anywhere, through any kind of people,” Ginnett said.
Save the Date: Javelina Career Expo Career Services hosting opportunities for students !"#"$%&'()" |!"#$%&'!()*+,!"#$%&'()*+,-.+/(&,%+/+(0"1'!,#
Texas A&M University-Kingsville’s (TAMUK) Career Services is hosting an in-person Career Expo at which students and alumni will be able to interact with recruiters about their internships and full-time openings. The event is from 1 to 4 p.m. on Wednesday, March 2 in the Student Union Ballroom. “Since COVID, there have not been too many face-to-face opportu-
nities for students to interact with potential employers,” Assistant Direction of Career Services Tammy Alcala said. “This Career Expo event helps students obtain a positive start to their future career search and employers a chance to interact.” By hosting this event in person, it will allow students to meet face to face with employers and ask questions before applying to the organization. Recruiters will be in
attendance to ask students questions about their coursework, what motivated them to choose their major and graduation timeline and goals. The interactions between employers and students are a series of brief interviews to help students talk about their career plans. It also gives employers an opportunity to attract, interview and hire potential new candidates. “[By attending] students can get a better
idea of what companies in attendance have Career Services Ralph Leal said. “Companies’ needs business development, human resources, managers, marketers, engineers, software programming, IT specialists, relationship managers, and interacting with recruiters at this event will help provide more awareness of all the opportunities that exist with our employer partners.” Some of the popular booths students will have the opportunity to meet recruiters from are: Oxy, Citgo, Frost Bank, Coastal Plains, Texas Department of Transportation, Republic Finance, Dashiell Corporation, IDEA Public Schools and Texas Department of Public Safety-Texas Highway Patrol. By meeting with these companies, students can Expo by handing out their resumé and having it reviewed. Some organizations may have information on internships, workshops and seminars students can take advantage of. A common misconception is that Career Expos are only for juniors and seniors in college, but that is not the case. In fact, this event is open for all students at TAMUK.
explore. This Career Expo especially gives undergraduates a chance to attend, introduce themselves to companies they may be interested in, network and when their time comes, to apply for an internship or job. They already have contacts and can reintroduce themselves,” Alcala said. The pandemic has also taken a toll on these kinds of events and job opportunities because the university has not been able to meet with employers face to face. “As a business stuship opportunities was a struggle during the
EntErtainmEnt
February 21, 2022
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Review:
High school is not the only thing these students are worried about
All of US Are Dead is a gory sensation One bite is all it takes for not only most of Hyosan High to turn into human eating zombies but most of the city as well. Meanwhile, surviving for their lives as they search for shelter and a possible safe way out.
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Squid Games and Train to Busan then you are in for a ride All of Us Are Dead. This coming-of-age zombie apocalypse horror begins in a science teacher’s lab when a student gets bitten by a hamster that has something a lot worse than rabies. As the student eventually gets sent to the her is all it takes for this story to spiral.
their lives, they begin eryone they knew is who they seemed to be. Friends soon become enemies and enemies soon become friends, the question is, will they make it out alive? Now, it is hard to get invested into shows nowadays as they all usually have the same concept, especially when it comes to one with a zombie theme. However, this Korean drama makes it interesting with its own little take on the
theme. The approach they took with this drama made it such a comhumans going around shooting zombies, it’s a story not just dealing with the horrors of high school but of surviving in general. of not only seeing high school students try and survive an apocalyptic situation but all emoenced. Everything from losing hope to feeling guilty to feeling anger and acting on it is portrayed.One aspect that amazed me was the acting. Many fans of Squid Game will most likely remember actress Lee Yoomi who was player 240. During this show we get to see her portray a
character that is comother, which showcases her talent. Another talented actor is Park Solomon who plays one of the main leads in the drama as Lee Su-hyeok.He portrays his character well as the one who is seen as the strong and dependable guy. Besides the acting, the cinematography is something that should within the show are very convincing, especially with the fast-paced zombies that we do not get to see much when it comes to entertainment. All in all, this Korean drama will keep you on the edge of your seat with not only its plot but acting and crazy realistic zombies as well. -
Review:
!"#$%&'#(()**| !"#$%&'($&#)*+%&$,%
no trailers, no plots, no outlines, usually not even the cast list. an unspoiled perspecrecently, Disney’s animated musical, Encanto. spoilers ahead. Encanto is a village protected and led by the magical Madrigal family. The story is about her place by saving the miracle, which gives her family their gifts, after growing up being the only one in her family without a gift. As Mirabel struggles help her family, she discovers she is not the only created by the generations before her. The
gifts each person has is not the miracle, but instead the miracle is the relationships they foster family. Abuela struggled to keep her family and people safe, worrying so much, she began to see her family members as tools rather than people. When you have a screwdriver and a power drill to build a home, which are you likely to use? The power drill, and the screwdriver will be moved to the side, sometimes forgotten, every now and then used, but usually ignored. Mirabel, with no gift, was Abuela’s screwdriver while everyone else, with gifts, were her power tools. Encanto by the songs “Surface Pressure,” then “What Else Can I Do” began and hearing the same song. While they have different musical styles, the meaning behind them
Saving money one coupon at a time +"#)%(%&,%-%").|-,."%$,%*
Saving money is something that can be very intimidating, especially if you don’t know where to start. hitting the sale racks to setting monthly budgets. My favorite and maybe easiest way to save is couponing! Couponing can be done many ways. Traditional couponing requires the purchase of a newspaper in order to have access to paper coupons through ads. Fortunately for us, it has become easier over the years and we can do it all from the click of a button on our phones
your credentials out, a in your zip code. Now you are ready to clip your coupons under the “coupons” tab in the middle of the app that to it. There are endless coupons to pick from which means big savings. Now that you have your account ready to
ful and emotionally driven shows, as well as the occasional zombie
theme, then feel free to stream All of Us Are Dead
Documentary Screenshot from Instagram.
wear is not me. These moments are when Mirabel learns she is not alone in her loneliness, strengthening the real ships. Did we need the same song twice in two separate songs? Possible sung or not, were crucial close attention at the start of the movie, you might miss which country Encanto is in (Colombia). ers assumed people would look into the location before watching did not matter to the story where the Madrigals live. The latter is false
thinking. Knowing where Encanto is helps you to understand the culture. The prejudice against Bruno as a seer is part of the culture. Many audience viewers have complained about how absurd it is for the villagers to blame Bruno for what happened to them but understanding that is part of some cultures helps one see its realistic nature. Not clearly telling Encanto’s Encanto caused me to have strong emotions nearly every character on some level. The music was diverse and the lyrics revealed your age.
How to Adult: Couponing at H-E-B and it is all completely free to make an account. H-E-B is a great place to start if you are just starting your couponing journey. You can save a lot on things like hygiene products, food items, and everything in between. To start couponing at H-E-B all you have to do is download the app. Once the app is downloaded you create an account using your email and setting a password.
Screenshot from streaming app Netflix.
Review: The Tinder Swindler
Disney’s Encanto
Film is a must watch for all ages
3
go and your coupons are clipped you are ready to store. This is where you can see all your savings come to life. Checkout can go one of two ways. through self-checkout, you scan all your items like you usually would and then you hit the pay now button. You will then be prompted to choose between three debit, or coupons. After clicking the coupons button, you will go back to your app and hit the “coupons” tab and click on where it says “clipped coupons” you will then be prompted to a barcode for all the coupons you have saved. You can grab the handheld scanner and scan your phone and see the price drop!
a regular register, you can just show the cashier your barcode that contains all your coupons and just like that you couponing trip! The best way to utilize your coupons is to watch Tik-Toks of others using coupons at H-E-B or joining Facebook groups who share tips and tricks on how to get the best bang for your buck. There are countless videos on how to save big that others share. ing when it comes to picking items in the store and just because you don’t have a coupon on some things it is all right because any savings is better than no savings!
A True Crime Documentary Worth the Watch !/)"#&0")1"2| /,#&"%*-,."%$,%
Where a romantic fairy tale ends a revenge thriller began. The Tinder Swindler was released on Feb. 2 on by Felicity Morris and produced by Bernadette Higgins and has continuously made the Top 10 chart for three weeks in a row. The main cast consisted of Cecilie Fjellhoy, Pernilla Syoholm, Ayleen Charlotte and Simon Leviev. This documentary tells the real-life story of Simon Leviev’s (Shimon Hayut) who posed as a wealthy son of the King of Diamonds who owned LLD Diamonds. Leviev seduced and conned numerous Finnish women out of large sums of money from around the world and it all started on the popular dating app, Tinder. Do you enjoy watching true crime, horror stories of online dating apps or an intriguing movie in general? Then this is a must watch documentary. cilie, who is swiping on Tinder and matches with a handsome billionaire playboy, Simon Leviev. She can’t believe it when he turns out to be the man of her “dreams.” The plot started when Leviev told Cecilie his enemies had frozen his bank accounts and in the coming weeks the enemies attacked his bodyguard, Piotr. Over this time frame, Leviev asked Cecilie to use her savings to help him by taking out loans, order credit cards with fake names with her funds on it and when would have to send
him another card, book plane tickets for himself and others and book hotel rooms all on her personal savings. A plot twist occurred while Cecilie and Leviev were talking. He began a Tinder relationship with another woman, Pernilla Sjoholm, simultaneously. Leviev used the same scan and holm and Ayleen Charlotte, to have them help him with money troubles and hiding from his so-called enemies. To each of the women he would tell them that he promised to pay them back but it was always with either fake designer watches, dodgy checks or incomplete bank transfers. This documentary in my opinion was an impactful eye opener as it shows the viewer you don’t really know someone, especially on an online dating app. You can face many hardships and be left and mental impacts. tary an 8/10 because it was a bit repetitive after content was good. umentary reached out to the women and got their perspective of what occurred to them and to also Shimon to see where he is now. The way the media team worked to get the real footage was very impressive. a dating app, one must always be careful about sharing any personal information and must investigate the person a bit deeper than just what their Tinder proable to see that in the end, Tinder cannot be blamed for this issue, it is solely the individuals on the app who make the mistakes.
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News
February 21, 2022
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SPORTS
February 21, 2022 thesouthtexan.com
Softball perfect in Portland Tournament
32nd title for Los Angeles 16-year career, won his
Rams win Super Bowl !"#$%&'$%()*+&| !"#$%&'()*%#$ !"#$%!&'()%#$*%+'!#,%+%'-./&0#1
Column The National Football League has crowned new champions after the showdown at SoFi Stadium in Super Bowl LVI. The Los Angeles Rams took down the underdog Cincinnati Bengals in a 23-20 bout to bring another championship to the city of L.A. After a halftime show featuring Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, Eminem, Kendrick Lamar, Mary J. Blige and a surprise appearance from 50 cent, the Bengal’s went into the second half down by three to the Rams but would then score 10 points in the third to go up 20-16. This game eventually came down to the last drive of the game by second year quarterback Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals, and after getting some life from a reception from Jamarr Chase, it all came down to a fourth-down play to either extend the drive or end the game for the Bengals. Thanks to Rams Aaron Donald on that very last play, the play was disrupted and the Bengal’s failed to get the conversion, securing the victory for the Rams adding a 32nd championship to L.A., tying the city with Chicago for number of professional sports championships. This Super Bowl was the accomplishment of a lifetime for every player on the Rams’ sideline but none more than these players. Lineman Andrew Whitworth, 40, who has started all but four games in his long
5
Lady Hogs look forward to Arkansas
while also becoming the oldest lineman to win a Super Bowl champion,$-./*##$&0$123| +#,%$*-.%*,/'0$*%1$ ship. The Javelina Softball Odell Beckham, after team played Ouachita all the criticism he reBaptist University, Hillsceived in his two years dale College, and Henwith the Cleveland derson State University, Super Bowl to his re- outscoring their opposume. The NFL’s Hol- nents with a total of 50 lywood player spent runs and only giving up seven years chasing this two runs at the Portland opportunity and in his Tournament on Feb. 11 through Feb 13. The Javelinas blasted Ram, he seized that opnine home runs by Kayla portunity. Aaron DonGonzales, Natalie Rodriald, who is the greatest guez, Matisen Onofrei, defensive lineman of Jennifer Giesey, Kytana the Super Bowl era, was Muniz and Kaylee Dietmissing one thing from the accomplishment list, and that was the Lombardi Trophy. The threetime Defensive Player of the Year, only the third player to ever do so, eight-time pro bowler, seven time all pro, is now a Super Bowl champion. Donald was a hall of famer before the gold but now it’s a debate if he is the greatest defender ever. More than anyone though, this victory means the most to Matspent over a decade in Detroit where he spent all his time being overlooked because he was a part of a terrible organization.
tournament strong with 63 hits total, while managing to only give up 13 hits. Saidi Castillo earned National Pitcher of the Week by pitching two shutouts and 17 strikeouts. “It feels really good, I feel very accomplished,” Castillo said. “I’m extremely honored and grateful.”
Softball team after a victory over Columbia College.
Castillo has experience pitching in big games as she was a part of the 2019 College World Series team during which she spent a lot of time in the circle. Before stepping on the mound, Castillo prepares herself with a positive mindset. “I just want to hit my spots and not walk anyone,” she said. year as a Javelina after transferring from Grand Canyon University. Conand last year with the Javelinas, she has grown to be an asset to the team.
“What I really love about this team is that everything is so team oriented,” Dietrich said. “I think we really learned that our player 1- 9 line up can really do a lot of damage in a way that everybody that comes up, we’re all con-
Javelina Athletics
been working to prepare for conference coming up soon. “I think we still have a little ways to go, the biggest thing is that we just have to understand that when you get in a
to get a hit.” Head coach Craig
animal,” Nicholson said. The Javelina Softball team will be traveling to Arkansas on Friday,
with the outcome of this past tournament. ally good, we had some really great performances in the circle,” Nicholson said. The Javelinas have
trip, during which they will be facing Henderson State University and Ouachita Baptist again, Christian Brothers University, Midwestern State and Ar
More football coming soon, America New USFL draft this week 4)./3526)*.&7#/8$.*+&| +#,%$*-.%*,/'' 0$*%1$
and is currently 12th all time in passing yards Column and touchdowns and has been swept under With the Super Bowl the rug as a top quarterback in the league. After behind us, many of our entering the Los Angeles fellow students and facRams locker room in a ulty at A&M Kingsville will look for other sports underrated quarterback or shows to watch and became just the second to lead a team to a Super Bowl victory in their seconds tick away from - the big game. Fortunately, the great nization. Until the next champion is crowned, minds at Fox Sports are the NFL once again be- bringing us more footlongs to the bright lights ball. The United States Football League will of L.A.
son on April 16 between the New Jersey Generals and the Birmingham Stallions. In the wake of the collapse of the XFL in 2020, many people are excited to see a new league come to life. “I’m really excited to see some more football,” student Richard Brice said. Currently the league paring for their draft which will take place on Feb. 22 and 23. The USFL ent than the NFL draft we are all used to seeing because the players in the USFL draft consists
mainly players who never got drafted, players from indoor football leagues, and even players from the Canadian Football League. Currently there are eight teams and two conferences (four in each conference) and for at games will be held in the city of Birmingham, Ala., with the hopes that cessful the league will begin placing teams in their respective cities as well as possibly expanding to more cities such as San Diego, Orlando, and even San Antonio. “Being a fan of the Minnesota Vikings is fun
and all, but I am curious to see what the Houston Gamblers are all about,” student Adam Rodriguez said. Once the USFL draft concludes, it will only be a matter of time until the league’s teams begin to capture more eyes of future fans. It’ clear that this new league has already begun claiming a place in the hearts of Javelinas. That being said, the of the USFL with hopes of success, especially after many failed attempts from other leagues such as the short-lived Alliance of American Football in 2019.
Indoor track and field eyes championship on top will assist in the overall team victory,” Delancy said. “The goal is to be LSC champions for the entire team.” Kimberly Ortolon, junior from Edna, Tex-
Coach Dall prepares for conference championship !"#$%&'$%()*+&| !"#$%&'()*%#$ !"#$%!&'()%#$*%+'!#,%+%'-./&0#1
The
track ing for the LSC Indoor Championships after a good outing at the Howie Ryan Invitational in Houston, Texas, this past week. When asked about the preparations prior to the meet in Lubbock which will be held in Texas Tech’s indoor facility, Head Coach Ryan Dall said the team is focusing on the little things. “We’re just trying to get a good week of practice in and focus on the little things that make a
of the leader board in the pole-vaulting event with a personal best 3.85m (12-7.5) and the
Javelina
he said. Division I competition such as Houston, Sam Houston, Houston Baptist, and more, Coach Dall and his team came away with two gold medals, one silver, and
eventers would be junior Dustin Richardson who
Javelina Athletics
Kimberly Ortolon wins gold in Houston.
three
bronze
medals
most impressive performances came from the for most of the medals won on the day. D.J. Delancy earned his second gold medal of the indoor season with a 17.07m (56-00) throw
on his fourth attempt and in that same event, Marco Arevalo claimed the bronze medal after launching a 16.26m (5304.25) throw. Delancy also placed and
senior
capturing the medal on a
Stephen bronze 17.45m
(57.03) throw. Redshirt Senior and Jamaican native Delancy currently sits at the top of the shotput list in the conference and has a chance to walk out as the shot-put champion. “Being at the top of rankings boosts my conmeet and walking out
the high jump at 1.95m (6.04.75) just behind two athletes from Lamar University and Alcorn State. “Throwing and all ant, and we put a lot of emphasis on it as it is a huge part of our program,” coach Dall said. “Coach P (Ryan Petrocchi) does a great job of preparing our throwers and hopefully come Lubbock, our men and all cylinders.” On the track, freshman Cynai Christopher 400m dash with a 58.08 seventh in the LSC rankings for the race going
into the Championships in Lubbock, Texas. The 4x400 meter relay Lamar University and Houston Baptist with a time of 3:19.07 to close out the meet on an extremely high note. Member of the 4x400 team, Sterling Riles, is looking forward to the trip to Lubbock, and being a part of the All-American 4x400 team in the outdoor season last semester, he is looking forward to now adding LSC champion to his resumé. “Finishing the meet like that was a positive note to end on and it will going into the conference meet,” Riles said. Dall led the Javelinas to a LSC championship in previous years, and after a missed opportunity in the outdoor season last year, there is a chance to become champions again and head into the outdoor season that follows with a trophy. The LSC Championship will be in Lubbock, Texas, Feb. 26 and 27.
Forum
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February 21, 2022
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“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for redress of grievances.” Our Opinion
Gambling safety at the cost of students
Failed response time On the night of Feb. 7, rumors of an active shooter spread to students throughout our campus. The police report that students received came more than an hour after Facebook posts, snapchat stories and tweets had been made about the suspected incident. Students shared posts with each other, telling their friends to stay safe and stay on the lookout. Even students from other universities heard about the rumors and contacted those attending TAMUK before students received any form of communication by the school itself.
about a situation regarding a possible shooter in
On Tuesday, Feb.7, an incident took place that could have put students’ lives at risk. On this evening, a report was made that a suspicious person with a ski mask and a gun was seen *#$%&+# ,(-(& near the !"#$%&"% recreation center. At the time of this incident there was no warning from the university, either through text or email. It wasn’t until more than an hour after the incident took place that an alert was sent to students. That is something that
is inexcusable. Luckily, it was a false alarm, but it could have gone wrong very quickly. There was a lot of confusion because of the lack of alert. There is absolutely no reason that my friends and I who were in a rehearsal should have found out that the campus was on lockdown from a text message. Failure to send out an led to more panic as rumors began to spread faster than the speed of light. Many rumors of students being hidden in the bathroom of the Rec and another of students being escorted to their dorms by PD and being
told to stay put spread. The fact that there was a possibility of our lives being in danger and us castmate’s mom texted is very concerning. With all kinds of rumors going around, we had to call UPD ourselves while we hid. It was a very frustrating and scary experience to be stuck hiding in a bathroom for an hour not knowing exactly what’s going on or how much danger you are in. An hour was plenty of time to send a simple alert. At the time there weren’t many details but there was still a chance that we were in immediate danger. If you look around on campus, especially in the
dorms, there are safety posters posted with safety tips. It should not have taken an event like this to put safety posters up. The point is to take action to prevent tragedy, not gamble the safety of
No matter which way you look at it, action was not taken fast enough. The speed in which we receive severe weather warning emails is the speed we need to receive emergency alerts when our lives could be on the line. I hope that the university will take the necessary steps to make sure that this doesn’t happen again as the safety of on it.
any location on campus is not okay. Students were tion from the university about what was happening. According to tamuk.edu, “In the event of a significant emergency or dangerous situations involving the immediate threat to the health or safety of persons on the campus, the university will, without delay, and taking into account the safety of the sages to provide information which will give spe-
a safe campus environment.” This did not happen. Some students might say the night of Feb. 7 would fall under this promise, and we certainly believe it does. There was a suspected shooter on campus, and as we’ve learned from the many mass shootings that this country has tragically faced, the event of a suspected shooter should not be taken lightly. Not only does the untimely response by the university cause more anxiety among students on cam-
Free Speech boundaries Now don’t get me wrong, I am all for free speech as I believe if we have something to say then we should say it. But there is a line that at some point, especially in specif!""#$%&# ic places, '()#$(& shouldn’t !"#$%&"% be crossed. When it comes to free speech on campus, especially when it involves religion, I believe there should be boundaries of what one can say. Yes, this restricts freedom of speech which defeats the purpose of the amendment but this school is not just a place
of education but a home for students as well. There should be limitations of what can be spoken in public spaces on campus such as the pavilion. It is a place where many students hang out as well as a populated area everyone passes through to and from class. Someone who is shouting out that members of the LGBTQ+ community are wrong or those in organizations such as fraternities and sororities are “sinners” should not be allowed to speak in such a way, especially on campus. There are many students on campus here that are a part of multiple student organizations, religions, as well as have
tions. Hearing someone, especially aggressively, speak out about how you are a sinner for basically being who you are and doing what you enjoy is not healthy either. It is hard enough that quite a number of students struggle with their identity of not only who they are but what they want to be, but being told that what they love to do is making them a tal health even more than it probably already is. It is also not appropriate to be judging or assuming what people do in their intimate relationships. Shouting out things such as “you don’t see virgin females anymore these days” or
in hell along with weed smokers and those who have pre-marital sex” is crossing a line as well. There is no point in denying that we are college students, there is most likely going to be a time when curiosity or hormones hit and the deed gets done. Why judge thousands of college students for living their lives? Again, free speech is okay and preaching the “Word of God” is also okay, but when it comes to speech, especially on campus, there needs to be boundaries of what can and cannot be said. At the end of the day, this school is not just a place of education but also a home to students.
pus, but it also resulted in a lack of trust between students and the school.
too long to respond to a crisis and sadly in an incident that involves a possible shooter, an hour was
Letter to the Editor: In loving memory
too long to respond. We have also come to know scribe their cell phone to the emergency system TAMUK has in place. To add phone numbers or other
This space is left blank in honor of Mr. Tomas Cantu, The South Texan’s biggest fan. Thank you for always supporting our paper and helping. We will miss you greatly. -The South Texan Family
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!"#$%!"#$%&'()''*
tions from the university’s emergency notification system, students and employees must manually input their phone number and can do so by visiting https://bbctamuk.bbcportal.com/Entry. According to the university’s website, emergency and dangerous situations are to be handled in a spereads: “In the event of a significant emergency or dangerous situations involving the immediate threat to the health or safety of persons on the campus, the university will, without delay, and taking into account the safety of the community, send tion messages to provide information which will the community to help to ensure a safe campus environment.” Garza said he did not feel the report of a possible man with a gun on campus warranted the use of the alert system. “If we had found that there was a guy, that had a real weapon that would have shot somebody, that would be time to do that [send and alert]. Unless it’s
!"#$%./0&'()''*
Jackson. She was an aerospace engineer and because I’m a mechanical engineering major that just inspires me because it shows what we can do regardless of race. It gives me more motivation,” Vice-President Autumn Robinson said. Robinson believes schools should teach more African American history tailored to the achievements that have been made. She also discusses the importance of continuing to speak on the topic of race because there are still issues with the police system and feels it’s important to educate people on what goes on to this day. “To engage as an ally, just be there and be present. Be willing to listen. Not only listen, but be able to have empathy and compassion for what your fellow peers have to say and how they feel,” Brown said. Brown discusses the
a situation where somebody’s life could possibly be in danger. Based on information that we had at that time on Monday, we didn’t have any of that information we just had a call of a suspicious person, that appeared to have what might have been a riwere to send those out every time it happened, we would be sending them out fairly regularly,” Garza said. While rumors were spreading some students were rehearsing for a children’s show in Jones Auditorium, and reacted to information about a possible shooter. With no students chose to shelter in place. “We just got done with practice and just before everyone was about to leave, one of my actors got a call from their parents to be careful because they heard of someone walking around the rec with of Witch of the Enchanted Woods Edgar Vazquez said. Vazquez had his stage hopes of getting an answer before letting students leave the building. “Our immediate action was to hide in the
importance of not hiding history in itself. “History has the tendency to repeat itself especially if it is not acknowledged. It’s crazy that we still have accomplishblack…’ in 2022. It shows that we are just as capable of doing things that everyone else is,” Brown said. The BSU wants to build a community on campus to allow voices of all members and allies to be heard in a safe space. “To recognize is to not limit black creators to one month because there’s so many of us and we cannot give every person the acknowledgement they deserve in 28 to 29 days, it’s not possible,” Ware said. The BSU welcomes new members. The organization is for any student who wants to uplift and promote their black peers and black excellence. For more information, or to contact the organization visit @tamuk.bsu on Instagram
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restroom located on the backstage wing of Jones,” he said. Students hid in this location for over half an could escort students safely from the auditorium. “I felt scared but also angry, because all of us hiding and in fear not knowing what it can be
their time to give us a clear answer,” he said. Vazquez said he and the students he was with made multiple calls to given. “We heard that it was a false alarm, but this came from friends and people most an hour if not more for them to send an email about the situation, but even in the email, some details didn’t match up with what others were saying,” Vazquez said. “It’s honestly ridiculous for the university to be behind on information hear. I shouldn’t be getting my information about this from other students before the university sending an email with loose details.” Garza could not comment on the investigation of who might have been wielding the suspected weapon, as the investi-
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and faculty that lectures be temporarily relocated until the situation could be resolved. “The initial move was coordinated with the university due to AC issues building,” Guerrero said. Before the move back into the building, air samples are planned to be taken. The current plan is to have materials and equipment moved out of Bellamah by March 15, when students return from spring break, moving students back into they were once moved out of due to an ongoing mold crisis the university hopes to resolve by this time. Some students expressed concern about making the move. “To move us back into a building that still has much work to undergo, is highly unprofessional. Not only did we have to move out of our building due to the mold and
gation was still ongoing. security footage from the night of the event, but evidence did not supply any identifying information for the case. Garza did offer some further details. “The person that reported it, he didn’t report it straight to us he Sports,” Garza said. “He said he thought it might didn’t see an orange tip on it that would indicate that it would have been a plastic or toy gun.” According to Texas A&M University Kingsville’s (TAMUK) Student Handbook, the university “prohibits the possession or storage of any weapons…on university premises or at any university-sponsored activity, except in the following cases: law enforcement personnel engaged in the their assigned duties; approved university experiments and/or projects; to and from a place of storage on campus; TAMUK ROTC; and other approved academic use.” al Sports Ian Brown explained what occurred the evening of Feb. 7. “We received a report of weeks of school, but we had many classes actually spend their class time moving over desks, tables, materials, etc. To move back is going to be another big hassle for sure,” senior art major Bryson Olivarez said. The university is addressing the issues with the mold as part of the continuing work that is ma/Arts building to have it ready for students to effectively work there again. “The process is about 35 percent complete and should be completed in March, barring supply chain disruptions,” Marketing and CommunicaGarza said. Last July, TAMUK encountered issues with chillers on the east side of campus, resulting in humid classrooms in the rental chiller was put in place to help cool the facility while students and faculty were relocated. university has moved forward with upgrading the AC unit along with problem, such as piping
BSU members wrapping palms on the Boulevard.
Ronni Reyna
Ronni Reyna
Alpha Sigma Alpha member Micaela Gracia helps the BSU in puting up Black History Month markers on campus.
a potential suspect outside of the Student Rec Center wearing a ski mask and carrying what appeared to be a weapon. The building went into lockdown, cleared the area and evacuated the building. As we know now, it turned out to be a false alarm,” Brown said. With the information in the center were instructed to hide in undisclosed locations around the building. “The unfortunate reality is that we must prepare our team to handle the potential for something like an active shooter scenario. trained on our Emergency Action Plan (EAP). Our cols based on the threat ical, inclement weather, active shooter, etc. They were just re-trained on the topic at our recent department-wide retreat at the beginning of the semester,” Brown said. At the time of the interview Chief Garza had not run a time test on the patrol’s route to the scene but within a minute after the initial call was made. cilities and Fitness Ernes-
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to Gamez was working the night of the incident and said he found out about the situation when the lights went out and he suspected a breaker issue. On his way to check the breakers he was informed of the suspicious person report. “Once I found out about the situation, I immediately began going through the lockdown
that were present,” he
better and more secure positions to wait, and helped the director manage the student workers while he handled the patrons who were working out. As the highest-ranking student
to take the responsibility to keep the other student
he said. “I personally felt safe. While the location is not extremely secure, I did a lot of quick thinking and planned several exit routes
For information on what to do in an emergency situation, including active shooter protocol, students should visit https://www. tamuk.edu/housing/manuals/section4.html.
Campus Editor Sarah Reyna contributed to this report.
Art students in class inside Bellamah music building.
and ducting. Students, faculty and the building only if it is deemed safe for return. The department chairman Todd Lucas completed a walk through in struction Project Manager Juan Contreras, to begin an action list of items to be completed to create a safe environment for faculty and students to return faculty was made aware of the new move date on Jan. 4 when Lucas sent out an email. “As far as the other stu-
Makaylah Chavez
dents go, I know we all really loved having our own storage spaces and space overall to let our creativity go wild and be more ambitious with our projects as we had more space to work,” Olivarez said of working in Bellamah. “The humidity and mold will play a role in the quality of our work. Not only do we have to be more aware of what we are leaving in the building, but also the materials we use now will have to be durable enough to not humidity levels in the building.”
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February 21, 2022
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TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY-KINGSVILLE®
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