INSIDE
Don’t miss the 3rd annual PRIDEfest ... Page 2 Texas A&M University-Kingsville
The South Texan
Volume 93, Issue 23
thesouthtexan.com
Thursday, April 11, 2019
Alumni gets creative with dark artwork Norberto Gomez’s exhibit Dungeons & Daemons now displayed DARCY RAMIREZ Editor-in-Chief Forget dungeons and dragons, Texas A&M University-Kingsville has Dungeons & Daemons. Dungeons & Daemons is a unique art exhibit created by alumni Dr. Norberto Gomez Jr. and is on view from April 3 to May 16 at the Ben Bailey Art Gallery. Gomez is an associate professor and chair of the department of visual and performing arts at Montgomery College (MC). At MC, Gomez teaches graphic design, typography, digital tools and illustration and is highly regarded among his colleagues and students. “He tries a bunch of different things like music, publishing cartoons, working with painting and drawings, and digital aspects. It’s really interesting that he has his fingers in a lot of pies, but his voice is always authentically his own,” Katherine Knight, assistant professor of painting at MC, said.
The Dungeons & Daemons exhibit consists of 18 pieces. Every painting is made with acrylic while one is made with both acrylic and graphite. Each piece has vibrant colors with darker aspects creeping beneath the surface. “To the ancient Greeks, daemons were spirit guides and forces of nature. They existed between the mortal and deity. When I was younger, I feared being possessed by the much different Christian demons and being watched by spying specters in some kind of limbo with the old curandero acting as a medium. “Now I feel nepantla: ‘a psychological, liminal space between the way things had been and an unknown future...a space in-between, the locus and sign of transition,’ where ‘realities
Dungeons & Daemons on display at the Ben Bailey Art Gallery from April 3 to May 16.
Painting titled, RIP (Golden Weeds).
clash, authority figures of the various groups demand contradictory commitments’ (Anzaldua). “This is also a sign of rock-n-roll and black magic. I’ve always been comfortable with being uncomfortable. I am a new-wave daemon—but I’m also possessed and seek guides and maps. I want to constantly turn them upside down and sometimes I get lost. Here—in the chasms—are various daemons/demons, journeys and struggles through dungeons, borders, and walls, representing the imposing structures, rules and language of psychosocial-political reality colliding with the sublime, mysterious terror of nature,” Gomez said in his artist
Photos by Darcy Ramirez
statement. On Wednesday, April 3, from 4 to 7 p.m. TAMUK held a reception celebrating Gomez’s return to South Texas and the newest art exhibit. Faculty, staff and students gathered around and viewed the creative, ominous and mystic paintings. “This is not what I was expecting and I think that makes it even better. My favorite is RIP. It reminds me of a dark comedy. It’s nice to see someone represent the darkness. Most of the time we see artists show Latin culture, which is amazing, but it’s nice to have something quite different and disturbing,” Michael Carranza, a mechanical engineering major, said.
5th Anniversary Celebration at Newman Hall JOSUE VILLARREAL Reporter Newman Hall, alongside its chapel, celebrated its five-year anniversary being open and a part of Texas A&M University - Kingsville on April 8, by holding a Spring Carnival in the field outside of the establishment. Newman prides itself on camaraderie during the Spring Carnival and created an inviting and friendly environment. “It’s all about family, it’s all about a home-away-from-home, being somewhere safe where you can practice your faith, get your homework done, and just enjoy yourself amongst your peers,” said General Manager of Newman Hall Alexandria Brooks. Wanting to honor half a decade of family, the Spring Carnival had many
Photo by Amanda DeFrees
Families at the Spring Carnival held at Newman Hall on April 8. booths and activities scattered around the grass area for the community to enjoy. “We just want to make our pres-
ence and let people know that we have events like this,” said Assistant General Manager of Newman Hall Vanessa Valdez.
The area was riddled with free goodies such as nachos or snow-cones, as well as activities such as free face painting and a photo booth. Animals were present as well with a dog kissing booth, horseback riding and a goat petting zoo. “I like the food, I love the animals, and the people working here are so nice,” said resident of Newman and architecture major Daniel Martin. The event went into the night with s’mores being cooked over fires as the Spring Carnival came to a close for the night. “We love everyone, we embrace everyone, and at the end of the day, everyone can put a smile on another person’s face,” Brooks said. Smiles were seen, faces were painted, people were fed, and so ended the five-year anniversary that caps off the many more anniversaries to come.
Page 2 - Campus
thesouthtexan.com
Thursday, April 11, 2019
Annual PRIDEfest celebrates LGBTQ+ at TAMUK Drag queens, DJ’s, guest speakers, and more at event ILIANA FLORES Managing Editor According to UCLA Williams Institute, about 4.1 percent of Texas’ population identifies as LGBTQ+. To celebrate the members of this community at Texas A&M Universty-Kingsville (TAMUK), the Annual PRIDEfest will once again be happening at 5:30 p.m. on April 17 in the Ben Bailey Art Gallery. The third Annual PRIDEfest will be hosted by TAMUK Unity. Unity is a club on campus that invites is a safe place for the LGBTQ+ community. “The purpose of UNITY is to provide an environment which fosters a sense of belonging and promote the interests of the LGBTQA+ community,” the Unity Facebook page said. To kick off this year’s PRIDEfest, attendees will meet at College Hall and then join in a celebratory march to the Ben Bailey Art Gallery. Attendees are invited to bring their rainbow flags and celebrate the LGBTQ+ community while marching. The event will also have Will Stridde and Bailey Killian as guest speakers. Stridde is a TAMUK alumnus who will be speaking about the history of the LGBT+ community from the 1980s to now. Killian is also a TAMUK alumnus.
Killian started a non-profit organization called “How to Trans.” Along with the guest speakers, DJ Brainwash will be bringing the hits for people to dance to. San Antonio Drag Queen group #HauseDeLoca will also be performing at the event. The group consists of Leona “La Bruja” Loca, Corona Rivera, Envy Von Chic and Patty Cakes. The drag queens will be dancing and singing along to popular tunes. Those who attend the event will also be able to eat free food and will have the opportunity to enter for a chance to enter giveaways and prize raffles. While the event is meant to be fun, it also has a much bigger purpose. “The purpose of the event is for TAMUK LGBTQIA+ students and allies to showcase their PRIDE of our community, to celebrate the diversity among us here on campus, [and] to be proud students while showing support for equality and inclusion,” Alberto Oliveira III, the Unity secretary said. Oliveira also believes the event gives students the opportunity to unite and acknowledge the LGBTQ+ community at TAMUK. “PRIDEfest is an opportunity for students to become aware of the LGBTQIA+ community and their allies here on campus [all] while learning about key events that paved the way for the Gay Rights Movement... ‘We’re here, we’re queer, get used to it!’ Plus, who doesn’t want to see a DRAG show!? Get your cha-cha heels ready!,” Oliveira said.
Photo submitted
Members of STSA
The South Texas Saxophone Association JENNIFER GARCIA Reporter
The South Texas Saxophone Association (STSA) has a passion for music and wants to expand the potential of saxophone musicians. The association has been around for about three to four years; it’s a relatively new organization to the campus with about 25 active members. The association often visits local high school bands to recruit potential members who might be interested in being part of STSA. They also have frequent bake sales and other fundraisers to raise money for their organization. The association is open to all music majors who are interested in participating. However, to have a leadership role in the organization it is required for students to be in their second year of college and have a minimum of a 3.0 GPA. “I used to be on the executive board, like the board of members, and doing that I learned a lot of leadership skills,” said Libby De La Rosa, Music Education major. The South Texas Saxophone Association also offers a nice and friendly environment filled with likeminded people who enjoy playing saxophone.
Members say it’s a great place to meet new friends and learn helpful skills as well. The association meets every other Thursday at 6:30 p.m. in the Music Building Rehearsal Hall. “I love being part of STSA because it helps me make friends and helps my love for saxophone grow,” said Lyndsay Delgado, Music Education major. The association wishes to grow and showcase its wonderful talents to others and do so by putting together recitals and having groups such as a sax choir and a sax quartet. Dr. Thomas Zinniger helps the association develop and gain new musicianship skills. “Being a part of STSA has allowed me to play different types of music in a different setting than I usually do in the normal band setting. It has also allowed me play on a different saxophone other than my primary one. I have gotten so many leadership opportunities from being in this organization. I started off as a member my freshman year, then went to treasurer, and I am now the Vice President as a junior. Being involved has also helped me as player. We get some challenging music to play, and it just pushes me to be the best player I possibly can,” said Ixchel Betancourt, Music Education major.
Thursday, April 11, 2019
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Page 3 - Campus
Students take initiative in wordly issues Political and global issues addressed by TAMUK students ARYSSA ENRIQUEZ Campus Editor Heated debates about worldly issues will be heard April 13 and 14 on the second floor of the Javelina Dining Hall. The Model United Nations (MUN) invites students to step into the role of citizens from different countries and provide a platform to advocate for global issues. This year during the Model United Nations Conference, Dr. Weston Jamison from Snow College, Utah, will be the guest speaker. Approximately a total of 50 students will be simulating the United Nations Security Council. Students are able to represent more than 35 countries and defend their argument against global issues. The simulated conference will consist of various topics including: Nuclear Proliferation, Refugee Crises of the World, International Trade, Renewable Energy and Sustainable Environment. This MUN encourages students to delve into the world of politics and diplomacy. Students are able to enhance a multidisciplinary research skills, knowledge of global issues, public and debate speaking skills by being involved with this organization. “Participating in the Model United Nations Conference is beneficial because it broadens your views on ma-
jor worldly problems, it allows you to learn about a different country and then totally take in the role as a true citizen of that country telling the story and taking actions to make it better,” said Iliana Ruiz, Criminology major. Although the MUN program has only been established here for two years, the program offers numerous opportunities for students to expand their horizons and interact with other people. This program allows for students to network with other university students and develop efficient skills. “Students can expect to meet all kinds of people through the MUN society which lends itself to engaging conversation about topics ranging from the probability of North Korea possessing nukes to how social media can indoctrinate a populace. Rest assured, there’s never a dull moment in immersing oneself in the world view of another country especially when conducive to the re-evaluation of preconceived notions,” said Katrina Sacurom, Political Science major. Anyone who has a passion for debate or global issues is welcome to participate in this organization. For more information, contact Dr. Chika Rosenbaum, Director of the Model UN program. “There are many benefits of participating in the MUN program. Students will be able to gain extensive knowledge about how world governance operates; understand critical issues across the globe, ranging from security to socio-economic to environmental issues; learn how to act professionally; negotiate diplomatically; meet students from different universities,” Rosenbaum said.
Photos courtesy of Javelinas CollegiateLink
Model United Nations during a conference in Alamo.
Page 4 - Opinion
thesouthtexan.com
Thursday, April 11, 2019
Fuel to get through the day
The South Texan The First Amendment “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.” The South Texan is a student publication produced by Texas A&M University- Kingsville students. The views, opinions and commentary do not necessarily reflect the views of the Texas A&M University system. The South Texan uses student fees in part to publish. The South Texan is part of the Art, Communications, and Theatre Department (ACT), The Javelina Broadcast Network (JBN), and the Texas Intercollegiate Press Association (TIPA).
STAFF Darcy Ramirez Editor-in-Chief Iliana Flores Managing Editor Aryssa Enriquez Campus Editor C.R. Neal Editorial Editor Colby Sims Sports Editor Jaylin Morales Advertising Manager Reporters Josue Villarreal Ashley Gonzalez Aaron Monreal Kelby Sprinkles Hector Landin Adam Pena Zachariah Wilson Dylan Dozier Rachel Tapps Leti Torres
DYLAN DOZIER Reporter “You’re personal vibration or energy state is a blend of contracted or expanded frequencies of your body emotions and thoughts at any given moment. The more you allow your soul to shine through you, the higher your personal vibration will be.” -Penney Peirce I didn’t want to start this thing off melancholy. The composition’s entirety was conceived in a slipstream of caffeine and upbeats, and I refuse to defy the inspiration. Not to mention, to follow an epithet about personal vibrations with early morning doldrums seems counterintuitive. This time of the semester is the toughest. Last week, it all piled on. So much to do, so little time. My life away from academia disappeared. It slipped through my fingers before I ever had a chance to clamp on for dear life. The alarm clock every morning, like a smack to the face, and the walk from my bed to the bathroom sink felt like a death march. And did I march! Into class and out, and on to the next one. From class to the library. From the library to class. Skipped the gym all week. No time. Need sleep. But not this week. I spent the weekend devising a plan to break through the resistance: Build mental momentum in the morning and ride it into the night. Have you ever seen video footage of a fighter in the locker room whopping himself in the face in a last ditch attempt to beat the pre-fight jitters out of his medulla? Maybe you’ve seen the football player rocking back and forth
Nicole Morris Adviser
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in the tunnel. No music. Just a rhythmic and focused demeanor, imagining the task at hand so that the thoughts may manifest themselves into the physical world. Before the rooster crowed, I did both of those. Smacked the sleep out of my eyes, showered, brushed teeth, dressed. Then rocked back and forth in front of the mirror, tuning into a 136.1 Hz frequency that comes from everywhere and thought about all the things I was going to accomplish. Then I head off to school. Hunter S. Thompson once said, “Music has always been a matter of Energy to me, a question of Fuel. Sentimental people call it Inspiration, but what they really mean is Fuel. I have always needed Fuel. I am a serious consumer. On some nights I still believe that a car with the gas needle on empty can run about fifty more miles if you have the right music very loud on the radio.” Everyone has their pregame playlist. Maybe you don’t call it a “pregame” playlist, but if I was a gambling man, I’d wager that you have a particular set of songs that you spin when you feel compelled to get to moving and shaking. Mobb Deep, Mac Miller, Post Malone, the Stones, EARTHGANG, Wale… You get it. Mine has been on full-tilt boogie since the inception of the plan (with the exception of class). The music is
driving me from class number one, to class number two, and so on and so forth. Without it, my plan goes the way of a white crayon. After class, I hit the gym. Our physical well-being is intertwined with our mental health. It’s important that I give my brain a break, and let my body bear the abuse for a while. Yesterday, I went for a 20-minute jog. The day before, I swam and stretched out. It doesn’t always have to be Olympic preparation. A little sweat and heavy breathing goes a long way. I refer to the library as the homestretch. My last push of the day. I’ve decided it imperative to finish tasks I was assigned today, tonight. Once something is put off once, it becomes easy to put that thing off a second time. And a third and fourth and so on. I pull out hammer and chisel and chip away. However long it takes until today’s work is done. Tomorrow’s has begun. I decompress on the drive home. No pre-game boogie. Maybe a podcast or audiobook. Nothing special. I’m just keeping it light. Coming down without becoming aloof. Dinner. Shower. I pack my bag for tomorrow, TONIGHT. No Netflix, no TV. Tucked in, lights out. I pray and wait for the rooster to crow. For that first smack in the face.
Achieving my dreams at TAMUK
Photographer Amanda DeFrees
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Stay focused
BRENDA RIOJAS Reporter There I was, standing on the red sideline at Javelina Stadium. This was a dream almost 10 years in the making, and I couldn’t be any more proud of myself. I couldn’t believe I was a college cheerleader at my dream school. I remember looking down at my yellow uniform fighting back tears, that I finally got to wear the famous “Javelinas” written in blue and gold across my chest. I then looked up at my family that was smiling so proudly and getting their cameras ready
for the game that was about to start. This was the proudest moment of my entire life, everything I sacrificed for almost 10 years instantly paid off. Standing on the sideline, I see floods of blue and gold shirts of proud students, faculty, alumni and family. This is exactly what I had envisioned to see at the game. I was about nine years old when I started cheerleading and never once have I looked back. Landing new skills, meeting new friends, winning championships and cheering on my school team are some of the best days of my life. These are the days that no one can take away from me, for they hold a special place in my heart. When I started cheerleading I used to worry that it was too difficult or too time consuming. I used to always miss out on fun times at the movies with my friends, but I understood at a young age that school and cheerleading were my top priorities. Time management was essential to reaching my goals. I listened to my instinct, which led me to being a college cheerleader today. Sometimes I wish I could go
Photo Courtesy Pete Garcia
Brenda Riojas
back in time with the knowledge and experience I have now of being a college cheerleader. I would tell myself that I would accomplish things even bigger than cheerleading, like making the Honor Roll and getting to make an appearance on ESPN. That it would be my biggest honor to cheer for the best university in the entire world. I would simply tell myself to always work hard, be proud and not worry about the future, for it will become everything I’ve ever dreamed.
Thursday, April 11, 2019
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Page 5 - Opinion
Living in the modern world
The effect on social media on the construct of the self
C.R. NEAL Editorial Editor The morning brings a new day, a new dilemma, a new post. Posting the feeling of existential dread to the clicks of uproarious applause and irrelevant memes in the comments, the numb sets inside. The newsfeed is full of knee-jerk reactions to knee-jerk reactions to nothing and everything. “Where do we draw the line,” shouts the conservative.
“Where do we draw the line,” responds the liberal. It’s just cathartic nothing to the abyss of social media: a new way to monitor and feed advertisements to the hungry. A motivational post claiming that the key to self-worth lies in accepting yourself for who you are. Complacency is the way to happiness after all. Memes, political conspiracies, pictures of pretentious food being eaten by the milquetoast: on and on it goes. A never-ending cesspool of escapism and lies. Narcissism masquerading as sincerity. Millions of people shout, “Look at me. I’m important,” with every non-existent picture, quote or “unique” take on a moot issue. Pictures filled with product placement rivaling “Space Jam.” The new iPhone clear in the mirror, expensive headphones draped on the shoulders and hair manipulated hundreds of times to get the perfect nonchalant pose, though they say, “Felt cute. Might delete later.” We’re all cultivating brands. The jock
Photo Courtesy fromdarknesstosight.com
A man staring at his phone to escape to existential dread with their Under Armour athletic shirt and Nike running shoes using Colin Kaepernick’s brand to feed their own. The hipster with their craft beers from local breweries and expensive clothing meant to bring attention to the world crises we all know about. The outsider on the fringe screams maudlin phrases upon deaf ears. This column is itself
branding the writer as outside the system, though we all know there is no one outside the system. The system placates the disillusioned by providing the comfort of free speech, yet keeping them embroiled in its mechanics. There is no escape from the monster we created. Welcome to the machine.
Man on the Street This Week’s Question:
Should the contents of the Mueller Report be made public?
Name: Kyle Mahoney Major: Finance “Yes, it should. Nothing should be hidden from the American people. This is our government, these are our elected officials, and nothing should be held secret from us. I can’t tell you whether he did or didn’t do it, or where the corruption is happening, but we know something is going on and it’s shady.”
Compiled by: Josue Villarreal
Name: Destiny Allen Major: Animal Science “I believe that if it is publicized, people will go off with what they already believe anyway. It’s not really going to matter whether it’s publicized or not. The report was given to those who needed it to make an executive decision, any publicizing it will just lead to people not looking at it as fact and discounting its legitimacy based on their own beliefs.”
Name: Linda Williams Major: Education “I believe the public should be aware of what’s going on within their government, at least to an extent. Also, when it comes to the President, a lot of things are brushed under the rug. This whole situation he’s in is crazy, you’ve seen it in a lot of movie plots but now it’s reality. Even still, I think controversy should be brought to light.”
Name: John Paul Leal Major: Mechanical Engineering “Yes, I believe that. If it was investigated, there is clearly something there that needed to be investigated, and as the people we have a right to know. It shouldn’t be hidden from us. I don’t know much about the specifics of the investigation but it all looks really shady.”
Thursday, April 11, 2019
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Page 6 - Sports
Lady Javelinas keeping busy Preview of offseason volleyball training AARON MONREAL Sports Reporter
Photo by active.com
Group fitness
Pump Chasers with Jase Rec offers group fitness class pump chasers ZACH WILSON Sports Reporter Does your current workout plan lack motivation and intensity? If you’re a member of the Texas A&M University-Kingsville (TAMUK) rec center and happen to be free at 7 p.m. on weekdays, then you are all encouraged to participate in the fitness class, Pump Chasers with Jase. Jase Aley is a highly motivated fitness guru. His class encourages group exercise and an active lifestyle. “Pump chasers is a High Intensity Interval Training group exercise class. “The goal of the class is to improve overall fitness and athletic performance in a fun, group setting. “People should come take the class to get a feel for another style of exercise that they may have never been exposed to. It’s moderate to high intensity,” Aley said. Student and Rec employee Manuel Rojas enjoys the class himself.
“I like it; it’s a really good class....and a really good ab workout after...it hits the muscle and abs phenomenally,” Rojas said. Student Sydnie Solis also finds the class very enjoyable. “I like pump chasers because Jase motivates and pushes you to your limits even if you think you can’t do it, he helps you accomplish it. “Also, working out in a group is a bonus because your peers also push each other. “It is beneficial for ladies to go because even if you’ve never worked out you can go and learn what to do. In addition, he helps you spice up your workout routines,” Solis said. Kenneth Romo, another personal trainer at the TAMUK rec, is also a willing participant. “It’s a little hardcore but it’s not undoable, you can do it. “He definitely puts that military attitude in his workouts...he will push you to your limit and I like that about his class,” Romo said.
While most would assume off season for Javelina athletes is their time for rest from their long season it is actually quite the opposite. The Lady Javelina volleyball team has certainly been keeping busy with their off-season workouts in order to keep their skills intact and on their toes for the upcoming 2019 season. On the progress of the offseason Assistant coach and recruiting coordinator Joseph Morales stated, “It’s going good I think we’re making strides. We’re mostly focusing on individual skills, getting them better by position. There is only so much you can do, but they’re working really hard in the weight room getting conditioned.” Also, Talleyshia Morris middle blocker and veteran said the team is working hard. “Offseason training this season has proved a lot for the upcoming season,” she said. “Early mornings and intimidating conditioning in the afternoon have set our team peak even higher. Our mental toughness is questioned every day.” The off-season workouts include such things from position practice of setting, serving to weight room training. In fact, while practicing for indoor volleyball some of the players also are
competing in beach volleyball season. Nicole Murff defensive specialist is one of them. This past season, the Lady Javelinas had an overall record of 19-14, bringing their winning percentage to a .575. One of the struggles coach Morales said about the past season is the team not being able to finish games, because Morales believes with the amount of talent the team has, they should be able to have a better season. Kailey Estrada middle blocker said the team is working on improving. “Our coaches are really focused on helping the team work on what we had trouble with last season and so next season we’ll have it down and we’ll be ready to play hard,” she said. Looking ahead for the upcoming season Morales stated, “The biggest thing I want us to do is compete off the bat, not get slow tracked and slow start. I like to come in punching hard, you know using this offseason and summer and of course two-a-days.” The 2019 volleyball season does not start until Aug. 24, but the Lady Javelinas are certainly using this time they have to come together to develop team chemistry and learn from their mistakes this past 2018 season. “Our coaches really focused on helping the team work on what we had trouble with last season and so next season we’ll have it down and we’ll be ready to play hard,” Estrada said.
Photo by Javelina Athletics
Talleyshia Morris middle blocker
Photo by tamuk.edu
TAMUK personal training
Page 7 - Sports
thesouthtexan.com
Thursday, April 11, 2019
Rec soccer league commences Registration still open for those interested DYLAN DOZIER Sports Reporter Photo courtesy Javelina Athletics
Senior Madison Brabham and freshman Kylexus Block.
Beach Volleyball a trip of power 5 teams COLBY SIMS Sports Editor The Javelina Beach volleyball team traveled to Baton Rouge, La., this past weekend to take on a trio of power five schools. They took on Louisiana State University (LSU), University of South Carolina (USC) and Texas Christian University (TCU). Senior Haley Hutchinson talked about the tournament and said, “It was really nice to see some solid competition because it forced us to work that much harder to score and defend. Matches like these will definitely help us handle the teams at nationals with confidence.” The Javelinas started their day off against the No. 4 ranked team in the country LSU. LSU won the match, but one duo, Madison Brabham and Kylexus Block, were able to snag a win at the two’s spot. They won their individual match in two sets with scores of 22-20 and 21-18. For the second match of the day USC was the opponent, which is ranked at No. 11 in the country. The Javelinas lost 0-5 but there were some bright spots in the game. Freshmen Christina
Gragasin and Nicole Murff took their game to three sets with a narrow loss at the four’s. The three’s duo of Haley Hutchinson and Macy Berg lost in two but both matches went past the mark of 21 with scores of 26-24 and 22-20. For the final match of the day the girls took on TCU, ranked No. 20 in the nation. The Javelinas fought hard but lost by a single match 2-3. The duo of Gragasin and Murff got the Javelinas a win first with a three-set thriller at the five’s spot winning their third set 15-12. The Javelinas logged one more win against the Horned Frogs at the two’s spot courtesy of Brabham and Block, who won their game in two sets with scores of 21-9 and 21-15. When asked about the weekend Brabham said, “We fought hard against all of our competition. It was quite an exciting weekend, and we saw lots of growth.” The Javelinas will be back home in the sand this weekend hosting the Kingsville Beach Bash on April 12 and 13. This will be the final tournament before the head to Tavares, Fla., to defend the AVCA National Championship.
The indoor soccer season at the TAMUK Recreational Facilities began play on Monday, March 25. Intramurals are a great opportunity for athletes to compete without having to take on the responsibilities of being a NCAA athlete. The South Texan’s very own, reporter Aaron Monreal is captain of Paisano FC. The indoor rec league has allowed him to keep his pitch dreams alive. “I played soccer all my life. I played in Germany, Italy, France and Spain so passion for the game was there early on. I played during and after high school here in the States but stepped away because of an injury,” Monreal said. “I saw there was soccer here and since it’s my last semester, I knew I had to play.” Team registration ended on March 20, but individuals wanting to participate in league play have until April 26 at midnight to sign up. According to the TAMUK Intramural website, there are currently 16
teams active. Eight teams comprise the Co-Rec Blue division, and another eight teams make up the Men’s Blue division. The Co-Rec Blue league includes teams that are made up of both male and female athletes. The teams in this division are We Kick Balls, Paisano FC, Wake N Bake, Inferno, I don’t know, Flew Shots FC, TAMUK Engineers and Big Ballerz. The Men’s Blue league is an allmale league. The teams making up this division are Takuaches FC, Bayern Leverkusen, Real, Domus Alba, Lit Fam, Kingsmen FC, Nakamas and Cousins squad. “It’s a good thing to participate because soccer is generally fun. It’s a great environment with people of all different skill levels,” Monreal said. Games are played on Wednesdays and Thursdays at the student recreation center. League play concludes on April 26. Gameplay and participation information is available at the student recreation center and on the intramural website which is accessible via the TAMUK website.
Photo courtesy of annarborymca.org
Indoor soccer
Page 8 - Entertainment
thesouthtexan.com
Thursday, April 11, 2019
Documentary Review: Leaving Neverland
Documentary provides insight on allegations against Michael Jackson
KELBY SPRINKLES Reporter Even if you do not believe the allegations made against deceased pop icon Michael Jackson, Dan Reed’s provocative documentary Leaving Neverland provides unique insight into the disturbing practice of grooming and the aftermath of childhood sexual abuse. The four-hour documentary re-
leased in two parts, each two hours in length, premiered March 3, 2019 on HBO. The film is centered around the graphic recounts of Australian choreographer Wade Robson and former child dancer James Safechuck. Both Wade and Robson were introduced to Jackson as young boys, and at the time, each were pursuing careers as dancers. Prior to meeting Jackson, Wade and Robson idolized and often impersonated the musician.
Unfortunately, what followed these chance encounters with an international superstar were decades of alleged sexual, emotional and mental abuse. In addition to the testimonies of Wade and Safechuck in conjunction with photo, video and audio documentation of their time spent with Jackson, the families of both men were interviewed. It is in these interviews that the viewer begins to understand how Jackson not only romanced the two young boys, but also their entire families. This active romancing, or borderline brainwashing, by Jackson begins to slowly unravel the mystery as to why the children’s parents allowed them to become so intimate with Jackson in the first place. As is the tactic of sexual predators, the parents were being groomed alongside their children. This concept of familial grooming is confirmed by Reed’s own synopsis of the documentary. He describes the film as a “study of the psychology of child sexual abuse, told through two ordinary families who were groomed for 20 years by a paedophile masquerading as a trusted friend.” I recommend this documentary to those interested in understanding the
SCORE RATINGS
98%
of 100%
7.1 out of 10
lasting effects of childhood sexual abuse and trauma. However, this film could be triggering to those who are victims of sexual abuse. Although extremely graphic in content, Leaving Neverland allows its audience to understand how a successful abuser manipulates and seduces his or her victims.
Photo courtesy of Netflix.com
Photo courtesy of Rolling Stone
From left: Wade Robson, director Dan Reed, James Safechuck.
Photo courtesy of HBO
Thursday, April 11, 2019
thesouthtexan.com
Page 9 - Entertainment
Book Review: The Montsrumologist
Horror, mystery novel stands out in genre JOSUE SERNA Contributing Writer
The Monstrumologist by Rick Yancey is the story of a young orphan boy named William James Henry. Will is the assistant to Dr. Pellinore Warthrop, his diseased father’s employer and a Monstrumologist. Will never truly understands what a Monstrumologist is until a series of deaths tosses him and his employer into a world of mystery and horror. The book takes place in the early 20th century in the fictitious small town of New Jerusalem. One of the greatest qualities of this book is that when it comes to the story’s antagonists, the characters lie within a grey area.
Their motives and morals are not black and white in the story. Personally, I have grown tired of unnecessary romances and villains who are evil solely because they were written in two seconds. I understand that I might be in the minority, but I think that books can have multiple antagonists with villains that can be relatable in their motives. However, this book contains both a grey and black and white, which means that all your villain needs are satisfied. In this book, the heroes have to face the ancient species known as anthropophagi, which is a creature that looks like a human without a head and a mouth across its chest. With this in mind, I need to commend
the heroes in this book. They aren’t your typical white knights and they have their dark moments and secrets that make the book worth reading and they are flawed in a way that makes their story interesting. There is more than one story arc that makes this book a page turner. The one issue I have with the book is that it starts off slow, but once it starts going, it makes it worth the wait. I’ve read many mystery books over the years that give their ending away preemptively ruining all the time put into the story. This book is an exception that I truly believe is a story that every horror and mystery lover should read if they want a story that stands out from the norm.
Photo courtesy of amazon.com
Freshmen register at Fiesta Friday STAFF REPORTS
The Center for Student Succes hosted Fiesta Friday on April 5. The event was catered for freshmen to register for classes, eat nachos and hang out with their peers.
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Thursday, April 11, 2019
Texas A&M University-Kingsville University Housing & Residence Life
Current Residents Amenities:
Barbecue and Picnic area Exterior card access system Game tables Ice machines & Vending Machines Intramural teams Lounges with living rooms and TVs Planned residence hall activities Professional staff members Resident/Community Advisor staff Smoke-free building Student leadership opportunities
Don’t Forget to Sign your Housing Agreement with us to lock in your rate freeze for the 2019-2020 academic year. The priority sign up period begins March 21st. Don’t forget to attend your Wing Meeting. TURNER/BISHOP/MARTIN HALL $2,096 PER SEMESTER LYNCH HALL $2,311 PER SEMESTER LUCIO HALL & MESQUITE VILLAGE WEST $3,394 or $3,604 PER SEMESTER
Email: residencelife@tamuk.edu Phone: 361-593-3419
Lucio Hall, Office 119, Kingsville, TX 78363-8202