INSIDE
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Texas A&M University-Kingsville
The South Texan
Volume 93, Issue 4
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Thursday, September 27, 2018
Tough Fight for Civil Rights 1960s A&I was not welcoming to Chicano students ILIANA FLORES Campus Editor When walking around Texas A&M University-Kingsville (TAMUK), it can be difficult to imagine a time when Hispanics were discriminated against on campus, particularly during Hispanic Heritage Month when their contributions are being recognized. However, this was the reality for minority students on campus for more than 40 years. Like many cities in the southern United States, Kingsville was segregated and the community was controlled by the Anglos. The lack of Hispanic representation in positions of power was reflected in the university, which was known as Texas A&I University at the time. On the Texas A&I campus, Hispanic students were discriminated
against in many ways for decades. For example, they were often placed to live-in dorms on campus with no air condition, they were not allowed to join any Greek organizations on campus, and they were not given equal treatment in school elections for student government. This was all set to change in the mid-1960s when Chicano students began to protest for equal rights. In U.S. history, the 1960s are known as a time of revolution as minorities began to fight for the rights awarded to them in the constitution. At this same time, Hispanic students at Texas A&I were beginning to question the discrimination they were facing at the university. Pulling inspiration from the civil right movements happening nationally, Roberto Villarreal, a political activist in Kleberg County, said in an interview with Nicole Morris that Chicano students of Texas A&I “decided that they would not just accept the situation and took action to change the system.” José Ángel Gutiérrez and Carlos
Chicano History continued on Page 12
First Gens attempt to break the cycle Week long events will offer tips to navigate college DARCY RAMIREZ Editor-in-Chief Parental love is irreplaceable. Parents dote on their children for all kinds of reasons. Sometimes it’s for the simpler things like shooting the winning basket in their team’s game, but other times it’s much bigger accomplishments. An astonishing amount of students are the first in their families to go to college at Texas A&M University-Kingsville. The recently created First To Go program focuses on guiding and giving intentional support to first-generation students and their families. “While I think that this program helps allay parents’ fears, it has a greater impact on the students in that it
helps them learn how to navigate campus successfully and independently,” said Dr. Shannon Baker, assistant dean of the College of Arts & Sciences. On Oct. 1 to 6, First To Go will commence its accustomed week of activities. Each day will bring something different and beneficial to students as several of the colleges have donated goodies to be given away during the events. The first day will feature a FAFSA filing party, open to all students at the Library, Room 306B from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Following the first day there will also be Financial Aid Bingo, presentations made by the Center For Student Success, the Writing Center and Career Services, a presentation made by Dr. Michael Houf, associate history professor, on how to communicate with professors, and Trips and Tricks for first-generation students presented by Houf during the Parents Workshop given by Student Activities. “We hope that these programs help our first-generation students build relationships with faculty/staff on campus and make sure they are
aware of our resources on campus. We also have a session during our family weekend that will help our parents understand how to support their college student from afar,” said Erin McClure, director of Student Activities. The week’s activities will be organized by the First To Go Ad Hoc Committee in partnership with Student Activities, Center for Student Success, the Alumni department, and many other university organizations who feel that they can personally relate to the stu-
dents. “I think the best part of this program is that myself and several other committee members are first-generation students ourselves so we remember the struggles we faced and we’re able to offer our advice and support. We each consider ourselves successful college graduates and now we have the opportunity to help current students achieve that same goal,” said Emily Morin, communication specialist I.
Photo courtesy studentsuccess.com
First To Go focuses on helping first-generation college students.
Page 2 - Campus
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Thursday, September 27, 2018
Study Abroad program kick-off event
Office of International Studies and Programs hosts Open House
ARYSSA ENRIQUEZ Reporter Culture enrichment, lifelong friendships and worldly perspective are just a few of the numerous advantages a student can gain from studying abroad. Studying abroad offers students the opportunity for the world to become their classroom. Instead of reading long passages or using the Internet as a resource, exploring a foreign country may open a student’s eyes to a new heritage, language and history. As if all that weren’t enough, studying abroad opens the door for personal growth and discovery as it encourages an individual to leap out of their comfort zone and venture off into the world. “It’s a good idea to study abroad to see your flaws and strengths. I think traveling to gain appreciation is important for all students,” said Joshua Cavazos, a political science student who studied abroad in Japan over the summer.
Without a doubt studying abroad is beneficial for all students and is strongly encouraged at Texas A&M University- Kingsville (TAMUK). Therefore, TAMUK excitedly welcomes everyone to the Study Abroad Open House from 4 to 6:30 p.m., Wednesday Oct. 3, in Cousins Hall. Students will get the opportunity to meet with study abroad advisors, find out about any requirements, get informed about payment plans, scholarships and any resource available to help them gain that worldly experience. “We want people to see the world and gain exposure. Studying abroad doesn’t only help you gain a culture exposure, you are simultaneously learning and gaining a new perspective, resulting in life-changing experiences,” office assistant for the Office of International Studies and Program Kevin Cepeda said. Studying abroad creates a path for students to enhance their skills and become successful professionals. Wednesday evening promises to be an engaging afternoon filled with adventure and opportunity for TAMUK students. It’s an opportunity students should explore. “As a professional looking back to my college years, studying abroad has been one of the best decisions of my life, as it has provided me with a whole different perspective of the world,” said Nilsa Guajardo, the Human Resource Director at Mission Regional Medical Center.
Crypto-Judaism Rare Book Exhibit Backals donate ‘rare books’ to South Texas Archives ADAM PENA Reporter It goes without saying that history is important, and the recording of history even more so. Preserving events, concepts, people and ideas for future generations is how people learn from the mistakes of the past and honor those who came before. On Friday, Sept. 21, a new collection was added to the South Texas Archives in the Jernigan Library. The collection upholds these values and contributes to preserving the ethnical and cultural history of South Texas and Northern Mexico and their inhabitants. The Ricardo and Debbie Backal Crypto-Judaism Rare Book Collection offers an extensive 24 monographs, 37 calendar and 29 paintings of cultural or historical value for public admiration and research. These monographs, some of which date back to the 16th century, are the product of nearly half a millennium of religious persecution of Spanish-born Jews who in defiance of Spain’s Alhambra Decree (1492) continued practicing Judaism while claiming themselves to be Christians. According to South Texas Archives collection’s section, these people came to be known as Crypto-Jews. “We needed a place for these documents in South Texas,” Ricardo Back-
al said during his speech before the unveiling of the Ricardo and Debbie Backal Crypto-Judaism Rare Book Collection Exhibit. Placing this collection with the archives creates a place for these fragments of history to be properly preserved and studied. They hopefully will also allow people to be more aware of the history of South Texas and perhaps learn something new about their family history, he said. “Crypto-Judaism is everywhere, people just don’t know what they’re looking at,” Dr. Miguel Bedolla, who also spoke at the unveiling of the exhibit, said. Dr. Bedolla spoke about the influence of Crypto-Judaic practitioners on Catholic and general Christian practices and iconography from Brownsville to San Antonio. Once acquired by the South Texas Archives, the rare books and calendars were digitized by Processing Archivist Matthew Tallant and Digital Archivist Daniel Thacker, who carefully and painstakingly handled the centuries-old monographs and calendars and uploaded them to the South Texas Archives for public viewing without risk of damaging the priceless artifacts. The actual manuscripts themselves are kept in a precise climate-controlled environment within the South Texas Archives in the Jernigan Library to ensure their longevity. The Ricardo and Debbie Backal Crypto-Judaism Rare Book Collection was made possible by the generous donation from Mr. and Mrs. Ricardo and Debbie Backal, the Texas A&M University-Kingsville Department of Language and Literature, the Hispanic Heritage Committee, Sigma Delta Pi and the South Texas Archives.
Photo by Adam Pena
One book displayed in the Crypto-Judaism Rare Book Collection Exhibit.
Photo by Adam Pena
From left to right: Mr. Ricardo Backal, Dr. Marco Iñiguez Alba, Dr. Miguel Bedolla, and Dr. Michelle Johnson Vela
Thursday, September 27, 2018
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KTAI welcomes new radio manager Patil is now the man in charge of the TAMUK radio airwaves JOSUE VILLARREAL Reporter With a new semester always comes new recruits and new leadership in the many clubs and organizations at Texas A&M University-Kingsville. One of the most recent of which is the new manager of the campus radio station KTAI 91.1FM, Rishikeshi Patil. Patil is a student currently pursuing his master’s degree in Computer Science. In looking for a job in a leadership position, he discovered that the radio manager job was perfect for not just what he was looking for in employment, but also in pursuing his passions.
“I am happy that I am able to apply my technical skills to maintain and improve the technical aspects of the radio station,” Patil said. Patil plans on encouraging more people to get involved in the radio, as well as improve the quality of radio streaming on campus, and get more and more shows on air alongside building up the already existing shows. “I’m looking forward to working with someone who knows how to keep us technically operational,” began Director of KTAI-FM and TAMUK TV-2 Armando Ibanez, “someone who is creative and is fully committed to continuing to make excellent shows for our radio broadcast.” Ibanez cites Patil’s experience in computer science, his know-how of the technical aspects of the radio, and his status as a musician himself that makes him the most qualified candidate that he could have hired. “He seems nice and willing to make sure that we have an organized radio station,” said host of radio shows The TEA and Breaking the Barricade Etta Enow.
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Page 4 - Opinion
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Thursday, September 27, 2018
A statewide battle for sanity How to register to vote
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
C.R NEAL Opinion Editor Voting is the foundation of any functional democracy. Everyone should have the right to vote, even your grandfather who still believes that rock-androll music is the devil. It is a strange thought, but their vote should count the same as yours, your political science lecturer or even the President of Texas A&M University Steven Tallant, Ph.D. That is what democracy is. The problem is, frankly, that we don’t vote. According to the U.S. Census only 27
Writer and showrunner at odds on the sexual identity of iconic characters
America Quintero Managing Editor C.R. Neal Editorial Editor Plaserae Johnson Sports Editor
Jaylin Morales Advertising Manager Reporters Josue Villarreal Aaron Monreal Jose Tello Kelby Sprinkles Adriana Palomo Nicole Morris Adviser Dr. Manuel Flores Consultant Advertising For advertising inquiries, e-mail The South Texan at thesouthtexan@tamuk.edu or call (361) 593-4370. Letters to the Editor Letters must be typed, signed and include a phone number. Letters considered for publication must be 300 words or fewer. Letters may be emailed to thesouthtexan@tamuk.edu The South Texan, Manning Hall 165, Texas A&M University-Kingsville Kingsville, Texas 78363
torial candiacy. Setting aside the impact of voter ID laws on minorities, registering to vote can be very simple, or it can be a bureaucratic nightmare. Either way, it takes time. In Texas there are a few ways to register to vote. A couple of those methods are online forms that you mail to the courthouse or visiting said courthouse in person. However, the deadline for the online application has passed so you will have to go to the Kleberg County Courthouse at 700 East Kleberg Avenue in Kingsville. I realize that asking someone to go somewhere in 2018 is a lot to ask. You’d rather sit at home and like your best friend’s “no-filter” picture on Instagram. However this election is an important one. Specifically, Texas will decide, among others, who will be their senator, governor and attorney general. If you want someone who represents your ideals and not some puppet for corporations get up, go out and vote.
Bert and Ernie’s business in the bedroom
Darcy Ramirez Editor-in-Chief
Iliana Flores Campus Editor
percent of people aged 18 to 24 in Texas voted in the 2016 general election. To put that in perspective, a report by the Yale program Climate Change Communication stated that 30 percent of Americans believe that climate change is not man-made. To combat that willful ignorance we need to vote in all elections, especially the one coming up on Nov. 6. Unfortunately, the deadline for registering to vote, Oct. 9, fast approaches. This can cause problems because Texas is a voter ID state, which means that in order to vote you must have some form of state-issued identification, not including your student ID. According to a study by Professor of Political Science at UCLA Matt Barreto, Ph.D. and Professor of Political Science at the University of New Mexico Gabriel Sanchez, Ph.D., African-Americans in Texas are almost two times more likely to lack state-issued voter ID, while Mexican-Americans are nearly two-and-a-half times as likely to have one. It’s just another one of those things white people seem to be more likely to have; like a sunburn or a sena-
Josue Villareal Reporter Sesame Street, as most people know, is a hugely popular children’s television show that first aired in 1969. After 48 seasons the show continues to air and has not only given us some of the most iconic characters in children’s programming, but has also influenced children of all ages to laugh, play and learn. Of course, no show can exist for 50 years without accumulating some form of controversy, and throughout its run the show has had to address the sexual identity of some of its more iconic characters. Are best friends, and roommates, Bert and Ernie a gay couple? For the longest time the answer has been “no.” That is until Mark Saltzman, a former writer for the show, claimed in an interview with LGBT news publication QUEERTY* that his inspiration for writing Bert and Ernie came from his own experiences with his life partner. “I don’t think I know how else I’d write them, but as a loving couple,” Saltzman said. What started as a simple recognition of where one’s inspiration came from, became a viral talking point that went on to trend on Twitter. The world treated this like an official coming out for Bert and Ernie. Many were pleased, some were ap-
palled, but all had something to say of the characters that have stood the test of time. To break up the discussion was show creator Frank Oz, who released a tweet confirming that his characters were indeed not in a relationship. “It seems Mr. Mark Saltzman was asked if Bert and Ernie are gay,” Oz wrote. “It’s fine that he feels they are. They’re not, of course.” This spawned a whole debate. Many argued that because they are puppets they could not have a sexual orientation, while some responded that Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy have a relationship. So why can only heteronormative relationships be made the exception? This can be chalked up to a long history of erasure and burial of the LGBT identity in media, and it’s perfectly understandable that people would be upset that such iconic characters couldn’t be a good representation for a marginalized group of people. The characters display a lot of tendencies that one can attribute to a couple: they share a room, they take baths in each other’s presence and they often tell each other they love each other. Nothing would make the LGBT community happier than having such a loving, positive and child-friendly representation of a gay relationship in such a legendary piece of television history. However, this isn’t to say that the current interpretation of the relationship status of Bert and Ernie isn’t valuable. The Sesame Workshop, the company that produces the show, later tweeted in response to the debate online. “Sesame Street has always stood for inclusion and acceptance. It’s a place where people of all cultures and backgrounds are welcome. Bert and Ernie were created to be best friends, and to teach young children that people can
get along with those who are very different from themselves,” they tweeted. Regardless of sexual orientation, Bert and Ernie are still an excellent representation of being able to have a loving friendship and co-exist with people that are different from yourself. Even as just friends, the characters still take steps against heteronormativity and toxic masculinity. In a society where men are demanded to be tough, never show emotion and treat other men as competition, Bert and Ernie buck that trend. These two colorful puppets teach that you can be a duo of males, say “I love you,” and have a loving platonic relationship without any pressure of what society deems you should do as a male. If we wanted to go one step further, maybe we can have both of them be gay, but they aren’t even in a relationship. We have an issue of tokenism and forcing people onto each other when they’re gay and have only that in common. Plenty of LGBT people are friends with other people of the community without having any romantic intention whatsoever. Representation of that in media is missing and would be greatly appreciated. At the end of the day, what should be appreciated is that Bert and Ernie are universally adored characters that have a healthy loving relationship and inspire people to be better to the people in their life while encouraging young children to treat people with respect and love. If believing they are gay makes you feel better, then do so. Art is always up for interpretation and it can be whatever you want. If them being just friends does it for you, barring homophobia of course, then do that. Regardless, they’re doing their job of being a role model and helping people be more comfortable with themselves.
Thursday, September 27, 2018
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Page 5 - Opinion
Media with a side of fake news
Defend yourself against biased news sources
Adam Pena Reporter With the advent of modern journalism and the omnipresent 24-hour news cycle, the constant bombardment of information available on the airwaves, in print and at the touch of a button can be a little overwhelming to the average person. This oversaturation of journalism is especially daunting with the spread of the recently popularized term, “fake news,” by President Donald Trump during his 2016 presidential campaign. What began as a method to deflect and discredit criticism from media
outlets soon turned into a commonplace term in American politics and media; changing the journalistic landscape for the worst. What exactly is fake news, and why is it dangerous? According to Cambridge Dictionary fake news is defined as, “False stories that appear to be news, spread on the internet or using other media, usually created to influence political views or as a joke.” Because anyone can post content to the internet, a very fine line is drawn between intentionally biased “fake news” articles and political satire sites such as The Onion. When one cannot differentiate between truthful journalism and satire, everybody suffers as a result. Fake news has caused a shift in journalistic integrity and muddied credibility since anyone can claim something published from a news source that they do not agree with is “fake” news, especially if this platform is seemingly endorsed by the highest office in the country. National Public Radio’s analysis of President Trump’s tweets showed that 46 tweets contained the terms “fake,”
“fake news” or “phony.” What Mr. Trump describes as fake is often simply something he does not agree with. However, this egregious practice of fake news and witch hunts actively harms unbiased media by wavering public trust in the institutions who can, and will, criticize the government. While it’s true that fake news does exist and there are those who use it to further their own agenda, it’s important that one look at stories with a critical eye before deeming it to be fake or not. The International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) has provided a helpful series of steps to consider when determining a piece of journalism to be fake or not. First determine whether the site is credible or not. If you don’t recognize the publisher or organization, try to educate yourself on what their mission statement might be. Next, read beyond the headline. The practice of “yellow journalism” has taken hold of many online news sources. According to the United States Of-
fice of the Historian yellow journalism is, “A style of… reporting that emphasized sensationalism over facts.” This attempts to draw in viewers by sensationalizing news and potentially making things seem to be larger and more exciting than they might be. Reading the entire article can give you the whole story. Check the author and their sources. Do they even have sources? A quick way to spot whether an article is fake or not is if it has a lack of sources to support their claims. Make sure the article is up-to-date and not obviously satire. Determine whether the article’s potential political bias or your own political beliefs sway your judgement. Finally, if you’re still not sure, ask another credible source or someone with knowledge on the matter. In the age of technology when the wealth of the world’s collective information is available in our pockets, it is important to keep a critical mind to what is presented to us. Don’t immediately believe in what some may call “fake” news, but do not allow yourself to be fooled by the real fake news.
Man on the Street This Week’s Question:
Should Bert and Ernie from “Sesame Street” identify as gay?
Name: Katrina Sacurom Major: Political Science/Criminology “For ‘Sesame Street’ to acknowledge the sexuality of Bert and Ernie and make it an overt statement, I just overall think that would be good. I think it’s good for viewers and audiences to know that it’s okay to be gay, and it’s something super normal. The fact that they are incorporating that in the media is something that is hopefully going to be more apparent over time.”
Compiled by: Kelby Sprinkles
Name: Briana Chavez Major: Master of Education “I don’t think that it really matters, because children that watch that show don’t identify with ‘I’m gay’ or ‘I’m straight’. They identify with the personality of the characters and their behavior. They like a character because of their characteristics and personality, not because they are gay. Not all gay kids will identify with them if they were to come out to be gay. Just as, not all straight kids will identify with the straight characters.”
Name: Demetrio Chapa Position: Architectural Engineering “It shouldn’t be stated that they are gay. In the first place, this is a children’s show and particularly for children younger than seven. It doesn’t matter if they are exposed to it. This is just not something that they are going to take into consideration at that time. Other kids don’t even think about dating other guys or liking other guys, they are just going to see each other as friends.”
Name: Steven Nevarez Major: Marketing “I think the idea of Bert and Ernie being identified as gay is much more than what they identify as, it’s what we want to tell our children. As a homosexual male myself, I have always thought that I don’t want to be identified by my sexuality. I figured it’s a part of me, it’s not... me. Whether they are gay or not should not matter. Titles to them should not matter. It all boils down to what ‘Sesame Street’s’ ideals are.”
Page 6 - Sports
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Thursday, September 27, 2018
Greyhounds whomp Javelinas
Javelinas fall to 0-3 in conference rankings after a home loss HECTOR LANDIN Sports Reporter Another home conference season began on Saturday, Sept. 22, as the Texas A&M University – Kingsville Javelinas (1-3, 0-3) hosted the Eastern New Mexico Greyhounds at Pepsi Field at Javelina Stadium on Hispanic Heritage Weekend. Unfortunately, the Javelinas dropped another conference battle to the Greyhounds, 31-14. The Javelinas received the ball to begin the game, but were forced to an opening three and out in front of 4,644 in attendance at Pepsi Field at Javelina Stadium. The Greyhounds from Portales, N.M., would receive the punt, and would capitalize on the ensuing possession as Paul Terry rushed for a 2-yard goal line touchdown to put the visitors up early 7-0 in the 1st quarter. Then, two possessions later after three and outs from both teams, the Javelinas would get back on the offensive side of the ball. But, after a few promising plays to open the 3rd drive of the game, Koy Detmer Jr. (Somserset, Texas) threw his first of two interceptions on the night. The Greyhounds would score one play later after the interception return by De’John Burns, as Wyatt Strand would punch it into the end zone to make it 14-0, Greyhounds in the first. At the end of the first quarter in sunny Kingsville, the Javelinas found themselves down 14-0. Although, the Javelinas were down early, they would respond with an 11 play, 73-yard drive to open the 2nd quarter. The drive would be capped off with a 3-yard touchdown rush from Nick Pelrean (Houston, Texas) to narrow the deficit to 14-7, Greyhounds. After, a few empty trips by both teams, and a few good Julio De La Garza (Brownsville, Texas) punts, the Javelinas got a huge defensive play at the
ENMU 3-yard line, as Caleb Valentine (Fulshear, Texas) recovered a fumble inside the red zone. Although the momentum would switch to the blue and gold in front of their home crowd, two plays later, the Javelinas fumbled in their red zone in less than 50 seconds of that drive to conclude that offensive drive. Neither team would find success for the remainder of the quarter, so the Javelinas would find themselves down 14-7 at the half. The Javelinas would come out of the locker room with a vengeance as on the ensuing kickoff, Alan Smith (Humble, Texas) would recover a fumble forced by Keshon Rowe (Katy, Texas) to put the Javelinas in striking contention. The Javelinas’ offense started with a fresh set of downs and scored on the first possession of the second half as Detmer found Roe Posada (Katy, Texas) for a 2-yard touchdown pass to even the game with 11:09 in the 3rd quarter. After the score from the home team, the Greyhounds would not look back, as on the 5th play of the ensuing drive, they found themselves back in the end zone as Wyatt Strand connected with Johnny Smith with a 28-yard touchdown to reclaim the lead at 21-14. The next possession for the Greyhounds, Strand once again found Smith for a 66-yard touchdown pass to put the Javelinas in an even bigger deficit at 28-14 with 6:45 left in the 3rd quarter. For the remainder of the game, the Javelinas would not find themselves in scoring contention after multiple three and outs and a turnover with penalties. Eastern New Mexico would tack on a field goal at the 4:34 mark in the 4th quarter to increase the deficit to 31-14. For the game, Eastern New Mexico rushed for 374 yards on 57 attempts, while A&M Kingsville would only rush for 71 yards on 29 attempts. Detmer completed 19-of-35 passes for 158
photo courtesy of javelinathletics.com Defensive back Josh Wilson defending at the Javelina Stadium yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. The Greyhounds finished the game with a total of 474 yards on 63 plays, and the Javelinas would total 229 yards on 65 plays. On the defensive side of the ball, Payton Hendrix would finish with a game high 15 tackles for the blue and gold. After the game, head coach Daren Wilkinson addressed the media on his thoughts of the game at McCulley Hall by saying, “First of all, I thought Eastern New Mexico came in very prepared, and they are well coached. They deserved to win, because they were the better team tonight. All credit goes to them for what happened out there. “We just got to a point right now as a football team where everyone is looking for someone to make a play, because we are doing something in the game we never do in practice. We are practicing extremely hard, and it’s not like we are not preparing ourselves for a game,” Wilkinson continued. “It is like we are going out to the game and
we are forgetting the journey it took to get to that point. It is really frustrating.” As far as this upcoming week, Wilkinson said one thing is key. “We have to believe in one another. We got to continue to grind it, get better at fundamentals. We have to take it one game at a time,” he said. Defensive lineman, Caleb Valentine talked about the game and what he is looking forward to in the upcoming weeks as the Javelinas look to get better each week. “I look forward to coming together as a team and just re-grouping after a couple tough losses that were close,” he said. “Also, coming back on Monday and practicing as hard as we can and everyone just doing their job, and just getting back to the basics.” The Javelinas will continue their fourgame home stand on Saturday, Sept. 29, as they take on New Mexico Highlands at Pepsi Field at Javelina Stadium. Game time is 7 p.m.
Volleyball Keeps Winning at Home Team in for competitive season, back-to-back games ASHLEY GONZALEZ Sports Reporter After this Tuesday, the Javelinas keep their home winning streak moving forward. The Javelina Volleyball team (8-5, LSC- 2-2) sent the St. Mary Rattlers (5-7) back to San Antonio with a loss, a 3-0 sweep. Player of the Game, Sarah Miller, led the team in 14 kills and two blocks. Game leaders other than Miller were Melanie Casteel, Haley Hutchinson, and Talleyshia Morris. These players excelled offensively and defensively, totaling 35 kills and 12 blocks for the Javelinas. The energy level grew in the Steinke Physical Education Center (SPEC) with every set as the Javelinas put on a show for the crowd with a close 2523 first set. The energy established the tone for the remainder of the game. The Javelinas dominated the RatPhoto courtesy of javelinaathletics.com tlers, 23-13 in the second set and 25Melanie Casteel defending the Javelina side of the court.
21in the final set. Miller thrived from the energy and fight of her team. “I liked the intensity that we brought. We kept fighting [until] the end,” she said. Head volleyball coach, Tanya Allen’s answer for a successful game is simple. “Winning the serve and serve receive battle. Whoever passes the best, [and] whoever serves the best is generally going to have the advantage of the game,” Allen said. Defensive leaders were junior, Morris and senior, Hutchison who totaled nine blocks for the Javelinas. “If we keep our energy up, and keep pushing through and finish all the way, we could really be at the top,” Morris said. The Javelinas are back home at 7 p.m. on Sept. 28 at the Steinke Physical Education Center against the West Texas Buffaloes.
Thursday, September 27, 2018
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Page 7 - Sports
BMX courses to golf courses
Rachelle Nielsen, bike racer becomes unique golf player of TAMUK PLASERAE JOHNSON Sports Editor Whether it’s dusty Bicycle Motocross (BMX) courses or grassy golf courses – she knows her way around both. Junior and mechanical engineer major, Rachelle Nielsen, a competitive golf player for the Javelinas, excels in athleticism with ease. Her expertise in both BMX racing and golf make her special. She remembers positioning her helmet at the starting line of her BMX races at a young age. She raced consecutively before she decided to pursue an athletic career in golf. “I used to race [in] BMX as a child and always played golf but played more competitively when I was 12 after I burned out from racing BMX,” she said. Although Nielsen began her athletic career racing bikes she is not a stranger to the golf course. Nielsen’s favorite golf memory happened three years ago when she was competing at the U.S. Open Championship. “[A great memory] would be when I was at the U.S. Open in 2015 and Phil Michelson gave me a thumbs up,” she said.
Another memory of hers is going to the golf course with her father. It was a change of scenery for her outside of the BMX courses she was used to treading. She began to learn golf quickly and her skills progressed. “Basically, I had always played [golf] since my dad would take me to the course with him,” she said. Now Nielsen’s bike racing days are behind her as she is shining on the golf course. Head Coach Stephanie Gray has noticed her excellence and dedication to the sport. “Compared to the first year I was here, she is working harder than I have ever seen her work, which is impressive,” Gray said. On the golf course, Nielsen’s competitive nature comes out and she does her best no matter what the obstacle is. A possible advantage she acquired from BMX racing. “She has the best composure, handling the weather, her emotions, and handling any adversity thrown on her at the [golf] course. She got sick and she [still] performed her best since she’s been a Javelina,” Gray said. She makes the best out of every situation on the golf course, a part of her personality treasured by Gray. “She’s been here for two years and
Photo by Javelina Athletics
Nielsen focusing on her next swing. her strong suit is scrambling. When she hits it in trouble she can get out of it. She won’t hit it on the green all the time, but she manages to make par,” the coach continued. According to javelinaathletics.com,
Nielsen finished with her top-10 best performance last week at the Concho River Classic in San Angelo. Coach Gray believes she will only go up from here as the season starts to pick up this Spring.
Page 8 - Sports
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Thursday, September 27, 2018
Ping Pong tournament and Prizes Staff hosts tourney, more tournaments and prizes to come JOSE TELLO Sports Reporter The game room in the Memorial Student Union Building (MSUB) hosted a Ping Pong tournament on Wednesday, Sep. 19, at which a great number of students attended and battled for prizes. The tournament consisted of free food and 31 students fighting for a chance to win either a PlayStation 4, a Bluetooth speaker or a set of wireless headphones. The tournament was single elimination, first to 11 and best of three. The average game lasted between five to 10 minutes. After a hard fought tournament Hamza Saadi claimed the crown and was awarded a Playstation 4. Kramat J. Vishkaci took home second place and the Bluetooth speaker, while Obembe Olasumbo took home third place and the wireless headphones. “Shout out to TAMUK and the staff
for the awesome tournament; I hope to participate in many more,” Saadi said. Adrian Aguilar and the game room team host social events every month to help students network and create new friendships. The game room team consists of Jacob Cantu, Efren Hernandez, Jacob Tenison and Elijah Hughes. These men help make social events like the ping pong tournament possible. Many participants found out about the tournament through friends who saw the posters in the MSUB. “I didn’t even know the game room held tournaments until my friend sent me a photo of the flyer,” Pablo Lindsey, a Pre-Vet major said. “They should advertise around the whole campus to get more students involved.” The next event in the game room will be held on Oct. 17 with a videogame tournament, followed by a pool tournament, which will include brand new tables. For further information about future tournaments, visit the game room in the MSUB.
Photo courtesy of Google Images
The MSUB will host more ping pong tourneys in the future
Hall of Fame members boycott NFL Committee stands for more benefits, money, and less financial restrictions AARON MONREAL Sports Reporter It holds the greatest names in football history, not only players but coaches, franchise owners, and front-office personnel. The Pro Football Hall of Fame is one of the most important halls in sport history. That is why the Hall of Fame committee used its platform to boycott a regulation by the National Football League. The HOF committee wants the league to provide all 180 members with free health care and $300,000 in
salary per year. On Sept. 18, board member Eric Dickerson and others individuals sent a signed letter to the National Football League demanding the retraction of the yearly HOF ceremony. The signees went as far as threatening with a boycott. “We believe we deserve more. We write to demand two things: health insurance and annual salary for all Hall of Famers that includes a share of league revenue,” wrote Dickerson and the signees. The committee is protesting because they feel exploited for their names without a fair share of the profit. The NFL made $14 billion in revenue
in 2017 and the 180 members hardly saw the benefits. There are a couple of reasons why I would disagree with the demands and claims of the HOF committee. First reason? These players have been paid for their service. Actually, they are very well compensated in my opinion. Now, of course, as an athlete when making a lot of money people try to swindle you and trusting people with handling your money is tricky, but why should the NFL overextend itself? If this was the case, then every company would have to continue paying their former employees for the rest of
their lives. For a company to do that it wouldn’t make sense. Second reason is that some HOF athletes have great jobs like Shannon Sharpe, Ray Lewis, Brian Urlacher and Terry Bradshaw. It would be excessive spending if the NFL did pay them an additional $300,000 and free health care. Regardless of my disagreement, I can see the other side where HOF athletes have given dedication and time to the NFL. They have given the league a legacy that has been instilled in the sport culture across the country.
Thursday, September 27, 2018
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Brain Waves AMERICA QUINTERO Managing Editor Click left, click right, then left again. On the third floor of Manning Hall at Texas A&M University-Kingsville, a long-running study is being conducted. All that can be heard are the repetitive clicking on a keyboard. All that can be seen is a person, covered in wires, staring at flashing arrows on a monitor while being studied by onlooking researchers. To an outsider, this scenario looks like a scene from a sci-fi movie. However, this is not a movie, nor is it science fiction. It’s a real study being conducted by the Department of Psychology at TAMUK. For the researchers of the long-running study, putting on your thinking cap has a new meaning. The study is led by Dana Byrd, assistant professor of psychology. The study is titled “Exploring the Bilingual Advantage on Selective Inhibition.” Two people who have helped make the study possible are Cassandra Gonzalez, recent phycology graduate student, and Anthony Martinez, current psychology graduate student. Both students grew up with the study as part of their work with the McNair Scholars Program at TAMUK. The study seeks to find the answer to a long-running question. Is there an advantage to being bilingual? The research hypothesis states: participants who learned a second language at an early age, between birth and the age of five, have a greater advantage over monolingual speakers during conflict inhibition tasks involved in executive control. The central executive function is associated with the cognitive part of your brain, which involves problem solving, mental flexibility, attention control and task switching. The theory suggests, since bilinguals switch from one language to another, they have better executive control. “Code switching, it’s when bilingual people use Spanglish. It’s when you switch from Spanish to English when you’re talking to friends and family. You’re not aware of it, but it happens. That switches gears in your central executive function,” Martinez said. Another parameter of the experiment is conflict inhibition. It involves tuning out distracting stimuli. Martinez explains that this is another ability bilinguals may excel at since they have more experience tuning out a different language in order to concentrate on another. “We have hypothesis that bilinguals are better at doing that (conflict inhibition)…knowing both English and Spanish, you’ll have someone speaking English and someone speaking Spanish. So you’ll have to block out the English in order to focus on the Spanish. Or vice versa,” Martinez said. Since the participants have to go through a lengthy process of eligibility, the researchers wanted to provide an
incentive. That’s why each participant receives a $20 gift card. The process begins with a survey that will determine an individual’s eligibility for the requirements. Afterwards, Byrd will decide if the individual is eligible for the study. If selected, participants will set up a date with Byrd and her assistants to perform the study. As soon as the research participant enters the research lab, they are measured for fluency. They will be asked to name as many animals as they can in Spanish. Based on how many animals they can name in under a minute, they will calculate their level of Spanish fluency. Afterwards, the participants are hooked up to biopac physiological data acquisition hardware. Devices such as an electroencephalograph (EEG), electrocardiogram (EKG), and respiration amplifier are used to measure and record the electrical activity of the brain, heart and respiratory effort. Participants can expect to have devices attached to their ankles, cheeks, wrists and head. The final step is to have the participants play a quick brain game know as the Eriksen Flanker Task. In the Flanker Task, subjects will see a set of five horizontal arrows pointing in different directions. The goal is to focus entirely on the center arrow, while ignoring all side arrows. The distracting
Page 9 - Features
arrows are used as the test’s conflict inhibition factor because it requires participants to block out distracting stimuli. As an added motivator, individuals may win a $100 gift card if they score high on the flanker test. Currently, the study is a third of the way done. For now, the study is trying to arrange a good sample size composed of as many participants as possible. “The study has some starts and stops. It’s been slowing progressing for three or two years, but it’s something we’ve been working on slowly. It’s a big project, it takes money to give the gift cards, it takes the time to schedule the person and test the person. It’s really labor intensive,” Byrd said. At the moment, Martinez does see a difference between bilingual and monolingual brain functions, but he believes there are a lot of variables that play a role in the study. For example, Martinez suggests that people who play more games may have an advantage in the flanker task, regardless of whether they are bilinguals or monolinguals. The question whether people frequently play video games was recently added to the study’s entry survey. The project has been presented at a few symposiums. During her time as a graduate student, Gonzalez presented the study in Nebraska, where it won second place. Byrd explains that the study may put an end to some commonly held misconceptions. “There’s a misconception that being bilingual is a deficit. Sometimes, uniformed doctors will even give bad advice to Spanish-speaking parents. They’ll say to only speak English to their child, but they don’t realize that being fluent in two languages doesn’t just give them more flexibility at who they can communicate with, but it actually improves their thinking on lots of tasks that don’t even have anything to do with language,” Byrd said. Even after graduating, Martinez plans to continue the study and hopefully finish testing participants. Anthony explains that it’s always a rewarding experience when testing participants. “You get to meet interesting people. People with interest-
ing names. You learn a lot about people.” Martinez said. Although Gonzalez may have graduated and Martinez will soon follow, Byrd continues to seek future undergraduate and graduate students to help with the study. Francheska Garcia is a current undergraduate phycology major who helps wire participants to the machines. “I find it very interesting how far technology has come that we can monitor brain waves here at TAMUK. I have learned a lot from working with Dr. Byrd’s lab and hope to educate others about cognitive psychology,” Garcia said. Currently, the study is continuously searching for participants and in the process of grouping their strong bilinguals and monolinguals. So far, they have a lot of mild level bilinguals and monolinguals. Those interested in the being tested for the research may contact Byrd at Byrd.Research.Lab@gmail. com now until the end of Sumer 2019. EKG electrocardiogram respiration amplifier EEG electroencephalograph
Photo courtesy of Francheska Garcia
Participant is hooked up to the research machine
Photo courtesy of http://www.tamuk.edu
Anthony Martinez, current Psychology Graduate student
Photo courtesy of http://www.tamuk.edu
Cassandra Gonzalez, recent Psychology graduate student
Page 10 - Entertainment
thesouthtexan.com
Thursday, September 27, 2018
Monopolize Kingsville
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Graphic by America Quintero
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Photo courtesy of Genevieve Scalan
Accounting students playing KINGSVILLE OPOLY
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Please, pass Go, and collect your $200 dollars because the city of Kingsville has been transformed into a board game with a classic take on Monopoly. In early August, the local Kingsville Walmart started advertising the new board game, KINGSVILLE-OPOLY. It was now available for $19.98 for a limited time only. Quickly the College of Business Administration got its hands on a few board games. Most ACCT 2301 classes use KINGSVILLE-OPOLY as a way to practice basic accounting skills, learn how to differentiate assets, liabilities, and how to journalize transactions. But the classes also use other games like Jeopardy and Family Feud along with activities like Candy Store depending on the material they are going over. “The students seem to enjoy using the games while reviewing the lessons from class. In a survey we conducted last year about using the games, 76 percent of students thought they made learning accounting more fun than they thought it would be.” “I think using games in general and KINGSVILLE-OPOLY in particular is a useful classroom learning tool. Anything that helps students learn accounting is great in my opinion,” Gen-
discrepancies. On the board there is a Pinto Bean Cook Off as an event, but unfortunately Kingsville no longer hosts this event. It would be impossible to include everything into the board game but, Late for the Sky jammed all the Kingsville they could into the box. KINGSVILLE OPOLY is full of outdoor adventures, family attractions, rich traditions and of course...a legendary ranch, but there is a little something for every Kingsvillian! “I think it represents Kingsville in a sort of light with all the unique places,” Elleanna Longoria, an architectural engineering major, said. $
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DARCY RAMIREZ Editor-in-Chief
evieve Scalan, associate professor of accounting, said. Nearly all of the accounting students enjoy using the game in their labs because it helps them obtain the information in an interesting environment. “I feel it is a really good idea to transform Kingsville into a board game. In a sense it makes the game more realistic and enjoyable. I thought it was very cool to have Kingsville elements on such a popular board game. I’d consider this game to be one of my favorites,” Lupita Leon, an animal science major, said. The Accounting Society is also currently planning for fun events like movie night, bowling and game night, and KINGSVILLE-OPOLY will probably make an appearance at one of those events soon. The board game was created by Late for the Sky Production Company that began making specialty board games in 1984. Their first game was MIAMIOPOLY, based on Miami University in-- Oxford, Ohio. The KINGSVILLE-OPOLY board game is very accurate with street names, restaurants, apartment complexes, but there are some
Photo by America Quintero
Walmart displays KINGSVILLE OPOLY for a limited time
“Iridescense,” the latest album dud
Rap Band, Brockhampton falls short of expectations JOSUE VILLARREAL Reporter
Rap group Brockhampton consists of key members Kevin Abstract, Matt Bearface., Merlyn Wood, Jon Nunes, Dom McLennon, Robert Ontenient, Jabari Manwa, Kiko Merley, Matt Champion, Romil Hemnani, JOBA, as well many producers and others in the group. The band has been on a meteoric rise in the hip hop scene since they released their critically-acclaimed record Saturation in summer 2017. The months that followed that release were two new albums Saturation II and Saturation III. They were equally, if not more critically-acclaimed, than the first. The Saturation trilogy put the band on the map as a group to watch. Many fans were left confused about the direction of the band given not just the newfound record deal with RCA records, but also the removal of key member Ameer Vann, who was kicked out after accusations of sexual misconduct and abuse. With all these changes, many were worried about how this would affect the music. Brockhampton, however, is nothing if not unpredictable.
Being a huge fan of the band, I was very excited to see what the group would do with the newfound resources they now possessed. With the combination of a studio-backed budget and the proven innovation and creativity the group has shown in the past, this had the potential to be special. The album, titled Iridescence, unfortunately falls short of brilliance landing on the cusp of mediocrity. These new resources put the band in an identity crisis rather than cleaning up and polishing what was already an exceptionally-built foundation. The first noticeable thing is the complete lack of color in the track listings. The Saturation Trilogy was as eclectic as it was completely crazy. The beats and production of Brockhampton’s discography are a wild assortment of varied, catchy, experimental bangers. This album’s beats are, by comparison, dry and unmemorable. The opener NEW ORLEANS is an unsatisfying drone of a song that gives the performers nothing to work with, or the track TAPE, in which there’s so little change up in the beat that you almost tune it out. Next is the bafflingly little amount of hooks. The band is renowned for having catchy hooks, instant earworms that stay in your head for hours. With the exception of the best track DISTRICT, the hooks are either less than spectacular, or non-existent. The album suffers as a result. Even without the comparisons to the previous work, the tracks fall flat. Particularly in the seemingly large push of JOBA as a more frequent rapper. Prior to this release, JOBA was often specifically used for singing bridges or having quick one-time verses with his maniacal and scratchy voice delivery.
In small doses he’s an excellent shot of adrenaline, but with more verses and responsibilities, his weaknesses shine through. His writing is lackluster; the normally wild delivery overstays its welcome. Thanks to his undeserved push, the better rappers are shoved to the side, specifically, Merlyn Wood, who is on very little of this album. He did get one solo track with WHERE THE CASH AT, but that track was so bad it felt as if it was tacked on to compensate for the sheer lack of Merlyn on this album. Of course, as musically boring the album can be, the sheer amount of talent
within the band still shines through. Matt Champion comes into his own as his rapping ability has never been better. Bearface. has more time on this album than any, and he adds a lot. Dom and Kevin bring their usual fire and are the most consistent of the group. However, their efforts aren’t enough to save an altogether less than stellar project. While not bad by any means overall, there are more misses than hits, lackluster performances and uninteresting writing across the board. The band plays to none of their strengths, and as a result they have created one of their weaker albums.
Photo Photo courtesy of pitchfork.com
Brockhampton, clockwise from top left: Bearface., Merlyn Wood, Jon Nunes, Dom McLennon, Robert Ontenient, Jabari Manwa, Kiko Merley, Matt Champion, Romil Hemnani, JOBA and Kevin Abstract.
Thursday, September 27, 2018
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Page 11 - News
Higher Education Heard at TAMUK Committe discusses dual credit, Hurricane Harvey, Title IX DARCY RAMIREZ Editor-in-Chief The Committee on Higher Education held a hearing at Texas A&M University-Kingsville last week that focused on three interim charges affecting schools around the state. The hearing was organized by State Rep. and Higher Education Committee Chairman J.M. Lozano (R-Kingsville). The charges regarded dual credit course offerings across the state, financial losses at junior colleges and universities caused by Hurricane Harvey, and lastly revisions to Title IX rules. The committee members invited credible witnesses from around the state to come and testify in Kingsville. Witnesses included professors, administrators, commissioners, vice-presidents, chancellors and attorneys. The first charge, dual credit course offerings, was discussed for two hours. The witnesses were separated
into two panels consisting of three-tofour people on each panel. Most of the witnesses believed dual-credit to be a blessing for their schools, but issues still arose. “Certain aspects need to be looked at more closely, things need to be improved. One aspect we looked at is advising. We need better advising at the K-12 level and better advising in higher education,” said Dr. Raymund Paredes, commissioner with the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. But Paredes was not the only one who believed improvements need to be made to these courses. “We’ve also learned that the dual credit courses are not as rigorous as college courses,” said Dr. Trey Miller, managing researcher at the American Institutes for Research. The remaining witnesses shared the same overall data with the committee, but all agreed that dual-credit was very impactful and beneficial to students. The witnesses and committee had much to discuss in a relatively short amount of time, so around noon the committee dispersed for a lunch break. The second charge, financial losses because of Hurricane Harvey, was discussed right before the break. The issue with Hurricane Harvey boiled down to one core problem. “The fundamental issue for us has
been a lack of coordination between the federal government and the state agency. We were getting conflicting information about who is responsible for what,” Dr. Steve Head, chancellor of the Lone Star College, said. Head suggested creating a step-bystep process that could hopefully resolve conflicting information between the state and national levels. “I think that the state level, they can help more. We need to have more help going forward because we will have another hurricane,” Head said. Fellow witnesses all agreed with Head’s testimony. After lunch the committee reconvened and discussed their last issue regarding Title IX. The witnesses consisted of attorneys Derek T. Teeter, with Husch Blackwell LLP, and Wesley E. Johnson with Escamilla and Poneck LLP. Teeter explained there have been many substantial changes in posture and priorities in respect to the enforcement of Title IX, but they were not likely to have a direct impact on Texas-specific requirements passed by the Legislature in 2015 and 2017. “Put simply, these requirements in Texas law do not appear to conflict with present interim guidance from the federal government. And so it appears that the recent Texas requirements can co-exist with the new federal regime,” Teeter said.
Afterwards, Lozano felt that the hearing was successful and that the committee was well informed on these issues that needed to be scrutinized. “Texas A&M-Kingsville is the first institution of higher education in South Texas, so it’s a very special part. Also [Kingsville is] my hometown. To have this hearing in South Texas is a true blessing,” Lozano said.
Photo Courtesy Twitter @JavelinaNation
Committee Chairman J.M. Lozano at the hearing on Sept. 19.
Page 12 -Jumps
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Thursday, September 27, 2018
Chicano History continued from Page 1 Guerra were two important figures in the Chicano movement at the Texas A&I campus. On campus, they began to organize Hispanic students who wanted a change. Thus, began the Chicano movement at the university. Chicano is defined as “of or relating to Mexican-Americans or their culture,” according to dictionary.com. However, since the 1960s, the word has been used to describe Mexican-American activists who fight for equal rights. Chicanos on campus focused on ending discrimination at the university. They did this by advocating for the rights of Chicano janitorial, landscape and cafeteria employees. Their campaigns also hoped to gain more Hispanic representation in the Student Government Association
(SGA), the Activities Governing Board, The South Texan, the university yearbook and the beauty pageants held on campus. “We began to change the make-up of these bodies by adding seats, such as seats for the off-campus students, dorm students and other clubs. This reform was augmented by our constitutional challenge to the method of elections, from requiring a majority vote to a plurality vote. We began bloc voting and winning,” Gutiérrez said in his book The Making of a Chicano Militant. Along with fighting for representation, Chicanos also wanted to end the English proficiency test students had to pass because the exam would often prevent Hispanic students from graduating. Chicanos felt that this undermined their intelligence and was just another
Photo courtesy of Manuel Flores
Carlos Guerra speaking to his fellow Chicanos at a protest rally.
Photo courtesy of pueblopulp.com
Chicano protests took place all across the United States. form of discrimination to prevent Hispanics from being successful. Dr. Manuel Flores is currently a communications professor at TAMUK, but was a reporter for The South Texan as a student from 1966 through 1970. He recounted his experience as a student during the 1960s and how professors would treat Hispanics differently than their Anglo peers. “It was tough when you went into the classrooms, it was very hard. Some professors did not want to teach you; they wouldn’t give you an A for anything. Or if you surprised them and were good they would say stuff like ‘Wow, you’re smart,’ [and] it was insulting,” Flores said. In order to accomplish their agenda, Chicanos on campus would organize protests and publish under-
ground newspapers such as The Rag(e) in which they would call for an end to the blatant mistreatment of Hispanics. Through their determination, Chicanos on campus gradually accomplished their goals as Hispanics began to be elected as representatives in SGA and Latina women were crowned in university pageants. As Texas A&I Chicano students began to graduate, they took their activism experiences with them and began to lead Chicano movements across South Texas and the nation. And, while TAMUK may sometimes be overlooked in Chicano history, the impact Chicanos from the university had on the movement led to the inclusive environment in which TAMUK has today.