The South Texan The Award-Winning Texas A&M University-Kingsville Student Publication
Thursday, January 30, 2020 Volume 94, Issue 13 TheSouthTexan.com
Blackboard
Softball
Page 2
Page 9
New semester brings new changes to Blackboard
The South Texan
Lady Javelinas prepare for their upcoming season
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School of Music opens its doors Legacies New building of late comes with new name professors ILIANA FLORES Editor-in-Chief
Since the groundbreaking for the new music building was held in 2017, the Texas A&M University-Kingsville (TAMUK) community has been excited for the opening of the building. The long-anticipated wait is finally over as the building is officially opened, and with the opening comes a new designation as the School of Music. According to the University of California, Berkeley Music, “[a] Department of Music is likely to be a smaller academic unit, situated within a liberal arts educational environment. A School of Music is essentially a conservatory (i.e.., focused on training professional performers) that is situated within a University. A Department of Music such as ours, for example, offers a Bachelor of Arts degree while a School of Music may offer both a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Music degree.” This will allow students to focus more on the field in which they are interested. Students, faculty and staff have been looking forward to the opening of the new building since it was first announced that it would be constructed. Music education student Cecilia Torres recalls when Dr. Paul Hageman, the Chair of the School of Music, first announced that the possibility of a new building was in the works. She is glad to finally be in the building. “It’s so much bigger than the old one, it’s so much newer, so much brighter. I
Honoring the memory of Dr. Mundy, Dr. Hewitt ARYSSA ENRIQUEZ Managing Editor
Photo by Iliana Flores
All of the classrooms in the new building have the newest technolgy. hadn’t realized how dark the other one was,” Torres said. Dr. Melinda Brou, an Associate Professor of Voice and Opera at TAMUK, has also enjoyed being in the new building. “Being in the building has been such an incredible experience just in the few short weeks that we have been in it already. Our schedules are so much less hectic in the new space, since we don’t lose the first five minutes and last five minutes of every class to turning over rooms to suit the needs of each class. Every room now has a purpose and is always set up just for the purpose -- no longer do we have spaces that have to switch between classrooms and rehearsal spaces all day long.
The technology in each room has been incredible as well. It has completely revolutionized the way I teach my Diction class already,” Brou said. Whether it be little changes, such as more outlets as Torres said, or better technology, the new building has brought many upgrades. One of the changes, which has become Dr. Brou’s favorite addition, was a surprise to her. “My favorite thing so far is also something I wasn’t expecting as a benefit of the new building -- I’ve noticed students being able to study so much more in our building, because they finally have spaces that allow for this. There was no place in the old building for students to pull up their laptop and work without distractions or meet up as study groups. The new building has tons of study nooks just for this and it has been really cool to watch,” Brou said.
The new muisc building is 90,000 square feet and has two recital halls.
Photo by Iliana Flores
Educators empower, inspire and pave a path towards success often impacting many along the way. Longtime professors Dr. Marie-Anne Mundy and Dr. Lionel Hewett were no different; their legacies will continue to impact anyone who comes across the physics and education departments at TAMUK. The university community mourned their passings over the holiday break. Mundy earned her Bachelor’s degree in education from Brandon University in Canada, and earned her Master’s and PhD. from the University of Southern Mississippi. Mundy worked in the Educational Leadership Department as a tenured Associate Research professor where she encouraged students to earn a PhD. Mundy had an interest in incorporating technology in schools and in STEM Education. “Dr. Mundy was a brilliant statistician and was instrumental in research for not only this university, but also nationally and internationally. She was also the tenured faculty member representative on our AVID Site Committee. There was a time, several years ago, when we weren’t sure if we would be able to get enough support to continue our demonstration site process. She believed in our commitment and met with administration on campus to rally support. She was instrumental in our present-day success,” AVID Liaison Dr. Stephanie Bain De Los Santos said. Dr. Mundy’s persistence with the AVID program was truly showcased in 2019 when TAMUK became the first four-year AVID National Demonstration Site. Dr. De Los Santos’ relationship with Dr. Mundy went beyond the workroom. “She helped so many students before me and I can honestly say she changed my life for the better. She encouraged myself and her other students to step out of their comfort zone and take risks in research.... I can honestly say that I love her. I do not say loved, because
Legacies continued on Page 11
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Campus
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Dress to impress at Spring Career Fair What you should know about the All Major Career Feb. 5 RONNI REYNA
Campus Editor
Texas A&M University-Kingsville will host an All Major Career Fair from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 5 at the Memorial Student Union Building Ballrooms for students looking for their first job upon graduation. “Students should come to the Career Fair with multiple copies of their resume, which should be updated, proofread and error-free,” Acting DiPhoto courtesey of Facebook rector of Career Services Henry Burgos Students visiting booths and talking to employers at a previous Career Fair. said. “Resumes and portfolios should Students should research the compa- employers to know where each booth be reviewed prior to the Career Fair strongly encourage students to dress in suits. nies in attendance and can find a full is located.” by the Career Services Team,” Burgos “The recommended attire is always list of employers on Handshake under Don’t have professional attire? No said, “to schedule an appointment conservative,” he said. the events tab. problem. with staff, please email CareerServices@ Burgos also recommends students It’s recommended students prepare a “Students in need of professional tamuk.edu or call 361-593-2217.” pick neutral colors like black, blue and 30 second or less elevator pitch stating clothing should contact Career SerBusiness casual attire is recommendgray avoiding bright shades. their name, class year, major, relevant vices to visit our Professional Suit Closed for students. Students should “dress “Students should expect to meet and experience, and why they are a strong et,” Burgos said. “Students can borrow to impress as if meeting with employnetwork with over 50 employers to excandidate for the job while highlightsuits, ties, dress shirts and belts.” ers in an interview” Career Advisor plore all available internships and job ing their knowledge of the company. The suit closet is located in Eckhardt Deborah Levensailor said. opportunities,” Burgos said. Students can find more information on Hall and students can find a list of siz“However, we strongly encourage “Companies such as Citgo, Ernst & the Career Fair Checklist. es online at http://www.tamuk.edu/stuthat students use professional attire,” “Students can attend anytime during dentsuccess/csc/services/suit.html Burgos said. “Some employers will Young, Texas Parks & Wildlife, Coastal Plains and Texas Department of Famthe hours of the fair,” Levensailor said. For more information, students can interview students during the Career ily and Protective Services will be in “There will be a check-in table for call Career Services at 361-593-2217 to Fair, and knowing that first impresattendance.” them to sign in and pick up a map of schedule their visit. sions leave a lasting impression, we
Out with the old, in with the new Students come back from break to updated Blackboard ILIANA FLORES
Editor-in-Cheif
Over the Christmas break, the Department of Distance Learning and Industrial Technology (DLIT) was hard at work making updates to Blackboard. When students came back the changes were met with mixed reactions. Since 2009, the university has been using Blackboard as its online service to aid students and faculty. On occasion, DLIT will make updates to Blackboard to make the website more efficient and user friendly, one of which was over the 2019 holiday break. The update, which had been planned since Spring 2019, was made live at the beginning of the Spring 2020 semester the day before the first day of classes. As the new website does not look or work the same as the previous version, students have had varying opinions Madison Ortega, communications major, shared her feelings about the change. “Honestly, I don’t like it because I was used to using the old version for so long that it’s hard to adjust to the
new version, and I don’t really know how to navigate it so that’s the most difficult part,” Ortega said. On the other hand, biomedical major Natalia Flores likes the desktop update but has not had success with the app. “It is much more aesthetically pleasing. However, the Blackboard app no longer works which is very annoying,” Flores said. After hearing complaints from students about the app not working, the DLIT team quickly got to work. Garza confirms that usage of the app has been restored. Here’s how to use the app. For those who have previosly used the app, the first line on the login screen says the university name. To access the app again, just delete this first line and retype the university name. It will then redirect you to JNET to sign in. One of the biggest changes to Blackboard is the inability to login through blackboard.tamuk.edu. Instead, Blackboard is now accessed through JNET. However, as Rolando Garza, the interim director of DLIT said, “The new update allowed Blackboard Learn to comply with Informational Technology Services’ (ITS) security policy that JNET is the SINGLE SIGN-ON PORTAL for Texas A&M University-Kingsville for all academic needs, university email, financial aid, grades and Blackboard Learn. All faculty and students must logon to JNET to access Blackboard Learn.” With the update, some new resources have been added such as Ally, an accessibility feature that gives students the option to download their documents as mp4s for listening or translate them to electronic braille. For people who are having issues or have any comments on the Blackboard update, just create a support ticket through the 24/7 ITS Help Desk; the ticket will then be redirected to DLIT who will promptly help.
Explore your inner child with Who’s Afraid… S
HOWTIMES
TAMUK Theatre Department presents annual Children’s Play next week ARYSSA ENRIQUEZ
Managing-Editor
Catch a front row seat to see how Little Red Riding Hood and Goldilocks break into the home of The Three Little Pigs. The cast of Who’s Afraid of Little Red Riding Hood? invites everyone to find their inner child and enjoy a mash-up of fairytales at 3 p.m., Feb. 2 and 7:30 p.m., Feb 3 and 4 in Jones Auditorium. The comical children’s play is an original work of Associate Professor Dr. Patrick Faherty. Cast members enjoy the challenge of original works because it allows them to be as creative and spontaneous with their characters. “Bringing someone else’s story to life is always a challenge but even more so when that person’s vision is a professor you look up to. It’s also a challenge keeping up the fast-paced energy to keep the children entertained…it’s a fun play and it makes you feel like a child again. It’s funny and ridiculous,” Director of Who’s Afraid of Little Red Riding Hood? Devyn Hamblin said. The annual children’s play invites
Feb. 2 at 3 p.m. Feb. 3, 4 at 7:30 p.m. Jones Auditorium $2 tickets
the community to come see the opportunities and creativity the TAMUK’s Theater program has to offer. “It’s my bigger role here at TAMUK and I love having the opportunity of being on stage and really getting to play around with my character. It’s a very exaggerated show and we all get to be as big and crazy as we want to be,” Caroline Dietz, who is portraying Goldilocks, said. Although the play is intended to be charming it also sends out an important message to its audience. The play encourages the audience to take the time to understand situations before jumping to conclusions and to not let their emotions get the best of them. “I just love everything about performing - making the children laugh and telling a story. Even though it’s not real it encourages the idea of using your imagination and not take things so seriously all the time,” Lue Gonzales, who plays Abuela, said. Who’s Afraid of Little Red Riding Hood? presents many challenges, but the cast is more than ready to put on a show and hear the laughter bounce off the walls of Jones Auditorium.
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Campus
Thursday, January 30, 2020
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Spice Station, Dandy’s and discounts in the SUB New and improved dining options available ILIANA FLORES Editor-in-Cheif Beginning this semester, Aramark brought local restaurant Spice Station to the Memorial Student Union Building and introduced discount days at student favorites, Starbucks and Chickfil-a. Just a few days before the Spring 2020 semester started, Javelina Nation announced Revolve - a restaurant rotation between two local restaurants, Dandy’s Burgers and Spice Station. Dandy’s was first brought to the MSUB in Fall 2019 and students were excited to have one of their favorite places to eat now on campus. Students now feel the same about Spice Station. Spice Station has been a favorite for many in the Kingsville community and students have been hoping to have it in the SUB since the university partnered with Dandy’s. “I am excited that Aramark is bringing diversity to the campus by including Spice Station to our SUB! Adding local businesses like Dandy’s as well is
Photo by Aryssa Enriquez
Students waiting in the Dandy’s line to get their burgers and fries at the SUB. a benefit to supporting our community and giving the students what they want in return. It’s a great turnout,” animal science major Amanda Mendez said. Students are also excited to see the partnership between the university and restaurants in Kingsville. “I think it’s a great idea because it helps stimulate our local economy and offers more of a variety,” Esteban Chapa, chemical engineering major, said Spice Station owner and chef Zohair Charania has looked forward to being at the university for a while and feels
Photo by Aryssa Enriquez
Students eating lunch at the SUB.
bringing the restaurant to campus also brings food diversity. “I always wanted to open in the university because I was a student once and everyone deserves good food,” Charania said. Jazmin Acosta enjoys having local restaurants on campus because it allows her to try new foods. “I really like it because since I don’t drive [and] I’ve really wanted to try local restaurants,” Acosta, a chemical engineering major, said. Along with Revolve, Aramark has also started Wacky Wednesdays which offers discounts at Chick-fil-a and Starbucks on Wednesdays. At Chick-fil-a, the original sandwich, waffle potato fries and a medium drink are offered for $7 before tax all day. Starbucks will have all Teavana tea refills priced between $1.25 to $2. All coffees will also be half price. These discounts are only available on grande and venti size drinks from 2 to 8 p.m. Chapa is excited for these new discount days. “It’s amazing! I enjoy both those places so it is definitely beneficial to me and what I assume to be the majority of campus life,” Chapa said. Acosta shares this sentiment and is especially grateful for the Starbucks discount. “It has helped me a lot this semester alone because I usually go to Starbucks twice a day, and now with the discounts, it’s saved me money,” Acosta said.
RESTAURANT ROTATION OPEN M-F 11 A.M. - 6 P.M. Monday: Dandy’s Burgers Tuesday: Dandy’s Burgers Wednesday: Spice Station Thursday: Spice Station Friday: Spice Station
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Opinion
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Weekly Grub at the MSUB
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 Iliana Flores Editor-in-Chief Aryssa Enriquez Managing Editor
GABRIELLA MASTROIANNI Reporter A new arrival of food options was installed over the winter break. Spice Station and Dandy’s, two local favorites, took the place of Chopsticks in the Memorial Student Union Building (MSUB). With their major popularity amongst the Kingsville population, this is a great opportunity for students to have new food options aside from the everyday choices. As part of Revolve the Restaurant Rotation, Dandy’s Burgers is available from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Mondays and Tuesdays, and Spice Station on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. The Dandy’s Burgers and Spice Station menus do not include all the regular restaurant items. Dandy’s Burgers contains all and only the beef burgers and fries options along with the sauces and veggies. While Spice Station’s options only contain a build-your-ownplate with a choice of two rice and meat toppings along with rolls. However, even though students gained two new restaurants on cam-
Photo by Gabriella Mastroianni
Revolve the Restaurant rotates at the MSUB weekly. pus, the available food options during the weekend is very limited. All MSUB restaurants are closed, along with the Action station and the Pasta station in the Javelina Dining Hall during the weekends. Which leaves the Home Zone, which can be a hit or miss depending on what is being served, the Grill with the same repetitive burgers, fries and pizza, the Salad Bar, and the Deli. Now, without the Action station and the Pasta station it seems like there is still a good amount of options in the dining hall, however it doesn’t seem so after the food becomes very repetitive.
And for those who aren’t aware, the Turner-Bishop dining hall closes on the weekends as well. So with the restaurants in the MSUB and the Turner-Bishop dining hall closed on the weekends, the Action and Pasta station should be opened during this time so students can have more options. This will also benefit the students that depend on those stations for health and calorie cautious reasons. Besides the Action and Pasta station, the dining hall should also have the weekday dinner schedule as well, especially for students coming back from home on a Sunday night.
From clutter to gutter, tips to tech savvy notes
Ronni Reyna Campus Editor Dylan Dozier Sports Editor Brenda Riojas Opinion Editor Calista Reyes Entertainment Editor Jaylin Morales Advertising Manager Reporters Adam Pena Sarah Reyna Gabriella Mastroianni Mark Gutierrez Podcast Host Tom Miller Nicole Morris Adviser 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
DANIEL GONZALEZ
Contributing Writer
Throughout my life I have been a highly disorganized person and especially throughout high school. I was the kid who scrambled through his locker looking for notes I would ultimately never find. I had my own style of organization and academically it worked for the most part. Unfortunately, when I reached college, this habit of shoving papers into my backpack wouldn’t last and when it came to finals my freshman semester, I was in a mound of notes with nothing but a hope and a prayer. Safe to say I had a moment of crisis as the biology notes I swore I took four months ago were nowhere to be found. While I thought they’d be in my backpack, they were probably in the trash. Since I have always been one who had to learn the hard way, let me save you the struggle and give you my new tech savvy tips of storing notes, dates and other tools to help streamline your college career. My first and most used app is Google Calendar. Storing dates and times is easy when you have constant reminders through
Photo courtesy of Inc.com
Technology begins to dominate the paper industry. the app. The calendar has a simple display that easily allows you to store due dates for assignments and meeting times for clubs. Going a bit more in depth with a todo list style planner will also help you keep your day-to-day tasks organized. Todoist is a free and easy-to-set-up app that I highly recommend. The app organizes and schedules your day out for you and even gives
you tips to get the most out of your day. Finally, with note taking I use Evernote. Evernote is another free note taking tool that easily organizes everything you write down and can highlight, create annotations and link references. While I am still not on Marie Kondos’s level of organizing, I am a far cry from the tornado of notes and papers I was those early years of college.
Opinion
Send us your opinion through our website: thesouthtexan.com
One Step Forward Two-Steps Back
NATHALY ENRIQUEZ
Contributing Writer
The new semester of Spring 2020 has come and brought along a lot of new changes. There have been many “updates” that have been made to the school’s networking system, and frankly, some students are dissatisfied. I’ll be the first to say one of the biggest improvements to be made was the construction of the new music building. Then we also have another one that I’d say is a student favorite which is the University’s partnership with Spice Station, now making it available in the Memorial Student Union Building Wednesdays through Fridays. So, if you like Indian food you should definitely head out there on one of those days. Although some of these changes are a hit, I wish I could say the same went for Blackboard. Unfortunately, this is not the case. The new changes made to Black-
board have caught everyone’s attention. From faculty and staff to students it is all that everyone’s been talking about since we’ve got back to school and here’s why. Although the updates’ purpose was to be more convenient for all users it seems to have taken a step back. I will not deny that the newly “improved” Blackboard does have some new assets that are more visible including the email notifications for assignment deadlines, it also comes with few drawbacks. Not only are the students upset but the faculty is as well. One of Blackboards most convenient features was
the Blackboard app which gave both students and faculty easy access to discussion boards, assignments, due dates, messages, etc. It seems to not be working properly making it one of Blackboard’s worst features. The app doesn’t let you log in without having to go through a double log in process. Students and Faculty both must sign in through J-Net first to even have access to Blackboard and once you’ve logged in, you don’t stay logged in like you once did. I hope that within time the app is once again integrated into our education in a way that makes it more effective and efficient.
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Letter to the editor We need a New Economic System! One that is helpful, productive, and respectable to the middle class. In other words, the opposite of what we have currently. Since 1980 our middle class has been shrinking and losing its wealth status, all in the name of corporate profits and mega greed. What everyone should be asking themselves is: What is the purpose of the economy? When will the middle class stop shrinking? And when will the wealth inequality war stop? The future does not look good for most of us. I want to know what you think? Tomas Cantu
Javelina Viewpoints This Week’s Question:
“This semester Blackboard made changes to their site. Do you like the new changes that were made?”
Name: Anastasia Leibas Major: Criminology “I don’t like the changes, because it’s too complicated to access when I don’t have my laptop with me.”
Name: Greg Williams Major: Business/Accounting “I like the new update, and I personally think it’s better. A pro is that it’s easier to navigate the website to find what you need, but a con is the app no longer works..”
Name: Susan Cortez Major: Communications “I don’t like it, because it’s harder to access when I’m on my phone since the app doesn’t work, and I don’t always have my laptop nearby, so the new changes make it difficult.”
Name: Justin Lundquist-Irvin Major: Criminology “The update isn’t my favorite; I think it’s a lot more complex. Before, all your classes would right on the front, and now you have to click on different links to find them.”
Editor’s Note: See Blackboard App instructions on page 2. Compiled by: Sarah Reyna
Entertainment
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Thursday, January 30, 2019
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Sew many quilts at Conner Museum
Experience colors and patterns galore through March 18 CALISTA REYES Entertainment Editor
The Conner Museum has welcomed its first exhibit of the semester, Celebration of Quilts 2020. The collection created by the members of Kingsville Saturday Quilters features many interesting patterns and color combinations. Quilts of valor and quilts of honor are also featured in the collection. “Celebration of the Quilts will be on display from now until March 18,” stu-
dent worker David Juarez said. The exhibit has already drawn some attention from the community. “It’s such a colorful experience, and so cool getting to see all of the hard work that these artists have put into the quilts,” Business major Araceli Mireles said. “There is this one big quilt in the back of the room that is so mesmerizing it has so many patterns to look at and you keep seeing more and more every time you look at it.” Other visitors had their favorites as well. “The beach and the Japanese lantern ones are my favorites, they have so much detail. There is also another really big quilt and the more you look at it the more you see,” Psychology student Annalisa Perales said. “I think when everyone comes to see it they might find that they are interested in quilting and will want to try something new.”
Photo by Calista Reyes
Students Araceli Mireles, left, Stephanie Walker and Annalisa Perales admire a whimsical quilt.
Photo by Calista Reyes
Students Stephanie Walker, left, Araceli Mireles and Annalisa Perales take a closer look.
The Kingsville Saturday Quilters will also be hosting the Airing of the Quilts later this spring. “I would for sure like to go to the event they are having later this semester,” Mireles said. You can come by the Conner Museum to experience the eye catching collection. You can also find more in-
formation about the Quilting group’s monthly meetings and any other events that they will be hosting later this year. The Conner Museum is located at 905 W Santa Gertrudis Ave. across the street from Manning Hall. The Museum is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.on Saturdays.
South Texan adds three new editors Flores new Editor-in-Chief of student product STAFF REPORT The South Texan Iliana Flores is the new Editor-in-Chief of The South Texan. Flores was promoted this semester and previously served as the student newspaper’s Managing Editor. Aryssa Enriquez was promoted from Campus Editor to Managing Editor as well. “Iliana has been an integral part of The South Texan for the last three years,” media adviser Nicole Morris said. “She brings with her many new ideas, and we will still some impactful changes and stories this semester.” Flores is a Communications major, and replaces CR Neal, who is student-teaching this semester. Neal
Flores
Enriquez
will continue to serve as a contributing writer. “I’m super excited to have the opportunity to be the Editor-in-Chief this semester,” Flores said. “Since my freshman year at TAMUK, I have been working at the newspaper, and during my time as a reporter and an editor, I’ve grown both professionally and personally. I’ve met some of my best friends and had experiences I never would have imagined for myself because of the paper. “So I’m looking forward to being at the helm and getting to move the paper forward as well as getting to spend my last semester at TAMUK doing what I love with all the great
Reyes people who make up The South Texan team,” Flores continued. Enriquez, a Business major, has served on The South Texan staff for a year. “I am thankful for the leadership opportunity I have gained at The South Texan,” Enriquez said. “I am looking forward to working together this semester to put out an informative, entertaining and meaningful newspaper.” The South Texan also welcomes three new editors this semester. Brenda Riojas joins the staff as the Opinion Editor. Calista Reyes joins the staff as the Entertainment Editor and Ronni Reyna joins as the new Campus Editor.
Reyna
Riojas
The trio are all Communications majors. “I cannot put into words what this means to me,” Riojas said. “I am excited to learn and grow as a writer.” Reyes and Reyna echoed Riojas’s excitement. “I am excited because I get to talk about the things that I love – and get paid for it. I’m really glad it’s my first job,” Reyes said. “It’s a new venture. I look forward to learning about my new role. Being able to put out something for students and faculty to hold and read every week is exciting,” Reyna said. The South Texan is a student-operated newspaper and website.
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Entertainment
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Dolittle does very little to impress RATINGS
Photo courtesy of Universal Pictures
CALISTA REYES Entertainment Editor There is nothing worse than a movie that fails to deliver, especially a remake. Unfortunately Dolittle falls under that category. Even with a budget of $175 million the film proves that without a well-developed story and screenplay, no matter if the cast is star-studded, it will fail. The film starts with the strange Dr. Dolittle coming out of a reclusive state after being asked for assistance in finding the cure for the Queen’s mysterious poisoning. Dolittle was given a great cast, most
notably Robert Downey Jr. in the title role. This is Downey’s first film post his portrayal of Iron Man in the Marvel Avengers films. Many audience members have vocalized a dislike of his performance as the offbeat Dr.Dolittle; however, it seems that what audiences are truly upset about is that this role is not the Iron Man that he made famous. Although his performance was well, it could have been two times better had he been given a well-developed screenplay to play with as there is little to no character development through the whole film. Another aspect that just fell flat is the jokes in the film. The amount of jokes made about animals’ nether regions is obnoxious
as it seemed to be the only kind of jokes the writers could come up with. There are also a few disconnects in the story which may be a product of a number of reshoots with different directors. One of the positives of the film is some of the amazing CGI work. All of the animals in the film are CGI but still manage to look life-like rather than cartoonish. The scenery as they sail the sea and explore different lands is absolutely breathtaking. This is a film that may be most enjoyable to very young children as it is very visually stimulating and has a simple plot for them to follow. The overall tale that is told is so simple that you forget why you are even watching it in the first place, and it’s a shame that many ideas that could have been explored were overlooked by writers.
27%
of 100%
16%
of 100%
5.6 of 10
CALISTA’S RATING
Adulting 101: How to make a shopping list How to spend smart with a shopping list BRENDA RIOJAS Opinion Editor You’re sitting down on your couch watching television and all of a sudden, “grrr” your stomach starts growling. You decide to go to the pantry for a snack. While scouring through the pantry for a snack, all you find is boxes of Hamburger Helper. That’s it, it’s time to head over to H-E-B for some groceries. You’ve got the car keys in hand, ready to go shopping. Halfway out the door you realize you don’t exactly know everything you’re going to buy. Before leaving your house, pull out a sheet of paper and look through the pantry and also the refrigerator and write down everything you might need until your next trip to the store. It’s best to not only write down what you need, but how many of that item you might need. Don’t forget your list when you go to the store, when you lose your list, you lose your money. Losing your list leads to over buying, and the goal is
to save money. Now it’s time to head over to the grocery store. The stack of advertisements for that week are on full display, everyone else is taking one. Pick one up and look for coupons or deals of the week. This is another easy way to save money. If you’ve walked in and forgot a basket, go back and get one. You probably won’t be able to handle carrying everything while looking at your list and answering texts while you shop. Your list consists of 15 items, and you vow to only buy those items so you can save money. Cereal is the next item to get, turning into the aisle you see an employee who just stocked a large amount of Fruit Roll-Ups. They’re not on your list, and it’s almost an extra $4 you can save in you pass on them. After you grab the cereal, you open the advertisement book and you notice the Fruit Roll-Up boxes are two for $5. You debate if buying them is worth it, but I say, just treat yourself. Once you’ve got all the items, check out and don’t forget the coupons. Also, make sure the employee bags every single item, you don’t want to pay for something that you’ll end up not having. Double bag the eggs and refrigerate the cold foods immediately. Remember, it’s never too early to start planning the next trip to the grocery store. Ask mom. She knows best anyway. Trial and error- Good luck!
Thursday, January 30, 2020
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Sports
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Javelina hoops go 1-1 over the weekend 10th conference win following first loss in Kingsville DYLAN DOZIER Sports Editor The TAMUK basketball team picked up their first home loss of the season last Thursday at the hands of West Texas A&M, but responded with a decisive victory over Eastern New Meico The Buffaloes took the early 13-6 advantage, but the Blue and Gold would answer with their first run of the night, scoring 11 of 13 points. The visitors responded with a 9-1 burst for a 2517 advantage and spent the rest of the first half keeping the Javelinas offensive attack at bay. Despite quick buckets from Mouton and Qua Grant, the second half advantage belonged to the Buffs. WTAMU led by as much as 19 points, and the Javelinas failed to come any closer than 9. Sophomore Creighton Avery turned in his most productive offensive performance of the year, racking up 14 points and nailing every attempt from the field and free throw line. Senior teammate John Muton added 11 points of his own and pulled down 9 off the boards. Saturday’s contest saw the Javelinas pick up their 10th conference win of the season and solidify their sole possession of third place in the LSC. In an interview, coach Johnny Estelle attributed his team’s success to strong defensive play. “Defensively, we did [achieve our goals],” he said. “We held them below their average. It’s good to see that because I always think if you play good defense, you’re going to have a chance to win no matter what. Our shooting hasn’t been very good. We’ll have to go back and
Rashon Thomas attacks the rim during his 26-point outing. study that, but any time you can hold someone to 50 points in college basketball, that’s a good thing.” The first half of play was a back-andforth affair. The visitors picked up the first four points, but the Blue and Gold responded swiftly and closed the early gap to three. Severo scored five of the first half’s final 14 points and his teammates responded with five of their own. The home team held the midpoint’s 29-26 lead. The visitors picked up a hot streak first in the second period, cutting
their deficit to one. The home team answered with an 11-3 run that brought them out to a 41-33 lead, but the Greyhounds swiped the momentum. The visitor’s responded with a 9-2 run that brought them within one. Five minutes of trading scores saw the Javelinas lead 48-46, but a Greyhound player and his coach, Tres Segler were called for technical fouls. Rashon Thomas sunk all four free throws and sunk a three, pushing the Blue and Gold out to a 55-46 lead. The visitors would fail to recover. Thomas had a career-high night,
Blue and Gold baseball set for return
Photo courtesy of Javelina Athletics
racking up 26 points in his 34 minutes. After a slow start Thursday night, the senior returned to the drawing board on Friday to prepare for his team’s victory over the Greyhounds. “I had a slow start Thursday, and I feel like I let my team down. I know I could have produced more in a lot of areas, so I tried to get back to the basics in practice and then implement that into today’s game,” Thomas said. The Javelinas return to LSC-action Thursday, taking on Midwestern State before battle the Cameron Aggies.
First three-game series set to kick-off LSC play at Nolan Ryan Field DYLAN DOZIER Sports Editor
TAMUK baseball jumps straight into conference play Jan. 31.
Photo courtesy of Javelina Athletics
The TAMUK baseball team will kick off the 2020 season with a three-game series against the Oklahoma Christian Eagles (OCU) Jan. 31 to Feb. 2 in Kingsville at Nolan Ryan Field. 2019 saw the Blue and Gold prevail 10-5 in their only outing against the Eagles at the Alpine Fresh 4-Him Classic in Cleburne, Texas. Saturday’s series marks the first Lone Star Conference (LSC) matchup for Oklahoma Christian. After a 28-20 outing last spring, the Eagles are one of six teams transitioning into the LSC from the now-disbanded Heartland Conference. LSC coaches and sports information directors placed the Javelinas in the 4th place slot in their annual preseason poll on Jan. 22. Voters garnished TAMUK with 371 total points and one first-place nod. Oklahoma Christian fell into the 8th-place position, picking up 216 points. Jason Gonzalez, TAMUK’s all-time winningest coach, enters his 12th season at the helm of the program. Some 18 players return from the 2019 team that finished 30-20, losing in the LSC Baseball Championship to West Texas A&M. The complete 2020 baseball schedule can be found at JavelinaAthletics.com
Sports 9 Diamonds forecasted for second-ranked Javs
Thursday, January 30, 2020
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Spring season kicks off Saturday, six-game run over three-day slate DYLAN DOZIER Sports Editor
2019 was a storybook season for the Javelina softball team. The Blue and Gold rewrote their own record books and racked up enough trophies to potentially alter the trajectory of the program’s future. Wins at the Lone Star Conference (LSC) Championships, NCAA South Central Regional and NCAA South Central Super Regional afforded them the opportunity to compete in the NCAA Division-II Women’s College World Series in Denver, Col. But the arrival of 2020 leaves them no time to rest on their laurels. For the second-straight year, TAMUK will open up their spring schedule in Conroe, Texas, at the Arkansas Tech Winter Invitational. Each day of the three-day affair will see the Blue and Gold face off with a pair of different teams, making opening weekend a six-game round-robin. Friday, Jan. 31, the Javelinas open-up with No. 7 Central Oklahoma (UCO). UCO finished 48-8 in 2019. Their run commenced in the Super Regional by Augustana (who would go on to defeat the Javelinas in the World Series Championship). Friday evening, they take on the Pittsburg State Gorillas. The Javelinas kick off day two in Conroe with a contest against No. 14 Southern Arkansas, before taking on the invitational’s host No. 21 Arkansas Tech. The final day of play sees TAMUK taking on 21st-ranked, LSC-foe, Tarleton State and the Bulldogs of Minnesota Duluth. Four of the Javelina’s six oppo-
Javelina softball hopes to continue winning ways. nents are ranked in the top-25, and the half-dozen foes racked up a combined record of 240-100 in 2019. Despite the stout competition ahead, third-year Head Coach Craig Nicholson assured Javelina Athletics that his team is as prepared as ever. “The team’s going to be ready to go,” said Nicholson. “We had a really good camp and got six days of practice before school started. It’s been one of the best camps I’ve seen any of my teams have. The girls came back ready and I think we’re in a good spot right now.”
Eleven return to the diamond for the Blue and Gold. Four of the returning players, outfielder Loren Kelly, shortstop Anastasia Leibas, and pitchers Breanna Smith and Saidi Castillo, were named to the 2019 All-LSC First-Team. Castillo and Smith dominated opposing offenses, combining for a 49-9 record. Their individual winning percentages earned them the first and second spots in school record books. Castillo topped the LSC with 226 strikeouts and 27 wins. Smith was close behind with 22 wins of her own.
Photo courtesy of Javelina Athletics
Kelly’s 41 stolen bases landed her atop the TAMUK record books in 2019. She enters her junior season just 19 shy of Cassie Anderson’s career record of 90 stolen bases. The Blue and Gold were selected as the preseason LSC-front-runner and the No. 2 team in the nation by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association. Eleven of their 2020 opponents are either ranked in the national polls or receiving votes. TAMUK recorded a 15-4 record against ranked teams in 2019.
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Sports
Thursday, January 30, 2020
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Keeping it in the Javelina family Salinas returns to Kingsville to reroute Blue and Gold football ARYSSA ENRIQUEZ Managing Editor It didn’t take long for Mike Salinas to become emotional as he was officially presented as the 12th head coach of the Javelina program on Jan. 6. Salinas is an alumnus of the 2000 Javelina graduating class, and he played football here from 1995 to 1999. After graduating, Salinas became an assistant coach for two years at TAMUK. During his short time, Salinas helped lead the Javelinas into four appearances in the NCAA II Division Playoffs and the Lone Star Conference Championship. Salinas then went on to implement his coaching capabilities at several universities and high schools throughout Texas. Salinas has been able to lead teams to championships. “The emotions involved in this process, was like a rollercoaster. You know that you are coming back to a place that is near and dear to your heart. You know that you are coming back to a place that you invested time and effort as a player and coach. The most unique
part is that you are coming back to a place where you have relationships,” Salinas said. Nearly two decades later, Salinas is now returning to his alma mater with a vision to impact and lead the Javelina football team toward success. Salinas is planning on building intentional relationships with student athletes and enforcing the line of offense in efforts to improve the overall performance of the Javelinas. With more than 140 applications, Salinas was determined to be the best candidate because of his innovative thinking and future plans for the Javelina football team. “I think it’s because we share a very similar vision about how to build the program. He’s going to build it with building relationships with student athletes, really pouring into them and developing them as men first and football players second, and I truly think that’s the equation to building a successful program,” Executive Director of Athletics and Campus Recreation Steve Roach said of Salinas’ selection.
Salinas represents a new era for TAMUK football.
Photo by Aryssa Enriquez
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Legacies continued from Page 1 her memory will always be with me and just because someone is not present here on Earth, I know that I will see her on the other side,” Dr. De Los Santos said. Dr. Mundy’s passion for education was reflected in each student she encountered. Dr. Mundy joined TAMUK in 2010 and managed to impact the lives of everyone who surrounded her. After Dr. Mundy’s passing, some took to social media to share about her impact on them. “Dr. Marie-Anne Mundy, a lady who was brilliant, caring, honest, fiercely independent, and way ahead of her time. Dr. Mundy was our Statistics professor at TAMUK and she went above and beyond to help us wrap our heads around statistics… she was our teacher, our mentor, our friend. We were blessed because she touched our lives,” a former student wrote. Although, Dr. Mundy has passed, her legacy will be carried on by the students she taught. Dr. Hewett earned his Bachelor’s degree from Texas A&I Kingsville in 1962. After graduation he pursued a fellowship at the University of Missouri at Rolla, where he earned his PhD. Dr. Hewett joined the university in 1964 where he taught in the physics department for more than 55 years. Throughout his career at TAMUK, Hewett played a pivotal role in the development of the physics department. “Several years ago, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board killed the low-enrolled programs in the state of Texas. Our physics program was affected by this. Dr. Hewett along with colleagues from other universities who were in similar situations formed Texas Electronic Coalition for Physics (TECP) in the early 1990s to share physics courses between independent physics programs,” Dr. Subbarao Yelisetti, assistant professor of geophysics, said. Hewett’s passion for general relativity and cosmology went beyond his classroom. He developed physics lectures and lab materials that generated funds for the department. Hewett also created instructional lab videos that are used on a daily basis. Hewett’s lab videos have been implemented in physics classrooms for more than 20 years, many of them being recorded on VHS tapes. “One semester, I overheard his voice coming from one of the classrooms in Hill Hall. When I walked over to the room I realized it was a video of him speaking to the lab students for instruction and not him in person. His memory will live on in these videos,” Department Chair Dr. Brent Hedquist said. Hewett not only motivated his students but influenced many of his colleagues. Hewett had the tenacity to help others and was heavily involved with his department. “Recently one student called me, and asked if we still have the physics program at TAMUK. I said yes, but why are you asking this question? He said somebody told him that the physics program was closed because Dr. Hewett passed away. That’s the kind of impact he had on this program! The students, department, college and the university will miss him. Although he is not physically with us, but as long as the physics program is here, Dr. Hewett lives on and his legacy will continue,” Dr. Yelisetti said.
News and Jumps
Thursday, January 30, 2019
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El Tap remodels ARYSSA ENRIQUEZ Managing Editor It is difficult to be a TAMUK student and never have visited El Tapatio restaurant. With less than a block away from the university, many students run down to El Tap to pick up their usual “Taco Tuesday” taco or meet up with a friends after a long day. Similar to the university, El Tapatio is undergoing several changes. El Tapatio, commonly known as El Tap, among students is experiencing renovations. “I actually didn’t know it was closed until the first day of school, it was funny because one of my friends the night before was like ‘Hey you want to go to Taps?’ but I couldn’t and when I passed through there the next day I saw it was closed so we couldn’t go even if I wanted to… I like El Tap because it’s close, and the fraternity I’m in likes to go hang out there, we go chill ,have tacos,” Cecilia Torres, music education major, said. Students are anxious to see how the new El Tap looks, and are anticipating a grand opening. “We have a lot of people that are coming just to look, or they forget that we are closed. We get a lot of feedback from our customers on Facebook, they are reaching out to us saying ‘I need you to open. We love your tacos,’ especially the students since we are one of the closest restaurants on campus” Manager of El Tapatio Mario Conchas said. After breaking down walls, creating a new entrance, adding new tiles El Tap is finally ready to welcome back their customers. “I think the renovations are going to be better, and open up the area more, making the customers feel less crowded,” Rebecca Salinas, kinesiology major, said. Although El Tap will open its doors Wednesday, Jan. 29, the grand opening will be occurring Friday evening. During the grand opening students can expect specials, giveaways, and entertainment by the Javelina mariachi. Throughout the years El Tap has become a “go-to” place for Javelina Nation, and soon students will be able to once again enjoy their El Tap tacos.
Photo by Iliana Flores
El Tapatio, a student favorite, is undergoing a full renovation.
Thursday, January 30, 2020
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News
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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
Email: residencelife@tamuk.edu Phone: 361-593-3419
Lucio Hall, Office 119, Kingsville, TX 78363-8202
We are cutting our rates in Lucio and Mesquite Village West for all current students that renew their Housing Agreement. Our rates will now be cut between $500 and $600 a year! Remember you pay NO utility costs when you live on campus. MARTIN HALL $2,300 PER SEMESTER
LYNCH HALL $2,500 PER SEMESTER LUCIO HALL & MESQUITE VILLAGE WEST $3,200 or $3,400 PER SEMESTER