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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2017
TheSouthTexan
SOUTHTEXANNEWS.COM
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VOLUME 91, ISSUE 17
Campus warning issued over chicken pox Provost, University sends email after three come down with ailment SYMPTOMS • ITCHING • BLISTERS • RED SPOTS • HEADACHES • SORE THROAT •SCABS
Alex Guerra Chief Reporter @alxgrr
Three Texas A&M University-Kingsville students have reported contracting chicken pox (varicella), a highly contagious viral infection. Dr. Terisa Riley, senior VP for student affairs and chair of TAMUK’s emergency management team released a mass email notifying students of the epidemic. The email notes how the virus can be transmitted, signs, and places to receive the vaccine if a preventive is needed. The infection is airborne and through coughing, sneezing, and direct contact. Those infected may experience a rash, which will be
highly contagious one to two days before it’s noticeable. It can take up to two weeks before signs are visible. For those who have had the infection, they are immune to contracting chicken pox again. If students have not had the virus before, the risk is much higher and the recovery is not as smooth. “As an adult, it affects you much worse than it would a child…especially those with weak immune systems. Students should communicate with their physicians to keep up with vaccinations,” said Luis Aguilar, communication major. Signs to look for include: fever, itchiness, flat spots, bumps, or blisters beginning at the head, moving downward towards the legs. To combat the illness, the use of calamine lotion and
antiviral medication (at the digression of a physician) is advised. “It’s scary for those who haven’t had [chicken pox]. Students may not report a case because they’re embarrassed. They should do research if they think they might have caught the virus,” said Kyra Henderson, communications major. If you, or someone you know may have contracted chicken pox, avoid contact with others. Do not attend school, work, or other engagements where others will be exposed to the infection. “It is concerning to hear that there is an outbreak on campus. I’ve never had chicken pox. In my time here at the university, there’s never been anything like it,” said Patsy Rios, a senior administrative coordinator
If you or someone you know has chicken pox, please contact the Health and Wellness at (361) 593-2904 to make an appointment.
with the art, Communications and Theatre Department, The Student Health and Wellness Health Care Clinic will see students with active symptoms only if they call prior to visiting the office. The area will be incubated to prevent further spreading of the virus. Locations that offer the varicella vaccine are Walmart, H.E.B., Walgreens, and the Nueces County Health District.
javelinas score new intramural fields The university’s sandy new beach volleyball courts are ready for the start of the season. The schools Division I team is new this year.
Photo by Pablo Villanueva
New fields increase variety of sports choices for all students
Kaitlin Ruiz Contributor
“We’re on track to open up in April. It’s just a matter of letting the grass grow, at that point,” noted Ruben Cantu, senior associate athletic director, while surveying a field newly shaped by development. It is not an agrarian setting; yet, against a midday glare, the sections of sand and seeded ground stand for growth at Texas A&M University-Kingsville. Planted on the northwest side of campus on Corral Avenue and Seale Street, the newly-constructed intramural athletic complex is set to open in early April. The nearly 18-acre complex was funded by $7 million from student fees, on the basis of two student referendums in 2014 and 2016. The facilities act as a trellis to train the university’s diverse athletic interests; tennis, soccer, softball, beach volleyball, and cricket are all represented by space in the complex. Construction for the intramural athletic complex began in August 2016, after being approved by the Texas A&M University System Board of Regents on April 27. The process was not
without its quirks; as Cantu conceded, setbacks of some kind are to be expected in any project. Summer rains led to delays in construction, extending development by a month. Nevertheless, at this point, Cantu noted the university is on schedule to receive complete ownership of the complex April 1. Prior to April 1, certain parts of the facility are already in use; the 8 National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) tennis courts have received wear, with TAMUK’s first home match against Dallas Baptist University taking place on new courts Feb. 10. Likewise, the university’s beach volleyball team has practiced on the grounds since the beginning of the semester, and will begin its season on the new fields March 3. Tanya Allen, head volleyball coach, views the complex as a catalyst for continued excellence in athletics at TAMUK. “Beach volleyball is the only team on campus that competes at the D1 level, and the new facility will make it much easier to recruit future talent to join our team,” she explained. According to Anthony Kreitzer, intramural director, the project is indicative of
increased interest in recreational sports at TAMUK. “The complex will benefit the student body by offering more open recreation, opportunities for more sports,” Kreitzer explained. “These fields are from a direct correlation of growing recreational sports at 30 percent for three consecutive semesters.” Student engagement has also added to the uniqueness of the complex through the inclusion of a cricket pitch. “From my knowledge, we will have the only facility that features a cricket field. There are schools that have cricket as an intramural sport or club sport, but none set up like we are. This comes from having a strong and active international student body who have a passion for cricket,” Kreitzer said. Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics & Campus Recreation, Scott Gines, is not removed from the idea of student participation in sports tilling deepened cultural richness at TAMUK. In recounting the university’s 12-team league, Gines noted: “Most of America’s sporting history reflects social and economic change, and cricket is certainly an example of
that on our campus.” The complex leaves room for further development; according to Cantu, Phase 2 of construction will develop locker rooms and storage facilities. Until then, temporary storage facilities will be used for equipment. Apart from acreage, the complex is a sign of encouraging growth at TAMUK— not merely in enrollment numbers, but in strengthening individual students. According to Gines, “growth in campus recreation and fitness also mirrors our
elevating academic profile, increased retention and graduation. Campus recreation and fitness is just that - engagement, lifetime sport, good health. Over the past four years, our intramural participation nearly doubled to 3,300 participants, and expanding our outdoor recreation opportunities reflects both the growth in size of our enrollment and the increasing engagement desires and recreational habits of our students.”
Courtesy photo of tamuk.edu
This is a map of Texas A&M University-Kingsville’s new intramural sports complex, which is mostly complete.
program heads present IEP ideas South Texan Reports @thesouthtexan
Texas A&M University-Kingsville administrators last week presented annual institutional effectiveness plans for campus, including new programs. Provost and VP for Academic Affairs Dr. Heidi Anderson led the academic presentation and noted suggestions made by hired consultants regarding undergraduate curriculum, graduation prerequisites and recording personal information in a campus-wide database. Anderson noted a possible transition to using more reliant tools to administer undergraduate curriculum. TAMUK’s goal is to increase graduation rates. Anderson, alongside the deans from each college, plan to develop an inter-strategic plan, which will assist in graduation retention. As of now, the average is 71 percent. The group of educators is investing their time to see if facilities are efficient enough. The intent of promoting gateway courses will entice students to further pursue the university. Over the next 18 months, TAMUK is planning to increase program offerings, such as joint degrees and prompt articulation agreements with surrounding institutions. A restructure task-force team formed within the university reported supportive feedback in regards to expanding further by creating a health professions college. This addition will be targeted towards grooming physicians and nurse practitioners. Other topics moving forward include a PHD STEM program, new bachelor and master degree routes, and collaborations within TAMUK colleges. “I’m not doing this to depress anybody.” These are the opening words that Raj Kurapati used to begin the fiscal discussion on the financial situation the university finds itself in. The quote is in reference to the current hiring freeze as well as the significant budget cuts the legislation ordered this last session. The projections of revenue for the 2017 year
SEE IEP, PAGE 2
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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2017
Entertainment
SOUTHTEXANNEWS.COM
A bone to pick Students volunteer to get TAMUK to register for ‘Be The Match’ event
America Quintero Reporter For years, research has been conducted to find a cure for cancer. Cancer is a life-threatening illness that affects millions of people in the United States. The National Cancer Institute estimated 1,685,210 new cancer cases in 2016. No definitive cure has yet to be announced, so it can be heartbreaking for a family to hear that their child has cancer. However, there is still hope. People are combating blood cancers by turning toward bone marrow transplants. It only takes one bone marrow donor to save another life. The Student Health & Wellness Center at Texas A&M University-Kingsville partnered with Gencure and “Be The Match” to register potential bone marrow donors. The bone marrow drive was held throughout campus on Feb. 20-22. Gencure is aligned with “Be The Match” program, which aims to find donors who are compatible with patients who need specific transplant procedures. As opposed to blood transplants, bone marrow can only be transplanted if the donor is genetically compatible with the patient. “Be The Match” has registered thousands of donors who can later be outreached once they match them with a patient. Jon Hudson, a Community Engagement Leader for Gencure, states that TAMUK is a perfect place to find registering donors. With bone marrow, you can only match with someone of the same ethnic and racial background. “Right now, only 12 percent of our registry is Hispanic. It’s really low, so we hope to make progress today. One of the big reasons we like to come to TAMUK is because we are registering students from all over the world. This is crucial because that’s the best hope for some patients,” said Hudson. Adriana Estrada, another
Gencure representative, explains that anyone between the ages of 18 and 44 can donate. However, the best age to donate is from 18 to 24. “Between 18 to 24, your cells regenerate the fastest, so college age students are very important to the registry.” This is the second year the bone marrow drive is hosted at TAMUK with the assistance of the Student Health & Wellness Center. In 2016, an estimated 1,016 students registered on campus to become part of the bone marrow registry. “Be The Match” hopes to acquire at least 600 new donors this year. There are many patients whose lives are changed by bone marrow transplants. Taylor Wilkins, who volunteered to help at the bone marrow drive, is a recipient of a bone marrow transplant. Wilkins was 11-years-old when he went through the procedure. Wilkins had been suffering with the blood cancer Myelodysplastic Syndrome, and the only way for him to survive was to get a bone marrow transplant. Within a few months, he was matched with a donor. His donor was a young man who was attending law school at the time. “I do encourage people to donate because it’s a blessing. You can help out a lot of people who have a blood cancer like leukemia or glaucoma. It’s just a great feeling when there’s hope that somebody is a match for their son or cousin. If there wasn’t a donor registry, I probably wouldn’t be here to tell my story,” Wilkins said. TAMUK students agree that by donating bone marrow, you are saving lives. Student Blake Perez, a mechanical engineering major, registered for the first time at the bone marrow drive. “Honestly, the thought of having the opportunity to save some else’s life is something that would really impact my own life,” Perez said. Alexander Soliz, an electrical engineering major, said the process was very simple
and that students should not be afraid to donate. “Learn more. Be considerate if you want to help people out in the future. There’s a big waiting list of cancer patients searching for a bone marrow match,” Soliz said. Isabel Mata, a physiology major, received the opportunity to save a baby’s life with her donation. Mata registered to be a bone marrow donor early in 2015. On November, she received a call saying she was a match for a little girl who hadn’t even turned 1 year old. On January 2016, Mata went through the bone marrow transplant procedure. “There are a lot of misconceptions about donating bone marrow. They say it’s really scary and that it hurts, but it doesn’t. I did not have any worries. I knew that it was worth it and that there were minimal risks. The bigger pain would be losing the patient by the lack of a donation,” Mata said. Mata explained she would do the process again “in a heartbeat.” She is happy knowing that the baby she helped is alive and well. Hudson hopes that more people are able to register as bone marrow donors. “There’s a little boy who just passed away on December who we were working with. He would always say that when you can’t see the good, make the good. I think we’re in the same situation here. We see that the registry needs donors, so it’s hard to see the good when people are dying. Let’s make the good and register as donors to see if we could at least be a match and give somebody life,” said Hudson. Estrada hopes to make the bone marrow drive an annual event at TAMUK. Her hope is to reach more people and educate them on the procedure. She also wishes to find a matching donor for Hilari De Leon, a little girl who has yet to find a match with any one on the current registry. TAMUK students can learn more about becoming potential bone marrow donors at BeTheMatch.org.
Run for a good cause
Bobby Puentes Reporter @paperboybob
Texas A&M University Kingsville will host of the fourth annual Ties and Tennis Shoes Memorial Fun Run, this Friday. The event begins at 5 p.m. with the adult 5K, adult 10K and child one-mile level run starting at 6 p.m. There will also be entertainment at the event with a family friendly festival including a kid zone, live music, wellness education, health screenings and refreshments. In 2013 a student committee created a 5k fun run to celebrate the legacy of Dr. James Robertson Jr. A playful name of Ties and Tennis Shoes was coined, to commemorate the professional, playful and driven nature Dr. Robertson showed. The student committee
created two scholarships in the name of Dr. Robertson. Money received from the fun run is used to reach the $50 thousand endowment limit needed to begin
distributing scholarships to students. Seventy percent of the proceeds earned from the event will be put into the Dr. James Robertson Jr. Make a Difference Scholarship and the other 30 percent goes into the Dr. James Robertson
Jr. Memorial Endowment Scholarship. Robertson passed away in 2012 due to pneumonia complications. According to the official page dedicated to the legacy of Robertson on the Irma Lerma Rangel A&M Pharmacy website different classes have had special words to share about Dr. Robertson. “Dr. Robertson was an inspiration to the students of the Rangel College of Pharmacy. From the way he spoke, to his dress style, Dr. Robertson was someone to look up to,” said a member of the Class of 2015 “ I will always remember Dr. Robertson as a mentor who brought out the best in each of his students. He helped shape us into the professionals we have become,” said a member of the Class of 2013.
Top photo by America Quintero
Students volunteer for the Bone Marrow booths around campus with staff from CamcoUnite
Bottom photo by Crystal Zamarron
IEP,
continued from page 1
is around $179 million, the number has been adjusted to reflect the actual student enrollment for the year. “I will say that we have seen a massive growth in our student enrollment, and in fact that has a $1.3 million impact projecting to the end of the year.” “We will be lucky to break even if we don’t take certain actions,” was Kurapati’s advice to the audience. The strategic investments that he proposed was moving merchandise production to our university instead
of outsourcing it to foreign entities, hiring a contract manager, which he believes could be very difficult with the current hiring freeze. The opportunities Kurapati discussed were implementing the new HELIOS system, an electronic human resource system. The new music building was briefly discussed during the financial breakdown, the money having been provided by the state in the last legislative session. Dr. Walker presented on networking with current
and past Javelinas. Javelina FANS is entwined with Texas A&M University-Kingsville Alumni Association. Where students learn how to be take part of the association and soon become leaders of the association after they graduate. Goals are to increase alumni participating and gain more donors. Offer many volunteer opportunities for interested donors. Reach the orientation of the foundation trustees and enhancing the quality of the giving programs. Increase the assets and the support that comes to the university.
Campus
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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2017 SOUTHTEXANNEWS.COM
Across the pond
Alum accepted to Cambridge University Alex Guerra Chief Reporter Five years ago, Eduardo Hernandez never would have believed that he would one day be offered the chance to further pursue his education on the East Coast. Hernandez, a Texas A&M University-Kingsville criminology graduate student, received the opportunity of a lifetime when he received an email from the University of Cambridge in January. From humble beginnings, Hernandez saw how his family made sacrifices in order for him to achieve the best education possible. This meant one parent holding down the fort in Tamaulipas, Mexico, while the other moved to Brownsville, TX alongside him. The goal was to expand on his literacy skills. He began working at the University Writing Center a year and a half ago and was motivated by Dr. Sunny Hawkins, the former director, to join the staff not only help other students, but to help himself grow academically. At the time, Hernandez only had developmental and intensive writing courses under his belt. He was able to integrate multiple style formats into his own writing, as well as better serve students with disabilities who seek assistance. As of now, Hernandez is a writing consultant for both undergraduate and graduate students for the Writing Center.
He has compassion for everyone who walks into the center because he was once a foreign student struggling to improve his education. To be able to overcome those obstacles and now be on the other side of the table keeps Hernandez humble. He views his journey as a blessing and is immensely grateful.
Courtesy photo
Hernandez, was accepted to the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom.
“It was very difficult. My father always told me, ‘The more you learn, the more you earn’, and not necessarily economically, but emotionally and psychologically,” Hernandez said. Three professors: Dr. Alberto Rodriguez, assistant history professor; Dr. Barbara Cooke, assistant criminology professor; and Dr. Stanley Hodges, criminology associate professor are credited by Hernandez for shaping his future. Rodriguez symbolized what it means to be a Hispanic in South Texas Hernandez said. Those professors took
him under their wing and encouraged him to never give up on dreams. Cooke is actually alum from the University of Cambridge’s Girton College, the same college where Hernandez was accepted. It was the professors’ influence that encouraged Hernandez to apply to the prestigious university in spite of his looming doubts. Landy Garcia, civil engineer and fellow writing consultant, affirmed that Hernandez’s work ethic is unlike any other. “We’re more than just co-workers…we’re more of friends who happen to work in the same place…He is so smart and dedicated, and I’m happy to see him enjoying these opportunities. He deserves it,” said Garcia. Hernandez previously participated in a study abroad program where he had the opportunity to observe all aspects of criminology on an international level. He hopes to one day apply that knowledge back into the Rio Grande Valley area and inspire young students to keep pursuing big dreams.
Courtesy photo
Hernandez is a criminology graduate.
Writing center students attend conference Dakota Roberts Editorial Editor
Finding one’s voice is one of the most liberating moments in a person’s life. However, stumbling across this moment can be rather difficult. So, whenever someone is able to aid in bringing about this epiphany, just like Alexander the Great cutting that infamous knot, it can be a godsend. This is the role Texas A&M University-Kingsville’s own Writing Center has now accepted with students and their papers all semester long. Opportunities abound, the Writing Center wishes to teach students the basic principles of grammar and writing so that they can express their thoughts more clearly. The center welcomes all: good writers, bad writers, those with disabilities, and especially those looking to learn English. Everyone that enters the Library’s second floor offices will be greeted with a welcoming face and an opportunity to learn and sharpen their tools for writing. On Feb. 17, the students of the center left for the campus of University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley to participate in the 2017 South Central Writing Center’s Association Conference. The team of tutors developed a proposal based on their own teaching experiences and left to Edinburg, Texas for a day of discussion. The conference had writing centers from Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma,
and Texas, come together to discuss resources and techniques promoting smoother education. The team of tutors listened to the keynote address given by Dr. Rebecca Hallman Martini, the Writing Center Coordinator at Salem State University, and then headed out to the scheduled panels. With the Director of the TAMUK Writing Center Dr. Steven Corbett, Javelina Nations own led a panel on working with students that have learning disabilities. Five students also had a hand in a Round Table style conference, wherein tutors Katherine Villarreal, education major, and Marshall Walston, business management major, shared their proposal that they co-wrote together. “I came up with the idea of basically promoting more efficient methods or basically just discussing what would it be like to work with someone with disabilities or ESL… A lot of good feedback from people, a lot of the students at their schools that come with disabilities and what they do to accommodate them with their resources,” Villarreal said about her round table discussion. Luis Villlasana, a graduate student who specializes in teaching ESL students, also sat in on the round table discussion. Villasana shared with the South Texan how he decides to tackle tutoring ESL students. “First of all, one of the things I would explain to them is basically just [to] share my experience with them, that I am also an ESL
student,” said Villasana. “That, they shouldn’t feel overwhelmed with the language and that we should patiently review and explain not just their assignment, but for them to feel comfortable speaking and even writing it… My experience I shared in the conference is that [students] tend to drag a little bit, that they might take a couple of weeks to address the issue, but they become more comfortable and they become like your friend.” This welcoming tone reflects a lot of the philosophy of the Writing Center. For instance, after lessons, the tutors will provide a survey so that the student may explain whether or not they felt comfortable participating in lessons. Villasana believes, “its practice, students need to realize that it’s all practice. You can’t just come one day and I think they just need to realize that if they believe in themselves they can do it. People come in here all discouraged saying, ‘I’m just not a good writer, I’m not a good this.’ That doesn’t matter, we can still work with you.” Unfortunately, due to the school’s recent budget cuts, the team did not get to stay at the conference long; missing out on panels. Don’t fret, as the workers at the Writing Center have plenty more conferences to go to; the most exciting coming sometime in November, where they will travel to Chicago. Having taught and been taught, the writing center is opened to all. Simply make an appointment and head to Jernigan Hall Room 217.
Photo by Clarissa Madrigal
Dr. Karen Freedle gave an in-depth presentation discussing Turner Syndrome and how it impacts women in the workplace.
DISABILITY & FEMININITY
Clarissa Madrigal Reporter
What does it mean to be a woman living with one X chromosome, or in other words, Turner Syndrome? Speaker Karen A. Freedle, MD MPH, could give you descriptive insight because she has this disease. Turner Syndrome is a genetic alteration where women who lack the presence of an X chromosome are unable to physically develop properly. The abnormality has to be treated with estrogen therapy treatments. At this time, there is no cure. The Women and Gender Studies Conversations Series were presented on Feb. 17. The series took place in the Blue Room, located in Sam Fore Hall. The series was about “Disability and Femininity”, especially about Turner
Syndrome. Freedle knows exactly what this syndrome is about from her personal experience. Students and faculty were able to attend to the event, as well as participate in a question and answer segment after the presenter finished her lecture. This allowed spectators to learn more about this disease. All the people who attended were able to know more about Turner Syndrome. “The event was interesting. Dr. Karen A. Freedle was vibrant and bouncy. She had a lot of information to share, backed up anecdotally and statistically. Kept my attention the whole time,” said Andrew Garza, Political Science and Business Management major. William Wright, a business major knows much more of this topic because his wife had Turner Syn-
drome too. “ I’ve been there with someone that has Turner Syndrome for 20 years so I know just about everything that she was talking [about], but is nice to hear somebody else because they can understand, it is a lot of things, it is a disability and people can understand of what [this is],” Wright said. Charles Tandy, a mechanical engineering major said that this event was important for students and the community because he has never heard of this syndrome before. The Women and Gender Studies Conversation takes place every month in the same place, with different topics of discussion and different speakers. For more information, on the series contact: Susan Roberson at (361) 593-2012 or susan.roberson@tamuk. edu.
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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2017 SOUTHTEXANNEWS.COM
Opinion
Life, Liberty, and Property Taxes Dakota Roberts Editorial Editor
I liked high school, but not for the skills it taught me. I know, that seems like I really missed the point. It is almost on the same lines of me saying, “I like bakeries but not for the desserts,” or, “I’m fond of going to church but not to worship God.” However, I can’t help but think this; feel like this. For what in retrospect was an extremely brief moment of my life, I knew and interacted with more people on a daily basis then I ever will again. My graduating class was minuscule compared to some high schools, only around a hundred. Yet, I knew everyone of their names, had interacted at some degree with every person and I stood shoulder-to-shoulder with in our last hour together that graduating night. We were a part of a network of gossipers, a team of miscreants, a gaggle of stupid high schoolers who didn’t always get along but empathized with one another over all our experiences at that one institution, Bishop High School. We all knew which subs were petty, who wanted to fight who, what lunch meats to avoid (it was the Salisbury steak). If you were to ask me what I got out of high school, it was this; people learning what it’s like to interact with one another. Yet, despite that, there is something insidious about high school. In a treacherous, crafty way, children can get lost in these places, especially when the system is gerrymandered. Right now, as you are reading this, 3.1 million teachers are teaching 74.6 million students at any of the 98,810 public schools in the United States. Not only is this scale monstrous in its own right, but it’s also constantly changing from state-to-state. Currently, in Texas, education is funded through all three levels of government- federal, state, and local. Funding begins at the state level, where the legislature decides how much the treasury will spend per student. During the 2014-2015 year, that number was $9,559 per student. At the time the national average was $12,040 per student, ranking
Texas at number 38 in education spending. Today, we still hold that ranking, but spend around $9,561 per student. At this point every student stands on equal ground with one another. After the state government decides how much to spend per student, the local governments make their contribution through local property taxes. Property tax changes its effective rate from district to district. According to the Legislative Budget Board markup for the 2016-2017 session, the state government will pay around 38.4 percent of total funding while the locals pay about 51.5 percent; the last 10 percent being paid by the federal government. Having property owners shoulder the burden of raising money for school districts. This is where inequity comes into play, because not every school district can raise the same amount of money from property taxes as others. Let’s take a district like Bovina Independent School District, standing outside of the Amarillo area. A single school lies within the district that houses around 500 students daily. The school caters to a 97 percent Hispanic population, half of which are ESL students, requiring some extra time with English studies. The area is very much rural, the administration having to use job fairs in order to acquire teachers. Unfortunately, that doesn’t usually go well, on average, teachers stay at the school less than five years. Extra money given to districts is called a “weight.” These weights haven’t been updated since the 1980s, since the Reagan era. Many experts believe that these weights need to be improved four-fold, sometimes even as much as ten times. This becomes blatantly obvious in other school districts such as Alief ISD, where it was reported that eight in10 families enroll as low-income families. The school district is falling short of $1,300 per student to establish acceptable teaching curriculum. The elementary schools are having to close in the middle of the day, failing to provide salaries for full-time employees. This can be extremely damaging since elementary is
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Cartoon by Siddharth Tuplondhe
where these students build on language and grammar skills. Alief’s competition is Stafford MSD, one of the wealthiest districts in Texas, thanks to a local shopping center with high property value. Stafford, for the last few years, has actually been able to have a lower tax rate of $1.04 and still provide better funds to its school district. For comparison, Alief has raised their property tax rate to $1.13, and it will more than likely still rise in the coming years. The people close to Alief blame the local government for its rising tax rate, when in truth it is the state government skipping out on its responsibility to fund these children’s educations. The sad truth of the matter is that I can’t even cover everything about the financial system, not just because it’s such a big topic to cover on a single newspaper page, but also because only a few people in the entire state could adequately provide the correct information. Collecting transparency reports from the hundreds of school districts and analyzing their problems is a near Herculean task; one that would leave the ancient Greek warrior at a complete loss. Even the state legislature is behind on trans-
parency info, the most recent, solid numbers coming from the 2014-2015 school year. This isn’t just Texas; this is the status quo for the majority of the country. The biggest offenders being Utah, Pennsylvania, Texas, and California, and plenty others. However, you don’t really need these extreme cases to see where there is a problem. Schools are closing down fairly rapidly. Quality teachers are leaving poorer districts for higher salaries in more property wealthy areas. Schools are going into debt to provide the growing number of students with proper facilities; Hill county, Leander county, Liberty Hill county, Pflugerville are some of these districts, relying on extravagant bonds to pay off their new schools. The recapture program, or the Robin Hood plan, is putting more districts in debt, and our reliance on the plan is growing. Again, I wish I could talk about all this, but I just can’t; I’m honestly just not good enough. What I think I can do is this. I liked high school but not for the things that it taught me, not all the teachers were that great at teaching. I had a chemistry teacher who didn’t know chemistry. One calculus
teacher was right out of college and was learning calculus at the same rate we were. When I was in speech in debate, we didn’t have a debate coach. When we went up to the northern schools we were outmatched in every way. These kids were going to monthly debate camps with several of their teachers. When we went against them, our opponents believed they were better than us, and we believed them. The thing about high school is that you are a part of this big thing, part of a system that doesn’t hold each other equally. If you think your kids don’t notice that, you’re wrong. No matter the grades at the school or what the teachers say, the students realize that this arrangement won’t work for everyone and that to put your utmost trust in it is just a lie. The idea of high school is that if I do all my work, if I read all these books, abide by the rules, absorb every single uttered syllable out of the teacher’s mouths I will be this better person. Not every teacher is a hero, not every class is worth it. Some schools have vacant rooms, stuffed to the roof with broken glass and storage boxes. Some schools have students that hate
Victoria mosque fire causes concern
entering our country from other countries not present on this list. While I do not completely agree with this ban, the miss interpretation of this ban may not only cause people to reveal their anti-Muslim bigotry but also shine a negative light on those who support it and what it stands for.
Are we going to let our young people use this social network called “backpage. com” where young teens and adults are exploiting their bodies for money, or are we telling the young teens and warning them about this website? In my personal opinion we should be targeting these young adults that are on the street and on social media’s, by talking to them at a young age and informing them about the real things they may encounter as they are growing up. Being in college I tend to hear a lot about some of the students selling their bodies on this website or stripping even having a “sugar daddy.” When I hear about this website making 80 percent of U.S market for online sex ads in America, it’s kind of scary. So you say to yourself, “Is this really where I want
Javelina Nation, do you believe your high school prepared you for college? Yes
79%
No
21%
you for taking your education seriously; as if you are partaking in the Kool-Aid, being so gullible to listen to these campy, overly-happy, made-up people. Those students will hate you for doing things they don’t believe they will ever be able to do. This is the tragedy of education that I don’t think we like to talk about. There are kids that honestly think they are just too stupid to make it anywhere. I actually really liked my school and I believe education is one of the most important parts of a person’s life. It’s just people don’t believe they will make it far from their small towns that aren’t even on the Texas map. Kids look at their schools as a reflection of themselves, and that if they see these broken-down things with teachers who don’t know what they are doing, they will lose faith in themselves. They will look to these bigger, better-funded schools as the places where winners are actually made.
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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).
Crystal Zamarron- Editor-in-Chief Frankie Cardenas - Managing Editor Sebastyon Spencer- Advertising Manager Bobby Puentes- Circulation Manager Travis Demas- Sports Editor Dakota Roberts- Editorial Editor Siddharth Tuplondhe- Cartoonist Alex Guerra- Campus News
Dear Editor: I am fearful that the title “Muslim ban” will see a rise in hate crimes. Especially after the mosque fire in Victoria. Whoever caused the fire was looking to strike fear in the local Muslim community. After President Trump signed an executive order to ban people from seven Muslim countries, people have been flooding the web with this so called “Muslim ban”. It is a Travel Ban. This is not a “Muslim Ban”. It is the banning of refugees and immigrants from countries with terrorist hotspots. Muslims are not banned from our country. Even Christians, Jewish, and Atheists are banned if they reside in these countries. Muslims are still
Sierra Zavala TAMUK Student
Controversial site should be avoided by teens, young adults Dear Editor: I happened to come across an article in the New York Times titled “Every parent’s Nightmare.” It was about “backpagae.com.’
Staff
Editor/Chief Reporter Robert Breedlove- Entertainment Editor America Quintero- Reporter Clarissa Madrigal- Reporter Ashley Gonzalez- Online Editor Pablo Villanueva- Online Editor Dr. Manuel Flores- Adviser Matthew Ward- Adviser
First Amendment Right 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.
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to see my 14-year-old sister go into?” We should have regulations on what certain ages are looking at. One website can lead to a million views that can ruin a person’s life, especially a young person. This backpage. com website that I had looked into is not really something you would want to see any women or young teen on it’s degrading. So yes I think we are concerned about the wrong things reaching our children and reaching out to them may help stop them from continuing using this dangerous site. A mother that has no knowledge of what’s really going on. It’s up to society to step up. Taylor Guidry TAMUK student
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Sports
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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2017 SOUTHTEXANNEWS.COM
#12 Thomas Diaz
Columbia to Kingsville, guard lives basketball dream By Travis Demas Sports editor
Thomas Diaz is a 6’4” 180lb guard here for the Javelina men’s basketball team, but he is much more than that off the court. Born in Bogata, Columbia, Diaz was born into a basketball family. His father played professional ball in Columbia, and is a coach there. Diaz’s mother, Consuelo Gomez, is a professor and a former professional player as well. “I grew up playing basketball, my dad played basketball, and my mom,” Diaz said. Throughout his childhood, Diaz would always make trips to the U.S. to play basketball in tournaments and fell in love. So when given the opportunity, when he was a Junior in high school, Diaz finally moved to the U.S. alone, leaving his family behind. “My dad played basketball before and didn’t have the opportunity to come here, so he wanted me to have that opportunity, and
Courtesy Photo
Thomas Diaz goes up for the two handed flush.
Diaz goes one-on-one with South Texan Q: Since you have been here at Kingsville, what is your most memorable moment here? A: My Last home game against UTPB. Three overtimes, getting all the love from the fans, and the coaches. It was a very emotional day. Q: You’re an athletic player, and I know you like to dunk when given the chance. Every player has a dunk package, what’s yours? A: I’m a two-feet dunker. I like to bring the ball all the way to my
back and dunk it, or a 360 dunk. The windmill is my favorite dunk for sure though. Q: If there was a Division II Dunk Championship. Which dunk would you do? A: I would say an off the bounce windmill. Q: What type of music do you listen to? A: I’m from Columbia, so you know I like Columbian music and reggae. I salsa a lot too, I like dancing. Q: If you could play any other sport
besides basketball, what would it be? A: Soccer, I use to play soccer in Columbia when I was in middle school. Then I came here, and you know soccer isn’t as big here so I stopped. Q: Is there anything that you would like to say to your team as you move forward in life? A: I just want to say thank you to my team and coaches for being here for me. They are my family here in the states, and thanks to everyone back home in Columbia for the support.
Javelinas set for inagural season
Beach Volleyball gears up to play first game on new sand Travis Demas Sports Editor @TravisDemas The Javelinas have a new sport on campus this semester, Beach volleyball. The team is set to start its inagural season Mar. 3, by taking on Stevenson here at home on their new courts. “They built us a great facility. We have six courts and a beautiful layout,” said head coach Tanya Allen. The Javelinas new facilities will be a key factor in them having success as the Hogs will be the only team on campus to compete at the Division 1 level all season. “Coming from playing at a D1 school, I feel like I know what to expect and
Photo By: Pablo Villanueva
Beach Volleyball team practicing prior to their first matchup. I know it’s not going to be easy,” said Lexi Wick. The Hogs have been practicing in their new facilities since September, and although they are inexperi-
enced, coach Allen is confident that her team is ready to compete. “We have an inexperienced, but very physical squad. The more they play,
the better we will get. Each time they step on the court, they get a little better and I can’t wait to see them compete.” When asked if the thought of playing D1 talent every week intimidated anyone Lexi Wick responded, “I’m not too focused on the fact that they are D1, I know we are going to play some big competition and we are doing our best to prepare for everything.” Javelinas host their first game at home as part of the Newman Hall Invitational against Stevenson University on March 3. Make sure you go out and show your support for Javelina Nation.
Chico State 2-17 W 4-1
Softball
Mens Basketball
Angelo West Texas State A&M 2-17 L 4-11 2-16 W 76Arkansas-Fort 2-18 L 0-4 59 Smith 2-18 L 6-7 2-18 W 6-1 UT Permian Basin St. Mary’s 2-18 L 812-19 W 14-4 87
Womens Basketball
Softball drops series to ranked Angelo State Staff Reports The Javelina Softball team past weekend in San Angelo, Texas, where they would fall to the Rambelles in all three games of their opening series. Game one was a less than stellar opening stanza for the Hoggies, when a game that started in the Javs favor turned into a Rambelle scoring frenzy. Lauren Oatman had a hit up the pipe and Haley Boyett walked to put two baserunners on the diamond in the top of the third. Facing a one-two count, Victoria Schoonard-Saborio swung for the fences and raked in the seasons first homer for the Javelina’s as a whole, providing a comfortable early 3-0 lead. However, in the bottom half of the inning, a leadoff homer from the Rambelle’s Kenedy Urbany got the offense motivated, and the Rambelles would cross the plate twice to inch closer to the Javelina lead. One inning later, the Rambelles would get six across the plate with the help of a hard shot to center field that resulted in a grand slam for Karina Rocha, which gave Angelo State a comfortable 8-3 lead. Other than a Roxy Chapa dinger to right, the Javelinas would not be able to produce more than two hits in
the remainder of the contest. The Belles would score three more runs, providing a final score of 11-4. The following day, the double-header provided two solid contests, but the Javelinas would drop the remaining games in the series to No. 22 Angelo State. Game one lacked offense from the Javelinas as the Rambelles shutout the Hoggies and scored early enroute to a 4-0 victory. A short break, and a change of personnel later and the following contest was a thrill ride. The Belles opened the game on a scoring frenzy as the already hot bats brought in four runs, leading to an early lead. However, the Hoggies would fight back with the help of Rachel Longoria, who went yard for a grand slam to knot it up at the top of the fifth. The following sequence went from a Boyett walk, a wild pitch, a Chapa single, to a Randa Hatter double that put the Hogs up 4-6. The upset would be disrupted however, as the Rambelles were able to strike back in the form of three, and pulled off the victory with a final score of 7-6. The Javelinas will be playing their first home series in Kingsville, on Friday, Feb. 24. First pitch at six o’clock.
UPCOMING GAMES
LAST WEEK’S GAMES Baseball
further my education.” Diaz would get to the U.S. and join his host family in Lawrence, Kan. where he would finish out high school playing basketball, which would ultimately get him a scholarship to TAMUK.
Tennis
West Texas Trinity A&M 2-18 W 5-4 2-16 L 4970 Texas-Rio UT Permian Grande Basin Valley 2-18 W 63- 2-19 W 5-4 59
Baseball
Softball
Mens Basketball
Womens Basketball
Tennis
@ Texas Midwestern @ Western @ Western St. Edwards A&M InterState New Mexico New Mexico 2-25 at 2 Today at national 2-24 at 6 Today at P.M. 6:30 P.M. 2-26 at 12 P.M. 8:30 P.M. P.M. & 3 P.M. & @ Eastern 2-25 at 1 @ Eastern P.M. & 3 P.M. New Mexico New Mexico 2-25 at 3 2-25 at 5 P.M. P.M.
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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2017 SOUTHTEXANNEWS.COM
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