The South Texan The Award-Winning Texas A&M University-Kingsville Student Publication
Thursday, October 3, 2019 Volume 94, Issue 5 TheSouthTexan.com
TAMUK Volleyball
Dazzle the competition
Page 8
Page 6
Lady Javelinas lead consecutive comeback victories over the weekend.
The South Texan
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Kingsville students and alumni dazzled audiences and judges at CC7D.
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The South Texan
Big data leads to not-so-big tuition hike C.R. NEAL Editor-in-Chief University President Mark Hussey, Ph.D. discussed raising tuition and medical fees for students starting in Fall 2020 at a public hearing for students held on Monday afternoon. For the variable rate option, the proposed tuition increase is $113.12, an increase of 2.6 percent. This increase correlates with changes in the Higher Education Price Index (HEPI), which is an inflation index designed specifically to track the main cost drivers in higher education. Hussey requested an additional tuition increase of $150, which is based on 15 hours, to assist in modernizing campus resources. “The use of those fees would be to essentially focus on the deferred maintenance and big data. Big data defined in broadest sense is IT, upgrades to classrooms, upgrades to research labs, etc., but really focusing on learning,” Hussey said. The proposed increase would put tuition for the variable rate at $4,624 per semester, and the guaranteed rate would be raised to $4,855 per semester. The variable rate option means tuition would be adjusted each year based on the changes in the HEPI, while the guaranteed rate ensures tuition is locked based on the rate during the year a student enrolls.
Photo By Amanda Defrees
President Hussey addressing the public at the public hearing about tuition changes. The proposed tuition increases will not be subject to a student referendum like the medical fee increase. The university is also proposing a $10 increase to the established $57 Group Hospital Fee. Because this fee represents more than a 10 percent increase, it must be approved by students through a referendum that will be available from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday, October 8 on Blue and Gold.
Acting Director of Student Services Antonia Alvarez noted that the necessity of this increase is to meet the needs of students. “We are in the process of hiring a new counselor, but even then, it’s still not enough in terms of the needs of students. The behavioral health services that we see with our students... they come with more needs and the counselors are not going to be enough,” she
said. Hussey remarked that this fee increase will not cover all of the additions to medical staff. “There is no doubt that this fee is not going to solve the issue. We’re going to have to find resources from other places, dig into reserves in order to provide what we really want to have as a quality health product for our students,” Hussey said.
TAMUK continues to see drop in enrollment First in a series on enrollment. Spring 2016 marked a turning point for enrollment at the university. Enrollment had been increasing steadily, but quickly took a downward turn. According to the Texas A&M University-Kingsville (TAMUK) Office of Institutional Research and Assessment (OIRA), since the Spring 2016 semester, TAMUK has seen a 13 percent drop in overall enrollment using the latest enrollment data available from the Spring 2019 semester, which also indicated a decrease of 1.8 percent from the Spring 2018 semester. Vice President of Enrollment Management Maureen Croft has kept an eye on these trends, and is using the data she has been collecting to institute programs that seek to end the depreciation. “It takes a long time to do it right, to put something in place that‘s good. So the things we’re talking about, that we’re proud of, took months and months to work through, but we have a good team here that really wants to get it right,” Croft said. “This school
is going to be better off in terms of attracting students and retaining them.” Croft says the programs she implemented have improved student engagement with the Javelina Enrollment Services Center, significantly bringing down wait-times on the phone and in the office itself. They have also indicated areas of interest throughout the state, which helps them determine in which areas they should be focusing on recruiting students. Director of Marketing and Communications at TAMUK Adriana Garza-Flores sees the programs addressing elements of the bigger picture. “Some of the initiatives that Dr. Croft has talked about is really a small piece of everything that’s been put in place in the past year or so, and like anything it takes time,” she said. During the same time frame the 13 percent decrease in enrollment has taken place, the university has also seen a 3.8 percent increase in undergraduate enrollment. The real culprit of the large decrease in enrollment lies in the masters’ programs. Between the Spring 2016 and 2019 semesters, there has been a 46 percent
e
C.R. NEAL Editor-in-Chief
AMK ENROLLMENT DECLINE
By The NumBers ‘16
‘17
‘18
‘19
Undergraduate
6,219
6,205
6,347
6,463
Master’s
2,333
1,956
1,495
1,257
Doctoral
178
178
174
186
TOTAL
8,730
8,339
8,016
7,906
*Data recorded in spring semesters; Office of Institutional Research
drop from 2,333 to 1,257 for students enrolled in the master’s programs. This is largely attributed to the 62 percent decrease in international students for enrollment in master’s programs in the same time frame. Beyond the correlation with the timing of Donald Trump’s presidency, administrators are unsure what could be causing this trend to occur, and what they can do to rectify it.
“We’ve seen a global market that’s become more competitive as one factor. We don’t really know. There are surveys out there; there are lots of different thoughts on it. I’m not so sure we really know, or have a great handle on it,” Croft said. For more information, see the next deep dive into enrollment trends at TAMUK in the next entry of our enrollment series.
Thursday, October 3, 2019
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Campus
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Little Free Library opens on campus
Phi Kappa Phi members raise money to win book drive competition ILIANA FLORES Managing Editor Members of Phi Kappa Phi are working to improve literacy locally and teach people the joy of reading through a Little Free Library. Phi Kappa Phi is a national honor society with chapters on college campuses across the nation. Since 2014, the organization has hosted an annual book drive to promote literacy. The drive allows for chapters to collect books or monetary donations which can then be donated to each chapter’s organization of choice. In Spring 2019, the Texas A&M University-Kingsville (TAMUK) chapter raised money on campus as part of a national book drive. To the surprise of its members, TAMUK’s chapter of Phi Kappa Phi raised the most money and won a competition. “It was our first time ever doing it, so we didn’t expect to win. So, when we received the news that we had won it was like wow. It was a big shock,” said Kayla Canales, one of the Phi Kappa
Phi members who organized the book drive. Vice-president and graduate student Carina Villarreal attributes TAMUK’s success with the book drive to the generosity of the campus community who helped the chapter donate the most money. “Once they learned the reason, they were really supportive.[Since] there is an ATM here, people would say, ‘Oh, I’m sorry. I don’t have money,’... and then they would just go pull out money...we appreciate it,” Villarreal said. As a reward for raising the most money, the chapter was offered the option to create a Little Free Library on campus or a trip to Student Leadership Summit in summer 2019. The Kingsville chapter decided to create a Little Free Library. “It’s valuable because there is a lot of people who might not have the resources, like they might not go to the public library, they might not have a library card or something so that’s kind of just another way to get books and to promote [people] to read,” Canales said.
The little library is located in front of the Conner Museum and is available for anyone to visit. The library works on a give and take basis meaning anyone can borrow a book and anyone can put a book in. “The Little Free Library is a freestanding box where anyone can donate and borrow books in an effort to promote literacy throughout communitiesa prize that fits well with the Society’s love of learning and literacy,” a Phi Kappa Phi news release said. As part of the book drive, the Kingsville chapter chose to which organization to donate their money.
O n two different occasions, Phi Kappa Phi members tabled in the MSUB where they collected more than $360. This money was then donated to
the Kingsville Housing Authority Youth Center, an after-school program for children of families that live in public housing.
Gain new experiences The Blue, Gold and around the world Fame talent show Study abroad opportunities
BRENDA RIOJAS Reporter Studying abroad might be one of the most beneficial experiences to a college student, and provides opportunities in many fields of study. The opportunity to study abroad is open to all TAMUK students who meet the general requirements. The requirements include being enrolled as a TAMUK student, registered in a Study Abroad program and having a minimum GPA of 2.5 as an undergraduate and a 3.0 as a graduate student. Regional Director of University Relations at Academic Programs International Brittany Palmer said her experiences studying abroad were transformative. “I personally studied abroad twice,” Palmer said. “Those two experiences alone pretty much transformed my whole life.” After studying abroad, Palmer decided to craft her career around helping other students study abroad. TAMUK offers three ways to study abroad, which include faculty-led, student exchange and provider-independent. Organizers said the studying abroad experience is impactful and enhances learning and even creativity. Studying abroad is so impactful on a
student that it’s even known to give you a competitive advantage when it comes to applying for a job. On a study abroad trip you will learn more about yourself and the world, further your learning and engage with people different than you. Palmer said, some of the top skills you will gain on a study abroad trip are problem solving and the ability to work in a team and learning communication skills. Michael Martinez, a student at TAMUK, went on a faculty-led trip to Puerto Rico right after Hurricane Maria. On this trip, he earned his disaster relief training certification. “So he [Michael] can definitely put that on his resume,” TAMUK’s Study Abroad Program Coordinator Nicolette Dacke said, Dacke explained how Michael benefitted from this experience in Puerto Rico and how having this training would later benefit his career. She also mentioned that although there are requirements to study abroad there’s also a 95 percent acceptance rate. She encouraged the students to not stress about the cost, and to apply for study abroad scholarships. As far as military benefits, they also help cover the cost of your bill. Figuring out which type of way to study abroad will help estimate a cost and time you’ll be going on your trip. Dacke also recommends students interested in Study Abroad to attend the Study Abroad Symposium on Nov. 20th.
Homecoming talent show open for applications RONNI REYNA Contributing Writer
The Blue, Gold and Fame Talent Show has been a part of the Texas A&M Kingsville Homecoming schedule for several years and will be at 7 p.m. on Oct.22 at the Jones Auditorium. “The Talent Show creates a platform that allows TAMUK students to showcase their talents in front of a large audience which otherwise they may not have the ability to do so,” Assistant Director of Student Activities Loreal Robertson said. “It takes a lot of courage to perform in front of your peers and I commend the students and groups that sign up to participate each year,” Robertson said. Students must have a valid K number to sign up. The application can be found online by clicking the homecoming banner and scrolling down past Homecoming activity dates to see the Talent Show application. Performances may be up to, but cannot exceed, five minutes. Group acts are limited to eight people per group and at least one student must have a valid K number. Students can perform acts such as song, poetry, art, dance or
any special talent they may have as long as guidelines, that can be found on the application, are met and followed. A mandatory sound check for performers will be held, more information about it will be given at a later date. This year’s show will be hosted by Magician Joseph Tran. “Joseph will also do roaming magic during the Homecoming kick-off,” Robertson said, “giving students a teaser of what they can expect from his performance.” The Talent Show will include a raffle during which Homecoming t-shirts can be won, as well as other TAMUK-themed items. The judges will award a first, second and third place winner with a prize of $300 for first place, $200 for second place and $100 for third. “Winning is a different kind of an achievement; it’s humbling but it’s a reminder that it isn’t everything,” Ydanissa Gonzalez, last year’s Talent Show winner said, “I’ve always participated in talent shows since I was little and it’s always been fun for me, so why not?” Gonzalez said. As her last Homecoming at TAMUK she will be participating in this year’s show as well as other Homecoming activities. The sorority Alpha Sigma Alpha is the student group that helps the Homecoming Committee organize the talent show. They select the judges, schedule the sound check and promote the event around campus.
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Campus
Thursday, October 3, 2019
Loteria Night brings back memories Hispanic Heritage Committee hosts a night of fun and games
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Meet the Mentors
ARYSSA ENRIQUEZ Campus Editor Reminiscing on Saturday night traditions, the Hispanic Heritage Committee hosted a loteria night highlighting Latin American culture on campus. Students were invited to a colorful evening engulfed with Latin vibes. Cumbias echoed off the walls of Martin Hall, as students lined up at the nacho bar before starting the loteria games. Students gathered at 7 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 24 at Martin Hall to play the loteria. Loteria is Latin American card game, traditionally played with a large number of people in hopes of winning a prize. A total of 14 games were played, with prizes ranging from Apple airpods to Javelina gear. Loteria night was a trip down memory lane for many students. Students shared childhood memories with each other and other Latin American traditions. “Loteria reminds me of home, when my family gets together and we all forget [that] we’re in disagreement, but
Deveon Ollison is a peer mentor at the Center for Student Success. Ollison is a sophomore studying Accounting and is from Houston, Texas. Here is more about him. Photo by Aryssa Enriquez
Jorge Gonzalez, left, Amanda Ortega, center, and Beatriz Fleitas competing in a loteria tiebreaker to determine a winner. my favorite part of loteria night was when I won the airpods. I had been wanting some for a while… I think it’s important [to show different cultures on campus] because it is a way everyone can get together as a family regardless of race,” Lizette Ramirez, animal science pre-vet student, said. The Hispanic Heritage Committee provided students with an opportunity to socialize and enjoy a nacho bar.
Photo by Aryssa Enriquez
Students in Martin Hall enjoying loteria night with friends.
The nacho bar had a variety of meats and flavorful toppings. “My favorite part of loteria night was definitely the food, and everyone sharing a common thing that unites us as Hispanics. It made me feel like I am not alone and a part of my family was there with me. Tonight reminded me of a typical Saturday afternoon surrounded by my family…. It reminds me of my heritage and the way I was raised in a Mexican culture,” Sonia Jimenez, veterinary technology student, said. Loteria night reminded students of their vibrant culture and Hispanic roots. It brought flashbacks to childhood memories and a mixture of emotions. Students were anxious for certain cards to get called out to be able to shout “Buenas!” When someone finally won a loteria game, everyone would sigh in disappointment and quickly clear off their card for the next game. “I think it’s important to recognize local culture, but also recognize diversity around the university. The university works hard to highlight all the different cultures on campus, there’s Black Heritage month, Hispanic Heritage month, Asian Pacific all highlighting different parts of the student body,” Shea Pullam, member of Hispanic Heritage Committee, said.
What are your hobbies? I enjoy playing video games and going to the rec to play basketball What do you look forward to as a student mentor? I’m always looking forward to helping any student, especially the ones who aren’t mine. I love to see them exceed. What are your goals? My goal is to make sure that all of my mentees feel prepared for any situation they may face here. If you could pick an actor to play you in a movie who would it be? Why? Spider-Man in literally any Avengers movie, I love how funny and carefree he is. What is the best part of being a TAMUK student? I love all the opportunities that being here provides; I love the small classes and especially the community. I truly feel that every teacher and staff member wants me to succeed. As a mentor what lesson do you want students to learn? I want my students to master the art of problem solving. I think it’s the most important lesson that anyone can ever learn. You know what they say “every day is a new challenge.”
Thursday, October 3, 2019
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Opinion
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Pump the breaks on self-driving cars
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.”
BRENDA RIOJAS Reporter
Over the years America has experienced the evolution of automobiles. Automobile transportation has been constantly altering. In the late 19th century diesel cars were first invented and have led to the development of hybrid vehicles in the late 20th century. Now that we’re in the 21st century we’ve fast forwarded to self-driving The South Texan is a student cars. Recently, Tesla has made it clear publication produced by Texas A&M that new cars made by their brand will University- Kingsville students. The include a self-driving feature that’s views, opinions and commentary do called, “AutoPilot.” not necessarily reflect the views of the Of course, having a car’s features to Texas A&M University system. The be an extra set of senses while driving is important,but people have taken adSouth Texan uses student fees in part to publish. The South Texan is part of vantage of this feature and are falling the Art, Communications, and Theatre asleep or excessively using their cell phones at the wheel. Department (ACT), The Javelina In this feature, very little human inBroadcast Network (JBN), and the Texas teraction is needed to be driving. Intercollegiate Press Association (TIPA). In March 2018, a woman was struck and killed by a self-driving Uber car. This is the first known pedestrian to be STAFF
Photo courtesy of Youtube
Tesla automobile, self driving vehicle. killed by a self-driven car. In a case like this, who is exactly at fault, humans or technology? Although the car is designed to drive itself, there’s still a driver who’s responsible for being aware of any object or people on the road. We all experience glitches with technology, whether it be with our cell phones or laptops. Although when it comes to a car having the amount of technology and so-called intelligence to drive itself, I believe a driver should be more aware than ever. Other features like assisted parking and self-braking are rather helpful than
harmful to a driver and even pedestrians. Together, we should consider factors like security and weather problems first. Imagine if your self-driving car was stolen, the information of your locations would be leaked to the one who stole your vehicle. As for weather issues, if there’s extremely heavy rain or snow, car sensors and cameras might be covered and it might not allow your car to read a road sign. While self-driving cars are made and ready to use, I believe consumers are simply just not ready to drive these cars on the road just yet.
C.R. Neal Editor-in-Chief Iliana Flores Managing Editor Aryssa Enriquez Campus Editor
Technology affects petroleum energy
Dylan Dozier Sports Editor Jaylin Morales Advertising Manager Kelby Sprinkles Online Editor Reporters Jennifer Garcia Adam Pena Brenda Riojas Photographer Amanda DeFrees 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 University-Kingsville Kingsville, Texas 78363
ADAM PENA Reporter Petroleum remains the largest energy source in the United States. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), 14.02 million barrels of petroleum are burned per day by vehicles alone, and that’s not accounting for the total carbon footprint that comes from the consumption of other petroleum products in the private and industrial sectors. They are efforts to wean off of fossil fuels to reduce dependency on foreign oil and to produce cheaper, cleaner alternative energy sources. Some states have developed different methods of energy production; including solar and wind. At a glance, Texas is a prime candidate for these alternative energy sources. Our wide, windy plains are ideal places for wind and solar farms. Development of these farms over the past decade has seen Texas as fifth in the nation in terms of solar energy production, and first in wind energy production, according to CBS News. Further
Photo courtesy of imsider.co.uk
Petroleum energy is the largest source of energy. still, the Texas Solar Energy Society expects Texas’s solar energy production to grow by 6,409 megawatts (MW) over the next five years, essentially quadrupling 2017’s output of 2,814 MWs. Despite Texas’s stereotype as the land of gas and oil, the state’s production in renewable energy is nothing to scoff at. Some Texas towns are quick to adopt alternative energy sources, including Georgetown, which in 2017, became the largest town by population in the United States to be powered exclusively by renewable energy. “You think of climate change and renewable energy, from a political standpoint, on the left-hand side of the
spectrum, and what I’ve done is toss all those partisan political thoughts aside,” says Republican Mayor of Georgetown Dale Ross, as quoted by the Smithsonian. “We’re doing this because it’s good for our citizens. Cheaper electricity is better. Clean energy is better than fossil fuels.” As energy technologies develop and better storage facilities alleviate concerns about the inconsistency of solar and wind energy, Texas is set to be a leader in production of clean, renewable energy that will help lessen the dependency on fossil fuels and reduce the environmental impact of our energy needs in the future.
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Opinion
Thursday, October 3, 2019
5
Dream Team on the road to recovery
DAVID TELLEZ Contributing Writer Since 1992, Team USA has been nothing short of dominant, winning six Olympic gold medals and three gold medals in the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) tournaments. Ever since, the United States has been the heart of basketball in the world. Even when Team USA lost in the 2004 Olympics and 2006 FIBA world championships, the world knew it was not because of lack of talent. When you think Olympic/FIBA bas- Team USA, finishes seventh in World Cup. ketball, most fans associate it with U.S dominance. over. For more than a few reasons, I be- was needed as well. U.S needed size as However, on Sept. 11, 2019, USA lieve we will gain this title back in the they got out-rebounded several times would lose to France by a convincing 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, Japan. throughout the tournament, including 10 points. To begin with, the USA saw a lot of the elimination game versus France. This loss eliminated them from med- its own stars missing from the compeWith this being said, Team USA will al contention and put them at a shock- tition. Including stars such as James make sure to have more talented playing 7th-place finish in the FIBA tour- Harden, Anthony Davis, Damian Lil- ers compete come the 2020 Olympics. nament, which would be the second lard, Stephen Curry and many more Not only will having these playlowest U.S basketball has ever finished. who declined their invitation. ers compete fix these problems, it can Many critics have already claimed that Both Harden and Curry would in- make defeating the U.S way more difthe U.S is no longer the team to beat in stantly help in the shooting depart- ficult. Furthermore, Team USA will be international competition. ment as the US ranked just 13th in the hungrier than ever to regain the title of Others say that the rest of the world tournament as far as field goal percent- the best country for basketball. With is catching up. Despite this huge up- age. Reports have claimed that Curry critics saying the U.S is not the best set, I am here to tell you that America’s and Lillard have made plans to com- country, this will only motivate them. days of dominating basketball are not pete in Tokyo. Someone such as Davis Former NBA champion Paul Pierce
Photo courtesy of USA Basketball
went on the record calling out team USA. “The United States should automatically medal every year,” Pierce said. Kobe Bryant, another former NBA-champion, did not share Pierce’s judgment. “It is no longer automatically gold for Team USA anymore,” the former Los Angeles Laker said. Statements such as these will bring out the competitive side of NBA players and make the talented players who declined to take part in earning the title of the “Greatest basketball team” in the world back.
Man on the Street This Week’s Question:
“As a university with a predominantly Hispanic population, do you think we are doing enough for Hispanic Heritage month?”
Name: Izak Benitez Major: Criminal Justice “Honestly, I don’t see a lot of advertisement about activities going on around campus, but I really only go [to] my dorm and classes.”
Compiled by: Kelby Sprinkles
Name: Victoria Perez Major: Civil Engineering “Yes, I do think they are doing enough because I haven’t seen any negativity towards Hispanics. They are doing their best to make us feel welcomed; it’s one of the reasons why I chose to come here.”
Name: Jon Fernandez Major: Business “I really haven’t been on campus much, and I haven’t seen or heard of anything going on for this month.”
Name: Kim Safford Major: Criminal Justice “I have really only seen things in the Student Union Building, but I feel like advertisement should be widespread; not just in one place. A student should feel appreciated for their heritage everywhere they go, they shouldn’t just feel appreciated where an advertisement is located.”
6
Entertainment
‘The
Dancersons’ wows audiences
Thursday, October 3, 2019
Students, alumni win awards for short film at CC7D ILIANA FLORES Managing Editor Texas A&M University-Kingsville students and alumni dazzled audiences and judges at the Corpus Christi 7-Day Film Project (CC7D) with their film The Dazzling Dancersons. Current students Laurie Guajardo, Robin Machuca, Devyn Hamblin and Jackson Lewis worked alongside alumni Aaron Salinas, Heraclio Gonzalez Jr., Dylan Mendoza and Nikolas Villarreal to create a short film for competition at CC7D. The team received two awards Salinas received Best Actor and the film won Best Film Audience Choice Award. They also received four nominations - Guajardo for Best Supporting Actress, Mendoza for Best Supporting A c t o r , Salinas for Best Director and the film for Best Original Screenplay. Salinas and Gonzalez are the creators of Bridge Burners Productions and have competed in the film competition for several years. Guajardo has worked
with the production team for two years at CC7D. “Since they started, they have been really trying to get the win, and this year we finally got it... everybody who’s there watching it gets to vote on what their favorite film of the festival was, and we won. When the audience just says ‘no this is the film that we love the most,’ to us that kinds of means more. We just really had a great year,” Guajardo said. The theme for the film was good triumphing over evil or challenges. The short is a comedy that follows the Dancersons brothers who sign up to compete in a talent show. The brothers would compete in talent shows when they were younger, but after one brother was humiliated after falling on stage, they quit performing. Years later, the brothers decide to compete once again to prove to their rivals the “Stapled Thumbs” that they are not losers. CC7D is an annual short film competition in Corpus Christi. Teams are given seven days to start and finish a short film based on the theme for the year. Everything from the script to filming to music used and the final edit must be complet ed by the seventh day of the contest. Te a m s m u s t also incorporate four
Visit our website to see The Dazzling Dancersons at: thesouthtexan.com
Photo courtesy of https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kN4-cZOfDZw
The Dancerson brothers, played by Jackson Lewis, Aaron Salinas and Robin Machuca.
elements - a specific character, a prop, a line of dialogue and a random fourth element - into their film. As the team was on strict time constraints, coordinating everyone’s schedules was difficult. In fact, some scenes had to be shot as early as 3 a.m. to get their film done. However, working with a good group of people made the challenges worth it. “The seven-day film festival is a camaraderie. It’s about coming back to people who you work so well with once a year who have the exact same sense of humor as you, but who also have the same work ethic as you, and you just know how all of y’all are all so serious about the film and how you just put 100 percent of your heart into it,” Guajardo said. This year was communications major Robin Machuca’s first time Photo courtesy of https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kN4-cZOfDZw participating in CC7D.
“It was a fun time doing it. It’s fun to do something that is not stage acting. It was the first time in a long time that I did a comedy-based thing, so I think that was the most fun part, that it was a comedy and was something different in terms of acting. And, also it was fun just to working with Aaron (Salinas) and Heraclio Gonzalez,” Machuca said. Assistant Professor and the Director of Radio, Television and Film, Armando Ibanez has taught many of the students who were part of the project and believes there is more to come from them. “I was excited for our filmmakers, but not surprised at all. They are gifted, dedicated and work hard on their craft and art. Their future looks bright, and I know that they will produce many more award-winning films,” Ibanez said. “For TAMUK, our film students winning awards and screenings at film festivals illustrate that we have a productive and promising film program.” For anyone interested in watching the award-winning short film The Dazzling Dancersons, visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kN4-cZOfDZw.
Adulting 101: How to quit your job
ZACHARIAH WILSON Reporter Jobs, for the most part, are a dull, boring experience most of us must go through in order for us to quench our thirst for materialism and social status. They are mostly just a means for people to live their lives with some level of comfort. Lots of us would rather be doing something else rather than working in that same old uniform, punching the same old clock, doing the same old thing. When you have finally had
it with your job, knowing how to quit the right way can be crucial. We all know how tempting it can be to storm out on the boss that constantly nags you, or on colleagues that refuse to carry their weight, in a big scene of your own style of social justice. But it is also tempting to not do anything, and to continue to take the abuse and extra work to keep your income coming in. The good thing about this is that you’re not alone by a long shot and there are many steps a person can take to make their situation better for
themselves in the short term and long term. Rule number one, you have to pick and choose your battles. We all have or have had that cool job with the unbearable boss that makes life way harder than it needs to be. The lucky ones only have to see that unbearable boss once in a blue moon, which makes their job easier. The question is how good is your job relative to others, and do you enjoy where you work? If the positives outweigh the negatives, then you can’t flip out and throw a tantrum for every little grievance. So sometimes there has to be a trade off. It’s a case of “bad job and a good social life vs. good job and a bad social life.” That being said, if you feel like you are being over exploited or treated unfairly then this is the perfect battle to choose. Rule number two, the “two weeks notice” is your best friend. On paper it always looks good that you ended your business relationship in a pro-
fessional manner, even if it was not on the best terms. It also heightens your chances and options at having a good reference for your next job. RecSports Manager Jason Macias deals with the two-weeks notice process and has his own experience as an employee giving one. “I’ve never just quit a job, I’ve always put in my two weeks...that’s just me...I got tired of it, doing the same thing,” Macias said. He also deals with employees who quit in a moments notice. “I wouldn’t hire them back on... it was the communication, it wasn’t there... I’m thinking, if they put you in a bind like that will they do it again?” Macias said. Now if you cannot stand your job, it is advised that you put in your two weeks notice, for everyone’s sake. If two weeks is way to long to get out, just leave and say “good health and good riddance.” TAMUK music education student Ismael Lopez was one who could not wait two weeks. “I walked up to the manager and told him that I couldn’t work anymore....
How to adult continued on next page
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Entertainment
Netflix review: Big Mouth
Animated show depicts the realities of puberty Nick’s friend Jessie and Missy to the wonders of the menstrual cycle, random mood swings and anger spells, and the discovery of sexual desires as well. With season one and two ready to binge on Netflix, season three will be released on Oct. 4. After season two, the show left off with a Valentine’s Day special which Goldberg says will follow the story plot and is the beginning of season three.
RATINGS
100% of 100%
GABRIELLA MASTRIOIANNI
Contributing Writer
The era of pubescence is one that every person has to face when transitioning from childhood to adolescence. Also known as the most awkward stage of life, puberty is an unguided experience that we navigate through for a few years. Puberty is a natural experience that everyone trudges through; however, there is very little representation of teens going through puberty on any media. While there have been TV shows that capture the lives of teens growing up, only recently have there been shows solely about the experience of puberty. Such shows include Puberty Blues (2012-14), Newton Puberty (2015-present) and Sex Education (2019-present), and the animated series Big Mouth (2017-present). Big Mouth was is a Netflix original series that premiered on Sept. 29, 2017, with the pilot episode “Ejaculation.” Big Mouth was created by Nick Kroll,
Andrew Goldberg, Mark Levin and Jennifer Flackett. This animated series is based on the lives of young teenager Nick Kroll (voiced by himself) and Andrew Goldberg (voiced by John Mulaney). In Big Mouth, Andrew, Nick and their friends go on the roller coaster ride that is puberty. The show does not use any censorship to cover up the raw reality of puberty. Every aspect of puberty from acne to menstrual cycles to pubic hair to sexual desires is completely exposed for the audience to see. As Andrew, Nick and their friends stumble their way through pubescence, they’re guided by Maurice “Maury” the Hormone Monster. Maury is an invisible monster that causes the effects of puberty to kick in. He introduces Andrew (who hits puberty first before Nick) and sometimes Nick to various sexual desires such as masturbation, porn and physical desires with girls. Maury also has a counterpart named Connie who is a hormone monster for girls. Connie introduces Andrew and
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How to adult continued from Page 6
and they tried to keep me there...I was going to get a promotion, but I just couldn’t,” Lopez said. That leads us to rule number three. Always have a backup plan. If you go ballistic at work and end up quitting without another option to get income, unless you have generous parents who make good money, you will go broke, guaranteed. The job searching process is way too long, so unless you know somebody where you are applying, the process can take up to a month before you even get hired. Sometimes a backup plan is not an option given the circumstances. In that case quitting is not a bad option. Mental health can take a serious hit in a bad work environment and really flourish in a good one. It is better to feel free of a bad job than constantly stressed about work. Time in between jobs can feel like a vacation, but the key is to get back to working ASAP and keep on grinding. Rule number four, do not, do not, do not burn every single one of your bridges, even if you feel on top of the world. Burning bridges is bad, usually, unless it’s just a bad relationship. Burning a bridge means that a relationship is done for good, especially in the work and business world. Plenty of us are or will be guilty of this at some point in our lives. If you ever need someone to put in a good word for you or to help with a favor, you will need to keep those relationships aka “bridges” intact. TAMUK kinesiology major Manuel Rojas quit his job without burning his bridges completely. “I was an (umpire).... I just told them not to call me or text me, I’m done, I don’t want to do it anymore....it was just too much...the stress and the colleagues...I talk to most of them and I still see them around,” Rojas said. The fifth and final rule is to make it memorable. Yes, we all know the two weeks notice route by now, but it is often the anti-climactic way to go. This is how to memorably quit your job, aka “how to really burn that bridge because there is no way you’re going back.” If it’s because of a boss or coworkers that exploit you and make your work life a miserable experience, make sure you play along until they need you most then leave them high and dry so they can realize how much they took you for granted. TAMUK kinesiology major Patricia Tovar took back her power when she quit her job. “I quit my job....it was unethical circumstances that made me leave...I walked out during my shift,” Tovar said. Making a scene during your big exit is part of the “I quit” experience. That is not to say get yourself in trouble but as long as you are not harming anybody or causing an extreme and prolonged disturbance all else is fair game. Go ahead and throw the napkins in the air like Lebron James in pregame. Go ahead make that free burger with extra bacon and walk out singing showtunes. Go ahead and file a complaint with all the higher ups about your boss and colleagues that you were too nice to address in the beginning. Reclaim your power as a human being and as an employee. On a side note, even the threat of you quitting is enough to make some jobs show a little more respect towards you. That is why it is always crucial to know your worth and what you bring to the table.
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Conference comebacks for volleyball
Photo courtesy of Javelina athletics.
TAMUK volleyball celebrates a comeback victory.
Comebacks lead to LSC record of 3-1 DYLAN DOZIER Sports Editor The university volleyball team continued conference competition last weekend with two come-from-behind victories on their home court against
the Tarleton State Texans and Dallas Baptist University. The first game against Tarleton seemed to be clinched by the Javelinas, but the visitors stifled the early hot streak. The home team had the first set point of the night at 24-22, but Tarleton hit four points in a row to pick up the game win. Tarleton took the win in the next game handedly, 11-25. The second game proved to be the worst performance of the night by the Javelinas. It was also the wake-up call that they needed to catalyze a comeback.
Set three was a back and forth affair, with no team claiming any more than three points in a row and consisting of 11 ties. TAMUK held the largest lead of the frame, 11-8. The Texans would come back to tie, and then take the lead 19-17. An onslaught of blasts from Talleyshia Morris, Emily North and Meghan Merlino built up the home team’s momentum. Merlino would claim her 10th finish of the night on the winning point of set three. After an early point battle in set four, the Javelinas would go on a momentum-churning 8-3 run that was capped
Hogs drop first road game to Greyhounds
Third quarter lead surrendered on road DYLAN DOZIER Sports Editor
The Javelinas gained a 14-point advantage over Lone Star Conference foe Eastern New Mexico University (ENMU), but three costly turnovers led to the host team’s victory. Eight minutes into the first quarter, ENMU jumped out ahead with an 11yard jaunt scamper by quarterback Wyatt Strand. Strand would go on to lead the ENMU ground attack, accounting for 199 of the 515 Greyhound rushing yards. Blue and Gold kicker Romario Perez booted one through the uprights three minutes later to cap a 10-play, 62-yard drive. The freshman’s 30-yard kick cut the Greyhound deficit to four. After a 15-play drive, Greyhound kicker Tyler Vargas landed a 30-yarder of his own, increasing their lead to 10-3. Two minutes later, Javelina running back Kris Barnes evened the slate with
a five-yard touchdown run. The senior back would carry the ball five times for 13 yards. The Greyhounds would answer back on the ground with a 32-yard jaunt from Darryl Wiggins. Before the end of the second half, TAMUK back Luis Lopez added his own statement, crossing the goal line from six yards out, and tying the score at 17. Redshirt freshman Amos Coleman III ensured the halftime with a key red zone interception. Tempestuous weather on the New Mexico plains delayed the second half kickoff, but the Javelinas wasted no time getting to work, capping a fiveplay, 76-yard drive with a 27-yard strike from shot caller Cade Dyal to wideout Donte Ross. Dyal would complete 19-of-29 pass attempts for 255 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. The Blue and Gold defense shut the next Greyhound drive down in three plays. The fourth down punt was fielded by Ross, who carried the pigskin 48 yards for his second score of the night, increasing the visitors lead 31-17. This score would go on to earn the Palmdale-native Lone Star Confer-
Donte Ross cuts up field. ence (LSC) Special Teams Player of the Week. ENMU returned to the field with a vengeance, scoring 17 unanswered points during the third quarter. Strand and Wiggins would find the endzone again for the home team with runs from 19 and 13 yards out, respectively. Vargas capped the 17-point run with a 39-yard boot. Three minutes later, Perez added a 24-yard kick, good enough to even the score 34-all. But the Javelina kickers final boot would prove to be the visiting team’s final scoring effort. Strands found teammate Zachary
by a smash from North. The Blue and Gold victory sent the match into a fifth and final set. In the decisive game, the Blue and Gold jumped out ahead and never looked back. Never down, they pushed ahead to a 14-9 match point. The visitors resisted three straight services before Merlino sealed the deal for the home team. For the second straight day, the Texas A&M-Kingsville women’s volleyball team fell behind against a Lone Star
VB Comebacks Continued on Page 10
Photo courtesy of Javelina athletics
Fields through the air, who took the ball 10 yards across the goal line, putting the Greyhounds up 41-34. Five minutes later, ENMU’s Paul Terry added a 38-yard touchdown run, sealing the ENMU victory, 48-34. The defense was led by redshirt junior Tre’Michael Tutt, who set a new program record for tackles in a game with 22. He broke the old school record of 21 set by Robert Soza on Sept. 15, 1984, against Nevada and matched by Chris Hensley against Pittsburg State on Dec. 2, 1995. The Javelinas take on A&M-Commerce October 5 for the annual Throwback Game in LSC play.
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Larissa Sanchez Gonzalez and Carnecia Scott dash to the finish line.
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Photo courtesy of Javelina athletics
Women’s and Men’s XC teams blaze trails through Concordia Classic Yanez, Patterson pave the way to 8th and 9th place finishes for TAMUK SABRINA GONZALEZ Contributing Writer
On the evening of Sept. 27 the university men’s and women’s cross country team competed in the Concordia Cross Country Classic in Round Rock, Texas, at Old Settlers Park. The Javelina women’s team finished eighth ahead of LeTourneau, Angelo State and St. Thomas. The men’s team finished ninth ahead of UMHB and Schreiner. Top finishers for both teams were freshmen. Freshman Monica Yanez led the women’s team for the third event in a row, finishing 32nd in 27 minutes and 13.6 seconds. For the men’s team, freshman Devin Robles crossed the line at 26th with a time of 29 minutes and 35.7 seconds. For the rest of the women’s team, senior Victoria Jaime placed 44th with a time of 28:39.5. Junior Larissa Sanchez Gonzalez was close behind with a 46th place finish and a time of 28:48.8. Junior Lauren Rodriguez and senior Carnecia Scott finished the race one right after the other coming in with a 62nd and 63rd finish. Rodriguez posted a time of 30:11.9 and Scott finished in 30:12.4. On the other side for the men’s team, junior Jasiah Patterson logged a time of 30:40.1 to earn a 41st finish. Junior David Tellez finished a few seconds behind in 43rd with a time of 30:44.3. Freshman Matthew Aparicio came in 56th in 32:30.7. In his first race with the Javelinas, freshman Daniel Salinas finished 85th with a time of 36:52.7. Coming home with a ninth place finish overall for the men’s team wasn’t what the Javelinas had hoped for, but Tellez feels that when it comes time for conference, everything is going to come together. “We all did a great job staying together as a team; we still have to fix a few things but we still have close to a month until conference and I’m confident we’ll have everything together,” Tellez said. Javelina Cross Country will be running again Saturday, Oct. 5, at the OLLU Invitational in San Antonio, Texas.
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Ticking Clock for the Ocelot Scientists fight to save Texas brushcountry native SAMANTHA WOLTER Outdoor Columnist The Rio Grande Valley is home to an extensive range of wildlife. This area is home to everything from the protected Texas tortoise to pesky javelinas. While many citizens are aware of the vast variety of wildlife found in our backyard, many are unaware of the endangered spotted cat roaming around in the brush. This spotted cat happens to be an ocelot. Ocelots are small wild cats that range from 16 to 25 pounds. They are light brown and covered in brown and black spots. These cats once roamed throughout Texas and
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Photo courtesy of Caeser Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute.
Ocelots experience habitat fragmentation in the brush country. the United States. However, this is no longer the case as it is predicted there are only around 80 left in Kennedy, Willacy and Cameron counties as of 2018. It is believed that ocelot populations began diminishing because of habitat loss and fragmentation of their preferred dense habitat. Luckily ocelots are not going down without a fight. There are many conservation efforts going on within the state trying to conserve these cats and ensuring they will be around for years to come. Texas A&M University-Kingsville is considered to be the hotspot for ocelot research. Our very own Dr. Michael Tewes, of The Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute is an expert in ocelot research and has been studying this elusive animal for more than 30 years. Tewes has found that there are two isolated populations
of ocelots, the smaller Refuge population in Cameron County and the larger Ranch population in Willacy and Kennedy counties. Ocelots also have been declining because of vehicle collisions because of expanding road networks in the region. Thankfully colleagues of Tewes’ like, Jason Lombardi, a PhD candidate from Texas A&M University-Kingsville, don’t have an issue discussing the importance of conserving this species. In an interview with Lombardi, he stated that the most important thing the public can do to help this species is to raise awareness of the ocelots’ presence in The Rio Grande Valley. He has found that many people locally do not know what ocelots are, or even that they are endangered. Once we are able to build a grander understanding of the issue this species is facing, we can then go on
Meghan Merlino soars for the kill.
VB Comebacks Continued from Page 8
Conference opponent, then mounted a spirited comeback, capturing their third straight win by defeating the Dallas Baptist Patriots, 22-25, 26-24, 22-25, 25-20, 15-11 on Saturday afternoon at the Steinke Physical Education Center in Kingsville. DBU never trailed in the first set, but the Javelinas made the visitors earn the first game-point. After a 13-5 run by the Blue and Gold, the score was tied at 22. DBU would score the next three points to take the first set victory. After swapping the lead many times early on during the second game, the Javelinas found themselves down 1915. Casteel racked up five kills in a 7-1 TAMUK run that put the home team up 23-20. DBU grabbed the next four points, but Casteel, Morris and North pulled off the next three points to claim the second set victory for the home team.
to more extensive research. Currently. the university is working on ways to reduce highway mortality of ocelots as well as building relationships with private landowners who are the key to ocelot recovery in South Texas. With more applied research like these being conducted by TAMUK, this species has a greater chance of survival. With the help of researchers like Tewes and Lombardi, the ocelot is one step closer to recovering from the dangers of habitat destruction and road mortality. While we may not all be researchers, it is important that we are aware of the species and the dangers it is facing. We must advocate for the species and be a voice for them. Ocelots cannot tell us they are suffering, but we can make ourselves aware of their suffering and be the difference.
Photo courtesy of Javelina Athletics
TAMUK’s first lead in the third set came during a 4-0 spurt that included two Murff aces and turned an 8-6 deficit into a 10-6 edge. DBU wasted no time crafting a rally of their own to go up 14-12, and later 21-16 after the home team crept within one. While that difference quickly shrunk to two, the Patriots held on and moved one set away from a win following a kill by Brooke Clark. The fourth set was claimed by the home team, 25-20. An intense battle ensued in the match’s decisive set. The Javelinas broke an 8-8 tie with blocks by Morris and Kapri Pelle. After a three-point exchange, Jordan Wonders picked up a kill and pushed the set to match point, which was claimed by an Estrada kill. Javelina volleyball returns to conference play this week with away games against Lubbock Christian and Texas A&M International (TAMIU) and a second game against TAMUI at home.
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Hester inspires TAMUK to give Raise awareness/ donations for pediatric cancer patients KELBY SPRINKLES Online Editor For the month of September, Javelina Nation is being called to “UNITE in HOPE.” September was Pediatric Cancer Awareness month, and criminal justice major Alberto Oliveria III is doing his part to raise awareness on campus with the “I Pledge for Brooke” fundraiser. “All that is being asked for is to pledge just $1 in Brooke’s memory. When we think of the number of students, faculty and staff members that make up TAMUK, that’s the potential we have as a university to make a huge difference for a beautiful foundation all started by a sweet little girl, Brooke,” Oliveria said. The “I Pledge for Brooke” fundraiser is a part of the Brooke’s Blossoming Hope Foundation.
“Established in 2012, the organization is a 100 percent volunteer led non-profit. Over $350,000 has been donated to kids’ cancer research. With now 103,000 patients in 52 countries directly impacted with Brooke’s Blossoms headwear care packages,” Oliveria said. The foundation was created to honor the memory of Kingsville native Brooke Hester. “Brooke was a regular, happy, healthy little girl. Her battle with stage IV Neuroblastoma cancer led her down the path of hope to find cures, and we hope you will want to learn more about why her foundation exists to make a bigger difference for other children globally fighting all kinds of pediatric cancers,” as stated by the foundation’s website.
Brooke’s mother, Jessica Hester, is the founder and driving force behind her late daughter’s foundation. “[TAMUK]…can work together to empower a better future filled with hope for the youngest of heroes who need our voices, our helping hands and our hearts to care and make real change starting now,” Hester said. The proceeds help fund care packages sent to pediatric cancer patients and provides “critical funding to support pediatric cancer research and trials,” as stated by the foundation’s website. In addition to donating a dollar, Javelinas can purchase t-shirts that support the foundation. “Individuals can buy a shirt to support the cause that costs $15 and was made by Luis Leal who is a Ewing’s
Contributed Photo
Brooke Hester
Sarcoma survivor,” said biomedical science major Dustyn Naldoza. Oliveria and other student volunteers promote the fundraiser and collect donations by tabling in the SUB on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 11 to 2 p.m. and Tuesday and Thursday from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. “The ‘I Pledge for Brooke’ fundraiser started this past Spring semester of 2019. It is my hope to continuously have Brooke’s fundraiser every semester thereafter,” Oliveria said.
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Exploring India through education ADAM PENA Reporter The journey of students exploring the culture of India was documented and shared with other students on Sept. 26 in Rhode Hall. A documentary depicted students venturing into the daily life of India, as they explored local culture, cuisine and government. Director of Political Science and Global Programs, Dr. Nirmal Goswami and a group of students showcased their documentary to a group of attendees, including the university president Dr. Mark A Hussey.
The documentary, measuring about an hour and 20 minutes in length, stars the seven students who attended the 2019 Bhutan-India Studies Program alongside Dr. Goswami. Students in the film included Kaley Dodd, Su-Yin Davison, Richard Kaiser, Nicolas Sotello, Natasha Lara, Jodi Swaenepoel and Katrina Sacurom. The Bhutan-India Studies Program (BISP) is a cooperative venture between Texas A&M University-Kingsville, the Royal Thimphu College in Bhutan and DelhiByLocals, a private Indian organization. “I am honored to be able to continuously provide this program after all these years,” Goswami said. “I am
very grateful for [the Royal Thimphu College’s and DelhiByLocal’s] cooperation in making this possible.” The documentary catalogs the journey to the small mountainous country of Bhutan, nestled between China to the north and India to the south. The film captures students’ impressions of the Royal Thimphu College and their experiences with the local people, customs and government set against the backdrop of the towering Himalayas. After spending eight days in Bhutan, the group then flew to New Delhi; the capital of India. The film captures the transition from the temperate, mountainous climate of
Bhutan to the hot streets of New Delhi in the midst of summer. Students were able to explore the history and culture throughout India as they visited the Taj Mahal, a massive marble mausoleum built in the mid17th century and considered one of the seven wonders of the world. “A better work ethic is what I brought back from study abroad… It was very trying in terms of our endurance physically, emotionally, and all the challenges we would face. Coming back that [work ethic] certainly helped me improve as a student in my studies and extra-curricular activities,” student participant Sacurom said of the BISP program.
Indian students celebrate Navratri At Garba Night 2019, Indian students celebrated Navratri, one of the most sacred festivals in Hinduism. During the event participants performed the Gujarati Folk dance to worship Goddess Durga or Shakti.
Talent Needed 3 Seeking
experienced university folklorico dancers to perform at local events. 3 Seeking
a student instructor to work with middle school and high school aged dancers. m m
Photos by Kelby Sprinkles
No membership fees Group meets on Sunday afternoons
For more information please contact Cristina Briseño at 361-455-6989