INSIDE
Javelinas go ‘mad’ for basketball kickoff event...Page 7
Texas A&M University-Kingsville
The South Texan
Volume 93, Issue 10
thesouthtexan.com
Annual economic forum highlights Kleberg’s growing economy ARYSSA ENRIQUEZ Reporter
Photos by Darcy Ramirez
Kingsville citizens admiring the altars for Dia de los Muertos.
Remember Me, Día de los Muertos pays tribute to loved ones DARCY RAMIREZ Editor-in-Chief Coco got it right. “Our memories, they have to be passed down by those who knew us in life – in the stories they tell about us.” Día de los Muertos—the Day of the Dead—was celebrated in Kingsville from Nov. 1 to Nov. 2 at the recently bought Totes & Things building located at 400 E. Kleberg Ave. Community members, natives, alumni and current students from Texas A&M University-Kingsville helped celebrate Día de los Muertos which honors the dead with celebrations that combine indigenous rituals with Catholicism. Día de los Muertos recognizes death as a natural part of the human
Thursday, November 8, 2018
process. It is believed that on Nov. 1 and Nov. 2 loved ones who have passed away can visit their family members in the living realm. For Día de los Muertos living family members and friends celebrate the lives of loved ones by setting up altars, making food, drinks, throwing parties and participating in activities their loved ones enjoyed when they were alive. Many citizens of Kingsville set up altars in honor of various family members who have passed. Names such as Garza, Alvarado, Flores, Padilla, Nuestras, any many others surrounded picture frames, flowers, foods, candles, and other ofrendas and gifts. Family members cried, laughed, smiled and basked as people of all
Altars continued on Page 12
On Thursday, Nov. 1, the College of Business Administration hosted its annual economic forum the eighth year in a row. The 2018 economic forum provided insightful data concerning regional economic growth in Kleberg County. Dr. Thomas Krueger with the College of Business Administration presented intriguing demographic data and presented a detailed analysis in comparisons to neighboring counties including Aransas and Starr. Data was then reinforced when compared to Texas and then the United States. Guest speakers and a panel of professionals were also able to aid any individuals who are interested in starting a small business. Angela R. Burton, district director of the Small Business Administration - lower Rio Grande Valley presented “SBA is your Ally.” During her presentation she advised and provided the audience with the best way to initiate a small business and directed them towards the SBA website for more information. Burton was also able inform the audience about different ways to proceed in regards to funds and how to get federal support. “This is a wonderful opportunity to get information, I love data. Data is important for decision making.
I’m glad Dr. Krueger and the College of Business does this for the Kleberg community,” Burton said. Business is expanding in the Kleberg County as is evident with the unemployment rate dramatically decreasing from 8.2 percent to 4.9 percent over the past seven years. The cost of living in Kleberg County is 79 percent of the national average. Knowing economic indicators and identifying economic trends is vital when starting a business. Therefore, it is essential for business owners or small entrepreneurs to get involved and exposed to this type of information. “The purpose of an event like this is to get involved and exposed to different information. There’s more than just the campus life, and it’s important for the young people to know of all these opportunities. The Business Economic Forum offers multiple opportunities for community involvement and exposure to knowledge on how to start a business,” said Lucy Perez, employee of the local Chamber of Commerce. Dr. Krueger offered help to those seeking to start a business. “We will work with you and confide and cultivate ideas to expand and make your economic business grow to its full potential. Simply remember every business once started with a dream,” said Krueger, professor of Innovation in Business Educations and Chair.
Photo by Aryssa Enriquez
College of Business Administration hosted its annual forum.
Page 2 - Campus
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Thursday, November 8, 2018
Club of the Week- Secular Student Alliance Secular group allows for students to openly express their beliefs ILIANA FLORES Managing Editor With eye-catching flyers scattered around campus, the Secular Student Alliance (SSA) is bringing attention to the secular community at Texas A&M University- Kingsville (TAMUK). SSA is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting atheist, humanist, and other non-theist students. This organization focuses on empowering secular students to feel comfortable and confident in expressing their identity, building welcoming communities and promoting secular values and activism. Beginning this semester, SSA has an official chapter at TAMUK. The group was started to have a place for secular students on campus to fellowship with others who share similar beliefs. “I just feel like as atheist and secular students we’re not really represented on campus. There’s a lot of religious organizations, but nothing specifically for us. There’s people who are secular that want to help the community, we want to find a group that we can do that with without having to necessarily say that we’re Christian or Catholic,” SSA President Ariana Barboza said. The club holds meetings at 7 p.m. every Monday in Eckhardt Hall in room 101. At their meetings, SSA members have discussions about various topics where students with different beliefs can share their opinions in a judgement free zone. Discussions can range from how to deal with the death of a loved one to the ethics of choosing not to take a child to the doctor for religious reasons.
The group also discusses philanthropy opportunities on campus and in Kingsville. From finding a sense of belonging to learning about different beliefs, members of the group have various reasons for being a part of the organization. “In South Texas, it’s not very common that you see people or meet people who are atheists or agonistic... just non-religious in general, so I just feel like this is a good way to make people feel welcome here. Also, the discussions that we have are really good, they’re really mind stimulating. I love hearing like why people believe in what they believe in or what ideas people are on a lot of things,” Lydia Brown, the secretary of SSA said. For Kany Drame, the SSA treasurer, the place serves as a place for student to openly express beliefs. “We don’t all have the same opinions. We didn’t all arrive at being an atheist for the same reasons. So, it’s just really interesting to share that and I feel like Secular Student Alliance is a platform for people to share their perspectives while being respected,” Drame said. The group has also received welcoming reception from religious people with questions and other students who identify with the organization’s mission. However, on campus the group has faced small backlash such as having flyers vandalized. Hence why along with providing a safe space for students of different backgrounds to express their beliefs, the group also hopes to change people’s perspectives on atheism and other non-theists. “I want to be able to change the perception of what an atheist [is], how we are. We’re just like normal people. We’re not devil worshippers, we’re not Satanists, we’re just normal people. We just don’t have a set religion, we’re just trying to be good for the sake of being good,” Barboza said. Drame recalls an experience where
Photo courtesy of Secular Student Alliance
SSA flyer posted around campus. she misunderstood the meaning of atheism. When she was 15, someone mentioned there was an atheist in her town and she believed this meant the person was a “devil worshipper.” “I didn’t know that not believing in God had its own name. So, you know that’s an ignorance that to me is important for us to...work on in the community,” Drame said. While the name of the group does make the group seem as if only
non-theist students are invited, this is not true. SSA has members who subscribe to various religious beliefs, such as Catholicism, Islam and agnosticism, and invites anyone who is interested in learning more about the organization and engaging in stimulating conversation to attend a meeting. Students can also connect with SSA by joining their Facebook group called Secular Student Alliance at TAMUK.
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Page 3 - Campus
Teacher and Education career fair held at TAMUK DARCY RAMIREZ Editor-in-Chief
Teaching is not a simple 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. job. Its enduring, frustrating, rewarding and selfless. But the demand for high school teachers is extensive and vast. Schools are expanding, the curriculum is more difficult, and teaching is now becoming a shrinking field. But future generations need intelligent, strong and diligent people to guide and show them how to become productive and integral members of society. Texas A&M University-Kingsville held its annual Teacher & Education Career Fair from 12 to 2 p.m. in the MSUB Ballrooms. More than 30 schools all across Texas had booths, banners and brochures set up. The event benefits students who are seeking employment as an educator, exploring student teaching options, or looking to enhance their professional careers in education. Attendees had the opportunity to meet with representatives from various school districts and create a network of relationships while also obtaining information about each school. “I think when I was in the field and just seeing things that I wanted people to learn, things they should’ve learned when they were in school, like how to adapt in situations, how you should be social with other people. I mean you go out to be an adult and then you realize that you don’t know how and after seeing that I just wanted to help teach them these things,” said Shay Sicinski, assistant director of Human Resources
for Bryan I.S.D. The national average starting teacher salary is $38,617. This number makes it hard to attract the new generation of teachers. Many students are apprehensive to jump into the teaching field, but most of these fears are unmerited and being a teacher has many benefits. Teachers receive summers off, their wages increase with each year of experience, but most importantly they help mold and guide the minds of future presidents, police officers, doctors and engineers. Currently, recruiters are trying to target the freshly graduated generation and transform them into professional and adaptable teachers. “They [this generation] can relate to the students particularly the secondary students, kids who are closer and have the same interest as they do. And all the older people are retiring so we need to replace them, a lot of retirees now so we’re growing a new crop of teachers,” said Steve Cook, the chief human resources officer for Killeen I.S.D. The event was organized by Career Services, and was focused on helping graduates or students who are getting ready for graduation prepare and search for potential jobs and careers. The ballrooms were crowded with students ready to capture the eyes of future employers. “I never grew up thinking I was going to be a teacher but now being here at functions like this it makes teaching feel really important. I think I would actually be happy teaching because I think the stress and the bad times would be worth it,” said Suzanne Torres, a history major.
Photos by Darcy Ramirez
Students meeting with schools at the career fair.
Page 4 - Opinion
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Thursday, November 8, 2018
Brazil’s new president threatens the planet Bolsonaro’s catastrophic environmental policies The South Texan The First Amendment
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for redress of grievances.” The South Texan is a student publication produced by Texas A&M University- Kingsville students. The views, opinions and commentary do not necessarily reflect the views of the Texas A&M University system. The South Texan uses student fees in part to publish. The South Texan is part of the Art, Communications, and Theatre Department (ACT), The Javelina Broadcast Network (JBN), and the Texas Intercollegiate Press Association (TIPA). STAFF
Darcy Ramirez Editor-in-Chief Iliana Flores Managing Editor C.R. Neal Editorial Editor Plaserae Johnson Sports Editor Jaylin Morales Advertising Manager Reporters Josue Villarreal Aaron Monreal Kelby Sprinkles Adriana Palomo Aryssa Enriquez Adam Pena Zachariah Wilson
C.R. NEAL Opinion Editor Brazil’s President-Elect Jair Bolsonaro’s campaign has been eviscerated by the media. Bolsonaro ran a law-and-order campaign and frequently displayed homophobic and misogynistic behaviors through his rhetoric. After criticizing Brazil’s government during a 1999 interview, Mr. Bolsonaro was asked whether he would shut down Congress if he were president. “There is no doubt. I would perform a coup on the same day. [Congress] doesn’t work. And I am sure that at least 90 percent of the population would celebrate and applaud because it doesn’t work. The Congress today is useless … let’s do the coup already. Let’s go straight to the dictatorship.” Instead of focusing on all of that, I want to take a look at his environmental policies. Bolsonaro wants to eliminate protections of indigenous lands. “Where there is indigenous land, there is wealth underneath it,” said Bolsonaro during his campaign, furthermore vowing, “there won’t be a square centimeter demarcated as an indigenous reserve.” Culture and Politics writer for the National Resource Defense Council’s (NRDC) onEarth publication Jeff Turrentine denounced Bolsonaro’s policies.
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
Jair Bolsonaro greeting supporters at Salgado Filho airport “There are many reasons, in other words, to lament the rise of this divisive, authoritarian figure to the leadership of South America’s largest country and the world’s eighth-largest economy. But high on the list is Bolsonaro’s expressed desire to further open up the Amazon rainforest to agribusiness,” Turrentine wrote. “Such a move would exacerbate the deforestation of the world’s largest rainforest, potentially displacing more than a million indigenous people and degrading a globally crucial carbon sink.” Not only will the Amazon rainforest be irreversibly damaged, the impact it could have on climate change could put us all too close to the point-of-noreturn. Researchers Aline C. Soterroni, Fernando M. Ramos, Michael Obersteiner and Stephen Polasky estimate that the implementation of Bolsonaro’s policies could result in an annual loss of 10,000 square miles of rainforest, “a figure similar to the deforestation rates measured at the beginning of the 2000s and an increase of 268 percent from 2017.” In a recent tweet, Marina Silva, Brazil’s former environment minister, expressed her fear that Brazil is, “entering a tragic time in which environmental protection will amount to noth-
ing. The Bolsonaro government hasn’t even started and the backsliding is already incalculable.” Like President of the United States Donald Trump, Bolsonaro only cares about the economic gain his administration can bring to Brazil. Which makes sense when looking at Brazil’s current economy. Brazil is in a recession with over 12 percent of its population (25 million people) unemployed and an appalling murder count at over 63 thousand in 2017. That’s 175 deaths per day. The Brazilian people want drastic reform and now, and Bolsonaro has promised that at the expense of our whole planet. Trump pulled out of the Paris Climate Accords in 2017, claiming the Paris agreement was a deal that aimed to hobble, disadvantage and impoverish the US. Now Bolsonaro wants to decimate the Amazon rainforest and put the whole world in danger for a few political points. How long would Brazil benefit from increased agriculture and revenue before climate change would destroy everything? The answer is not long, and that’s not worth the future of the entire human race.
The importance of knowing my family’s story
Nicole Morris Adviser Dr. Manuel Flores Consultant
Photo Courtesy thenation.com
ILIANA FLORES Campus Editor Recently, I have found myself thinking a lot about my family’s history. I would attribute this sudden pensiveness to a speech given by Dalel Serda at the Women and Gender Studies Symposium that was held on campus. Serda was the keynote speaker of the event; her speech was titled, “Embracing the Margin: Advantages of Being the ‘Other’.” While Serda was giving her speech at the event, it felt more like a story, a story in which the audience was taken through the complicated yet fascinating history of Serda’s family. As she told the story of her relatives and ancestors, I found myself reflecting on the stories I have grown up hearing about my own family. However, at the
same time, I was also slightly disappointed in how little I knew about my family history. When I was younger, I spent a lot of time visiting with my grandparents. During these times, my grandparents would often tell stories from their life. As a child, I did not take full advantage of these moments and would just passively listen to them talk without ever asking questions or trying to learn more about their past. Now that I am older, this has slightly changed; however, if I am honest, I still never go too far out of my way to visit with my grandparents to hear their stories. Although I have not spent as much time as I should absorbing my relatives’ stories, the ones I do know help me understand why my family members are who they are and how this has impacted my identity as well. As the author of “This Book Will Save Your Life” A.M. Homes said in O Magazine, “Every family has a story that it tells itself, that it passes on to the children and grandchildren. The story grows over the years, mutates, some parts are sharpened, others dropped, and there is often debate about what really happened. But even with these different sides of the same story, there is still agreement that this
is the family story. And in the absence of other narratives, it becomes the flagpole that the family hangs its identity from.” For me, this family story was always about hardships. Sometimes these hardships were overcome and other times they were not, but in retrospect I see how the lessons learned from these hardships have passed down for generations. But there is still so much for me to learn. I am who I am because of my family, so it is important for me to be aware of the history that has shaped my family. Also, I’ve come to realize that while I may have believed my family’s history was insignificant in my life, it is in fact the opposite. One day, I want to be able to tell my family’s story as a way to inspire others but more importantly keep the memories of my relatives and ancestors alive, so they can continue to be passed down. For others, who also wish to know more about their family history, I encourage you to sit down with relatives and ask them about their lives, so you too can get a better understanding of your family’s story and how it has impacted your life.
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Page 5 - Opinion
Women’s health should not be a split decision
Women’s reproductive rights in the 2018 Senate election
KELBY SPRINKLES Reporter The 2018 Texas Senate race between Beto O’Rourke and Ted Cruz has garnered political attention comparable to a United States presidential election. Along with this political climate, comes the renewed and reenergized discussions of the issues currently facing Texans. In a state that’s partisanship lies 39 percent Republican, 40 percent Democrat and 21 percent no affiliation according to pewforum.org, most issues have the potential to polarize its people. This polarization hurts Texans by delaying and interfering with the legitimate political action needed to resolve the issue. Unfortunately, women’s health is a major issue affecting Texans that often falls victim to petty political party debate. According to the World Health Organization, the top 10 health issues facing
women today are cancer, reproductive health, maternal health, HIV, sexually transmitted disease, violence against women, mental health, noncommunicable diseases, adolescent reproductive health and menopause. All of these concerns for women’s health have been manipulated and used as ammunition to further divide the public. Of these issues, the most polarizing is the debate over abortion. In Texas, there has been a recent conservative push to restrict and disable women from gaining access to an abortion operation. As stated by guttmacher.org, women in Texas are subject to some of the following restrictions when attempting to undergo an abortion: “Most women must receive state-directed counseling that includes information designed to discourage her from having an abortion, and then wait 24 hours before the procedure is provided, public funding is available for abortion only in cases of life endangerment, rape or incest and a woman must undergo an ultrasound at least 24 hours before obtaining an abortion; the provider must show and describe the image to the woman.” In addition to the increasing limitations placed on abortions in Texas, the facilities that perform these operations are disappearing. “There were 44 abortion-providing facilities in Texas in 2014, and 28 of those were clinics. These numbers represent a 29 percent decline since 2011 in overall providers, and a 39 percent
Photo courtesy nbcnews.com
Senator Ted Cruz (left) and Congressman Beto O’Rourke (right) decline in clinics from 2011, when there were 62 abortion providers overall, of which 46 were clinics,” states guttmatcher.org. This issue and many other issues involving women’s health have become topics of debate during the O’Rourke vs. Cruz senate race. As a Democrat, O’Rourke has expressed his beliefs that women should have easy access to reproductive healthcare, birth control and contraceptives. “Ensuring that a woman’s right to choose is not compromised by limited access to safe and legal abortion services or family planning help,” as stated on his campaign website. In contrast, the Republican senator Cruz believes that abortion should be
heavily regulated by the government. He voted in favor of the current strict limitations on abortion in Texas. His campaign website does not feature a women’s health section. Despite Democrats having a more progressive, safer and inclusive view on women’s health, I strongly believe that women’s health should not be up for debate. The maintaining of my feminine well-being is not a partisan issue. Women’s health should be a priority of the government, and not something that has forced women to protest in the streets. My access to healthcare is not an issue that has to be voted on or requires an opinion. Women’s health is a fundamental right of existing.
Man on the Street This Week’s Question:
Equal rights for transgender individuals continue to be denied. Is that okay?
Name: Dana Bernal Major: Biomedical Science “No, not really. They’re just people, and they’re trying to have rights just like the rest of us, so I don’t understand why you would want to take those away from them.”
Compiled by: Josue Villarreal
Name: Daisy Gonzalez Major: Animal Science “I do not believe it is right. They are still people, and no matter what people say, [they’re] still a person. They should have the rights that everyone else has, and that shouldn’t be taken away from them just because they’re transgender. I know the Bible says man or woman, but you can’t change how someone is born.”
Name: Sabrina Garza Major: Agriculture Science “I do not believe that it is right. I believe that everyone should have equal rights and equal opportunity no matter what they or their beliefs are. Just because of their gender identity, they shouldn’t be restricted from [doing] things they want to.”
Name: Jerome Steinmetz Major: Business “No. Transgender people are people just like everyone else. It doesn’t [matter] what kind of person you are or what you feel like, you should be able to be considered, say, fit for service or use a unisex bathroom. I don’t really care about the labeling as long as everyone feels comfortable with it.”
Page 6 - Sports
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Thursday, November 8, 2018
Javelinas volleyball goes to playoffs
Team dominates in 2018, next matches will be at seasonal playoffs ASHLEY GONZALEZ Sports Reporter On Friday, the Texas A&M University - Kingsville Volleyball team (1813, 10-10 LSC) hosted the Midwestern State Mustangs (5-23, 3-17 LSC) and sent the Mustangs home with a loss. The match was a five-set battle which resulted in a large victory for the Javelinas. The entire match was a neck-to-neck battle with set scores of 25-18, 21-25, 25-21, 23-25, 13-15. The battle brought out the best of veteran senior, Haley Hutchinson, who is now the first Javelina to reach more than 500 sets played in a career and is now in the school record book. Hutchinson is one of the two only returners of last season’s volleyball team along with Madison Brabham. Head coach Tanya Allen gives most of the squad’s success to both Hutchinson and Brabham. “The seniors have carried us throughout most of the season,” Allen said, “both statistically and emotionally.” Freshman Mia Soto hit a new record for her rookie season by collecting 10 kills. Soto is a San Antonio native out of Southside High School. Game leaders on Friday night were Hutchinson, Brabham, Soto and Talleyshia Morris who collected 49 kills, 13 blocks and four aces collectively. On Saturday, the Javelinas played their last home match of the regular season and secured a win against the Cameron University Aggies with a
Players defending the Javelina home court.
Photo courtesy of javelinaathletics.com
3-1 final. Set scores were 25-23, 18-25, 2515, 25-23. The Javelinas gained momentum early in the first set and finally blew the Aggies out of the water after the third set. The Javelinas third set victory by 10 solidified the unstoppable momentum, which helped end the match in the fourth set. The dynamic duo, Hutchinson and Brabham, on their own contributed to a total of 32 kills. On senior day, team captain Brabham, with no surprise, logged-in her 13th triple double of the season. As per the NCAA website, Brabham leads the nation in the most triple-doubles in DII Volleyball with
11 season triple doubles. “Brabham is leading the country in triple-doubles, and her statistics have hugely contributed to our success,” Allen said. Game leaders for Saturday’s match were Hutchinson, Brabham, Morris and Kailey Estrada who dominated the court with 50 kills, 14 blocks and four aces collectively. Playing at home has always been an advantage for the Javelinas. The squad had an early away game streak in the first half of the season. That being said, finishing off the regular season at home had its perks. “I am very happy that we were able to have our last two conference matches at home,” Allen said. “It is certainly easier to play at home in this
conference than it is to play on the road.” The Javelinas concluded the regular season on Saturday and have come a long way as a team from game one of the season to the final season game. Allen and Brabham had their share of visible improvements that they were proud of. “All the of the girls have grown in their positions and we can see improvements all over the court. Personally, I have learned a lot about myself,” Brabham said. “As a leader, I have been able to fine tune my skills to end my career on a high note.” Allen gives credit to the freshmen players. “Over the course of the season, I’ve seen a lot of improvement in the freshman class,” Allen said. “They’ve learned a lot and grown within their given positions tremendously.” The Javelinas are going into the postseason with a simple objective and that objective is to win. “My goal is both encourage the team to play hard but also to play smart. I want them to apply all that they’ve learned over the course of this season,” Allen said. Postseason play is nothing new to Brabham. Nonetheless, focus has always been key for the captain. “Keeping everyone focused is our main goal [and] winning,” Brabham said. The Javelinas have their first playoff game at 12 p.m. on Nov. 8 in Stephenville, Texas, against the Angelo State University Rams.
Event promotes NCAA organization
Student Athletic Committee organizes community Trunk or Treat event
Vehicles parked along university boulevard for the event.
Photo courtesy of Madeline Maltais
ZACKARIAH WILSON Sports Reporter Trick or treating these days is a bigger worry for parents. At Texas A&M University-Kingsville (TAMUK), the Continuing Education Department and the Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) teamed up to give back to the community by ensuring parents their children can have a safe Halloween experience at TAMUK’s
annual Trunk or Treat event held Monday Oct. 9. “It’s an idea to bring the community onto campus...and show that we support the city of Kingsville,” said athletic trainer and SAAC adviser Julie Oberriter. University Boulevard is where many outside events are hosted and happened to be perfect for the Trunk or Treat event as well. “SAAC wants the community to
Children, families and athletes in costumes at the event.
Photo courtesy of Madeline Maltais
have a safe place for their trick or treating. They can interact with the athletes, get candy and even enter a costume contest. Each sports team is decorating the trunk of a vehicle to park on University Boulevard and pass out candy to the children,” said track thrower and SAAC president Madeleine Maltais. There were plenty of parents, children and young adults all along the boulevard enjoying themselves in the
spirit of Halloween and from the looks of the turnout, the event was a success. TAMUK strong safety Sean Landez was out at the event supporting SAAC and the Trunk or Treat event as well. “We just want to see all the smiles and costumes and creativity that Kingsville has to offer....It’s actually been an annual thing as long as I’ve been here and in SAAC the last two years...and it’s been a great turnout each year,” Landez said.
Thursday, November 8, 2018
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Page 7 - Sports
Javelina Madness comes to TAMUK
Students, athletes, community come out to support start of Basketball 2018 season LILLIAN MORRIS Contributing Writer
Photo courtesies of Lily Morris
Pictures of families and athletes at Javelina Madness.
On Thursday, Nov. 1, an excited Kingsville community and Javelina basketball fans lined up outside the Steinke Physical Education Center to experience another fun and entertaining night known as Javelina Madness - the kickoff to basketball season at Texas A&M University-Kingsville. It’s a night of pizza, basketball, cheerleading, T-shirts, games and a great time. The male and female basketball teams also got the chance to have a friendly competition with their fellow teammates. The Kingsville community in the stands also participated in basketball-related games and activities to win prizes. At the end of the night, Men’s Basketball Head Coach Johnny Estelle stood at the middle of the gym floor; surrounded by the men’s and women’s basketball teams and fellow staff. Together, everyone in the gym raised their hands and first two fingers; showing the J for Javelinas. Everyone stood united and supportive of their team as Coach Estelle stated: “Be proud of your university!” Javelina Madness is an annual
Mickens going up for a dunk
photo by Lillian Morris
community-type of event for kids and adults alike to introduce the teams. It’s a great event of support and pride for not only the Javelina basketball teams, but for the entire Javelina nation. The teams kick of their seasons this Friday and Saturday with the men traveling to South Dakota and Nebraska to compete against the South Dakota Mines and Chadron State while the women play host to the same schools at the SPEC. Game time is at 6 p.m. Friday at the SPEC and noon on Saturday.
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Page 8 - Sports
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Thursday, November 8, 2018
Center hosts volleyball tourneys
Co-ed, women’s and men’s intramural teams competing weekly AARON MONREAL Sport Reporter
The Texas A&M University-Kingsville Student Recreational Center is currently in its fifth week of the intramurals volleyball season. For this season, there are three leagues total that include a men’s league that has four teams, women’s league with five teams and a co-ed league with nine teams. Faculty members feel all the leagues are interesting to watch. “Our co-ed stands out more [because you obviously get more out of the teams]. [There are] more participants and additional modifications for the coed and it’s interesting to see people kind of commit to it,” said Carlos Diaz , the assistant director of competitive sports. While competitiveness is important the overall experience of the participants is most important. Diaz said the players and teams are making the most out of the sport. “Overall the teams seem to be enjoying themselves. It’s been going pretty well we just started week three [in the program],” Diaz said. Student on campus are saying positive things about the intramural sport as well.
“Well my friend plays on the co-ed rec team and she always tells me how much fun it is,” said Ashley Alonso a EC-12 major at TAMUK. However, because the program is fairly new there are still some things that the rec center faculty and staff are trying to improve. “We are still trying to work out some kinks. Our newer officials are on their way to learning what’s right and what’s wrong and finally seeing the rules we’ve taught them and to apply them out there,” Diaz said. Ryan Lewis, a kinesiology major, has attended a few games also asked about his experience with the volleyball program. “It’s definitely fun to watch everyone compete and some of the games get really interesting,” he said. Overall it seems the leagues are having a fun and successful season. If you are interested in participating or watching a game, you can show up at the student rec center on Tuesday and Thursday nights. There are two games each day with one starting at 5 p.m. and the other starting at 10 p.m. However, the week of Thanksgiving there will be no games held but the tournament will resume on November 29 with the championship match.
Photo courtesy of Carlos Diaz
One of the best intramural volleyball teams in the tourney.
Powerlifting team is hidden gem Hogs powerlifting athletes placing at nationals, gaining popularity ZACKARIAH WILSON Sports Reporter Powerlifting is an intense sport too often overlooked and not appreciated. Although they do not count it as an official sport at Texas A&M University- Kingsville (TAMUK), powerlifting at TAMUK has become one of the best and fastest growing programs in the country. “We have people from all around the country willing to pass up scholarships at bigger universities to join us....one of our guys, Thomas Soto, is ranked number four in the world right now,” president Mark Bocanegra said. Competing against all universities from Division I to Division III, the Javelinas won the powerlifting National
Championship in 2017 against Ohio State University and finished in second place in 2018. “We [competed] against Midland University....they actually offer full[ride] scholarships...have all kinds of equipment, world class coaches, and we only fell behind them by two points. It’s looking good for us for the next couple of years,” Bocanegra said. Some universities may have small teams and others have larger ones, TAMUK is in the middle. “We don’t have a huge team. We have [about] 25 men and three [women]. We’re definitely always, always looking for women especially,” said powerlifter Ashlea Rosenbaum. For anyone who is interested in joining the team, all are encouraged to do so sooner than later.
“We are now sponsored by Titan. So now there is a process as to who gets to compete for the university and get sponsored; it’s becoming more competitive now that we’re being recognized as a team,” said powerlifter and former president Nicholas Recio. For those students eager to join, the first step is getting in contact with the team over social media. “You just show up to one of the meetings, we’ll let [people] know on our Facebook page or our Instagram page. You set up a meeting date, tell us that you want to join, pay your dues as an organization to the campus [and then] we provide the entry fee for the meets, hotels and transportation. [You also need to] meet any requirements that you need for school and you can’t be older than 25,” Bocanegra said.
The powerlifting trophy from nationals
Photo by Zack WIlson
Thursday, November 8, 2018
thesouthtexan.com
Sincerity in a cruel world Carrey shines in Showtime’s Kidding
J
C.R. NEAL Opinion Editor
im Carrey flexes his phenomenal acting chops as Jeff Piccirillo, or Jeff Pickles, in Showtime’s new show Kidding. For 30 years, Pickles has been the man behind a beloved children’s show turned multi-million dollar franchise acting as a beacon of kindness and wisdom to the America’s young minds. “We’re really reminding people that we’re all innocent. We still have it. We haven’t lost it. No ‘Trump’ can take it away from us,” Carrey said of the show. At first glance it may seem as though Pickles is just an emulation of Mr. Rogers, but beneath the surface is a broken man dealing with the death of his son, Phil. Jeff and his wife Jill (Judy Greer) are separated, and his other son, Will (Cole Allen), runs with the wrong crowd and is occasionally seen smoking marijuana. Will and Phil are twins, and the writers have done an excellent job exploring the impact Phil’s death has on Will. As he is forced to watch his family break at the seams, Jeff looks for a way to cope with his feelings. He discovers that nothing he can do, or say, can alleviate his psychological pain. The result is a kind man slowly losing his sanity, which is as hilarious as it is heartbreaking. “He [Pickles] just goes the whole gamut from absolute desperation, and anger, and loss to just pure joy, and fun, and light-heartedness,” Carrey said. This is evidenced when Jeff buys the house next door to his wife and son. As he approaches the window above his kitchen sink, he sees Jill
washing dishes. We see him smile when Will walks by. The camera jumps behind him, and although Jeff faces away from the camera, we can see and feel the life drain from his body when he sees a new man hug and kiss her. In that moment the audience knows the very thing Jeff needs to get through the death of Phil is out of his reach. What is worse is that there is nothing he can do about it. In his anger he rips the faucet off the sink and throws it to the ground. By presenting the encounter this way, the director shows that while Jeff is mere feet away from his family, he might as well be on a different planet. Kidding expertly shows the divide between Pickles the icon, and Jeff the man. However, as the show nears the conclusion of its first season, the line between them has become blurred. The first episode starts on the set of the late show Conan, on which Pickles sings to the nation with his puppet/ukulele Uku-larry, one of the many puppets on his show “Mr. Pickles’ Puppet Time.” “It’s you who’s doing the feeling, and that makes it ok. And if you don’t know who you are yet, you can feel it anyway.” Later in the episode, he talks with his producer, and father, Seb Piccirillo (Frank Langella) about doing a show about death. Seb instead wants to do a show about colors and subliminally making purple the color for Father’s Day, as Hallmark requested of the show. Jeff doesn’t back down. “Kids know the sky is blue,” Jeff argues. “They need to know what to do when it’s falling.” The imagery and metaphorical language used by Jeff mixed with Carrey’s sincere performance makes the character feel real. Throughout the series a few fans meet Jeff. These interactions show just how much of an impact he had on their lives. When a man on death row writes
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Photo by vox.com Top, Jim Carrey potrays Jeff Piccirillo on Showtime’s Kidding, which airs Sundays at 9 p.m. Below, Danny Trejo in a scene with Carrey and “Uku-larry.”
to Jeff asking him to be there when he is put to death, he obliges against the wishes of his producer. Jeff takes the man’s wife and son to dinner with his family. He even gives the son a job on the show. One scene in particular showcases the attention to detail and creativity in the show. The scene, which clocks in at about one minute and 40 seconds, is a long and complicated single take. Guest star Riki Lindhome plays Shaina, a woman who is inspired to turn her life around after watching an episode of “Mr. Pickles’ Puppet Time.” In one take, viewers see Shaina renovate her apartment, exercise and celebrate her new life with friends. “We spent an entire Saturday choreographing [this] one shot,” said Cre-
ator and Executive Producer David Holestein. “It involved 50 crew members, a special built set with walls that flipped, and it’s just this continuous shot of a woman over five years going from drug addict to better person.” A video uploaded by the network shows a side-by-side of shooting the sequence and the scene itself. It is truly incredible to watch and changes how you view the show. A masterful performance by Carrey, excellent set design and brilliant writing all make this show a must watch. One moment you will laugh, the next cry and then feel inspired to be a better person. Kidding airs Sundays at 9 p.m. on Showtime, or it can be seen on Showtime’s streaming service.
Photo by vulture.com
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Thursday, November 8, 2018
Review: Robertson’s Live Fearless Story offers spiritual ideals, quotes to help cope with everyday problems PLASERAE JOHNSON Sports Editor In Sadie Robertson’s Live Fearless: A Call to Power, Passion, and Purpose, she tells the story of her journey and how she grew in the blood of Christ. Robertson highlights significant Bible verses along the way. I didn’t buy this book because I am a fearful person (But I am terrified of insects, spiders, crickets, roaches. ugh), I bought it because I wanted a reason to remain fearless of the world’s disasters and chaos and Sadie gave me those reasons. When I first pick up a book, I look at the design and layout. When I picked up Live Fearless, I loved the cover, fonts, colors and style of the book altogether. (I am analytical of the presentation of a book but I believe that just comes from writing my own books. Maybe the presentation isn’t as important to you.) Reading this book, I appreciated Robertson’s voice and graceful style. As a young woman in my mid-20s, it’s difficult to find those in my generation who believe in God. Sadie Robertson is not that at all. She is the confident voice and the angel on the shoulder we all need at times. I really enjoyed the tone of the
book because I felt like Sadie was having a conversation with me. I admire how soft-spoken and sympathetic she was. I feel like the book is written with the context that everyone can interpret and relate to. Whether you are in high school, a graduate student, or in your mid 50s, you can relate to the voice in this book. Everyone has their own battles in life but Sadie reminds us that what matters is that we don’t steer away from God when they happen. When I read a book, I usually highlight what is important or stands out to me because I can refer to it later. Sadie had a slightly different approach; she left space in the back of the book for note-taking. I love that Sadie allowed me to write notes in the book while I followed along. This technique was helpful because it made the book more of an experience. I think the note taking might be very useful for some people. Sadie also wrote some really quotable things. I highlighted the things she said that really spoke to me. I think you might enjoy them too. Here they are: • “When we become angry over something, we need to move quickly to establish peace in our hearts.” • “When we let times or circumstances change us, we often don’t realize the problem it causes.” • “I could not let what other people thought or said about me affect what I thought and said about myself.” These are just some of the motivational and truthful quotes that stuck out to me. You will have to read it yourself to find what you’re looking for.
Thursday, November 8, 2018
thesouthtexan.com
Page 11 - News
Sigma Delta Pi presents scholar studying Sephardic presence Researcher presents lecture on Ladino-Spanish Jewish dialect SUBMITTED ARTICLE Sigma Delta Pi at Texas A&M University-Kingsville presented a featured speaker, Dr. Miguel Bedolla, researcher in the Policy Studies Center at University of Texas at San Antonio. His presentation for Coloquio en Español (Colloquium in Spanish) was Un breve vistazo a los origenes del idioma español y las diferencias entre el Djudezmo y el Ladino de los Judios Españoles. The presentation was held at 3
p.m. Monday, Nov. 5, in Room 108 of Sam Fore Hall. The presentation was conducted in Spanish. Bedolla is a scholar doing research on the Sephardic presence in the Nuevo Reino de Leon, what is now Northeastern Mexico and South Texas. He began to study the topic many years ago because his maternal lineage in this region begins with the arrival of the first Sephardim after the middle of the 16th century. Others of his Sephardic ancestors arrived as soldiers with Hernan Cortes in 1519 and immediately after the conquest of Tenochtitlan, their descendants moved north and married into the Sephardic families of the Nuevo Reino de Leon. Because of his immediate connection to the topic of his research, Bedolla has not published most of it
because it is very personal. He has published several articles that bear on the history of the region and the descendants of the Sephardim. They include two in the Journal of South Texas, “The Gonzalez Ancira from Northern Coahula and the War against the French: Oral Tradition and Written History and Ownership” and“Use of the Land, and the People of the Province of Nuevo Santander in the Report of 1795 of Félix Calleja”. He also published “My Family History” in the Journal of the Society for Crypto-Judiac Studies and “Two Letters of Santiago Viduarri” in the now defunct journal El Mesteño. Bedolla holds a bachelor’s degree in history from St. Mary’s University; an MD from Universidad de Nuevo Leon, a doctorate from The Ohio State Photo courtesy of Facebook UTSA Policy Studies University and an MPH from the UniCenter versity of Texas. Dr. Miguel Bedolla.
Message from the University Writing Center Write Here. Write Now. Greetings colleagues! The Texas A&M University-Kingsville Writing Center is here to help you with any writing assignment or project you are working on. Our writing consultants are TAMUK students—that’s right—undergraduate and graduate students who specialize in listening and talking with fellow students about writing. In order for us to assist you in the best possible way:
1. Make an appointment as early as possible in the term, so you can get to know us better. Then you can visit us every week (if you’d like) to practice planning, writing and revision strategies. 2. Please make sure to bring the assignment sheet from your course, and/or any other guidelines for your writing project. This will allow you and your writing consultant to be on the same page as much as possible. We are located in Jernigan Library 217, and we’re available MTWR 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., F 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., and SU 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. Please sign up for an appointment online at https://tamuk. mywconline.com (or visit us in person). We look forward to seeing you soon!
Photo courtesy of Instagram tamuk_universitywritingcenter
Marshall Walston, head administrative assistant talking with writing tutor Landy Garcia .
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Thursday, November 8, 2018
Altars continued from Page 1 ages walked around admiring and honoring their loved ones. “It’s so amazing to see so many people here. I was not expecting this. Isn’t it great,” Maggie Salinas, a prominent community member of Kingsville said. The most familiar symbol of Día de los Muertos are calacas and calaveras (skeletons and skulls), which appear as candied sweets, masks, makeup and as dolls. Calacas and calaveras are almost always portrayed as enjoying life, often in entertaining situations. Students from A&M-Kingsville and local artists participated in this heartfelt event by creating artwork that honors this holiday. Joshua Vela, a professional painter from Corpus Christi, created various pieces of artwork showcasing calaveras, fictional
creatures, and images that pop into his mind for this event. Vela uses a unique technique when creating art that he refers to as “planet pouring” where he pours different colored paint onto a canvas and manipulates the paint with plastic art tools. “I love Día de los Muertos. But I like darker stuff. My stuff is what I see when I close my eyes,” Vela, a professional painter, said. Some students drew or created calaveras, some sketched and painted beloved celebrities like Selena, while others took a more personal route and showcased artwork of their fallen family members. “There’s a lot of meaning behind this painting. It took me a couple days to sketch it out. It was hard,” said Jacqueline Zamora, an art major while
Altar set up at the Dia de los Muertos event in honor of loved ones. “Honorando Nuestras Familias.”
Painting by Santa Barraza in honor of Dia de los Muertos.
Painting by TAMUK student Jacqueline Zamora in honor of her uncle. The painting is titled “Esteban,” and made with watercolors. looking at her painting titled “Esteban.” Most of the time Día de los Muertos is mistaken as “Mexican Halloween.” It is no such thing. David Thibodeaux, the owner of the Totes & Things building, praises Disney’s Pixar film, Coco for helping explain the truth behind this inspiring holiday. On the surface, Coco is the story of a young boy named Miguel, who is accidentally transported to the Land of the Dead, where he seeks the aid of his great-great-grandfather to help him return home. The film opens on Día de Muertos during which Miguel’s family, like so many in Mexico, gather round to make offerings and remembrances to their dead ancestors. The relationship between the living and the dead is a key theme in Coco and introduces the concept of the “three deaths” that is derived from traditional Mexican beliefs. The “first death” is the physical one, the death of the body. The “second death” is more of a natural one, when the body is laid to rest in the earth and the “third death” is the moment the last memory of you fades. Those who reside in the Land of the Dead can do so only as long as there is someone to remember them in
the Land of the Living; once that last memory is lost our loved one’s fade away, forever. Día de Muertos helps to delay that final death. It’s much more complicated and meaningful than a simple “Mexican Halloween.” But since the movie’s debut more people finally understand the concept of Día de los Muertos and appreciate this disregarded holiday. “It’s really about educating because I think there are these misnomers about what it’s truly about. When people see the skeletons they’re put off by it but it’s not really what it means or what it’s about. You’re honoring your loved ones, that’s the bottom line. “Now after the movie Coco, that was a perfect example because it explained it beautifully and it did it in such a beautiful story form. And so I was really thankful for that movie because I refer a lot of people to it when I try to explain it to them and try to make them realize it’s really a mixture of cultures and religions. “It’s Mayan, Indian based and then Catholicism met together so they did not give up a lot of their Indian and traditional beliefs, so they just kind of meshed it together. So it’s really not a Christianity thing and it’s really not just a pagan thing, it’s a little bit of both,” Thibodeaux said.
Photos by Darcy Ramirez