TheSouthTexan.com
Texas A &M University-Kingsville Award-Winning Student Publication Tuesday, October 13, 2020
ALUMNUS CONTINUES TO SHINE
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Vol. 95 Issue 7
Javelina Nation, mourning after passing of professor Missing professor found in Boca Chica after six day effort
Aryssa Enriquez| Editor-in-Chief chief.editor@thesouthtexan.com
Javelina Nation is mourning the tragic loss of Mathematics professor Dr. Hueytzen James Wu, 74, who was found dead in Boca Chica Beach near Brownsville, Texas last weekend. Wu was reported miss-
ing Oct.1, spark ing the Kingsville community to take to social media in an Dr. HueytzenWu effort to loMathematics cate him. The search, however, ended Wednesday Oct. 7, when his body was found in Cameron County. The circumstances surrounding his disap-
Reflecting on the Chicano Movement Flores recalls time of change in the 60’s Callista Reyes| Campus Editor campus.editor@thesouthtexan.com
It’s the 1960s and the sun is shining bright over the Texas A&I campus. The flawless blue sky is the perfect backdrop for the campus as it highlights its beauty. There isn’t a cloud in the sky. The thought of the opportunities and possibilities that could be ahead is very exciting. College is where you get to meet new people, pick your own classes, join clubs, be a part of Greek life and experience living on campus...well if you’re
a white student that is. Turns out there is a cloud in the sky. This was a reality for Dr. Manuel Flores as he became a student at Texas A&I. “I came here knowing it was a racist campus and fully aware that there would be some clubs and fraternities I would not be able to join. I didn’t care about Greek life, so that didn’t matter. “But soon I noticed there was discrimination in housing in the community and if you were Mexican or Black you could not stay in certain dorms,” Flores recalled. Hispanic and African-American students often found themselves looking for housing off campus which proved to be a tough challenge as well. As if that weren’t enough
Submitted Photo
Chicano protestors gather at Texas A&I.
Online
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pearance and subsequent death are under investigation. Wu joined Javelina Nation on Sept. 1, 1990. With more than 30 years serving Texas A&M University-Kingsville, Wu impacted the lives of many. He is remembered as a storyteller who always made time to help his students. “Dr. Wu was a great professor, who was insanely nice and knowledgeable. He always made sure stu-
dents were taken care of. He always had a smile and great story to tell. He would share stories about his past and journey to America which was really inspiring. I’ll miss him, he was one of the most fun professors I’ve ever had,” Caleb Nash, mechanical engineering major, said. Wu’s disappearance was noted by his colleagues on Friday, Oct. 2, and on Monday, Oct. 5 after he did not show up
for work. University Police conducted a welfare check on Monday and informed family. Wu was a passionate professor who had a captivating personality that made calculous, differential equations and linear algebra fun to learn. “Dr. Wu was a very resourceful and understanding professor that knew the material he taught very well. He always respected the class and his students and was always
available to contact and ask questions about any problems you might’ve had. He made the class enjoyable and interesting each time we met,” Rey Chapa, mechanical engineer major, said. As days passed and calls went unanswered, the Kingsville community grew more concerned with Wu’s whereabouts. A significant amount of cash was withdrawn from
See Dr. Wu, Pg 6
COVID changes residence lifestyles
Safety remains top priority for RAs during pandemic
Emma Hodges| Contributing Writer
Submitted Photo
Flores watches on as Carlos Guerra speaks on Mexican-American problems.
discrimination, minority students also found that professors assumed they were not intelligent. “Professors expected that you were not smart enough and when you did well, they would question your ability. Who the hell did they think they were? Enough! Basta! We, the college students, knew it was time to step-up. It was time to protest in the streets, stir-up our fellow students and ask for change. Fortunately, we had a very understanding university president James C. Jernigan - and he listened to us and joined our struggle,” Flores said. Soon after, not just in Kingsville, students began to take a stand. In 1967, five young men studying at St. Mary’s University including José Angel Gutierrez founded MAYO, Mexican American Youth Organization, and La Raza Unida. They hoped that the creation of MAYO would help fight for social justice and unite Mexican Americans. La Raza Unida party was created in 1970 to bring Mexican-Americans determination to be rec-
ognized in their communities. South Texas was in dire need of help as Mexican-Americans were the majority of the population but still had little power to use their voices. “Jose Angel Gutierrez and Carlos Guerra were among the best leaders of the Chicano revolution nationwide, not only in Texas,” Flores said. Guerra was a graduate of A&I. As Hispanic students began to fight back, Flores joined The South Texan and he made sure people were going to hear the truth. “I got a job as a reporter for The South Texan and I made it my business to tell the story of the Chicanos’ struggle for recognition at our university, our state and our nation. Stories that had not been told before were being told. We weren’t in the shadows of College Hall anymore. We were here.” Soon after the Chicano protests began. Hundreds of Hispanic students gathered together in the streets to fight to get equal education and equal rights. “MAYO once stormed College Hall and took over the president’s office. And,
in Kingsville, across from St. Martin’s, El Teatro Campesino of Luis Valdez came to visit. It was very inspirational…Our goal was to change our world and then the entire world to get people to be treated with class, dignity and respect. “We fought hard and demanded things for all people. But, guess what? It wasn’t enough. So, we must continue to strive to fight for civil rights and liberty and make America a more perfect union,” Flores said. Many Hispanics risked their lives for the fight for equality. Just like many other progressive groups that dared to speak up they were met with hatred and violence while protesting. For years many Hispanics put their life on the line while fighting. The Chicano Movement brought on not just rallies and protests but school walk outs all over the nation in hopes that their dissatisfaction with the way they were treated would be heard. Mexican-American students were tired of being scolded for speaking SpanSee Chicano, Pg 6
Students living in the residence halls at Texas A&M University – Kingsville (TAMUK) are seeking ways to connect and interact safely during the coronavirus pandemic. The new guidelines imposed to keep students and faculty safe are bringing changes in daily life around campus. “I feel like I don’t really see anybody anymore,” Velen Leonor, a resident at TAMUK, said. The resident assistants (RAs) in the TAMUK dorms are also feeling the loss of face-to-face interaction among students. “It’s sad not to see my residents studying together or just hanging out in the halls because they could,” RA Miranda Shaut said. RA Pedro Gonzalez knows how important it is for college students to stay connected. “Most of our forms/ events are now online which makes it difficult to build a sense of community with my residents,” Gonzalez said. Despite the lonely atmosphere in the residence halls, students are upholding the rules and See COVID, Pg 6
Dual enrollment students thrive
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Some 550 dual students see success at TAMUK, their high schools
Virtual Career Fair
Dual enrollment students at Texas A&M University – Kingsville (TAMUK) are taking the challenges of balancing high school and college life in stride. Despite the daunting challenges dual enrollment students face, high schoolers are jumping at the opportunity to gain college credits before they even walk across the stage to receive their high school
Texas A&M University-Kingsville (TAMUK) held a virtual all major Career Fair from 11 a.m. to 4p.m., on Wednesday, Oct.7.
Emma Hodges | Contributing Writer
diploma. This fall at TAMUK sees the enrollment of 558 high schoolers already seeking to advance their education. Amelia Tuller, a student at Santa Gertrudis Academy High School, said she likes the challenge of college course. “I decided to take dual enrollment courses when my school stopped offering AP classes and I wanted to continue to take more challenging courses,” she said. For Tuller, the courses
“challenge me intellectually and force me to challenge the assumptions I hold about the world.” In addition to intellectual stimulation, students taking dual enrollment courses also enjoy the social aspects that help prepare them for life after high school. For Micaela Carrales, a senior at Academy High School, dual enrollment courses “give me a small sense of what the college life is like, which makes me less nervous to start my first semester of col-
lege.” The benefits are clear, but students realize there is some difficult responsibility to taking on college while still in high school. “The biggest challenge is definitely learning to manage my schedule between high school obligations and the increased course work that comes with being in college classes,” Tuller said. Carrales warns of the dangers of procrastination when trying to juggle the increased workload. “Before long, the work
will pile up to a point which is nearly impossible to come back from,” Carrales said. Many high schoolers are ready to take on that challenge. Dual Enrollment Coordinator Miranda Joiner is more than happy to welcome them into the Blue and Gold family. “We enjoy welcoming new and returning students into the Javelina Family each semester as they navigate their journey into higher education,” she said.