The South Texan Vol. 96 Issue 17

TheSouthTexan.com Texas A &M University-Kingsville Award-Winning Student Publication

Monday, July 11, 2022

@thesouthtexan

JAVELINA CAMP PG. 2

Vol. 96, Issue 17

President’s welcome, a call for excellence

New positions named in Vela’s welcome to faculty, staff Ronni Reyna | Editor-in-Chief chief.editor@thesouthtexan.com

Texas A&M University-Kingsville’s (TAMUK) President Dr. Robert Vela is already taking strides to ensure excellence for all students, faculty and staff on campus as his first month in office comes to an end. Vela has a strategic plan which includes introducing new titles and positions to the university aimed at targeting strategy, performance ex-

cellence and culture.

In his we l c o m e letter sent to faculty and staff on June 22 he announced Jill Woodall three new positions, Chief of Strategies Officer (CSO), Chief of Performance Excellence Officer (CPEO) and Chief of People and Workplace Culture (CPWC).

Vela’s first priority is

student success saying the mission requires an effective strategy, and appointed Jill Woodall as CSO. Henry Burgos Woodall is the serving Chief of Staff for the former TAMUK interim president Dr. James Hallmark.

“As CSO I will have the opportunity to holistically dive deep into all the mov-

ing parts of this wonderful university and help find pathways and processes that help us run more effectively and efficiently both as a university and a Javelina family,” Woodall said.

Woodall has almost 10 years of experience within the A&M System.

President Vela said she brings vital expertise in project management and strategic leadership “I have already begun working closely with the

TAMUK leadership team to organize our efforts at developing and accessing strategies across campus.

I’m also taking time to get to know the outstanding staff and faculty here and learn more about their needs and ideas,” she said.

Woodall will also continue working with Hallmark splitting her time in each position.

The CPEO position is not yet filled but the university has plans to post the opening within the

next few weeks.

“It is imperative that as the University implements new strategies, programs and initiatives we continuously measure outcomes in the spirit of continuous improvement,” Director of Marketing and Communications Adriana Garza-Flores said. “The CPEO will be an integral part of identifying successes, challenges and opportunities for the University See Positions, Pg 5

2022 Distinguished Alumni Awards announced

Awards to be given midOctober Sarah Reyna

|

Campus Editor campus.editor@thesouthtexan.com

The annual Distinguished Alumni Awards have been officially announced by Texas A&M University-Kingsville’s (TAM UK) Javel i na Alumni Association. The awards also include The Rising Star Award and the Blue and Gold Service Award.

According to the Javelina Alumni Association, the awards are “presented to alumni who have demonstrated long-time and successful commitment to their careers and communities and have brought special honor to the university because of their accomplishments.”

This year’s Distinguished Alumni Award honorees are Martha D. Salazar-Zamora, Class of 1987, ’92, ’99; Sarah R. Saldaña, Class of 1973, and

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Javelina Alumni Association

TAMUK’s 2022 Distinguished alumni (L to R) Sarah R. Saldaña, Dr. Josefina Villamil Tinajero, Dr. Martha Salazar-Zamora, Rising Star Recipient Remi Yusuf and Blue and Gold Service Award honoree Dick Messbarger.

Josefina Villamil Tinajero, Class of 1980. The Rising Star recipient is Remi Yusuf, 2007, and the Blue and Gold Service Award, which is not awarded to alumni, goes to Dick Messbarger.

The Honorees will be celebrated at a banquet during Homecoming week later in October.

Dr. Salazar-Zamora is a Superintendent at Tomball Independent School District (ISD) and has brought the ISD to an A-rated district, which has been a top-ranking district in Houston. Some of

her achievements include opening Tomball Star Academy, the Early Excellence Academy, Two-Way Dual Language Academy, along with a stadium and community center, according to the Javelina Alumni Association. “[My time attending TAMUK] was very important to me, because I am from Kingsville,” Salazar-Zamora said. “I was born and raised in Kingsville and had the opportunity to attend a number of universities but saw the benefit of staying close to home and staying

at a university I believed would help shape my future, and it very much did.”

Salazar-Zamora met her husband while attending then A&I university, and he also received two degrees. The couple met during her freshman English class and have been married for 33 years.

“I was very surprised and honored [to have been selected for the award].

Again, I am aware many people have gone to TAMUK and have been very successful in their fields of choice but being select-

ed brings me great pride knowing that I am in such great company with undergraduates,” Salazar-Zamora said.

From her time at A&I, Salazar-Zamora received four degrees: a bachelor’s degree in 1987, a Master’s in 1988, a second Master’s in 1992, and while she was in school for her Doctoral degree (which she received in 1999), the University became Texas A&M University – Kingsville.

“The University and staff in every way helped prepare me for my fu-

ture,” she said.

Nominations for the awards opens each spring.

“On average, we probably get six nominations for the Distinguished Alumni Awards,” Vice President of Institutional Advancement and External Relations and CEO of Texas A&M – Kingsville Foundation Brad Walker said.

“The process calls for us to hold onto nominations for three years. You are generally looking at a pool of 15 to 20 nominees each year when they are reviewing See Alumni, Pg 5

Seeking summer school, Javelina edition Students, professors share thoughts on summer courses

Makaylah Chavez

|

Managing Editor managing.editor@thesouthtexan.com

Summer classes are mostly back to normal as the second session for student and professors begins and both look forward to the opportunities and benefits that summer courses provide.

Summer I took place between May 31 and July 1, closely followed by Summer II which began on July 5 and will end Aug 4. Classes take place Monday through Friday in person, meet online weekly, or are asynchronous online.

Sophomore Communications Sciences and Disorders major Corrina Hernandez took Texas Government during Summer I and plans to take Rhetoric and Composition and Lifespan Development Psychology in Summer II. She enjoyed finishing her Summer I course a week early and being able to get just a few more days off between both summer semesters.

Hernandez looks forward to taking her psychology class in Summer II to complete her minor.

In order to continue working during the summer, Hernandez’s best option was to take her courses online, which will help her continue pursuing her degree.

“My first session went by like a breeze. I luckily had a really understanding professor who had every assignment open to do at our own pace. I am currently working two-

part time jobs along with taking my summer courses so I thought my grades would suffer, however that was not the case. I ended up passing Texas government with an A. A big help was writing everything down in my planner and constantly checking updates with blackboard,” Hernandez said.

Hernandez’s Summer I online course was at full capacity, which allowed for good class discussion to hear different perspectives from different students, which is something Hernandez typically prefers. She is grateful that her professor, even with a full course, was readily available to answer any additional questions she had regarding the coursework. In turn, Hernandez made an effort to stay on top of her assignments.

“I definitely feel acMakaylah Chavez countable to make good Graduate student Eva Martinez studies on a library computer.

See Summer, Pg 5

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Campus

July 11 , 2022

thesouthtexan.com

Fall semester to see new CAB board members Besancon, Cantu, Hawkins, Martinez to fill roles Sarah Reyna | Campus Editor campus.editor@thesouthtexan.com

As the 2022 Fall semester slowly rolls around, students at Texas A&M University–Kingsville can expect to see some new (and familiar) faces making up the executive board of the Campus Activities Board (CAB).

To be considered for these positions, the students applied in April.

Once the applications were submitted, the interview process was held by the CAB Adviser Julianne Gomez and the CAB President, which, at the time, was Lizzetty Lara.

After the process was completed, the decision on who would be filling the positions was announced.

Among the new board members are Ximena Cantu, who will serve as

Ximena Cantu

Erial Hawkins

the Recruitment and Retention officer. Cantu joined CAB last year as a freshman in hopes of getting involved with campus life.

“The role of Recruitment and Retention consists of encouraging students to join the Campus Activities Board, come out to our future events and putting together social events that everyone involved in the organization will enjoy,” Cantu said. “I am really grateful that I was given the opportunity to give back to the organization by becoming an officer.”

Graduate student Erial Hawkins will serve as the new Director of Programming.

In this role, Hawkins will work closely with

the Executive Director to request information, services, and products from vendors.

The Director of Programming also oversees the Director of Day Programming and the Director of Night Programming to ensure CAB is providing much detail and intention to every event they host for Javelinas. “[As Director of Programming,] I hope to become a better leader and do my best in making sure everything is great during our events. When students attend our events, my main goal is to make sure they are enjoying themselves and creating lifelong memories,” Hawkins said.

The Executive Direc-

Carmela Martinez

Grady Besancon

tor position will be filled by senior Carmela Martinez.

“As the Executive Director I am responsible for managing and leading the executive board members within the organization. I also handle many other administrative duties that are delegated to me within CAB,” Martinez said.

“In this role, I hope to increase the number of members in the organization and retain as many members as possible so that the next Executive Director does not have to. The transition from last year to this year was a complete makeover session. We restructured CAB in hopes of making it more attractive and just as desirable as other

student organizations on campus.”

Another goal of Martinez’s is to help as many student organizations as possible. She noticed many student organizations were fading because of the pandemic, so one thing she wants to do to help is partner up for events and use CAB’s social media to help support or kickstart other student organizations’ social media to gain members and a general audience overall.

As new Director of Day Programming, Grady Besancon’s role is to manage all parts of day programming from start to finish.

“Whether that’s setting up the events or contacting performers,

I manage it all. With the help of my committee we do all things day programming,” Besancon said. “In a nutshell it’s my job to make sure CAB runs smoothly during the daytime.”

With these new members behind the scenes of CAB, this upcoming semester, students can expect more fun and relaxing events.

“The Campus Activities Executive Board is listening. We are making sure to have events that the students want and are working hard to make them happen,” Hawkins said. “If you attend our event(s), always scan the QR code to give us feedback and let us know what you want to see on campus.”

For more information on CAB, students can follow their Instagram @ tamukcab or contact any of the officers or board members.

Students can also contact CAB Advisor Julianne Gomez at julianne. gomez@tamuk.edu.

Annual Javelina Camp returns to TAMUK

An experience for incoming students, pack leaders

Rae Martinez | Entertainment Editor entertainment.editor@thesouthtexan.com

Javelina Camp is a four-day, three-night event designed for incoming freshmen during which they learn about the spirited traditions of Texas A&M University – Kingsville (TAMUK) as well as bond and connect with each other in an interactive setting. It occurs a week before the fall semester starts. This year it is from Aug. 17 to 20.

“This is an experience incoming freshmen can go through to help make their transition into college easier and create new friendships and memories along the way,” three-time pack leader Kristian Amador said.

Amador looks forward to seeing new faces on campus and making memories with them and his fellow pack members.

He became a pack leader because he wanted to give back the same experience his pack

Multimedia

leaders gave to him as a freshman.

This year, Javelina Camp will take place on campus. This is the second in-person camp hosted since the pandemic started.

Pack leaders and other staff members have taken precautions into consideration in order to ensure a safe environment for all.

Students who attend will stay in the dorm they will be living in for the rest of semester.

Shortly after, they will get divided into small “packs.”

Each “pack” will have two leaders, which will be upperclassmen who were selected to lead incoming students during camp.

Pack leaders are an additional resource for students as they settle in and get ready to start their college years.

“I hope that [incoming] students understand that [Javelina Camp] is a safe place where they can be themselves,” senior Kassandra Gonzalez said.

“I also hope they know they can always count on others, especially the pack leaders.”

Gonzalez is a first-time pack leader who signed up because she wanted to be a role model for incoming freshmen and

Students and Pack Leaders playing a game during camp.

show them what Javelina Nation is all about.

While Javelina Camp is designed for attendees to perform physical activities, it is also a time for them to reflect on their personal college goals.

“Coming to a university can be an adjustment. I hope students that come to Javelina Camp come in with an open mind and realize we are all in this together,” senior Micaela Gracia said. “We all want the best for our incoming Javelinas and want them to remember we are a family here at TAMUK.” Gracia is also a firsttime pack leader who, like Amador, is looking forward to meeting and making memories with incoming freshmen as well as seeing them grow after camp.

She joined because she wanted to help incoming students the way her pack leaders helped her.

She mentions that Javelina Camp will always have a special place in her heart.

Throughout camp, students will get to participate in activities ranging from competitive to team-building ones such as Messy Hogs and a lip sync battle. Meals and Javelina swag will be

Courtesy of @tamuk.javelinacamp on Instagram.

provided to students attending.

“I am most looking forward to the lip sync battle,” Director of Registration for Javelina Camp Dakota Moberg said. “It’s great seeing all the freshmen collaborate and come out of their shells when they are on

stage.”

Moberg wanted to become Director of Registration because Javelina Camp is what pushed her to get involved and create lasting bonds.

She also mentioned how she would not be where she is at today if she had not signed up for Javelina Camp her

freshman year.

If a student brings their vehicle, they must park in Parking Lot “I” near the intramural fields.

Parking permits will not be required during the event.

For more information, email tamuk.javelinacamp@tamuk.edu.

Entertainment

July 11, 2022 thesouthtexan.com

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Review: The Summer I Turned Pretty, a perfect summer binge Prime Video adapts one season of bestselling trilogy

SarahReyna| Campus Editor campus.editor@thesouthtexan.com

New York Times Bestselling Author Jenny Han was able to see another fan-favorite trilogy come to life with the release of the show’s first season (now renewed for a second which will probably follow book two, It’s Not Summer Without You).

The show follows Isabel, better known as Belly, as she visits her family friends’ beach house in Cousins the summer she turns 16 and gets roped into a complicated love triangle with Jeremiah and Conrad, who happen to be brothers.

As Han’s fans would expect, The Summer I Turned Pretty is light-

hearted Young Adult escapism at its finest and was complete with a compelling, talented cast.

Newcomer Lola Tung was the perfect choice as a lead in the series. She is captivating and fun in a way that makes it feel like you are going along her summer journey with her.

Gavin Casalegno was a wonderful Jerimiah – he was sweet, charming and albeit a little cringey at times, but it was easy to see why Belly fell for him after Conrad basically rejected her.

Conrad’s actor, Christopher Briney was exactly how I imagined the quiet and broody Conrad when I first read the trilogy many years ago.

There were times I wanted to hate Conrad, but Briney acted so effortlessly to draw the audience back into his world to learn why he did what he did.

Belly considers Susannah’s beach house a sacred place and considers

it more of a home than her actual home, because nothing ever seems to change at the summer house.

Except this summer, something has changed: Belly turned “pretty.”

Tung is a real find as the new pretty Belly, whose shy smile and uncertain posture show she has not completely grown out of the gawky girl she used to be.

“This isn’t you,” she kept hearing from her mom, Conrad and her best friend Taylor.

But what they did not understand was that trying out things that didn’t used to be her—from debutante balls to beach parties—was Belly who way of finding out she is now.

However, Belly is not the only one having a difficult summer. Laurel and her husband were just divorced; Susannah’s cancer came back again and says she doesn’t want chemo again; Conrad found out about it but kept ev-

Screenshot from Amazon Prime Video.

erything to himself and quits football; Jerimiah is in love with Belly, but she loves Conrad.

The series’ roughly hourlong seven episodes grant Belly a plethora of space to navigate her changing relationships and evolving a sense of self with all the emotions it entails.

Han’s writing is accompanied by a soundtrack of smash-hit singles to match the onscreen action.

Songs included were “Lover,” “Super Rich Kids,” “brutal,” “False God,” “Your Type” and many others, especially Taylor Swift songs.

All in all, the first season follows the YA romance to a T, but still manages to give a fresh feel with a charming cast and just enough drama and angst to keep viewers watching.

Fans of To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before are definitely in for a cool treat.

Despite some plot points that were different in the first book versus the show, I can say the adaptation did not disappoint in the slightest.

This is the perfect summer read/watch if you wish there was a beach house you visited every summer with two brothers fighting over you.

My overall rating for season one of The Summer I Turned Pretty is 4.5/5 stars.

Review: Lean, mean, protein machine GNC protein powder is a gain changer

MakaylahChavez|Opinion Editor opinion.editor@thesouthtexan.com

Let me start by saying that I’m not your typical gym rat. In fact, I’m no gym rat at all.

However, I do enjoy a good workout and do my best to live a healthy and active lifestyle.

I’ve always been skeptical about protein powder, trying it time and time again without seeing any notable progress.

Then again, it should be balanced with an effective workout routine to make a difference, and I have never really been consistent with working out, but that all changed.

Three weeks ago, I started using the GNC Pro Performance Weight Gainer protein powder to gain some muscle and

reach my 130-pound weight goal (for context, I weighed 122 pounds when I started).

A one-time purchase of the protein powder can be bought online or in-store at GNC for $29.99.

They offer three flavors: vanilla ice cream, strawberries and cream and double chocolate, mine being the latter.

It contains 50 grams of protein, 700 calories and 115 carbs. The recommended amount for a single serving is four to six scoops, which sounds insane.

If I’m taking four scoops, I expect to get my money’s worth and come out looking like the Hulk.

Besides the powder, I like to include ice, milk, a banana, half a scoop of Nesquik chocolate milk powder, oats, and a spoonful of peanut butter to my shake.

It may not be the

healthiest, but it sure is the most filling.

I drink a shake every morning, but once I finish, I physically cannot stand the smell or look at food for the next two hours or so after.

The protein makes my stomach hurt so much, I can’t tell if it’s because it’s doing its job or not.

The texture is ridiculously thicker than most due to the large amount of protein, which is something that took me a while to get acquainted to.

I have tried less expensive protein powders, like Premier Protein and Pure Protein, and as convenient as it would be to just go back to using those that do a similar job, I cannot.

Maybe it’s the new protein powder, maybe it’s my new workout program, maybe it’s a mixture of both, regardless, something is work-

Screenshot from GNC.com.

ing and I can’t go back to how things were before the protein and I crossed paths.

I am proud to say I am currently at 128 pounds, just two away from reaching my goal that I have been trying at for over six years.

The weight I gained can be seen in my arm and leg muscles. Could this incredibly quick difference all be because of the Pro Performance Weight Gainer protein powder? You’ll just have to try and see for yourself.

Recipes to try: Cucumber lemonade The designated summer drink RaeMartinez| Entertainment Editor entertainment.editor@thesouthtexan.com

Now that summer is upon us, the last thing you want to drink is a boring drink.

Lately, cucumber lemonade has been my go-to drink.

If you are a fan of cucumbers like me, you must try this drink.

For this quick and easy recipe, you will need two cucumbers, three or four lemons or limes, sugar, a mesh sieve, a vegetable peeler, a lemon squeezer (optional), a tea jar, a large spoon, a cutting board and a knife.

You are going to start off by peeling the two

cucumbers and cutting them into small pieces.

Then, cut about four lemons or limes, depending on what you have and what you like.

Put the cut-up cucumber inside the blender and squeeze the lemon or limes with your lemon squeezer or by hand.

After you have finished with that, add water inside the blender, pour just enough to cover the cucumber and blend.

Blend until the mixture is completely liquefied, you want it to be as smooth as possible. Strain the mixture through a mesh sieve into a tea jar.

This will help get rid of the pulp, any remaining solid pieces and make your lemonade look clear.

Once everything is poured in the tea jar, add

more water.

The amount will depend on the size of your tea jar and how much you want.

Add about a cup and a half of sugar and stir. If it needs more sugar, add more. If it is too sweet, add more water.

After you have accommodated the drink to your liking, all that is left to do is serve it with ice and enjoy!

This drink is so easy to make and so delicious.

You can always add tre-

chas, tajín or chamoy to it for a little more taste, and if you are over 21, you can add your favorite tequila or vodka to accentuate the flavors.

Just make sure to drink responsibly.

I cannot express enough how delicious this drink is. It is refreshing to say the least, and most needed during this blazing summer heat.

What better time to drink a tasty cucumber lemonade than now?

How to Adult: A faster way to geting a task done

Operating a dishwasher

RaeMartinez| Entertainment Editor entertainment.editor@thesouthtexan.com

When entering college and adulthood, you are going to want to do things that make your life easier and do not take up much time. Using the dishwasher instead of washing by hand is one of them.

You are going to start with locating your dishwasher, opening it and loading the top and bottom racks. Try to scrape any extra food from your dishes before loading them.

Space out your dishes and try not to overlap them as it prevents thorough cleaning.

In the top rack, load items like cups, bowls, mugs, water bottles and wine glasses.

In the bottom rack, place items like dinner plates, platers, dishwasher-safe pots and heavier dishes.

Add your utensils to the dishwasher’s utensil basket. Make sure you face sharp objects such as knives down to avoid injuries.

Make sure there is nothing blocking the wash arms before closing the dishwasher door.

Load the dishwasher detergent next.

Most detergent dispensers are on the bot-

tom inside part of the dishwasher door; however, this may vary depending on the model.

Once you place the detergent in your dispenser, add rinse aid to the rinse aid dispenser up to the line that says “Full.”

You can purchase a rinse aid basket or detergent tablets that already include rinse aid if your dishwasher does not have a designated rinse aid dispenser.

Close the lid firmly until you hear a click.It is important to remember that using the correct detergent is crucial for the way your dishwasher operates. Only use detergent that is formulated for dishwashers.

After closing the door and adding detergent, you will need to select a wash cycle. Most dishwashers have about three cycles (Quick, Normal, Heavy Duty).

The cycle you choose should depend on the size of your load and how dirty your dishes are. It is preferable that the water temperature is at 120F. Your dishes will not get cleaned well if the water is too cold, and food will be harder to remove if the water is too hot.

Once you have selected your cycle, press start. There is a light located on the front or top of your dishwasher that helps indicate when the cycle is done.

Work smarter, not harder. Future you will thank you.

Forum

4

July 11, 2022

thesouthtexan.com

“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.”

Our Opinion

My body, my choice As the pandemic began so did the mask debate, and the issue of bodily control was thrust into the media yet again. People protested for “my body, my choice” against mask mandates saying the government had no right to regulate or decide what they could do with their own bodies.

Vaccine mandates were protested and boycotts were made against companies because people so strongly felt that they should be able to have control over their own bodies. Now as Roe v. Wade is overturned, the constitutional right to an abortion no longer exists. Many states already had trigger laws in place awaiting the overturn and a total abortion ban will proceed in Texas within the next month.

This is not a win.

In Ohio, a 10-year-old child who was reportedly raped, was rapidly seeking an abortion. When she arrived at the office she was six weeks and three days pregnant.

Ohio’s law now states that after six weeks of pregnancy, abortion is not legal except in the case of life endangerment or severely compromised physical health. The child was denied an abortion in the state. A 10-year-old whose body is still growing and not equipped to handle a pregnancy, had only two options: carry through with the pregnancy or travel to a neighboring state to undergo the procedure.

This is not a win.

Women who have miscarriages in states with complete abortion bans will be looked at as monsters when they seek help, if they seek help. Women will fear prosecution over something they can’t control, compromising their right to health care in states with no exemptions.

Though many believe the overturn of Roe v. Wade will save lives, it won’t. Many women will suffer physically, mentally, emotionally and face severe and even fatal problems because an important aspect of health care was denied.

Roe v. Wade has been overturned and the argument of “my body, my choice” is no longer relevant to the many who once protested against mask mandates.

As much as they would like to think, America’s priority is not protecting life, but only the creation of it. It is women who will be the ones to face the consequences of the unfair decision created by Justices who won’t lose sleep at night knowing that they just stripped away a basic human right, something we thought was secure.

This is not a win.

The America I will not celebrate The Fourth of July is meant to celebrate the birth of America’s independence, w h i c h is now 246 years l a t e r , non-existent.

W i t h each new S u p re m e Makaylah C o u r t Chavez ruling, Managing the conEditor servative agenda is thriving while hope for humanity is simultaneously dying.

Justices are willing to overlook certain amendments and clauses to emphasize others that match their values

and beliefs, even if that means not upholding previously set in stone precedents that have been tied to the positive and inclusive progression of America.

Women have lost their right to make decisions for their own body, the line signifying the separation between church and state is even thinner now, and public discrimination, specifically targeting the LGBTQ+ community, is something that is soon going to be up for debate, yet again.

The declaration that we so graciously celebrate and turn to time and time again states that our unalienable rights include life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

The pursuit of happiness is defined as freely pursuing joy and living a life that makes the individual happy as long as it does not infringe on the rights of others or violate the law.

The Supreme Court has infringed on the rights of others, seen by the avoidance of the 14th amendment’s equal protection clause.

The malicious court has overstepped its power and surpassed its counterbalancing checks and balance regulators. The Republican Justices feed off dominance and supremacy over those who don’t have the resources to fight back.

What is there to celebrate this year? There are

no such things as equal rights and there never has been. There have been 314 mass shootings in the past six months alone and nothing but tragedy after tragedy and a notable loss of independence.

When you really love something, you are willing to criticize it and ask for better to ensure prosperity, well-being and success. We should be willing to criticize our country, not because we hate it, but because we care enough to demand better. Until we can collectively learn to do that, welcome to the downfall of our democracy.

God bless America.

God bless us all.

Be responsible, take care of your pets I have to endure the blazing summer heat everyday as I walk to work.

Whether I wear s h o r t s or jeans, I sweat enough to fill up an entire Rae swimming M artinez pool. I love Entertainment walking; it Editor is the heat I cannot tolerate.

If I am not equipped to handle an eight minute walk under the sun, I cannot help but imagine what the pets whose

owners leave outside must feel.

Every year around this time, I see videos of dogs being rushed to the hospital because they are experiencing seizures caused by their time left out in extreme weather conditions. These heartbreaking videos are harsh proof of the reality some dogs face.

It is common knowledge that high temperatures can cause your pets to experience a life-threatening heatstroke if their owners are not careful enough.

Yet, I still see dogs tied outside in this heat, left

to bear it alone.

I am aware that I may not know the entire story.

I probably just happened to see the dogs outside a few minutes after they had been tied. I could walk away and the dogs could be brought inside right after.

However, if you are someone who keeps their dogs outside every day, I am only going to say this: if you did not want to take care of your dog, you should not have one.

It is concerning, saddening and maddening to see that a dog is outside in the heat while

their owners are enjoying the cool, central air inside. These poor animals probably want to be curled up inside next to their owner, but are instead risking heatstroke.

Please take care of your pets, especially in scorching times like these. If for any reason you cannot have them inside, make sure your dogs are somewhere with a lot of shade, a lot of food and a whole lot of water. Check on them as much as possible. If you are not able to provide for your dog, give it to someone who can. Do not be selfish.

Get Real or Get Virtual? A look into the Metaverse Technology has advanced to the point where virtual reality is now a viable space w h e r e people can interact in an immersive setting. It was only Frank a matter Villarreal of time beReporter fore one of the larger social network companies threw their hat into the ring.

Meta’s concept of the Metaverse looks to a future where everything is connected to the online world in which users can interact with anyone

anywhere via holograms or VR headsets.

The interconnectivity Meta wants people to have with the world and the ability for anything they own to be used in any virtual space reminds me of the sci-fi film, Ready Player One. The movie had a massive online space where people could communicate with one another in ways that felt realistic and believable, which is something Meta hopes to achieve with the Metaverse.

People can and have bought virtual properties and products within the Metaverse alongside attending various events. I find the idea

fascinating, but buying at that scale isn’t a new concept as it has been done before in multiplayer games like Final Fantasy XIV (FFXIV). In FFXIV, those purchases are only a bonus since it’s a video game that offers an engaging worldspace to play online with friends or strangers. Metaverse does offer playable games, but nothing as expansive in scope since it’s limited by the need for a VR headset.

The virtual products are also advertised as a way to differentiate your avatar from everyone else and show your personality, but there is already an existing game

Makaylah Chavez

known as VRChat that’s free and lets people do the same thing. You can upload a unique avatar for yourself or choose from a variety of premade ones in almost any of the rooms.

VRChat also doesn’t require a VR headset to play, so the barrier for entry is low.

At the moment, I don’t think Metaverse is something people should buy into since it doesn’t offer anything new to the online space.

Existing products have the same features that metaverse advertises and they present them in a better fashion despite nothing being carried between games.

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From Positions, Pg 1

to enhance our processes and services.”

According to Vela’s Welcome Letter, the position will be used to differentiate the college from other institutions, making TAMUK the premiere higher learning institution of South Texas.

“The CPEO will join the President’s leadership team and will lead and organize initiatives that support excellence, including research, planning, organizational development and resource

From Summer , Pg 1

grades since I am volunteering my summer off to take classes to essentially get ahead of school. I feel as if the professors have higher expectations since we are not in the regular school year,” Hernandez said.

Students were not the only ones who experienced the multiple advantages OF registering for summer classes. Professors also made note of the benefits for both themselves and their students.

Dr. Kendra Huff has always taught at least one summer session at TAMUK, this year teaching Principles of Accounting I (ACCT 2301), a financial accounting course that is required for all business majors and minors.

She enjoys how quickly summer sessions fly by but makes note that everyone, students and professors combined, has to practice good time management skills because of it.

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development. This position will be responsible for helping to develop effective strategies that move various university projects, programs and ideas forward while focusing on outcomes. Using proven models like the Baldridge Performance Excellence Program, the CPEO will be critical in ensuring TAMUK meets its goals,” Garza-Flores said.

The CPEO position will work closely on implementing the university’s strategic plan.

The final aspect Vela hopes to focus on is cul-

ture.

Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) Henry Burgos will take on the new role as CPWC to create respecting campus culture.

“The position of CPWC is a reclassification of my formal title of CHRO. The new title more appropriately describes the President’s goals, which include positioning the university’s workforce to meet its current and future needs understanding that it is our people – faculty, staff and students - that will propel this universi-

ty to thrive and fulfill its mission,” Burgos said.

Vela also notes in the letter that faculty, staff, researchers, coaches and administrators all have a role to play to achieve each goal.

“Our core mission is to educate students and at the center of that mission is people. It is important for President Vela to have a people strategy that will, among other things, focus on employee morale, workplace culture, employee retention, employee recognition, and employee reward. In addition, that

ACCT 2301 was taught online, although originally scheduled for face-toface. Moving the course online doubled the enrollment. Huff believes that online classes work better in the summer because it allows students to work from home and interferes less with students’ work schedules.

“Class was online so attendance wasn’t really an issue. The main difference is that students really do not have time to goof around. We cover all the same material in the summer as in a regular semester so there really isn’t time to waste. It is fast and furious but nice to get it done in five weeks,” Huff said.

Huff’s hopes for the fall semester are that more students will be willing to attend face -to-face classes.

Her classes are currently scheduled to be taught in person or hybrid, but she still makes accommodations for students because of COVID-19 and will

teach them in all forms if needed.

Other professors had a different strategy, instructing in-person, but achieving similar, positive results.

Dr. Greg Sanders, who taught Orchestration for undergraduates in summer I and Music Technology for graduate students in Summer II, has noticed a difference between students who attend both summers and those who only attend summer II. He observes that those who only attend summer II classes struggle a bit more to get back into the routine of things, while those who attend both summers have a steady continuation of their education following the spring semester.

“In some ways attendance is better during the summer because the students have recognized that everything is so compact.

My Orchestration is a bit of a tough class and they want to focus in on those

five weeks immensely. The class that I have now has not had a single absence,” Sanders said.

He believes teaching summer courses is more intensive for both students and professors, especially teaching both summer sessions, only allowing two weeks of vacation per year. Sanders has mentioned to several administrators how advantageous summer sessions are for students, giving the opportunity to finish their degrees faster and get into their field of work sooner.

When given the option, Sanders has always chosen in-person classes. He recognizes how much the students appreciate the hands-on experience, especially within the music department.

“I felt like we needed to be here if we could. It was just something I had to do.

I owed it to the students and myself to come back face-to-face, and it’s worth it,” Sanders said.

5 strategy will ensure that we have a comprehensive training program that will begin to meet the professional development needs of our employees,” Burgos said. “To that end, three years ago a group of employees established the President’s Leadership Academy (PLA) to provide leadership training for middle managers and department chairs, but we want to go beyond that.

For starters, in the fall we will expand the PLA to aspiring leaders to support the development of faculty and staff who wish to

From Alumni, Pg 1

the nominations.”

From there, a committee meets, reviews, discusses and then makes recommendations to university administration.

Then recipients are announced usually during summer.

Distinguished Alumni Award recipient Tinajero is currently an educator and advocate for issues of equity and excellence for culturally and linguistically diverse children and families. Tinajero serves as Professor of Bilingual Education at the University of Texas at El Paso.

“I am humbled by being chosen for this special University award,” Tinajero said. “I feel a tremendous sense of gratitude to a university that prepared me very well to excel as a Professor of Bilingual Education and as a University Administrator.”

The Blue and Gold Service Award is not given to an alumnus, the process

advance their careers here at Texas A&M-Kingsville.

We will be announcing other initiatives aimed at further development of our workforce in the months ahead.”

Each new position aims at further propelling the university.

Vela ended the letter to faculty and staff stating his excitement to meet each member in the coming weeks and months to learn about their ideas and needs.

“Yes, we have work to do, but we are ready,” Vela said. of looking for a recipient is still the same as the Distinguished Alumni Award. While the nominations for Distinguished Alumni range about three each year, the Blue and Gold Service Award gets fewer nominations, because it is still a generally new award.

This year’s recipient is former Greater Kingsville Area Economic Development Center Director Dick Messbarger.

He served in this role for more than 25 years and still continues to volunteer his time in support of the development of the area and is also an advocate for TAMUK and the Naval Air Station in Kingsville, Austin and Washington.

“My first thought [about the award] was ‘there’s more deserving people.’ I made the great fortune of working with some amazing people that have supported this University,” Messbarger said. “I am honored, but I am going to enjoy it.”

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July 11, 2022 thesouthtexan.com