The South Texan Vol. 96 Issue 7

TheSouthTexan.com

Giving and going but not gone, the Goswamis

because that helped me become who I became and a lot of gratitude for all of the funding support I got for graduate school in the U.S.,” he said.

A mostly sunny place, clean air and tennis courts made up the list of requirements when looking for a place to work for Dr. Nirmal Goswami. The match to that list? Texas A&M University Kingsville (TAMUK).

With a combined 53 years of service to the university, Nirmal and Dr. Jaya Goswami will be making an evolution in life as their decision to retire draws near in December.

Professor of Political Science Nirmal started working at the university in the fall of 1990, and has since taught a total of 93 semesters.

Starting her career at

the university in 2001, current Interim Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs is Jaya Goswami. Jaya started as a part-time adjunct lecturer in the department of English Language and Literature

teaching English, and then became an Assistant Professor, Associate Professor and Full Professor before moving to administration.

“I visited the campus [and] I just liked how the campus felt to me and it’s

been a great choice and I’ve never regretted it. I feel very fortunate that I’ve spent my entire working career here,” Nirmal said.

Nirmal played tennis growing up and even won

his state championship in India. He serves as the Volunteer Assistant Women’s Coach, a position he uses to recruit students for the university.

“I have a lot of gratitude for what India taught me

Nirmal was born and raised in India where he developed a love of nature and interest in the American West.

“I was a teaching assistant in graduate school and that experience helped me lean towards a teaching career but I also wanted to work in a small school where teaching was valued, where teaching was the primary responsibility and A&M-Kingsville has been a perfect fit for me so I feel a lot of gratitude and thankfulness to A&M-Kingsville,” Nirmal said.

Nirmal started a group of global programs across three continents in the countries of New Zealand, Bouton, India, Namibia, South Africa and Botswa-

A new stage of life for students

Fall 2022 commencement to be held Dec. 9

As another semester comes to an end, the class of 2022 prepares to cross the stage, receive their diploma and venture on to the next stage of life.

For many students, walking across the stage marks the first steps of a new chapter. This celebratory event represents all the hard work these students have completed, whether it be a bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degree. It also marks the

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beginning of a new era for each individual.

General Studies major

Craig Clemons will be one of the graduates to receive his diploma next month.

“I am really excited to be the first to graduate in my immediate family and not only on time, but ahead of schedule as well. Graduating is a lot bigger than what I got going for me, because it gives my family hope and the kids behind me who want to do the same,” Clemons said.

After he graduates with his undergraduate degree, Clemons will continue attending Texas A&M University-Kingsville (TAMUK) to pursue a master’s degree in Education and will finish out

with his last year of eligibility on the football field.

“TAMUK is the second college I have attended, and it has treated me like a family member through and through,” Clemons said. “I had such a great time, and I will never forget the bonds and memories I have created for they will last a lifetime. The great times aren’t over yet.”

Once he is finished with school completely, Clemons’ career goal is to be a teacher/coach, aiming to assist the young minds of America and help create good and honorable athletes.

This semester, two different graduation ceremonies will take place on Dec. 9 at the Javelina Sta-

dium. The College of Arts and Sciences and The College of Education and Human Performance’s graduation will take place at 10 a.m. and The College of Agriculture and Natural

Resources, The College of Business Administration and the College of Engineering’s graduation will be at 4 p.m.

“For the commencement ceremony, 562 stu-

dents applied for graduation this fall – 347 undergraduate, 201 graduate and 14 doctoral,” Dr. Jaya Goswami, Interim

Painting downtown Kingsville

Senior art

lude to their beauvasuit,” Department Chair for the College of Arts and Sciences Todd Lucas said.

Chatter could be heard throughout the first floor of the downtown Kleberg Bank as live music from the band filled the entrance. The start to Ranch Hand Weekend had arrived in Kingsville. The vibrant, handcrafted art pieces, sculptures and self-portraits created by Texas A&M University-Kingsville senior art students were on display for the community to see. Each student got to display three works of art and answer questions pertaining to their pieces during the Nov. 18 senior art exhibit.

“This exhibit is the pre-

A beauvasuit is culmination of an art student’s undergraduate experience. Students pick their greatest art pieces and then reveal and present them to students, faculty and staff at the university, after hiding them all semester.

To prepare for the art show students prepared frames, art descriptions, pedestals and more for the downtown displays.

“Once they actually graduate they’re going to be doing shows like this if they continue to show and do their work, or if they actually become a school teacher they’re going to end up doing shows for their students or if they go on to graduate schools they’re going to end up doing shows to continue and develop a portfolio,”

Lucas said.

One student presenting in the Senior Art Exhibit was Marco Nieto. He displayed three pieces, “Vivacious self,” “Break away” and “Junkyard Dog.”

“Essentially they are all just viewpoints of what I was going through at the

time of the creation of the artwork and the idea of splitting away from yourself and becoming a better person as you go on through life and as you increase as a person, you want to split away from the person that’s dragging you down and letting

yourself be the person you want to be,” he said.

Nieto says the mediums he uses depends on what he feels the most in the moment and lets the color and creativity take off.

“I hope that [my art] draw[s] inspiration to bet-

Ronni Reyna

Students on the field at Pepsi Staduim getting ready to walk the stage during the spring 2021 commencement.

Nirmal and Jaya Goswami retire

Sarah Reyna | Campus Editor campus.editor@thesouthtexan.com

Ronni Reyna

Art work from senior students on display in the Kleberg Bank.

Ronni Reyna | Editor-in-Chief chief.editor@thesouthtexan.com

Dr. Nirmal Goswami

Dr. Nirmal Goswami takes a selfie with one of his last classes of the semester.

Celebrating students who live in dorms

University hosted Boardwalk on the Boulevard

To celebrate and recognize students living on campus at Texas A&M University-Kingsville, The University held a Boardwalk on the Boulevard on Nov. 10.

The event was organized in collaboration across several departments, such as Property Managements and Auxiliary Service, Aramark Dining and Residence

Life, whose staff manned the booths for the duration of the event.

“It’s a recognition of all the students that live on campus. Our departments wanted to organize something specifically for the students that live in the dorms,” Residence Life staff member Maggie O’Brien said. “We haven’t been able to celebrate anything like this for a couple of years and we knew it must have been hard for the on-campus students, so the departments wanted to give back to them.”

The Dining Hall was closed for the event and all Kingsville students

were given free access to the festival’s attractions.

“All students get free food, they just need to show their student ID. We are giving out free fruits, vegetables, homemade pretzels, lemon juice, snow cones and candy apples,” dining hall staff member and booth vendor Markim Felix said. “The Dining Hall was closed down for tonight, and the staff has been preparing for this since about the mid-afternoon.”

Alongside the free food and drinks, students also had access to a variety of different booths and attractions,

such as an artist who sketched portraits, as well as several student health organizations speaking with students regarding physical and mental health and access to resources. Students even had the chance to have fun in several different bouncy castles, inflatable slides, mazes and jousting arenas.

“I really love these events,” DJ for the event Mark Cortez said. “There’s a lot of energy and you can tell the students enjoy getting out and meeting people.”

The event ended officially around 9 p.m.,

as the last students left and the organizations removed their equipment

from the Boulevard, leaving it empty until the next event.

Wildlife photography courses on campus

Program has ‘very successful outcomes’

Wildlife photography is the art of documenting different forms of wildlife in their natural habitats.

Some may wonder how to pursue a possible career in that field, but they can look no further.

At Texas A&M University-Kingsville (TAMUK), students can take classes on wildlife photography and learn about every aspect of it.

“We teach students from anywhere on the campus how to take photographs that are of high quality that they can use for their own discipline whether it be communications, biology or wildlife sciences. This gives them an additional level of skill sets to use in their long-term job so they can

be better at what they do,” Professor Dr. Brian Loflin said.

This program has been around at TAMUK for five years and it has had very successful outcomes for graduate and undergraduate students.

To get a certification in Wildlife Photography it requires three classes which include Art and Design of Digital Wildlife Photography, Closeup and Macro Wildlife Photography and Communication and Publication of Wildlife Photography.

If students are interested in getting a minor in wildlife photography they need to take six classes total. The three mentioned and an additional three, which are Advanced Wildlife Photography, Wildlife Photography I and Wildlife Photography II.

“As far as our research goes, we’re the only four-year college or university that offers a full

program in photography. Rochester Institute of Technology has a program but it’s all medical photography, we’re the only one that we can find that has a program such as this,” Loflin said.

With this program, many internships and job opportunities can open up for students. It can also get them ahead of others who may have not had this opportunity.

“I have gotten a lot of job opportunities. Actually, I’ve traveled to Puerto Rico twice and I’ve gone to Costa Rica as part of doing internships, so that allowed me to actually take pictures not just of wildlife, but of students interacting with professors in the field documenting everything we do,” graduate student Alexander Meza said. “I’ve done events here on campus with the College of Agriculture [and] I’ve done jobs for the King Ranch, because of my skills as a photographer.”

This program isn’t just for students who have an interest in animals, it’s here to widen their skill sets and teach them what they need to know about wildlife photography.

“I had been doing photography for about two years prior to me joining the wildlife photography

program, but mainly did family portraits, sports photography and things of that nature. While that was fun, I always look for opportunities to broaden my skills as a photographer,” undergraduate student Gabriella Ruiz said. “I am an Animal Science major, so I love the outdoors and

animals and seeing the beauty behind nature. I, at the time, was also looking to bring more energy to my course schedule and step a little bit out of my comfort zone. Thus, I decided to get involved with the wildlife photography program and I am so glad I did.”

Happy Holidays from SGA

On behalf of the Student Government Association here at Texas A&M University-Kingsville, we would like to wish everyone a Happy Holidays!

Please do not forget that if you ever have any concerns or questions around campus, you are always welcomed to come speak to any of us.

If you need to contact SGA, please feel free to stop by our offices which are located at the Memorial Student Union Building in rooms 201202. You can also email us at sga@tamuk.edu or call us at 361-593-3610.

Every student voice

on campus matters and every voice must be heard. We hope that you all have safe and Happy Holidays, and we look forward to seeing all of you in the spring!

If you are looking into joining SGA please contact the Student Body Vice President, Jacquelyn Estelle at jacequelyn. estelle@students .tamuk. edu and she will be more than willing to help.

James Flores | Contributing Writer

Dr. Brian Loflin

Alex Hispid

Hispid’s cotton rat photograph.

Dr. Brain Loflin

A student from Dr. Loflin’s class photographing plants for her wildlife photography course.

Marisol Guerrero | Contributing Writer

Tyler Larraga Student Body President

@tamukdining on Instagram

Students at the Boardwalk on the Boulevard event.

Review: Black Adam, heroic savior or oppressive villain?

Warner Bros’

newest antihero film flies into theatres

Another installment in DC’s ever-growing catalogue of films dedicated to its many heroes and villains, “Black Adam” sees Dwayne Johnson return to the big screen as the protagonist of the story. “Black Adam” is the story of an antihero.

Originally named Teth Adam, he was a man born a slave over 5,000 years ago who has been reawakened and brought to the modern era. With his overwhelming power and devastating fight-

ing capabilities, will he be the protector that his homeland needs or will he bring it to ruin?

The overall tone for the film was not as oppressively dull as the older DC movies like Snyder’s “Batman vs. Superman,” but it still gave weight and levity to the characters interactions and the world they lived in. The writing held strong throughout the film and I appreciate that they took the plot seriously. There were funny interactions throughout a handful of scenes yet they never dwelled on them for more than they needed to.

Seeing multiple iterations of the same backstory with parts altered to show the truth was an interesting decision,

but rather than disliking it, I found it getting me invested in Teth Adam as a character. We don’t see as much history for the other heroes in the film but I feel like any further additions to the narrative would’ve made it bloated. Sometimes characters simply existing and interacting is enough to create a believable world. Not everything needs to be covered in fine detail. Who doesn’t like a bit of mystery?

Despite being stoic and probably talking the least in the film, Dwayne Johnson does a good job making Black Adam a character people can root for. His interactions with the non-super characters help humanize someone that has god-like abili-

ties. I was worried about the Justice Society’s inclusion in the beginning since I assumed it would come with their backstory, but I was delightfully surprised when they were presented as a pre-existing element in the world. It reminded me a bit of the X-men movies, especially with their giant private jet. Everyone in the group was likeable and each had their moments in the film without being overbearing on the plot itself.

“Black Adam” was a far more entertaining and well put together movie than I had anticipated. It’s a satisfying experience but I don’t think I’d put it amongst some of the greats as far as superhero movies go. As a standalone movie

though I’d say that it’s a good middle ground for the genre and a solid way to introduce this lesser-known character to major audiences. I’d recommend it to anyone

who wants a movie that doesn’t require homework from the watcher like most comic book movies do today. “Black Adam” is a seven out of 10 film.

Review: I only have pies for you

McDonalds Apple Pies:

I’m not the biggest fan of fast food in general. Eminently, I will do everything in my power to stay away from chains with unhealthy reputations.

However, all my morals are disregarded and thrown out each night as the sun starts to set,

the darkness slowly engulfs this small town’s sky and my sweet tooth craving kicks in.

McDonalds Apple Pies have been an American gem for more than 50 years since 1968 when the world’s most popular fast-food chain brought them onto their menu as their first official dessert.

Other dessert menu items come and go, but the popularity of the fresh baked apple pies is what makes them worth keeping on the

blinding and illuminating drive-thru screen. What makes this apple pie not only different, but 10 times better than those at other chains is that it is made with six

How to Adult: Decorating for the holidays

Making your living space into a holiday heaven

We’re finally in the holiday season and with that comes an overhaul for your living space.

Although that’s only if you’re the kind of person who enjoys decorating for those special times through the year.

Being past Halloween also means that there’s only two more holidays you can intensively decorate for this year, both of which being Christmas and Thanksgiving. It’s worth noting that not everyone celebrates these holidays so if you’re someone who doesn’t, you can still decorate for the season itself if you feel so inclined.

There are varying degrees to how much you can decorate but it depends on multiple factors like budget, space and personal preference. Someone may have a massive yard yet only

want to decorate it minimally while another person may have the opposite situation. When figuring out what to prioritize, always go for personal tastes first.

From there you can take a look at the space you have and then you can work on the budget you want to deal with for said space. There’s another factor which is the actual decorating process but that’s a more abstract process that completely depends on the decorator. Your planned layout may end up different from the end product.

Your preferences can be boiled down to any of the themes you had in mind whether they’re based on a specific holiday or the season as a whole. You can decorate for Thanksgiving, but why not move that further into simply decorating for the fall season?

You’d have access to a wider array of aesthetic choices than if you homed in on Thanksgiving-themed items. From there you could lump in any holiday related items since they fit nicely with the seasonal colors.

Next comes the bud-

get aspect of decorating which should be a breeze once you have an idea of what you want to be looking for. It might be a good idea to create a limit for yourself to avoid overspending.

From that point you can head to any major retailer and shop until you’re satisfied with your choices or until your self-designated budget has run dry. Keep an eye out for any potential deals as well. Places like hobby shops may have good prices for decorative items that’ll suit what you’re going for more than you expect them to.

This same process can be applied to the winter and Christmas season as well, but that seems to be the part of the year where everyone puts out all the decorations they can.

Although it may be tempting to do the same, there’s no reason to break the bank just so your house can be as bright and decorated as the neighbor’s. It’s always good to go for a style that’s more your own speed.

different types of apples. With sliced Jonagold, Fuji, Golden Delicious, Gala, Rome and Ida Red apples, the McDonalds apple pie is guaranteed to leave your taste buds

satisfied and mouthwatering, impatiently waiting for your next return to destination flavortown.

The biggest heartbreak, however, isn’t when the apple pie is long gone and devoured.

The real pain is whenever the thought of just getting close to the magical deliciousness is struck down by the unfortunately all too familiar words, “I’m sorry. We’re all out at the moment.”

McDonalds, here I am, a loyal lover of the greatest dessert item of all time made by your company, and here you are, letting me down time after time, gradually crushing my hungry, inner spirit.

I don’t know how much longer I can take this heartache, but for those warm and savory bad boys, I’m embarrassingly willing to endure this pain for a lifetime. Curse you McDonalds. Curse you and your irresistible apple pies.

MakaylahChavez

Image from @blackadammovie on Twitter.

Image from mcdonalds.com

Image from homedepot.com

Our Opinion Trump announces re-election campaign

Tear gas and violence surrounded the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, as Congress tried to certify the election of Joe Biden as President. The man behind the curtain, telling supporters to march to the Capitol, was former President Donald Trump, who recently announced his plan to run for re-election in 2024.

It has been said that more than six in 10 U.S. citizens do not want Trump to run for re-election, according to PBS. Many previous Trump voters have even expressed their opposition to his re-election announcement because of his behavior. Trump created a movement of challenging elections across America, weakening the integrity of the election system. He continued to attack mail-in and absentee ballots, claiming he was a victim of fraud by the vote-by-mail system.

His posts became so unprofessional and hateful, that his account faced a permanent suspension because of the violence he instigated in general and on Jan. 6. He tweeted, “Big protest in D.C. on January 6th. Be there, will be wild!”

During his presidency, Trump signed executive orders that discriminated against specific cultures and groups of people, appointed anti-LGBTQ and anti-women’s rights Supreme Court judges, banned transgender service members from the military, and so much more that stripped basic human rights away from Americans. He is not for the people; he is for the rich, the wealthy and the white.

Why should we trust the man who encouraged a political riot because he simply could not fathom the fact that the majority of Americans did not want him as president?

Electing him in 2016 was a mistake, and it would be an even greater mistake to elect him once more. It is with our sincerest hopes that people educate themselves and do their research before voting in the 2024 Presidential election. This is more than Trump being a Republican or a battle between both parties. This is about every marginalized group/citizen living in this country that could greatly suffer at the hands of Donald Trump.

Goodbye, Javelina Nation; the only way from here is up

As the semester continues to go by and graduation gets closer, it’s time to say goodbye to some of the best people I met during my time at Texas A&M University-Kingsville.

Joining

Sarah Reyna Campus Editor

The South Texan as a freshman was extremely scary and nerve-wracking, to be honest, but I was warmly welcomed to the family. During my freshman orientation, I was the only communi-

cation major student, so I was able to talk one-onone with the Art, Communication and Theatre Department Chair Todd Lucas. He told me about The South Texan and recommended I attend one of the weekly meetings once the semester began. I don’t remember the very first story I wrote, but I do remember what I felt the first time I saw my writing published. That feeling led me to continue my journalism career with the Javelina Media Experience and even an internship with the Alice Echo-News Journal this past summer. For the first two years working with The South Texan, I was a volunte

er reporter. It wasn’t until summer of 2021 that I applied for my first paid position. I was hesitant to apply, but after talking with our Student Media Adviser Nicole Morris, I submitted my application.

Morris, thank you for believing in me and thank you for everything. Without your guidance, I would definitely not be where I am today, nor would I be a successful journalist.

Of course, most of my gratitude comes from the people who have helped shape me academically, but most importantly, I would not be here without my mom. Literally. Without her, I would

not be able to attend college, as she so graciously brings me to campus and assists me in classes. Mom, thank you for being so selfless and allowing me to continue my education. Words cannot express how thankful I am. While my time at TAMUK and The South Texan is coming to an end, I am very lucky and grateful to have worked with such amazing journalists and people in general. Ronni Reyna, Erik Estrada, Dylan Sanchez and Melissa Mata: I hope you all continue to do great things in your future; I have faith in every single one of you. Thank you for a wonderful four years.

Farewell, Bon Voyage and you know the rest

“He nods, as if to acknowledge that endings are almost always a little sad, even when there is something to look forward to on the other side.” – Emily Griffin Direction in life is something that everybody wants to know ahead of time so that way they can plan accordingly.

I’m a planner and I always have been. Just the thought of the future terrifies me, but I’m slowly learning to find excite-

I do not mean to brag, but if you look up the definition of “procrastinator” you may very well find a picture of me attached to it. If you have not guessed it yet, this column is on the list of things I have left to the last minute. However, I am putting this one off for a whole different reason. How does one fit in three and a half years of

ment in it. School has always been my thing. I love learning and strangely find comfort in studying. But that safe chapter in my life is coming to an end, and it’s time to read the next. If I regret anything, it is that I did not enjoy my present as much as I could have. Instead, I focused too much on my future and for what? It still hit me just as much as it would have if I didn’t. Overthinking kills happiness. My journey is a bit different from others at TAMUK. I transferred here against my will after my freshman year from another university.

their life into 350 to 400 words? Having some time to reflect has reiterated my belief that everything happens for a reason. TAMUK was not my first, second or third choice - it was not even my last. Nonetheless, attending TAMUK was inarguably one of the best decisions of my life, and I owe it all to procrastination.vWhoever said to never mix business with pleasure clearly has not met my co-workers and friends at The South Texan. Thank you all for being pillars to lean on during stressful and successful times. The best memories have been

STAFF

Ronni Reyna Editor-in-Chief chief.editor@thesouthtexan.com

Rae Martinez Managing Editor managing.editor@thesouthtexan.com

Despite my reluctance, I soon realized the benefits of TAMUK are bountiful and endless. The small size of the university and its departments encouraged me to get involved quickly and earn a position within my organization even quicker. This in turn led me to wonderful opportunities and memorable experiences.

Thank you, Morris, for always picking our brains and holding us up to our fullest potential (also your killer outfits never go unnoticed). Thank you, Mrs. Patsy, for keeping our heads on track and our stomachs fed.

made inside the four walls of Manning Hall, Room 165.

To my adviser, Nicole Morris, thank you for giving me a chance. Your knowledge on journalism and your overall wisdom have shaped me into the woman I am today. I hope to continue making you proud.

To Lauren Gallegos and Nathaly Enriquez, I do not even know where to begin. I cannot thank you both enough for everything you have done for me. Thank you for being some of the most amazing people I have ever met. Friendship is not measured by years,

Erik Estrada Digital Editor digital.editor@thesouthtexan.com

Zena Desouza Chris Olivarez Senior Reporters

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) and the Texas Intercollegiate Press Association (TIPA).

Sarah Reyna Campus Editor campus.editor@thesouthtexan.com

Dylan Sanchez Sports Editor sports.editor@thesouthtexan.com

Frank Villarreal Entertainment Editor entertainment.editor@thesouthtexan.com

To The South Texan each of you have an incredible amount of creativity. Never stop learning and growing in your talent. KTAI, we had a short run, but I am so grateful to have tried something new with the little time that I had left. The end is expected to bring a tear, maybe two, okay maybe an entire breakdown, but the possibilities moving forward are endless. No matter where life takes us, everything will work out the way it is supposed to. There is beauty in the unknown and beauty in the experience. I’m glad I have both.

and both of you made me realize that. Lastly, I must thank my family. You all have seen me at my worst and best, and still shower me with love and support. I share my success with you, because if there are people I could not have done this without, it is you all. I must have done a plethora of charitable deeds in my past life to have been blessed with such a loving family in this one. I love you all, this one is for you. I don’t condone procrastination, but I do have to say that making last-minute decisions has led me to live the best years of my life.

Aryssa Enriquez Marketing Manager marketing.manager@thesouthtexan.com

Nicole Perez Morris Adviser nicole.morris@thesouthtexan.com

Melissa Mata Abigayle Hayden Reporters

Mireya Martinez

Jessica Tijerina

Dominic Valdez Photographers

Mackenzie Bryce Social Media Manager Melissa Mata Circulation Manager

“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.”

I’ll figure out the rest of my life tomorrow

Rae Martinez Managing Editor

Makaylah Chavez KTAI-FM Manager

Jackson makes her way to LSC Championships

Jackson hard working, dedicated

After a successful season for the Texas A&M University-Kingsville Women’s Volleyball Team, on Nov. 13 one of it’s shining players was selected to play in the Lone Star Conference (LSC) Championship

All-Tournament Team.

With the help of her coaches and teammates, Ayanna Jackson paved a great path for herself and was selected to play amongst other great

honorees who were also selected throughout the various LSC Programs.

Playing at middle blocker, sophomore Jackson managed 16 kills at

a .484 clip while posting a match-high six blocks, four digs, and an assist during their game against UT-Tyler in the LSC Tournament, which

Javelinas set for Corsicana

Javelinas head to the Heritage Bowl

Throughout the 2022 football season, the Javelinas saw immense highs and lows and after the final game of the season ended in a loss, it looked like the season was over.

However, that was not the case at all. The Javelinas were invited to the Heritage Bowl game on Dec. 3 against the East Central Tigers.

For players like Craig Clemons, Isaiah Bean and Isaiah Jacobs, who will be graduating soon, a chance to end their college football career on a high note has now been increased. One aspect of the game to look out for is the defensive secondary as they look to bounce back from the recent loss.

“We’re definitely fired up in the secondary, right now it’s about getting back to the basics and getting back to the drawing board,” Jacobs said. “I think you’ll see a better defense as a whole.”

Staying on the defensive side of the ball, senior defensive end Bean let it be known that the Javelina pass rush will look to improve and be better.

“All we have been doing in terms of preparation is practicing more to get better and sharpen up our pass rush and work on our technique

and fundamentals for this bowl game,” he said.

Overall, this looks to be a much more focused and prepared group of defensive players who are looking forward to controlling the game and getting back to what they were known for earlier in the season.

Another player excited for this bowl game is Clemons who has been an outstanding wide receiver as well as kick-off returner and punt returner for the Javelinas this season.

“I feel like with enough time off we got a chance to get a sort of bye week and focus on a lot of the little things that we didn’t focus on in the season, and I’m looking forward to the upcoming game,” Clemons said.

Along with this, the players voiced how they felt in representing TAMUK in their first bowl game since 2016.

“It is definitely something we wanted. Obviously, the season had a lot of ups and downs and the big goal was to

make the playoffs but now it’s about writing our own history and putting Kingsville back on the map,” Jacobs said.

Clemons would add on to this by saying, “You got to feel a sense of pride all throughout every sport because just getting back into that conversation and being bowl eligible means a lot to the community around us and the alumni as well as the guys that came before us and kind of getting back on track, so it feels good.”

Bean was also vocal on this grand moment for the team.

“It feels really good to have a program come back to what it needs to be and what they deserve to be. I feel like the coaches and the guys deserve that and I’m happy we were able to get into a bowl game,” he said.

The effort the team has put into this season has not gone unnoticed and neither has what Head Coach Mike Salinas has done since taking over as the head coach and ultimately seeming to turn the program around and head towards success.

“I am proud of our players and staff for all of their hard work up to this point and this team has a ton of faith and belief in each other and we are excited to get Javelina football back in a bowl game,” Coach Salinas said.

The Heritage bowl will be at 12 p.m. on Dec. 3 in Corsicana, Texas at the Community National Bank & Trust Stadium at Tiger Field. The game will air on The CW 23 or tune in at Javelina athletics to watch on the LSC Network.

put her in the position to be selected for greatness.

“I think our coaches did a good job with clear communication throughout the tournament of what they wanted to see so it made it easier for us to have one common goal,” Jackson said, “and for my teammates I think everyone had good high energy throughout the match, so it kept everyone on board.”

Her hard work and dedication will never go unnoticed from being named the first ever Javelina LSC Defensive Player of the Year in 2020/2021 to now being selected playing on the All-Tournament Team.

“I think this helps me realize like…it’s obviously an obtaining goal

for me so just for going into next year it makes me think of like…if this is what I can do in one game just imagine what I could do in more games if we were to get further down” Jackson said of the tournament run.

Jackson has been a great asset for the Javelinas since she started her athletic career here in 2021 she has been the only Javelina to start in all 23 matches in 2021 rolling into 2022.

Head Coach Tanya Allen-Gonzalez has made sure that the team continues to play at a high level and set goals for not only themselves but the team.

“As far as this year goes, I think they met a lot of the goals we set for the team…it was a pret-

ty successful season,” Coach Allen said. “With this particular group of girls they had fairly good chemistry throughout the season, a lot of the girls had the right mindset and continued to work during the hard times.”

Assistant Coach Gary Payne keeps the team on their toes and focused on the important aspects.

“Coming together as a team and playing together as a team we had multiple options this year with different hitters… and I think with us being diverse being able to set different hitters made us a lot better as a whole team,” Payne said.

The Javelinas will continue prepping as they get ready for next season.

Javelina Athletics

Ayanna Jackson in the Kathleen Brasfield Invitational.

ZenaDesouza-George| Senior Reporter

Christopher Olivarez| Senior Reporter

Arelia Williams

Craig Clemons on the tackle.

Jessica Tijerina

Christian Anderson on the handoff.

Jessica Tijerina

Javelinas extend the season to Dec. 3.

na. A collective of seven documentaries have been produced by his study abroad students, where he serves as the Executive Producer. His last study abroad trip took place last summer in South Africa.

“The university has let me teach like the way I wanted to and that’s been just very rewarding,” he said.

Nirmal describes working closely with students as one of the fun parts of his job. Many of his students have gone on to law school and graduate school, branding themselves as a part of the G-Squad.

“I don’t think of retiring, I’m borrowing the term that the tennis player Serena Williams uses, evolving into a different phase rather than retiring,” he said “We are not thinking about retiring, [just] evolving into a new

ter themselves in everyday situations but to also express yourself in the way of creativity that no one else knows you to have,” Nieto said.

Although he did not start off as an art major, Nieto says his time in the art program has been nothing but great moments.

Each student had a different focus within their art work, and a different message to portray. For Nikole Salazar, God is the primary portrayal in her work.

“Most of my artwork comes from inspiration about God’s character. When I came to Kingsville, I had no church background but it wasn’t till I

phase,” Nirmal said. The Goswamis still plan to stay involved in the university helping in any aspect they can while volunteering in San Antonio and different organizations in India and Africa.

Long -time friend, neighbor and colleague Dr. Paul Hagemen attended the retirement celebration for Nirmal and Jaya Goswami held on Nov. 16 on campus.

“We have spent almost every holiday together, a lot of Friday night dinners and barbecues, and just wonderful time and memories. They’re two of my dearest, dearest friends,” Hagemen said.

Their sons are only three years apart and grew up together in the many years they spent living adjacent to each other.

Nirmal and Jaya Goswami’s son, Rohit, earned both his undergraduate and master’s degree from

joined an [organization] Chi Alpha that I met Jesus here and so ever since then I’ve wanted to portray him in my art,” Salazar said.

A piece by Salazar she feels inspires her the most is her self-portrait, “Growth in Your Garden.”

In the piece Salazar’s portrait is depicted in black and white, while the background engulfing her is a vibrant green with flowers and butterflies scattered throughout the piece.

“I feel like I’ve learned more about technically how art shows are supposed to go and how we were supposed to be very businesslike, very professional,” she said.

A total of 15 students participated.

the University of Texas.

Throughout their time at the university both Nirmal and Jaya Goswami have worked with many different people, and would like to thank the many colleagues that have helped them along the way.

Center for Continuing Education Coordinator Brenda Ballard currently works under Jaya.

“When you have different jobs in life if you come across different types of bosses, you don’t realize how bad bosses have been in your past until you have an amazing one and then it just outshined everybody else and that is what she is to me,” Ballard said.

Ballard also credits Jaya with helping her leadership skills and allowing her to grow on campus.

“She’s taught me that I can be whoever I want to be because she has,” she said. “We’re also lucky to have them both on cam-

Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs said. “However, the actual number of graduates will not be known until final grades are posted.”

It is important to know only the graduating student will be allowed to lineup in the processional and cross the stage unless arrangements have been made through Student Accessibility Services. All family and guests must remain in their seats during the ceremony.

With the goal of moving to Baton Rouge, La., to attend Louisiana State University to get Biological Sciences

pus and I hope we take everything that they’ve done here and keep it going.”

Jaya also previously served as Associate Vice President for Student Success, Associate Dean in the College of Education and Human Performance and Director of the Center for Teaching Effectiveness.

“They are lots of little things that I’ve accomplished in the various roles but I think my focus on faculty and what they do in the classroom has been my biggest accomplishment,” she said.

Jaya notes how blessed, humbled and grateful she is for the support she’s received from students, faculty and staff.

“What has impacted me most about this university is the fact that this university – the Javelina experience for our students –transforms lives and when we change one student’s life we don’t just change that one person’s life, it’s

major Miranda Smith is another graduate anticipating her walk across the stage. After graduation, Smith’s plans are to move to Baton Rouge, Louisiana and to attend Louisiana a master’s degree in biological sciences. “I have mixed emotions about graduating if I’m being honest,” she said. “I started here at TAMUK in 2020 and unfortunately because of COVID, my years of being here were cut short,” Smith said. “I received my associate degree in high school, which meant I only needed two years left to complete my bachelor’s degree. Though I am saddened that my years here at TAMUK are

a life of the whole family and then the whole community and that I think is huge and that it goes so far and it’s so humbling that keeps me going and wanting to do more and more,” she said.

Jaya and her husband Nirmal plan to travel as they transition into their next phase of life.

Jaya would also like to work with immigrants to teach them English, as she believes it’s empowering to know the language of the country in which you’re living.

“If I was asked, if I had a chance to do it over again, I would do exactly the same thing. I would always come back,” she said. “We have so much talent, so many good people, so many good students that I’m sure we can reach great heights… I mean I get goosebumps when I think of this place, you know so I want to see it succeed, and I know it

coming to an end, I am excited to graduate and to venture out into the ‘real world.’”

Smith hopes go into the PhD program at LSU, as well.

“There was a Baffin Bay Development Biology course that took place this past summer in August that I feel really cemented my desire to go into the field of research, and has prepared me to do that,” Smith said. “I give a huge thank you and shoutout to Dr. Bohm, if it wasn’t for him and allowing me to work in his research drosophila lab, I don’t know where else I would be.”

Smith’s ideal job would be in a lab setting, wheth-

will.”

Jaya and Nirmal were surrounded by friends and colleagues during their retirement celebration. Tears were shed by many and laughter filled the room. Though their day-to-day lives at the university are ending, the Goswamis plan to stay connected to the university.

“This is a special place both in terms of its history and the role that it plays in the greater South Texas region and I hope the university continues to remain a unique place in terms of small classes and quality programs. Knowing where its roots are and yet have a global vision and that’s what made this special place even more special, so I would continue to be involved in the university because that’s a vision I want to be part of,” Nirmal said.

er that is at a hospital or a stand-alone research lab. She wants to pursue research and hopes to one day call herself a doctor/ scientist. Smith would like to do research in either cancer studies or developmental biology, so wherever the road takes her, she will follow.

The graduation cancellation deadline is at 5 p.m. on Nov. 30 and can be done through Blue and Gold Connection.

“It is our hope that graduates are successful in their chosen fields, realize financial security and find happiness,” Goswami said.

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