The Prospector 01 31 2023

Opening a Door to Acceptance

El Paso Chief of Police Greg Allen dead at 71

BY ITZEL GIRON The Prospector

After 15 years of leading the El Paso Police Department, Police Chief Greg Allen has died at the age of 71.

Allen, whose career spans all the way to 1978, when he first joined the police force, has been chief since 2008 after being interim Police Chief following the resignation of Chief Richard Wiles.

“We lost a great leader today. El Paso Chief of Police Greg Allen was not only an incredible Chief of Police, but he was an incredible son, husband, father, and friend,” said El Paso Mayor Oscar Leeser. “He earned the respect of every officer on his force, and I was proud to call him my friend. He will be greatly missed, and the City of El Paso will be forever indebted to him for his leadership. Our heart goes out to his wife Rosanne and his entire family at this difficult and painful time. He was an esteemed member of our city family and we mourn alongside them.”

Marsha P. Johnson’s activism represented at UTEP

BY AVERY ESCAMILLA-WENDELL

The Prospector

Marsha P. Johnson was a wellrenowned activist for what is now known as the LGBTQIA2S+ community especially during the Gay Liberation movement in the 1960s and 70s which led Johnson to engage in the Stonewall Inn in 1969. Without using any form of violence through this she represented the minority left out of what was then known as the LGBT community alongside Sylvia Rivera. This became a chance for Johnson to spread activism and inclusion for the LGBT community.

Through her legacy, Marsha P. Johnson continues to spread activism across the nation and even here.

Inspired by her legacy, the Student Impact Association (SIMPA), a social justice organization at UTEP, brings civil justice to people of the LGBTQIA2S+ community.

SIMPA hosts many events on campus that UTEP students get to engage in to learn and promote social activism.

“So, they were an active movement in acceptance and bringing down that barrier of separation and segregation, which did actually do a lot and it actually helped,” said

Regina Reza, a sophomore psychology major at UTEP is a member of SIMPA. “They were an active movement in acceptance and bringing down that barrier of separation and segregation.”

Johnson and Rivera created the Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries activism group which helped anyone of any race, identity, or sexuality feel accepted into the LGBTQIA2S+ community. With Johnsons work in activism, it led to many organizations to creating an accepting space for people who identify a part of the LGBTQIA2S+ community.

“Now we can celebrate in UTEP the pride and the LGBTQIA2S+ as any person who identifies as any part of them,” Reza said. “They basically opened a window to let us in to open the door.”

The UTEP campus represents a large amount of LGBTQIA2S+ students who are finding a place to feel accepted or to understand themselves. SIMPA creates a family for students while also allowing them to learn and share their impact of social justice and rights to others on campus.

see MARSHA on page 3

Under his leadership, Allen was able to keep El Paso one of the safest cities in the nation especially when Ciudad Juarez; our sister city, became one of the most dangerous. Allen also retained his leadership role during what many would say is one the darkest moments in El Paso history, the 2019 Walmart massacre.

His death was announced Tuesday afternoon after he passed away at Sierra Providence East Campus, but a cause of death was not revealed. After the announcement, a large group of police officers arrived at Sierra Providence for a police procession.

Greg Allen was the first Black Chief of police in El Paso, for 15 years. Allen was laid to rest on Fri. Jan. 27 2023 and his end of watch was Jan. 17 2023.

Itzel Giron is the editor-in-chief and may be reached at prospector@utep.edu; @by.itzel.giron on Instagram; @ itzel_anahi_16 on Twitter.

Regina Reza, member of the Student Impact Association makes an impact within UTEP community.

Photo by Jasmin Campoya/The Prospector

Engaging a UTEP generation

BY MARCO HINOJOSA

The Prospector

I remember as a kid, waking up and the first thing that I would see on my TV was the news playing. Every single day news channel KTSM would play at 6 a.m., then later The Today Show playing on the NBC network. As I watched I started growing this love and fascination for journalism.

Something about knowing that you can provide vital information whether it be good news or bad, while delivering a sense of comfort to the community piqued my interest. Back in my middle school days at Bill Sybert, I oversaw the morning announcements for all three years.

Then during my time at Montwood High School, I was part of the early college program where I was also involved in student council and served as class officer my senior year of high school.

Some of my other achievements include winning a couple

of awards for excerpts from the University Interscholastic League (UIL) competitions.

Now as a junior here at UTEP with a major in communication studies and a minor in criminal justice. Throughout my time at UTEP I realized I really wanted to get my foot deeper into the journalism field. There was this

moment in my life where I would visit Austin consistently and I had the opportunity to be on the radio show at KVRX in UT Austin. This moment helped me further realize my true desire to be part of the field of journalism. That is when I was able to join The Prospector as the audience and engagement editor. Without a doubt, one of my greatest and proudest achievements is being able to be part of this wonderful team here at UTEP.

I reflect on the people who inspired me to be where I am at from reporters like Savannah Guthrie, David Muir and local reporters such as Daniel Marin, Iris Lopez and Lianna Golden. I thank my parents, grandparents and my best friends for encouraging and supporting me. I also thank my editor-in-chief Itzel Giron, for giving me the opportunity to be part of a team as lovely as the “Prospy” team. As audience and engagement

editor, I hope to build more connections with UTEP students through the strong force of social media and social interactions.

I know we are living in a time where social media is constantly in our lives, thus I want and plan to deliver more to the public. It is essential to make things relevant in the sense of current trends and providing information in a good timely manner

I hope everything I obtain from being here will provide the necessary skills to pursue my journalistic dreams of becoming a reporter and venturing out to the big apple, New York City.

I am very eager to be part of this lovely team and I am excited to learn more from this position. I know I will learn plenty within myself, my fellow staff members and everything around me in hopes I grow to become a leader.

How to be a better activist and ally

PROSPECTOR STAFF

Activism can look different at every stage in every space. Whether it be resistance through things like protesting, art, music, film or poetry, people can show up for communities in a multitude of ways.

But with recent political movements and celebratory observances, not everyone contributes in a productive manner.

For example, while Black History Month is an internationally acknowledged annnual observance, it has only been recognized for a little more than half a century.

First acknowledged by President Gerald Ford of the United States in 1976, it is now officially recognized by Canada, Ireland and the United Kingdom. Black History Month lasts from Feb. 1 through March 1 every year.This tends to be a time for companies to take advantage of months like this that highlight minority groups.

Big clothing, tech, travel and shoe companies tend to advertise these minority groups under the gise of

inclusivity in hopes of attracting a wider audience.

However, when the month ends all remants of support for these groups tend to dissapate.

Where there would once be flags, statements, models, quotes and posts this is only a commercialization of politcal movements and minority celebrations.

Now the question lies within the company of what they are actually doing to help these minority groups. Additionally it is a time for people to look at themselves and realize what kind of activist they want or hope to be.

For those that wish to provide allyism that exceeds beyond being performative, one can avoid instances like those that arose during the Black Lives Matter Movement.

Posting a black square on social platforms such as Instagram, participating in faux trends on TikTok or hashtags on Twitter; these exist only as a facade of alliance.

The best way to support these communities are by donating time,

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January 31, 2023

Grammy Nomination Predictions: Album of the Year

money and resources to the correct channels. Signing petitions, attending protests as is accesible contacting local government officials and attending town halls are all profecient ways in becoming a better activist and ally. Social media can exist as a medium for spreading awareness

and informational links when immediate assistance might not be achieved.

It is important for people to contribute where they can so that observances and movements like these can reach new heights. The editorial staff may be reached at prospector@ utep.edu

COMIC BY MAYA ALVARADO MALVARADO29@MINERS.UTEP.EDU

Marco Hinojosa is the audience and engagement editor and may be reached at mhinojosa4@miners.utep. edu

Itzel Giron

Maria Luisa Guerrero Katrina Villarreal Annabella Mireles Fatima Alvarado Marco Hinojosa Meagan García

Editor-in-Chief Multimedia Editor

Web and Copy Editor Photography Editor Design Editor Audience and Engagement Editor Arts & Culture Editor

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Life in the historic Omega Psi Phi at UTEP

BY NICHOLAS MAES

The Prospector

Historically fraternities and sororities have been a part of colleges across the nation for years and UTEP is no stranger to that history. As part of Miner Welcome, UTEP’s fraternities and sororities presented themselves for students to approach and inquire about what it means to be a Greek. One of the many fraternities was Omega Psi Phi.

A historically black fraternity, Omega Psi Phi is currently getting themselves reestablished at UTEP, was originally founded on Nov. 17, 1911, “By men whose steps were ordered by the Lord because ‘Omega’ is the conclusion and culmination of a successful journey that many men chose as a way of life.”

Consisting of the Pi Lambda Undergraduate Chapter and the Sigma Tau Graduate Chapter, Omega Psi Phi welcomes members who exhibit the qualities of the fraternity’s Four Cardinal Principles: Manhood, Scholarship, Perseverance, and Uplift.

“Being a member of Omega Psi Phi means serving the community in each other by maintaining

and upholding our four cardinal principles of Manhood, Scholarship, Perseverance, and Uplift.” said graduate member Cedric Napoleon Shamley Jr.

Originally joining Omega Psi Phi at South Carolina State University in Spring 2009, Shamley, who is continuing his graduate years at UTEP, chose the university for its “great graduate programs, research

facilities, and faculty advisors.”

For Shamley, the most rewarding part of being a part of Omega Psi Phi has been “networking education, professional, and community outreach opportunities that allow us to uplift each other and to ensure the success of the members of our fraternities and the communities that we serve.”

Omega Psi Phi has had its share

of famous members, people from all walks of life, from clergymen to athletes to comedians.

Some notable members of the fraternity include comedian Steve Harvey, sports journalist Stephen A. Smith and famous basketball players like Shaquille O’Neal and Michael Jordan.

Lucian Sweetenberg Jr. is the Texas Membership Selection Process Chairman in El Paso; he is currently in the process of bringing the undergrad chapters of Omega Psi Phi to college campuses across the state of Texas, including the cities of El Paso and Lubbock.

According to Sweetenbert, it matters to be a prominent man.

Through Omega Psi Phi, members will gain lifelong membership, and opportunities for networking across the country and the world.

The fraternity is heavy on mentorship and preparing young men for making an impact everywhere.

Once students become members of Omega Psi Phi, they are required to take part in community, particularly through service. Members have taken part in activities such as blood drives, and highway cleanups, all which have a positive impact on

A revolution through desegragtion: A look at Thelma White Camacks’ legacy

BY ERIK ACOSTA

The

Prospector

Thelma White Camack was a pioneer of her time and played a significant role in the desegregation of Texas Western College (TWC), now known as UTEP, in 1955. She opened the door for African American students to apply and be admitted to the university while leaving a lasting impression on the institution.

Born in Marlin, TX in 1936. White was the daughter of Ray and Johnnie Mae White, later the family moved to Central El Paso when Thelma was only a small child. A hardworking and devoted daughter, as many close friends and family recalled her, White attended the city’s only desegregated school at Douglass High School.

White, the class valedictorian who graduated in 1954, made an ordinary move that would soon affect her life and rally a chain of events that would loosen discrimination

and oppression in Texas.

Coach Nolan Richardson, a UTEP alum and member of the Hall of Fame of Collegiate Basketball, once had White as a tutor at Douglass School. He shared his thoughts on White in an article devoted to her legacy.

“She was the right person to take on the right issue for the right person,” Richardson said. “She decided that segregation was wrong, and she was not going to take it. I never felt so proud of her.”

When she applied for admission to Texas Western College in September 1954, she was later denied entry due to her skin color. But her attempt to enroll was amidst the controversial ruling of Brown v. Board of Education that occurred earlier that year. Despite the Supreme Court’s decision in “Separate but Equal,” which declared segregation in public schools was unconstitutional and illegal.

However, Texas state laws at the

time remained unchanged.

There were just two schools available at the time for African American students who wished to attend a four-year college in Texas: Texas Southern in Houston and Prairie View A&M in Houston’s northwest. White enrolled in New Mexico A&M College, now known as New Mexico State University, in Las Cruces amidst being refused entry.

Accompanied by an NAACP representative, White filed a lawsuit against The University of Texas Board of Regents along with TWC leaders on March 30, 1955.

On July 8, 1955, the decision was made to give African American students who wanted to attend TWC the same opportunity as everyone else.

With her lawsuit, TWC became the first desegregated undergraduate institution in Texas.

Twelve black students entered TWC without incident for the first

time that fall. White, however, decided to stay at New Mexico A&M college where she met her husband, Curtis Camack.

White rarely gave information about her participation in this pivotal event, and she spent her remaining life in El Paso as a devoted mother to her four children the couple had. Close relatives recalled that White preferred it that way.

“She didn’t get involved for the fame,” said John E. Douglas, White’s cousin and former El Paso police officer, in an article about her life. “The reason was to end segregation.” After spending several years working at White Sands Missile Range, White eventually retired due to health issues after being diagnosed with breast cancer.

Thelma White Camack passed away Aug. 9, 1985 in El Paso. A UTEP academic support club for African American students was founded in 1993 in her memory.

Erik Acosta is a staff reporter and may be reached at emacosta6@miners.utep.edu

the communities.

One of nine mandated programs, voter registration also plays an important role in Omega Psi Phi. Not only are all members required to be registered voters, but the fraternity helps at voter registration sites across the city, because according to Sweetenberg, voting is important.

Through Omega Psi Phi, Sweetenberg emphasized that the fraternity is heavily involved with education, stating that “C’s get degrees” does not work; it is about going above and beyond to exceed the expectations. Similarly, helping others must come from the heart.

Supporting local programs through health initiatives and social actions is just one of the many ways Omega Psi Phi continues to pay it forward to the community.

Through the brotherhood that has been achieved through the fraternity, Omega Psi Phi lives out its motto, “Friendship is essential to the soul.”

If you are interested in joining you can contact Omega Psi Phi at lucian.sweetenbergjr@gmail.com.

Nicholas Maes may be reached atnemaes@miners. utep.edu

Prior to her death Marsha P. Johnson was identified and known as a drag queen; the art of drag is well known and represented in the Pride District downtown, El Paso, Texas and across the world. Representation of drag has been seen on television, movies and in Broadway productions. Some notable representations are seen on “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” the Broadway production of “Hairspray” and “A Star is Born” showcase drag artists and the drag community across the world.

“She’s actually a big inspiration for the drag community,” Reza said. “If you watch Drag race or other drag competitions out there, they have paid ohmage to her a lot of time by doing her iconic flower dress.”

Though Johnson could not live to see her legacy today, her activism is being shared by people apart of the LGBTQ+ community and continuing her legacy to create safe and accepting spaces for others to feel heard and accepted.

If you are interested in joining SIMPA, you can find the organization’s information on MineTracker along with their new upcoming events and meetings.

Avery Escamilla-Wendell is a Staff Reporter and may be reached at amescamilla@miners.utep.edu

Employment, internship and volunteer opportunities available

Our mission is to provide a hands-on learning environment for students to learn practical journalistic applications and business practices. Student Media and Publications serves as a public forum for the University and a community that enables students to be informed and active participants in college life.

Opportunities are available for those students interested in journalism, media, video production, graphic design, marketing and advertising.

Omega Psi Phi is a historically black fraternity on campus who are returning after being dormant; they were originally founded on Nov, 17, 1911. Photo by Jasmin Campoya/The Prospector

MARSHA from cover

Movements that made Black history

BY ELISHA NUNEZ

The Prospector

Social and political movements have been the foundation for equal rights, not only in the United States but around the world.

With Black History Month here, the historical movements and problems faced by African American figures or communities are especially observed by the country. In this article, we are going list movements that impacted the Black community and changed America forever.

Harlem Renaissance

A cultural revival of African American music, art, fashion, literature, and more, this movement helped construct a new Black identity in a time where African Americans fled the Deep South.

Centered around the titular Harlem Neighborhood in New York City, the Harlem Renaissance led Black people to express themselves and create new styles in the arts. It was this revival of culture that reinforced Black identity for the civil rights movement.

Montgomery bus boycott

Lasting a year, this socio-political protest was one of the foundational events in American history, which was a large contribution to the civil rights movement.

As a result of racial segregation on the Montgomery Bus Line, Black people were forced to ride in the back of the bus and ordered to let

white people take their seats. However, this all changed one day after Rosa Parks; an influential African American woman and civil rights activist, who was arrested after refusing to give up her bus seat to a white person.

The Civil Rights Movement (1954-1968)

Not only did the Civil Rights Movement set minorities free from segregation, Jim Crow laws, and inequality, the civil rights movement lasted over a decade abolishing institutionalized racism throughout the United States.

Having grassroots beginnings during America’s Reconstruction era in the late 1800s, the social movement’s characteristics of nonviolent resistance and civil disobedience secured equality for all Americans.

One of multiple civil rights move-

ments spanned from the late 19th century to the late 20th century, this Civil Rights Movement was responsible for the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Voting Rights Act of 1965, Fair Housing Act of 1968, and so much more that built our country into the one it is today.

The Black Panther Party

Originally the Black Panther Party for Self-Defense, this political organization was founded by college students Bobby Seale and Huey P. Newton in 1966 in Oakland, California.

Less of a movement and more of an organization, the Black Panther Party drew inspiration from Malcolm X and other important Black movements or figures.

The party monitored police to witness any brutality that could occur and used open carry laws to protect themselves. It was the Black

Black history across the borderland

BY ANGELICA GUTIERREZ The Prospector

The city of El Paso is known for its diversity in its population, as it is not only a Hispanicized region.

With February being Black History Month, El Paso continues to share information of Black history at the borderland, creating awareness of the injustices overcome and honoring the African American descendance.

Panther Party that revolutionized Black America with ideas of Black nationalism and self-defense against police brutality.

Black Lives Matter

One of the more recent movements in this list, Black Lives Matter is largely responsible for anti-racist impacts on social media and popular culture in the United States. Beginning in 2013, the movements was started following the killings of several African Americans by police officers in various states. It was also Black Lives Matter that led to nationwide protests, not only in America, but to other countries as well.

As of 2020, an estimated 15 to 26 million people participated in these protests, making it one of the largest movements in modern American history.

According to El Paso Matters, the Black community constitutes only four percent of El Paso population, enriching the history of the city through historical events. In 1877, the Buffalo soldiers arrived to the city after the Civil War and stayed in the locality because of how welcoming it was due to the large Latino population.

Years later, in 1914, El Paso became the first Texan city to found a chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) with the purpose of building a progressive community for African Americans. Despite the efforts of the NCAAP, in the early 20th century, a Texas law banned Black people from voting in Democratic primary elections.

To read more, head to theprospectordaily.com. Angelica Guitterrez is a contributor and may be reached at agutierrez89@miners.utep.edu

AIM is an online software

to process accommodations for students with disabilities.

AIM allows students to access or request services online and from the safety and comfort of their home 24/7 with their single sign on UTEP credentials.

Elisha Nunez is a staff reporter and may be reached at egnunez2@miners.utep.edu

Martin Luther King Jr. Was one of the most well-known leaders of the for civil rights movement which spanned from 1955 until his assassination in 1968. Photo courtesy of Pressens Bild/Openverse

Arts & Culture

Meagan Garcia, editor

A Touch of Brii touches the hearts and hair of the El Paso Community

BY AVERY ESCAMILLA-WENDELL

The Prospector

Touch of Brii is a local Blackowned salon in the city of El Paso. The owners Briana Jones alongside Mike Toussaint collaborate to provide Black hairstyles and hair care to the El Paso community. Having officially opened April 1, 2022, in northeast El Paso, located at 4020 Monroe Ave., Jones runs one out of the two Black-owned and womanowned salons in El Paso. Touch of Brii provides hair services that are not commonly offered in the El Paso region.

Jones manages the salon while Toussaint runs things behind the scenes, managing paperwork and

the overall business aspects of the salon. Jones was inspired to open her salon by her love of doing hair.

As a teenager Jones always wanted to provide hair services to the community. Jones shares the feeling of wanting customers to feel confident after providing a hair service.

“I love to make people feel good on the outside because the first thing you look at in the morning is yourself,” Jones said. “If you feel good about how you look, you feel better internally.”

At the moment, Touch of Brii provides only hair services, but is looking forward to providing nail and barber services in the coming future. With the limited number of

businesses providing black hair services in El Paso, prices can be very high for customers. Jones wants to provide her work for lower prices so that people in the community can afford that hair care.

“I see prices of hair services are skyrocketed, and I just want to provide affordable services to the people of our community,” Jones said. “Since we are a minority here, it’s extremely hard to find somebody to get our hair done that is not costing us hundreds and hundreds of dollars.”

Jones creates a welcoming environment for her clients to feel safe and comfortable while getting their hair done.

She wants to allow customers to feel like they are at home where they can feel good about their appearances through their hair.

“I want them to feel confident in the way they look and the way that they are serviced.” Jones said.

While Touch of Brii is on the finishing touches of remodeling, Jones hopes to provide charity work for the community.

“I would like to go provide hair services to people that are staying long term in the hospital,” Jones said. “And do some charity for children in foster homes that may be in El Paso.”

Jones stated that many of the clients do come in from Fort Bliss

since the base is near the salon. As the new business continues to grow, Jones hopes to garner more attention from a bigger clientele toward the salon.

Touch of Brii continues to service the minority here in El Paso through the salon and the hair services they provide. Jones’ success through the salon continues as she represents a Black woman-owned business while also being in the military. The salon has available bookings on touchofbrii.com and is on social media platforms via Instagram at @touchofbrillc and Facebook at Touch of Brii.

Avery Escamilla-Wendell is the staff reporter and may be reached at amescamilla@miners.utep.edu

Black led films to lead Black History Month

BY H. CATCHING MARGINOT

The Prospector

With the month of February drawing near, that means the start of Black History Month. Occurring annually, Black History Month shines a light on African American communities around the world while also displaying the many triumphs and achievements they have made and continue to make. A way to support and learn more about the holiday is to dive into the many films highlighting a main cast of Black voices. Here is a list of several widely recognized Black led films to kick off the observance this February.

“

outlaw out for revenge after an enemy from his life escapes prison. Loosely based on real life western figures in history, Nat Love (Jonathan Majors) must reunite with his old gang to take down the intimidating Rufus Buck (Idris Elba) and his gang. The film is fast paced, exerting a heavy amount of energy on screen. Not only does the film exhibit exciting action, but it also includes entertaining performances you will not be able to look away from. “The Harder They Fall” is available to stream on Netlfix.

“Nope”

The Harder They

Fall”

Directed by famed music producer Jeymes Samuel and starring acting powerhouse Jonathan Majors, this film centers on a lone

If you are a fan of both horror and science fiction, look no further than director Jordan Peele’s third film “Nope.” The story centers around siblings who inherit their father’s Hollywood horse ranch on the see FILMS on page 6

Owners Briana Jones and Mike Toussaint work together to provide Black hairstyles and hair care for El Pasoans. Photo by Annabella Mireles/The Prospector

Jones say she wants to provide affordable services to the community.

Photo by Annabella Mireles/The Prospector

Directed by Jordan Peele and released in 2022, the sci-fi, horror flick “Nope” can be streamed on Amazon Prime Video or is available for rent or buy on Apple TV. Photo courtesy of Monkeypaw Production

outskirts of California. However, due to a changing industry and the dwindling sales from the family business, the main sibling duo embarks on a journey to save the ranch in a new way after a terrifying discovery in the sky. Jordan Peele knows how to combine both comedic moments of levity with sheer moments of terror. Venture into the unknown and say yes to “Nope.” Nope is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video.

“Moonlight”

The next film is not action packed like the previous entree, but just as impactful on an emotional level. The story follows a young man throughout the three stages of his blossoming adolescence, as a child, teenager and later a full adult. It chronicles the difficulties he experiences with his mother, fellow peers at school, his sexual-

ity and the tough environment he calls home. The way imagery is used throughout the runtime captures the beauty in everyday life that would otherwise fall unnoticed. We follow how even in the darkest

of times throughout a person’s life, there is always someone who we can have a positive connection with despite the harsh circumstances. Moonlight is available to stream on Apple TV.

Sex in the Sun City

BY MEAGAN GARCIA

The Prospector

Editor’sNote:Forsafetypurposes, theintervieweeshaveprovidedThe Prospectorwithaliasesbywhich theywillbereferredto.

When it comes to community work and support, El Paso produces aid in abundance for its members and those seeking refuge. Despite the city protecting the different pockets of culture it contains, some groups remain vulnerable to negative stigmas and the state.

The Erotic Laborers Solidarity Alliance of El Paso (ELSA) is an organization that provides harm reduction for consensual adult sex workers within the borderland. They provide multiple resources and mutual aid for consensual adult sex workers as well as the general population, but their work is mainly centered around decriminalizing consensual adult sex work in the region.

Cofounders Bridgette and Colette met through a mutual love for peer-to-peer work especially revolv-

ing around consensual adult sex work. Bridgette reached out to The Sex Worker Outreach Project, a national organization, and was connected to Colette. Thus, starting their journey in September 2022 with ELSA.

“One thing is we’ve started a petition and we’re trying to get as many signatures as possible. The goal of the petition is to stop the prosecution of consensual adult sex workers,” Colette said. “And we’ve been figuring out strategizing going to the city council and speaking with them and seeing who we can get on our side and get behind us.”

Colette said that in protecting consensual adult sex workers, more room is left for law enforcement to focus their resources on victims of sex trafficking.

“That really just means that people aren’t going to be criminalized for doing this consensually anymore and that actually helps people who are being trafficked because then we’re not colluding the two, we’re not colluding all sex work with sex

trafficking,” Colette said.

Bridgette notes how costly housing people arrested for consensual adult sex work is as well.

“It costs the city $180 dollars a day to house a prisoner. And I think the bond is usually set at around $1000,” Bridgette said. “And I was looking at the county records and a lot of the people that are arrested spend about seven days until they are released on PR bond.”

While ELSA works solely on providing health and safety information for those in need, they have also organized fundraising efforts for mutual aid and even held a vigil for International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers. Additionally, they host self-defense classes for consensual adult sex workers and allies alike.

Still, getting others to help organize can also be difficult with the presence of Fort Bliss, Border Patrol and police.

“(There’s a) hesitancy to get involved with us and I think about this being a really militarized, procop, I mean all of America is pro cop,” Colette said. “But it’s because it’s a border city there’s just so much law enforcement right here and I feel like that creates a lot of fear.”

Even when adult sex work is entirely consensual, it is surrounded by negative stigmas and stereotypes due to the representation it is given through various media platforms. Colette recounts how ELSA would like to step into public education to help destigmatize harmful tropes like the profession being tied to things like drugs, poor childhoods and violence.

“Of course, that’s true sometimes, but there’s a whole spectrum just like any other job,” Colette said. “And just like any other job under capitalism it’s going to be exploitative because that’s what capitalism is.”

However, consensual adult sex work contributes to communities across the nation in various ways. Whether it relates to boundaries and consent or creates safe spaces to explore sexualities, the cofounders of ELSA detail some of the brighter

Moore) who lives in the heart of New York City.

Miles is a bright person but would rather spend his time drawing and practicing graffiti than attending his new private school. One night, Miles gets bitten by a genetically modified spider, thus transforming him into a super powered hero.

Along with others that share Miles’ gift from different universes, Miles must take down the evil “Kingpin” before the many universes end in peril.

The most unique part of the film is the animation style it is animated in, often looking as if it were a moving vintage comic book.

“Spider-Man: Into the SpiderVerse”

Last but certainly not least, there is a film that the whole family can enjoy. The film follows a young boy named Miles Morales (Shameik

While achieving technical marvels visually, the film also tells a very relatable story of trying to fit in a world that sees others differently.

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse is available to stream on Hulu.

H. Catching Marginot is a contributor and may be reached at hcmarginot@miners.utep.edu

aspects of their profession.

“I’m giving people a safe place to experience pleasure. And it’s all about consent too,” Colette said. “Doing sex work has taught me a lot about consent and in my work, I have way better boundaries than I do in my personal life.”

“I think that sex workers provide a very important service within our society,” Bridgette said. “People need connection, they need intimacy.”

In terms of community building, consensual adult sex workers provide aid for not only those within the profession, but for the general public surrounding them.

Both Bridgette and Colette are aware of the needs at the borderland, thus they help those who are neglected from society, empathizing with them.

This extended hand can be extra helpful for migrants who, according to Colette, face double criminalization if they are also consensual adult sex workers.

“Sex workers are some of the best organizers and harm reductionists and most radical people I’ve met, honestly, because we have to be,” Colette said. “In similar ways to other marginalized groups, we’ve learned that we can keep us safe the best because the state doesn’t care to.”

This rings true especially in El

Paso as a border city, the demand for additional assistance is largely met by volunteer work and kindness.

“When we had the influx of migrants Colette was out there feeding people, giving them materials,” Bridgettte said. “And she said something like, ‘I know what it’s like to feel invisible,’ and it really touched me because I saw her and other sex workers just be very responsive to the needs of the community.”

Even if they have only been an organization for four months, ELSA is aiming for revolutionary and law changing work that starts with the Sun City community.

“I think organizing and making change starts with building community and building trust, so we want to organize with all the most criminalized, dehumanized people who are facing this violence from the state because that’s what we want to change so we need everybody.”

For those interested in learning more about ELSA and the events they host, visit their Instagram @ elsa_west_texas.

If anyone would like to sign the petition mentioned earlier, they can do so here or visit ELSA’s Instagram bio for the link too.

A women’s march takes place June 11, 2016, in Vancouver, Canada where women held a red umbrella which is the symbol for the movement. Photo courtesy of Kent Lins/Flickr

“Spiderman Into the Spider-verse” is an animated film that came out in 2018 and is part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Photo courtesy of Festival Annecy/Flickr

Sports

Rifle falls to TCU in spring opener

BY EMMANUEL RIVAS VALENZUELA The Propsector

The University of Texas at El Paso women’s rifle hosted No. 1 Texas Christian University (TCU) early Saturday morning Jan. 28 at the University of Texas at El Paso Rifle Range located in the Military Science Building.

To end the fall stretch, UTEP exceeded a 4600 aggregate after the team’s trip to Nebraska in late November 2022 by noting an impressive 4613 aggregate.

Prior to the Nebraska matchup, the team also surpassed 4600 against TCU in early November with a 4604 aggregate.

The TCU Horned Frogs leads the nation in air rifle averages while ranking second in smallbore and aggregate average. Against Nebras-

ka, the Horned Frogs scored 4744 to beat the Cornhuskers.

UTEP as a team has an aggregate average of 4,758.00. The Miners are led by Jonna Warnken with an aggregate average of 1,155.13. Senior Jonna Warnken currently leads the Miners with an 1163 aggregate while fifth year senior Morgahn Warner is at a close second at 1161.

Results for Saturday morning’s match placed UTEP behind TCU.

UTEP scored 4541 behind the No. 1 team in TCU (4742).

Freshman Julie Johannessen shot a perfect 600 in air rifle allowing her to become the fifth riffler to in TCU history to complete such a score on air rifle.

Warnken continued to lead the

Miners in this match with an aggregate of 1158. Senior Isabel Brooks finished with an 1138 aggregate. Junior Isabella Rios posted a 1136 and senior Amoret McCartney finished with 1109.

Only two UTEP shooters managed to finish in the top 10 in the aggregate categories. Rios and Warnken placed in the top 10 for the smallbore standings and Warnken and Brooks placed within the top ten in air rifle.

The Miners will head north for the Patriot Rifle Conference on Saturday, Feb. 4 and Sunday, Feb. 5 in Fairbanks, Alaska. The smallbore section of the championship will be held on Saturday in the E.F. Horton Rifle Range and the air rifle section

Prospector ‘Picks’: The Super Bowl

PROSPECTOR EDITORIAL BOARD

The Propsector

Super Bowl LVII is just two weeks away and after an exciting Conference Championship weekend, we finally know who will face off at 4:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 12 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona on FOX. We asked our editors for their predictions in this year’s Super Bowl match up between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs. These are their answers.

will occur on Sunday in the Alaska Airlines Gymnasium.

There, the UTEP Miners will face off against the Air Force Academy Falcons, the University of Alaska Fairbanks Nanooks, the University of Nebraska Cornhuskers, the Ohio State University Buckeyes and the TCU Horned Frogs.

Following the championship, the Miners will head back home for the NCAA Qualifier against the University of Alaska Fairbanks Nanooks Saturday, Feb. 18 at the University of Texas at El Paso Rifle Range located in the Military Science Building in El Paso, Texas.

All stats from UTEP Athletics. Emmanuel Rivas Valenzuela is the sports editor and may be reached at erivas7@miners.utep.edu: @ rivasemmanuel2 on Instagram.

UTEP’s effort not enough for UNT

BY GIANLUCA CUEVAS

The Propsector

The UTEP women’s basketball team (13-6, 6-4 C-USA) faced the University of North Texas (UNT) (8-13, 5-6 C-USA) at the Don Haskins Center, Saturday, Jan 28.

The Miners entered this game with an overtime win on the road.

Senior guard Jazion Jackson started the game off with a threepointer which then led to an abrupt 9-0 run by UNT, while causing four turnovers in the first three minutes of the game.

The Mean Green managed to capitalize by scoring 14 points from turnovers, second chance points and off the bench. The Miners were able to close out the first quarter down by only two points.

UNT started the second period with a 9-0 run which gave them a double-digit lead. Sophomore forward Elina Arike stopped the drought with a layup.

UNT Guard Quincey Nobel was unstoppable in the first half as she notched 20 points in the first half, double the amount of UTEP’s

highest scoring guard, junior Avery Crouse who had merely nine points.

UNT entered halftime with a lead of 33-29 in which they led the whole first half after being down only three points to start the game. Before the end of the period, UTEP Head Coach Kevin Baker called a timeout.

To start the third quarter, things did not seem to change as UNT shot 52.4 percent from the field compared to a meager 25 percent by the Miners. In the third quarter, Crouse and sophomore forward Adhel Tac were in foul trouble with a total of three each.

Halfway through the third quarter, the game seemed to be over as the Miners were down by 15 with visible frustration after multiple questionable calls made by the game’s referees.

However, to start the fourth quarter the tide seemed to change as things started going for the Miners. The Miners were able to shut down Nobel in the third holding her to only three points in the fourth.

Key players such as Crouse and senior guard Sabine Lipe fouled out. North Texas was struggling to close out the game while only making four out of their final eight free throws.

This allowed the Miners to comeback. However, despite the setbacks, the Miners were able to rally back and put the game within six points with a minute left in regulation.

Arike and junior guard Erin Wilson hit back-to-back shots with 30 seconds left to put UTEP within three points.

With 18 seconds left, UNT’s Kenal MCGruder went to the line and made both free throws which increased the Mean Green’s lead to five points.

Arike once again came up big for UTEP as she hit a layup with six seconds left cutting the lead to three. The Miners went with a full court press and caused a turnover with two seconds left.

A last shot attempt by Elina Arike was blocked which hindered the possibility of a comeback.

Four out of UTEP’s starting five hit double digits on the score. The Miners rallied to a late 15-point comeback, however it was not enough to secure a win over the North Texas Mean Green.

“We rebound the ball so well usually that I wasn’t really very concerned in a free throw box out,” coach Baker said. “We sure missed two big ones. And really, if you boil it down, that cost us the game late.”

“If you really watched the 40 minutes of the game though, we lost the game in the first 15 minutes. I didn’t have my team ready and I think that falls squarely on the shoulders of the head coach whenever you have a better team and they come out in the first half and were not ready to play, were not prepared to play.”

The Miners face ranked No.23 Middle Tennessee State University (18-2, 11-0 C-USA) 7 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 2, at the Don Haskins Center in El Paso, Texas.

All stats from UTEP Athletics.

Gianluca Cuevas a contributor and may be reached at gcuevas7@miners.utep.edu

“I miss my Cowboys...uh, Chiefs.”

“Is Harry Styles performing?”

Luisa Guerrero

“Fly...Eagles...Fly. Love you, Joe Brrr.”

“I went to OU with Hurts; Eagles.”

“I’m just watching for Rihanna.”

“I just work here, but...go Eagles?”

“LET’S GO BIRDS!”

“The Eagles for the win!”

Emmanuel Rivas Valenzuela, editor

Junior Isabella Rios aims for her next shot during the University of Texas at El Paso women’s rifle team match against Texas Christian University’s rifle team Jan. 28 hosted at the UTEP Rifle Range located in the Military Science Building.

Photo by Annabella Mireles/The Prospector

Highlighting Black sports journalists

BY KATRINA VILLARREAL

The Propsector

Sports is a place known for bringing people together, the rivalries and friendships built are never forgotten. Sports journalists have the power to deliver every aspect of sports that fans love, however, when looking at the leader in the sports journalism field it is predominately dominated by white men. In honor of Black History Month, it is important to look at the journalists who are empowering future black journalists and show that anything is possible.

Pam Oliver

Pam Oliver is a senior correspondent and National Football League (NFL) reporter for FOX Sports. Oliver is an award-winning sports journalist known as a trailblazer in sports media. According to FOX Sports Press Pass, Oliver is the lead feature reporter for FOX NFL Sunday and has worked in over 500 NFL games, including various Super Bowls. Oliver was also the moderator for former President Barack Obama’s Healthy Kids and Safe Concussion Summit held at the White House in 2014. Throughout her career, Oliver has received various awards such as the Atlanta Women in Sports Lifetime Achievement Award in 2019 and the Gracie Award by the Alliance for Women in Media. FOX Sports Press Pass also mentions

Oliver was honored at the Women in Sports and Events (WISE) in 2008 for “Women of the Year.” In 2020 Oliver was also inducted in the National Association of Black Journalists Hall of Fame.

Jayne Kennedy Overton

Jayne Kennedy Overton was the first Black pageant queen to cover a Super Bowl game after the Civil Rights Movement. According to an article by The Hilltop at Harvard University, Overton won an Emmy in 1977 for her commentary at the Rose Bowl Parade for CBS. Overton then went on to announce for NFL Today, also at CBS. In 1978, Overton was the first Black woman to announce a televised football

game when she took over for Phyllis George on NFL Today.

As reported by Journal Now, Overton was honored in June 2022 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina for the National Sports Media Association’s Roone Arledge Award for Innovation

Claire Smith

Claire Smith began her career as a newspaper reporter and columnist, which included writing about national baseball for the New York Times from 1991 to 1998. According to The New York Times, Smith moved to work for The Philadelphia Inquirer where she became a news editor for ESPN in 2007. Smith then made history when

she became the first full-time woman writer for baseball covering the New York Yankees.

The New York Times mentions Smith later received the J.G. Taylor Spink Award for her contributions to writing baseball. Smith was the 68th recipient and the first woman to receive the award.

Wendell Smith

Wendell Smith was originally a baseball player looking for a chance to play for the major leagues in 1933 but was turned down due to the color of his skin. Smith then went on to write for the Pittsburgh Courier after college. The Courier was known for promoting equality in professional sports.

According to an article by the Major League Baseball (MLB), Smith found an ally in Boston city councilor, Isadore Muchnick, to diversify the major leagues.

Smith began to take players from the “Negro Leagues” to try out for the major leagues. When the Brooklyn Dodgers were looking to sign someone, Smith recommended Jackie Robinson, helping him reach the MLB.

Smith traveled with Robinson and helped him find his way, becoming more than just a writer, but a confidant. Smith then became the first Black columnist at the Chicago Herald-American. The article by the MLB mentions that in 1948 Smith and Sam Lacy be-

came the First black writers to join the Baseball Writers Association of America. In 1961, Smith helped end Spring Training segregation in Florida. The MLB article explains that Smith was the first African American to win the J.G. Taylor Spink award in 1993.

Mike Tirico

Mike Tirico is currently a play-byplay announcer for Sunday Night Football on NBC. Not only does Tirico commentate on football, but has worked on the Olympics, The Masters and many more programs.

According to NBC Sports Press Box, Tirico went into his 17th consecutive season calling primetime NFL games, which also includes the 10 years when he was working with Monday Night Football.

The past 2022 season marked Tirico’s 27th season as an NFL primetime studio host or play-byplay announcer.

NBC Sports press box mentions that in May 2022 Tirico won the Sports Emmy for Outstanding Sports Personality after hosting the primetime show for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Having trailblazers like the sports journalists mentioned above in the sports industry paves the way and motivates a younger generation to achieve their dreams and leave their mark in sports.

Katrina Villarreal is the multimedia editor and may be reached at kvillarreal1@miners.utep.edu

Pam Oliver is an award-winning journalist who has worked over 500 NFL games for FOX Sports. Photo courtesy of Elvis Kennedy/Flickr