The Prospector 08 29 2023

Little BIG news

SHOOTINGS DISRUPT THE NATION

Over the weekend, a Dollar tree in Jacksonville, Fl. was the target of another shooting this year. Now being investigated as a federal hate crime, o cials say 21-year-old Ryan Christopher Palmeter took the lives of Angela Michelle Carr, 52, Anolt Joseph “AJ” Laguerre Jr., 19, and Jerrald Gallion, 29 in a racially motivated attack. Yesterday, Aug. 28, e University of North Carolina- Chapel Hill was put under lockdown as the school received reports of an armed and dangerous person on campus according to university o cials. A er putting the university on lockdown for hours, the shooter was apprehended a er killing one faculty member. No other injuries were reported. Classes have been cancelled for Tuesday, Aug. 29.

WHEN EVERYTHING GOES UP, TUITION STAYS LOW e UT System Board of Regents electively came together to approve the new plan to maintain the cost of attending, making it more a ordable for all UT institutions. Now full-time and in-state undergraduate students will o cially pay $9,744.

MORE TROUBLE FOR FOR-

MER PRESIDENT TRUMP

Former President Donald Trump turned himself in to the Fulton County Jail in Atlanta in connection to his e orts to overturn the 2020 Presidential election. It is Trump’s fourth arrest this year. is also makes him the rst President in U.S. history to have their mugshot taken. Alongside Trump, 18 of his co-defendants have also surrendered themselves.

THE GOAT IS BACK

Cartwheeling herself into her eighth U.S gymnastics title, Simone Biles made history Aug. 27, as the seven-time Olympian broke a 90-year-old record she once shared with Alfred Jochim.

Easing her way into victory, the gymnastics star gave a stellar performance this past Sunday in San Jose, California. Considered one the greatest gymnastics of all time, Biles dominated the oor with a 59.150 score for the day and a 118.40 combined total.

Gymnast Shilese Jones was runner-up making Biles the oldest woman to win a national title.

IMMIGRANT MURDERS 11-YEAR-OLD

A Guatemalan immigrant entered the United States through El Paso back in January. Earlier this month he was accused of brutally murdering an 11-year-old girl while she was home alone. Maria Gonzalez was in her room a er her dad le for work before she heard someone knocking at the door. She urgently texted her father who told her not to open the door as she was waiting in her room. Gonzalez was later found by her father under her bed a er being sexually assaulted and killed by the 18-year-old immigrant. Police in Louisiana later arrested him for capital murder. The Prospector may be reached at prospector@ miners.utep.edu

UTEP soccer remains winless with new coach

BACK TO SCHOOL ISSUE

Starting a new journey at The Prospector

BY ERIK ACOSTA The Prospector

Growing up, I was not the kid to play sports or go outside and hang out with other kids. I enjoyed staying inside, playing with my toys and letting my imagination run wild. I loved writing and my English classes; I would get so excited every time I stepped into class and saw on the blackboard that we had an essay or two-page paper due. For me, writing was my outlet to be myself. ough I loved writing and was fascinated with how words can come together to tell beautiful stories, I soon became interested in the news and weather. When I was in sixth grade, my mom would lm me telling the weather, and I would dress up as a newscaster sitting at

my desk broadcasting the weather and news reports.

Every morning before school, I would wake up and turn on the TV to watch Good Morning America and have Robin Roberts and George Stephanopoulos greet me and tell me the news as I got ready for school. Something I still do today.

I was always curious about what was happening in the world and since high school, I knew I wanted to be a journalist. I was a yearbook kid and loved it. I would tell my family members that one day, I would be working at the New York Times, LA Times, or e Washington Post.

But, as my senior year approaches, I am lled with so many emotions because I know that the person who entered college three years ago

is a di erent person now. I remember feeling so lost as a journalist and not knowing where to begin. It wasn’t even to

my knowledge that UTEP had a newspaper for me to join and as use a steppingstone to jump start my career. However, in the spring of 2022, one of my professors told me about e Prospector and that I should apply.

However, I did not because I thought I was not good enough to join their team and tell stories on campus or around El Paso.

Eventually, I found the courage to apply, and in January, I joined e Prospector as a sta reporter. I can honestly say these past few months have been the best, and I have learned so much and have grown so much as a journalist and individual.

I will always cherish the memory of seeing my rst story on the front page and realizing that I belonged at e Prospector.

As the new web and copy editor, I

am beyond excited to start this new journey, as I am here to display the amazing work that our newspaper has to o er. ere is so much talent at e Prospector, and my main goal is to highlight the hard work that these writers and photographers put in.

I want to engage with the student community and city and make our website easily accessible so you can read our stories day and night. So, you can feel more connected with us and life in the Borderland. ere is still so much room for me to grow as a writer and journalist and I can’t thank Assistant Director Crystal Hinga enough for shaping me as the writer and journalist I am today and reminding me not to write like a ‘reporter.’

Erik Acosta is the web and copy editor and may be reached at emacosta6@miners.utep.edu

COMIC BY: MAYA ALVARDO

MALVARADO29@MINERS.UTEP.EDU

VOL. 109, No. 1

August 29, 2023

titile if applicable. Write to us at 105 E. Union, 500 W. University Ave. El Paso, TX 79968; email us at prospector@utep.edu, or call us to 747-5161.

Personal information (phone numbers and address) will be used for identification only. Letters are subject to editing to fit available space, clarity and brevity.

My journey into the world of multimedia

BY AVERY ESCAMILLA-WENDELL

Capturing life in El Paso has always been a quest for me to achieve. e borderland is rich in Hispanic culture through family, friends, music, and events.

roughout the UTEP campus, the culture continues through every student continuing their education. Creating a platform for everyone to enjoy is what I want for my career as a multimedia journalist.

Growing up, I have always had an interest in movies and writing. I have always been the creative type of student and struggled in many of my classes that involved a formula or equation.

I started my multimedia journey

when I was a sophomore in high school by creating short lms.

Once I held the camera, I knew videography, editing, and writing was a path I wanted to follow for my future career.

As I entered my rst year at UTEP, I was a declared nursing major. I thought if I got a job in the sciences, I could support my family and have the life of my dreams.

A er the rst two semesters, I knew I couldn’t see myself as a nurse. I always had the feeling I needed to pursue something creative. e summer before my sophomore year, I changed my decision and chose to major in multimedia journalism.

During winter break in 2022, I applied to e Prospector where I

received a sta reporter position for the spring semester.

On the rst day, I felt anxious because I didn’t have much experience in AP-style writing or the ins and

outs of journalism. A er meeting all my coworkers and sta , I was instantly reassured that everything was going to be okay. rough this position, I learned everything that I could. My love for writing and interviewing grew and I became the person I yearned to be.

At the end of spring semester, I took a chance and applied for the multimedia editor position. To my surprise, I received the position and nally got the creative outlet I’ve always wanted. I was scared and had so many ideas but limited experience in how to execute them. roughout the summer, I created videos and continued the podcast. Even though I was so scared of sharing my ideas and work, I realized that I was doing well.

I am so excited to continue this

position during the fall. I want to represent the borderland through videos and podcasts that I create. is platform is not just for me, but for the students at UTEP and El Pasoans to share their opinions, stories, and voices. I am extremely excited about the fall semester and the events that will be held on campus and across El Paso.

It is an honor to work with great journalists and receive experience as an editor and multimedia creator. Learning is my number one priority as I go towards my career a er graduation, but I will work hard to showcase the great students, organizations at UTEP and the people of El Paso.

Tourism vs. colonialism: Spot the di erence

BY MEAGAN GARCIA The Prospector

e entirety of the United States was built on stolen land, by the hands of stolen labor. As a result, there remains to be an immense loss of culture across multiple indigenous groups due to forced assimilation and eradication of once sacred languages, practices, etc. However, wherever a pro t can be made, it will be. us is the nature of the tourism industry. Some people may argue tourism is born from a place of genuine curiosity and wanting to

embrace di erent cultures. While this may be true, the most common defense of tourism is that it “boosts the economy”. Is this true though, and if so at what cost?

Hawaii is the rst place that comes to mind for most people when the argument of tourism is brought up. Its economy is mostly made up of money that pours in due to touristic stays and activities. While this may sound outwardly promising for locals and Native Hawaiians, studies and local opinions show it is not. With the high volume of tourists that vacation on the islands each year, there is a

ON THE COVER

direct misuse of the land’s natural resources. Many residents are displaced and the environment critically su ers because of these visits. Some speci c examples of the damage done to the Native and local population by tourism includes an ongoing water crisis due to pollution of natural sources as well as an increase in housing prices, causing purchasing and owning a house in Hawaii relatively impossible.

Native and local Hawaiians across social media platforms have plead with tourists to leave their home o any destination vacation lists. Not only do visitors tend to cause an abuse of resources but have a gen-

eral lack of respect for the spiritual and cultural signi cance of the land and people. One most famous example of this is Jennifer Lawrence making a joke out of rubbing her butt on sacred rocks despite knowing they were culturally signi cant. ough she later apologized, it was still upsetting to many to see her display such disregard.

Another recent and famous incident involved a Spanish woman visiting Mexico, who climbed a sacred Mayan structure known as El Castillo (Kukulcan Pyramid). She proceeded to dance on it despite the warnings of several signs and warnings from surrounding people.

A er she reached the bottom, she was verbally berated and drenched with water from the crowd due to her disrespect.

I believe people should listen to locals when they set clear boundaries and wishes regarding travel to their homeland. Especially during times of crises like the one Hawaii is currently facing with its wild res.

To make a long story short, maybe don’t make the trip when it is not a welcome one or do research on the territory that is planned to visit so a little more respect can be given to another culture’s homeland.

Meagan Garcia is the arts & culture editor and may be reached at megarcia19@miners.utep.edu.

Avery Escamilla-Wendell is the multimedia editor and may be reached at amescamilla@miners.utep.edu or Instagram @by_avery_escamilla

UTEP sophomore Samantha Salazar gets ready for the Fall semester which includes buying textbooks and supplies.

Photo by Annabella Mireles/The Prospector

Maui: An island on re

BY MEAGAN GARCIA The Prospector

e birds cannot chirp, the trees cannot breathe, and people cannot live on some of the islands of Hawaii as the state was devastated by ames earlier this month. e wildres rst started in the upcountry region of Maui, Aug. 8, and spread across nearby land for days, destroying everything in its path.

is catastrophic event led to masses of people being unaccounted for, countless homes and businesses wrecked, and more than 100 individuals con rmed deceased. While there are many factors that contributed to the spread of the res, it is alleged that the source came from Hawaii Electric Light Company, Inc. (HECO). e county of Maui recently led a lawsuit against the company and argues that HECO’s downed power lines are what ignited the surrounding brush.

Certain weather conditions such as droughts and Hurricane Dora did exacerbate the situation as strong winds and dry grass carried the ames across such massive region. e wild res moved quickly and did not allow a lot of civilians the time to react or evacuate as needed, which resulted in extreme measures being taken.

If people were not able to leave

or reach shelter in time, they were forced to wait for rescue by the sea. Fortunately, the Coast Guard was able to rescue those who were entering the Paci c Ocean to protect themselves.

In addition to the physical su ering people went through, there was also an irreversible loss of culture due to the res.

Lahaina, a town in Maui that is known for its rich history and cultural signi cance, took the brunt of the damage. What was once the original capital of the Hawaiian Kingdom, is now severely decimated that the destruction has been likened to that of a bombing. is is especially devastating for some considering how much signi -

Could UTEP’s accreditation be at risk?

BY SOFIA SIERRA The Prospector

cant infrastructure is lost, but the struggles and resistance of Native and Indigenous people were also built into the land, which is also a piece of the recently lost culture that is cherished. Many people have not only been displaced from their homes, unable to contact their loved ones, and separated from their families, but now must worry about rebuilding their livelihood to survive.

ere are multiple reputable charities and crowd-funding e orts being made in order to help people relieve this loss. Relief can be provided by supporting local e orts over social media as well as informing others of the situation.

‘Death Star’ Law: An end to progressive policies in Texas

BY R. VENUS URQUIZA

The Prospector

As citizens of Texas inch closer to Sept.1, they can also look forward to possibly the greatest transfer of power away from the public in some of the biggest cities. is action has been infamously named, “ e Death Star Law.”

So, what does this mean for Texas’ biggest cities?

It’s simple. e law means the Texas Legislature wants to effectively deny cities the ability to pass local laws in eight major policy areas. As it relates to El Paso, the bill will make it harder to pass progressive policies that could contradict state laws. Some

Texas legislators say the bill is a threat to local policies that ful ll and protect the speci c needs of El Paso, labor, agriculture, insurance and natural resources.

Republican legislators and business supporters in Texas who back up this bill, claim that the bill aims at regulating how businesses operate, which would a ect small businesses here locally.

On the contrary, opponents of this law claim the real purpose of this bill is to weaken democratic cities and stop them from passing progressive policies that are crucial to their constituents’ needs while overturning those that already exist.

Local leaders have yet to know the full impact this will have, but many

do fear H.B.2127 will not allow them to meet their constituents’ needs.

In a recent statement to El Paso Matters, spokesperson for the city of El Paso, Laura Cruz Acosta shared her thoughts about this bill. “ e speci c ordinances that could be a ected by this bill are still unclear to our local leaders,” Acosta said.

Some of the policies that face a threat include a nondiscrimination policy, placed to protect voters from discrimination based on race, sexual orientation, reproductive health actions, hairstyle, or hair texture in the workplace or in businesses that provide public services. is policy also allows for equal

see DEATH STAR on page 7

An ominous cloud shadows the reputation of UTEP as it recently became at risk of losing its accreditation. ousands of students await the unknown, as the degree they are working hard for could lose its validation. University o cials referred to the news as ‘minor issues’ yet students are still pondering over what happened this summer for this situation to arise. e piece of paper that cost money, sweat and tears may be invalidated as UTEP is struggling to keep its accreditation. UTEP received a letter from SACSCOC (Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges), June 23, that informed university o cials they were under warning status. SACSCOC is the organization that regularly checks on southern state higher education institutions in the United States to ensure they are providing quality education to their students.

According to the action letter sent to President Heather Willson, SACSCOC recommended that the institution be placed on a warning status for six months. For failure to comply with their core requirements which include; full-time faculty, program length, quali ed administrative/academic o cers and program faculty.

e disclosure statement states UTEP failed to ful ll the standards of ve regulations imposed by the SACSCOC to remain accredited. Provost and Vice President for Academic A airs, John Wiebe addressed these issues towards faculty and sta with an email saying.

“[SACSCOC] determined that they needed additional documentation of our processes and procedures related to ve standards,” Wiebe continued. “Based on the June 29 letter and our conversations with SACSCOC sta , it is clear to me that the concerns have to do with further documentation, not the substance, of the standards.”

e spread of misinformation led many students to fail to realize the issues were not substance based, rather lack of documents.

Students who well informed about the situation are unfazed about the accreditation because of

how minor the issues are. Andrea Seanez, a graduate student now working towards her master’s in public administration, mentions how she is grateful for her education at UTEP regardless of the news.

“I am still very prideful [of being a UTEP student]. I graduated with my undergrad here at UTEP and I’m getting my masters,” Seanez said. “ e issue of the accreditation isn’t a matter of the content of the school, the proper documentations were not provided as required.”

With this email, UTEP announced this warning as a nonharmful issue, as they hope to take the necessary measures to keep UTEP accredited. With little comment on the situation from the university, UTEP students are anxiously waiting for Sept. 8 , which will declare whether the warning will be li ed.

Coming from di erent countries in hopes of nding quality education, international students say they are the most confused about this news. ey say leaving the comfort of their homes to be faced with the risk of their degree being invalidated is wrongful scary. Due to El Paso being a border city, many international students are reliant on UTEP to provide them with a college education. Giovanna Carmina Ibarra Bermudez came to UTEP aiming to obtain her master’s in biomedical engineering.

“I’m from Puebla, Mexico, I have my bachelor‘s in biomedical engineering from a college in Mexico City,” Bermudez said. “I think it’s important to have that accreditation. I don’t have as many options because I’m from Mexico, so UTEP is the [only] option for me.”

Whether UTEP students are concerned or disregarding this news, the university being placed under warning is signi cant. Losing their accreditation could mean nursing graduates not being able to go into graduate schools.

Aspiring teacher graduates may not be able to take their certication exam, and many other graduates may have a di cult time nding jobs.

Many await to see if the sun will shine bright again on the home college of the Sun City as the countdown to Sept. 8. begins.

Sofia Sierra is a contributor and may be reached at sdsierra2@miners.utep.edu

Meagan Garcia is the arts & culture editor and may be reached at megarcia19@miners.utep.edu.

Maui has been devastated by wildfires which have killed at least 115 people and leaving over 1,100 others missing. Photo courtesy of Creative Commons

CASS ONLINE PORTAL

AIM allows students to access or request services online and from the comfort of their home 24/7. Use your UTEP logins to request accommodations, check your status or apply to be a notetaker. AIM is for faculty as well!

cassportal.utep.edu

Will campus construction ever end?

BY ELISHA NUNEZ The Prospector

Ongoing construction at UTEP has led to all kinds of reception, from students and faculty alike. Big red signs scatter across campus as students walk straight to or around the construction to their classes. While some may be complaining or praising the construction, others wonder when it will all end.

According to UTEP sta , some of these projects are set to nish within another year or so. As construction continues, what does the end goal mean for UTEP students?

UTEP’s Assistant to the AVP Facilities Management, Sheila Awalt considers the construction a way to “enhance the students’ experience.”

e university says with these new facilities and resources, students can enjoy materials all t for a Tier 1 research university.

One of the latest editions to campus is the Advanced Manufacturing and Aerospace Center, meant to provide cutting edge research with more educational space.

“So currently we have the Advanced Manufacturing and Aerospace Building that is across from the Chemistry and Computer Science Building at the corner of Hawthorne and Rim,” Awalt said. “ at building broke ground last year, so we’re looking at construc-

tion at least through the next year on that building.”

One misconception of this construction on campus is that it has not been ongoing. UTEP has been a recipient of grants for new facilities for years, and these projects are the result of such awards.

With these new buildings and roadwork, like the current improvement of Schuster Avenue controlled by the city, students can look forward to newer, upgraded resources. e roadwork on Schuster, while notorious for Miners who park in the surrounding parking lots, has worthwhile goals.

“ e Schuster Avenue Im-

provement Project consists of reconstructing the roadway from Prospect to Campbell,” Tammy Fonce, a spokesperson for the City of El Paso Capital Improvement Department said. “To minimize impact to tra c, crews are performing the work in phases. Construction work is expected to be completed in spring, 2024.”

Other bene ts of the upgraded street include improved lighting, drainage, landscaping, signing and more. ough dealing with the construction can be frustrating to some, or stressful as one UTEP student recalls it.

“It doesn’t directly a ect where I

drive through on campus, but I can imagine it’s super stressful for the people with parking near it,” Lorraine Salazar, a psychology major at UTEP said. “It de nitely a ects everyone since tra c builds up all around campus.”

ey say it is the journey, not the destination that matters, but for construction on campus, it may be the other way around for some students.

Although these projects will continue into the next year and 2025, the better resources for students may just be worth it.

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

DEATH STAR from page 4 housing opportunities.

e wage the policy, which protects workers from not being paid properly, as well as the minor -focused curfew placed in 1996 and revised in 2006, face possible invalidation if a state court decides it con icts with a state law.

In a statement to a local El Paso news outlet, Mayor Oscar Leeser showed his own disagreement with this bill and the threat it imposed on the minor-focused curfew.

“Other large cities across the state, their police departments all opposed it because it’s a good tool,” Leeser said. “ ey opposed it because it gives them the opportunity to make sure that our kids are safe.”

El Paso County Commissioner, David Stout shared his opinion about the bill in a recent statement to El Paso Matters.

“We’re elected to try to protect our people from things like natural disasters, to other types of crises, to support our workforce, to provide safe housing, to make sure that we have clean, potable drinking water, the solutions to all those types of issues look di erently from city to city and county to county,” Stout said.

To read more about the impact of the Death Star Law on the state of Texas and our the borderland head to our website theprospectordaily.com

R. Venus Urquiza is a contributor and may be reached at rsurquiza@miners.utep.edu

UTEP has been undergoing construction for the past few years, including construction on Schuster Ave. However, construction is expected to end in the Spring of 2024. Photo by Brandon Johnson/The Prospector

Arts & Culture

Meagan Elizabeth Garcia, editor

The most anticipated reunion of the year: ‘Y Soy Rebelde’

BY VENUS URQUIZA

Taking us on a trip down memory lane in one of the most anticipated concerts of the year, the Mexican pop group Rebelde (RBD), opened their “Soy Rebelde” reunion world tour, Aug. 25 at UTEP’s Sun Bowl stadium. A er 15 years of separation, the group came out and gave a spectacular performance of their greatest hits from the early 2000s. RBD was a telenovela about a

group of students going through high school and nding their place in life through music, love and friendship. A er airing in Mexico in late 2004, their debut album was released later along with their growing stardom.

the group would carry on a very successful tour.

It was a night to remember as the stadium was lled with concert goers dressed from head to toe in red blazers, white shirts and red ties. ere were many who wore stars on their foreheads in reference to Anahi’s iconic character in the telenovela, Mia Colucci.

e energy was high and fun, while waiting in line to get into the stadium as groups of people were already singing their lungs out to with songs being played on the speakers. Everyone was excited and

the connection shared between RBD and their fans was visible.

Jenny Lozano, a fan since 2004, waited hours outside Sun Bowl stadium just to see the group perform.

“I’m totally excited to be

here, I have been so stressed yet so excited and so nervous about going in and seeing them sing the songs I grew up on,” Lozano said.

It was clear fans had waited a long time for this, Leticia Castro, a fan since she was 8 years old, shared the excitement of being able to experience this now as an adult.

“I think I’m excited because I get a chance to relive my childhood, which is mainly why we’re all here,” Castro said.

Opening the concert with the iconic song “Tras De Mi,” the stadium could be heard almost a mile away. It was energetic and a er every song, concertgoers could not wait to hear which was next.

e crowd kept getting louder and louder.

With songs like “Salvame,” “Que Fue Del Amor” and “Este Cora-

zon,” the emotions were high, and it seemed impos-

sible to not shed a tear or two.

ey nished their rst show with their iconic song “Soy Rebelde” a song that fans have kept alive even a er being released 19 years ago.

e concert was more than just a reunion, it was an opportunity for families and friends to reconnect with one another over something as beautiful as one’s childhood.

Sisters Elizabeth Holguin, Jennifer Ramirez and Anahi Saucedo all took the evening to relive their childhood memories with one another.

“We have been fans since the

beginning,” Holguin said.

“Since the novela,” Ramirez added.

e sisters had previously attended their concerts in

the early 2000s.

“My older sister, Jennifer, used to take us to all the concerts, including this one, which makes us feel very nostalgic,” Holguin said.

“But I’m glad we’re experiencing this together one last time,” Ramirez said.

e energy was high even a er the concert ended, which re ected the impact this pop group had on an entire generation even a er being gone for almost 15 years. Regardless of how much time passes RBD will always remain an icon to Mexico, El Paso and novelas as

a

almost all of the group would be returning. Unfortunately, fans were faced with the Herrera would not be returning.

dor, it was revealed this was due to other projects he was working on, but nonetheless, he believed

Ruth Urquiza is contributor and may be reached at rsurquiza@ miners.utep.edu

The Prospector

RBD huddle as they hear the El Paso crowd sing their songs in the Sun City, Aug. 25 for the first time in 15 years. Photo by Gianluca Cuevas/The Prospector

Fans reach out towards Rebelde as they performed. Photo by Gianluca Cuevas/The Prospector

After 15 years of separation, Mexican pop group Rebelde (RBD), opened their “Soy Rebelde” reunion world tour Aug. 25 at the Sun Bowl stadium. Members Anahi, Christian Chavez, Dulce Maria, Maite Perroni, and Christopher Von Ucherman returned for the world tour and opened with “Tras De Mi” to a stadium filled with fans wearing the iconic ties and red and white uniform from their show. Photos by Gianluca Cuevas/The Prospector

UTEP STUDENTS, ARE YOU INTERESTED IN WORKING ONTHE UTEP CAMPUS? THEN JOIN US TO LEARN ABOUT STUDENT EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES.

UTEP housing welcomes a variety of new students

BY EMMANUEL RIVAS The Prospector

is past weekend, UTEP Housing and Residence welcomed students from across the world into its three housing complexes. is includes Miner Village, Miner Canyon and Miner Heights.

One of those students was Sophia Sheppard, an incoming freshman majoring in psychology. Sheppard is a part of UTEP’s beach volleyball team and will spend her rst year at UTEP in Miner Village.

Sheppard, who moved from Washington state, notes how UTEP housing di ers from other college residential housing.

“I’m really excited with the dorms that we’ve got,” Sheppard said. “A lot of my friends at other colleges have only a bathroom in their rooms and they are right next to each other. It’s really nice how we have a whole setup to do our own thing.”

Sheppard was accompanied by her family who helped her move in and managed to describe her mixed emotions on move-in day.

“I’m not nervous anymore,” Sheppard said. “It is obviously very hard to leave your family, but I’m pretty independent.”

Sophia’s mother, Shauna Sheppard, shared some bittersweet words as she dropped o her daughter to college.

“Well, it’s hard,” Shauna said. “I mean, I’m super excited. It’s such a great opportunity for her to be independent and have this time in her life. She’s my rst to go to college, so that’s been a challenge. But yeah, I just couldn’t be happier or excited.”

Another incoming freshman moving in was Luke Watts. Watts is

from Austin, Texas and is a general studies major who is serving as a student assistant for the UTEP men’s basketball team.

Watts was charmed by the culture, not just at UTEP, but the entire El Paso area.

“El Paso is just a cool place,” Watts said. “It’s way di erent. (I am) just getting started and getting in the

groove of everything.”

A big attraction to Miner Village is its proximity to campus and both local and chain restaurants. Watts pointed out that most things are simply within walking distance.

“It’s sweet,” Watts said. “Walking to everything. We got food options right here and all that good stu .”

Like Sheppard, Watts is in awe of

Miner Village’s units despite it not being a major factor in choosing UTEP for school.

“ ese are very nice dorms,” Watts said. “ ey blow (usual dorms) out the water. You got your own little room and shared a bathroom with your roommate. e living room space is perfect.”

However, it is not just incoming freshman moving in.

Fernando Dominguez is a recent graduate who is now back at UTEP for his master’s in computer engineering. Dominguez has had the chance to serve as a resident assistant at both Miner Canyon and Miner Village since he started at UTEP in 2019.

Most of the residents at UTEP housing are undergraduate students as the school’s population consists of mostly that demographic. e reason Dominguez decided to stay in the UTEP housing units is simple; convenience.

“I really like the community here,” Dominguez said. “I like being able to connect and communicate with everyone and I like the school being very close, I don’t have to drive all the way over here.”

UTEP Housing and Residency will host several events throughout the semester. ose events are posted through the school’s Residency Portal and via UTEP email.

Emmanuel Rivas Valenzuela Armendariz is the sports editor and may be reached at erivas7@miners.utep.edu: @ rivasemmanuel2 on Instagram

Freshman beach volleyball player, Sophia Sheppard (pictured in the blue UTEP shirt) poses for a photo with her family before moving into Miner Village. Photo by Joel Molina/The Prospector

BY ELISHA NUNEZ

The Prospector

e fall semester is a time for Miners, new and old, to prepare themselves for another back-to-school season. While some are dreading Blackboard noti cations, others are happy to go back to class, some students are also thrilled about all the events that come with the new fall semester.

From Kali Uchis performing at the Don Haskins Center to Minerpalooza returning with Battle of the Bands, there is plenty for Miners to be excited about.

‘Miner Welcome’ lasts for the next two weeks and there are plenty of events for all students to get involved in. ‘Miner Welcome’ includes socials, involvement fairs, and other campus get-togethers like Texas Western Gold Rush.

Taking place across all of campus, these events give students the chance to meet and socialize with fellow miners.

Another upcoming event that has been around for almost 30 years is Minerpalooza, which will make its annual appearance this fall semester, Sept. 15.

With Battle of the Bands competitions, vendors, games and more, this celebration is sure to bring in Miners to kick-o the fall semester.

Taking a di erent direction from events hosted by UTEP, exciting musical acts are making their way to El Paso.

e Sun City will see the return

What’s making Miner headlines

of Kali Uchis as part of her tour for her latest album, “Red Moon in Venus,” Oct. 3.

“I’m excited for Kali Uchis to come to El Paso, her music is so soulful and passionate,” said Marie Apodaca, a local bank teller and fan of Kali Uchis. “I consider her one of the most incredibly talented and of course beautiful women in today’s music.”

Joining Kali Uchis in their Sun

DREAM BIG AND THEN... DREAM BIGGER!

City endeavors is a band who got their start in El Paso, Cigarettes A er Sex.

Formed in 2008 by Greg Gonzalez, the band’s popularity skyrocketed a er nearly a decade of their existence. ey are set to return to the city, performing at the Don Haskins Center, Oct. 11.

“I’m really excited to go, their singers’ hometown is (from) El Paso and they haven’t visited for years,

so it’s exciting they’re coming,” said Sarah Lujan, a UTEP alumni and fan of Cigarettes A er Sex. “ eir music has ties to years of memories for me, but overall I enjoy how mellow and relaxing the music is.”

No one sounds like them in music culture at the moment and I’m glad they’re getting the recognition they deserve on social media.” is year’s fall semester appears to be stacked with events, from on-

campus celebrations to concerts by renowned artists. A new semester is on its way, and Miners can look forward to fun and fabulous events to celebrate the new semester. Tickets for all musical events can be found on Ticketmaster or through UTEP’s Ticketing Center. Any information for on campus events can be found on Minetracker.

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

The Office of Student Fellowships and Awards supports UTEP students who are applying for nationally competitive scholarships and fellowships to fund graduate school and overseas experiential learning (research, teaching assistantships, etc.).

What is an external fellowship?

Nationally competitive funding opportunities that are:

• Based on academic merit as opposed to financial need

• Open to students from a variety of majors

• Eligibility, application materials, and deadlines vary depending on the award

• Involve a substantial amount of time commitment and careful planning

What do these awards provide?

Depends on the award, includes but is not limited to:

• Funding for overseas experiential learning: research, intensive language study, teaching assistantships, etc., both during undergrad and beyond Funding for graduate school either domestically or abroad

Why should I apply?

The application process is a form of professional development in and of itself:

• Become a more confident writer

• Sharpen interviewing skills

• Think critically about future goals

Is my first or second year too early to start thinking about these opportunities?

Absolutely not! Most applications are due junior or senior year, but joining our Undergraduate Fellows Program as a first-year student or sophomore will help you prepare.

Kali Uchis will perform her latest album “Red Moon in Venus” at the Don Haskins Oct. 3

Photo courtesy of Wikipedia Commons

WELCOMING MINERS WITH TEXAS WESTERN GOLD RUSH

Photos by Gianluca Cuevas and Joel Molina/The Prospector

80’s legends rock our ‘Home Sweet Home’

BY ANNABELLA MIRELES The Prospector

El Paso became centerstage to nostalgia when it was announced iconic groups Alice Cooper, Def Leppard and Mötley Crüe would come to El Paso as their nal stop in their world tour. Fans scurried to Ticketmaster Dec. 16, 2022, with some ticket prices as shockingly low as $19.

Stores such as Hot Topic restocked their merchandise months in advance in preparation for fans to deck out in black eye paint, leather and merch repping their favorite band for their performance at the Sun Bowl Aug. 18.

e iconic ‘80s performers brought all types of crowds ooding into the stadium.

“I saw people of all ages there,” said UTEP student Paola Attaguile. “I was shocked because bigger groups like that don’t really come to El Paso. I wanted to go because ever since I was a little girl, my dad would put the radio to 92.3 because they play all of the classic rock music. I got emotional at the concert because I was hearing the music that my dad passed down to me.”

meet John 5 during the meet and greet before the show started in El Paso. We talked about UTEP a lot which I thought was interesting,” Deras said. I told him I was starting audio engineering and I was asking him what advice he could give me. He was actually aware of the program that UTEP has which was crazy and he told me to try working at the Don Haskins or the Sun Bowl stadium. I never mentioned the name of those locations, so it’s nice to hear a star like that mention El Paso and be knowledgeable of the city.”

As someone who attends many concerts, Deras considers the concert as one of her favorites.

“I usually go to three to four concerts a month,” Deras said.

“ e crowd was very welcoming and everyone, including the bands, had such great energy. I feel like a lot of people don’t really realize the potential that El Paso has. Not only that but hearing Nikki Six talking about how he grew up here was nice and I feel like that inspires people here so they can believe they can do whatever they want.”

While the concert brought back good memories from the ‘80s, it also brought back some sour ones.

In 1983, Def Leppard’s lead singer Joe Elliot referred to El Pasoans as “greasy Mexicans” during their show in Arizona.

Due to this comment, several radio stations in El Paso including KLAQ refused to play the band’s songs.

Although Elliot later apologized during a call for KLAQ and donated $10,000 to a Hispanic Charity in Los Angeles, the group cancelled their 1988 concert in El Paso due to death threats. ey later returned to play in 2000 which was their last concert in El Paso before Aug. 18.

Attaguile spoke about some of her personal highlights of the night as well as the chaos at the entrance.

“Even though we got there early, we missed half of Alice Cooper because it was so unorganized,” Attaguile said. “It was a big ball of people. ere wasn’t a set line and you just had to move as everyone did. When we got in, we saw Alice Cooper’s set which had a lot of cool out t changes like straightjackets and di erent suits. He also pretended to cut o his head and a woman took the replica and started dancing with it.”

While attendees got to watch the energetic performances of Alice Cooper, Def Leppard and Mötley Crüe, a smaller fraction of attendees bought VIP tickets allowing them to meet some of the performers. UTEP student Paulina Deras bought a VIP pass to see Mötley Crüe’s new touring lead guitarist John 5.

“I met Rick Allen in Monterey while having breakfast, but I got to

“I was taken aback by it,” said UTEP student Jocelyn Ibarra. “I had heard about it before I bought my tickets for the concert. I do enjoy their music, but I could tell that the crowd wasn’t vibing with them like they did Mötley Crüe or even Alice Cooper. ere just weren’t as many people singing along.”

Ibarra mentions how she felt the bands really appreciated El Paso. “I feel like they made El Paso feel even more special,” Ibarra said.

“During Mötley Crüe’s set, they said that they loved stopping in El Paso and that it’s one of their favorite places to stop. ey even said that they wanted to end their tour with El paso because they wanted to save the best for last.”

With the stadium lled with fans to watch these icons perform in the Sun City, it has become clear that music brings people while we celebrate the songs that were driving anthems of our lives.

“I WAS SHOCKED BECAUSE BIGGER GROUPS DON’T COME TO EL PASO. I WANTED TO GO BECAUSE EVER SINCE I WAS A LITTLE GIRL, MY DAD WOULD PUT THE RADIO TO 92.3...”

PAOLA ATTAGUILE CONCERT ATTENDEE

TOP PHOTO: Def Leppard performs at the Sun Bowl stadium after their 2000 performance and the cancellation of their 1988 show due to death threats.

LEFT PHOTO: Alice Cooper, Def Leppard and Motley Crue performed at the Sun Bowl stadium Aug. 18 for their world tour which ended in El Paso. Photo courtesy Paulina Deras/The Prospector

Emmanuel Rivas Valenzuela, editor

Soccer remains winless under new coach

BY H. CATCHING MARGINOT The Prospector

e UTEP Miners’ soccer team battled it out against Arizona State University (ASU) in a tense match ending in a 2-0 loss for UTEP. Attendance and spirits were high, with a packed audience in the stands. Excitement and curiosity surrounded the eld as new hire, Gibbs Keaton, took over as head coach of the team.

UTEP student studying psycology, David Chavez expresses his enthusiasm for this upcoming season of Miner soccer.

“It’s the rst tailgate of the season and I’m looking forward to watching the games,” Chavez said. “Hopefully, we get a winning season out here.”

Miners goalie Tionna Taylor held a strong rst half and made a career high of eight saves. ere were two shots at the goal from the Miners.

e rst from forward Mina Rodriguez at the 53rd minute at once a er the restart. e second from forward/mid elder Leslie Gutierrez at the 75th minute. e Miners made two corner kicks, defending two corner kicks along with four shots in the opening three minutes of the game.

is moment was re ected throughout the rest of the game as the team was tested heavily on their defense. roughout the second half, ASU began to take over the Miners’ half of the eld. In the 53rd minute, ASU’s Suzuka Yosue scored the rst goal o a rebound

from her fellow teammate. e second and nal goal to cap o the game was scored by ASU’s Gabi Rennie in the 84th minute. ough the Miners o ense shined, particularly in the 40th minute and in the 53rd minute. e Miners were once again on a hot streak, maintaining strong conditioning up eld.

However, during a seven-minute span of time past the 53rd minute, two shots were tallied by the Miners. Rodriguez looked for an equalizer, with forward Nicole Morales shooting a shot just wide. As the match started to end, Taylor kept the Miners going with two more blocks before ASU found its insur-

ance goal. Although the game was lost, the spirits within the crowd were high, excited to see more of the team’s potential as the season continues this fall.

Keaton spoke to the Miner Athletic Club, describing the challenging aspects of the match and the commitment the team showed.

“I was proud of our team today. It just wasn’t a good rst half, it was us making sure we created some chances to go to goal in addition to super solid defending,” Keaton said. All statistics and quotes provided by UTEP Athletics.

H. Catching Marginot is a staff reporter and can be reached at hcmarginot@miner.utep.edu

Football faulters on the road at Jax State

BY EMMANUEL RIVAS

Prospector

e much anticipated 2023-2024 football season is under way for the UTEP Miners (0-1, C-USA 0-1). Unfortunately, the team started on the wrong foot.

e Miners were favored traveling into Jacksonville, Alabama to play the Jacksonville State Gamecocks (Jax State) (1-0, C-USA 1-0).

Several familiar faces were back on the eld for the Miners like junior wide receiver Kelly Akharaiyi, junior running back Deion Hankins, and most notably senior quarterback Gavin Hardison.

During a press conference leading up to the game, sixth-year head coach Dana Dimel expressed his expectations for his unit coming into the season.

“We’ve got some goals that we want to accomplish (in 2023),” Dimel said. “ ere’s a lot for us to work toward. We want to have the opportunity to do that by taking it

one game at a time. at’s the big thing for us. We’ve got to play our kind of football.”

Jax State ended its season 9-2 last season with a top-40 o ense. When asked about the daunting opponent, Dimel expressed his praise for the squad.

“(Jax State) did a great job,” Dimel said. “ ey’re very, very athletic. eir o ensive personnel is really good. Defensively, they have their whole starting defensive line coming back and three of their four starting secondary is returning. So, they’ll de nitely be a big test for us.”

First quarter e Miners started out strong with the defense forcing a Gamecocks punt early in the rst quarter.

is stop allowed the UTEP o ense to drive up into Jax State territory a er not huddling for the entirety of the drive.

Dimel and the o ense were faced with their rst major decision on a fourth and three on Jax State’s 47-yardline. e Miners contin-

ued their aggressive play calling as Hardison and the o ense stayed on the eld, only to lose six yards on a sack by Gamecocks defenders. is allowed the Gamecocks to march down the Miners’ 23-yardline to score o a eld goal on a fourth and seven. Neither team scored as the rst quarter came to an end with Jax State on top 3 to 0.

Second quarter

Carrying possession from the rst quarter, Jax State would drive down 80 yards to score o a fouryard rushing touchdown. A er a successful point a er attempt, the Miners trailed the Gamecocks 10-0 with 13:26 le in the half.

UTEP would receive the ball at its own 25-yardline following a touchback. e Miners would continue to utilize the hurry up o ense all the way up to Jax State’s 26-yardline. Once again, UTEP was faced with a decision on a fourth and ve call, but this time the Miners decided to play it safe and go for the three-point play. Unfortunately,

long snapper Justin Du missed the 43-yard eld goal leaving the score unchanged.

Both teams would exchange punts until the nal drive of the half. e Miners started out with the ball at the UTEP 26-yardline. In a drive that started with only 1:31 le in the half, UTEP managed to close the gap scoring on a one-yard carry from Hankins, leaving the extra point attempt to freshman kicker Buzz Flabiano.

e Miners le the rst half trailing 10 to 7.

ird quarter

e Miners started the second half with an interception from Hardison at Jax State’s 43-yardline. Fortunately for UTEP, the Miners defense would not allow a score as the Gamecocks were forced into a turnover on downs. Following an unsuccessful Miners drive, the Jax State would clock-in another touchdown from senior running back Malik Jackson to run the score up 17 to 7.

Neither team would nd the

endzone as the third quarter came to a close.

Fourth quarter

With UTEP on the ropes, the Miners needed a score to open the nal quarter. With that in mind, the UTEP running game placed Hardison in prime position to complete a whopping 34-yard touchdown to Akharaiyi. is placed the Miners in striking distance with a score of 17 to 14 with 12:19 le to play.

e UTEP defense would allow the o ense to potentially win the game with 4:41 on the clock. With Hardison and the rest of the Miners o ense driving down the eld, UTEP would seal its fate with a game-ending turnover.

On a fourth and one play, Hardison steps up in the pocket looking for senior wide receiver Tyrin Smith. Hardison hesitates before sending the ball to Simth allowing Jax State senior safety Jeremiah Harris to pick the ball o with ease.

e Miners would go on to lose see GAMECOCKS on page 18

The

Junior Cayman Tamez, passes the ball against the Arizona State Sun Devils determining how to advance against opponents Aug. 27 at University Field. Photo by Daniela Gonzalez Bustamante/The Prospector

Around El Paso

Chihuahuas ride on positive momentum

BY NICHOLAS MAES The Prospector

e El Paso Chihuahuas have been a hit throughout the summer, particularly during the month of August. Although temperatures are still in the triple digits, that’s not stopping El Pasoans from supporting their minor league home team.

When it comes to standings, the Chihuahuas are sitting pretty with only three less wins than losses (21-24). e Chihuahuas fought hard in the team’s most recent run against the Albuquerque Isotopes, although El Paso took an overall loss in the series.

e Isotopes put an end to a fourgame win streak that the Chihuahuas carried over from the previous series versus the Sugar Land Space Cowboys. e Chihuahuas came into the series against Albuquerque with two straight series wins, but the Isotopes stopped the short-lived streak Aug. 15.

Neither team scored during the rst ve innings, but the Isotopes ultimately prevailed over the Chihuahuas in its rst game, but Aug. 16 was a di erent story. Along with defeating the Isotopes, the Chihuahuas set a new hit record.

Scoring multiple runs in the rst six innings, the Chihuahuas had 24 hits, winning the game 20-7. is could be considered the best game of the season, as the Chihuahuas hit four home runs in the second inning, a season-high for home runs in a single inning.

e Chihuahuas would face defeat in the next game, but achieved another win Aug. 18, splitting even with the Isotopes in the rst four games of the series. Neither team would score in the last ve innings of the game.

e Isotopes took the series from the Chihuahuas, winning four out of six games, but the Chihuahuas are still looking hopeful.

e Chihuahuas will close out August and start September in Reno, Nevada facing the Aces. e next games taking place at Southwest University Park will be against the Round Rock Express, Sept. 5 through Sept. 10.

UTEP Night at the Chihuahuas was the rst major event taking place, as part of this year’s “Miner Welcome.” A great way to bring students and alumni together, the game is was an exciting precursor

Locomotive FC buckles under summer pressure

BY EMMANUEL RIVAS The Prospector

e beginning of the summer presented many promises for the El Paso Locomotive FC (9-10-5). Now the team has grinded to a screeching halt having not won a game since June 14.

team’s match against Phoenix Rising FC. “It is frustrating because I have seen this team perform at high levels for a consecutive amount of time.”

to upcoming UTEP events taking place throughout the rst week of school, including Late Night at the Rec and Texas Western Gold Rush. Students looking for an enjoyable way to spend their last Friday of the summer could attend UTEP Night at the Chihuahuas. UTEP President Heather Wilson threw the rst pitch, and the game featured appearances by the UTEP Cheer and Dance teams. Orange-themed foods were available, along with opportunities to support UTEP student scholarships.

e Chihuahuas will stay home to face the Albuquerque Isotopes again, Sept. 12 through 17. e Chihuahuas will close out their regular season in Sugar Land facing the Space Cowboys, with their nal game taking place Sept. 24.

e Locos consistently graced the top of the USL Championship rankings, setting a franchise record of undefeated matches and climbed to the top of the Western Conference standings no less than two months ago. Now, having lost ve straight games and on the cusp of playo contention, the El Paso Locomotive seem lost and o -sync.

Since the Locos’ last 2-1 victory against the Las Vegas Lights FC June 14, El Paso has gone 0-7-3 with a whopping goal di erential (GD) of –17. For reference, the team started out with a GD of eight prior to the summer slump. e most concerning fact is that four of the last ve matches were all lost by two or more goals.

e Locomotive were shutout in two straight games versus Miami FC and Phoenix Rising FC for a total of nine goals to El Paso’s zero. For weeks now, coaching and talent have said virtually the same thing.

“We will come back,” said midelder Petar Petrovic a er returning from injury also in July.

“Nos vamos a preparar día con día,” said mid elder Louis Herrera a er the July 22 loss to Oakland Roots SC.

“We need the best from everyone,” said defender Marc Navarro prior to the team’s loss to Indy Eleven. First year Head Coach and Technical Director Brian Clarhaut has expressed his frustration.

“ ere are real highs and real lows. We need to get a little bit more even before we get killed,” said Clarhaut in preparation of the

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY SEPT.6, VS. ROUND ROCK

THURSDAY SEPT.7, VS. ROUND ROCK

Just a few days before the Locos were set to play Hartford Athletics, news broke that Los Angeles FC (Major League Soccer) defender Noah Dollenmayer would be joining El Paso on loan. A loan allows a team to send a player to another team, generally from a smaller league, for a number of reasons in exchange for roster spots or money. Dollenmayer’s loan will keep him in the Sun City for the remainder of the season.

“He is a physically imposing center-back who is good on the ball and wins a large number of aerial duels, so we are happy to welcome Noah (Dollenmayer) to our Locomotive family for the remainder of the season,” said Clarhaut on the blockbuster acquisition.

Dollenmayer would start for the Locomotive against Hartford Athletics this past Saturday and provided much needed help.

In a pivotal game, the Locomotive stepped up to the challenge and shutout Hartford 2-0. Goals from forward Aaron Gomez in the een minute and Petrovic in the sixty-ninth minute would place the once dominate team on a clear path to victory.

Over was the looming 10-game winless streak for El Paso. Dollenmayer made his presence seen with three clearances and a total of six successful position battles.

e Locomotive hopes to carry its momentum back to El Paso Saturday, Sept. 2 to face o against Monterey Bay FC at Southwest University Park. Kicko will take place at 7:30 p.m. where the organization will celebrate its h annual Noche de Locos.

SATURDAY

SATURDAY SEPT. 30 VS. CHARLESTON BATTERY

WEDNESDAY OCT. 4 VS. SAN DIEGO LOYAL SC

Nicholas Maes is a staff reporter and may be reached at nemaes@miners.utep.edu

Street filled with bright lights outside Southwest University Park in downtown El Paso, Texas. Photo by Gianluca Cuevas/The Prospector

Emmanuel Rivas Valenzuela Armendariz is the sports editor and may be reached at erivas7@miners.utep.edu: @ rivasemmanuel2 on Instagram

COMMENTARY

What to expect following the NFL preseason

BY MARCO HINOJOSA The Prospector

e most wonderful time of the year is back. It is time to bust out the jerseys and enjoy the classic all-American game of football. e 2023 NFL season is deemed to be full of opportunity, high hopes and drive for players on the eld.

In the previous season, AFC West was seen as “the talk of the town.” Compromising itself of endless talent from players like tight end

Travis Kelce, wide receiver Davante Adams and quarterback Patrick

Mahomes. However, the AFC West is not projected to make as much noise as they once did.

It is believed that the AFC North division will claim higher victory this fall.

“ e (AFC) North is king this year because every team has a shot to reach the postseason,” NFL Columnist Je ri Chadiha said. “If you want to talk about the favorites to win the division, we’re once again choosing between Baltimore and Cincinnati. e Ravens are eager to prove that quarterback Lamar Jackson can take his game to another level in an o ense that is

expected to feature a more dynamic passing attack.”

On the other hand, the NFC South failed to have one team nish with a winning record last season. However, the New Orleans Saints recently signed quarterback Derek Carr from the Las Vegas Raiders, who was let go earlier this year. is opens a gateway of possibilities due to Carrs’ ability to perform under pressure. Giving the o ense more stability than previous seasons.

e NFC East poses a threat to many across the league, since the Philadelphia Eagles are one of the top o ensive threats this year.

Quarterback Jalen Hurts has the capability to stretch the eld which placed him second in MVP voting.

e Dallas Cowboys also have great strength due to All-Pro linebacker Micah Parsons while bee ng up its secondary in the o season through the pairing of star cornerbacks Trevon Diggs and Stephon Gilmore and retaining talent.

Quarterback Aaron Rodgers exit le a void of expectancy in the quarterback position for the Green Bay Packers.

As for the rest of NFC North, the Minnesota Vikings are looking to redeem themselves from last

year’s playo loss to the New York Giants. With o ensive weapons like wide receiver Justin Je erson and tight end T.J. Hockenson, the Vikings are looking to make noise in the division.

e last team to make bene cial changes to their roster were the Detroit Lions. Having depth in all position groups, the Lions are looking to make a louder impact in its division.

e league’s rst game will be Sept. 7, and will air on NBC where the Kansas City Chiefs will host the Detroit Lions.

New faces emerge alongside veteran volleyball players

BY GIANLUCA CUEVAS The Prospector

A er reaching the semi nals but falling short at the C-USA Finals in 2022 to Rice University, UTEP Volleyball kicked o the start of their 2023 season with a 4-set sweep exhibition game against Grand Canyon University, Aug. 19.

e Miners were ranked second in the C-USA preseason poll ranking ,with Western Kentucky University ranked higher. e season o cially started o with the Southeastern Louisiana Tournament. ere, the Miners’ rst game was versus Washington University, a top 25 school in the country.

Coach Ben Wallis believes the next four weekends will demonstrate where the Miners stand.

“We know a ton about ourselves but we’re going to learn a ton in the next four weekends where we play really good teams conference champion type blood, runner-up conference champion or power 5 program every weekend,” Wallis said.

UTEP will then host the Borderland invitational tournament where the team will play its’ season home opener in their “915 Game” versus San Francisco University Aug. 31.

e Miners rst conference game will be at Western Kentucky University and features the top conference preseason poll rankings.

“It’s just two conference opponents trying to go beat the crap out of each other that rst weekend,” said Wallis regarding the matchup.

Although Miner fans will see familiar faces from last season, they will also be getting six new freshman this year. Kalia Kohler Fr. Setter, Beatrice Gennari Fr. Middle blocker/Opposite, Genavi Oyoyo Fr. Middle Blocker, Ava Martindale Fr. Libero/Defensive Specialist Lauren Wallace Fr. Outside hitter, Deanna Almaguer Outside/Rightside Hitter, Danika Washington Jr. Middle Blocker, and Trinity Gomez Fr. Setter. Although there

are new faces on the team, these six young players are capable of helping the lineup out. While falling short to previously ranked No. 21 Rice to reach the C-USA nal, the Miners won’t be facing Rice this year as the school le the conference.

e Miners will be seeing new proven opponents such as Jacksonville State who has been a top 50 team the past few years in a row winning 20 games ve years in a

row, NMSU who is perennially a top 100 team alongside Liberty University who has been a top 100 team in the past couple of years. Chemistry seems to be the key factor for UTEP to have another successful season. e connection between players and coaches is much higher than it was last season, which may have caused close matches to slip away. is year, connections and chemistry seem to be on the Miners side as they

are optimistic to have a successful season.

“We’re a better o ensive team this year than last because we’re more veteran and were also more physical,” said Wallis. “We have a lot of people that can hurt you and that’s the nice part. If people don’t want to hit the ball around us or hit high enough, were going to make you pay, which is pretty exciting.”

Gianluca Cuevas is a staff photographer and may be reached at gcuevas7@miners.utep.edu

The UTEP volleyball team is primed to comeback after two positive seasons in a newly formed C-USA. Photo courtesy of The Prospector archive.

Not a ‘checkmark’ in sight for UTEP Athletics

BY SOFIA SIERRA The Prospector

Editor’s note: is story was featured on e Prospector’s website, theprospectordaily.com, during the summer session.

Optimal gear is required for an optimal game. An athlete’s gear is arguably one deciding factor on whether they will perform well in a game. e versatility of sportswear allows di erent sports to indulge in the products o ered by the brands. Since 2004, Nike has been the sole partner in UTEP uniforms, however that’s now changed. It initially started only for football gear, then partnership grew towards all sports and lasted for almost two decades. Now, UTEP has partnered with

Game One in a ve-year contract starting in 2023, that will transition the athletic equipment to Adidas. What would disrupt an almost two-decade relationship? Game One o ered UTEP discounts and bene ts for their athletes to use on apparel and equipment. If UTEP spends a certain amount of money with Game One, the company would provide additional gear and apparel without cost. Financially, there are more bene ts to the switch. But what UTEP may have failed to consider is the performance level between the brands.

Announced in the fall of 2022, the partnership between Game One and Adidas will rst be seen during the 2023 volleyball and football seasons. UTEP Athletics unveiled the new uniforms on their

Volleyball sweeps at Southeastern Louisiana tournament

BY KATY RUIZ The Prospector

e UTEP volleyball team got o to a busy start as the team competed in three out-of-state games between Friday, Aug. 25, and Saturday, Aug. 26.

e rst day featured a double header between the Washington Huskies and the Grambling State Tigers.

During the rst set of the game versus the Huskies, Washington won the rst round with 25 points and UTEP had 23 points. While the Washington team might have had an advantage at the start, UTEP picked up the pace, winning the second set, leaving Washington with 19 points. e third match ended up with UTEP winning the round while Washington came close with 23 points. In the fourth round, the Miners found themselves with 22 points.

By the nal round, the Miners found themselves winning with 15 points, leaving Washington with a mere nine points. Ending the rst session of the Southeastern Showdown Games, UTEP found itself to be victorious with a total of 110 points, while Washington lost with a total of 101 points.

e second and last match of the day, UTEP and Grambling State started with a win for the Miners as the team kept the Tigers at bay with only 19 points. By the second set, the Miners kept up the pace and nished the set with a total of 25 points, while Grambling got close with a total of 21 points. e nal set, the Miners le Grambling with 16 points.

e UTEP Miners won this shorter match with a total of 75 points, while Grambling lost with a total of 56 points. e Miners started the tournament undefeated and with a strong winning score.

e second and last day of the Southeastern Showdown Games was between the UTEP Miners and the Southeastern La. In the rst match, the Miners won while Southeastern got 20 points.

social medias, to help create anticipation for this new partnership for the upcoming seasons. ough many seem to enjoy the new look of UTEP sports, do they outperform Nike in terms of usability?

Previously, e Prospector mentioned the signi cance of the brand switch for UTEP. Nike and Adidas’s contribution to the sports community is undeniable. Many athletes throughout the decades have been seen wearing Nike during their games.

Most notably, Michael Jordan signed with Nike in 1987, at the time, the collaboration was the biggest sneaker deal with a $2.5 million contract. Now, 38 years later, Michael Jordan and Nike are still prominent in both sports and pop cultures.

Locally, the Nike checkmark can still be seen on the uniforms of the El Paso Chihuahuas. Nike and the MLB announced a 10-year deal.

Adidas, on the other hand, is notably praised for its soccer cleats.

One of the biggest names in soccer history, Lionel Messi, has a lifetime contract with Adidas. In 2017 Messi signed a contract with Adidas allowing him to be forever associated with the brand. Many other bene ts came with the deal, such as Adidas allowing Messi to reside in Inter Miami when he retires.

Both Nike and Adidas have had their in uences in pop culture.

For example, the nu-rock band Korn and Adidas announced their long-awaited collaboration. Since the release of ‘A.D.I.D.A.S.’ by Korn in 1997 many anticipated

for the Korn X Adidas line. e competition between the brands is likely to continue until the end of sports. While ultimately, there is not going to be a winner between the two, many athletes favor one over the other. Whether the three stripes allow for better use on the soccer eld, or the checkmark has better jerseys, athletes are entitled to wear what they feel comfortable playing in.

While UTEP may have favored nancial bene ts, athletes may not feel comfortable with this change. e start of the volleyball and football season will mark the o cial public partnership between the two. Starting in the fall, many will be watching to see whether this switch was for the better.

Sofia Sierra is a contributor and may be reached at sdsierra2@miners.utep.edu

New soccer coach prepares for new season

In the second match, the Miners continued their pace and won its second set. Southeastern won set three, leaving the Miners close with a mere 23 points. By the fourth match, the Miners retook their previous position and ended the match. In total, the Miners won with a total of 98 accumulated points while Southeastern La lost with a total of 85 points.

“I’m really pleased with our weekend overall,” said head coach Ben Wallis.

“We are a really physical, high scoring, high ying, tough defensive team and that’s really cool and exciting to see,” said Wallis. e Miners head back home for the Borderland Invitational Tournament to face o against the San Francisco Dons and Arizona State Sun Devils Aug. 31 and Sept. 1.

Katy Ruiz is a contributor and may be reached at kruiz12@miners.utep.edu

Editor’s note: is story was featured on e Prospector’s website, theprospectordaily.com, during the summer session.

UTEP soccer is starting o the upcoming season with a new head coach. Gibbs Keeton was hired as head coach in Dec. 2022.

Keeton has played soccer his whole life, while also playing collegiate soccer at Texas Tech. He was a soccer coach for over 15 years, and before coming to UTEP, he served as the associate head coach at Texas Tech University.

Over the past couple of months, Keeton and the players have been working hard and implementing new strategies to get ready for the season. e El Paso native is excited

to be coaching in his hometown and helping the Miners redeem themselves a er last season.

“It’s amazing to coach here in a community that gave me so much from a soccer consideration. e team is made up of some really incredible young women who just needed to be guided in the right direction and re ll their passion for soccer which fueled up their academic pursuits as well,” Keeton said.

During the 2022 season, the miners overall score was 4-11-3 and the conference score was 1-7-2. Keeton is hopeful that the team is going to redeem themselves this season.

“We’re not dwelling on the past,” Keeton said. “We’ve got a clean slate in all regards and the biggest things we’re focusing on include enhancing our competitive drive,

identity and de ning our team unity. We hope that we can play to the full strengths of all of the players that we have. From the rst whistle to the last, we’re going to chase the game and stay in the game.” Keeton has been making updates and changes to the program and the building because the coaching sta believe in the team. In Keeton’s words they are making the correct changes. Keeton and the team are also focusing on giving back and building relations with the community. ey just completed their summer soccer camp that served over 300 young El Pasoans.

“Our goal is to grow El Paso’s passion and love for the game and help them learn more about our program,” Keeton said.

Alyson Rodriguez is a contributor and may be reached at aerodriguez20@miners.utep.edu; @alyson_rod1127 on Twitter.

Softball to feature new associate head coach

BY NICHOLAS MAES The Prospector

Editor’s note: is story was featured on e Prospector’s website, theprospectordaily.com, during the summer session.

On June 27, UTEP So ball made a new addition to its coaching sta , Brittney Matta. Current Head Coach T.J. Hubbard made the announcement that he and Matta will be working together, with Matta holding the title of So ball Associate Head Coach.

Matta, a Northern California native, has been involved with so ball since high school. She started at Arizona State in 2006 and was the only walk-on to make the so ball team that year. She attended the NCAA National Championships

GAMECOCKS from page 15 the game 17 to 14 as the o ense would not see the ball a er the Hardison interception.

“It was a dog ght to the bitter end,” said Dimel following the loss. “We didn’t make enough plays to win the game. A er the game I told [the team] it came down to a couple plays that would’ve made a

twice, as a team member in 2008 and as an undergrad assistant coach in 2011.

Matta’s success goes beyond her college career. She coached at Highland High School in Gilbert, Arizona in 2014, taking the team to the Arizona Interscholastic Association playo s in her rst year.

Moving on to college so ball, Matta was the assistant coach at Mesa Community College from 2017 to 2019. Under the guidance of head coach Grady Moorhead, she contributed towards advancing MCC to the NJCAA Division II Regional Finals.

For the past three years, and through the COVID-19 pandemic, Matta served as the head coach at South Mountain Community College, consecutively bringing success-

di erence in the football game.”

Hardison threw 17 of 29 for 208 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. Sophomore running back Torrance Burgess Jr. led the team with 59 rushing yards over the course of 12 carries for an average of 4.8 yards per carry. Akharaiyi gave a dominating performance with 102 passing yards over four

ful so ball seasons for the Cougars. In her nal year at SMCC, the team played 64 games and only suffered ten losses.

“I’m thrilled to welcome Brittney to our sta as Associate Head Coach,” T.J. Hubbard said in the announcement.

Brittney’s head coaching record, attitude, and enthusiasm stood out throughout the interview process.

Bringing in a wealth of collegiate experience as a student-athlete, assistant coach, and head coach. Her ability to recruit and develop players will help UTEP So ball reach new heights. She will be tasked with leading our pitchers, catchers and serving as our recruiting coordinator.

Nicholas

Maes is a staff reporter and may be reached at nemaes@miners.utep.edu

receptions with a touchdown.

UTEP now head back to the Sun Bowl to the team’s home opener against the University of Incarnate Word Cardinals (0-0) at 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 2. All statistics and quotes provided by UTEP Athletics. Emmanuel Rivas Valenzuela

The University of Texas at El Paso welcomed students to the Doctorate of Pharmacy Program at its White Coat Ceremony on Saturday, August 26 These students will be part of the UTEP School of Pharmacy’s graduating class of 2027.

As a first step, these future pharmacists accepted their white coats as a symbol of professionalism and excellence in pharmacy practice. This ceremony also was an opportunity to remind students of the importance of balancing excellence in their field of study with compassionate patient care.

SCHOOL OF PHARMACY | Class of 2027

During the ceremony, students recited the Oath of a Pharmacist and promised to maintain the skills, knowledge and responsibilities needed to devote themselves to a lifetime of serving others.

Thank you to the community supporters, faculty, staff, preceptors, students, and their family members and friends who joined us for this special event.

Paola Alvarez

Carrillo

Emanuel Chavez Jessika Cox Illiana De La Trinidad

Juan Delgado Priscilla Eck Joseph Espinoza Roberto Espinoza

Toritseju Etiwe Louis Felipe

Alyssa Alvillar

Carlos Banuelos Crystal Barraza Trishia Benavides

Alejandro Bonilla

Nicholas Bonilla Evelyn Campos Sophia Candelaria

Rubenbauer

Karla Carrera

Michelle Finger

Caitlyn Lucore

Samantha Morales

Andrea Ramirez Mireya Ramirez Laura Resendiz

Ghadiel Salcido Julian Saucedo Veronica Suarez Edward Trejo Grecia Trujillo

Nadia Turner Armando Varela

Moreno Lidia Nava Fahima Nazmin Eric Nunez

Raul Olivas Monica Pacheco

Samantha Pages

April

Marentes Paola MartinezValenzuela

Kurtis McGee Juliana Medina Anabelle Menchaca

Madison Milan Kendra Montoya Bryan Morales

Illiana Placencia Gilbert Portillo

Robert Morales

Leobardo Flores Isabella Garcia Jocelyn Gomez

Hugo Gutierrez Angelica Hernandez

Alesi Nunez-Finley

Rito Hernandez Emily Karl

Isabella Liano