10 08 2024

OCTOBER 8, 2024

OPINION Page 2

‘Intimate Insights with The Prospector’

NEWS Page 5

What is on the county proposition ballot?

ARTS & CULTURE Page 9

Return of the ‘Dream Monster’

SPORTS Page 14

Volleyball tames Bearkats in doubleheader sweep

Oculto Film Festival brings HORROR to the Borderland

The sixth annual Oculto Film Festival thrilled El Paso from Oct. 4 to Oct. 6, captivating horror lovers with chilling films, engaging Q&As, and a special guest, all crafted for the ultimate fright night.

The film festival is a bi-national event, with one part taking place in El Paso and the other in Ciudad Juárez. The international platform allows filmmakers and content creators to showcase their work to a wide and diverse audience and network with fellow filmmakers.

Cabe Tejeda, the director of the Oculto Film Festival shared that, while organizing the festival, one of his highlights was getting to witness the connection between filmmakers from both cities.

“The human connection, the exchange of ideas (because) we are bi-national Film Festival,” said Tejeda. “It’s really fulfilling to see filmmakers or creators overall from different places get together and exchange ideas or even work on projects (together) later on.”

Roccoh Derma, an actor and filmmaker who previously had their short film “Julia” featured in the festival shared that the most exciting part of the event was a chance to share their projects.

“I’m most excited to spread the word (about) the filmmaking culture in the border city,” said Derma. “We know that we have a lot of creators that want to show their projects, so this is a very accurate platform to make them real.”

On the first night, the film festival featured their official selection of short films from the U.S. and Spanish speaking countries.

“El Miedo Más Grande,” a film from Argentina directed by Lucas

main character attempts to replicate these videos, he encounters the “Elote Man”, who turns out to be a vampire. Although the main character meets an untimely demise, his video ultimately makes him a viral sensation.

Making a sustainable change to the UTEP campus, let alone the entire borderland, can be challenging, but UTEP’s Green Fund makes the change happen through a purpose and a vision.

The Green Fund is a studentapproved referendum that tackles sustainability projects all over campus. This committee provides information on the impact of the institution and the environment. By investing in renewable energy, lowering the carbon footprint, conserving water and increasing energy sufficiency. Their motive is to make a change that is beneficial for the future.

Green Fund Chair, Sara Urueta, joined the committee her freshman year and always had a passion for making a change to UTEP being a more environmentally friendly campus in the 21st century.

Marketing Assistant Andre Gardea shared he joined the committee after not having a connection with his former major in marketing. He felt that marketing was convincing towards audiences that don’t make a beneficial impact. After discovering the Green Fund, he was curious how he could make a larger impact.

Gardea shares that it doesn’t depend on one student to make a change, it is a matter of the organization listening to student ideas and bringing that change to fruition. “It’s about having students feel like they can have an impact,” said Gardea.

UTEP students pay a three-dollar fee integrated into their tuition, which helps support the funding for the committee.

RAIN SHOULD GO DOWN THE DRAIN!

Opinion

Emmanuel Rivas Valenzuela, editor-in-chief

Int imate INSIGHTS

UTEP to the Mountain West, was it the correct decision?

athletic programs.

Editor’s note: The following article is aimed at promoting safe sex practices for our college audience. The segment will be featured on print features and on our website. As Halloween approaches, the air becomes filled with excitement. There’s the thrill of picking out costumes and parties, or maybe we have a little mischief on our minds. However, amidst the fun festivities, it’s important to remember a key element of interactions: consent.

Being college students, as we get ready to have the nights of our lives, we need to plan carefully.

At its core, consent is about respect and communication. The enthusiastic agreement between all parties involved in any intimate interaction. Just like you wouldn’t want someone to wear the same costume as you, you definitely don’t want to engage in a situation where your boundaries are not respected. With Halloween’s spirit of playful mischief and with some people believing that the costume you decide to wear is an invitation, navigating consent can feel trickier. However, it doesn’t have to be. Here are some tips to ensure that everyone has a safe and enjoyable time, whether you’re at a party, on a date or simply mingling with friends.

Before diving into Halloween festivities, it’s a good idea to discuss costumes and themes with your friends or partner. Are you planning to wear something revealing or provocative? Share your thoughts and feelings about your costume. But remember, just because you do decide to wear something a bit more provocative, that does not

mean you are inviting anyone into your space. These conversations just enforce the idea about the type of night you want it to be and make sure that you and your friends can protect one another.

Remember, consent is an ongoing conversation. Just because someone agreed to something earlier in the night, that doesn’t mean they are still comfortable later on, especially if alcohol is involved. Pay attention to verbal and non-verbal cues. If your friend or partner seems hesitant or uncomfortable at any point, check in with them to ensure that they are enjoying their experience.

For example, if you’re at a Halloween party and you’re dancing closely with someone, a simple “Are you okay with this?” can go a long way. It shows that you care about their feelings and are willing to respect their boundaries.

With the spirit of Halloween often comes a sense of playfulness and flirtation. However, playful banter can easily lead to misunderstandings if consent isn’t clear. If you’re flirting with someone in a costume, ensure that your intentions are evident. Are you looking for something more than just fun?

Just as you wouldn’t force someone to take candy they didn’t want, respecting “no” is paramount when it comes to consent. If someone declines your advances, whether it’s dancing, kissing, or anything else, take it gracefully. A simple, “No problem, enjoy your night!” shows maturity and respect. What does not show either of those qualities though is getting upset that you have been turned down, and then being verbally upset, which many of you may have seen at parties. Sometimes, even the most enthusiastic participants can feel overwhelmed or change their minds. Being understanding fosters an environment where everyone feels safe to express their limits without fear of judgment or retaliation. As a party host or friend, you can play an essential role in cultivating a safe space where consent is prioritized. Whether it’s a small gathering or a larger Halloween bash, set clear expectations about respectful behavior. Encourage your guests to communicate openly and reinforce that everyone’s comfort is a top priority.

It happened. After nearly two decades, UTEP Athletics exited Conference USA and joined the Mountain West Conference.

The dominoes for UTEP’s conference change stems from early September, when the once thought to be extinct Pac-12 breathed life back into their conference by extending invites to Mountain West’s Colorado State, Fresno State, Boise State, and San Diego state.

Immediately after the move, 915 sports pundits started to draw connections between UTEP and the Mountain West Conference, yearning for the Miners to stray away from what college football sees as a lower-level group of five conference, Conference USA.

Now, the Walden Era is further propelled with a realignment. All that’s left is to hold our breath and see how the Miners match up to tougher competition.

It’s vital to look at the full picture of what conference realignment means for the Miners.

When soaking in all the factors for UTEP athletics, the timing simply isn’t right to jump ship.

You might even consider having a “consent check-in” game, where guests can share their comfort levels or boundaries in a light-hearted way. This not only sparks conversations but also creates a collective understanding of respect and care. In the end, the goal is to ensure that everyone leaves the party with good memories, not regrets. So, this Halloween, let’s treat everyone right—because nothing is scarier than ignoring consent.

First, we can’t neglect the fees, something that every college student can heavily relate to.

Currently, to leave C-USA, UTEP will spend $800,000 dollars every season until 2026.

Which is the season when the Mountain West officially loses its primary institutions. Those financial resources could be used in developing programs from the inside, not the outside.

Most relevant, UTEP football is actively rebuilding with new head coach Scotty Walden. When thinking long term, basketball head coach Joe Golding is closer than ever to jumping over the March Madness hump through C-USA.

Changing conferences brings the need to grow accustomed to new regular competition. Not only would UTEP need to develop efficient game plans against teams they don’t have much experience playing against, but the schedule can be highly volatile. With conference changes, uncertainty usually plagues those teams trying to plan.

We, as fans, deserve to watch a good product consistently through all athletic departments, but the process to get there can’t be rushed, or else it can only move us back. If you need an example, just look at Ben Wallis, UTEP’s volleyball head coach.

Wallis inherited a program, which- before his inaugural season in 2019, didn’t see a winning record since 2013.

‘The Prospector’ stands behind Penn State’s ‘The Daily Collegian’

Using humor and charm is great but avoid assumptions. If you think someone is interested because they’re wearing a costume that’s “suggestive,” don’t jump to conclusions. Stop carrying that mindset overall, because once again, Halloween is not only about sex, but people are also there to have fun. Ask if they’d like to grab a drink or dance before escalating to anything physical. Communication can prevent awkward moments and ensure that everyone is on the same page.

This past month, the student publication serving the population of Penn State underwent a heinous attack on its First Amendment rights. After the publication accepted an advertisement from a presidential campaign, Penn State officials removed The Daily Collegian’s papers and newsstands from campus grounds overnight and

VOL. 110, NO. 2 October 8, 2024

Adam Regalado is the multimedia editor at The Prospector and may be reached at anregalado@miners. utep.edu

without notice to the publication.

The Collegian does not receive funding from the school and depends on any and all advertisements it receives. This isn’t a publication with nefarious motives, it’s students like us trying to start their careers.

The Prospector and its staff stand behind The Collegian and denounce any and all attempts from

Money is only one part of the equation. Frankly, departing to join the Mountain West Conference causes the resetting of multiple

the University to limit, oppress or subdue journalists’ work at the collegiate and professional levels.

Attempts to infringe on the liberties of the press and speech are un-American and should not be tolerated in our society.

This is not the first time a student publication has been stronghanded. Just two years ago, Texas A&M’s

But with time, Wallis established an initial framework which led to multiple victories over Power Five schools such as Washington and Clemson, paired with an appearance in the 2023 National Invitational Volleyball Championship. At first glance, UTEP’s move to the Mountain West is revolutionary and exciting.

Yet the change demands patience from fans and supporters, a variable that cannot afford to vary in the coming years.

So, for the good of UTEP athletics, keep supporting. It’s needed now, more than ever.

Sebastian Perez-Navarro is a staff reporter for The Prospector and can be reached at spereznavarro@miners. utep.edu. w

student paper The Battalion was forced to become an online-only publication without student input. Even here at UTEP we have been pushed to a monthly publication. From West Texas we will continue to support Penn State, and any publication, in maintatining these freedoms. You guys are not alone in this ordeal.

EDITORS

What are the dynamics between older generations and ‘No Sabo’ kids

school,” said Del Val. “But at home, I had to speak Spanish.”

Editor’s note: This article is part one of a three-part series surrounding the cultural discussions around Mexican-Americans that do not speak Spanish, also known as “No Sabo” kids.

Either a Hispanic person is bilingual, in a binational city or are classified as a “no sabo kid.” It’s a frustration only a few people will understand. However, the older generation has a lot of feelings toward the younger generation, not being fluent in Spanish. Turns out, they fall under the same grey area. For a better understanding, there’s a scene in the 1997 movie, “Selena” where Abraham Quintilla explains to Selena and her brother, “you have to be twice as perfect.”

Selena’s father points out that Selena, originally a ‘no sabo’ kid herself, can sing in Spanish perfectly, but when she speaks it, it will not be accepted by other Mexicans. He goes along saying how exhausting it is to constantly prove to the Americans how “American” they are, and how “Mexican” they are to the Mexicans.

“Our homeland is right next door, being Mexican-American is tough. Anglo’s jump all over you if you don’t speak English perfectly, Mexicans jump all over you if you don’t speak Spanish perfectly.”

Del Val recalls that he and his peers took swatting as a game.

“We would speak Spanish and then see if they would catch us,” said Del Val. “We all took it as a joke.”

Swatting culture stopped in the mid 1960s when Del Val was in high school.

Gloria Del Val shares how defeated she feels about not being able to speak to her grandchildren and the younger generations of her family because of the barrier.

“It (language) is everything to me,” said Del Val. “I want to say certain things to the kids and express myself, but I can’t because they can’t understand me.”

Her son sympathizes on account of his mother and explains how during family reunions, everyone is speaking both Spanish and English, but more so English, and she becomes very distant and there is a divide.

Tattoo shops join forces for ‘915 Day’

On September 15th, multiple events throughout El Paso came alive in honor of 915 day, marking the start of Hispanic Heritage Month, a celebration of our binational border community.

Three local tattoo shops — After Ten Tattoo, Monolith Tattoo, and Sunset Tattoo Co.— teamed up to offer the public a chance to choose from over 100 El Paso-themed designs at any of the participating locations to get inked on the spot.

After Ten Tattoo

“We’re all united as a community. The different businesses, people, I mean we’re all networking,” said Reynosa. “I think that’s what’s the most important part of it is the network that we’ve been able to build today.”

As to the reasons why fewer families seem to teach the younger generations Spanish, Sergio Del Val, says that he tried to teach his kids Spanish. However, the discouragement and criticism made his kids not stick to it as prominently as he did growing up.

The older generation of son Sergio Del Val, 77 and mother, Gloria Del Val, 98, share their input on how discouraging it was to learn English and get ridiculed. Gloria Del Val’s first language is Spanish, and she tells the story of how critical the Americans acted toward her for learning English.

She got to the United States from Veracruz, Mexico in 1952 and her relationship with the English language was short spanned.

“I started taking classes soon after arriving in the states, but I quit very quickly. I got made fun of, they called me dumb, for the way I spoke English,” said Del Val.

Her son stepped in and tells his tale on how he was a part of the infamous swatting culture in schools in the late 50’s.

“It was pretty common back then. The teachers and coaches would compete with who had the best swatting paddle. So, they had one pedal with holes in it,” said Sergio Del Val.

Sergio Del Val’s first language was Spanish as well, taught by his parents. His native tongue did not veer away from his upbringing with the punishment.

“I did lean more toward English in

“What happens is that, when one of my kids would say something wrong in Spanish, others would laugh at them, so they did not want anything to do with that anymore,” said Del Val.

He also connected his experiences with his wife’s and her relationship with the Spanish language growing up in the 60’s.

“She was also punished for speaking Spanish,” said Del Val. “It was nothing but English from that point on, and she lost all her Spanish, really. So, when my kids grew up, their mom didn’t want them to learn Spanish because she didn’t want them to have a Mexican accent.”

With that lesson of life, Sergio Del Val, understands that the lack of learning Spanish for the younger generations was inevitable.

“I think it’s so prevalent now that people are not fluent. It may not be as needed anymore as it was in the past... I can sympathize because I have been there.”

Gloria Del Val had a bittersweet response to say, when asked if she gives grace to the no sabo kids.

“Yes, I feel for them, but they should know their language that is a part of (them). They should be proud of being Mexicans.”

After Ten Tattoo was founded by Angel Reynosa, who opened the downtown El Paso location after years of running a successful studio in San Diego. Although Reynosa continues to operate both the California and El Paso locations, he emphasized that the El Paso shop holds special significance for him, as it brings him back to the city where he grew up.

The tattoo flash crawl was born from Reynosa’s vision, hoping to attract more people downtown.

“I’m trying to bring in a lot of the information that I’ve learned out there [in San Diego] here [to El Paso] and just spread it,” said Reynosa. “I figured what better way to do it then on September 15, a day dedicated to El Paso.”

Reynosa, along with the other participating shops, highlighted tattoo designs inspired by El Paso’s rich cultural symbols.

The turnout was immense. Both the exterior and interior of After Ten were filled with eager clients awaiting their turn as well as artists who helped participate in the event.

Monolith Tattoo

Located just a block away from After Ten, is Monolith Tattoos.

Owner John Sunderland saw the event as a chance for the three downtown shops to come together.

“We’re all friends—me, Angel at After Ten, and the guys at Sunset Tattoo,” said Sunderland. “And we thought it’d be cool if we all just worked together to make a cool event where we could all hang out and help people get cool tattoos.”

While working on a client, Sunderland explained the significance behind the piece he was tattooing — a flower design inspired by the poppies that bloom across the Franklin Mountains.

The shop was loud and lively, as each artist contributed their unique designs while also tattooing others’

work, allowing artists to learn more about one another and their own personal styles firsthand.

Sunderland described the energy in the shop as “an orchestra of tattoo machines, with everyone coming together to hang out.”

Sunset Tattoo

Sunset Tattoo, owned by Ralf Jauregui, was the third shop to participate in the tattoo flash crawl. Jauregui highlighted the significance of the event in bringing people together post-pandemic.

“We’ve all been down here for years, but after the pandemic, it was like- okay now we need to do something together,” said Jauregui.

“It’s been really fun, the turnout was amazing. We’ve gotten to see a whole bunch of new faces, a bunch of familiar faces, but it’s cool to see everyone.”

Tattoo crawl attendee, Diego Carlos came to get a matching tattoo with his brother before he moved to Hawaii.

“It’s a good way to get people in

Dominique Macias is a staff photographer and may be reached at dnmacias2@miners.utep.edu

DOMINIQUE MACIAS B Y

Proud El Pasoans participate in “915 Tattoo Crawl” from local shops who offered promotions. Photo by Dominique Macias/The Prospector

Photo courtesy

Brave Books hosts banned book sale to fight against censorship

featuring more than 250 titles that have been banned, challenged or censored across the country.

In recent years, the U.S. has seen a surge in book bans, igniting debates on censorship, education and the freedom to explore new ideas and perspectives through reading.

In Texas, the movement against banned books gained significant traction when Governor Greg Abbott signed House Bill 900 in 2023, which prohibits school libraries from purchasing books that are deemed sexually explicit, vulgar or educationally unsuitable. Between Jan. 1 and Aug. 31, the American Library Association’s (ALA) Office for Intellectual Freedom tracked 414 attempts to censor library materials, in which 1,128 unique book titles were challenged.

Fighting against book bans is local bookstore “Brave Books,” owned by Jud Burgess.

The bookstore hosted a sale from Sept. 27 to

“Banned books are just an assault on our freedoms, it’s very undemocratic,” said Burgess. “They (those advocating for book bans) expect everybody to line up to what they believe, and they start making noise and then pulling them off bookstore shelves and libraries.”

As a customer at Brave Books’ banned books event, Devy Tafoya emphasizes the importance of access to literature.

“It’s important to be here because we need to make sure that books that have been banned or censored stay available to everybody,” said Tafoya. “They shouldn’t be banned or censored to begin with.”

Events like these allow access to books that are banned in the public school system. Burgess explained that if librarians are in possession of any books on the banned book list, they may be at risk of losing their

from an author’s perspective, book bans have negative and positive implications.

“For writers, it’s almost a badge of honor if your book is banned, because that means that it’s that good,” said Burgess. “(But if) it was affecting people to where they wanted them off the shelf, then a lot of times it is hurtful for writers because generally they want to be more inclusive with their books, and that’s the very reason they get banned.”

As an example, Burgess shared the story of the book “Girls Who Code” by Reshma Saujani, a book series meant to encourage girls of

any race or ethnicity to code.

The first four books in the series found themselves in PEN America’s Index of School Book Bans in 2021 and 2022. Saujani blamed the rightwing group, Moms for Liberty (MFL) for the ban.

MFL’s co-founders, Tina Descovich and Tiffany Justice later released their own statement, calling Saujani’s allegations false, stating that “Girls Who Code” was still in Pennsylvania school district libraries and that no one in the organization had ever called for the book to be banned.

Emma Guillen who attended the banned books event at Brave

Books shared that while censorship is meant to protect young audiences, it often ends up inadvertently targeting minority groups.

“I think what I’ve noticed about a lot of banned books is that it’s silencing some kind of voice,” said Guillen. “All these banned books are about politics, people of color, the LGBTQ community, so I think it’s important for us to shed light on these banned books.”

Burgess encourages readers to continue engaging with banned books as they serve as valuable sources of knowledge and insight that provide diverse perspectives.

Ximena Cordero is a staff reporter for The Prospector and may be reached at rmsevillahe@miners.utep.edu

Brave Books features banned book section for El Pasoans. Photo by Dominique Macias/The Prospector

Over 400 attempts have been made nationwide to ban or restrict books at public libraries. Photo by Dominique Macias/The Prospector

Elections

El Paso County bond propositions for the 2024 election

The Nov. 5 general election will give El Pasoans the opportunity to vote on a collection of propositions and races that will impact the future, both locally and nationally.

Included in the November 2024 ballot is the presidential election, along with local district elections, county sheriff elections and school district board member elections.

Additionally, the capital improvement bond, which is divided into five propositions will be on the ballot and aims to improve county facilities and resources.

Although some El Pasoans may be wondering, what’s on the bond proposition ballot?

Deputy County Administrator for El Paso County, Jose Landeros, oversees strategic capital development which includes the capital planning team.

He said that the severity of voting in this election is great.

“We really want to urge people to go out and vote and express your opinion,” said Landeros. “There’s a number of races on the ballot, everything from president to our local propositions for the county, those are all agencies with an election that voters will have a chance to put their input on Nov. 5.”

Proposition A: Parks and Recreation

The proposition amounts to $95.6 million dollars and includes 19 projects across the county. After receiving feedback from the community, the county adopted a master plan in 2021 to improve different parks in the county.

Some of the plans that fall into the proposition include improving

the Ascarate Regional Park. If approved, Ascarate can see a new festival ground including landscaping, lighting, and creating hardscaping which would cover approximately 20 acres of the park. Additionally, the county would build a three-mile trail that connects to Playa Drain Trail. Besides Ascarate, there are various other improvements planned for parks across El Paso County, from parks in Tornillo to Horizon City. These improvements include hike and bike trials, new benches, trees, playgrounds and more.

Proposition B: Medical Examiner

The tasks of the Medical Examiner are to investigate unattended deaths in the community and forensic scene investigations, among other things. Their office was originally built in the 1990s, and originally held 45 decedents,

then increased to 130 during the pandemic.

If approved, the office will hold up to 300 bodies, according to Landeros. However, the new office’s location is still yet to be determined. The $26.7 million proposition includes acquiring land and building a new office.

Proposition C: Courthouse and related annexes

The proposition amounts to $63.3 million and includes three projects. The first project is to transform the previously located Naked Harem Strip Club to a community annex at Corbin Sambrano. The annex will include mental health services, provide resources to victims of crime, include a community garden, and more.

The second project is expanding the Ysleta Courthouse’s annex commercial kitchen that supports the county’s senior nutrition program,

Shape your future and go vote early

As we are amid election season, early voting for the upcoming presidential election is soon coming to a close. Voting is especially emphasized on young voters since younger generations have the power of fresh perspectives, diversity, and are future leaders of the nation. This makes it critical for young voters to become involved with politics.

Melissa Martin is the elections information and resources coordinator for the El Paso County Elections Department. Martin shares the importance of early voting.

“Early voting is important for several reasons, it allows voters to cast their ballot at a time that better suits them,” said Martin. “Especially among those with rigid work schedules and when voting early, it reduces long lines on election day.”

UTEP students have the liberty of

casting their early vote within campus. Voting will take place in Union East’s Acacia Room 102A, making it easier for students to engage in the electoral process.

Early voting allows any registered individual who has a hectic work week to cast their vote in a timely manner rather than voting only on election day.

Martin shared some new changes when it comes to voting within El Paso. While back in the 2020 election, voters had to cast their vote within their own precinct. Now, citizens are able to vote within any early voting location and that varies throughout the borderland.

As a means to make early voting simpler, the El Paso County Elections Department has revamped its website giving clear instruction and insightful information. One of the new tools implemented is having the Google locator showing voters

the nearest early voting location. The website also includes waittimes that demonstrate the traffic of citizens casting their vote. Allowing anyone to see what time is most suitable for their schedule.

UTEP student Aaron Chavira shared how eager he is to vote for the first time.

“This election I feel is extremely important, probably the most important one ever,” said Chavira. “I know I want to be a part of making that change since this is going to be my first time voting and with it being such a serious election between two different candidates, I am looking forward to voting.”

Early voting is constantly making a difference each election season. In the 2020 general election 46% of voters exercised their right to vote during early voting. Compared to election day, it was less than 9% . Marco Hinojosa is the audience and engagement editor and may be

which delivers 2,400 meals daily. If approved, the meals will increase to a capacity of approximately 10,000 meals served daily.

The third project is to build an annex in Far East Montana, which would limit the need for residents who live in the area to go downtown for different services. The proposed annex includes providing services such as a tax office, county commissioners office and more.

Proposition D: County Coliseum renovation

The proposition amounts to $105.5 million and includes improvements to the entire campus. If approved, the County Coliseum would see renovations in the HVAC system, roofing improvements, and seating that complies to ADA accessibility. Another proposed renovation is to the Sherman Barn, which is currently a storage unit, which would become a small

music venue.

Proposition E: Construction of County Animal Shelter

The county currently does not have an animal shelter, but the proposed $32.7 million project would build the county’s first near the jail annex on Montana. Services included would be vaccinations, spay and neutering and more. El Pasoans will have the opportunity to vote on each proposition separately, meaning someone can vote for and against seperate props. If all five propositions are approved, the total will amount to approximately $323.8 million; it would increase an owner home valued at $200,000 on the county’s portion of a tax bill by $60 in 2025. Propositions that are approved will begin progress in Spring 2025. Landeros estimates all five projects being done approximately in 2031, a five-to-six-year window.

On the bond propositions, the ballot will say “For” or “Against”. Marking “For” is authorizing the county to start the project, while marking “Against” will not. Typically, early voting gives residents two weeks to vote at any polling center, however, on election day, voters are limited to their designated polling location. Although, this year Landeros said the elections department allowed residents to vote in their nearest polling center on election day, regardless of whether it is their designated polling location, to increase accessibility for voters.

Early voting begins Oct. 21 and runs until Nov. 1 in Texas. Election day is Nov. 5.

Sofia Sierra is the sports editor and may be reached at sdsierra2@miners.utep.edu.

Vice presidential debate brief

the conversation as time to speak had ended.

While the vice presidential debate is a staple of the race to the White House, 2024’s edition was unprecedented, as both VP candidates more than likely had the last word on the debate stage before America decides the 47th president of the United States.

The night’s affair was heavy on policy, as both candidates attempted to not only introduce themselves to voters, but outline their tangible goals for those still hesitant on whether to head to the polls or not.

The discussion on climate change, JD Vance would quickly transition to immigrants into the debate, a topic which Vance would consistently implement throughout the cordial night.

When constituting his argument, Vance lost track of time, leading to the senator’s mic getting cut off when discussing immigration. Walz was also be denied entering

Both candidates found commonality in stabilizing the housing market. Each utilized their Midwestern backgrounds to relate to the audience and make sense of their ideologies.

When arriving at the topic of abortion, Vancer leaned into a profamily approach, and defended the Trump campaign’s stance of leaving the decision up to the states

The Minnesota governor countered by expressing abortion as prowomen, and criticized geography being a deciding factor.

Once reaching the end, the topic of the 2020 election was brought onto the stage.

To crystalize the debate, Walz pounced on Vance’s lack of an answer on whether he believed Trump lost or not.

El Paso County propositions total nearly $325 million dollars. Photo by SalmaPaola Baca/The Prospector

‘Our Migrant Souls’ author Héctor Tobar speaks to El Paso borderland community

Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author Héctor Tobar visited the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) Sept. 20, where he read from his latest book “Our Migrant Souls: A Meditation on Race and the Meanings and Myths of ‘Latino.’” The event, hosted by the Creative Writing Department, was open to the public and took place at Quinn Hall.

Tobar, born in Los Angeles to Guatemalan immigrants, is a professor at the University of California, Irvine, and author of six books. He has also received a Pulitzer Prize for coverage of the 1992 Los Angeles Riots, during his former years as a well-established journalist.

In his book, Tobar explores the complexities of Latino identity, blending his own experiences and student stories with the larger history of migration and race, in an effort to decode both “the meanings and myth” of the multi-layered term Latino.

During his talk, Tobar spoke passionately about the power of young people and the new generation of Latino, Tejano and Chicano voices. “I write about working-class people and the Latino community,” said Tobar. “In this book, I write about the stereotypes that exist

about us, and how we, with our families and our stories, defy those stereotypes.”

For Tobar, the term Latino can often feel too broad, too big to mean anything, as he put it. However, he urged listeners to look deeper.

“My book attempts to decode the secrets and the lies and the beautiful things inside of this term,” Tobar said revealing his belief that the true stories of the Latino community are often hidden beneath the surface. “The media isn’t telling you... if you read my book, you’ll discover some of those secrets.”

For students at UTEP, many of whom come from immigrant or

Mexican American backgrounds, Tobar’s reflections highlighted both the challenges and beauty of their collective identity. Towards the end of his talk, Tobar encouraged audience members to embrace their histories, defy stereotypes, and continue writing their own stories. In many ways, Tobar’s conversation in El Paso echoed the larger themes of his book—a celebration of the nuances within the Latino experience, and a call to listen to the new generation of voices who will continue to shape what that identity means for years to come.

a place and celebrate. They’re all El Paso themed stuff, so I really appreciate what they’re doing here,” said Carlos.

He selected a Lucha Libre mask design in Dallas Cowboys colors, calling it a tribute to his family and Texas roots.

The energy at Sunset Tattoo was electric, with bands like Darling May, Pretty Sour, and Sweet Ventura performing live, making the day feel like a festival. Ralf and his team were committed to tattooing as many people as possible, vowing to continue well into the night.

“We’ve still got two pages of people signed up,” said Ralf.. “We’re going to keep going as long as people want to get tattooed.”

Tim Hernandez, a Professor at the University of Texas at El Paso, and one of the evening clients at Sunset, mentioned that he hopes events like these will become a tradition.

“I just like the culture, you know. I like being around artists and tattoos. It’s like living art,” said Hernandez. And it’s a beautiful community, a lot of cool folks, good people, creative souls, I like that.”

The 915 Tattoo Flash Crawl drew hundreds of El Pasoans to downtown. The event not only showcased the creative talent within the community but highlights the importance of celebrating El Paso’s culture, binational identity, and the lasting contributions of Latino people in the United States.

As Angel Reynosa, John Sunderland, and Ralf Jauregui reflected on the day, it was clear that this event was more than a one-time affair. Each of them expressed hopes to make the Tattoo Crawl an annual tradition that continues to grow and evolve in the years to come.

Rumi Sevilla is a staff reporter for The Prospector and may be reached at rmsevillahe@miners.utep.edu

Rumi Sevilla is a staff reporter for The Prospector and may be reached at rmsevillahe@miners.utep.edu

Hector Tobar reads an excerpt from his book Our Migrant Souls at Quinn Hall, UTEP, on Sept. 20, 2024. The event was followed by a Q&A session with the audience. Photo by Rumi Sevilla/The Prospector

TATTOO from page 3

After Ten Tattoo Owner, Angel Reynosa, in action tattooing for 915 Tattoo Crawl. Photo by Dominique Macias/The Prospector

UTEP School of Pharmacy hosts third annual Roberto Clemente Food Drive

When the name Roberto Clemente is brought up, baseball fans tend to think “world series champion,” “golden glove winner,” or “national league MVP.”

But, when a community hears the exact same name, the first thing that comes to mind is Clemente’s dedication to charity.

The Puerto Rican baseball player grew up in a seven-sibling household, defined by limited supplies and field labor.

After making it to the big leagues, Clemente’s personality was on full display, as he became an active volunteer for Latin American & Caribbean charity. Heartbreakingly, Clemente passed away in a plane crash while on his way to deliver aid for the victims of the Nicaragua earthquake in 1972.

Clemente’s legacy isn’t only enshrined by the National Baseball Hall of Fame, but is also vicariously represented through the 915’s own desire to give back.

“We consider ourselves a community-based school of pharmacy,” said Jose O. Rivera, the dean of UTEP’ School of Pharmacy. “Some other colleges of pharmacy are more based in the academic part of what we do, but we extend to the community.”

This September, the UTEP School of Pharmacy asked El Paso to step up to the plate and make a difference, by throwing the Roberto Clemente food drive.

“I know that there are a significant number of students that could use

a little help here and there. We’re not an affluent community,” said Rivera. “So, we consider that some of our students don’t have a lot of resources. I was a student at one point and remember eating ramen noodles.”

The dean used Clemente’s philanthropy as an inspiration to springboard his own efforts in El Paso and at UTEP as he also hails from the island.

“I saw him play in Puerto Rico when I was a kid,” said Rivera. “There was a game between Los Cangrejeros de Santurce y Los Senadores de San Juan. That was a brief exposure, but (then) I saw him play in the big leagues, the world series, but at the same time, he wanted to give back to the community.”

Clemente’s death put into perspective the value in which the former baseball player turned manager put in community service.

“The plane was overloaded, and the plane crashed, and he (Clemente) disappeared in front of San Juan taking off from the airport,” said Rivera. “But it was for the purpose of helping others, that was very meaningful.”

Rivera was greatly affected by Clemente’s legacy and looks up to the athlete as a testament of what truly matters in life.

“Roberto Clemente stood up as one of the greatest baseball players ever. At the same time, he had a lot of dignity and a lot of caring for others,” said Rios. “As a school we want to continue that attitude.”

Sebastian Perez-Navarro is a staff reporter for The Prospector and can be reached at spereznavarro@miners. utep.edu.

Political rhetoric about immigration takes center stage during general election season

“Eating the Pets”

As political tension between both parties intensifies as we near the upcoming elections, numerous recent speeches and media appearances have continued to emphasize concerns over immigration, particularly regarding individuals arriving at the nation’s southern border.

Former President Donald Trump’s framing of these issues has continued to validate public concerns over border security at the expense of positioning migrants, especially those of which who originate from central and south American countries, in a category of otherness.

Inflaming Americans’ anxieties over immigration and border security has been a defining feature of Trump’s presidency and past campaigns. His speeches have been linked to outbreaks of violence, including the horrific mass shooting in El Paso, Texas in 2019, which killed 23 people, the majority of which were Hispanic.

As Trump’s repeated promise to deport millions of undocumented immigrants continues to draw roars of approval at his rallies, the use of this kind of language continues to work in the party’s favor.

County Attorney’s Office files lawsuit against newly opened ‘Chicas Locas’

Editor’s note: This article is part two of a three-part series surrounding the legal battles of the adult entertainment club formerly known as Jaguars Entertainment Club.

The county attorney’s office filed a lawsuit against RCI Hospitality Holdings Inc., and JAI Dining Services Inc. Sept. 20, one day after a new establishment, ‘Chicas Locas’ opened to the public.

Chicas Locas, located at 11377 Gateway West, the previous location of Jaguars Gold Club, opened Sept. 19 under conditions set forth by a prior settlement agreement.

However, the County Attorney’s Office alleged noncompliance against the business stating that the requirements of the settlement agreement had not been met.

In the previous lawsuit against RCI Holdings Inc., former owners of Jaguars and current owners of Chicas Locas, the city stated that any new business opening must abide by regulations.

The county attorney’s office claimed that the establishment has not provided evidence of the employment of peace officers or a copy of the establishment’s liquor license.

Though the El Paso location has not explicitly advertised the business as a “strip club.” The Chicas Locas brand has been marketing itself as the “No. 1 rated Latin Strip Club.” But the county has now cited eight violations of the city’s fire code as of Sept. 5.

“The State learned through social

media posts that a business called “Chicas Locas” would have a “grand opening” on September 19, 2024, and that such a business would be operating without meeting the conditions set out by this court,” city officials said in the lawsuit.

Theater major Stephani Howard feels uneasy about the opening of Chicas Locas under the same company as Jaguars.

“First of all, it’s crazy that they want to bring it all back and just change the name. But if they didn’t face any issues, if they didn’t face any consequences, which I feel every action should have a consequence, then let’s be real,” said Howard. “They’re just going to do the same thing until they get caught again.”

With the El Paso community divided on whether clubs like these should be allowed to operate, some members believe there is a need for stronger disciplinary action for those who violate the law

“I don’t have like, I guess you could say, a moral stance against these kinds of establishments,” said UTEP theater major Murdock Rojas. “I just believe that when these businesses do break the rules, they need to be prosecuted to set an example for the rest of these businesses.”

According to a lawsuit filed in February, RCI Holdings Inc., former owners of Jaguars, committed several criminal violations which resulted in the permanent closure of the club.

A court hearing for the lawsuit filed against Chicas Locas Bikini Bar is scheduled for Oct. 16. If the court finds evidence of any violation of the injunctive order, the business may forfeit a $5,000 bond to the County Attorney’s Office and will shut down for one year.

Alyda Muela is the web editor and may be reached at armuela2@miners.utep.edu; @alyrose.photos on Instagram.

Earlier this month, during the presidential debate against democratic opponent and crrent vice president, Kamala Harris, Trump mentioned that Haitian immigrants were allegedly “stealing and eating pets” in Springfield, Ohio. While the claims were baseless and immediatly proven false, the sentiment generated significant public reaction.

Quickly, the community of Springfield was met with bomb threats and other forms of disruption. In response, dozens of Ohio State Highway Patrol officers were deployed to safeguard the 18 schools within the Springfield City School District.

Many parents chose to keep their children at home, and at one elementary school, nearly half of the student population of 500 were absent on Tuesday.

“These [Migrants] are stone cold killers. They’ll walk into your kitchen, they’ll cut your throat.”

More recently, during a rally in Michigan, Trump criticized Harris’ handling of border security. “She let our American sons and daughters be raped and murdered at the hands of vicious monsters,” said Trump.

WEB AND COPY EDITOR THE PROSPECTOR ALYDA MUELA B Y

The county attorney’s office filled a lawsuit against “Chicas Locas,” formerly “Jaguars,” a day after its opening. The Prospector Archives

El Paso FBI cracks down on false school shooting threats

Every parent’s top priority is their children’s safety, and every child wants to feel safe while obtaining their education. For many students within the borderland, their safety has been corrupted by numerous threats made to schools around El Paso County.

Schools like Andress, Eastwood, Gadsen and Irvin High School have faced false threats this school year already. Putting an alarming amount of concern to not only students but the entire community.

“Students can’t learn if they’re concerned about threats, if they’re worried about what’s happening around them. When these threats occur, when we have these lockdowns, it’s a big disruption for the class. And we don’t need this in our schools,” said Ysleta Independent School District Police Department

school shooting cases occur across the nation, more concern for the safety of students grows. Regardless of if a threat is factual or not, the matter is taken very seriously and mentally challenges students, staff, faculty and the community.

FBI Special Agent Valerie Venegas shares the importance of social media monitoring and the severity of any possible threat

“I think that a big part of that unfortunately, is because of our experiences on Aug. 3,” said Venegas. “We just don’t want to see something like that again.”

El Paso FBI exceeds in monitor-

ing social media posts and using technology to crack down on where a threat may derive from.

In the means of keeping the community in the loop, El Pasoans share any form of information amongst each other. While citizens spread the word out to ‘protect’ one another, spreading a post that contains a threat can do more harm than good.

“The problem when it is shared multiple times over and over again, the biggest problem becomes that we now can’t see the original post,” said Venegas. “When we’re trying to find who the original poster was, it is so embedded now under

thousands of shares that we can’t see it anymore. That’s why we generally ask people if you see a threat, especially on social media, take a screenshot of that original post and send it to law enforcement.”

It is not just El Paso that is cracking down on the severity of these threats. As the nation continues to see more school shootings such as the Apalachee High School incident in September, law enforcement stresses security and safety more and more each day.

UTEP student Brandon Camacho shared his concerns about safety on the college campus amid all the news on recent threats made

to local grade schools.

“I mean isn’t the community tired of hearing about this? No student should fear their life while being in class,” said Camacho. “I question what I would do if a threat was made here on campus, but it is scary to even think about that.”

Threats do not just occur in the blink of an eye; they derive from preparation and planning. Venegas shared that individuals generally don’t just ‘snap,’ it comes from heavy mental health spaces.

As younger generations live their life on the internet, some might not be able to communicate their emotions sufficiently.

For some, this can grow into a larger burden that becomes too heavy for one to cope, potentially acting on a form of violence. Venegas shared that this information has been conducted not only by the FBI but the Secret Service as well, with this research it allows law enforcement to teach the community about possible red flags.

“With that information, we’re able to go out into the community, train and educate not only parents but educators on letting them know about some of the things to look for,” said Venegas.

No threat is considered a laughing matter. For any individual who witnesses a threat made online, report the post to law enforcement.

Marco Hinojosa

EDITOR THE PROSPECTOR

MARCO HINOJOSA B Y

Area schools have faced false threats this school year already. Photo by SalmaPaola Baca/The Prospector

Photo courtesy Wikipedia Commons

Arts & Culture

The Return of the ‘Dream Monster’

The friendly Dream Monster is making its appearance once again, being spray painted across multiple areas of El Paso. The creative consultant and director of Cool Things Creative and creator of Dream Monster, Matthew Martinez, has brought back his beloved mural of Dream Monster after a six-year hiatus from art.

As a child, Martinez found his passion for art. Since then, his art developed in the streets of Los Angeles, California and El Paso.

“I had a lot of allergies growing up, so when everyone would go outside during class, I would stay in during recess and I would be drawing cartoon characters and people would come in and like them and they’d ask me to give it to them,” said Martinez.

From then on, Martinez started charging his classmates for his drawings, and since then, Martinez has continued to stick with his art.

Martinez spent some of his life in Los Angeles where he worked and

By showcasing local short films and works by Hispanic directors, the festival demonstrates its commitment to uniting the communities of El Paso and Juárez through cinema. “As a border town, we can take advantage of doing two festivals at the same time, which culturally, is very fulfilling to be able to, to mix the oil and the water,”

excelled in his artistry.

“I lived in LA for many years,” said Martinez. “In LA, I was doing really well with my art, and I was excelling with it. I had a large following, I was doing street art, graffiti and stuff like that, but I was also selling a lot of my art in galleries.”

Throughout all this, Martinez was spray painting murals of Dream Monster. After being bored by the limitation of tagging his name on walls, he said he came up with the piece, a representation of everything he has gone through in life.

Martinez created a gallery called the Dream Chasers Club in 2015 where local artists were

said Tejeda. “I’m going to say El Paso’s oil and Juárez water, they’re together, but they don’t necessarily mix so events like this give (us) the opportunity.” Horror lovers got to participate in a Question and Answer segment with Tuesday Knight, who played Kristen Parker in A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master, and watched the movie alongside her.

able to showcase and sell their art. However, after the gallery closed, Martinez said it left a bad taste in his mouth in creating art which led to his six-year hiatus.

Martinez’s wife and mother both would tell him that he would one day get back to art, which he was at first reluctant to but now is persuing it once again.

“I think the Dream Monster really just represents everything I’ve gone through,” said Martinez. “That’s the cultural relevance for it, it might not be exactly what you think of as a cultural art piece, but to me it is, it represents a Hispanic artist.”

After taking his hiatus from art, he

Knight shared her experiences while playing Kristen and shared with the audience that while she has seen the entertainment industry change, some aspects, like 80’s horror, are still appreciated in the industry and among movie goers alike. Knight shared on her social media that she “was having a great time in El Paso and it was great to be back celebrating the 35th an-

The

El Pasoan

guide to the Halloween season

As the fall season begins and Halloween approaches, El Pasoans can celebrate with a slew of different events happening throughout the month of October.

The Solana Pumpkin Patch

The Shoppes at Solana, formerly Sunland Park Mall, will have a pumpkin patch during weekends in October from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturdays and 6 p.m. on Sundays.

Visitors can find the pumpkin patch on the second floor, next to the food court. The events will include pumpkin carving, kids activities, character meet and greets and photo opportunities.

Murder House at the Solana

The haunted house located at The Shoppes at Solana will be open until Oct. 31. General admission is $25, fast passes are $30 and the kids play zone is $12.

KLAQ’s Haunted Houses of Terror

KLAQ’s Haunted Houses of Terror will be open until Oct. 31 and is located at 13900 Montana Ave. Tickets are $25 at the door. On Thursdays, students who show a valid school ID get $5 off.

On Thursdays and Sundays, the event is open from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. and Fridays and Saturdays from 7 p.m. to midnight.

Concordia Cemetery

Zombie Walk

Join Ghosts915, the Paso Del Norte Paranormal Society, for a Zombie Crawl at Concordia Cemetery on Oct. 12 at 3700 E Yandell Dr. Participants are asked to meet at the entrance at 5:30 p.m. with the event starting at 6 p.m.

has brought back Dream Monster for El Pasoans to enjoy.

“It’s really exciting to see that a lot of people who knew about it years ago are excited to see it again and I’m really excited to see people that never knew about it and are equally excited to discover something new.” said Martinez.

Martinez’ newest mural is being showcased at the Del Norte Courts Motel at 4015 Alameda. He also has many more murals across the Sun City.

Avery Escamilla-Wendell is a contributor for The Prospector and may be reached at amescamilla@miners. utep.edu or on Instagram @by_avery_escamilla.

niversary.” The Oculto Film Festival will continue in Juárez from Oct. 11 to Oct. 13 as the festival emphasizes their goal of showcasing the talent that filmmakers in the borderland bring to the horror genre.

Tickets cost $25 per person, with a buy one, get one free offer as a fundraiser for Concordia Cemetery. There will also be a best dressed undead competition awarding cash prizes to winners.

Halloween Movie Night

Soggy Peso will be hosting a Halloween movie night Oct. 15 at 11355 Pellicano. The event starts at 6:30 p.m. with free entrance and a free hotdog. Attendees are asked to bring their own blankets.

Halloween on the Farm

The Licon Dairy and El Paso Zoological Society will be hosting its third annual “Halloween on the Farm” Oct. 19, from noon to 5:30 p.m. at 11951 Glorietta Rd., San Elizario.

see EVENTS on page 10

Ximena Cordero is a staff reporter and may be reached at

Matthew Martinez is the artist behind the dream monster murals. Martinez’s murals can be found at different locations throughout the city. Photo by Iziah Moreno/The Prospector

XIMENA CORDERO B Y

OCULTO from COVER

Attendees take photos with a snake at the Oculto Film Fest Red Carpet. Photo by Victoria Valadez/The Prospector

Spooktacular DIY Halloween costumes to bewitch and delight

Most people love Hal loween as they are so pas sionate about dressing up, the spooky season, and the overall culture of Hallow een. But most students pas sionate about this season struggle to celebrate due to wanting to spend as little money as they can.

But how does lack of money affect Halloween?

Well, Halloween consists of dressing up and going out, which can be expensive as the average cost of a Halloween costume at Spirit Halloween is around $40. Students work hard to earn their money, and to spend it on a costume is difficult for them.

That is why Ricardo Marquez started the tradition of creating his own Do-It-Yourself (DIY) costume, it is a perfect alternative to save money this season.

He mentions how last year he dressed up as a clown and made two costumes from scratch. He first sketched out his ideas in detail and started his work.

Marquez mentions how commercially made costumes can have sizing issues.

“They are usually non-stretch, which means that if it doesn’t fit you, it doesn’t fit you,” said

Marquez. But on the other hand, he mentions that by building his costume he can customize it to his size and make it flattering for himself, whereas costumes in stores may not be flattering to all. Marquez acknowledges the fact that it takes time and effort to create a costume from scratch, however, he says that it is worth it. He adds that it lets him be creative and have fun so he can create a reallife costume based off of his mental image.

Another plus about sewing his look is that he can reuse fabric. Usually, fabrics are affordable in

stores like Michael’s and Walmart, and some supplies are too.

This offers a terrific opportunity for students passionate about Halloween to make their own unique costume. For example, Marquez mentions how he is reusing his last Halloween costume and taking it apart so he can use the fabric for this year’s costume.

This is great for lower income students or families that want to join in on the festivities of Halloween, so not only is it cheaper to build a costume but it can be reused and built to personal standards. So go ahead and do not be

spooked to create a personal horror masterpiece as it can be a better option for students and Halloween lovers who want cheap, reusable and flattering costumes for t his Halloween.

Victoria Valadez is a contributor for The Prospector and can be reached at vavaladez2@miners.utep.edu

The event will include face painting, a magic show, a pumpkin decorating contest, costume contest, rock wall climbing, trick-ortreating, crafts and games for kids and a vendor market. The pumpkin painting contest will have an entree fee, and participants can bring their own paint supplies or buy supplies on site.

Halloween Town: Art Show and Market

The Halloween Town event will take place Oct. 19 from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the El Paso County Coliseum, 4100 E. Paisano. The event includes trick-or-treating, vendors, costume contest, live music, food trucks, scream queen contest and a pumpkin carving contest.

Las Flautistas Spooky Concert

The UTEP Flute Choir will host a free “Las Flautistas” Halloween Concert Oct. 25 at the Fox Fine Arts Recital Hall at 7:30 p.m. and 9 p.m.

Sheriff’s Zombie Run, Trunk or Treat, and Fall Festival

The El Paso Sheriff’s Department will have its Zombie Run Oct. 26 at 6 p.m. at Ascarate Park. Registration for the run will be $35 per person until Oct. 25, the day of registration will be $45 per person. Following the Zombie Run, there will be Trunk or Treat and Fall Festival which will include food, games, live music, a costume contest, trunk decorating and face painting.

DEVIL’S NIGHT Concordia Cemetery Walk

Hosted by Ghosts-915, the Paso Del Norte Paranormal Society, on Oct. 30 from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. at 3700 E. Yandell The walk through the cemetery allows visitors to explore and learn about its history and paranormal activity.

Tickets are $25 per person with a portion of the proceeds being donated to Concordia Cemetery. All purchases are non-refundable and non-transferable. Participants are also encouraged to wear Halloween Costumes.

UTEP Halloween Costume Contest

UTEP students can participate in the annual Halloween costume contest at the Union Plaza on Oct. 31 from noon to 1 p.m. for a chance to win a prize. La Union Maze

Located at 1101 Highway 28, Anthony, NM, La Union Maze, offers a 13 acre-maze and pumpkin patch. The maze is open Fridays from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., Saturdays from 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sundays from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

During Fridays and Saturdays in October, there will be a Haunted Pallet Maze open from dusk to closing time. General admission is required along with an additional $13 to enter the haunted maze. For more information on prices, visit launionmaze.com as prices vary by day and point of purchase. La Union maze is a cashless venue. With a wide array of Halloween events taking place throughout the city, El Pasoans who are seeking thrills, chills, or festive fun have plenty of opportunities to embrace the spooky spirit of the season.

Ricardo Marquez with some sketches of his custom-made costumes. Photo by Victoria Valadez/The Prospector

Ricardo Marquez is showing off the costume sketch of his clown costume from last year. Photo by Victoria Valadez/The Prospector

Two Door Cinema Club makes way to El Paso in sold-out show

Groovy vibes lit up the night as Two Door Cinema Club rocked out on the Plaza Theater stage Sept. 25 for a sold-out show.

Seven years after their first El Paso performance in 2017, this concert now marks their biggest show in El Paso, as a part of their US and Canada tour.

“We’re so happy to be back in El Paso, it’s been a really long time since we played here,” said band member Alex Trimble during the show. “The last time we played (here), it was maybe in the top five gigs we’ve ever played in America.” Petey, a musician who served as the opener for the concert, helped set the tone with his alternative indie songs, getting the crowd pumped up for the main act.

As Two Door Cinema Club came on stage, fans rose from their seats cheering with full support as the band opened with “This Is the Life,” a song from their 2010 debut album that shares a vibrant and youthful experience, which perfectly set the mood for the night. Lights with hues of blue, purple, and yellow pulsated through the room as the show went on. The band played a slew of songs, ranging from “Something Good Can Work” and “Undercover Martyn,” while keeping the energy alive throughout the show.

Longtime fans like Oscar Hernandez got to relive his childhood and teen years throughout the event, he has been a fan of the band for the past 14 years.

“I feel like every single emotion out there but most importantly happiness and peace because I

finally got to see them live,” said Hernandez. “I waited 14 years for this moment; I feel like I was really able relive my entire teenage years now to adulthood tonight and it was just pure perfection.”

As the time approached for theband to say goodbye to El Paso, the crowd came together to sing along to their closing song, “What You Know,” arguably the band’s most well-known song.

For a moment, the band took a step back letting the fans take the

spotlight by inviting the crowd to sing the lyrics to their closing song. This created a powerful and memo rable moment for fans to walk away from the show with.

Iziah Moreno is a staff photographer and may be reached at iamorenogavald@miners.utep.edu

STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER THE PROSPECTOR

IZIAH MORENO B Y

Kevin Baird is the bassist and back up vocalist for Two Door Cinema Club. Photo by Iziah Moreno/The Prospector

Alex Trimble is the lead singer for Two Door Cinema Club. Photo by Iziah Moreno/The Prospector

Sam Halliday is the guitarrist and vocallist for Two Door Cinema Club. Photo by Iziah Moreno/The Prospector

Body horror is back: Don’t watch “The Substance” while eating

Just when one thinks the movie is going to end, the hits keep on coming. Body horror is a very niche genre in horror cinema, and it is back. Director Coralie Fargeat created “The Substance” is a film that is both downright disturbing and a masterpiece.

Fargeat cinematically addresses topics head on like ageism, viewing women from a male gaze—especially in Hollywood and most importantly the theme of a desperate void that becomes greediness. Fargeat goes into the power of body image, body dysmorphia, misogyny and how the goriness and grotesque can really twist the face of these topics.

This movie is not only visually graphic but auditory—very hypersensitive and macro detailed with close ups that manage to be scary in both sound and cinematography. This movie manages to make the audience extremely uncomfortable, uneasy, queasy, squirmy and unable to finish their popcorn.

The overall feel of “The Substance” had the audience in a headlock, unable to look away, like one does not want to miss a scene, but the act of being repulsed gets more intense as each scene progresses. The cinematic theme and symbolism throughout every

act to the very end is intense. The color yellow is very prominent through the main character, Elisabeth Sparkle, who wears a bright yellow coat like her own security blanket of her identity. In her surrounding areas, there happens to be a pop of yellow in every scene, which is admirable to the eye.

For example, the very first scene shows one egg being injected with the substance, which produces another egg yolk. In parallel to the substance’s infomercial, yellow clay is used to describe the diabolical process. Where they emphasize the concept: “you are one.”

What was very profound was the switch scenes, how the power holding these scenes are very much the glue to the storylines between Sparkle, to the “best version of herself,” Sue. After taking the substance, these two characters must switch after every seven days. During the transitions between Sparkle and Sue they have two diverse ways their identities showcase in those specific scenes; where in the cinematic perspective is genius.

Something after the third act was a bit overkill for some, and for others it is their utmost favorite part. Why stop at an additional creation? Only to get through the message to be careful what you wish for and be grateful for what you have now.

Cheer On

El Paso Rhinos!

What was lovely to see was how Fargeat paid homage to other classic horror films like Carrie (1976), The Shining (1980) and The Thing (1982) which were all cinematically in tune and the

correct choice—especially in the third act. This film made people’s bodies ache and hurt, making viewers fix their back posture. Ultimately, people quite literally kept saying over again in

the halls: “What did I just see?” with the most agonizing and entrancing voice.

Dominique

“The Substance,” starring Demi Moore and Margaret Qualley, reintroduces the Body Horror genre and it is back and staying in cinema. Photo by Dominique Macias/The Prospector

Sofia Sierra, editor

Football falls to Sam Houston, remains winless at the Sun Bowl

Coming off a much-needed bye week, the UTEP Miners football team (0-4, C-USA 0-1) faced off against Conference USA (C-USA) opponents Sam Houston Bearkats (4-1, C-USA 1-0).

The Miners started the week at the bottom of the conference only ahead of I-10 rival New Mexico State Aggies (1-4, C-USA 0-2).

UTEP football fan and junior psychology major Christopher Villalobos believes expectations have shifted since the introduction of Head Coach Scotty Walden earlier this year.

“One word to describe (the game) would be anxious,” said Villalobos.

what I’m trying to say is if he were to utilize that run rather than the pass option, he could probably start developing something better.”

Regardless of any shift in support, Walden remains “proud” of his team following the loss to Colorado State two weeks ago.

“It’s the lack of execution we had on offense, but I thought the defense played their hearts out,” said Walden. “But we have to become a consistent football team.”

That consistency was not present, however against Sam Houston as the team suffered from dropped passes, needless penalties and an overall less-than-stellar offensive play.

What kept the Miners afloat early

one yard line.

However, this effort only came after the Bearkats were already up 14-0 with 3:12 left in the first half.

Prior to UTEP finding paydirt, Sam Houston saw success on the ground scoring on two different rushing attempts.

The first attempt came minutes after kickoff thanks to a 39-yard rushing touchdown from Sam Houston graduate student running back Jay Ducker.

Sam Houston’s next score would come off the back of a 23-yard run from freshman running back DJ McKinney.

Aside from some key defensive stops, the Miners offense could not find the endzone.

Sam Houston junior defensive back Caleb Weaver.

The Bearkats would cap off the first half with a 19-yard chip shot field goal from junior kicker Christian Pavon. UTEP would exit the half down 17-7.

Any momentum the Miners had in the first half immediately left the Sun Bowl after Sam Houston’s junior quarterback Hunter Watson launched a 33-yard touchdown pass to junior wideout Qua’Vez Humphries.

This put the Bearkats ahead 24-7 with 13 minutes left in the 3rd quarter.

The final score was 41-21.

UTEP finished with only 323 offensive yards while allowing 517 yards on defense, nearly 300 of those yards were on the ground. McConnell finished 15 of 28 for 204 yards recording both a touchdown and an interception. Jolly ran for 76 yards over 17 carries averaging 4.5 yards per carry. What really set the team back was the number of penalties committed on both sides of the ball.

Walden addressed the issue following Thursday’s game.

In its following position, Sam Houston would add on another touchdown with a 34-yard pass from Watson to junior receiver Micheal Phoenix II placing the Bearkats in a commanding 31-7 lead.

Less than two minutes later, Sam Houston would extend its nearly insurmountable lead to 38-7 following a nearly 60-yard run from McKinney.

UTEP would finally respond with a 52-yard passing touchdown from junior quarterback Cade McConnell to junior tight end Marcus Vinson, chipping at Sam Houston’s lead making the score 38-14 to close out the quarter.

In the final quarter, UTEP fans may have seen a glimmer of hope when the Miners offense drove the field 40 yards in three plays resulting in a rushing touchdown from freshman running back Exell Jolly. This put the score at 38-21.

The Bearkats sealed the game with just over two minutes left in the game with a 42-yard field goal from Pavon.

“There’s three or four plays that stick out my mind right now that got called back for penalties,” said Walden. “The errors we’re making are not minor, they’re major. They’re killing our drives.”

The loss comes days after the university announced that the school would leave Conference USA for a newly vacant slot in the Mountain West Conference.

The Miners have not seen a winning game at home since Sept. 2, 2023, when the Dana Dimel-led team defeated the University of Incarnate Ward 28-14.

UTEP heads on the road once again to face off against the Western Kentucky University Hilltoppers at 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 10 in Bowling Green, Kentucky.

The team’s next home game comes at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 16 at the Sun Bowl as the Miners continue its conference run against the Florida International University Panthers.

Emmanuel Rivas Valenzuela Armendariz is the editorin-chief and may be reached at erivas7@utep.edu: @ rivasemmanuel2 on Instagram.

Amid winless football record, UTEP makes the move to Mountain West

In a sudden turn of events, UTEP accepted Mountain West Conference’s invitation to join, a conference realignment that will impact UTEP athletics for years to come. On Oct. 1, the university announced they will be exiting Conference USA (C-USA), one they had been a part of for nearly 20 years.

Before C-USA, UTEP had been a part of the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) from 1967 to 2004. And for 20 years, C-USA had been UTEP’s home conference, seeing the football eras of head coach Mike Price, Sean Kugler, Dana Dimel and Scotty Walden. However, with Mountain West losing half of its schools to the Pac12 conference, they extended their hand, giving UTEP the opportu-

nity to upgrade. UTEP, now a part of Mountain West, will see competition from schools like Air Force, University of New Mexico, San Jose State, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, University of Nevada, Reno, University of Wyoming and University of Hawaii at Mānoa, which is a football only member.

In comparison to other conferences, Mountain West is a newer

entity, even younger than C-USA. However, losing a handful of schools to Pac-12 including San Diego State, Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State and Utah State, the future of the Mountain West was unclear until UTEP accepted. However, with a new conference comes new competition more specifically for the football program. This season, UTEP has already had a taste of the more advanced

Mountain West competition when playing against Colorado State Sept. 21. While the final score was 21-17, it marked the fourth loss for UTEP, which currently has a winless record in UTEP’s first Waldenera season.

UTEP will formally leave C-USA in Summer 2026. For now, UTEP Athletics is preparing for the new competition that they will see. Sofia

Quarterback Cade McConnell looking for an open reciever during UTEP’s loss to the Sam Houston Bearkats on Oct. 3 at the Sun Bowl Stadium. Photo by Iziah Moreno/The Prospector

UTEP football players players defending possession of the ball. Photo by Jose G. Saldana/The Prospector

Hispanic Heritage Month: Soccer player embraces her culture through sport and her education

CONTRIBUTOR THE PROSPECTOR AVERY ESCAMILLA-WENDELL B Y

Hispanic Heritage Month is special in the border region of El Paso. In honor of the month, UTEP athlete Leslie Gutierrez chooses to celebrate by being surrounded by her family.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the start of Hispanic Heritage Month dates to 1968 and has continued since.

The observation started in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week under President Lyndon Johnson and was expanded by President Ronald Reagan in 1988 to cover a 30-day period starting on Sept. 15 and ending on Oct. 15. It was enacted into law on Aug. 17, 1988, on the approval of Public Law 100-402. according to the United States Census Bureau.

UTEP soccer forward and midfielder Leslie Gutierrez is a senior majoring in criminal justice with a minor in communications.

UTEP volleyball tames Bearkats in doubleheader sweep

Oct. 4 and 5, UTEP volleyball faced off against the Sam Houton Bearkats. With UTEP firing on all cylinders, the Miners went on to pick up both matches while playing at Memorial Gym.

The Miners are still undefeated in conference play, with an overall record of 14-2.

Coming into these games, UTEP had been on a five-game winning streak with a strong open to Conference-USA (C-USA) play, sweeping Florida International University on Sept. 28.

Game One: Tipoff started at 6, but the atmosphere was incredible from

Miner fans support even before the match began.

The Bearkats fought strong early on and made the first set a fierce back and forth match. After the early set one struggle, UTEP would take it, 25-19.

At the beginning of set two, big plays would pull UTEP forward with momentum to win 25-21.

In the final set, the Miners put the game on cruise control. For game one, the leaders for the game were juniors Ema Uskokovic with ten kills and Torrance Lovesee with four aces. Then, nine blocks from junior Kaya Weaver and 19 assists from sophomore Kalia Kohler and ten digs from graduate student

Alyssa

Game

Coming out early on the second day, Sam Houston sought to respond to their loss from the previous night, but

the Miners continued their winning streak. In an entertaining first set, the Miners prevailed 27-25. In the second set, the Miners would let loose with a barrage of blows to lead to a score of 25-12.

The final set would start with another onslaught by UTEP, however, Sam Houston would push all they had left to try to make a miraculous comeback, but the Bearkats would fall short 25-21. For game two against Sam Houston, Uskokovic led the team with 14 kills and four aces. Weaver led with three blocks while junior Mattie Gantt led with assists while Sianez had the most digs.

UTEP volleyball’s next stop will be versus I-10 rival New Mexico State University at Memorial Gym Oct. 8 and 9 both at 6 p.m.

Born and raised in El Paso, Gutierrez frequently crossed into Ciudad Juárez, Mexico. She said she experienced the firsthand struggle of being bullied for her heavy accent, but always knew that she had family to support her.

“It’s important to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month because there’s a lot of factors that come into it and just representing your grandparents, even your own parents, just being able to tell people your roots, just being able to show I’m a Mexican, I’m Hispanic and I’m proud of it,” said Gutierrez. Being proud of one’s heritage is seen throughout this month. Gutierrez incorporates her heritage onto the field.

“On the field, basically giving my all and just being able to be a winner with my teammates and just the excitement to show up for my city and representing my family,” said Gutierrez. Whether it is celebrating with

Cameron Mason is a contributor and may be reached at cmason@miners.utep.edu

cooking food or being with family, taking the time to learn about one’s culture is vital during Hispanic Heritage Month. Gutierrez believes that it is important to celebrate the month with family.

“I celebrate Hispanic Heritage month by just being with my family and cooking Mexican food and just being with each other,” said Gutierrez.

Gutierrez believes that one should be confident in one’s heritage and who they are as a person.

Being proud of her roots, Gutierrez knows how to incorporate it on the field, in her education and within her family.

Hispanic Heritage Month started Sept. 15 and ends Oct. 15. However, Hispanic heritage never ends as it is celebrated throughout the culture of El Paso.

Avery Escamilla-Wendell is a contributor for The Prospector and may be reached at amescamilla@miners. utep.edu; @by_avery_escamilla.

Sianez.

Two:

CONTRIBUTOR THE PROSPECTOR

CAMERON MASON B Y

Setter Kalia Kohler jumps while serving the ball against the Sam Houston Bearkats. Photo by Jose G. Saldana/The Prospector

UTEP volleyball delivered an impressive display on Friday night at the Memorial Club. Photo by Jose G. Saldana/The Prospector

Leslie Gutierrez is a part of UTEP’s soccer team as a foward and a midfielder. Photo by Iziah Moreno/The Prospector

What do UTEP students have to say about the upcoming MLB postseason?

Sliding into October, for many means getting straight into the Halloween season. But, when looking at this month’s lineup there’s only one way to thoroughly enjoy the start of the fall playoff baseball season.

Whether it’s the Red Sox coming back from an 0-3 series deficit, Derek Jeter becoming Mr. November on Halloween night, or the Chicago Cubs breaking the curse of the Billy goat, playoff baseball has engraved itself into the fond memories of those who have their eyes glued onto the field every fall season.

The stigma rings true as many fans put their attention on Major League Baseball (MLB) only after the postseason starts.

But thanks to a crazy finish to the 2024 MLB regular season, many students have an efficient sense of how the playoffs can play out.

When asked if he was excited for the playoffs, freshman Tony Retana said he feels dejected.

“I’m not really (watching because) the Rangers aren’t in it. We’re not defending our title this year,” said Retana. “A lot of injuries plagued us, but it happens to the best.”

The 2023 World Series champion, the Texas Rangers, missed out on this year’s MLB postseason, breaking the hearts of a substantial

amount of baseball fans across El Paso county.

However, loyalty to a team is much more diverse in West, Texas, for example the Philadelphia Phillies or San Diego Padres.

“Phillies, they’re for sure going to take the World Series,” said junior Elijah Munoz. “I feel like the Phillies are going to go all the way.”

Overall, the Phillies came in second in the National League (NL), meaning they get a chance to skip the MLB’s Wild Card round and rest up in time for the NL Division Series.

But for the El Paso Chihuahuas’ big brother and major league affiliate the Padres, a fourth-place finish means they have to go

through the Wild Card round, but in no way do supporters think that’s a sign of weakness for the team.

“I expect them to at least make the NL championship series,” said freshman Matthew Rodriguez. “If they make the championship, most of El Paso will be going crazy.”

Despite the difference in team support, most have one common denominator, a large hope that the big teams lose.

“The (Los Angeles) Dodgers I don’t want them, the (Houston) Astros don’t like them, don’t like (the New York Yankees) either, their fans are just annoying,” said Retana.

Sorry LA, but the 915 isn’t fond of the blue crew.

“I do hope we beat the Dodgers in the playoffs,” said Rodriguez.

Currently it’s the Dodgers and Yankees at number one in their respective leagues, with the Phillies and Guardians trailing right behind them at the second seed.

And while the games have the potential to be a classic, the anticipation really stems from the memories fans have yet to make.

“Just be with my family, be with my dad,” said Munoz. “I love to be around him when we watch baseball.”

October awaits a new chapter in baseball history.

MLB postseason started for the 2024 season and fans across the 915 are eager to see who will make it to the World Series.

Photo by Luis Padilla/The Prospector