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PANORAMA 2007
For Students. By Students. About Students
Campus/ Organizations
Contributing Writers: Frank Calvillo Abelardo Cantu, Jr. Raul Cervantes Heather Cathleen Cox Adriana Garza Victoria C. Guajardo Sarah Jeske Robert Lopez Mary Nichols Angela Padilla Bertha Perez Tracy Petrarca Larry Reyes Arnaldo Rodriguez Victoria Rodriguez Angela Salazar Shawn Tichnell Isaac Vela Contributing Photographers: Lucia Gutierrez Jessica Pedraza Gicela Suarez Edgar Vasquez Caroline Yi
10 14 16 18 20 26 27 28 30 34 36 38 39 40 42 44 46 48 49 52 54 55 56
Community
Special Thanks: Dr. Blandina Cardenas Dr. Salma Ghanem Dr. Dahlia Guerra Tomas Guajardo Brenda Ladd Joe Monaco Dr. Jerry Price Anita Reyes Candi Roxas Dr. Paul Sale Dr. Greg Selber Cover/ Inside cover photo by: Daniel Flores Art directed by: Daniel Flores Co directed by: Chris Ramirez
Setting Sale Science + Engineering + Math= HESTEC 2006 2 Bits, 4 Bits… Stand Up & Holler What is Success? Restroom Roulette: to go or not to go… Beneficial program or corruption? Life making decisions Puentes para los negocios Library rules are watered down Final bow for Theatre’s Grande Dame Hitting Kinks in the road to governor Cool hall 6 bottles a day? Where’s the Unity in Unity Hall? Ciao, fat chow/ Dietary Supplement A family of happy campers “Dead Letter” probes reel life School of Rock A vibrant soul of art Jim Watson: The Man Behind the Building Re-Building the Green & Orange Running toward improvement UTPA sports
64 66 68 70 72 74 76 78 82
Border serves up films, one at a time Tom-Girls Making the Bees Buzz If this tree could talk Shop if Cut From A Different Cloth Revealing an Invisible Town Making Mods Work-Safe If you’re happy it’s last call, you’re probably MADD Building the bridge
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continued.. Creative works: Poems, Essays, Short stories 85 88 90 93 94 96 98 100 102 104 106 108 110 113 114 116 118 120 122 123 128
When I Jog; If I Only have a Gun Some call me a coconut The Single Life …Taken Madonna Does It Too Wish You Were Here The Mexican Maori And it feels like home His “Mexican” mother Math Mak3s M3 Hungry Somebody call me Dr. Love I Never Understandable to not understand You’re Gay Spiritual wake-up call WTF?! Awake again A change in me Drops in the Bucket/ Make Believe/ Yellow A change in Johnny Chango Student artwork Staff pages
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Letter from the Editor: Dear reader, When I was first presented the position as editor in chief of Panorama, I was a little reluctant because I felt I wasn’t qualified enough. However, with the majority of the staff being new, I came to realize it was a learning experience for everyone on board and I couldn’t be happier that I accepted it. The goal for the 2007 Panorama was to make it different. A common misconception of Panorama is that it’s a yearbook. When one thinks of a yearbook, they usually imagine the typical high school kind. While Panorama is a yearbook, in the sense that it’s an annual publication, we wanted to create a magazine that was representative of us. We didn’t want an egostroking publication that people would want to pick up simply to see if their picture or organization was in there. We wanted something that talked about our campus, our community and most importantly, us. After all, Panorama’s motto is, “For Students. By Students. About Students.” And I think this years’ issue shows that. I’d like to thank everyone involved for all their hard work. To the staff, thank you for all your time and dedication. To all contributing writers, thank you. Without you all, the magazine wouldn’t be what it is. I’d also like to give a very big thank you to Panorama’s advisers, Kimberly Selber and Donna Pazdera. Thank you both very much for giving us the creative freedom you did and allowing us make it the way we envisioned it; all while giving us your opinions and support. I hope each of you enjoys the 2007 Panorama. Sincerely,
Trey Serna Editor In Chief
Photo by: Daniel Flores
IDENTITY
by: Ana Ley
n Muniz Photo by: Yolin
Identity.indd 2
T
and
a at age and emigrated from there to America
terms
y father 5 with my mother and two sisters. My
Chicana, Hispanic, Latina or
o proud refused to move with us, as he was too
hrough
childhood
adolescence,
the
even Mexican have felt like empty terms to
to leave his home country behind.
define myself with. This is largely because
tudents I was often teased by wealthier students
that my South Texas home in the Rio Grande
peaking for coming from a poor Spanish-speaking
Valley has an 80 to 90 percent Hispanic
econdhome; these kids were usually second-
population, most of Mexican ancestry. In my
generation Mexican Americans. When I
region, I have gradually realized that self-
would try to compensate for this by only
identification typically pivots around class
similate speaking English and attempting to assimilate
more than nationality.
coming into their culture, I was accused of becoming
Straddling two cultures erects certain
“Americanized” by Spanish-speaking peers; it
barriers for immigrants seeking a better
would often hurt my mother’s feelingss when I
standard of living. I was born in the
refused to speak my native tongue att home.
impoverished Mexican town of Diaz Ordaz
This language barrier, among other things,
423207 10:19:21 PM
growing up Mexican in Tex-Mex America frustrating, made g
people of the border, who are always adjusting to what life
awkward and, above all, culturally confusing. awkwar
has to bring.
quote I stumbled upon while browsing the Internet A q
My aunt, for example, began taking college courses after
suitably captures this community’s mood. Chad Richardson, a
she was fired. My mother began working as a cashier for a
professor of sociology at the University of Texas Pan-American— professo
locally owned chain store, saving herself from long hours of
where I am studying journalism—described the Valley as a
back pain sitting in front of a sewing machine. Suddenly, the
where “rural meets urban, traditional confronts modern, region w
Spanish-speaking community wasn’t just pushing manual
enormous wealth grinds against abject poverty and First World enormo
labor. It was waiting at restaurants, working at offices and
meets TThird. Here, highly diverse groups mix, mesh and mash
even teaching at high schools. Before I knew it, speaking
kaleidoscope of cultural and social combinations.” into a ka
Spanish was becoming a more accepted, even coveted skill.
The
Valley
is
becoming
increasingly
complicated
economically and perceptually. Almost 40 percent of the econom
Ironically, two or three generations ago, students speaking the language had been punished.
region’s residents are below the poverty line, and its four
After observing trends such as this, it is difficult to predict
counties are in the top 100 poorest in the nation. Yet among countie
what recent growth patterns will eventually mean for the
Valley’s humble colonias (unincorporated areas often the Val
people of the Valley. Will the economic benefits of Mexican
without running water or sewers), larger cities such as McAllen,
tourism—augmented by Spring Break revenues at South Padre
Edinburg and Harlingen have in recent years undergone Edinbur
Island and the influx of money from the Winter Texan retiree
a surge of massive growth; McAllen is the fourth fastest-
community that spends five months a year in the area—surpass
growing U.S. metropolitan area, according to the most recent
those of the maquiladora industry, or even agribusiness, which
Census statistics. This population growth is associated with an
had been the regional economy’s foundation for years? In an
economic boom largely attributed to tourism and commerce econom
area where cultural estrangement has often been a part of
coming from Mexican consumers. The spending and often c
daily life for the “too Mexican” and the “too American,” how
sometimes immigration of wealthier Mexican citizens, coupled sometim
will such unforeseen expansion and Mexican infiltration affect
business expansion, has formed a dramatic divide with bu
society and how individuals within it define themselves?
between economic classes in the Valley, creating gap-based betwee attitudes comparable to those of Mexico. social a
Identity is driven by culture as well as economics. Work is a part of play and self-image. As people continue to migrate
Big corporations once flocked to the Valley for low-wage
and form hybrid communities in new lands, they have to
manual labor. My mother and my aunt worked at factories
decide what to take with them and what to leave behind. All
Dickies and Haggar, two of the biggest labor plants in the for Dick
I know is that through the confusion I’ve encountered growing
when I was in elementary school. When manufacturing Valley, w
up, I have considered my Mexican-American background as
started heading overseas, they both shut down by the time I
something that enriches my life and in some ways adds depth
started middle school, along with Fruit of the Loom’s Harlingen
to my personality. But it does not entirely define me.
factory, which closed in 2003. Like other border regions, the
Still, I owe many advantages to growing up bicultural and
Valley iinstead began to set up maquiladoras, which are
bilingual. For one, as an aspiring journalist, I can understand
manufacturing plants on each side of the border. In the twin ma
social issues faced by the Mexican community more naturally
maquiladora system, U.S. factories send partly assembled maquila
than an American reporter might. Another benefit is obviously
clothes to a sister plant in Mexico, where they are finished using
my ability to speak Spanish, a critical skill that is steadily
cheap labor, then shipped back to America. Thousands of
becoming a staple for the American workforce because
minimum wage jobs were lost and the region was faced with
Hispanics constitute America’s largest minority group—14
a high unemployment rate initially, but better opportunities
percent of the total population. The community is also the
eventually came for those laid off. eventua
fastest-growing, and its projected population for 2050 is an
The maquiladoras were part of NAFTA, and after initial
estimated 24 percent of the nation.
losses, tthe Valley benefited and its standard of living was
I cherish my culture, but it’s too easy to label myself through
improved as the service industry began to compensate for the improve
this inheritance. Instead, I consider my values, strengths and
manufacturing jobs. Just as the manufacturing industry loss of m
achievements to be what create my character. The language
partially replaced the area’s first major source of income,
and the culture of my roots are just part of the puzzle
agriculture, another option waited around the corner for the agricult
Identity.indd 3
423207 10:19:28 PM
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Setting Sale
New provost charts course for university’s future
by: Javier Cavazos
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R
98
obert Paul Sale is vice president of Academic Affairs and provost at The
University of Texas-Pan American, a
position which is important yet not widely known. Most people are at a loss for words when asked to
Photos by: Daniel Flores Art directed by: Chris Ramirez
give a job description for a “provost,” and it’s even
one of those words that Webster’s isn’t too clear on either.
What Sale does as provost and vice president is
to lead the academic destiny of the university and help UTPA President, Blandina “Bambi” Cardenas, characterize the school at meetings near and far.
“My job is to be the chief academic officer of
the university and aid Dr. Cardenas in representing UTPA and its students,” said Sale.
He oversees the academic degree programs of
all the colleges and has a hand in all the programs offered at the university.
“I’m really glad that I get to work with such a
tremendous staff here at the university. The other vice presidents and the regents are really wonderful,” said Sale.
A native of Virginia, Sale first heard of Cardenas
and her team at UTPA in April 2006 and decided to take the job when it became available later that year.
“I went to school at Virginia Commonwealth
University and Pan-Am reminds me a lot of my alma mater,” said Sale.
He explained that when he attended Virginia
Commonwealth the school had a high number of first-generation students and was primarily a
commuter campus, much like UTPA’s demographics.
He received his bachelor’s in special education
and focused on developmental disability. His
master’s thesis focused on individuals with emotional problems.
“I got my Ph.D. at the University of Georgia at
Athens and I’ve worked as a schoolteacher and director of a small education program,” said Sale.
Sale married his wife Kim in 2002 and second to
none and his short time here has been productive.
“We need to focus on opening the educational
gate so that students who otherwise wouldn’t be
able to attend college can. The president really has a great vision for us here and she really promotes
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Page 26
has two daughters, Amanda, 20, who is
ground,” said Sale. Fortunately for the two of
mater and Stephanie, a freshman theatre
where they teach exactly what to do in
a psychology major at her father’s alma major also at Virginia Commonwealth.
“The hardest part of the move was being
away from my daughters, but everyone
those positions and he was able to execute the proper maneuvers to ensure a safe flight.
Now he is the pilot of our academic
down here is so incredibly nice and friendly
destiny, and fortunately there aren’t any
said Sale, adding that it was one of the
first goals since he was hired was to listen to
that it has made the move much easier,” easier moves he’s made in his life.
Although he said he loves to fly, and can
pilot his own plane, he has been so busy with
work that he hasn’t been able to go aloft while he’s been in the Valley.
“I’m a fan of Mooney and Cessna air-
planes, but it’s been a while since I’ve
mountains around to worry about. One of his the concerns of the students, faculty and staff.
“The past six or seven months have been
about listening to what ideas and concerns the UTPA community has in regards to our moving forward academically,”said Sale.
He went on to say that the faculty and
flown,” said Sale.
staff have such a passion for advancing
while flying with his daughter in a mountain
them think and facilitate their ideas into
He also recounted a particular time
pass in Colorado and encountered trouble while in the air.
“We hit a really strong downdraft and
were only about 4,000 feet above the
12
them, he had taken a mountain flying course
academic programs that he wanted to help fruition.
Sale plans on building an academic
blueprint and sees the dialogue as a
Continued on page 50
“The past six or seven months have been about listening to what ideas and concerns the UTPA community has in regards to our moving forward academically” -Paul Sale-
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13
14
Efrain “Pedro” Ramirez on stage.
PanoramaIII!.indd 16
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Educator Day, which drew more than 1,000 South Texas teachers, administrators and superintendents to campus, highlighted the role teachers play in ensuring the success of students in these fields. Rio Grande Valley eight graders came to the campus during Leadership Day, in which Gaining Early Awareness of Undergraduate Programs coordinators held workshops to show them the opportunities available to them in science, engineering and mathematics. During Latinas Day, the third day of HESTEC week, speakers addressed the importance of mothers in helping their daughters pursue higher education. Speakers at the week-long event included Camilo Pardo, chief designer for Ford Motor Co.; John Hofmeister, Shell Oil Co. president; and Efren Ramirez, an actor in the college cult favorite “Napoleon Dynamite.” Yvette Padilla, HESTEC program coordinator, thinks
by: Jeanette Perez
students’ attendance is crucial during HESTEC. “They serve as ambassadors. Each student, no matter what their field is, should be involved. They share
A
important roles in developing interest and awareness for the community, so I think it’s really important that they Air Force flight simulator, a meteorite rock from
NASA and astronaut Mike Fossum were just a few attractions found at the fall 2006 Hispanic
Engineering, Science and Technology week (HESTEC.)
participate,” said Padilla. Sylvia Aldape, the event’s head coordinator, believes HESTEC successfully achieves more than just one goal. “Our main objective is to get students into the fields
The weeklong event draws corporations, government
of science, engineering and mathematics because there
agencies and community leaders together to educate
has been a serious decline in the number of American
the Hispanic community about engineering, science,
students, especially Hispanics,” she said. “But the money
math and technology. HESTEC began five years ago when
raised also goes to funding student scholarships.”
Congressman Ruben Hinojosa and The University of Texas-
However, UTPA students aren’t the only ones HESTEC
Pan American teamed up with big businesses in an effort
week caters to. One event held during Community Day
to recruit young Hispanics in the fields.
is the Science and Engineering Symposium, which targets
The event’s popularity is notable. More than 40
the pre-college crowd. Hashim Mahdi, mechanical
organizations sponsored this year’s HESTEC week, and
engineering professor and chair of the symposium, said
45,000 students and community members partook in its
the workshop aims to emphasize the importance of math
activities and workshops.
and science in early education.
Career Expo Day, Educator Day, Leadership Day,
“This will provide preparation for them in case they
Latinas Day and Community Day comprised the week’s
change their mind about a career track in college,” he
busy schedule.
explained. “With the symposium, we want to let them
More than 2,000 students participated in Career Expo Day, which featured more than 70 companies
know that math and science are not impossible. It can be very fun and they can make a career out of it.”
and organizations looking to hire the best of the bunch. Recruiters included Microsoft, Texas Instruments, Boeing, and Lockheed Martin.
PanoramaIII!.indd 17
4/2/07 1:07:26 AM
by: Brenda Rodriguez
N
ot even scorching Valley heat, with highs in the lower 90s, could keep students at the University of Texas-Pan American from Spirit Week’s festivities this year. The weeklong event, sponsored by the university cheerleaders and the Office of Student Development, drew students and staff to tournaments, games and festivities to celebrate Bronc spirit this October. One such activity was Spirit Walk, which invited students and faculty at UTPA to a stroll around the campus. Yvette Villarreal, a freshman pre-med major from McAllen who participated in the walk, said enduring the high temperature was worth it. “I wish I had worn shorts,” she said after finishing four laps. “It’s really hot, but this is one of the fun things to do on campus.” Spirit Week staff members did their part to keep walkers motivated. Kacey Capelo, co-captain for UTPA’s cheerleading squad, contributed by passing out gifts to the walkers. Completing laps meant getting prizes and participants were given items such as bead necklaces, shirts, towels and gift bags. Charlie Caceres, director of campus activities, said that participants are often surprised at how much they end up walking. “Hispanics are at a high risk of diabetes, and doing
16 PanoramaIII!.indd 12
exercise is a good way to combat this,” he said. “Not only do we hope to promote Bronc spirit, we’re also trying to promote health and fitness.” On average, people walk four laps around the
4/2/07 1:03:12 AM
17
university. Each lap is about eight-tenths of a mile, making
they were all muy guapo,” said Vanessa Chavez, a junior
their one-man spirit parade a 3.2-mile march.
journalism major from Weslaco.
Spirit Week also included a spirit rally on Oct. 12,
Members of Hipnotics, a new sort of hip-hop
2006. Justin Timberlake’s “Sexy Back” blared as UTPA
organization, wore matching glittery blue outfits as they
cheerleaders and the Blazer Dance Team danced and
danced around the gym floor. Delta Zeta: Theta Omicron
cheered for the crowd.
sorority members performed what appeared to be a
The festivities led up to Spirit Week’s main event, Midnight
tribute to Jock Jams, dancing to 90s dance hits and two-
Madness. Mother Nature wasn’t a fan of school pride that
stepping to the “Macarena.” Tau Kappa Espsilon fraternity
night because, the tailgate portion was canceled due to
members were not afraid to dress as cheerleaders to work
rain. The Phi Kappa Theta fraternity showed up early to
up the enthusiastic crowd. The real UTPA cheerleaders
cook for Bronc supporters.
laughed as they watched the boys put on a show.
Richard Cerrillo, president of the fraternity, said the group was more than happy to cook for the crowd.
Omega Delta Phi members were dressed all in black and the people went crazy when one guy got on all fours, like
“We want to help set up, cook, invite people in, support
a dog, and another guy sat on him and they formed what
the Bronc basketball team and support the university,”
looked like a bicycle. The guy on the floor was the body of
said Cerrillo, a senior music major.
the bike and the one who sat on him was the pedals. Then
“We were the first ones in and last ones out,” said
a third member was the guy riding the bike.
Armando Morales, a sophomore computer engineering
But the Greeks weren’t the only ones who busted a
major from Mission and member of the fraternity. “They
move. UTPA’s basketball players took the center stage,
called us and we helped out. We are like the supermen
creating near riot-level screams from the crowd.
of the school.”
Midnight Madness started with only a handful of
Midnight Madness was off to a slow start, but a crowd
people because of the rain, but the crowd slowly grew as
of 800 eventually filled the gym for a night of school musical
festivities continued. “Gimme Some Lovin’” by The Spencer
chairs, dancing and cheering.
Davis Group was played throughout the night, and its lyrics
The Student Government Association hosted a dance
seemed to sum up the event’s general mood.
competition, playing music of various genres while
“Been a hard day and nothing went too good. Now
participants strutted their stuff. Kappa Sigma flaunted R&B
I’m gonna relax honey, everybody should. I’m so glad we
dance moves that incited shrieks and cheers from females
made it.”
in the crowd. “I thought all the frat dances were awesome and
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by: Edward Elguezabal
W
hat is success? It really has no consistent definition in a person. The variance of success comes from the simple fact that different people want different things at different points in their life. That said, commonalities can still be noted between people in terms of the factors they consider important in achieving success. Such are having positive family relationships, being loved, self-acceptance, job satisfaction, physical and mental health, financial stability, spiritual contentment, and an overall sense of direction to one’s life. For James W. Aldridge, psychology and anthropology professor at The University of Texas-Pan American, success is the fulfillment of something intended with a desired result. He explained that people’s definition of success is a combination of biology and culture. “The meaning of success changes throughout a person’s life because their psychology changes,” Aldridge said. “There is an ongoing debate on whether this reason is biological or cultural, but in most people, these changes are a combination of both their needs at the time and the cultural ambiance they live around.” Aldridge added that the reason for people changing what success means through life is best explained through Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. As people reach certain needs, whether they are good, bad, for or against the norms of society; they keep working up the ladder to
18 PanoramaIII!.indd 20
reaching higher needs. So, what is success to people at UTPA? The question was posed to a variety of high-profile individuals at the university. The responses confirmed Aldridge’s perceived notion. Sofia Piña, director of the high school equivalency Photo by: Victor Ituarte
program, first thought that success would be achieved
4/2/07 3:30:36 AM
when she got married to a hard-working man, having a couple of children and living in a decent home.
success and being happy where she is at. “Success now is enjoying a Monday as much as a
“Back in 1967, I got my first job at a department store
Friday. It’s looking at my watch at 5:20 p.m. and being
called Wilco in Harlingen,” said Piña. “I did not see myself
surprised. It’s getting a thank you letter from a student that
getting much farther than that after high school because
I had a chance to help. It’s knowing how vital you are to
in the ‘60s, only wild or rich women went to college; and
your team, but knowing that things can flow just as well
with my dad being a U.S. Army veteran, college was almost
if you are not there. And it’s knowing that your family is
something I was not even allowed to think about.”
proud to see you work so much and yet still have the time
Fortunately for Piña, her mother supported her along the way and had a different idea of success. Four years later and against her father’s will, Piña received her Bachelor of Arts in Social Work.
to be close to them and treasure every moment together,” she explained. For a natural-born educator like L. William O’Neil, chair for the department of music, success in defined in
After she got her master’s degree and established a
one word: stability. Being a successful musician carries
stable household with her husband and two children, Piña
the unofficial requirement of living an unstable and rather
began to work at UTPA as a counselor for the high school
adventurous life.
equivalency program.
Of course, O’Neil didn’t think his life would be
Success to her at this point was working in an
surrounded by music. His interest, when he went to college
environment where she could have the freedom to enjoy
at The University of Winnipeg and majored in English, was
a fair pay, her family and an ever-developing career.
to be an English teacher.
“Now that I think back to that time, this is what I always
As a first generation student, O’Neil knew he wanted
wanted and I thought that this was so difficult to achieve,”
to graduate from college to fulfill his family’s expectations,
Piña said. “Having a degree and a job here at UTPA has
but he later found his passion for music and took that as
just made my dreams so achievable to where now success
a career.
is reached by seeing my children succeed and being able to impact students academically at-risk.”
“My clarinet teacher in college told me that if my intentions were to be successful in music, I could not waste
To Oralia Carriaga, student financial aid officer at
any more time in Canada,” O’Neil explained. “There were
UTPA, success came from the moment that she managed
students graduating from conservatories who were a few
to overcome the adversity of learning the English
years younger than me, so my focus was to study with the
language at the age of 13, after emigrating from Mexico
best, and learn from the best, which at the time was in the
and graduating valedictorian of her high school class at
United States.”
Granger High School.
Sure enough, O’Neil, who was now married to an
As a migrant worker, her first job was working in the
American, moved to the U.S. and began to take the
fields raking the weeds off the cotton for 12 hours a day,
field of music to a whole new level. He played for many
seven days a week for five to six months of each year. In
different groups and took lessons from the best instructors
addition, Carriaga, as the oldest female, had to help her
he could find.
mother prepare dinner for the family, wash the dishes and
In the end, O’Neil took a position as a professor at
clean the entire house before she could even start to think
UTPA, where he decided to settle in and build his family.
of doing her school work.
He explained that he loved it here because it was the first
“There were countless nights that I would sleep with tears in my eyes because I wanted a better life for my
time he ever got to feel a sense of stability and comfort in all of his life.
family,” Carriaga said. “I knew the only way of being
“Success in my field cannot be measured by a title or
someone in this country was by going to college, but I
a position,” O’Neil adamantly stated. “I believe a success
couldn’t ask any of my family members for help because
depends on how well you have inspired trust, empowered
they did not know English.”
people, developed original musical ideas, and how fairly
Consequently, Carriaga learned the English language
you do your job.”
and she got her bachelor’s degree in accounting at UTPA in 2001. She has worked at the university since and defines
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20 Restroom1.indd 2
Photos by: Yolin Muniz
4/4/07 12:30:41 AM
Restroom R Roulette: R to go or not to go... no by: Brenda Hernandez by: Trey Serna
T
he only sigh of relief that may be greater
2. Communication of Arts and Sciences Building
than getting through midterms and finals is
It has become quite evident that students have been
the one given after a well needed restroom
doing much more than just attending class in the COAS
break. TThese breaks may never be seen the same after visiting the ran range of restroom facilities that the University of Texas-
Building.
The women’s first floor restrooms accommodate
Pan Am American has to offer. While some can be found in a clean, ttidy state; there are a few that will surely make you feel
get in and out quickly. However, that has made it a target for
nauseated. nausea There’s no need to get worked up over which restrooms
traces of their restroom experience. It’s not uncommon to find
are fit fo for use; we have done all the running around for you. Sit back, re relax and discover which facilities are great for use and
lingering around. It’s actually a familiar sight, accompanied
which o ones you’ll want to avoid.
with unpleasant surprises waiting to be flushed down with their
eight roomy stalls which makes it easier for gals on the run to heedless students who insist on leaving behind toilet paper the trash cans filled to the brim or to find empty toilet paper rolls by wads of used toilet paper pilled up behind the toilet along kin. Whether non-flushers didn’t learn the lesson by age 5 or are avid believers of reducing water consumption, they play
I thi think I’ll wait!
a huge role in giving these bathrooms the runner-up position. 1. Social and Behavioral Sciences Building
Bottom 3 for girls
When it comes to making use of the bathrooms in the SBSC Building, there are two questions that should be raised:
3. Fine A Arts Building Take a step back to the ‘90s and into the set of “Saved
1. Can I afford another tardy? 2. Do I really have to go that
By the Bell.” Coming in at number three are the ridiculously out-dated bathrooms located on the second floor of the Fine out-dat
The facilities in this building have rightfully earned the
bad? number one position as UTPA’s nastiest restrooms. With only
Arts Buil Building. UTPA may not offer an art history major but it sure does p present a glimpse of it to anyone who takes a trip to
three stalls in the ladies’ room, it’s not difficult to see why the
these fa facilities. An out of place locker room along with granny armchairs in the waiting room are only part of the reason they armcha
the first day of classes. Aside from having to hold it in, students
landed on the bottom three. Rusty trash bins, ancient sink fixtures and grimy toilet seats helped ensure these restroom
restroom session due to the gaps between the stall doors.
facilities a spot on our not-so-favorite list.
who ungrudgingly covers the gaps with toilet paper streams!
Restroom1.indd 3
waiting room gets jam-packed faster than Parking Lot B on are left with no choice but to relinquish the right to a private Privacy lovers, don’t fret, there’s always a considerate student
4/4/07 12:31:21 AM
Hand me the paper, this may take a while. Top 3 for girls 3. Student Services Building Besides being one of the newest buildings and the home to UTPA’s presidential office, the Student Services Building houses some of the most welcoming facilities on campus. Warm colored wallpaper and tile serve as a foundation for a pleasant restroom break. Clean floors, dry counter tops and potpourri baskets, along with a small fold-out counter in each stall are the main selling points. The only downside is that there are only two stalls on each floor. But hey, when there’s six floors to choose from, one really can’t complain. 2. Student Union When 17,000 students have access to a common area, game room and food court with only two restrooms per gender available, it would only be expected that the facilities be found in an awful condition. In this case, however, no matter how many students visit the Student Union, it prevails as our number two on the clean list. The females’ first floor restroom is comprised of 13 spacious stalls completely free of litter and always stocked on toilet paper. This is definitely the restroom to visit for all types of accommodations. For the ladies that possess germ phobias, there are six sinks with stocked soap dispensers built into the counter just inches away. For those with children, there are changing tables on both floors that don’t get in the way of anyone else. And, finally, for the majority of the ladies who touch up during their breaks, there are large mirrors accompanied by great lighting for any primping needed to be done. 1. International Trade & Technology Building The IT2 building includes conference rooms that are equipped with cameras, projection system monitors and are wired for interactive video. It is an impressive technology advancement that doesn’t exclude the restroom facilities found here. Tiling of different shades of pink and ‘country garden’ scented air fresheners add a feminine touch as well a great scent to walk into. Aside from a beautiful interior and a wonderful scent is the added technology that separates these bathrooms from all others: sensor faucets! An effortless way of staying germ free is facilitated through the built-in soap dispensers that are hardly ever two drops away from full. Yes, the thought of moving in personal belongings in here may cross some minds, but such are the temptations that result from stepping into the restroom of all restrooms at UTPA.
22 Restroom2.indd 2
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23 Do I really have to go THAT bad? Bottom 3 for guys 3. Fine A Arts Center Remember Sam Beckett, the fictional character of the time time-traveling show, “Quantum Leap?” Walking into the men’s rrestroom on the first floor of the Fine Arts Center is like taking a leap and wanting to leap right out.
Is it really that hard? Some say it’s because they don’t like touching the germ filled handle but haven’t they ever heard of using their feet?! It was hard to see the floor tile around the sink area because most of the toilet paper and paper towels can be found on the floor. The trashcans only serve a purpose for a while because they’re usually overflowing. Perhaps it was just a busy day in the restroom and the janitor had yet to come by to empty out the trash bins.
It takes walking through two doors to get into the main restroom restroom. After walking through the first one, you’re in a little
1. Library
room st standing in front of the second door, which leads you into the bathroom. Why the first door is there…who knows?!
goodness sake, stay out of the men’s restroom on the first floor
The ba bathroom has two main areas. “The Urinal Room,” provide provides eight urinals, but, it lacks the small wooden walls to create boundaries. Everyone’s business is clearly visible unless you submerge sub yourself into the urinal to hide, but, no one would want w to do that after taking a look at them. The oldschool sinks are on the opposite side. Looking at the rusted, dirty kn knobs, one would have to wash their hands again after touchin touching them. Walking in a little further and one will suddenly see their twin sta staring back at them. Actually, it’s just a big ole mirror mounte mounted on the wall. Then, to your left are the stalls. They
Go and do your homework and read a book, but for of the library. Walking in, no matter how clean, the smell of urine pierces your senses. There are three urinals, which are usually filled with urine, hence the urine smell, or toilet paper or gum or whatever else guys decide they can throw in there. There are two bathroom stalls which are usually filled with a nice (not really) combination of feces and the yellow stuff. On what seems like a positive note, the restroom is very well-lit, which is a bad thing here, considering the mess in and around the toilets. Not to mention the sea of toilet paper and paper towels covering the floor.
seem semi-decent se but are poorly lit. There’s an eerie feeling in that area a because it’s rather secluded and dark and not to mention mention, not very clean. Perhaps the uneasy feelings come about after reading stories about a strange encounters of random “grabs” in that restroom restroom. If you can hold it in, that just might be better. 2. Busin Business Administration This restroom has out-dated light tiles on the floor. There’s four sinks and four stalls; plenty for a men’s restroom. There are a eight urinals against the walls, which offers a smooth flow of traffic to go in and out. A downside to this restroom is the not very spacious stalls. They T look old-fashioned and dirty. Like all the other restroom restrooms, it seems the business guys don’t know how to flush.
Restroom2.indd 3
4/4/07 12:14:13 AM
I Wish My Roommate Kept Our Restroom This Clean Top 3 for guys 3. The Science Building The men’s restroom on the first floor of the science building isn’t too shabby. The entrance is a little dark, but the rest of the restroom is well-lit with fluorescent lighting. The whole feel of the restroom is a little gloomy, but that’s probably due to the great contrast of the bright-yellow lobby walls compared to the much more subtle grey floor and wall tiles in the restroom. Sure there’s a little paper on the floor here and there, but, nothing major. And of course, just like every other damn restroom, someone forget to flush their business, but at least there business was IN the toilet instead of smeared on the outside of it or on a piece of toilet paper lying next to the toilet. 2. The Education Complex The newer section of the Education Building offers some nice first floor men’s restrooms. A noticeable difference when walking into this brightly lit restroom are the loud colored tiles screaming at you. The wall is filled with pattern tiles of white, blue, yellow and red. The general feel of this restroom is pleasant. One is sure to experience a happy pee or poopie session here. The air scent is pleasing to the nostrils, unless of course someone is letting out that spicy Mexican food they had during lunch. Not only does the modern feel of this restroom give it a cleaner feeling, but, it also seems the janitorial services are executed here a little more frequently than other facilities. And for you daddies out there, there’s a baby changing station conveniently located on the wall. 1. The Student Services Building The Executive Tower is located in the Student Services Building and is the offi ce home of our president, Blandina Cardenas and the provost, Paul Sale. With that said, it’s no doubt some of the finest restrooms are found here. On the second floor, right next to the Career Placement Services, are quite possibly the best and most private restrooms on campus. Pretty much anytime of day when nature calls, these restrooms can be found in tip-top condition. There’s only one stall and one urinal, but this is OK since the flow of traffic of faculty, staff and students is minimal in these areas as compared to other parts of campus. The stall is very spacious and always stocked with toilet paper. It’s rare to ever find the toilet dirty or filled with someone else’s doo-doo. The soap dispensers are full and the toilet paper and paper towels are nicely stocked. Perhaps the best thing about these restrooms is the privacy. It’s rare you’ll be disturbed when needing to stay a while in the restroom.
24 Restroom3.indd 2
4/4/07 12:45:56 AM
25
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4/4/07 12:46:51 AM
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Page 2
Beneficial program or corruption?
T
by: Nayelly S. J. Barrios
he University of Texas-Pan American
was awarded a $2.5 million government grant
to
establish
an
Intelligence
Community Center of Academic Excellence.
claiming that this program will corrupt the university.
“It is not an academic program. It is a sur-
The university’s first federal grant will establish this
reptitious program made to misinform students
program to branch into high schools, as well as
ing intelligence organizations,” said Samuel
center on campus and will provide an outreach
speakers on the UTPA campus, and a study abroad program.
“The purpose of this program is to prepare
UTPA students for the global economy in such a way and at an advanced level that gives them a leg up,” said Van Reidhead, Dean of the
College of Social and Behavioral Sciences and
and manipulate them into engaging and joinFreeman, an associate professor of the College
of Social and Behavioral Sciences. “The history of the CIA and other intelligence agencies that attempted to penetrate our colleges and universities makes it very clear that this will not be a benign program.”
Freeman gave a presentation in late
head investigator for the grant.
November 2006 sponsored by Students for
its three basic goals are to teach advanced
ter on campus.
The CAE is open to all interested majors and
interdisciplinary research, team problem solving and team communication.
“We’re putting a real international emphasis
on the scholarly discourse of the center because
Peace opposing the establishment of the cen“I would say that, for the most part, it’s a
good thing but we should still be cautious,” said Adrian Torralba, a senior political science major.
Junior management major, Ricardo Rios Jr.,
we sit here on an international border,” said
says the CAE is keeping up to what was said
The CAE has funded the International Center
“In time many students will take advantage
Reidhead.
with $50,000 for a four week study abroad program with Ocean University in China.
“This is free of charge. The program’s expens-
es are paid for qualified students, except for their
would be done.
of the opportunities this program is offering,”
said Rios. “This of course, will help put UTPA on the map as a prospering university.”
Besides adding UTPA to the list of few univer-
passports and visas,” said Marilu Salazar, Office
sities in the state with this type of program, the
The CAE will also partner with the South Texas
Excellence are to educate students on the
of International Programs director.
26
various campus organizations and faculty
Independent School District to educate students in summer camps and expose them to UTPA.
“We’re hoping that’s going to be an on
campus summer camp,” said Reidhead.
The students will be under no obligation to
sign any kind of contracts or undertake any specific studies while attending the camp or afterward.
However, the CAE has faced opposition by
overall goals of the Center for Academic
global economy while teaching them effective leadership skills.
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Page 57
Life making decisions
C
by: Abelardo Cantu Jr.
ynthia McWilliams’ office walls can give any-
one a taste of what surrealism art is about.
Coming from an old steel town in Pennsylvania,
27
atic cases: cases of senile dementia, where the person who signs a living will goes through significant changes, such that they are in a serious debilitating state later in life.
“Then it becomes a question of whether the living will is
and being the first of her generation to go to college, she
binding on them. The question is significant because if we
Having lived here for two and half years, and having
continuity criteria of identity through time, it means if what
has proved that with perseverance, anything is possible.
five job offers before deciding to move, McWilliams chose
the Rio Grande Valley because she likes what the area has to offer.
“The Valley is an entity all in
buy into it, which most people do, a psychological
makes you the same person you were yesterday, or the day before, and the same person you will be 20 years from
now,” she said. “It’s got to do with consciousness, memories, personality and things along those
itself. It’s in Texas but it’s not like
lines. If you were to end up with
the rest of Texas, as far as I can
senile dementia, and all those fac-
tell. It’s near Mexico but it’s not
tors are obliterated, then [would]
Mexico. It’s a very unique area; I
this document set the standard that
like the palm trees and I like the
you set many years ago—-would it
fact that I can swim all 12 months
still be binding on this person in the
out of the year,” she said.
future, if in a specific way they are
More importantly, she said she
not the same person?”
chose UTPA because she liked the
Competency
direction it was going.
plays
a
significant role in these types of
“Some universities are stag-
cases.
nant or are getting smaller which
“We are talking about people
is problematic, but the Valley just
who are not competent because if
going to keep growing.”
leave it up to them,” she says.
keeps growing; this university is
they were, then we would just
McWilliams isn’t the type of
McWilliams says that compe-
professor that goes through the
tency is a very relative issue
very passionate about her work
competent enough to make deci-
teaching process ordinarily. She’s and students.
“Philosophy does things on a
different level than other aca-
because whether or not a person is Photo by: Lucia Gutierrez
sion X, depends on what decision X is.
“For example, I might let my 7-
demic disciplines,” she said. “Philosophy lets me do science;
year-old choose what she wants for dinner and what she
Aside from teaching and getting accustomed to life in
time she goes to bed. Some things she can choose and
science is my first love.”
the Valley, she’s also been busy writing and getting her book, “Deciding Death” published. In it, she tackles some of the challenges in our healthcare system.
“It’s meant to be a book about decision making for
healthcare professionals. It’s about certain challenges in
wants to wear, but I am not going to let her choose what some things she can’t. However, she’s not competent enough to make health care decisions because she’s 7.”
She says she’s very fond of symbolic logic but that pro-
fessional ethics is her specialty.
“I like those in particular because I don’t care if you’re
end of life healthcare, in particular; things such as living wills
work at McDonalds, or if you’re a Nobel Prize winning scien-
final chapter is about coming up with a method to make
Knowing that her work is full of valuable information, she
and Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) orders,” she explained. “The decisions in these problematic cases.
”McWilliams says it is centered around three problem
tist, you will face ethical dilemmas in your profession.”
says in an almost jokingly voice, “Philosophers don’t write books to make money, trust me.”
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Page 36
Puentes para
A
los negocios
by: Erick I. Quintero
mbition fuels the Hispanic Business Student Association (HBSA), a new on-campus organization that aims to promote educational and
professional exposure.
Despite being in its infancy, the organization is already
working toward affiliation with the National Hispanic Business Association, an organization that shares the same vision as HBSA on a national level.
Marie Mora, the organization’s adviser and associate
professor of economics and finance at the University of Texas-Pan American, says joining the organization is a valuable opportunity for business majors.
“The goal is to promote educational and learning
opportunities, as well as networking opportunities for Hispanic and non-Hispanic students here at UTPA,” said Mora.
Mora says that the idea of starting off with an
organization like this is to bring a variety of contacts to UTPA. Over time students will be able to go meet people in the business world and hopefully keep many contacts through fellow students.
For organizations, affiliation with a higher entity of
common interest often opens the doors to a wealth of information, something Mora is quite aware of. She sees the opportunity to become affiliated with NHBA as a way for members to gain crucial employmen information.
“NHBA provides many contacts and networking
28
“...it gives students an opportunity to make a difference...” - Marie Mora
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Page 37
opportunities and holds an annual job mar-
business majors just like you, make friends with
are
ferent stories about your jobs or different
ket conference where resume workshops held
and
potential
employers
conduct job interviews,” said Mora.
students who share interests. You might share difteachers and be able to make friends with
Bringing together the common interest in
people that definitely have something in com-
the goal of the organization. Business
time to do community service, be able to meet
all facets of business in students centralizes branches into different majors such as: economics, finance, marketing, manage-
ment and international business, just to
name a few. While most other on campus
mon with you,” said Bazan. “You’ll have lots of future employers, hopefully become a successful student
leader
and
opportunities.”
lots
of
networking
In building educational opportunities the
business organizations focus on specific
organization plans to organize fundraisers in
business as a whole and welcomes all majors
ness students.
aspects of business, HBSA zooms in on who share business as an interest.
“A lot of them are just in marketing or
finance, but there is not really an organiza-
tion that pulls together a wide variety of [business] students,” Mora said
“We have
business students with business majors and
order to set up scholarship funds to benefit busi-
It will focus on bringing key
players of the business game in, with the hope that they will share vast ideas and knowledgeable business information.
Of the growing pains, Mora remains
optimistic about the organization.
“I think since it’s new it has no where to go
within each major you have something very
but up,” she said.
economics,
the organization being for Hispanic students.
specific
like
marketing,
international
management, business.
This
organization will let them essentially meet
Mora also cleared up the misconception of “It’s not closed to only Hispanic students, its
people from other disciplines that all have
people who are interested in issues related to
Mora believes the interaction between
Bazan echoed Mora in regard to the
the common interest of business.”
Hispanics and to Hispanic business.”
the different majors should yield positive
society’s members.
with other business individuals of different
Hispanic community and to develop student
“At the moment, since it’s a new
said. “We work for the development of Hispanic
results, as business professionals often deal backgrounds in the business world.
organization, it gives students an opportuni-
ty to make a difference in terms of setting the foundations for future students. In
addition, as the organization continues to [grow] there will be more networking oppor-
tunities and hopefully information that will be
useful for students, not just to finish their class-
es,” Mora said. “[We also hope they learn] about what job opportunities are out there, perhaps learning tips in terms of interviewing and putting together their resumes.”
Friendships are often the result of net-
working. Yuridia Bazan, president of HBSA, says the organization will spark familiarity among students.
“You get to meet people that might be
“As a whole we are trying to help out the
leaders within the business organizations,” Bazan business student leaders but HBSA is open to all majors.”
29
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Page 4
Library rules are watered down
W
hen people think of a library, they
immediately think of books, studying and of course, school. A lot of them see it as a
place to work rather than a place to hang out or relax. Although the library offers use of its public
terminals to students trying to kill boredom and cubicles for privacy, it just seems like something is missing; or was missing for that matter.
The library never had a drink policy. Well, techni-
cally they did but it allowed no drinks of any kind inside the library with the exception of the lobby and lounge. However, that would not last for long.
While the consumption of food is still prohibited,
drinks are a different story. As of Nov. 10, 2006, the
University of Texas-Pan American library enacted a
new drink policy that would allow students to have drinks inside the library. The amendment allows
drinks “provided they are kept in a container that can be sealed with a tight-fitting lid.” This includes
anything that’s shatterproof such as a mug, sports bottle, or regular plastic bottles with screw caps.
But why the change all of a sudden? Library
interim assistant director of technical resources, Rick Peralez, said it was time for something new.
“We realized that in past years libraries had
been undergoing a lot of changes. One of the changes is they’ve been relaxing their drink policy,”
said Peralez. “One of the other things that also
helped into consideration with amending our drink
policy was that our current provost, Dr. Paul Sale, came from an institution where the library’s policy was also more relaxed in terms of food and drink.”
Peralez said that Sale suggested that the library
further look into that considering the continuing growth and change at the university.
“It’s part of a trend; part of a thing that’s hap-
pening in our area,” Peralez said. “There was a very
recent article in The Wall Street Journal that talks
about the phases of libraries and how they change so much and all the different elements that are
By: Jeanette Perez
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Page 5
31 5
Photos by: Daniel Flores
Chris Rami Ramirez Art directed by: Chris Drez
chris2
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7:03 PM
Page 8
taking place. We try to keep up with what is going on out there, what the trends are and how we can better accommodate our students.”
These changes would bring forth more comfort,
more relaxation and a drink/
looking for something that isn’t open or doesn’t spill,” he said.
Paper and plastic foam are the enemy. Plastic is
a library’s best friend.
“We try to stay away from paper-type cups and
student-friendly environment.
Styrofoam; something that isn’t going to be very pro-
can do to help accommodate their needs as far as
confusion.”
“This will help students a lot. It’s another thing we
making them more comfortable and more relaxed
tective. We set parameters to eliminate any kind of However, no limitations exist as to what types of
when they come to see us,” said Peralez. “Rather
drinks
hours, but you can’t have anything to drink.’ It’s an
quenched. Alcohol, of course, is off-limits. But,
than saying, ‘You can sit here and study for three
effort to try to help accommodate students as things move along and as we pursue our ideas in other avenues to make things better for our students.”
But nothing comes without its limitations. While
drinks are allowed throughout the library, several
areas are still off-limits. These areas include the Special Collections, Archives and the library classrooms on the first floor. Why you may ask?
“Reasoning for the different areas is because we
have
a
lot
material
that
is
irreplaceable so we restricted it to areas where, for example, a keyboard gets damaged, we can
replace it. A regular book we can replace,”
can
be
brought
in.
Soda,
coffee, water-whatever your thirst needs to be
there’s no need to remind anyone of that, right? So, what do some of the students have to say about it? Senior accounting major, Minne Tirado, finds her-
self at the library around the end of the semester during finals and finds the very thought of the policy refreshing.
“Before when I use to carry a soda or water around
with me, they’d tell me to put it under my desk. I have been told several times, ‘Put your drink away.
Put your drink away,’ and I’m not even drinking it,” she said. “At least now I don’t have to hide it or gulp it down before I go in.”
Junior communication major, Yasmin Gonzales,
explained Peralez. “So the thinking behind it was
finds both good and bad in such a policy.
items that are very hard to replace, should they get
are careless. They don’t know how to take care of
Limitations don’t end with the areas allowed but
trash. Pan-Am is trying to keep it clean and
that we try to restrict [drinks] in areas where we have damaged.”
the type of containers that can be brought in as well. According to the policy, only certain containers can be used.
“We looked at what was out there. We tried to
be very reasonable and accommodating because
we know there’s a lot of containers. We’re mainly
“I think it’s a good thing because a lot of people
[their drinks]. They just leave their containers and some people don’t even care,” pouted the avid library-goer.
Gonzales finds herself at the library over three
times a week every morning and has no complaint continued on page 50
“the good will that we get trying to accommodate the students overshadows replacing a keyboard or book.” - Rick Peralez
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33
Final bow for Theatre’s Grande Dame by: Chevy Rodriguez
arian
Frances
Monta,
a
communication/theatre professor at the University of Texas-Pan American, will be calling 2007 her last year at the university. Monta has been part of the university since 1971 and after a 36-year run will be retiring. Through her time here she has inspired many. Brian Warren, a colleague of Monta, says he went into theater because of her influence. Warren describes Monta as very influential, tough, and helpful. “She
is
very
motivational,
servitude-
leadership, tough, demanding, and generous. She finds out what a student’s goal is and is willing to work with them,” he said. It’s clear that at the end of the spring semester, her absence will be felt. “She is a triple threat in that she has a range of flexibility on the stage and behind the scenes. It would take two to three people to do her job,” said Warren. “She even worked the box office and taught classes.” Dr. Marian Monta sat down with the Panorama for an interview about her career at the university. Q. How did you end up at UTPA? A. I came in 1971. I was working at a university near Houston and hated it. I thought Texas was a terrible place. I came for the interview just to see the Valley and fell in love with it. I always say I came for the weekend and didn’t leave.
34 monta.indd 2
Q. What is the legacy that you would like to leave behind? A. I hope to leave a strong program with good scholarship support and a commitment from the university to help it stay strong.
Q. What was the key to your longevity? A. Labor of love; the faculty and friends putting all their commitment into a production— in some cases 5,000 man-hours and enjoying what they were doing. Q. What were your favorite productions? A. I do not have any favorite productions. That’s like asking a mother which one is her favorite child. Theater is my religion and when you love what you do it doesn’t feel like work. Q. What are your plans after UTPA? A. I want more time to travel and see places I have missed. I will be around, as I have been given an emeritus status, graduate committee, special projects and freer to do other projects. Q. What do you consider to be your greatest accomplishment? A. The level of national recognition we achieved. We were the first theater-televisionfilm program in the country to be nationally accredited. Q. If there was one thing that you wanted students to remember when embarking on their careers here at UTPA or elsewhere; what would be the key advice that they should remember? And what should they be willing to do when they encounter “Valley Syndrome?” A. Find a job and a career that you love enough to want to go work everyday. It doesn’t matter what it pays. Money can’t make up for professional frustration. When you get out in the world, you’ll probably find that you are better than you thought you were and better than a lot of the competition. Try. Failure isn’t the worst thing—-failing to try is worse than failing.
4/2/07 1:48:06 AM
35 “The theatre is my church.”
Courtesy of Student Publications 2007 Photography Workshop
- Marian Monta
monta.indd 3
4/2/07 1:48:12 AM
HITTING KINKS IN THE ROAD
TO GOVERNOR
by: Edward Elguezabal
ideology and timely humor, which has always been the base of his career, were also implemented in his campaign. The campaign included animated advertisements with eyebrow-raising slogans like “Hoe Hard Could It Be?,” “My Governor is a Jewish Cowboy,” and “He Ain’t Kinky, He’s My Governor.” I D E N T I F I C A T I O N Friedman has always been known for satire and humor.
As a
singer, songwriter, novelist and now politician,
Friedman
has
always
kept a consistent satirical nature. He was born in Chicago, Illinois to the name of Richard S. Friedman. The Kinky nickname was given to him in reference to his curly hair. Kinky has lived the latter part of his life at a Texas ranch in Median, Texas. He is a 1962 graduate of Austin High School and has a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from the University of Texas at Austin, where he graduated with honors and formed his first band
W
called King Arthur and the Carrots. hen
Kinky
Friedman
ing the two major Texas political parties as
Friedman went into the music
announced on June 22 ,
“political party hacks” and a lost election
business for a few years until the
2006 that he was officially
as Justice of the Peace, Friedman made
1980s, where he began to take
on the ballot for the governor’s race,
good use of his talents to launch his “Why
on a career as a writer. Among his
many people knew this race would have
the hell not?” campaign.
books, are a series of crime thrillers
a unique twist. Being no a
political series
published
kinky.indd 2
a of in
The campaign sparked interest Jewish
cowboy
experience,
but
satirical
articles
Texas
Monthly
with
among college students and
with
other groups of peo le whose vote
he
attribut
wasunderrepresented
in
the
many
where “Rambam,” his recurring fictional character solves crimes in New York City.
last
In 1986, he ran for Justice of
governor’s race. His thought-provoking
the Peace in Kerrville, Texas, where
4/2/07 1:47:18 AM
37 he lost by a landslide. It was until 2006
troops on the border is needed
when Friedman returned to the political
as
stages.
approval
G
O
V
E
R
N
O
R
’
S
RACE
an
alternative
the
Senate’s
by saying that teachers deserve better
a
700-mile
pay for what they do. He also said that
border wall. He also supports gay-
the No Child Left Behind Act is only
marriage,
of
hurting the quality of education students
marijuana, and the use of bio-fuel.
receive and is a failure that “we can only
to
construct
the
decriminalization
Friedman Friedman faced many obstacles
to
received
support
fix if we leave one governor behind.”
from public figures such as Don Imus
He believes the Texas Assessment
through this political race. He was up
from
performers
of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS), which
against
Mojo Nixon and Willie Nelson, former
is a primary and secondary education
Perry, Democrat Chris Bell, Independent
Minnesota
Ventura
standardized test used in Texas to assess
Carole Keeton Strayhorn and other write
and New York Post columnist Liz Smith.
student attainment of math, English,
Republican
incumbent
Rick
MSNBC
TV,
music
governor
Jesse
science, reading, and social science
in candidates. His candidacy came with high regard and many expectations.
C A M P A I G N | A P P E R A N C E
He raised more funds than the
skills required under Texas education standards,
is
also
a
restriction
to
democratic candidate and received
His campaign appearances included
educational advancement. He argues
support from many groups of people such
a visit to The University of Texas-Pan
that he “ain’t ever met a teacher,
as country-music fans and animal lovers,
American. The visit took place at the
a parent or students who wants to keep
thus creating a network of supporters
Student Union Theater on Oct. 10,
the TAKS.”
through his profiles on MySpace and
2006, the same day that democratic
“It’s expensive, it costs a lot to write
Facebook, where he still continues to get
candidate Chris Bell formally asked
it and distribute it, and it hurts certain
support from the younger age groups.
Friedman to step down as candidate
ethnic groups,” Friedman added. “If
and
Thomas
Among his ideologies are higher
join
him
in
defeating
Rick
Edison
and
Albert
Einstein
pay for education and getting a better
Perry(R). It was also the last day Texas
were to take the exam, they’d fail.”
handle with the No Child Left Behind
residents could register to vote for this
Gloria Alaniz, an English graduate
Act regulations. According to Wikipedia,
well-contended
the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001
Martin De La Cruz, president of The Kinky
the best candidate to ever run for
(Public Law 107-110), commonly known
Club at UTPA made arrangements to
office. She explained that he goes
as NCLB, is a United States federal law
have the candidate at the university
on to show that citizens have more
that reauthorizes a number of federal
months in advance. De La Cruz worked
options
programs that aim to improve the
along with his officers and members to
“Finally, we have a candidate that
performance
and
generate support from the university.
will stand up to the federal government
increasing
“We worked very hard to get Kinky to
on education,” said Alaniz. “Education
accountability
come speak to the college community
is an institution that should be fully
districts
and to let them know that there is more
controlled by the state and not the
schools, as well as providing parents
than
donkeys,”
federal government. Rick Perry has let
more
De
“Kinky
is
the Bush administration do whatever
attend.
here show everyone that there is a
they want with our education system.”
Friedman also feels that Texas is not ready
better alternative, and though I do
to have the death penalty, and that the
encourage
mobilization of more National Guard
Kinky, the main idea here is to vote.”
secondary the for
of
U.S.’s
schools
standards states,
schools
kinky.indd 3
Friedman took the stand on education
their
by
of
school
flexibility
in
primary
choosing
children
will
and which
just La
gubernatorial
elephants
Cruz
and
explained.
everyone
to
race.
vote
student,
believes
that
are
that
more
Friedman
is
appealing.
for continued on page 51
4/2/07 1:47:29 AM
38 5:23 PM
Page 40
Dorm residents find reasons to stay in
by: Brenda Hernandez
4/2/07
Cool hall
chris2
S
Photos by: Daniel Flores
ome students, like 23-year-old Carlos A.
Unity Hall consists of 396 rooms divided into
Pinta, a freshman from La Feria, did not
two residential wings with a common area in
school. In fall 2006, after four years in the Navy, he
while the females occupy the north. Each room,
attend college immediately- after high
began taking courses at the University of Texas-Pan
American and became part of the first group to reside in Unity Hall.
“I decided to move into the new dorms to get
the whole freshman experience and really get to meet new people,” Pinta said.
“At the other
between. The males reside in the south wing with the exception of 12 single rooms, is shared by two residents.
In addition to moveable and stackable
furniture, rooms are furnished with a microwave and small refrigerator.
“It’s so cool to have a place to put our own
dorms, you don’t get to know your roommates as
snacks,” said 18-year-old Belinda Cruz, a
August 2006 marked the completion of UTPA’s
The common area that links the two wings
much as you do here.”
freshman from Harlingen.
The 108,000
has become the spot for residents to mingle
feeling, but it is a medium for interaction among its
ping-pong tables, to the spacious TV lounge,
newest living complex: Unity Hall.
square foot hall does not only give off a homey residents.
during
their
leisure
time.
From
pool
and
students have an ample opportunity to interact
Continued to page 50
6 W
bottles a day?
39 six bottles of water a day.indd 1
e’ve all heard about the many attributes of water: it helps prevent dehydration, makes healing easier, and promotes healthier skin. But there are also those who believe that drinking water also helps a person’s vocal quality. But does it? That is what the Communication Disorders department at The University of Texas-Pan American is trying to find out. Kara Ayala, Ph.D, is heading up a research project that is trying to find out whether drinking water hydrates vocal cords. “Right before my junior recital I stopped drinking sodas and started drinking nothing but water. I wanted my voice to sound good,” said Arianna Moreno, a senior vocal performance major. When asked if she believed that drinking water would actually help her voice sound better on the day of her performance she said, “Of course it will. That’s what drinking water is supposed to do. It’s common sense, isn’t it?” There have been previous studies on hydration and vocal cords but none have actually been done on humans, according to Ayala. “What we want to know is whether there is a correlation between dehydration and the quality of voice,” said Ayala. The participants in the study are going to be vocal majors in the music department of the College of Arts and Humanities. “We want to test our hypothesis on those who are vocally trained against those who are not vocally trained,” Ayala said. Rick Davis, a vocal coach in the
by: Victoria Rodgriguez
music department, is going to be monitoring the effects of dehydration on the students. Davis is going to take part in the project because it is necessary to have someone who is a trained vocal coach to observe the changes, if any, in the quality of the students’ voices. The researchers are planning to dehydrate the students for about 8-12 hours in a given day. “We don’t plan to completely dehydrate the students to the point of endangering their health,” said Ayala. “We just want them to feel really, really thirsty.” The researchers plan on having a physician on call just in case a student’s health is affected. Kaleena Cruz, a 23-year-old communication disorders major, is the research assistant on the project. It is her job to gather all background on the project, including past studies that have been conducted on dogs and sheep. “It’s really hard to find research on this because no one has done what we are attempting to do,” Cruz said. It is also part of Cruz’s duties to help prepare a proposal to be sent for approval to the Institutional Review Board (IRB). Once they get approval from the IRB, they are going to be well on their way to getting their project on the road. Ayala is hoping to get it all going by the fall semester, and she is already looking toward more research projects on the horizon. “After this one I am hoping to do one on the effects of imposed hydration on voice quality.”
Voice majors, run for the hills!
4/2/07 1:48:36 AM
chris2
4/3/07
10:49 PM
Page 10
WHERE’S
THE UNITY
IN UNITY HALL? by: Brenda Rodriguez
The University of Texas-Pan American’s
new dormitory is called Unity Hall, but it doesn’t seem to live up to its name.
It’s labeled as a co-ed complex, though
the design of women in one building and men in
the other only displays the separation of sexes.
This left many residents questioning why Unity Hall is divided when it’s advertised as a co-ed dorm.
Richard Zambrano is a resident assistant at Unity
Hall and says that many residents are complaining about the division.
“You hear a lot of complaints [such as] you’re in
college already; you’re already grown up,” said
Zambrano, a sophomore kinesiology major from La Feria. “Students here interact with each other downstairs and
it bothers them knowing that they can’t walk over [to the other building] freely…it’s like supervised I guess.”
Unity Hall requires residents to sign in when they want
Currently,
to visit a different section. In addition, a resident who has
Heritage is accommo-
a guest of the opposite gender overnight must have
dating
their guest sleep in the building of their gender. They will be allowed to sleep in a vacant dorm room. With all of this, many residents find the rules difficult to live under.
“Many students have said that they want to move
out already,” said Zambrano.
Victoria Garcia, a freshman theater major from
Edinburg, says that she and her friends are thinking about moving out next semester.
to
student
co-ed
housing. It’s a co-ed dorm that’s $1,000
less than Unity Hall. It even has the east wing, with two co-ed floors.
Garcia had high hopes of experiencing the dorm
lifestyle. She said she had friends who previously lived in a co-ed dorm and had told her how much fun it was.
“I came over [to Unity Hall] with the illusion it was
“As much as we love the new building and how
going to be co-ed. To find out that we’re in totally sepa-
co-ed is making us decide to move to Heritage next
see the guys next door [was very disappointing],” said
they were built and everything, the fact that they’re not semester,” said Garcia.
UTPA has two other dorms across the street from Unity
Hall which is Troxel Hall and Heritage Hall. According to
rate buildings and that we even have to sign in just to go
Garcia. “We might as well live at Heritage Hall [where we can] pay less to live the same way.”
Heritage Hall seems to take less of the “parental”
Chad Martin, director of Residence Life, Troxel Hall
approach and allow their residents a little more freedom.
used to house special programs and campus such as
Cheryl Munguia, a resident assistant at Heritage Hall. “It’s
Hall will re-open in fall 2007 as an academic/student
can’t see this guy or that guy. We don’t baby
closed in fall 2006 for renovations and has now been Leadershape and GEAR Up Leadership Camp. Troxel organization community housing.
“They have to take responsibility for themselves,” said
not like we take care of them [and tell them] you them.”
chris2
4/3/07
10:56 PM
41
Page 12
Photo by:
Danie l Flor es
Fresnos, is the first in her family to live
away from home while attending col-
lege.
“To be living on campus at first for a
lot of families in the Valley is a big step,”
said Cepeda.
“I really think that if you live on campus
you’re
different
getting
level
of
a
the
whole
college
experience that I think enhances just coming
to Pan Am versus living at home,” said Cepeda.
“It’s all about choices.” While many may argue that they pre-
fer the co-ed lifestyle, some admit it has its advan-
Martin understands that residents want to
live in a co-ed environment but says that Unity Hall
is in its “infant stage.” However, as the university
tages and disadvantages.
grows he says he will be able to make changes.
was known as Women’s Hall, which was exclusive to
students committing themselves and agree on that type
because all the girls knew one another and were
cially working, then we’ll take a look at doing it,” said
Munguia used to work at Heritage Hall when it
women only, and said there was a sense of comfort
able to walk around and feel comfortable because they wouldn’t have to worry about male occupants. Still, Munguia sees an advantage to living in a
“I’m not against co-ed. When I hear more and more
of arrangement and I can fill a building and keep it finan-
Martin. “But up to this point, there hasn’t been enough desire from enough individuals to make that happen.”
Martin agrees with students who feel living in a co-ed
co-ed dorm.
dorm is beneficial.
act and it’s [just a bigger] variety,” she said.
ter behaved and better run then the straight male or
“It’s a lot more fun because guys and girls interAli Cepeda, a residential assistant at Heritage
Hall, says that living in a co-ed dorm isn’t “such a big deal.”
“It’s not like you’re missing out on anything; it’s
just a different environment. You can still make friends
because it’s not like living in co-ed is the only way to go. It’s a personal choice,” said Cepeda.
Cepeda, a sophomore biology major from Los
“In some form of co-ed or another, the dorms are bet-
female designated buildings,” he said.
“Guys are more respectful, more proper and they
kind of watch their actions around the girls; [they even] clean rooms a little more.”
Martin says he would like to see an increase in the
number of students interested in living at the dorms; this
way he can build more dorms that will accommodate to different types of people and living styles.
chris2
4/3/07
6:32 PM
Page 39
Dietary Supplement
T
by: Javier Cavazos
he university may see changes in their food
options around campus thanks to Sodexho, the international company that serves our,
along with many other schools’ food ser vices.
Since the university has grown, Elson A. Rivera, gen-
eral manager of Sodexho’ s campus services office, and his staff have started scouting campus for a new a la carte
Ciao, (fat) chow by: Shawn Tichnell
t’s
I
lunchtime.
Your
stomach
says
“Whopper” but your conscience says “salad.” Eying the options on and off
shop similar to the one already in the library.
campus is a little like playing Restaurant Roulette:
north end, so we’ve been focusing there, and w e’re think -
calorie trap. What to do?
W “ e’ve notic ed that there is nothing on the campus’
ing of adding new options to campus dining,” Rivera said.
The new options range from a deal to provide a
Nathan’ s Hot Dog stand to ice cream carts, pretzels and even sushi.
O “ ur main problem ha s been finding space and all
these things take money and need administrative support
one misstep and you could end up in a fat and The University of Texas-Pan American’s Border
Health Office now has something for on and off-
campus diners. It is called the “Guide to Healthy Eating,” and, believe it or not, there are a few options that are suitable for a healthy lifestyle.
The reality is that some foods are very high in
and need to turn a profit.”
calories and fat content, and they really offer no
restaurants, it can be hard to figure out the best choice to
the unhealthiest items because of the taste, but
While University Drive does have a huge selection of
make when visiting them.
I“ think w e know what the healthiest choices can be
when we go eat at fast-food chains,” said Da vid Salazar, associate director of the UTPA Border Health Office. “I t
doesn’ t take a huge leap; we can take little steps like
drinking water instead of a soda with your meal or staying away from high-fructose corn syrup.”
The Border Health Office has prepared a G “ uide to
Healthy Eating” for sta ff and faculty, and an online version available for students.
nutritional benefits. Many people choose to eat they do not realize what they are putting into their body.
For example, the Triple Whopper with
cheese from Burger King has 1,230 calories and 82
grams of fat, which exceeds the healthy fat consumption of an entire day. And that is
without the king size fries which are 600 calories and 33
grams of fat, according to the guide.
W “ e worked with dietetic students and had them
find the three healthiest choices, and the three least healthiest at all the restaurants on University Drive,” said
Salazar.“W e want to provide some guidelines for faculty
and staff so they know what they should eat and what is best for them when they are eating around campus.”
Salazar added that the rates of obesity and diabetes in
the valley are higher than the national average and believes we need to change our lifestyles in general.
W “ e don’ t get any physical activity, we eat foods that
are bad for us. We need to eat more vegetables and fruits and not fries,” Salazar said.
Good advice to chew on when choosing your next
meal at school.
Photo by: Daniel Flores
chris2
4/2/07
5:17 PM
Page 39
Fortunately, not very many Triple Whoppers are
menu choices. The vegetarian sandwich, the
Burger King on University Drive. Cantu said that 600
sandwich average around 320 calories and 17
sold, according to Adriana Cantu, manager of people each day are served at that Burger King
location, and the most popular item on the menu is the Whopper combo, which, according to the
Guide, totals approximately 1,548 calories with the
turkey breast sandwich and the chicken salad grams of fat each. As a side, Panini offers potato
chips or steamed rice, each consisting of 158 calories and 10 grams of fat.
Octavio Quezada, manager of Panini deli, has
king size fries and a Coke.
a lot of pride for being employed at one of the
the Box, Whataburger, Taco Bell and Long John
about 300 people daily said, “99 percent of what
Restaurants like McDonalds, Wendy’s, Jack in
Silver’s have equally unhealthy meal items on their menus.
Rene Rangel, a UTPA student who eats
smarter restaurant choices. Quezada, who serves
we serve daily is fresh sandwiches and salads for people who want to eat healthier.”
Even some of the fast food restaurants that are
Wendy’s about twice a week, usually orders two
considered very unhealthy have some smarter
because altogether they cost under $4. “I don’t
Whopper, Jr. with no mayonnaise from Burger King
99-cent chicken sandwiches and a bowl of chili
really care that it is unhealthy, because it is cheap and I like it,” said Rangel.
Even Schlotsky’s Deli, where sandwiches and
soups are served and people may believe they
are getting a healthy meal, has its unhealthy items. The Deluxe Original Sandwich on its own carries 1,030 calories and 53 grams of fat. Add
choices on their menus. For example, the
has only 290 calories and 12 grams of fat. Wendy’s Chicken Temptation Ultimate Grill has 360 calories, but only 7 grams of fat and 31 grams of protein.
The Bacon Ranch salad with grilled chicken from McDonalds only has 260 calories and nine grams of fat, but 33 grams of protein.
The problem of obesity and its related health
chips to that meal and it would equal the fat
issues can only improve if consumers improve their
Pizza is another unhealthy food choice close
edge, UTPA students and faculty and other
consumption of an entire day.
to UTPA. Two slices of pepperoni pizza from Peter
Piper Pizza equal 600 calories and 20 grams of fat;
and not very many people stop eating at two slices of pizza. Even worse, one slice of deep dish pepperoni and sausage pizza at Domino’s is 415 calories and 22 grams of fat- one slice!
While “Restaurant Row” is full of fast food,
almost every place on University Drive has its own lighter items on the menu. Subway is known for its menu that promotes healthy eating and, while some sandwiches are healthier than others, almost all Subway choices are
healthier than those already discussed. A 6-inch ham sandwich at Subway contains 290 calories, only 5 grams of fat and 18 grams of protein. The grilled chicken breast salad at
Subway has only 140 calo-
ries, 3 grams of fat, but 19 grams of protein.
Panini deli also offers smart
food choices. Equipped with a bit more knowl-
patrons of Restaurant Row can become better consumers with healthier diets.
43
A family of happy campers by: Brenda Rodriguez
S
ome might say family values and
would take her camping.
traditions seem to be non-existent
in a modern, materialistic society,
they started taking us since we were babies,
but siblings Patrick and Elizabeth Kennedy
so we just picked it up from there,” said Pat-
brought their love for the outdoors and orga-
rick Kennedy.
nized a new club at The University of Texas-
Pan American called the Outdoor Expedition
breathe some fresh air, the siblings organized
Club.
the club and had their first campout at South
“My mother ended up loving it and
Without missing an opportunity to
“The original idea came about be-
Padre Island in September 2006. The orga-
tween myself and my friend Joey Alaniz,
nization has since gone paint balling and
who’s a former student of UTPA, but I didn’t
hopes to do much more in its future such as
really decide to do it. Elizabeth helped to en-
community service projects around the Val-
courage me to make the club,” said Patrick
ley, camping trips, certifying of members in
Kennedy, the club’s president.
Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and
butterfly watching in the spring.
Along with the help of Irasema Silva,
the club’s vice president, the outdoor fun
Not to be fooled by the butterfly watch,
kicked off on June 20, 2006.
this club also has some extreme activities in
The Kennedy’s appreciation for the
the works such as mountain biking, scuba
outdoors originated early on in their lives
diving and sky-diving. The club is open to any
through their family’s camping vacations.
ideas their 40 official members may have.
They encourage anyone to join and even
“We’ve just been camping ever since
we were born. I was in the womb when I went
enjoy and encourage family recruitment.
“We want to be like a family. If some-
one wants to bring their family along, bring them,” said Patrick Kennedy.
Patrick Kennedy’s sister is a member
of the club and his girlfriend, Tabitha Arce, is the club’s historian.
“He suckered me into some club
called the Adventure Crew. That’s how it all started,” said Arce, reflecting on the Boy Scout club her boyfriend asked her to be a part of in 2003. to Garner State Park,” said Patrick Kennedy.
family trails.indd 2
He said that his father, Bruce Ken-
Arce says she didn’t like it at first but grew to appreciate the outdoors later on.
nedy, was an advocate camper and his
mother, Velma Kennedy, was a “big city girl.”
there. It’s cold and you wear the same damn
However, once they were married his father
shirt a couple days and it’s cool because
“People don’t care when you’re out
4/3/07 10:42:09 PM
45 that’s all you got,” said Arce.
posed to look like the ones from ‘Wizard of
Oz,’” said Elizabeth Kennedy.
This isn’t your normal “Kumbaya, lets
sit around the camp fire and sing” type of
family. The Kennedy’s are notorious for play-
vice that appeared to be two red eyes and
ing practical jokes on each other out in the
make monkey sounds and they would place
wilderness. Both siblings agree that the, “Red-
it in the woods at night.
eye flying monkeys” is their family’s legend-
ary prank.
union and Boy Scout trip. We’ve had par-
ents pack up and leave because they were
“I remember when I was little, I stayed
Their father and uncle created a de-
“We’ve done it at every family re-
awake in my sleeping bag crying, thinking
so scared,” said Patrick Kennedy.
that the flying red-eye monkeys were going
to come flying down,” said Elizabeth Kenne-
so easily might seem a bit ridiculous, but Eliz-
dy.
abeth Kennedy feels otherwise.
According to Patrick Kennedy, the
To some, the idea of getting scared
“It sounds silly but when you go
camping and you’re there by the camp fire and start telling ghost stories and stuff, it starts messing with your mind,” she said.
The Outdoor Expedition Club has
had some obstacles to overcome, such as funding. Last semester, the club hadn’t been pledged as a group, therefore, they couldn’t fundraise. But as of Dec. 10, 2006, the organization was officially recognized. Though, most of the equipment they use still belongs to the Kennedy’s.
“Camping and the outdoors is
details of his family’s tradition spawn from
for everyone to experience. Life’s
San Antonio, Texas. He said that there are
an adventure and one day
some scientific research facilities that test
you’re going to look back
monkeys and that their Uncle Andy told
and you’re going to wish
them that some of the mutated apes with
you spent more time out-
red eyes had escaped and were now roam-
side,” said Patrick Kennedy.
ing around Garner State Park, the same park
“Because one day we’ll be
they were camping at. The story continues
stuck in a bed or something
with an elaborate schema where the mon-
and that will be the end. So
keys swoop down and grab kids and small
go out there and experience
animals and eat them.
life to the fullest.”
family trails.indd 3
“To paint a better picture they’re sup-
Photos courtesy of The Outdoor Expeditions Club
4/3/07 10:42:44 PM
T
he University of Texas-Pan American’s production company, Reel-to-Red (R2R), was busy last summer filming a short-film and its results have proven to be rewarding. Chelse Benham, director of R2R, teamed up with
Sonia Del Angel, director of special programs with TRiO at UTPA’s local chapter, to create a moving film which would help create awareness and a discourse on serious teen issues. TRiO is an educational outreach program designed to motivate and support students from disadvantaged backgrounds, which include six special outreach and support programs, according to the U.S. Department of Education, A regional premiere for TRiO of the film, “Dead Letter,” took place at Horseshoe Bay in Austin, Texas. “They were only going to show the film once,” said Benham. “But it was so well received; they made a second showing later that day.” The film stars Andrea Fuentes, a former staff member of R2R who left the program in January. It takes us on a short journey of Abigail’s (Fuentes’) life. The film begins by showing the viewer a collage of pictures, all depicting the life of a happy, athletic, all-American girl; accompanied by the sounds of an acoustic song. The happenings and recollections of Abigail’s life are told through her as she sits and writes a letter. It’s made apparent from the start that something is wrong, as we see Abigail exit a bathroom stall after throwing up.
PanoramaIII!.indd 34
4/2/07 11:18:06 PM
47 by: Trey Serna
Abilities is in a relationship with Joey, played by Joey Arvizu. She’s looking forward to attending college and
there was talk of it going to TRiO’s national conference in Chicago with possible bigger plans in store for it.
making a life for herself, but Joey sees otherwise. He is
“They’re going to try to talk to Oprah’s foundation
an over-controlling, verbally, emotionally and physically
about ‘Dead Letter’ and possibly receive funding for more
abusive boyfriend. To make matters worse, Abigail is hiding
projects from Oprah’s foundations to create more things
a pivotal secret from her friends, boyfriend and family.
like this.”
“One of my favorite things was portraying a character
As for ‘Dead Letter’s,’ future, it’s far from dead. A
that was so different from me. Also, hoping that in
comic book is now in the works, which is a little out of order
someway this may open someone’s eyes to change a
in the movie business.
current situation they may be in, in regards to the situations touched by the movie,” said Fuentes. “It just opened my eyes to the pressures one feels when in a relationship they feel stuck in.”
“Usually, from what I know, movies are made from comic books, not the other way around.” Benham says they plan to create a whole package of “Dead Letter,” with a film, comic book, educational kit
For a local college film, one would imagine poor quality
and facilitator’s guide and a Web site all based around
with a mediocre storyline and acting, but that’s not the
the film. This will help in having it become a teaching tool
case with “Dead Letter.” The film tackles issues of teenage
for educational institutions.
pregnancy, relationship abuse, drug abuse, drinking and driving, and much more.
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Perhaps one of the most disturbing and most powerful
������������ ����������� ��������
scenes is when all hell breaks loose at a party between Abigail and Joey. The acting and fighting were so well choreographed; it seemed all-too-real.
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Shooting some of the more intense scenes was even hair-raising to some of the cast members on set.
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“The scene that sent chills down my spine was the bedroom scene. Let’s just say that scene is going to make the audience really angry,” said Javeria Farooqi, a former
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R2R staff member who left in November 2006. The film is followed by real life testimonials of people
For more information on “Dead Letter” and Reel-to-
affected by these issues and inmates serving jail time for
Red Productions, visit http://www.myspace.com/reel2red
various offenses.
or call 956-316-7996.
Benham says that after the film’s Austin, Texas premiere,
PanoramaIII!.indd 35
4/2/07 11:18:09 PM
chris2
4/3/07
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School of Rock
by: Trey Serna
t’s 8 a.m. and you’re sitting in your chemistry class
found under MUS 6331 and MARK 6371.
“It’s cross-listed in the system because it’s offered as a
learning about the removal of nitrogen from the
I
business marketing course or a music course,” said Minor.
urea cycle. Yeah, it’s enough to make anyone want to
music major, you need to have a certain number of music
But now, The University of Texas-Pan American has
confusion, MUS 6331 and MARK 6371 are the same course.
body through the bio-chemical pathways of the
vomit and want to go back home and go to sleep.
added two new and much more interesting classes to its
“The advantage of it being like this is because if you’re a credited hours on your transcript or vise versa.” So to avoid The undergraduate course, Survey of the Music
list: Survey of the Music Business and Music Business
Business can be found on ASSIST under MARK 4379.
being offered, they’ve already intrigued many.
they’re rare and unheard of in the Valley.
to me saying, ‘Wow, what a great idea. I can’t believe
anywhere else down here. I think the only other place in
ness administration professor at UTPA.”
of Texas at Arlington,” said Minor.
Strategy. Though it’s the first semester these courses are “After the first day of class, students were coming up
we’re doing a class like this’,” said Michael Minor, a busiPerhaps the success of shows such as “American
Classes like these surprised many mainly because “As far as I know, these kinds of courses aren’t offered
Texas is at the University of North Texas and at the University Olivia McCord, a senior marketing major, found out
Idol,” have sparked interest in many about the music
about the Survey of the Music Business course from a flyer
ing and sometimes imagine themselves in
“It was really catchy to the eye and I read it and got
industry. It’s apparent that people find this field fascinatthe spotlight as a “rock star.” Others are
merely captivated by the behind the scene aspect.
“Many are just interested in the
music business. I mean, we may not be
part of the Rolling Stones or something,
but people like to be involved in some
way.”
Minor says many areas of the music
industry are covered in these courses,
topics from: management, working at venues, record labels and much more.
Survey of the Music Business is
48
an undergraduate course and is
she saw posted up.
really excited about it,” said McCord.
Though the class hasn’t been exactly what McCord
expected, she still enjoys it and finds the course very useful.
“It started out pretty interesting. I thought the class was
going to be more about the marketing aspect of the
music business but it’s more about the nuts and bolts of it,” she said. “We’re learning about copyright laws, lawsuits and general things about the music business.
Rudy Gonzalez Jr., a sophomore pre-law major, finds
interest in classes such as these, even though they don’t
fall under his law career path. Gonzalez has been playing in his band, Astrophix, for six years and has been playing guitar for seven years.
“Those classes really would interest me. Being that I
open to all majors. There are no
have no real knowledge of how the industry works, these
ment is that students be at
a career in music,” said Gonzalez.
pre-requisites. The only require-
least a junior.
classes would be beneficiary to anyone looking to further While there are enough students enrolled this semester
Business
in order for the university to offer this course again, it’s still
is only open to graduate students. In
courses have proved to be a hit with students and are
However,
Music
Strategy is a graduate course and
the UTPA ASSIST system, this course is
unclear if they will be offered next fall or spring. But, the pretty much guaranteed to be back.
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Page 56
A vibrant soul of art
W
hen someone thinks of a university
president, one would imagine a very serious, business minded, over-con-
servative person who demands perfection. While
by: Trey Serna
49
it’s no doubt that the president of The University of Texas-Pan American has her business side; many
would be surprised to find that underneath the suits and public appearances, is a woman with a passion for art.
Her home is filled with paintings on almost every
wall. It’s an artistic journey with her cousin, as she describes, that covers her walls; since a lot of the paintings are her cousin’s work.
“What you see in the pieces is that journey that
all artists take; they’re developing their language.”
A common theme in a lot of the paintings she
has is a free expression of women and about women emerging into their own.
“I really like art that says something or provokes
curiosity. When I stand in front of a piece of art, I
want it to invoke curiosity in me. I want to ask myself
what the artist was thinking or feeling or what their purpose was in painting.”
The president has a still-life portrait in her dining
room area that she painted herself. That painting has great meaning to her.
“The reason it means so much to me is because
when I came back from Mexico City, I had my two paintings and my parents thought I was the great-
est painter since Michelangelo,” she said. “They invited their friends over to see my paintings and there was one moment where I was in the
bedroom and my dad was standing in front of this painting with his best friend and said, ‘Look at that!
There isn’t anything that she can’t do!’ So, it was kind of a moment in my life.”
This is who we are
Photos by Daniel Flores
In fall 2006, the university adopted a new logo. The logo is made up of four squares, which represent the four compass points: north, south, east and west. The directions symbolize people coming from all different directions, which in-hand shows diversity. “I think first of all the logo has permanence. It’s a design that you can use for many years without it losing its appeal,” said UTPA President, Blandina Cardenas. The star, located in the center, represents several things, including it being the symbol of Texas. The colors of green and white are the school’s original colors. The orange shows the connection to the UT system. Cardenas is passionate about the strength and boldness the new logo exudes and believes everyone can find their own meaning in it. “I was also impressed with it because it’s kind of like art, kind of abstract. Everyone can find many elements within the design that speak to them. It’s progressive. It’s bold. It says we’re in the 21st century and we’re going to blow your mind. And I think that’s very much about who we are.”
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4/3/07
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Page 29
“I recently held a Texas Hold ‘Em poker tourna-
ment and I’m planning to host a barbecue for Monday Night Football, as well as a disability awareness program called ‘Stuck in Neutral,’” said Barrera.
Continued from Library drink policy
Other residential assistants have organized
about responsible people with drinks. After all, she
Alcohol Awareness, Healthy Eating lectures, as well
hand. But she disagrees on the library allowing drinks
games.
walks in every morning with a mug of coffee in her for means of creating a relaxing environment.
as dodge ball tournaments and Mexican bingo
Participation in such events contributes to the
“That’s what the union is for. But if you want to go
social experiences that students acquire as residents
to do it, but expect consequences. I just hate when
“It’s so much fun living here; it feels like a small
in [the library] with a drink and are careless, feel free
of Unity Hall.
people don’t take care of their surroundings,” said
community,” said Cruz.
having drinks at the library. You can spill. If anything,
Hall provides most students with the opportunity to
Gonzales. “For that reason, I wouldn’t like the fact of I think there should be a fee if you drop or spill something,” suggested the 20-year-old from McAllen.
Much more than a socializing environment, Unity
grow and develop as responsible young adults.
“You’re not at home anymore and mommy is
Whatever the case may be as far as students’
not there bringing you this or that when you’re sick,”
environment for its users. The drink policy is only one
have to develop personally, learn how to take care
opinions, the library is set on providing a suitable step toward establishing that goal.
“We’re always open to making adjustments. The
said Matthew Barrera.
“You’re on your own; you
of yourself and grow up.”
goodwill that we get trying to accommodate the students overshadows replacing a keyboard or a book,” said Peralez.
Continued from Cool Hall during
their
leisure
time.
From
pool
and
ping-pong tables, to the spacious TV lounge,
students have an ample opportunity to interact with
one another.
“I’ve met a lot of people just hanging out and
playing pool here,” said Matthew Barrera, 20, a jun-
Continued from Provost
ior from Laredo.
necessary start and cherishes the set of deans at the
opportunities for residents. Students who have lived
short time here has been productive.
With fun and games also comes work and
in Unity Hall for more than one semester are given a
university, saying they are second to none and his
“We need to focus on opening the educational
chance to apply for a part-time position as a resi-
gate so that students who otherwise wouldn’t be
“Our responsibilities are attending the front desk,
a great vision for us here and she really promotes our
dent assistant of the dormitory.
making sure that resident issues are taken care of and watching over the common area,” said resid
e
n
assistant, Leo Barrera, a junior from San Benito.
t
Further encouraging inter-dorm networking,
resident assistants are required to host three programs: one educational and two social events.
able to attend college can. The president really has university as a premier learned center and research university,” Sale said.
His plans for UTPA include turning the high num-
ber of first-generation students into assets by developing leadership skills and support for students.
Work requires that Sale travels often, and the
new congressional session in Austin, which opened
chris2
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Page 30
in January, has sent him on many trips to the Texas
capitol to help us gain the support of the legislature.
NCLB requires every year.”
On the other side, Aimee Garzam, a history
“The bipartisan support I’ve seen down here in
major from Granjeno, believes that Friedman is more
ers and all the major players who have a hand in the
“The man has no political experience and he
the Valley is like nowhere else I’ve been. All the lead-
of a commercial projecting political parody.
university have been incredibly cooperative,” said
thinks that answering every question with some joke
Sale emphasized the vast leadership potential
vote for him, his entire term would be of no use,
Sale.
found in the Valley and that UTPA is a vehicle to shape knowledge in the region.
“If the Rio Grande Valley loses that potential, it is
unfortunate because that’s someone else’s gain; so
we need to directly help students succeed and continue to develop and implement new ideas and approaches that help them flourish,” he said.-
will get him through,” said Garza. “Even if I were to because both chambers below him will not allow him to get any sort of legislation through because
Texas governors are weak in power; and with both chambers being of Republican and Democratic majority, I think giving him my vote would be a waste.”
IN THE END After months of debates and campaigns, the
Continued from Green & Orange
starters when the effort in the class room is not 100 percent.
Texas gubernatorial election took place on Nov. 7, 2006.
Friedman received 553,327 votes which
amounted to 13 percent. Incumbent Rick Perry won the election with 39 percent.
Even though Friedman did not win the election,
After notching a huge road win against The
students at the university and across the country
three of his starters for the following home game
ior theatre major, said that Friedman opened many
University of Texas-San Antonio, Schubert benched against Houston Tillotson. The reason being, accord-
ing to Schubert, is that the players were not recording their study hall hours.
“That’s just to teach them a lesson and show
continue to support Friedman. Nathan Winger, a jun-
doors for people and inspired many to stand up for
what they believe in no matter how people criticize their mode of expression.
“I support Kinky Friedman all the way. I agree
them there are more things important than winning
with everything that he advocates and in his views in
tion,” said Schubert.
would continue voting for him because he is the
basketball games and that’s getting your educaStreet seems to have made the right hire as
the Broncs currently boast the highest scoring offense amongst Division I Independents and are off
to their best start in recent memory. In Schuberth the
politics,” Winger said. “If he were to run again, I only candidate that presented his beliefs in the way
he knows how, not in the way that his party tells him to.”
Green and Orange did not find a knight in shining armor but they found their golden knight.
Continued from KINKY
Alaniz, who has children of her own, is not a supporter for the TAKS testing.
“That is why we are one of the states that score
the lowest academically. This TAKS test is pointless
because the only reason my children need it is to
show the Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) that the
51
JIM WATSON: The Man Behind the Building by: Erick I. Quintero
H
e came to the University of Texas-Pan
52 PanoramaIII!.indd 14
American six months ago with a plan, and now sitting in an inconspicuous, tiny office
in the corner of the Bronc Village, director of the Wellness and Recreational Sports Center (WRSC), Jim Watson watches as the final stages are completed on UTPA’s newest building.
4/2/07 3:26:09 AM
While it may be difficult to believe a facility of such magnitude needs much advertising since it dwarfs the multitude of other work out facilities in the Rio Grande Valley, Watson’s challenge remains such. However,
Watson’s
prior
experience
in
the
development of such facilities qualified him as the man for the job. A native of West Lafayette Indiana, he attended and graduated from Purdue University and worked for 21 years in the Division of Recreational Sports. He left as associate director in charge of informal recreation, sport clubs, intramural sports and fitness, including research and marketing of special events with a Ph.D. in recreational sports management, to take a job with the Division of Outdoor Recreation for the state of Indiana in 2001. “I’m a product of up north. After I left the university, I spent a year in Chula Vista, Calif. helping to build a YMCA. Then, I moved back to Indiana and got an opportunity to build recreation facilities and to do research. I was very interested in that,” said Watson of his five years with the state. “When I worked for the state of Indiana I was a planner and researcher, so we would build facilities like “What we tried to do with our facility is to encompass
this all over the state,” said Watson, who at one point
all six components of wellness-physical, emotional,
simultaneously handled between 25 to 30 multimillion
social, environmental and personal development, by
dollar projects much like the WRSC.
offering recreation and a social environment for students
His passion for fitness and wellness goes way beyond
to interact,” said Watson of the $26 million facility. In
his job description at UTPA. An avid runner, Watson logs in
addition, Watson hopes to create an environmentally
18 miles a week. His approach to wellness is well rounded
conscientious WRSC with the implementation of a
as he enjoys gardening, tennis and reading. “I love to read, especially the novels by John Grisham.
recycling center. The multimillion dollar facility is set to open for
I’m reading ‘The Street Lawyer’ right now.
I love his
students, faculty, staff and alumni in August 2007. Yet
stuff,” said Watson, who also enjoys autobiographies
Watson faces a critical challenge: how to get people
and noted Montell Williams and Arthur Ashe’s as two of
to work out in a region known for its plethora of health
the many he enjoys.
issues, particularly obesity and high diabetes rates?
While the transition to the Valley has been a gradual
professor,
one, including the weather and language, as he says
Margaret A. Graham, whose interests include diabetes,
his Spanish is just good enough to get him in trouble. His
physical activity and obesity prevention, weighed in on
game plan remains very straightforward.
Anthropologist
and
UTPA
associate
the issue.
“There are 17,000 students and nothing to do on the
“I think one of the challenges in a school like this and
weekends. I want to make sure that when we open that
like any other urban school where the bulk of students
facility over there you’re getting the best because UTPA
are commuters is, how do you get them onto campus?”
students have waited a long time for this. You’re paying
said Graham, a member of the student wellness initiative,
good money out of your tuition; you deserve it,” he said.
a plan designed to get students involved. “[We want]
“It’s my mission, my responsibility to make sure you get
them spend enough time where they will use it, so they
nothing but the best.”
don’t just come into class and leave again.”
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Page 20
Re-building the Green & Orange
L
ast March the University of Texas-
UTPA.
not keep Robert Davenport at the
love challenges and I like rebuilding stuff and
led the Broncs to a dismal 7-24 record. The
in this scenario where we can improve it than
Pan American announced it would
helm of the men’s basketball team after he search for a successor was on and it didn’t
take UTPA Athletic Director, Scott Street long to find a suitable replacement. Roughly a
month later, Street found a golden knight to lead the Green and Orange into the future.
Thomas G. Schuberth grew up in
Chicago. before moving to the southwest
being something of a pioneer. I’d rather be have to be at a place where you just
maintain a good program,” said the Green
and Orange head coach. “It’s more fun improving and getting the program to the level
that
you
confident about.”
feel
comfortable
and
Known in the coach’s circle as a vicious
recruiter, Schuberth wasted no time in sign-
guiding the University of Las Vegas Nevada
player from Paris Junior College in Paris,
to a Final Four in 1977. Oh yeah by the way; he did it as a freshmen point guard.
The past 24 years have seen Schuberth
build an impressive coaching resume that
many would be envious of. He’s achieved
ing standout Brian Keith Burrell, a notable Texas. Burrell is a shooting guard, who
through six games has guided the Broncs to
a 5-1 record with a team leading 20.2 points per game.
“He really takes the time out to make
11 NCAA Tournaments, a couple of Sweet
sure we understand what is going on. He likes
Eight and a Final Four appearance are
right he isn’t going to fuss at you or throw you
Sixteen runs in March, one trip to the Elite proof of his commitment to success. As an
assistant in the college ranks, he was part of 12 different 20-plus-win squads and reached 14 conference championships.
He began his coaching career at
Division II University of North Alabama in 1982 followed by stints at Louisiana Monroe.
Memphis in the mid 90s saw him put together an impressive recruiting class which
included former NBA superstar Anfernee
Photo by: Onydia Garza
“I felt like this job had my name on it. I
suburb of Palos Heights, Ill. He began his collegiate career as a Running Rebel,
54
by: Erick I. Quintero
to explain things to you so if you don’t get it out of practice,” said Burrell in reference to Schuberth. “He’ll talk you through it. He’s pretty cool.”
In a world where college
sports are tainted by allegations of
academic
dishonesty,
Schuberth likes to keep his program in check when it comes to academics.
An honorable mention,
“Penny” Hardaway. He’s also worked at
Academic All-American and
of Alabama Birmingham, Central Florida
Conference during his final
Southeast Missouri State University, University and 24 years later, UTPA.
He loves the climate, people, palm trees
and the slow pace the Valley offers. Of his new position he says, “I’m loving every
minute of it. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. This is my Duke. To me it’s the greatest job in the country.”
While it’s been hard work, Schuberth felt
ready for the challenge when coming to
Academic
All-Southeastern
year at Mississippi State he is not afraid to bench his continue on page 51
55 by: Nayelly S. J. Barrios
T
“I set a goal with my other teammate to throw 170 feet with the hammer. My best score so far is 145 feet. I’m
hey’re the men and women you see out at
working toward that but I’m coming back with an injury
the track from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. The University
so I have to work a little harder,” sophomore elementary
of Texas-Pan American track and field team
education major, Michelle Elizondo said. Elizondo throws
practice vigorously day in and day out.
for the team.
“Every year our main goal is to try to qualify as
Sprinter Vanessa Brown, who runs the 400 meter and
many individuals as we can to the NCAA Championships.
200 meter, also has a few things she’d like to overcome.
After that, it’s to get as many kids to regional’s,” head
“Getting back in shape from the winter break; that
coach Ricky Vaughn said. “Then, for the most part, it’s
was terrible,” the junior chemical engineering and
just to try to see each individual perform at a higher level
biology major said. “I want to hit the 55 hopefully and
than they used to and continue to improve each and
make regionals.”
every year that we come out here.” Vaughn says that track and field is unique, in that you
Sprinter David Sanchez, a senior psychology major, has even more riding on this year.
have little divisions of small teams within your team. There
“This is my last year so hopefully I make regionals and
are the distance runners, throwers, jumpers and sprinters.
I’m hoping to see most of my teammates besides me,”
He’d like to see each event improve.
said Sanchez.
With the season beginning in January and ending in
Even new additions to the team are promising.
June, the track and field athletes have sufficient time to
Freshman Scott Miller throws for the team. The criminal
set and meet personal goals. And with a new coach this
justice major wants to improve his best shot of 44 to 50 by
year, they get an extra hand.
the end of this year.
“The highlights of my season have been just
“I know I can do better. I just need to improve
getting to know the athletes and adjusting to my first
my technique,” said Miller when asked about his
coaching job,” said assistant coach Dennis Darling. “We
performance so far.
just finished our indoor season which went pretty well, with all our athletes achieving personal goals.”
Overall, a promising season is in store for UTPA’s men’s and women’s track and field team.
The major objectives such as competing in
“I feel like the athletes have been coming along very
regional’s or even nationals stem from personal ambition
well in competition and in practice and are running with
and drive.
a lot more confidence and purpose,” said Darling.
PanoramaIII!.indd 22
4/4/07 1:44:46 AM
Men’s Basketball Team
Men’s Basketball Roster
Women’s Basketball Team
Women’s Basketball Roster
J. Allgood, R. Buck, B. Burrell, J. Chatman, K.
M. Daniel, H. Freeman, R. Garrett, L. Gray, A.
Edwards, C. Lien, D. Puente, A. Robinson, D. Shankle, L.
Grigsby, R. E. Jean, R. Jones, D. Kostacky, C. Ramirez, T.
Sheppard, S. Silva, B. Smith, P. Stoll, J. Trader, Z. Trader
Schneider, T. Vaughn, T. Wilson, T. Winfrey, L. Woodard
Coaches: T. Schuberth, B. Enright, B. Johnson, D. Johnson,
Coaches: D. Craft, J. Davis, K. Wilson, C. Bell, L. Dickerson
G. Leonard, L. Madison
MEN’S BASKETBALL
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Coach Tom Schuberth arrived in the Valley with his
Despite losing six of their last eight games, the Lady
exuberant personality and patient teaching style, and
Broncs made a five-game improvement from last year,
transformed the Broncs from a cellar dweller to a near .500
winning 11 and losing 17, including a program-best seven
record. The Broncs went 14-15, besting 2005-06’s mark by
wins at the Field House.
eight wins, and won 10 straight home games before losing to Utah Valley State Feb. 10. Three players earned postseason honors. Junior Brian
Coach DeAnn Craft’s bunch had a trio of all-league performers in MaHogany Daniel, LeKeisha Gray and Tamara Vaughn.
Burrell was the Independent Newcomer of the Year and
The four-year veteran Daniel became only the second
a first-team All-Indy pick after averaging 15.6 points and
Lady Bronc (Naima Williams is the other) to record 500
5.1 rebounds per game. He shot 39.9 percent from three-
points and 500 rebounds in a career, and leaves the
point range and 87.5 percent from the free-throw line.
Valley as the school’s no. 1 shot blocker all time. She was a
Six-foot-11 senior Colin Lien ended his UTPA career by
second team All-Independent pick.
netting 12 points and a team-high 6.3 rebounds a game,
Transfer LeKeisha Gray led the team in 10 categories,
shooting 59.8 from the floor. For his effort, the Iowa native
including scoring at 10.6 per game, and was the Indy
was named second team All-Independent,
Newcomer of the Year in her junior season.
The third honoree was slick junior point guard Paul Stoll
Tamara Vaughn was a part of the All-Newcomer team
(7.8 points, 5.3 assists, 41.8 percent on threes), who was on
as she connected for 9.7 points per game as a junior
the All-Newcomer team
transfer student. The Lady Broncs return all but Daniel to the team in the
56 PanoramaIII!.indd 36
fall and look forward to making a run at the school record of 14 wins set three seasons back under Craft.
4/3/07 10:15:15 PM
Men’s Track & Field Team
Men’s Track and Field Roster
Women’s Track & Field Team
Women’s Volleyball Roster
R. Cantu, G. Castillo, O. Doria, S. Gonzales, W.
C. Blakely, H. Bravo, C. Carrigan, K. Lyons, N. Mayor,
Gonzalez, J.J. Hernandez, W. Littleton, S. Miller, A. Moncivais,
H. McNallen, K. Phillips, M. Schaal, D. Schneyer, R. Toddy, Y.
L. Nava, A. Olguin, N. Reyna, V. Ruiz, Jr., D. Sanchez, D.
Trinidad, M. Wilson, A. Young
Trejo, D. Trevino Coach: A. Hubbard Coaches: R.Vaughn, D. Darling, H. Cervantes, R. Hamlet
MEN’S TRACK & FIELD
WOMEN’S TRACK & FIELD
By way of Cuero, Texas, and Angelo State University,
Kate Shannon of Houston set a school record in the
transfer Wes Littleton became a UTPA star this season,
pole vault during the outdoor season, with a leap of 10-11
breaking the school record in the high jump at the UH
3/4; while Amanda Ferris ran off a streak of four titles in a
Invitational, and hitting 7-5 3/4 later in the campaign.
row in the hammer throw.
The men began the outdoor season in March at
Sprinter Vanessa Brown of Houston and triple-jumper
Laredo for the annual Border Olympics, and then traveled
Liliana Cavazos (Weslaco East HS) were two more of the
to Houston, Austin and beyond in search of personal bests
promising athletes in the program this season.
and team glory. Their season was set to culminate with the
The Lady Bronc distance group was solid this spring,
NCAA regionals after the traditional Last Chance Meet in
as Carolina Yzaguirre of Brownsville recorded the school’s
San Angelo in April.
fifth-best time ever in the 5,000 meters and Edinburg
Former UTPA distance great and Valley native Hugo Cervantes joined the team as an assistant coach to Ricky Vaughn. The program also added former Olympic champ Dennis Darling of the Bahamas to coach the sprinters.
North ex Rose Escovedo finished third in the same race, in Houston March 17. That group had done a good job at the cross country Independent Championships in the fall, as Yzaguirre was
As for cross country, the big news was the arrival of
23rd followed by Hanna High School teammate Sonya
a pair of the area’s best high school athletes, freshmen
Rivera a place behind. Ashley Perez of Falfurrias and
Wally Gonzalez and Omar Doria, teammates at Edinburg
Karla Hernandez of Edinburg High School also had top 30
North High School. Along with those two, San Juan’s J.J.
showings in Fort Wayne, Ind.
Hernandez and La Joya’s Luis Nava gave the team a decidedly local flavor as it completed the fall season by finishing fourth of nine teams at the National Independent Championships in Fort Wayne, Ind. Juan Davila of Donna and Alex Moncivais of Pharr were other Valley standouts in the long runs.
PanoramaIII!.indd 37
57 4/3/07 10:15:20 PM
Men’s Baseball Team
Men’s Baseball Roster
Women’s Volleyball Team
Women’s Volleyball Roster
L. Autrey, L. Bartosh, N. Bourn, P. Brooks, C. Cisper,
C. Blakely, H. Bravo, C. Carrigan, K. Lyons, N. Mayor,
J.C. Cortez, S. Davila, J. Dugas, O. Flores, A. Garcia, E.
H. McNallen, K. Phillips, M. Schaal, D. Schneyer, R. Toddy, Y.
Garza, R. Gonzalez, A. Guajard, M. Guzman, B. Honeycutt,
Trinidad, M. Wilson, A. Young
J. Hutcherson, S. Janecka, J. Johnson, C. Linder, C. Lozano, E. Mancini, C. Pena, R. Radermacher, P. Rodriguez, M.
Coach: A. Hubbard
Shepherd, R. Shives Jr., R. Silva, Z. Smith, B. Smolen, N. Spears, D. Tognietti, B. Whittlesey, J. Wymer Coach: W. Gawlik, J. Meccage, A. McGuire
MEN’S BASEBALL
WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL
Their tournament play was outstanding in the early
The Lady Broncs struggled through a 6-25 campaign,
going, but the Bronc baseball team had pitching trouble
their worst since 1994, and at season’s end long-time
and had amassed an 11-22 mark heading into the season’s
coach Dave Thorn resigned after nine years and he was
final six weeks this spring.
replaced in the spring by Angela Hubbard, former assistant
In the UTPA Classic to start the year, Coach Willie
at Nicholls State.
Gawlik’s bunch won two of four and defeated national
Seniors Heather Bravo and Karen Lyons were bright
power Oklahoma. Then they won two of three at the
spots for the program. Bravo was named to the All-
Citrus Classic and split four at the annual Ogletree Classic,
Independent second team for the second time in her
knocking off Big 10 rep Illinois, 5-3.
career, after becoming only the second player in team
As the season wore on, the team’s ERA ballooned to 6.50, with freshman Josh Wymer (3-5, 3.25 ERA, 36 strikeouts) as the only reliable starter. At the plate, the Broncs had hit just .239 as a team into April, with junior transfer Roly Gonzalez (.327, 12 steals)
history to record more than 1,000 total attacks in a season, joining Jaclyn Muszynski with that accomplishment. Hubbard, who played collegiately at West Georgia, inherits some solid returning starters for the fall, including Chelsea Blakley, Kellie Phillips and Deanna Schneyer.
and Valley native Osiel Flores (.317) leading the way. Third baseman Patrick Brooks was the main power threat for a group that slugged just .301; he hit five home runs and eight doubles in the first 33 games. Former coaching great Al Ogletree was inducted into the school’s Athletic Hall of Fame for his career of work that produced over 1,000 wins and a trip to the College World Series in 1971.
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Women’s Golf Team
Men’s Golf Team
Men’s Golf Roster
Women’s Golf Roster
J. Hensley, B. Hughey, A. Kirakossian, C. Norris, S.
M. Bark, M. Camey, R. De Leon, K. Haime, N. Haime,
Pearce, K. Tudi, H. Wongchindawest
J. Marks, E. Rodriguez, B. Sandberg, M. Uriegas
Coach: A. Tredway
Coach: B. Odale
MEN’S GOLF
WOMEN’S GOLF
Coach Andrew Tredway saw some improvement at
In her eighth season, Coach Barb Odale led the Lady
times from his young group of golfers, including a fourth-
Broncs into uncharted waters after many of the program’s
place finish at the Hawks Invitational at Hartford in the
best golfers graduated last spring.
fall season and a ninth-place showing at the 17-team Roadrunner Invite at UTSA in the spring.
There were promising prospects for the future, including Guatemalan national champion Mariale Camey, who
Canadian Colin Norris, the team’s only senior, led the
had a solid sophomore season. Freshman My Bark, a 5-
way, tying for 36 with teammate Shane Pearce at the
foot-10 hitter from Sweden, paced the team at the Islander
Braveheart Classic in Beaumont, Calif., in March, giving
Spring Classic, while Kingwood junior Elizabeth Rodriguez
the team hope that the road to the National Minority
hammered out the top individual score for the Lady Broncs
Championships (May 11-13 in Port St. Lucie, Fla.) would
at the UALR Tournament,
th
end in success.
With the Minority Championship on the slate for the late spring, UTPA had yet to break the top 10 in any of their four tournaments, but hopes were high that the youngsters will come of age in the fall.
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Men’s Tennis Team
Men’s Tennis Roster I. Avila, B. Bernstein, G. Bianco, R. Cantu, C. Carrera, D. Lopez-Heredia, N. Mohinta, E. Montemayor, S. Vij
Women’s Tennis Team
Women’s Tennis Roster M. Bedeau, S. Buksik, S. Burton, L. Cantu, J. CirneLima, N. Garcia, S. Mabulac, J. Nanez, G. Oliveria, S. Willerding
Coaches: R. Hubbard, R. Hoipkemier, O. Steil Coaches: R. Hubbard, Robin Hoipkemier, O. Steil
MEN’S TENNIS
WOMEN’S TENNIS
It was a global village for the men this spring, as players
An injection of South American talent pushed the
came from around the globe to help the team to a 6-11
team to a 7-9 record as the spring season continued for
record nearing the close of the campaign.
second-year coach Ron Hubbard.
Freshman Nirvick Mohinta of India arrived to join
A junior pair of Brazilians, Julia Cirne-Lima and Giana
fellow first-year man Shaskank Vij of Finland as productive
Oliveira, led the Lady Broncs to a four-game winning
newcomers. Mexico City junior Ivan Avila contributed, as
streak starting in late February, as Hubbard – a former star
did junior Frenchman Gary Bianco, returning to the roster
player for the university in the 1970s – continued to turn the
after a year of eligibility problems.
program in the right direction.
Both men’s and tennis programs benefited from the
The roster had no seniors this season, meaning that
tutelage of Oliver Steil, who was a standout for the Broncs
next year should be a banner one for Hubbard and his
and joined the team as a graduate assistant in 2007.
international stars.
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Cheerleading Team & the Blazers
UTPA Cheerleading Roster
HALL OF FAME
S. Acebedo, J. Hohmann, E. Saenz, M. Ontiveros, V. Villarreal, M. Gallaga, A. Herrera, N. Kunckle, T. Rojas,
The university named the first class to join the
H. Sartin, A. Garza, V. Castillo, K. Capelo, E. Huerta, V.
brand-new UTPA Athletics Hall of Fame in February.
Sanchez, Y. Silva, C. Gonzalez, K. Jenkins
Legends inducted include baseball coach Al Ogletree, basketball’s Sam Williams, 1960s tennis great Don Russell,
Blazers Roster A. Dimas, L. Guzman, J. Tijerina, E. Pedraza, A.
and basketball superstar Luke Jackson. Also inducted en masse was the 1963 NAIA national
Palacios, L. Sanchez, A. Esquivel, N. Gonzalez, E. Ozuna, J.
championship hoops team, which featured Williams as
Garza, A. Michel
coach and Jackson, who went on to win a title in the NBA with the Philadelphia 76ers, as the most valuable
Coach: C. Caceres
player of the squad.
UTPA CHEERLEADERS & THE BLAZERS The UTPA cheerleaders weren’t able to attend National’s this year because they didn’t qualify. Each member of the team must be enrolled full-time at the university, as part of the University Cheerleading Association regulations. However, some members were only enrolled nine hours, making them unable to compete in Nationals. But that didn’t damper their spirit. They were heavily involved in Spirit Week activities, such as the Spirit Walk and performed at Midnight Madness. The cheerleaders and the blazers did a dance routine to Justin Timerblake’s “Sexy Back,” at the Spirit Rally on Oct. 12, 2006.
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Photos by: Yolin Muniz
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Bo Border serves up films, one at a time
by: Frank Calvillo
A
long time ago, going to the movies used to be considered
a
magical
experience
by
costing more than $3.00.
many.
The Border opened its doors in 1942 with the “Heart of
Nowadays, watching films on the silver screen has all
the Rio Grande,” starring Gene Autry, who made a personal
the cha charm of a cross-town bus.
appearance at the theater’s opening, and continued doing
Pres Present day movie theaters offer their patrons overpriced
business until late 2000 when plans were announced to turn
tickets, stale popcorn, nacho chips in a bag with a small pack
the beloved Mission staple into a dollar store. It was at the
of chee cheese, long lines, overcrowded auditoriums and stand-
point that Pena and his wife stepped in to purchase the
offish em employees.
establishment in January of 2001 and have kept it running for
How However, the old allure and feeling of the mom and pop movie h house is alive and well at The Border Theatre, located on 905 Conway Ave. in Mission. A on one-screen movie theater, The Border offers its customers
the public as well as for sentimental reasons. “I worked behind the counter when I was a teenager,” said Pena. “My wife and I also met here and now our daughter works the ticket booth.”
a chan chance to go back in time with its vintage signs advertising
Pena and his wife don’t depend on The Border’s profits
for pop popcorn right next to a miniature display of old movie
as a source of income. Both have held down long-standing
project projectors. Most of the carpeting and architecture have
positions in the McAllen and Mission school districts.
remaine remained in tact since the theatre first opened its doors nearly 65 year years ago.
“This is really a labor of love for us. We just didn’t want to see it go to waste,” said Pena.
Mov Movie posters featuring John Wayne are placed next to
While the new owners have succeeded in preserving the
those fe featuring Orlando Bloom, signifying The Border’s vast
authenticity of The Border, Pena and his wife have made
history.
renovations. Seats were taken out and expanded to give
Acc According to Roberto Pena, owner and manager, it is for this reas reason The Border is still in existence today. “It’s definitely the nostalgia that brings people back here,”
more room for attendees and to allow for handicap access. Other future modifications include adding cup holders as well as improving the lighting situation in the auditorium.
he said said. We have people who came here as children to
According to Pena, nearly 80,000 customers are buying
see ‘Sn ‘Snow White’ who bring their own kids here now to see
tickets yearly, which shows The Border is popular in the
‘Cars’.”
community.
Bey Beyond the nostalgia factor, The Border offers its clients much m more than the average chain theater does.
Though, despite The Border’s charms and popularity, it looks like its future might be in jeopardy.
Mov Movie lovers can enjoy the old fashioned video games,
The Border, much like most other movie theaters, runs its
spaciou spacious seating (which includes a balcony for couples who
films on a 35 mm projector, which has been standard for some
feel rom romantic,) cultural artwork and a plethora of snacks
time now. But it appears as if times are once again changing.
includin including nachos smothered in cheese, hot buttered popcorn,
In an effort to decrease pirating, most theaters are switching
chili ch cheese dogs, chocolate bars, slush drinks and ice cold
to digital projection, a more cutting edge and expensive
pickles.
form of showing movies; one that might be damaging to one
“Sho “Shortly after my wife and I bought the theater, this one
of Mission’s most treasured landmarks.
lady fro from Edinburg came and said that every time she got
“Carmike is already going digital. Hopefully most studios
pregna pregnant, she craved Border nachos, and told us not to
will keep the 35 mm form or else help us with the cost of the
close d down because she planned on having more kids,” said
projector,” said Pena.
Pena. All p prices at The Border remain just as generous with general admissi admission costing $1.50 (except on Mondays and Thursdays
Despite an uncertain future, The Border will continue to serve the city of Mission with entertaining movies and a taste of what the moving going experience was once like.
which a are dollar nights) and no item at the concession stand
BorderTheatre.indd 3
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TOM-GIRLS by: Salvador Grajeda
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ong flowing hair, beautifully trimmed and painted nails, long thick eyelashes, and a glowing complexion; yes, he has it all. That’s right, he! These days, more and more guys are trading in their appointments at the barbershop for appointments at salons! Oh brother! (or should I say sister?) “It’s just a look. I’m not goth or gay. I wear eyemakeup for the look and chicks like it,” says Israel Rojas of Edinburg. Rojas was getting a manicure and explained that despite the teasing he must endure from strangers and his friends, he likes how his eyes look with eyeliner as well as the girls it attracts. “I’ve just been wearing this stuff so long that I feel naked without it, and no one recognizes me if I don’t,” lamented Rojas. Rojas has managed to build an identity out of having his nails painted, wearing black eyeliner, wearing his hair long, as well as other things the traditional male usually doesn’t do. Many of the guys who do this sort of thing are known as “metro-sexual,” which is a widely popular term that has been thrown around in recent years to describe males who have an interest in fine foods, fashion and personal grooming and pampering. British journalist, Mark Simpson, coined the phrase back in 1994 in an article for The Independent. Although the word’s meaning has evolved, according to Simpson, it only applies to heterosexual men. It is believed that narcissism may play a crucial role in metro-sexualism. According to Sigmund Freud, a person may love according to the narcissistic type: (a) What he is himself, (b) What he once was, (c) What he would like to be, (d) Someone who once was part of himself. Therefore, Simpson’s metro-sexual term would be describing a type A or C narcissist, as he loves himself or an idealized image of what he would like to be.
So is this excessive grooming all about narcissism? Claudia Quiroga, a junior at UTPA, thinks otherwise. “My father is a gynecologist and his career doesn’t require but recommends that he get manicures regularly,” she said. Apparently rubber gloves just aren’t enough when it comes to the handling of a vagina. Quiroga says that it is just good practice in general for physicians to be groomed and have healthy looking hands. She also went into detail listing three reasons why it is recommended. First, being that one could contract and/or spread infection with long unkempt nails. Second, is medical asepsis, a condition of cleanliness which inhibits contamination of a patient with pathogens. Lastly, it is just all-around professional etiquette. The UTPA nursing program also encourages students, male or female to get manicures. “The term manicure does not mean ‘nail polish.’ Nail polish is actually prohibited. Another reason to have your nails trimmed is because long nails are hazardous to a patient when you’re flipping them, or rubber gloves may break open,” said Quiroga. That’s fine and dandy, but what about those guys who aren’t working in the medical field and just need to satiate their vain disposition? A store at La Plaza Mall in McAllen called Sephora caters to local metro-sexual men, allowing them to be as girly as they want to be, selling “men’s complexion enhancers,” which essentially is just make-up. They also sell male tooth whiteners, as well as other various cosmetics for both men and women. “Yes, we get a lot of guys in here,” said one employee of Sephora. That must mean that metro-sexual males are just mad about Sephora and Sephora’s just mad about them… wanting to look pretty.
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by: Adriana Garza
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and anything else we need. The guys also take the smoke machine and tunnel out for the pre-game show to its designated spot. While all of this chaos is going on, the Killer Bees and the opposing team have been stretching out and practicing. It’s rather amusing to hear what music the opposing team is listening to. Sometimes they get pumped to the funniest songs. One time, while in a meeting, everyone kept laughing because we could hear all of their, “girlish,”
N
ormally one doesn’t sit around and contemplate what goes on inside the Dodge Arena before doors open to the public. Most are oblivious as to what happens behind the doors labeled Authorized Personnel Only.
random song selections. They were listening to Shakira and the Pussycat Dolls. Most would think that tough guys like these would listen to rock or rap to get into the zone but instead their jamming out to “Don’tcha.” By this time, Killer Bee fans begin to arrive and take their seats. Everyone takes their place and the gun that shoots the free t-shirts out to the audience is prepared. After the stretching and the practice of the teams, the ice is smoothed out once again before the game. The
It takes a lot to make a single Killer Bee game what
re-smoothing of the ice is when everyone realizes that
it is. The Dodge Arena has about a hundred employees
time is running out and everyone is frantically trying to get
and volunteers that make it possible for you to sit your butt
everything done. Some of the volunteers and Honeybees
down in one of the 5,500 available seats and not have to
go into the audience to choose volunteers for all of the
worry about a thing. The only things on your priority list are
games. The tunnel and smoke machine are set up and this
stuffing your face, getting drunk, and enjoying the world
is a sure sign that the game is about to begin.
of hockey.
Finally, this is where things start winding down and the
The arena parking lot is practically empty until a
only thing the people in the back need to worry about
sudden flood of cars arrives at the scene. Employees and
now are the intermissions. The pre-game show and Star-
volunteers begin showing up for work at 5 p.m. and are
Spangled Banner are out of the way. Now, we can relax a
ready to roll. Everyone is told what to do by their supervisors
bit and take a quick breather.
and each have their goals in mind as to what they need
During the intermissions, it’s pretty much the same
to accomplish before the night is through. Everyone takes
routine, just different games. The Killer Bee mascot and the
their positions and prepare for four hours worth of Killer Bee
Honeybees go out and tease the audience with free T-
Mania. That’s when the running around begins.
shirts. It’s fun to watch how excited people get or the silly
As the servers and bartenders prepare their stations
things that they’ll do to get one
and stack up on supplies, the ice crew go out to smooth
On occasions, slip ups do happen but most of the
out the ice before the hockey teams go out to practice.
time we’re the only one’s to notice it. We’re human and
The security guards man their stations to make sure that
we try our best to make things go as smoothly and as on
people aren’t going anywhere they’re not supposed to.
schedule as possible.
The Game Operations team, which I take part in, prepare
Employees and volunteers show up for work a couple
for the games and activities that go on during the game
of hours before the game starts and stay to clean up the
and intermissions.
mess afterward. So, before you leave the next game, think
The Killer Bee mascot puts on his suit, stretches out and
about the hard work that these good-hearted people do
mentally prepares for the game. Meanwhile, some of us
for your enjoyment. If it wasn’t for them, the atmosphere
are in the skate/storage room getting needed supplies. We
wouldn’t be the same and the game of hockey would be
take out some banners, mats, the Killer Bee flag, helmets
just another game.
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IF THIS TREE COULD TALK by: Robert Lopez
S
even miles southwest of Mission lies Abram, a peaceful town unaffected by time where the simple life is still enjoyed. For 17 years, Elia Villarreal has owned and operated Villarreal’s Country Store where she quietly stands behind the cash register in her red apron smiling with her gentle face and sharp green eyes. The plywood floors and particle board ceiling give the country store an old-town feel. A far stretch from your everyday convenience store, the goods in Villarreal’s store sit atop wooden shelves. Items range from homemade tortillas and sausages to Mexican candy and a variety of beverages. As the only store in the small town, formerly known as Ojo De Agua, much of the daily activity begins here. Visitors to the store are much more than just customers. They are friends, family and children all coming through to shop for candy, household items or just to enjoy a cold, refreshing beer while watching the football game in the rear of the shop. In the winter months, winter Texans pass through the store on their way to visit the legendary Montezuma Bald Cypress. The cypress tree is more than 900 years old and is believed to be a hidden gem in this quant town. “Go about five houses down, and take a left on the dirt road just after the unfinished
tree2.indd 2
home under construction,” said Villarreal. “Once you are on top of the levee you will take a left and the then take the first right you see...” “You will see the branches once you are there,” interrupted 9-year-old, Angelita Hernandez. Hernandez spends a lot of time at the store. Her family has lived in Abram for generations and she tells stories about the famous tree, which have been passed down from generation to generation. “My grandfather told me that the tree was used by Pancho Villa to hang people,” said Hernandez. Once at the tree, you can see why the fabled woody plant means so much to this town. A small green sign says, “Montezuma Bald Cypress (Taxodium Mucronatum) over 900 years old, maintained by the citizens of Abram.” Villarreal describes a time when people would hang out under the tree and damage this local landmark. “People used to hang around the tree, but they realized that they were destroying a piece of history and they stopped going there. We now take turns cleaning it up and Joe Mets, the man who owns the farmland by the tree, waters it,” said Villarreal. The tree stands over 40 feet tall and spreads itself nearly 80 feet wide. The old trunk resembles the wrinkled face of an old man as the ripples in this woody creature seem to tell its age. The branches are like long, crooked arms draped in moss-looking foliage with smaller, fingerlike branches reaching up and out into the heavens. A large round knot, the size of a window, sits in the middle of the trunk like the eye of the tree that has seen 900 years of history evolve on the banks of the Rio Grande. As you drive down the main street in Abram you see some of the new and much of the old. Some houses are brick with paved driveways and some are wooden structures with the earth as its only ground. Goats and horses roam freely in the ranches that border the road and the sugar cane sways in the light breeze, charred by the farmers who are beginning the refining process. Children play in the yards and adults sit outside on the front porch watching time pass as hang-drying clothes wave in the gentle breeze. For the citizens of Abram, it’s almost as if time has stood still and the simple life lives on. It’s a tightly knit
4/3/07 10:35:18 PM
community of families that have been tied together through the good times and the bad. “Everyone knows each other in Abram. If someone is sick and they can’t afford to pay the doctor bills then we all get together and have a barbeque fundraiser or something like that and raise money to help the family,” said Villarreal. Villarreal enthusiastically walked behind the counter and reached for an old framed photo. “This is a picture of the soldiers who came to protect Abram in the early 1900’s when Pancho Villa would come across the river to steal the horses,” said Villarreal. The black and white photo is in remarkably great condition and features eight U.S. soldiers standing, sitting and leaning on an old wooden structure that Villarreal described as the old saloon and pool hall. The pictures, landmarks and citizens represent the personality of this small town, which has been almost forgotten as the Rio Grande Valley continues to grow by leaps and bounds. But for the people who live in Abram, traditions and heritage from generations past continue to live on.
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by: Angela Padilla
hrough the open door you see pieces of cut up animal skin all over the room. The room could have been full of people cutting up the pieces, but they all seem to be gone. You hear a voice coming from the room saying, “Hola…I’ll be right with you.” You can see a man with an apron sitting down, doing something with his hands. If you look at the wall, you see boards nailed up and on the boards are fine-looking, hand made boots. There is a striking pair that are burgundy, with a beautiful butterfly on each neck of the boot. Intricate small pieces of different color leathers carefully put together make up the butterflies. The man walks up to the counter, “Hi, how can I help you?” he asks in Spanish. Texas Boulevard is the main street of Weslaco and that’s where you’ll find Jose Manuel Alvarado, owner of Mid-Valley Boot, located in downtown Weslaco. More recently the town has been steadily growing. South of the city is a bridge to cross over to Mexico and east of the city
72 89 PanoramaIII!.indd 10
is where the new premium outlet mall is located. When Weslaco began, all the important stores were downtown. But now, most of the stores that remain open look a bit run down. They are not owned by rich people and many of the stores have gone out of business. But Alvarado has owned a boot making shop for 18 years now,
4/2/07 1:01:57 AM
73 and doesn’t plan on shutting it down or retiring anytime in the near future. “I’ll be done paying off this place at the end of the month…God willing,” he says with a smile. Alvarado bought his store 10 years ago and says that
“I liked the Art of the Boot. People think it’s simple because they see boots in the store and they think it is normal, or they take it for granted,” he said. “It’s like an art, like painting, like music; it has its harmony,” he says with inspiration.
before he rented a place for eight years. He points outside
According to Alvarado this type of work is on the
the store, “over there at the end of the block across from
decline because there aren’t enough factories that
Keno’s Café. That particular café used to be the most
dedicate themselves to fabrication of custom boots.
popular hang out for high school kids when the town was
Instead, the fabrication is going to places such as Korea.
still young.” What was Alvarado doing before he discovered his vocation for boot making? “Well I used to work at H&H killing animals for nine years,” he says half smiling. “It was just a job but then I came to a point where I could not find work and I met some guys that worked at the boot factory. They worked at H&H also and told me about the factory and sort of helped me get a job.” While Alvarado says that he didn’t like butchering animals, he had a family to provide for. As he worked at the factories for 10 years, he gained a lot of experience.
“They use more sophisticated methods [such as] computers that make the designs. Factories make quantity not quality,” he says with a frown. “They make their money that way.” Alvarado makes all his boots by hand. His leather materials come from Florida, Houston, El Paso, Chicago. Although he spends a lot of time in his shop, he does have his hobbies. “Don’t think that this is all I do,” he said with a smile. “I also sing for my church, and read the scripture at church. I’m also a DJ. on a Christian radio station.” Alvarado is broadcasted on “Radio Vida” on 1290 A.M. and 105.7 F.M. He says it influences his work ethic as well.
“Well I worked at one place for six years, then at
“I believe that everything we do we have to do with
another for four. The last place I worked was at a factory
pride and love or it wouldn’t make sense to do something
called Rios De Mercedes. It’s still there,” he said.
without that. You have to have an objective or goal to
In fact he acknowledges that most of the boot factories that were around at the time were in Mercedes. He says
follow. You have to leave your best job behind and it’s important to be honest with everyone.”
that most of the shops that are around are because the
Alvarado says that he has been able to provide for his
people who worked at those factories and then opened
family doing what he loves and does not plan on leaving
up their own places.
his love for crafting boots behind.
It was Alvarado’s passion for the boot that inspired him to open up his own place.
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74
“Hey Victoranio, Hey Idolina!” In return the friendly people of Granjeno just smile and yell back jokingly. “Hey, cuidado con los perros.” The friendly hellos and the fact that everyone knows each other is what Garza says has allowed the city of Granjeno from not dying away.
Revealing an Invisible Town by: Mary Nichols
“Everyone has lived with each other for years, and because of that we have developed a sense of family. If something goes wrong, everyone is there for moral support,” he said. The town was founded in 1767 by Spaniards, and has remarkably survived all these years. Most small cities such as Granjeno have been flooded out, or been over taken by larger cities. But, Granjeno has been lucky enough to have survived growing, losing land, and losing some of its people. This is
G
visible as you walk along the cracked, muddy sidewalks of Granjeno. There are
ranjeno, Texas is located six miles south of
wooden
McAllen and borders Mexico. One would
chipped
not imagine, that with few houses around,
with old, rusted, vintage
paint,
homes
with
and creaking porches along cars. Then, there are the newly
there is a population of 485. However, when you turn on El
built brick homes with oversized lawns and Sport Utility
Camino Real Road and drive along the half moon shaped
Vehicles. They show the change, growth and diversity of
street, you see the homes and people that make up the city.
the community.
As you drive South on Shary Road, past Military Highway
“The demographics vary greatly. We have the large
southeast of Mission, a row of palm trees line both sides
older population, and the younger population, which
of the gravel road. The further you drive, the more distant
balances out our community. We wouldn’t be anywhere
buildings of city life begin to blur in the rear view mirror.
with out our elders and we wouldn’t be able to continue
The palm trees begin to lean forward with the setting sun
growing with out our children,” said Garza. Though there
as they lead you past old wooden homes, a gas station
might be a difference in age group, the community still
for sale, rusted cars, stray dogs guarding the shoulders of
gets along and learns from one another.
the road and a Texas landmark cemetery. But, like most drivers doing 55 mph on a 40 mph curve, you wouldn’t even know you had driven through Granjeno.
The Church Another thing that has helped to keep Granjeno going strong is their church, Our Lady of Fatima. The church is located in the center of town and is the heart
The Retired Mayor
of the community. The structure is built out of cement,
Being hidden and isolated may not sound so appetizing
peach colored walls, various colored pebbles for a roof,
to most city people, but to the people of Granjeno, it is
two wooden doors, and yellow glass stained windows.
something that they cherish. Ralph Garza, who was the
The church is no bigger than a house and the community
former mayor for 13 years, says he enjoys being away from
is hoping to expand it. In front of the church, is a huge
the cities.
mesquite tree. Its branches extend North, South, East and
“I grew up here and I want to be buried here. It’s quiet and we are able to live peacefully,” he said. As the retired mayor walks the street in his faded, straw hat he yells as he passes his surrounding neighbors.
PanoramaIII!.indd 32
West as if it were drawing in the people of this community to its spiritual home. “It is the nexus of our town. It has made us stand time and given us a sense to bond together through our faith and love for one another,” said Ralph Garza. The
4/2/07 3:36:22 AM
church that was built in 1954, has several celebrations
Anzaldua’s Park
to keep the community connected. For one thing, their
Behind Tencha’s old house is Anzaldua’s Park. The
upcoming Hamaica, which is an annual carnival and helps
land from the park use to belong to Delia Mendoza’s
raise money for the church and community. The Hamaica
grandfather, Larazo Anzaldua. He later sold his land to the
was what helped raise the money for the new community
government. The park does not belong to the community
center that has just been built.
any longer, but it’s special to them because it‘s where they still gather for barbeques and birthday parties. It also
The Cemetery Next to the new community center is the town’s
is a convenient place for them to walk and stroll without getting attacked by the neighborhood guard dogs.
cemetery. This is a Texas Landmark. It serves as a reflection
“This used to be our land, but with economical problems
of the history of a small working village. It’s surrounded by
we were not able to keep it, however we are still able to
a silver, deteriorating chain linked fence. The head stones
use it, so we feel we haven’t lost it,” said Mendoza.
are well taken care of and the graves are clean, with
The park has also brought a lot of attention because
vases filled with fresh and plastic flowers. Delia Mendoza
it is on the Rio Grande River and has its share of passing
an ex- commissioner of Granjeno, says the cemetery is
illegal immigrants.
very sacred to the city. “Our ancestors are buried there. We have veterans, from the Civil War, WWI, WWII, Vietnam,
The Bridge
and family members from both sides of the Rio Grande,”
Though they have had their way of dealing with
she said. When someone from the community dies, the
invaders onto their land, there is a new obstacle they may
family is not the only attendance at the funeral, but the
not have so much success in stopping. There is to be a
entire community is there. “I would say that 85 percent of
two to three mile bridge being built from the levee behind
us are related one way or another. So we all go to funerals
Granjeno to Stewart Road. The bridge is supposed to help
out of love and respect for our town and its people. Not
alleviate the traffic from the Hidalgo and Pharr bridges.
very many towns are like that,” she said.
However, to the quiet city of Granjeno they feel it will only bring trouble.
The Local Bard
“It’s going to create a great deal of changes. There
Recently buried in the cemetery was Oretencia
will be more traffic and strangers coming in and out of our
Guzman or “Tencha” as she was known by family and
city. We are not happy with the situation, but there is not
friends. She was the community story teller and would
much we can do at this point,” said Ralph Garza.
tell folklore to the children and adults. She told stories about abandoned houses that were used by midwives
Future Unknown
for delivering of babies, and in these homes you could still
At night the city of Granjeno becomes even more
hear the screams of those who didn’t make it. She told of
invisible. The moon’s light is not even strong enough to
Indians hanging the settlers from trees. She spoke of how
light up the black, tarred city streets. It is so quiet and still,
you could hear the Indians’ horses galloping at night. She
that you could hear a dog walking from the far end of
enjoyed telling how she would see Mexican soldiers walk
the street, and the cars from the neighboring cities. So
and disappear into the near by forests. She also spoke
quiet, that if you listen carefully, you can hear the rippling
of the time her husband committed suicide because he
of the water of the Rio Grande. One has to think if this
owed money, and would come visit his children on the
is a mirror image of how it will look 15 to 20 years from
porch of the house. Idolina Guzman the granddaughter
now, if Granjeno fades away. With the ever growing cities
of Tencha, says those stories still scare her today. “I don’t
around them, and the young people wanting to leave
know how true some of those stories were, but it gets really
such isolation, no one is for sure if Granjeno will continue to
dark and quiet out here. The story about my grandfather
live on. What they do know, is that their ancestors and the
on the porch still haunts me today. It was how grandmother
present community, have endured years of hardship, and
entertained everyone and we loved it, even though it
are not going to give up on their home so quickly.
made us squirm,” she said. Tencha is greatly missed and no one is sure who will take the mantle next.
PanoramaIII!.indd 33
4/2/07 3:36:22 AM
76
by: Javier Cavazos
PanoramaIII!.indd 6
4/2/07 11:16:37 PM
W
hile tattoos and body piercing have become more and more of a commonplace in today’s world, there are still places in society where people may go to great lengths to hide their body art. Corporate America has seen an increase in the number of employees who have turned to ink and needles for personal expression. Most businesses don’t ban tattoos but take a kind of “don’t ask; don’t show” policy toward employees with tattoos and piercings. “Some employees have tattoos, but we only require that you keep them covered and remove any visible piercings while at work,” said Stephanie Garcia, a broadcast journalism major at the University of Texas-Pan American and assistant manager at Aldo, a women’s shoe store in McAllen’s La Plaza Mall. “It would be impractical and would make little sense to completely ban your employees from having body art, so many people have gotten pierced or tattooed that businesses had to accept the fact that sometimes the man or woman with the tattoo or eyebrow piercing may be better for the job,” said Garcia. While the last decade has seen a rise in the number of American workers who have tattoos or piercings, it has prompted stores such as Aldo to make compromises on what is considered acceptable for the workplace. “We ask that our employees cover their tattoos and remove any piercings that aren’t in the ear,” said Garcia. “Even with earrings, we ask that they keep their look sensible and not have too many on at one time,” added Garcia. For many body art has become a sort of rite of passage into adulthood. The permanence of tattoos is one of their appeals, but it does require some planning when deciding where to get inked. “If you’re young and going to be entering the workforce, it makes sense to choose tattoos for parts of your body that can be concealed,” said Kristin Maldonado, a biology sophomore who also works at the Valle Vista Mall in Harlingen. “Don’t get a tattoo you won’t be able to hide unless you plan on never having a conventional job,” added Maldonado, who also has several piercings and tattoos on her. Maldonado pointed out that she had even successfully hidden her tattoos from her parents for years. “Even though I have more than one, I chose tattoos that weren’t too big and I didn’t choose a conspicuous place on my body, most of the time the only extra step I
PanoramaIII!.indd 7
had to take was wearing a watch,” said Maldonado as she displays the star inked on her left wrist. “My piercings weren’t a problem and for work I can just take them out, so it’s not a big deal,” Maldonado said. Most people can remove their piercings easily and therefore it doesn’t cause much conflict with employers. Tattoos on the other hand, can sometimes take up large portions of skin and are harder to disguise. Maldonado’s friend, Greg Hernandez, didn’t go for inconspicuous when he chose his body art. Hernandez, an employee at Pokey’s Planet, an adult novelty store in Harlingen, has an entire sleeve of tattoos covering his right arm. “Tattoos can be sort of addictive. I didn’t originally plan on getting a sleeve, but I got one and then I wanted another and another,” said Hernandez. While his employer doesn’t mind visible tattoos, Hernandez sometimes goes the extra step of covering his. “I usually wear long sleeves out of habit, so even though I can show my tattoos, they’re usually covered when I’m at work,” said Hernandez. “I suppose the time will come when I’ll have a job that requires that I keep my tattoos covered, but wearing a long-sleeve shirt is a pretty easy solution to that problem,” he said. He added that someone could conceivably have their entire back covered with a tattoo and their boss could be totally unaware. Rey Robles, a freelance body artist in Harlingen who tattoos and pierces clients, has noticed a growing number of college-aged customers both personally and professionally. “The business in general has seen a shift in clientele, from ‘tough guys’ to more college students and young professionals,” said Robles. He said that his clients have every intention of entering the workforce, but they see a tattoo as a means of expression and a kind of milestone they reach on their journey of self-discovery. “These students are being smart about selecting where to have tattoos. They’re choosing tasteful designs and I think now society perceives the tattoo or piercing as a benign form of self-expression,” Robles said. He is quick to point out that a tattoo’s permanence does give it a unique sense of artistic rebellion and the fact that although it has been brought into the mainstream, it still retains an edge. The future remains bright and shiny for tattoos and piercings in the workplace, as more and more bosses will also bear those inky patches or pierced skin as a reminder of their youth.
4/2/07 11:16:37 PM
78
by: Isaac Vela
s
but was later changed to Mothers Against Drunk Driving, kewed statistics, unfocused vision, deadly drive
with a focus on educating the public on the repercussions
and a confused past seem like characteristics
that come from driving drunk and to create tougher laws
of a drunk person, when in reality they are
against the offense. Since then, Lightner quickly saw the
surprising characteristics of a drunk person’s enemy: Mothers
organization take on a different focus and did not like the
Against Drunk Driving (MADD). This organization has taken a
direction it was taking, describing it as “neo-prohibitionist.”
sharp turn off the path that its founder, Candy Lightner, had
She went on to say, “police ought to be concentrating
originally started it off in. MADD has quickly turned from “anti-
their resources on arresting drunk drivers, not those drivers
drunk driving” to plainly “anti-drinking.” To support this weird-
who happen to have been drinking.” She asserted that
sounding notion, Washington Times has gone as far to say,
she did not create the organization to deal with drinking
“Mothers Against Drunk Driving may soon have to change its
or alcohol, but rather to tackle the issue of drunk driving.
name to Mothers Against Any Drinking Whatsoever; that is, if it
She left MADD in 1984; upset with the way the organization
wants to avoid false advertising.” As ridiculous as it may sound
was beginning to shift focus.
to some, it’s very near the truth. DEADLY ALLIANCES IN THE BEGINNING MADD claims they are out to save lives on the road, but According to her autobiography on the Wikipedia
cannot back up their claims. According to a research study
Web site, Candy Lightner started MADD in 1980 after
conducted by David J. Hanson, Ph.D., who has researched
her 13-year-old daughter, Cari Lightner, was a victim of
drinking and alcohol patterns for over 30 years and has
a drunk driving, hit and run accident in California. After
served as an alcohol consultant to the government of
Lightner found that the driver was a repeat offender and
Canada, says that MADD is simply not holding up to what
received a merciful sentence, she decided to start MADD
they claim they are anymore. According to Hanson, there
in an effort to keep these offenders off of the road.
are obviously other determining factors when it comes to
It originally started as Mothers Against Drunk Drivers,
PanoramaIII!.indd 24
traffic fatalities. His list includes using a cell phone, fatigue,
4/2/07 11:56:24 PM
Mock DUI scene. drug use, inexperience in driving, road rage, speeding,
taverns went as far as threatening GM saying that they will
poorly lit roads, and failure to use safety belts. Despite
no longer buy GM vehicles, whether it was for personal use
MADD’s claims to saving lives on the road, they pay no
or business use, which would result in the company losing
attention to these other factors and don’t consider them
millions of dollars.
to be supporting causes of accidents. This may be due to some alliances held by MADD.
“We want to stop GM from contributing to MADD. We have a problem with GM money going to criminalize social
MADD has close relationships with a lot of big
drinkers. GM needs to recognize it is attacking legitimate
companies, including DaimlerChrysler, General Motors
businesses,” said Rick Berman, the lobbyist responsible for
and Nissan. They are described as donors, but considering
managing the campaign. GM and MADD have yet to
their relationship to one another, they’re more like
show any signs of ending the alliance.
investors. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety
When informed about cell phone use in a car and how
Administration, speeding has been found as a cause for
research suggests that it causes more fatal accidents than
about 31 percent of all fatal crashes, not only costing over
drunk driving, a MADD consultant replied, “I have absolutely
$40 billion per year, but also costing over 14,000 lives per
no idea, nor do I care.” Perhaps MADD has decided to
year, although companies like GM promote speeding
keep quiet on the issue not because it does not concern
as something pleasurable and outgoing. The Executive
them, but because they do not want to step on toes. Or
Director of the Ohio chapter of MADD says it all, “Speeding
perhaps the fact that the Cellular Telecommunications
isn’t our thing.”
Industry Association (CTIA) gave MADD chapters around
This alliance has even triggered some backlash and
the country free cellular phones along with free airtime
gave birth to a national campaign focused against the
minutes persuaded them to take a laid back approach
partnership. According to Jeffrey McCracken, a journalist
when dealing with fatalities caused by cell phone use on
for the Spinwatch Web site, the campaign was called
the road.
MADDatGM and was even backed by over 17,000 taverns, bars and liquor stores. This campaign attacked the relationship between GM and MADD. The bars and
PanoramaIII!.indd 25
4/2/07 11:56:26 PM
GREED
employees’ salaries/benefits as reported by MADD on their federal tax form #990: Dean Wilkerson- $311,919, Bobby
Perhaps the most appalling thing about MADD is
Heard- $189,489, Janice Bloom- $154,248, Kyle Ward-
its focus on money. For an organization that prides itself
$152,619. A non-profit organization is supposed to give its
in giving back to victims and helping families after their
money to help the cause, such as to rehabilitation clinics,
ordeals, there’s some suspicious business being conducted
local police stations, courts or anything other than to the
in their attempts to generate more money.
national office and in their pockets.
Every year there are dozens of instances where
Along with their net worth and money fundraised, they
members of Congress are able to avoid DWI charges
also received $2,657,293 in a single year from its Victim
by using their congressional privilege of immunity.
Impact Panel business. This money came from fines that
The
immunity given to these congressmen was originally
people have had to pay after receiving a DWI/DUI.
implemented to protect them from politically-motivated arrests when election time came around. Now-a-days
CLOSER TO HOME
there is no need for this immunity but it stays, giving these men an easy way around the law every time they could
The Rio Grande Valley chapter, which got started in
(and do) get pulled over after having too much to drink.
2000, has already begun its efforts to help wage war against
What is MADD’s stance on this? The organization that
drinking and driving. They started the Border Initiative,
wants all drunk drivers off of the road remains unvoiced in
which was created to help prevent alcohol-related
this issue, perhaps because if they go after congressman’s
problems stemming from minors going across the border
immunity they will lose the massive taxpayer funding they
to drink alcohol. The Texas Alcohol Beverage Commission
receive from Congress.
(TABC) has joined the effort. According to the MADD Web
But maybe the most disturbing fact about the way
site, although the program is just getting started they have
MADD conducts business is the way they handle their
already got some Mexican cities changing their last calls
fundraising. According to Hanson, MADD has a net worth
for alcohol from 5:30 a.m. to the American standard 2 a.m.
that surpasses $25 million, but this is not enough to fuel their
and enforcing DWI laws.
supposed fight against drunk driving. MADD continues
Along with strengthening law enforcement around the
to pay telemarketers to raise millions more every year. In
border, MADD is working to promote awareness through
reality, MADD spends two of every three dollars raised
education. This seems to be a long running theme with
on more fundraising. This little fact is backed up by the
MADD, trying to educate through classes, whether you are
American Institute of Philanthropy (AIP), which has given
watching it in a classroom or in a meeting after receiving
MADD an evaluation of a “D,” stating that MADD has spent
a DWI/DUI.
double what AIP finds acceptable on fundraising. The
“TABC and MADD educational programs can be
organization that wants to fine people and bring out more
instrumental in changing a young person’s mind about
convictions to make more money is a “D” student when it
underage drinking,” said Aida Cantu, a TABC agent.
comes to how that money taken is actually spent.
Though, but one can only wonder if this is the truth.
Regardless, MADD continues to fundraise and people
“I’ve had to sit through some of the classes and let me
keeping putting money into the pot, but where does that
tell you, it is a big waste of time,” said Adam McGowan,
money go? MADD sends out E-newsletters and the MADD
a McAllen resident. “The big joke about it though, is that
Web site urges people to donate locally, but where is that
you pay them all this money in fines, supposedly for the
money really going?
class, but in reality I think they are just using these cheesy
It is a well-known fact that most non-profit organizations let their chapters keep most, if not all the money they earn, but this is untrue when it comes to MADD. MADD claims every cent raised by its local chapters.
classes as a cover to make it seem like they are taking your money for an actual reason.” Many more people may have to be taking these classes in the near future. According to Ildefonso Ortiz,
To make things even more suspicious, some of MADD’s
a writer for the Brownsville Herald, MADD, with the help of
salaries reach up to $200,000. This is a staggering amount
the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), went to
for someone that works at a “non-profit” organization.
Boca Chica Beach, just east of Brownsville, to try to educate
According to Hanson, a rundown of a few national level
beach-goers on the necessity to drive responsibly.
PanoramaIII!.indd 26
No
4/4/07 1:11:12 AM
matter how much they try to educate the public though,
inflated and exaggerated in an attempt to shape or scare
it seems that they only see one kind of deterrent and that
the public into buying into their false notions. These two
is punishment.
organizations are offering the first person to prove these
“Last year we had 12 arrested for drunk driving
statistics as down-right fact, $20,000. Not-so-surprisingly,
[on refuge lands in the Rio Grande Valley],” said Patty
neither MADD nor any of its supporters have ever taken
Alexander, an outreach coordinator for the USFWS. “In the
the challenge.
first five months of this year we have exceeded that.” This increase is pretty steep, considering the impact
MADD fails to distinguish the difference between alcohol-related
crashes
and
drunk-driving
crashes.
a DWI/DUI charge has on an individual. Perhaps the fact
Alcohol-related crashes is defined as when at least one
that the more charges they get, means the more money
of the people involved, whether or not they are the driver
they will receive, is enough to motivate MADD to keep this
(they could be the passenger or even a pedestrian), has
up and ultimately reach their goal.
had at least one sip of alcohol, or has been presumed to. A drunk-driving crash is described as a crash when one
ULTIMATE GOAL
of the drivers is over the legal limit. By not distinguishing the difference, MADD has a lot of leeway when coming
At this point, the legal limit is .08 Blood Alcohol Count
up with statistics. The words “coming up with” are used
level. MADD is currently in the process of trying to bring
because for the most part, no other organization, professor
the limit down to .04 BAC level. Doris Aiken, the founder
or research study ever seems to come up with the same
of MADD’s sister organization, Remove Intoxicated Drivers
conclusions as MADD. Conducting research in this shady
(RID), is at the front of this effort, using extreme techniques
manner allows them to substantially amplify their statistics
to be heard. Using the tragedy of 9/11 as a scare tactic,
and create more of a buzz when wrongfully presenting
she describes drunk drivers as “terrorists of the road.” This is
them as fact to the public and court officials.
never going to stop, at least until MADD reaches its ultimate goal. MADD’s Tina Pasco summarizes the organization’s
IN CONCLUSION
objective, “The only safe amount when you are mixing drinking and driving is zero, double zero. No alcohol.” Will
It is hard to believe in an organization that has been
MADD be able to reach this target? With its shady research
abandoned, like some bastard child, by its creator. Even
studies and skewed statistics they just very well might.
Dr. Frankenstein stuck around with the monster when it didn’t turn out the way he expected. MADD has turned
SKEWED STATISTICS
into a greedy bureaucracy obsessed with money and has been known for squandering money along with presenting
According to Hanson, MADD’s vice president Ralph
fiction as fact by many scholars and researchers, but that
Hingson composed a three-page study which concluded
is not enough. Candy Lightner, the official creator of this
that bringing the legal limit down to .04 BAC level would
beast says it best, “I worry that the movement I helped
save approximately 500-600 lives per year. MADD continues
create has lost direction.”
to use these statistics as hard scientific fact even though
This should not only be her concern and the concern
the General Accounting Office has released a report to
of these scholars and researchers. Their apprehension
Congress describing the research as “unfounded.” To
is not enough for there to be an impact. It needs to the
make it even more shady, if not a bit amusing, is how
public’s concern and until we are all informed, MADD will
quickly Hingson gathered these statistics and came to this
continue to grow until it is so consumed by its greed and
conclusion; when it’s taken over 15 years of research for
“anti-alcohol” mentality that we could very well see a
the U.S. Department of Transportation to say that it has yet
prohibition for the new century.
been able to establish such a judgment. MADD claims that 17,970 people were killed in the U.S. by drunk/impaired drivers in 2002. This claim has been challenged by many traffic safety organizations and the National Motorist’s Association even partnered up with getMADD.com to publicly show that this statistic is grossly
PanoramaIII!.indd 27
81 4/4/07 1:11:13 AM
Building 82 the bridge by: Larry Reyes
T
he “fence” represents a mental division between two
this wall may be a breather—STOP them from coming and taking
cultures and countries. A division that plays out among
our money and from overtaking our schools.
cultural ideas and practices such as questioning the
To others “es una herida abierta where the Third world
unknown; people tend to alienate what they don’t understand—
grates against the First and bleeds and before a scab forms it
because it’s strange; like a magic spell that has been cast upon
hemorrhages again, the lifeblood of two worlds merging to form a
our hearts and eyes. We must keep one thing in mind through all
third country—a border culture.” This quote is by Gloria Anzaldua
this—we all cross borders in search of Eden.
from her book “Borderlands,” which describes our way of life, or
To understand the current situation we must get a sense
anyone’s for that matter, on or near borders. This forgotten land,
of the past. Out country was made by immigration—we are all
our border land is an open wound which has yet to heal. Before
immigrants besides the Native Americans. The pilgrims came
and after the Mexican-American war this river became blood,
over supposedly for religious freedom, because they were
dividing outlaw from invader, friend from soldier, Tejano from
being discriminated against. How ironic isn’t it, because they
“American.”
discriminated against the Native Americans for their beliefs and
Our ancestors who walk back and forth across this river
even among themselves after some time (Salem witch trials.)
weep as we divide ourselves from our past. I believe that we
Well, how ignorant is that—where people will run for freedom
can only see our future with the eyes of our past. To have a past
and gain it on account of others, then turn around and
you got to have roots—where you can look back and seek the
commit genocide among natives when they were the
thread to continue the weaving of ourselves—as a whole. This
foreigners and strangers with their pale faces and
fence will only cause a discontinuity in the intricate pattern or our
diseases.
weave—then what will we become—or who will we be? Faceless,
How can we now call immigrants, immigrants
heartless, or rootless. What if we do become faceless—then who
as if we are being invaded, categorizing
are we among the whole of the world? If we become heartless,
me—alienating us? That title fits every
what do we fight against—or will we even be able to fight? What
single person in this country. This
if we sever our roots—are we soulless then? Yes, we would have
issue is important and creates
become people lost in the present, locked in an eternal, futile
a vital hit among us in the
struggle against our greatest enemy from which we will never
lower
Rio
Grande
Valley,
escape—ourselves.
only
Let us therefore wipe the black magic over our eyes, which
because of our
has blinded us. Let us take our Brown blood and wash ourselves
proximity
to
in the river of strength and unity. May we see our reflection in the
Mexico.
To
face of the water and see US—not I or me. Let us see the border
some of us
and realize that it isn’t a “border” at all. Let us see it as a cultural bridge that is not yet finished—let us take a bit of our souls and piece together a bridge that may connect two worlds. Then let us wall across it and eat the fruit of the unknown, of the curious, of the mysterious which is one of the eternal beauties existence has to offer.
Photo by: Yolin Muniz
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10:51 AM
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85
by: Trey Serna
I
t’s a fact that jogging has its physical and mental benefits. Experts say that jogging helps people lose weight, fight disease and aging, as well as helping relieve depression, stress and other psychological factors. After years of jogging, I’ve seen the obvious physical gratifications and while I’ve seen some reduction in my stress level; how am I suppose to relieve all my stress when while jogging I get stressed out by the non-joggers and the joggers with no manners? Some people should be aware of a few rules when in the presence of joggers.
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4/2/07 12:56:47 AM
Rule I:
The track is NOT a place for kids. Tracks are labeled with numbers for each lane. Usually, a jogger sticks to one lane and only switches to another when passing someone. However, it’s hard to stay on a steady course when you have the typical Valley family with their zillion kids who they all brought to the track crammed in their Ford Focus. The track isn’t a park, people! It’s usually women, who show up in pairs or trios and bring the kids along. They begin their ever-so-slow walking while the kids “entertain themselves.” While they can see their children, they do nothing to control them when they’re running around in front of joggers and throwing a ball around. It’s also quite annoying to see the kids damaging the field by tearing grass and digging holes. And a note to the children, the sandbox isn’t there for you to build sand castles and to throw at each other. We live close to the coast damnit; go to the beach!
Rule II:
Walk and Talk but MOVE IT! Observing the track area at dusk, many women show up in groups. While they say they’re there for the benefit
PanoramaIII!.indd 2
of getting some exercise, the only thing that seems to be getting the most exercise is their mouth. Hours at the track are spent gossiping, but, for the serious jogger, this can arise some annoyance. The first problem is that the women are usually in pairs or groups of three, which takes up about four track lanes because they tend to wobble back and forward from lane to lane as they get caught up in their dirty laundry chat. It would be OK, but it is frustrating when you are jogging on one lane and try switching to another, but they wobble over to the other lane, making you have to switch again. The gossip conversations seem to make them oblivious to all their surroundings. Perhaps if they want to gossip, they should go to dinner and talk. After all, they’re not losing any weight at the track when they’re walking slower than a turtle with a broken leg.
Rule III:
Passing gas is okay, but be discreet. While it’s not commonly talked about, it’s a familiar thing to suddenly get a few gas attacks while jogging. Some joggers put on their iPods to block out all outside noise and motivate themselves with a few tunes. But,
4/2/07 12:56:50 AM
one thing those individuals need to keep in mind is that just because they can’t hear us, doesn’t mean we can’t hear them. Jogging seems to stimulate a few things in the stomach and things seem to get turned around, causing a sudden “birth of gas” if you will. Trying to hold it in is nearly impossible when a gas contraction hits, so, the jogger usually lets it out. Because of the frequent movement of the legs and buttocks, the gas usually comes out with a loud noise. When confronted with the situation of gas, one should look behind them to make sure the airway is clear. If no one is behind you or closely behind you, then it’s okay to let one rip. However, if someone is behind you, it’s best to wait for them to pass. If you can’t hold it in, the best thing to do is to stop running and try to let the gas out slowly, preventing any loud noises. One can also come to a stop and squat to pretend their “tying their shoe” while relieving the gas issue. The purpose of kneeling over to “tie your shoe” is because it allows the buttocks to slightly open a little more, allowing for a smooth, discreet exit. It also gives you an alibi for just abruptly stopping your jog. But for the sake of some courtesy, don’t just let them out like nothing.
Rule IV:
Eye contact means war. It’s much like when you’re driving and a car pulls up next to you. It’s a known rule that if the driver of the car next to you makes eye contact with you and revs the engine, a race is on. This is present in the jogging world as well. When someone is arriving at the track and makes eye contact there’s a certain thing to watch for. If they greet you with a soft “Hello” or “How you doin’?” and a smile, then it’s okay. Continue with your jog. However, if they just give you “the stare;” where they look at you intently, then that’s code for “IT’S ON!” Not sure exactly what “the stare” is? Go jogging and when it happens, you’ll know. While this can happen between man and woman or woman-to-woman, it is more commonly done so by the male-to-male gender. It’s a way of competing to see who can run more or last longer or is in better physical shape. It’s just something to satisfy their egos. The only time it may not mean war is unless their sexual preference is aimed towards men; they might just be trying to pick you up. A way to avoid any of these eye conflicts is to look down while jogging, wearing sunglasses or both. If it’s dark, then you’ve got nothing to worry about.
PanoramaIII!.indd 3
Rule V:
Stretch somewhere else. Most people stretch before their workout to prevent pulling a muscle and such. Some people feel though that they’re the most important jogger at the track and stretch right on the track, completely interfering the course a jogger is on. It’d be a completely different story if they were lying in one lane or doing a quick little stretch, but, I’ve seen some joggers stretch out completely on multiple lanes. What the hell is up with that? There’s lots of grass off to the side and even parts of the track that lead off from the lanes that people can stretch on, but no, they do it right smack in the middle. Some people even stop jogging and suddenly drop to the ground and start doing push-ups or sit-ups. To me, it just seems as if they’re showing off and annoys me even more. Is it really that hard to move it to the side? There’s always a bulletin or sign posted with rules of the track. Perhaps one should consider revising it for those stupid people out there. Oh well, off for a jog I go.
4/2/07 12:56:51 AM
chris2
4/3/07
9:48 PM
Page 35
G
rowing up is hard no matter
what you are, but growing up a
coconut is even harder. For
those of you unfamiliar with the special meaning of the term, allow me to clarify.
A coconut refers to a person of Mexican
descent who is brown on the outside, but is
white on the inside, meaning he or she holds many Anglo-American ideals. In the area I
They call me the ‘C’ word by: Frank Cavillo
live in today, it’s quite easy to be labeled as one. After all, I should know.
At 3 years old, every word that came out
of my mouth was in Spanish, which was indicative of the language habits of the peo-
ple that were around me at the time. Shortly before turning 4, my parents and I moved into a very affluent upper-middle class
neighborhood where all of my playmates had blonde hair and blue eyes. Interestingly
enough, I never felt like an outsider among them and they never treated me as one.
As a result of my upbringing, I adopted a
number of traits that could be found in the average white male. Such traits included a hesitance toward certain Mexican foods, an accent that reflected standard American English with no hint of an accent whatsoev-
er, and a very poor knowledge of the Spanish language. While these habits were
adopted unconsciously, the effects they’ve
had on me as a young adult have troubled me at times.
My relatives, including my mother, will at
times take the opportunity at family gettogethers to make fun of me for being too
88
“American” and will sometimes have me
repeat Spanish words that are difficult for me
chris2
4/3/07
11:50 PM
Page 37
to pronounce simply so they can have a
their lives.
understand what is being said when a story
my race never really hit me until one day two
school I sometimes find myself being looked
confirm an order I had placed through an
nice laugh. Other times I will struggle to
or a joke is being told in Spanish. At work and down upon from individuals who speak with
Spanish accents and end up getting the impression that I somehow think I’m more
superior than they are. If they only knew that
I don’t. No matter what upbringing I might have had, I have always prided myself on
being non-judgmental as possible and it boggles my mind, how with one look at me, someone of my race can make the assumption that I am.
By contrast, when I am with my white
friends and one of them remarks that they
The effects of my persona in relation to
years ago, when I called a 1-800 number to
online store. When they were reviewing my
information, the operator asked he how to pronounce my last name. After I did, the operator asked me if I was Mexican to which
I replied: “yes.” He then said to me: “You
don’t sound like it. You must be one of the smart ones.”
I was shocked and devastated for many
different reasons and from that moment on, I
have lived an on-going conflict of who and what I am.
I am not sure if I will ever be at peace my
don’t get some aspect of Mexican culture
race and how I should act. And at times I
immediately take offense and jump down
dren in the future, simply because I do not
and make a harmless, non-offensive joke, I
their throats about it, though not in a volatile manner. At times like that I feel like I am fight-
ing on behalf of all the members of my race.
Other coconuts that I know of adopt an
indifference for their critics and inturn create
a sort of disdain for their God-given heritage. “I’m an American, not some Spanish-
speaking wetback,” they proclaim.
And I think to myself, how can someone
question whether or not I want to have chilwant them to have to go through the same feelings of conflict I feel ever yday when I
wake up and face the world. I neither call
myself an American or a Mexican, yet I am
both. No matter what any of my detractors may say, I am proud of who I am and I will never forget my roots or where I come from. -
completely turn their back and disregard so
much cultural history that is a part of them? Watching other coconuts and their actions fills me with emotions of hate, anger, sadness and sorrow, but in the end, it is every per-
son’s decision how they choose to exist and
I am in no position to tell anyone how to live
89
Photo by: Aimee Hernandez
the single life.indd 2
4/2/07 2:04:53 AM
91
The single life
“D
ear Mom and Dad, Merry Christmas. I love you,” was what the homemade card said. Green construction paper and red crayon made for one of the best and worst gifts in my gift giving history. As a 5-year-old I was excited to give my mom the Styrofoam ornament and card I had made the week before in kindergarten. As she opened the card, her eyes filled with tears of joy, or so I thought at the time. But now as an adult I realize it was of confusion and the realization her daughter noticed something was different. She then passed the card to my grandmother before asking why I had added “and Dad” in the card. With the wide eyed innocence that all 5 year olds possess, I simply said it was because everyone else had it on their cards, so I thought it should be on mine too. After that day I slowly started to become educated in the life of single parents. It must have been hard for my mother to see the questions start floating around in my mind. It amazes me sometimes how people blame their bad situations or crappy childhoods on the fact that they didn’t have a mother or father, as if it’s some sort of excuse for their own behavior. There are many kinds of single parents. Whether they are divorcees, appointed guardians, widows or widowers and unmarried parents or those who have chosen to have a child on their own; they all face the hard task of raising a child alone. Without having a partner to share the responsibility, stress and the day-today tough decisions can take a toll on the family.
the single life.indd 3
by: Angela Salazar
Watching my grandma go about her daily life, I often forget that she, too, was a single parent. In 1972 my grandpa died of a heart attack, leaving my grandma as a new single parent to two daughters who were the oldest and three sons. They were left to her sole care. Linda, the oldest of the five, was pregnant and in the middle of her second year of college, while my mother had just started her first job with Hidalgo County. Joey and Javier were in high school and middle school and Victor, the youngest, was in third grade. As a widow, my grandma became a single parent out of necessity. At the time, my mother and aunt helped out the family by getting jobs along with my grandpa’s veteran pension. My aunt and her husband would help look after the younger ones, and my mother left college to get a job to help pay for the younger ones’zv school clothes and other necessities. My grandma was a homemaker, taking care of her husband and children. This role didn’t change, but became magnified. Never paying much attention to it before, I think the hardest part for her was to raise my uncles without the influence of a father. They were all old enough to remember my grandpa and the lessons he taught them, but they had yet to enter the tricky fields of adolescence and adulthood.
4/2/07 2:04:55 AM
92 the single life.indd 4
Studies and statistics found living with only one parent can lead to mental health problems, financial burdens and a possible increase in teen pregnancies and juvenile delinquency. It is said that “statistically, children in single parent homes fare worse than those with two parents.” The assumption made by these studies is that a parent has to work more hours in order to make ends meet since they are the sole bread winner in the home, which then leads to less supervision for the child. This of course, like all Lifetime movies, would imply that this leads the child to do drugs, start drinking or get into trouble with the law. My mother became the second generation of single parents in my family. She had always said if she wasn’t married in her 30s, then she wanted a child anyway. Though, while in a relationship with my father, she became pregnant with me and so she became an unwed mother after he decided to leave. I always found it humorous that my first curse word was “bastard.” I remember my mother’s face the first time I said that word because she realized what had just come out of my mouth. That’s one word that’s never uttered in our house, not even as a joke. “It’s not funny,” is all she says whenever that word is said,even if it’s in a movie or joke. Looking back again into my childhood, there isn’t one memory that doesn’t involve my mother. By some luck that was given, my mother had the opportunity to attend every concert, parent-teacher conference and volleyball game that could have ever taken place between the ages of 5 and 18. But I was one of the lucky ones, because even though I don’t agree with the negative findings in the studies and statistics conducted,
I understand not everyone has the same experience. It sometimes crosses my mind if I would have the strength to become a single parent. Truth be told, I don’t know. Single parenthood is all I have known, so it may not be such a stretch. Then I remember the struggle that my mother and grandma have gone through and I don’t know if I would be able to do it alone. I guess only time will tell for me. Reading the card from kindergarten now, I laugh thinking how different life might have been, but never regretting what is.
Photo by: Aimee Hernandez
4/2/07 2:04:59 AM
...TAKEN by: Chevy Rodriguez
little boy once got lost in the woods he stopped his crying for a moment to hear the sound of night. The sound of drinking water through the trees. Looking up at the moon light impregnating eyes --(Silence) The crisp leaves slowly crunching beneath his muddy shoes smelling of mildew and time. This road was not meant to be— No he thought to himself. (Whispers) There were risks involved on this path. Some unwanted seasons that got in the way. (Contemplation) Tree whistling softly In the cold breathe of winter
PanoramaIII!.indd 23
There was a slight emitting scent Of rain and frost. Glossy frames of skeletal leaves reaching out to heaven some golden ones fallen to the earth in warmth losing all rhythm and balance and praise. (Nostalgia) He continued looking Up and through and at the night that flowed into his nostrils into the depths of his blood. He thought about people who never really saw him Who needed to be out, out this life to see to frost on the path. To see what it meant to be lost And found—then he found himself within. It was that which mattered most. The crying stopped, mouth dry caked with salt. Wind blowing through hair. He smiled.
93 4/2/07 1:11:38 AM
I
t has many different names, many different erent colors, and many different shapes. Most
people don’t talk about it, but they deal with it every day. When it came up in a drunken nken conversation, it really made me realize how poop op is everywhere and a big part of our lives.
by:
ry Ma
ols h c Ni
Personally, I hate poop, especially when it involves olves me having to pick up my dog’s dingle berries. Even the word poop sounds vulgar and disgusting, but somehow, it still makess me laugh like a 4-year-old. No matter how repulsive, it’s an essential part of our body’s way to get rid of wastes. This brings me to my next point. int. If someone asks in a drunken state of mind, “All right, who looks at their poop when they wipe?” Avoid the topic at all costs. But, in all honesty, who doesn’t? ? We
have to fold the paper to use the other side or to see when we should stop wiping. Poop, in my opinion, also defines one’s comfort level with friends. My friends take their comfort mfort levels to an ultimate high. Something I never noticed until now, is how much they talk to me on n the phone while they’re sitting on the infamous pot. Sometimes I’ll hear odd noises, and their voice seems ms to keep echoing off the walls of the small enclosed area. So, naturally, I’ll ask, “Are you in the restroom?” om?” Then, they would reply, “Well, if you must know, yes (Toilet flushes), what?! It’s natural and besides your voice helps the process move a lot faster.” Either my voice seems to do wonders for people’s bowel owel movements, or talking on the phone has replaced the whole idea of reading while on the can. I also hate when poop causes me such discomfort, such as diarrhea or constipation; especially cially when you’re in the middle of an exam and you’re not allowed to leave the room until everyone e has finished taking their test. No matter what you eat, food seems to go straight through you. To make ake a long story short, that is why my friends have labeled me “The Diarrhea Queen.”
94 Poop.indd 2
4/3/07 11:55:43 PM
95 Not only is human poop problematic, but animal
popular on the Internet, it’s in movies as well. Movies such
poop can also be a nuisance. An example would be when some someone steps on dog poop. Having to figure out whose
as “American Wedding,” where a character named Stifler
shoe it’s on and who’s to blame? Your own dog, who took a cra crap out of his designated area, or your friend who just track tracked shit all over your brand new bedroom carpet.
a chocolate éclair and utters in disgust, “Oh it just so good.”
Once while I was walking on campus, a pigeon
The “Scoop On Poop,” answers this little yellow mystery for
decid decided to whitewash me. Not only did I have white, smelly, poop on my head, but it dripped down onto my shoulder.
us; the reason corn always seems to be visible in poop is
By no now, it was too late to go home and change. I had no other choice but to report to class. To make matters worse,
like cellulose. So, it appears that it’s the entire kernel, but in
the p professor decides to do an in class group project. Five minut minutes into the group discussion someone asks, “Does anyo anyone smell that?” No one answered. I hate bird poop. I
South Park. I hope no one thought he was just a squashed
don’t care how lucky they say it is.
bad smell it produces. Taking a crap or what my uncle calls,
puts a small piece of pooh in his mouth to masquerade it as Or the infamous quote from the Austin Powers character, Fat Bastard, “There are small chunks of corn in my crap!”
that the outer skin of the kernel is not digestible, somewhat reality, it is just the skin. Last but not least, is Mr. Hanky from up Tootsie Roll. Another thing that is so apparent with poop is the
So what exactly is poop? According to “The Scoop
“Dropping the Cosby kids off at the lake,” can be an odor
On P Poop” by Brenna E. Lorenz, poop is made up of threefourth fourths water, which it absorbs while passing through the intest intestines. It also consists of one-third of dead bacteria. This
disaster. I know this for a fact, thanks to CiCi’s Pizza. I went
bact bacterium is made up of microorganisms that help us digest our fo food we consume. Another one-third of poop is made
to help. Let’s just say I would rather have clogged the toilet,
up o of miscellaneous indigestible material, like cellulose. The rremaining portion is composed of fats, dead cells,
the bright idea of pouring shampoo inside the toilet bowl
chole cholesterol, salts, and mucus from the lining of the intestines. And iif you ever wondered why turds float, it’s because there
bubble stories circulating around.
is usu usually a high gas content in it or your poop has a high fat conte content.
of the bacteria inside of it that produces sulfur or nitrogen
Poop may be composed of different metabolic
same chemicals that give farts their nasty smell. Thanks to
waste wastes, but that doesn’t mean that it is only appearing when you get off the jar to flush. It is also so ever apparent in ou our media. Just when I typed in the word poop into an
invention of Lysol and other aerosols, I’ve been saved from
Intern Internet search engine I got 66,401 Web site matches. I guess when they said you can find anything on the Internet
So whether you call poop: ass flakes, ass kabobs,
back to my ex-boyfriend’s house and had to use his loo. Unfortunately for me, there was no sign of Lysol or a window than had someone use the restroom after me. Then, I had so it could give a good aroma. I think there are still toilet Lorenz’s article says that the reason poop stinks is because rich compounds, and hydrogen sulfide. Those are the
embarrassing myself and also from choking on someone else’s toxic smell. chocolate exports, chubacca chunks, cigar fish, the fourth
they w weren’t kidding. There are thousands of Web sites such as sm smellypoop.com, poopreport.com and doodie.com
teletubby, grunties, little army men, oples and bononos, 30
with facts about poop, synonyms for poop, poop jokes, poop photos and poop merchandise. Not only is poop
that the next time you flush!
second buzz, or Mr. Hanky, poop is everywhere. Think about
Photos by: Yolin Muniz
Poop.indd 3
4/3/07 11:56:05 PM
chris2
4/2/07
6:19 PM
Page 22
WISH YOU
WERE HERE
T
he first time I saw her I was drinking a cup of coffee. The way her hands
were scanning the coffee cup’s
body, the way her hello was all mixed up in the caffeine, sweet and low, drifting away
from her lips; it all happened so suddenly somewhere in the back stage of my own life.
… there were things that I wanted to tell
you hidden in my body.
I remember trying to take in your face,
name, sounds you made. The way your
drinking coffee as we kissed and our lips getting all mixed up and stirred by passion,
soaked in 2 percent milk and 6 packages of Sweet and Low, just you and I, but there’s no
use in complaining. I dropped my coffee off
the day before I had a chance to taste it when I should have ordered the Milky Mocha.
You let those things go and those people
never return. I should have known that.
It’s more than I’ll ever remember with
dress moved all 180 and 90 and 360, I kept
any other lady even after she/you stopped
day at five o’clock in the afternoon and
movie. When she walked away, she walked
hoping I’d be able to see your rhythms that
have more than our names become familiar
within us like cement that would last longer than Rome.
The way you smiled at me giving me
hope for love. If I could have written your
name in my heart, I would have, but instead
talking to me the world felt like a silent away like a girl.
This crazy thing called love shouldn’t
have been a thing but substance. I wanted this in me. It was all spooky. Speechless.
Instead I got your leftovers dripping small
you carved into me like a tree. We should’ve
written verses that you will never know it. It
changed your mind the salty water and
cup of coffee, so that with my hands, I could
written it in the sand by the beach so if you foam would wash it away.
Who did you think you were? Venus?
It was just you and I. If things had worked
out we’d be talking about the old days. Love. Complicated.
96
A poem by: Chevy Rodriguez
was wrong of me to want to hold you like a
scan your body, feeling the softness of your biography, warmth on these hands so foreign and exciting.
We both know how much I love coffee.
The only problem is that every day I see
I could have remembered a time when
romance/them/you know like the old peo-
there could have been a time we were
together which is romance and to me suffer-
you and I were having some good times, like
ple in the coffee shop eating a sandwich
chris2
4/2/07
6:21 PM
Page 24
ing, suffering, and solitude. Why did I want to be a poet?
I don’t know.
Longing, lonely, lost maybe I can have a
sandwich one day too? A whole sandwich not, just half. What is it that makes people share their lives? Movies?
I remember thinking I could be like those
famous lovers drinking their coffee.
You know like Romeo and Juliet, oh wait committed
burnt. Even now I stand in the sun waiting to see if your symmetry will appear on the horizon next to where the sun will rise.
When you crashed into every part of this
soul like sunlight through my little window, splashing into every corner of this room, all
180 and 90 and 360 then all dark, like that
Art imitating life?
they
or from your smile, but for awhile then I was
suicide,
no—like
day I spilled my coffee on the floor before I
had a chance to taste it. I suspect it was
because I tried to fit your whole universe in this little hot heart of mine.
I was wrong to think your face was like
Shakespeare and his gal in the movie, oh
the sun because that was all just an illusion.
Well, what about Charlie? You know
squeezed and seared and saturated my
wait she married another guy.
Charlie Chaplin the Tramp? Oh, wait the girl
in his life married another guy too. Well, if
you’ve seen the movie she was blind. An operation later she could see and marries the rich guy.
Just see the movie. Love is blind.
Confusion, chaos, complex, and compli-
cated.
Remembrance.
First we caffeinated then you incinerat-
ed. Next time I’ll be sure to get a coffee holder.
When I first met you it was like a sunny
day. The rays all over my body, crashing all over my skin, crawling all over me like ants in
honey. The way your name tasted so sweet when I said your name and you just poured inside me. Then…
Well that is how I like to remember you
when you just crashed into my life like the sunlight. And for a while it was warm. I was
never sure if it was from the sun, the coffee,
The only thing real was your coffee burns heart dry until it only oozed dust, not sugar or desire, but dust.
These days though the shades are
drawn, sometimes you sneak behind the curtains and cover your face.
I knew I was damned when you walked
away or damned when my coffee fell on the
floor slant wise. I was already damned when I met you, damned when I fell all slant, all 180
and 90 and 360, all dark and damned when you stopped talking to me, damned when you took everything from me, damned because I let you. Damn.
Maybe it was your smile.
The only thing that stayed with me was
the residue of my coffee on my shoes. Wish you were here.
Together We Saw More
97
A
s I sat in the plane that was about to take me to the other side of the world, I began rummaging
through
my
backpack
for some batteries. There at the very bottom of my bag, wrapped with a thin towel, was a pack of flour tortillas with a note. It read, “Just in case there no tortillas in New Zealand, Love Grandma.” I was on my way to study abroad for six months in another country and my grandma sent me tortillas! I was so embarrassed, but later that pack of tortillas would be the start that helped me be proud of who I am. I was sitting in the Los Angeles airport lobby waiting to board the plane. I began saying to myself, “I can’t do this. I don’t know anyone. I have never been away from home.” The gate was filled with college students from all Story & Photo by: Mary Nichols
over the United States. A few I spoke to had been away from home one time or another. I called up my mom for reassurance, and she began to ask me about the people around me. For the first time in public I was responding back in Spanish. This is something I was usually too embarrassed to do back home, but it gave me some comfort because I knew no one knew what I was saying. Then, she asked me, “So, are you the only Hispanic there?” That’s when I realized I was the only brown-skinned person in my study abroad program and possibly my gate. At first, it was no big deal. I thought it might be good to get away from all things that made up the Rio Grande Valley. At home, my friends and I were always trying to separate ourselves from being so-called “Mexicans” and more categorized as “white Hispanics.” Reason being, the school we attended was looked down upon if we spoke in Spanish. Some even would think poorly and assumed we came from Mexico for an education. Then, I boarded the plane and about 13 hours later, I got up to use the restroom. As I was waiting, one of the flight attendants asked me, “So, are you excited to go home?” I looked at him confused and replied, “This plane is going to New Zealand, right?” He started laughing and apologized. He thought I looked like a local New Zealander. I laughed and just thanked the Gods that I hadn’t boarded the
98 PanoramaIII!.indd 28
wrong plane. As time progressed, I made friends quickly. My program leaders knew my name right off the bat, but my ethnicity started to come into question on a regular basis. This was because New Zealand is made up of Caucasian Kiwis and South Pacific Islander Maoris. The Maoris were who I just
4/2/07 11:17:01 PM
happened to look somewhat similar to, from their dark skin
idea of throwing a Cinco De Mayo party; where we bought
and facial structures.
tequila, and made tons of Mexican food and invited all
For the first three weeks, I was homeless and living in a
our Kiwi friends. We even made our own pinata. It was
hostel with other Americans in the same position, due to
quite an experience, and I was beginning to embrace
the lack of dorms. One night at the hostel, several of us
more and more of who I was and who I was becoming.
Americans gathered outside to drink and socialize. Then,
Those who now knew me now, knew I was American
one of the girls from Louisiana asked if anyone had any
and Hispanic. Walking down the streets with my boyfriend
CDs. I said I did and was about to get up to bring them
John, who was American, while holding hands, would
when she said, “I don’t think anyone wants to listen to
bring stares upon us by the Maori and Kiwis. They also
Spanish music.” The crickets that night were louder than
made ugly remarks toward us, because they assumed I
ever. I looked at her somewhat angry and said “Uh, I don’t
was a Maori dating a Kiwi, which is still somewhat frowned
listen to Spanish music, or even own a CD of it,” which was
upon. John who had broken his nose the day before while
such a lie, because before I left, I bought a Selena CD in
playing rugby, was approached by a Maori man that
case I felt like hearing it. I took offense to the fact that she
asked him “Hey bro did she do that to you?” and John
assumed that just because I was Hispanic, that all I listened
replied joking, “Yeah.” So the Maori man just said, “You
to was Spanish music.
have to watch out for Maori women, their tough.” We just
When classes began, I decided to take some Maori classes. I took an introductory language course along with
laughed it off, but soon the being confused for a Pacific Islander became some what scary.
a class on their contemporary history and their ways of
During our Spring Break vacation, we traveled to the
living. Every morning, when I walked in or out, a professor
South Island. Some people treated my friend Chad and I
or student would tell me, “kia ora or tena koe” or ask me
unfairly because they had me confused, until we explained
how I was doing, “Kei te pehea koe?” which at the time,
we were Americans. Their tune changed. It was quite
I had no idea what they were saying. So, I would smile
shocking. One RV park we went to stay at, the manager
and walk away or tell them I did not understand. They
remarked to Chad while I was away, “We don’t get a lot
would laugh or say, “No worries, we thought you were
of them dark skinned down here. They can’t handle the
Maori.” Then, the conversation would switch, with them
cold.” This was the cue for us to leave. While traveling
wondering where I was from, what my ethnicity was, and
back by ferry to the North Island, we shared a table with
if I could teach them some Spanish. My Maori professor
a female Kiwi. She kept staring at Chad and I. When
and my language tutor both thought it was spectacular
she realized we were getting some what uncomfortable
that I could speak Spanish. They would cut our teaching
she whispered, “I’m sorry; I don’t mean to be rude. I was
time together so that I could teach them some Spanish. I
just wondering what ethnicity are you?” Chad who was
started to feel proud of knowing Spanish because I was
annoyed by this time responded loudly, “She’s American!”
the only Hispanic on the campus, with the exception of
Then, I replied, “and Hispanic,” with a big smile and pushed
the Spanish professor from Argentina.
the play button on my Selena CD.
Meanwhile, back at home, my flat mates, who were
Toward the end of the semester, I had fully embraced
Americans, were starting to appreciate the fact that I
who I was now. Hispanic and proud of it! My roommates
was Hispanic. I got a care package from home filled with
were obsessed with Mexican food, Mexican music, and I
tortillas, canned jalapenos, rice, beans, fideo, Oreos, and
had broken some of the stereotypes they had of Hispanics.
Spam. I cooked them burritos, chalupas, showed them
I was no longer embarrassed to talk in Spanish on the
how to eat real tacos, made salsa, and guacamole.
phone or in public. My Maori professor however, was
Soon, they began to buy all the groceries. They felt that
someone I would miss greatly. Before I left, she gave me
I should not have to pay because I cooked most of the
a small boxed present, which was labeled: “To: Mere, NZ’s
meals. I even expelled the myth about the movie “Selena”
1st Mexican Maori.” In it was a necklace that represented
not being real; once I told them that she lived two and
the many changes we go through life, to become who we
half hours away from where I lived. Next thing I knew, my
are. New Zealand not only helped me discover who I was
Selena CD had been burned and copied by the whole
but, help me become someone I wasn’t. I was Hispanic
house and our hostel neighbors. They even embraced the
but, now Maori at heart.
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And it feels like home by: Bertha Perez
W
the hidden face.indd 2
their
with many friends that would help me learn
home country, he/she does so
English. These problems would come later. I
in a painful way. Tears are shed
had imagined the United States as portrayed
for those left behind. There is a hole made in
in the movies, with huge buildings as in New
the soul at the very moment the first step is
York, and colossal highways and streets.
taken. In a suitcase, all that is needed to move
What I found, was a rather humble version
on is carried, but there are items impossible
of this dreamt greatness. The Rio Grande
to fit in. One cannot put in their luggage the
Valley is a unique place. It swings between
experiences that made one who he/she is.
the American life style and the style of those
hen
someone
leaves
As a foreign student in Texas, I was never
who have come from the other side of the
able to take my country to where I was going.
river, and who cannot forget their heritage. It
I can almost touch with my mind the feelings
is a mixture of civilizations. Here, the fighting
I had when leaving home. The uncertainty
of two worlds to dominate stopped, giving
of not knowing where I was heading to was
birth to a beautiful combination of cultures.
the only certainty I had. I never imagined I
In the corridors of the University of Texas
was about to discover that home is not what
Pan-American, something similar happens.
I thought, that home is not hidden in a place,
There is a community that because of the
rather where it dwells, is within oneself.
appearance of its members passes among
When I came to the United States, it was
the rest of the students without being noticed.
to take an English course that would last four
They walk and look just as anyone else, but if
months. There, I got to know people from all
you pay a bit more attention, you can hear
over the world. I met Sun, a guy from Korea,
as they talk that they are not the same. It is a
and Chie, a girl from Japan. There were also
community made from people whose home
people from Turkey, Venezuela, Brazil and
country is not the United States; they have
many other countries. The most surprising
a very cute, some-times incomprehensible
thing however, was that most of the people
accent. They are not as familiar with the
in my classroom were from Reynosa. It may
customs and styles of this place. But above
seem as the most likely thing to happen
all, they are here to become better people.
since we are a border city, but to me, it was
They are just like any other student, the history
astonishing.I left home with a very erroneous
of the future, of this and other countries.
idea of how the city I was about to see would
The international students of UTPA come
look like. I imagined myself struggling with
from many different countries; however, most
the impossibility of getting my point across in
of them come from Mexico. The university has
a language I had never spoken before, and
opened the doors for them, and offers them
4/3/07 10:44:34 PM
101 “I had imagined the United States as
portrayed
in
the
movies,
with huge buildings as in New York, and
What
colossal I
found,
highways was
a
and
rather
streets.
version of this dreamt greatness.�
humble
different opportunities so they can come to study here. There are financial programs that make tuitions and fees more affordable. There is also the willingness to embrace people with different ideologies. UTPA is a place where students have the chance to get to know other worlds without having to leave their own. International students can make this happen. Each of them are a little piece of the country they come from brought to Texas for the enlightenment of its residents. It is true that a hole is made when we leave home, but I have come to know that it is what we have inside that defines what we are. The new experiences that fulfilled the empty space I felt when I left Mexico, have been just as big as Texas. I know that just as it has been to me, many other foreign students feel at home at UTPA, not only because what the university offers them, but because they are part of it, and it’s this feeling of belonging that is called home. Photo by: Aimee Hernandez
the hidden face.indd 3
4/3/07 10:45:08 PM
His “Mexican” mother
“Look bitch, don’t laugh at the way I speak Spanish, sh, I don’t laugh at your inability to speak English properly.” rly.” “I’m gonna kick your ass gringa.” “I dare you, and I’m m not a gringa, I’m Mexican.” “Well you sure do act like one.” ne.” “Shut up ghetto bitch.” by: Victoria C. Guajardo uajardo
as
be
Interracial relationships in my family ily have
it
been the norm since our clan has existed. xisted. I
m a y
have Black, White, and Filipino cousins ins and
believe
it never dawned on me that people looked
growing
down on them, until I heard my brother-inother-in-
to
today,
up I was always mistaken
In a small family, news travels fast ast and
I
secrets don’t exist. I have learned this the
had very fair skin
hard way in my husband’s family. ly. The
and light hair. I’m
most devastating and amazing thing ng that
sure having white
happened to me was when I wass three
best friends and
months along. It took an act of ignorance orance
boyfriends
also
to awaken my senses; I knew what it was like
added to the delusion, but I was never
to be a parent. My brother-in-law told his
bothered
misconceptions
grandmother and cousin that my unborn born son
because I knew I was brown and proud on
was another “beaner” tainting their family’s
the inside.
blood. What about my family’s blood? ood? I
white
by
people’s
as
law’s take on mixed babies.
a
person.
Freshman year in college at Texas A&M
have heard him use beaner before, e, and I
College Station, I found refuge for my
never let him get away with it, but this his time
problem when my Mexican-ness stuck out
his words made me feel helpless. How w could
like a sore thumb. I loved being the only
I be a beaner? How could we be beaners? eaners?
brunette out of a surge of blondes and my
My mother has her doctorate, and my dad
unique culture made me very interesting. I
has his double masters. Those beaners ers he’s
was the “Token Mexican.” It’s no surprise to
talking about worked their whole life to
people who know me well that I married a
give their children everything they y didn’t
white guy and that we’re happily expecting
have; lavish vacations, nice clothes, a great
a little boy named Dylan who I like to call
education and most importantly love. e. I was
Dylito.
filled with so much anger and fear, it was so
Some people will always believe I want
heart wrenching. I was upset that someone meone
to be white and to others all I will be is
could be so malicious towards an unborn
Mexican no matter how educated, kind, or
child, MY unborn child. On the surface, ace, his
genuine I can be. I have always looked up
words about my ethnicity hurt, but the he fact
to my parents and thought of them as the
of the matter is an innocent child not ot even
quintessential Mexicans; they are educated,
out of the womb was insulted. In the immortal mmortal
considerably well off and are still Mexican to
words of Jeff Buckley, “Oh that was so o real.”
the core.
HisMexicanMother.indd 2
A
s hard
Months have passed since that horrible
423207 9:18:57 PM
103 incident and my brother-in-law and I make nice now. I half-heartedly inciden wanted him to make good on his promise of never wanting to see my son, but app apparently he has come around. He is interested in my pregnancy and his nep nephew. And as fate would have it, he is expecting a child too. I have almost fforgiven him, but one thing that will never change was my epiphany: My husb husband and I will always hurt more than our children will. The experience that I am going through is more than hunger cravings and back pain, real love and ma maturity is happening to me. I am going to completely love someone else, giv give up my life for them, and worry about them for the rest of my life. My world c changed, and I was plagued with hundreds of parental anxieties. Will my son have learning disabilities? Will he grow up normal? Will he be happy? Will he d die young? Will he hurt someone else? I could have given into these apprehensions, but another parental instinct kicked in: Trust. No matter what appreh happens, I will love and enjoy my son’s life to the fullest and trust in God’s plan happen for him. Most Mexican American families can agree that the game of Chalupa Mos is more than just Bingo. It is a great way to learn Spanish and make fun of family m members by identifying them as a person on the card. Growing up, my brother Nick used to be El Diablo, now that he is older, nicer, and a marine; we resp respectfully call him El Soldado. I have been coined El Valiente because of my e extremely short-temper, and because I am tough. I never took it as an insult, ra rather a tribute to my tenaciousness and courage. I was never afraid to stand up for myself against that same gangster girl who always called me gringa. It doesn’t matter that I speak Spanish with an accent, or that I am not completely fluent. I understand the plight of my people here and across the comple border, and while I am not an activist, I can be an example of perseverance. With growing gro aspirations to be a journalist, my mother used to tell me that I was goi going to be the Mexican Katie Couric one day, and I would always say, “No mo mom, I am going to be me but the female Dan Rather.” I kno know in my heart, I am Mexican enough to raise this child in a culturally relative environment. He will know the struggle of the Mexican American, but learn to rise above it just as his mother and grandparents did. Down the road, someone else might make fun of his heritage, but he will be given so much someon love an and self-confidence it won’t bother him. It’s scary to find out how much love you can have for a person that you have never met before and suddenly realize that t you will live with this fear for the rest of your life. I know I won’t always be there for my son when someone hurts him. Some girl will probably break his heart a and he will be disappointed. One day, he might be embarrassed of me but I hope ho it’s because of something stupid that I say or do and not because my last name is still partially my father’s. I hope he is proud of his dual heritage and live lives to be an example of what true love and tolerance can be.
HisMexicanMother.indd 3
423207 9:19:01 PM
By: Salvador Grajeda
by: Salvador Grajeda
M
athematics. It is a boring and complicated thorn in my intellectual side. This subject has been for a while now. Years even! I barely got through my Geometry class in high school, which almost held me back, and I must’ve failed its lesbian sister Algebra three times in college. Yet, it hasn’t always been this way. I can remember a time when I was a youngster in elementary school and I enjoyed math. I really did. I loved addition! You put things together to make more, more and more! I loved it. So where did it all go wrong? I’m not going to blame my weakness on my teachers; I’m sure I had excellent teachers. Nor will I blame it on an inadequate school system (although it could use some innovation,) and I didn’t have problems at home to
PanoramaIII!.indd 8
blame this on, like others might. So after many bouts of ponderours thought, reached only through long, prolonged derangement of my senses in order to obtain the unknown, I’ve managed to pinpoint where it all began. I won’t lie to you; I am a bit of a daydreamer. I’ve always had the tendency to travel miles away to another place and/or time during classes that FAIL in capturing my attention. I also didn’t like asking my teachers to repeat the problems they had worked out for fear of ridicule, not by her, but by peers I suppose, fear in general, akin to anxiety, I was very young. Still, I don’t blame any of this on my classmates either! One day I woke up in the 7th grade and had what alcoholics call “a moment of clarity,” an epiphany if you will. I came to the realization that I hated math. Somehow,
4/2/07 11:17:31 PM
somewhere along the way, it began to get away from me. Oh how far I had fallen! I noticed that I’d wake up dreading my math class. I even began to develop a disdain for all things math. I would sit in class and watch the teach explaining these seemingly simple math problems and I would understand somewhat, but I wasn’t retaining a large portion of it. Why not? The second half of the class was allotted to students doing various “word problems.” That is a type of math problem; they’re these hypothetical situations that contain a conflict, which can only be resolved mathematically. I, being of sound mind and body, was very bored in these classes as a boy, and usually only had one thing on my mind…you guessed it! FOOD! That incessant nagging down in my belly. The hunger pangs controlled me, and seemed to will me to not pay attention to anything that didn’t satiate hunger. At any rate, I was usually assigned problems like this: Four friends buy a pizza that costs $20.00. Each person contributes the following amount of money. Jane $5.00 Mike $8.00 Mary $3.00 Joe $4.00 Each person will eat an amount of pizza proportional to the amount of money they paid. 1) Draw a circle graph that represents the amount each eats. 2) Draw the circle graph if Mike only eats half of his pizza and gives half of what he has left to Mary.
“Mmmm! Pizza… What?! Huh??? Oh right, I got math to figure out… Let’s see Jane has 5 bucks and mike uhh…fuck em’ I wanna eat that whole goddamn pizza to myself…” In case you couldn’t tell, that’s a quote, from my 7th grade mind. I remember it well. How could I focus when lunch was a mere 45 minutes away? Little did I know, my entire academic future was hanging in the balance! Want more??? Me too! A boy ate 100 cookies in five days. Each day he ate 6 more than the day before. How many cookies did he eat on the first day? “One hundred cookies?! Damn, this boy is crazy, but I’d like to eat some cookies too… I wonder what kind he ate…so hungry…” So what happens next? The bell rings and it’s time for
math problems along with the other ones I was assigned, because I couldn’t focus! I was being taunted by the delicious snacks they used in the examples. This happened daily, and I got poor grades, and my math skills didn’t improve much. The basic mathematical foundations I desperately needed to acquire became weak and shaky. Attempting to build upon them was tough and I’ve limped on through all my math courses since. So do I blame it on my growling tummy? I guess I could, but that’s too easy. I blame it on word problems that would torture me by dangling visions of food in my mind’s eye while I was feeling famished. I honestly wanted to learn about math stuff, but was unable. I don’t regret all of it. It made me who I am today. I’m now someone who avoids hanging out with groups of people called: “Jane, Mike, Mary and Joe,” especially if they give a shit about “proportionally dividing a pizza” and what not. I also regularly get confused about math now and then but who doesn’t? I also fear change…I prefer dollar bills.
lunch! Hooray! But wait, that’s right, I didn’t finish these
PanoramaIII!.indd 9
4/2/07 11:17:40 PM
chris2
4/2/07
5:05 PM
Page 14
Somebody call me Dr. Love
A
by: Robert Lopez
s a young college male in a rela-
tionship I sometimes have friends
that come to me for advice as if
I’m the Dr. Ruth in our circle of friends. I don’t
know why they come to me. I think it’s
because most of the time I have an answer to their questions. I wouldn’t say that they are necessarily the right answers, but I don’t hesitate and make a strong case for my rea-
soning behind things. I’ll have single friends
come to me for advice, and I’ll also have
friends in relationships come to me for help. After years of doing this for my friends (for
better or worse,) I have come up with some
are
also those single, play-
er-type guys who lie to girls.
That’s the worst thing you can do. Women
sniff out lies like drug dogs on the MexicanAmerican border. You see, women lie too; they just do it better. When men lie, we’ll tell
a bunch of little white ones. Women save
their lies until its something big such as, “I’ve been sleeping with your best friend.” You
shouldn’t lie to women, especially when you’re out with one of your buddies because he’ll always mess it up.
There are also a few things you should
ideas that should help those young college
know when hooking up. Timing is everything.
Women are on our minds constantly, and
know what time it is. Here in Texas, bars close
males who are romantically challenged.
while some succeed in getting women,
many fail. As a young college male you must find the perfect balance within yourself.
Some of us are suited for the single life, and some of us are better built for a relationship.
Neither one is better than the other, but you must realize that you can’t have both.
We are in school for two reasons: 1. Get a
degree in hopes of making money in the future, 2. Meet girls and get laid. Keep in mind though, money is the root of all evil, but sex is still the root of all happiness.
As you get older you might start to realize
106
There
If you’re doing the club scene, you have to at 2 a.m., and last call is at 1:30 a.m. Magic hour starts at about midnight. This is the time
when women are most agreeable to inap-
propriate advances. There are some women
to watch out for though. Watch out for the girl who labels herself a “kissing whore.” This is
the girl that goes around the club kissing every guy after having two glasses of White
Zinfandel. A fun thing to do is watch the guys that she’s kissed walk around the club looking for her thinking they’re going to get more than a kiss.
Avoid girls in groups of five or more
you are the only one of your buddies that’s
because they are obviously on a “girls’ night
notice that all of your wing men are slowly
one bitter friend who never has luck with
still single. You’ll look around one day and
getting picked off. Don’t be afraid. Being sin-
gle can be one of the best times of your life. Remember, as a young, single man, you can
come and go as you please, and you don’t have to answer to anyone.
out.” On “girls’ night out” there’s always that
guys. On a scale from one to 10 (10 being the best) she’s usually a two. This is when you
put the “go for the two to get the 10” method into action. This doesn’t mean you
try to hook up with the two; it just means you
chris2
4/2/07
5:08 PM
107
Page 42
Photos by: Daniel Floress pay attention to the two and ignore the
one goes through it, but when
talking to her? I’m the prettier one!” Once
only probably six times when you could
ten. The ten will start to think, “Why is he
you’ve infiltrated the group, you go for the
kill. The “go for the two to get the ten” is a
risky move only to be executed in desperate situations (i.e. recently dumped).
Once you have hooked up it doesn’t
you really think about it there’s
have really gotten laid. Six days of willpower
is all it takes. So having sex 359 days versus six, having a girlfriend definitely has its upsides. That, my friend, is the 359 rule.
As a guy in a relationship, you will also
end there. One of the most important rules
have access to information single guys
the latest you can stay in her bed after
will reveal things you never would believe
to live by is “noon the next morning.” That’s
hooking up. A wise man once said, “Hooking up is like saving someone from a
burning building. You want to get in and out as quickly as possible and then, maybe, you
won’t have access to. Your girlfriend’s friends women thought about. This information is valuable for the next time you are single; so pay attention!
Like I said before, I’m in a relationship,
call a few days later to make sure every-
and Girlfriend doesn’t always agree on the
There are also perks to being in a rela-
n’t know is that most of the time my friends
one’s okay.”
tionship. You’ll eventually have a time when
you think the grass is greener on the other side. You’ll start to think you’re better off run-
ning around sowing your royal oats, but
that’s not the case. You might be single for a long time, and, as far as women go you might have done pretty well for yourself. But it’s hard and tiring. You have to live by the
359 rule. There will be six times a year when
you are tested. You will be tempted, every-
advice I give to friends. What Girlfriend does-
aren’t looking for advice. They’re looking for a way to talk about their relationship or lack
there-of. This is the way guys communicate about this stuff. Sometimes I just rattle of ridiculous ideas that not even I would con-
sider doing, and when I just don’t have any-
thing intelligent or unintelligent to say I just go with the classic, “Listen, Buddy, there are over three billion women on this earth. You’ll find the one for you eventually.”
-
I NEVER P
i never.indd 2
by: Tracy Petrarca
are
after I moved up to Edinburg and my relationship
everywhere. There is no escaping
became long distance. I foolishly ignored the initial
them. I consider it a humbling
telltale sign of insanity on Raul’s part and continued
experience whenever I actually find someone
on in the dysfunctional relationship as planned.
whose phone rings and doesn’t subject me to
Things started off rather small. I mean, Raul was
“Hips Don’t Lie.” Truth be told, I actually have
my boyfriend. He was supposed to call me more often
more personalized ringers in my phone than
than other people because that is what people in
I do actual people that call me consistently
relationships do. They call each other and talk. Since
enough to merit a special tone. But it does
I had just moved away, the calls were more frequent
make it so much easier to screen calls from
and longer than usual, which I also took as par for
across the house. Until, that is, one ringer
the course for a long distance relationship. So I just
overshadowed every other ringer in my
dealt with it. But soon, “I Never” was ringing close to
phone, even my default ringer, which is used
10 times a day. Why so often? Because if I happened
when about 60 some odd people randomly
to be unable to answer the call, he immediately
call me. No, this ringer played so much that
called right back; again and again, repeatedly,
the song that I once loved enough to pay
until I was able to answer the call and endure my
two dollars to download began to cause me
subsequent interrogation. Everyone else I knew just
physical and emotion pain. This particular
left the standard “return my call” message, but not
ringer, which happened to be “I Never” by
Raul. I had to be lying in a hospital bed, suffering from
Rilo Kiley, brought along the demise of my
ingested cell phoneitis, in order to not answer his calls.
four year relationship with every slow, drawn-
Once again, I took it as being insecure because of
out ring that escaped from my phone.
the new distance, so I continued to ignore it.
ersonalized
ringers.
They
“I Never,” for those of you who aren’t
Then “I Never” started playing at work. I would
familiar with the song, is a love ballad by an
go in really early mornings and often forget to turn
amazing band. The ringer, which is a sample
off my phone, so in the middle of my transactions,
of the chorus, plays, “I never, never, never,
there was Rilo Kileyprofessing my unrequited love.
never, never, never, never, never, never,
I would have to excuse myself and run to turn it off,
never, never loved someone the way that I
and then violent and angry vibrating would begin. I
loved you.” The ballad, obviously, belonged
would be teased incessantly by my co-workers, some
to my boyfriend of four years, Raul, who
of whom had husbands and children who wouldn’t
wasn’t familiar with Rilo Kiley and actually
call as much—and by that I mean, in total, all of my
had suspicions on my choosing the song. I
co-workers significant others and offspring banning
had been introduced to the band by a male
together couldn’t outdo the Rilo ringer. The funny
friend, so to Raul, this meant that the friend
thing was that Raul knew I was at work, but he was
and I had to be having an affair, because
still calling, just to see if I happened to be at lunch, or
I couldn’t actuallylike the band on its own
on break, or at work at all. Yes, I was at work, longer
merits. I had to be trying to impress my friend,
than I needed to be most days because at the end of
who actually had the ringer “Portions for
the day my supervisor would keep me late to lecture
Foxes”, a much more upbeat and happy Rilo
me on the privileges of having a cell phone at work
Kiley song. I downloaded both ringers right
and how easily these rights could be taken away.
4/2/07 1:46:33 AM
109
Once I started to get used to the Edinburg area and my new situation, I began to go out a tad bit more. Nothing really big, but I would catch independent movies on my own, or go out shopping for the afternoon, or pick up a meal on the way home. If I thought that I had heard the sounds of Rilo Kiley before, I was sadly mistaken. Raul’s calls became more insistent than ever. If I said I was going out to grab a bite to eat, he’d call me a few times to see how long it took me to eat. If I mentioned a movie, he’d call to see how it was, or, as I always suspected, if he could hear the DTX sounds in the background to ensure that I was indeed at the movies. Since we didn’t have video phones, it was impossible for him to figure out if I was alone or not, so he threw in a couple of extra calls to make up for the slack. Before long, everyone I knew would roll their eyes at me whenever Jennifer’s voice sang out of my phone, full of emotion and heartfelt love. Those emotions were no longer mutual. The sound of the ringer began to spur a very pure hatred in my heart for not only my boyfriend, but Rilo Kiley, all cell phones and Sprint, with its unlimited Sprint to Sprint calling plans. Rock bottom came one night when I was taking a shower and “I Never” began to play. I decided to finish up my shower and return the call, but the singing didn’t stop. For another two hours. I just let the calls continue out of curiosity at first, but after about the hundredth call, it was sheer disgust that kept me from answering. But nothing, not disgust, paranoia, not even my answering the phone and begging for an end, would make the song stop. The calls continued all night long. I turned off my phone once and for all that night, vowing to never again answer the “I Never” ring tone, which didn’t stop for months afterward. The moral of my story; never, never, never, never, never, never, never, never, never, never, never let your life be run by a ringer. Never stay in a situation a second longer than you should. Never make excuses for other people when they have no justification for their actions. Never allow something as simple as a phone call, bring you any sort of sadness. And, most importantly, never answer a call without screening it first. Photo by: Aimee Hernandez
i never.indd 3
4/2/07 1:46:34 AM
UNDERSTANDABLE TO NOT UNDERSTAND
I
left my parents’ house when I was 19 years old. With no more than $100 and a suitcase full of dreams, I started a journey to a new world. At that time, I considered myself an outspoken person able to have a good conversation. I had always been the talkative type and a popular girl at school, not just because I made no distinction to chat with everybody, but also because I was confident of my skills as a speaker. I had no idea how far my stubbornness of pursuing my dreams would take me from that girl who was always surrounded by many people and had never been friends with loneliness. My life was to change drastically, and with it, my dreams and projects. I left home to come to the United States so that I could have a better education. I’m about a year from finishing college and I can say that my experience has been pleasant, frustrating, and full of failures and achievements, with moments of embarrassment and others of fun. I was born and raised in Mexico City in a humble home. I was the youngest of five brothers and sisters. My mom was always at home taking care of the house tasks such as cooking and doing laundry. She is uneducated but managed to finish elementary school as an adult. My father didn’t finish school
understandable.indd 2
either and while I was enrolled in high school, he enrolled in a program to finish high school too, so we ended up graduating at the same time. Despite their lack of education or tardiness on obtainingit, both are very intelligent, and my mother would always try to help us all with homework and would tell us that we needed to be good at school so that we could have a life she and my father could not. When I was 14, my oldest sister, Sony, married an American guy and after seven years of living in Mexico City, they decided to move to McAllen. I was graduating from high school and Lorena, my other sister, had just finished her career when Sony and her husband came to the valley. Sony gave Lorena, as a reward for finishing school, an English course that would last four months. I did everything I could to be able to come to take the English course as well, but Sony told me she did not have enough money for both of us and that I was to stay in Mexico and go to college there. I was not happy with her decision and I started doing different work so that I could get the money I needed. After two months I had saved $1,000 and sent the money so that my sister could pay for the course, and the school would then send me the paper work required to get a student visa. Even though Sony was not so happy with the idea of me being here, she did not have any other excuse to turn me down. In October 2000, I got on a bus
4/2/07 3:46:43 AM
111
Photo by: Aimee Hernandez
understandable.indd 3
4/2/07 3:47:03 AM
112 understandable.indd 4
and embarked on a 15 hour trip to Reynosa because I could not afford to pay for a flight. Yet I was excited and willing to do whatever it would take to learn English. Although my enthusiasm was astonishing and my mind was set to learn, not everything was suitable for me to achieve that goal. Sony, who after seeing my determination, gave me a room to live in her house and told me that I needed to work if I wanted to continue my education. The $1,000 I had sent her was only enough to pay one month of tuition and in order to finish the course, six months were required. I started working in a restaurant making pizzas and saved some money to pay for the second month. I also listened to English music and watched English-spoken TV so that I could learn as much as possible. My effort paid off because after the first month the school provided a test to see how much I had learned and decided that I was ahead of the class and that it was not necessary for me to take the second level, so they placed me in the third one. Because of the skipped level, I was able to save another $1,000. I finished the third level and because my resources were less every time, I decided to go ahead and take the Test Of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL,) which is a required English test for foreign students wanting to enroll at UTPA. I passed it and I was set
to enroll in the upcoming semester. I started college in 2001, and even though I felt I was ready for it, life would prove me wrong. The first class I took was biology and I did not understand a word my teacher said. At the English school, everyone understood that English was not your first language so they would try to speak slowly, but at college, everyone talked so fast it was almost impossible for me to catch up. But again my tenacity would not let me down. I asked my boss if I could be a server since I had finished my English education and wanted to make more money. She said yes and I started waiting tables at the same time I started college. My English was so bad that one time a customer told me he wanted mushrooms on top of his steak and I gave him directions to the restrooms. Another time, a customer wanted a St. Pauli Girl beer and I sent my boss with the wine list to the table. I got reprimanded for that, but the fight against the language barrier was not only at work. During my school hours, I would sit in the very back of the classroom and many times I tried to speak to people, but they would not understand and eventually my enthusiasm began to vanish. I decided not to talk to people. I would study hard at home, but I tried not to make friends at school because they would make fun of me. I recall an incident in my economics class when the professor asked me something that I didn’t understand, so I responded. continued on page 138
4/2/07 3:47:15 AM
chris2
4/3/07
8:06 PM
Page 16
YOU’RE GAY by: Daniel Flores
IF YOU BELIEVE THESE
113
...if you’re homophobic. That’s just a front to cover your obvious gayness.
...if you’re too accepting of gay people. You’re pretty much a drunken night away from coming out.
...if you have ever said the word ‘Fabulous’, ever when referring to the rapper. Being tolerant of such flamboyant names is pretty gay.
...if you have a sense of style. It’s a known fact that only homosexuals care about their appearance and are anal about how they come off to people.
...if you like to dance. Genetically, homosexuals have highly evolved hips which allow more movement than the ordinary man.
...if you like camping with people of the same sex. We all know what happened in Brokeback Mountain.
...if you talk to softly. This expresses a sensitivity that only a homosexual could have.
...if you have ever worn pastel colors. Only homosexuals allow themselves to look like an Easter egg.
...if you like watching or playing football. It doesn’t get much gayer than sweaty men in tights groping each other.
...if you talk too loudly. This expresses a flamboyancy that only a homosexual could have.
...if you use anything in the shower besides a bar of soap. If you know what a loofa is, you are especially gay.
...if you have ever shown emotion. There is a direct connection between homosexuality and tear glands.
...if you have ever snapped your fingers. This simple gesture is a trademark of an angry gay
...if your handshake has lasted longer than three seconds. If you are not giving a guy a wedgie or making fun of his mother, then you are clearly hitting on him.
...if you have ever been nice to men.
t
Spiri ual wake-up call by: Claralexis xis Rios
‘The priest made me so comfortable and told me to do something nice for someone. one. I thought he was going to tell me to do a certain number of ‘Our Fathers’ and ‘Hail Hail Marys’ like in the movies.’
B
efore I had ever heard about the fifth Bronc Awakening, I was not a very devoted Catholic because I didn’t attend church every Sunday. I also didn’t read the bible and listened to very little Christian music. I would sometimes skip church because I would say that I didn’t have the time to go because I had to study for a test. When I found out that there was going to be a religious involvement fair at The University of Texas-Pan American, I was curious about attending. One of the religious organizations that was there was the Young Adult Catholic Ministry (YACM.) I found out that my cousin was a member. He was there helping to promote this organization along with other members. While I was at their information booth, I looked at the poster that listed all the activities that went on during the week at the Catholic Student Center. My cousin was the one that gave me a brochure about the church’s teachings and told me about Bronc Awakening. It is a weekend retreat that gives college students from different religious backgrounds the opportunity to discover or re-discover one’s faith and spirituality through presentations given by members and alumni of the center. He also said that if I was interested, I could pick up an application and return it to the center’s office. As I picked up the application, I told him I would think about it and left. As I headed out the door, I thought that this would be a good opportunity to learn more about God, meet new people, develop a deeper relationship with Him and become a better Catholic. A week later, I attended one of their meetings and became a member. I also paid $20 and turned in the application. I was excited and could not wait until that day came.
MyBroncAwakening.indd 2
The event began at UTPA by a transfer student from m Our Lady of the Lake University. She had experienced the Dilo Awakwakening over there and wanted to bring the experience here re so that UTPA students could experience it. Then, she took some ome YACM members and with the help of people from other awakwakenings, they did the first Bronc Awakening. Since then, there e has been one Bronc Awakening every semester that usually consists nsists of 25 retreaters with around 30 to 40 staff members. When the first day of the retreat finally arrived, I drove to the Catholic Student Center with my luggage in the back seat of my car. The center is located across from UTPA on Kuhn Street. As I arrived, I took out my luggage and wheeled it to the entrance of the building. When I opened the door, there were two staff members ready to assist me. The first staff member escorted me upstairs and the other one carried my luggage for me to my assigned room. As I waited upstairs, I became nervous and shy because I did not know any of the other people. At first, I didn’t talk and just listened to
423207 11:28:51 PM
other othe people’s conversations. When I became comfortable and more relaxed, I started talking to a guy who was a UTPA computer com science major from Weslaco. After I finished talking with him, I started talking to other people peo while a staff member supervised us. He was watching everyone ever because the other staff members were decorating downstairs dow and preparing everything for us. When it was our time to go downstairs, we had to get in line. As each person was led downstairs, I could hear people cheering, clapping and whistling. When my time came, I was enthusiastic and eager tto see what surprise the staff members had in store for me. When I went downstairs, I was led into a noise-filled room where my name was called. Then, I was assigned to a table and had to get my picture taken on stage before I went to sit si down. After I walked to the table, I sat down with my group. grou Then, a staff member on stage welcomed us to the fifth Bronc Awakening. He explained our first activity was to describe scrib and draw what a Christian meant to us. For this activity I drew dre a small stick figure of myself on a poster board singing church chur songs out of a book. After finishing, we came up to the stage stag and explained each of our drawings to the audience. When Whe we were done, we sat down at our table and listened to the o other groups’ presentations. After dinner, we were escorted to the praise and worship area where there were guest speakers that gave speeches about abo faith, relationships and hardships in our lives. Then, one of the th staff members explained this semester’s retreat theme, “Love “Lov one another, as I have loved you” and gave a brief description scrip about St. San Martin de Porres. Finally, we sang Christian songs such as “Awesome God,” “Shout to the Lord” and “Lift Your Name on High”. The next day, my roommate and I got up before our wake wak up call from the music staff singing a morning song accompanied com by a drum and tambourine. After we got dressed, we w were escorted downstairs to our assigned tables. When I rejoined rejoi my group, we all said good morning to each other. On the second day of this retreat, there was more time to do d activities, give speeches and sing Christian songs. One of my m most memorable experiences of this retreat was when I was wa in a line and blindfolded by one of the staff members. Afterward, Afte a staff member was leading me as I walked to an undisclosed undi location. As we were walking, we sang “Jesus, Jesus. Let us tell you how we feel. You have given us your spirit. We llove you so.” As we arrived, we were being hugged by a
Photo b by: Alejandro Paz
MyBroncAwakening.indd 3
lot of people who were complimenting us and telling us “Jesus Loves You.” After being hugged so many times, I became overwhelmed with tears of joy because I had never been hugged and complimented by so many people before. Afterward, we all walked back to the Catholic Student Center. When we got there, we went back inside the praise and worship room. In this room, a staff member announced that a priest from a visiting church was available for confession and advisement. After that was announced, one of the staff members played their guitar and sang Christian songs. As she was singing, we sang along. I decided to go to confession because it had been three years since I had done so. When I first entered the prayer room, I was scared. Afterward, I felt so much better. The priest made me so comfortable and told me to do something nice for someone. I thought he was going to tell me to do a certain number of “Our Fathers” and “Hail Marys” like in the movies. On the final day of the retreat, we had to tell everyone about our experiences in a room called the pit. Then, we were blindfolded because there was a surprise for us at the dining area. Our blindfolds were removed and we had decorated bags in front of us. When I looked at my bag, it was decorated with all of the favorite things I listed on my application. In it, there were inspiring messages and prayers from several staff members. I cried, laughed and felt touched by some of the messages. After lunch, we went back to the pit. When we all sat down, one of the staff members introduced all the people that inspired him to be a devout Christian. When they came out, another staff member turned on the stereo and played “I Can Only Imagine” by Mercyme. After the song was done, a staff member concluded the fifth Bronc Awakening. Since the awakening, I have been attending church every Sunday and trying to make time to read the bible. I have also been watching religious programs and listening to more Christian music. I have also seen and talked to my new friends at YACM meetings and around UTPA.
115 423207 11:36:18 PM
WTF?!
by: Victoria C. Guajardo
O
n a day that I’m running late to school, which is every day, my mother, husband and I try to find
I
make
was
an
really
“eavesdropping”
on
excuse
for
them.
enthralled
while
someone’s
really
loud cell phone conversation in class.
is that we have an advantage since my
“Did you know last night’s party with the
mother is faculty here, so we try to park at the
Betas was like so badass, man. Like that
education building. It doesn’t always work
guy totally wanted my number, but I didn’t
out that way, when the last spot available
give it to him because he wasn’t in a frat.”
was taken by a student in a clearly marked
Uh no, I didn’t know that and I really don’t care. I think I will call my best friend
I want to say, “Get down Mom and bitch
and tell her all about my exciting weekend
them out,” but I wasn’t raised like that and
reading “The Methods of Ethnology” by
we know it won’t do any good because our
Franz Boas because that was really badass.
frustrations will go unanswered.
According to USA Today, 59 percent of
Stephanie Tanner from “Full House”
people asked said they would rather visit
took the words right out of my mouth, “How
the dentist than sit next to someone talking
rude!”
on their cell phone. What about when you
According
to
an
April
2002
Good
walk into a classroom and four people are all
Housekeeping report, studies show that 79
having intellectual cell phone conversations?
percent of participants feel that people are
Not only has cell phone and classroom
now ruder than they were 10 years ago.
come on people.indd 2
can
the closest parking spot. The good news
reserved spot.
116
we
etiquette severely declined, it is practically
Naturally, people encounter rudeness
non-existent at UTPA. I have too many questions
every day, but it seems that the University of
to even make a point: Who are you talking
Texas-Pan American offers double majors to
to? Why can’t it wait? Doesn’t this person
all its students. One of them being the one you
have anything better to do than talk to you
selected and the second being rudeness.
at 8 a.m.? Aren’t youembarrassed to publicly
When we finally find a place to park and
announce on your cell phone that your
trek to our destinations, I am either slowed
boobs are a lot smaller after breastfeeding?
down or pushed out of the way by fellow
In 2001, USA Today said that cell phone
walkers. Everyone is rushing to get to their
chatter annoys two-thirds of Americans. USA
class or simply have other things on their mind:
Today must have forgotten to include the Rio
likenot caring about the other people around
Grande Valley in this.
them. Rose Medical Center in Denver states
Its 11:50 a.m. and it is what most
that nine out of 10 people are highly stressed
students call the activity period; boy, there
most of the time. Can high stress account
is a lot of activity going on. As I struggle
for the callous behavior of our students?
to escape the communications building
I would say probably not, but now
and make it to the education complex to
4/3/07 10:46:33 PM
Photo by: Aimee Hernandez hide in my mother’s office, I am reminded
are. I can’t find a moment of quiet; not even
of rude encounter after rude encounter.
in the library. People are having conversations
It must be my fault for walking in
with each other, or on their cell phones, or they
your way. It must be my fault for walking through a crowded hallway where you
are playing their music way too loud.
I let them win, get mad and leave. I
and three other people are having a very
have given up on believing that this place is a
important conversation; and please blow
learning environment since it seems more of a
smoke in my face while I am in your way.
playground.
The other day I counted, and five groups
College is supposed to be different
of people caused traffic jams and frustration,
from high school. It is supposed to be an
and I felt stupid for even thinking that these
autonomous environment that doesn’t create
people care to see what they are doing.
hostility or frustration. I guess I took a wrong
One person called me an idiot for
turn on my way to the University of Texas-Pan
bumping into them! I am also an idiot for
American and never left the “University of
trying to get into a doorway that you are
Texas-Pan American High School for Kids That
blocking or trying to get out of.
Can’t Read Good and Want to Learn How to
This madness continues all day, and I can’t
do Other Stuff Good Too.”
believe how inconsiderate these students
come on people.indd 3
4/3/07 10:46:55 PM
by: Raul Cervantes
AWAKE
AGAIN
t is late and I am starting to feel tired.
up on whatever network I can think of that
Physical fatigue goes along with slumber
will bore me to sleep. The most mundane
in most people.
programming can be found at this hour on
I am not most people.
most networks. Just keep clicking until you
The average adult needs about eight
get tired. If you are actually interested in what
hours of sleep according to whatever source it is that most people cite. In those eight hours
You must stay away from your bed. Lying
the brains of those normal human beings will
awake staring at the ceiling only tells your
lower the body temperature and go through
brain that your mattress is a suitable location
several cycles of Rapid Eye Movement (REM)
to be awake. That is one lesson you never
Sleep. They will rest their minds and their cells
want to teach yourself. Personally, I walk
will repair whatever physical damage has
around the house thinking, since it is thinking
been done.
that is keeping me up in the first place.
Their REM cycles will give them the time
Breathing exercises and meditation have
to imagine worlds beyond their wildest
proven themselves unreliable with some-
conscious imaginations, allow them to work
one as far along into this condition as me.
out whatever feelings they hold inside. In
Most over-the-counter remedies are useless
a single step they can travel from a lover’s
and recently I have even been able to stay
embrace to the most horrid of nightmares.
awake through the prescription stuff.
Never a dull moment…for them. Not for me.
Lies, you say? I wish.
I suffer (along with many other things, I’m
I wish I were able to sleep like a baby.
afraid) from the most mentally, and sometimes
Every time I see one sleeping I look at it
physically,
debilitating
with unspeakable envy. Where are my
condition known to man: insomnia. So those
dreams? How come I can’t sleep and
wonderful adventures and vivid imagination
drool all over my pajamas? But I comfort
are well out of my reach. It’s the physical
myself with the knowledge that 20 years
part that starts to get to you before anything
laterthat
else.
suffer like me. So I forget the babies.
frustrating
and
same
baby
could
very
likely
Let us clarify that insomnia can be defined
You would think that intense physical
as the lack of sleep or the inability to sleep
fatigue would do the trick but I have gone
for more than four hours at a time. Having
running for miles in the morning only to suffer
been afflicted by both for the prerequisitesix
at night from the complete lack of energy
months and having earned the right to call
…and the complete lack of sleep.
myself a chronic insomniac and with that
I cannot think of words to do this evening
I would like to tell you how an unfortunate
justice. I ran five miles this morning; I’m
individual
exhausted to the bone, fatigued to an inch
like
me
spends
evenings.
I begin by watching my late night line-
awake again.indd 2
you are watching…change the channel.
of my death and still I cannot sleep.
4/2/07 1:44:30 AM
119
Photos by: Aimee Hernandez
So I eat. I figure if my eyes won’t shut and my brain will not cease to ponder the questions of the universe, I might as well have a bite while I’m at it. Eating is not something the doctors recommend. But the doctors never had to stay up more than four days without a little shut-eye. I on the other hand have lived in cycles of three to five days without sleep for years, with only a few hours of rest on the last day of the cycle. So after you eat, you watch television again. Under no circumstances should one read or turn on any light too bright. Reading makes your mind more alert and the light even more so. It doesn’t matter really; the sun is coming up and I have to get ready for school… again.
awake again.indd 3
4/2/07 1:44:34 AM
A CHANGE IN ME by: Sarah Jeske
A
t 5 a.m. there is no light except that provided by the moon and millions of stars bombarding the sky. The wind hits hard during the dry season. We packed up the back of a bobtail truck, the bed of which was considerately covered with a green tarp, with duffle bags full of cooking supplies, tents and most importantly, shoes for the orphans. By 5:30 a.m. we climbed in on top of our luggage and settled in for a five hour drive to the first village on our journey. This was a bit unusual for me, but typical transportation for the natives of Zambia, Africa. There were a lot of things I was not prepared for when going into Africa, most of which there is no preparation for. Traveling with dozens of other people packed in the back of a truck and visiting villages where people have never heard of America or even seen fair skinned people before were very new and amazing concepts to me. No matter how many people I talked to who had been to Africa, I still experienced culture shock. The first day my team got to Ngosa, our first stop. I cried. Not because I felt sorry for these people, but because I felt sorry for myself and for all the people back home that will never understand. I thought this whole trip was going to be a chance for me to affect change in other people’s lives; I was going to do my part in serving the rest of the world. No one was going to get the chance to call me selfish or unproductive. I went to Africa to help starving children. I suppose my motivesfor going were a little selfish. Throughout the time I spent there in different villages out in the bush, I started to see that what I was doing was going to last longer than the two months I was away from home. The job description was summed up in a neat little paragraph. I, along with my 34 other teammates, were going to wash the feet of the orphans, an allusion to what Jesus did with his disciples, and give them shoes and socks. For most
a change in me.indd 2
of the children, this would be their first pair ever. However, when we got to our training facilities, we learned that our work load had grown. In the end our jobs included: washing feet and distributing shoes, playing with the children, teaching them Bible stories, creating a drip irrigation system for the gardens at the rescue units, leveling land for and building volleyball courts, playing soccer, helping the children write cards to American sponsors and doing odd jobs for the facilitators of the rescue units. It’s customary for an aunt to adopt her nieces and nephews when the children’s parents die. When these children are adopted, however, they are not treated like biological children, but, in most cases, like slaves to the family. Even if they are 7 years old, they strap their baby brothers or sisters to their backs and start doing all the cleaning, cooking and any other job their aunt can think of. These children have never experienced love and attention, and we were there to show them they mattered to someone. Aside from the obvious ways in which we assisted the people, we helped those kids by showing them love. We also got them one step closer to an education. In Africa, children cannot attend school unless they have a uniform and a pair of shoes. continued on page 138
4/2/07 1:43:48 AM
“For most of the children, this would be their first pair ever.�
121
Photo by: Lucia Gutierrez
a change in me.indd 3
4/2/07 1:43:49 AM
Drops in the Bucket One rainbow means One drop of rain has fallen. One smile means One tear drop led way to happiness. One kind word means One person has felt One drop of love. And in One world of hurt, each drop in the bucket of humanity represents One soul who has made a difference.
122
POEMS BY HEATHER CATHLEEN COX
Make Believe Eyes never tell What they see. Hearts never lie About what they believe. Souls won’t compromise What’s worth reverie, And my mind won’t Let me be deceived. Your tongue burned my ears With hate spoken. Your stare froze my soul You left my heart broken. You made-believe that You cared for me. I made-believe I believed.
three poems.indd 1
Yellow Red drop falls from the brow of a sick fellow. Red eyes, flask-filled windows, cannot say hello. Red rage fevers his heart and does not mellow. Red flames ignite his soul— burning, he’ll bellow. Red truth sliced him in half. Both halves were yellow.
4/2/07 1:54:38 AM
123
Student Artwork
Caroline Yi
124
Aimee Hernandez
Gicela Suarez Digital Photography 4337
125
126
Jessica Pedraza
Edgar Vasquez
127
Aimee Hernandez
128 Daniel Flores
Caroline Yi
chris2
4/4/07
12:21 AM
129
Page 32
Continued from A Change in Me
There were people there who sewed uniforms for
the kids, but until we showed up, many of them could not attend classes because of the law.
I went over there with somewhat selfish intents: I
was going to come back with the satisfaction that I
had done something meaningful. And I did, in a way. While I was there I could not help but notice
how happy the people in these poor villages were. I am sure part of it was that they had never
experienced an event like that which we provided, but that was not all; things were so much simpler.
They did not get caught up in trends and gadgets.
They were content with what they had, and that
was nearly nothing. Why wasn’t I that happy? I am rich comparatively, why don’t I have that joy?
Over the course of that summer, I learned from
the natives how to find that joy in everyday
situations. I started appreciating all that I have and
stopped caring about the things that I do not have. It was a very liberating experience. I became a new
person. All my friends and family said there was
was suffering the same way I was because they would make fun of him for not speaking Spanish. He
understood the level of my English and would never
make fun of it, yet he corrected me and taught me, and I would do the same with his Spanish.
Even though my English is not as good as I
would like it to be, I’m not afraid anymore. I speak,
write and try to understand it as much as I can. If somebody laughs, I do too and if they do not under-
stand me, I choose another word. I learned in these
last five years that many times you can speak a language perfectly and people will know the words
you say, but they may not understand your point. I don’t get frustrated now and I’m proud of what I have achieved. Though sometimes, I still miss being a talkative girl.
something extremely different about me when I came home.
“Just something in the way you carry yourself,” is
all they could come up with as a description of the change.
I left America expecting to inflict change in
other people’s lives. Never once did I imagine they would do the same for me, in ways I can never forget.
Continued from understandable to understand
I don’t remember the question or the answer,
but the whole class laughed. I was so embarrassed
that I ran out and never came back to the class. I flunked it.
Regardless of everyone speaking English and
Spanish so fluently in the Valley, I felt that if you
weren’t good at one or the other, they would make
fun of you. The very first friend I made was from
England and he did not speak a word in Spanish. He
8
J
ohnny was standing in front of the mirror naked. He
the sparsely decorated room. It had a purpose forr being
had just taken a shower. He noticed he was gaining
there. Johnny knew why it was there.
some weight around his waist. At the age of 42
he wasn’t the man he used to be. For several seconds he
“Fuckin rich people,” he thought.
thought about that diet Maria had been telling him about. He even thought about exercising, something he had never
He pinched the side of his tummy and estimated ted the
done before. But then his thoughts turned back to his wife in
inches of fat bulging out between his fingers. Maybe ybe his
the hospital. He looked at his watch and wondered how she
wife was right. He thought about buying that “abdominal dominal
was feeling.
dominator” he saw on television last night. He wondered dered if he was going to loose fans over this newly discovered weight
The house that Johnny was in was newly built. It had been
problem. There was a knock on the door.
on the market for several months; it was selling for $10,000,000. The realtor had rented out the house to Max for $1,000 that
“Come in,” Johnny said.
day. It was a nice house but Johnny never understood why Max did this all the time. Everything they were going to do
Johnny turned to the voice. He expected whoever er it was
today could easily be done at a cheap motel or even at
to come in. No one came in. Instead, a short man with glasses
someone’s house. To Johnny it was all a waste of money.
and a cap with the lid turned to one side opened the he door
Some realtors in Los Angeles did it to earn money on a house
and peaked through. It was Smiley.
before it got sold. It simply made good business sense to them, especially on a luxury house that wasn’t moving. But Max did
“Are you ready Johnny?” he asked.
it because he thought it made the production seem more “professional”. He once told Johnny that he did it because
Johnny started to o worry.
the actresses liked going to locations like these. It gave him
He had forgotten to work on
a sense of control. How can you say “no” to a director in a
his penis. Max must be in a
million dollar home?
hurry, he thought.
Johnny was in the maid’s quarters next to the kitchen. It was smallest room in the house. It was equipped with a large
“Yeah I guess ess so,” Johnny said.
bed that shrunk the brightly lit room. The full mirror next to the door reflected
JohnnyChango1.indd 2
“Looking
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good, JJohnny,” Smiley said looking at Johnny in the mirror.
of her pregnancy. Although she had done a couple of fetish tapes last month, Johnny was now supporting both of them
“You really think so?” Johnny asked.
financially. The hospital bills were starting to accumulate. He knew he needed to work more. His arm was still stinging
“Ab “Absofuckinglutely, Johnny,” Smiley returned.
from that test he took yesterday. The blood was beginning to circulate throughout his member. He had done it. He wiped
“Jus “Just give me a second, ok?” Johnny asked. “Ho “How long, uh, cuz, uh, Max really wants to start right now,
the sweat away from his forehead with his hand. “You still go it Johnny,” he thought.
Johnny, Johnny,” He grabbed the towel behind him on the bed and wiped “Giv “Give me a second,” Johnny said.
the sweat that had dripped onto his chest. He looked at himself in the mirror one last time to examine himself thoroughly. He
“Ho “How long Johnny?” Smiley asked.
checked and cleaned every inch of his body. If he found any stray hairs, he would pluck them. If he found a pimple,
“Tw “Two minutes,” he said.
especially around the buttocks area where the camera would be, he would make sure to point it out to the makeup
“No “Now that’s the Johnny I know,” the short man said. “Don’t worry, Y Ya still got it Johnny, Ya still got it.”
person later. He found nothing. Johnny placed the towel over his shoulder and walked out of the maid’s room.
Smil Smiley closed the door creating a cool breeze that made
Downstairs, Max was busy adjusting the lights. He was a
Johnny feel cold. Johnny was a tall man, about 6 feet 2 inches
perfectionist. Once he started shooting, he did not want to
tall. He had a natural even tan throughout his body that he
have to stop because of an errant shadow. Max was an old
worked on at least once a month. He looked down at his
man even for this business. Johnny had known him for about 10
penis.
years and even he did not know Max’s real age. Max had the bushiest eyebrows Johnny had ever seen. And in his old age,
“On “One more time today, buddy. One more time,” he said.
those grey eyebrows curled outward from his head making them extremely dangerous to any actresses’ eyes when they
He sstarted tugging on his penis, tugging it back and forth
attempted to kiss his cheek. The other thing about Max was
in an up upward to downward motion. The bright light from the
that he always had reading glasses hanging from his neck.
room w was distracting him and causing too much sweat to
Johnny never saw him use them but they were always there.
build on his wrinkled forehead. Yes, he was getting old. The
The glasses were part of his trademark; it was the logo that
lifespan for people in his line of work was about two years. He
appeared at the beginning of each of his movies. Max was
had alre already been doing this for 15 years. Still, he liked his job.
in fact a pioneer. He had started the “Gonzo Reality” trend
It was e easy and the money was good. Oh, and Johnny was
in the late 1980s that is immensely popular today. That was
a star. H He had a 14 inch penis; the biggest in the business. He
his style of film-making. Once he started shooting, he kept
made m more money in a couple of hours than most people
shooting, and if he had to stop, he was going to be very upset.
made in a month. This job had been good to him and his wife.
Everyone in the business knew the extent of Max’s anger. In
This pen penis had been good to him. Maria had been an actress
1998, the police were called to a disturbance at a Beverly Hills
for a ye year but she was not able to work consistently because
estate involving Max, a shotgun, and an actress who refused
Photos by: Alejandro Paz
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131 423207 10:41:07 PM
132
to
perform
her
contractual
duties. He had paid for an anal
manufacturer, fearful of a lawsuit, had made her change ange it. Max immediately smiled when he saw her.
scene but she had refused. Things got ugly. The incident
“She’s right here Max, right here.” Mike said.
is still talked about even to this day.
“Good girl Brittany,” Max said. He takes her by the he arm and leads her onto the well lit couch.
“Mike,
where’s
Brittany?
Don’t tell me she didn’t….Mike?”
“Max, its Tara, remember,” she said.
Max said. He realized that he was alone on the set. “Mike?”
“Sorry doll, stay on the couch for a minute, let me e check for shadows,” Max said.
Mike
entered
the
room with an 18-year-old, voluptuous brunette with
“How long is this going to take? I gotta date tonight.” ht.” Tara asked him.
full breasts and wide hips. Her name was Tara Turner. Her name last week was
“Are you sure you’re clean?” Max asked. He looked irritated. “Turn around and bend over.”
Brittany Sears. The video manufacturer, fearful of a lawsuit, had made her
Tara gets off the couch and onto the floor. “Did you ou hear me Max?” she asked.
change it. Max immediately smiled when he saw her.
“Turn around and bend over.”
“She’s right here Max, right here.”
Tara gets off the couch and onto the floor. “Did you ou hear
Mike said. “Good girl Brittany,” Max said. He takes her by the arm and leads her
me Max?” she asked. “No doll, on the couch, not on the floor, I need to o check for shadows,” Max said.
onto the well lit couch. “Max?” she said. “Max, its Tara, remember,” she said. “Sorry doll, stay on the couch for a minute, let me check for
She gets on the couch and bends over. “Good…that’s it…..spread your cheeks for me…great, …great, got it.” Max said.
shadows,” Max said. Johnny was standing in the kitchen next to them. He was “How long is this going to take? I gotta date tonight.” Tara asked him.
still naked and he was still cold. He had forgotten to bring his slippers with him which would have kept his feet warm. rm. The kitchen was enormous; it had the look of not being lived ived in.
“Are you sure you’re clean?” Max asked. He looked irritated. “Turn around and bend over.”
For a moment he thought how funny it would look if someone meone took a photo of him, a naked man, in such a domestic c place. He could hear everything they were saying in the living g room
Tara gets off the couch and onto the floor. “Did you hear me Max?” she asked.
next door. He wanted to check Max’s mood before joining them. It sounded as though he was in a good mood. ood. He looked down at his watch and wondered why his wife ife had
Mike entered the room with an 18-year-old, voluptuous brunette with full breasts and wide hips. Her name was Tara
not called him. He knew once he started filming Maxx would keep him busy for hours.
Turner. Her name last week was Brittany Sears. The video
JohnnyChango2.indd 2
423207 10:49:22 PM
“Why “Wh hasn’t she called?” he thought.
of their baby loving her voice as well.
He remembered the instructions they had gone over yesterday. yesterda She was going to stay in the hospital tonight and
“Ok,” he said. “I love you.” “Yeah, were about to start, you know how Max is on the set,” “Ok.”
call him if anything happened. “Hey, I thought about what you said the other day,” “I guess gu nothing happened,” he thought.
he said. “Yeah, I know……well, I think it’s a great idea, you know……..I’m going to ask him today……I think he’ll go for
He dialed d the hospital on his cell phone. In the other room
it.”
Max was wa already arguing. She seemed happy about his decision. “Look, “Loo I paid you for the scene already and you’re gonna stay here her until I say it’s done, Okay.” Max said.
“Hey, I thought about what you said the other day,” he said “Yeah, I know……well, I think it’s a great idea, you
Tara had only been in the business for two months but she knew well w enough not to complain anymore. She changed
know……..I’m going to ask him today……I think he’ll go for it.”
the subject. subj She seemed happy about his decision. “Why “Wh do they call him Johnny Chango?” she asked Max. “If not, then I’ll move to another company right?” he said. Max ignored her, preferring to check some setting on the
“Hey, we need the money…just like you said….and, I mean,
high defi de nition camera that was positioned on the tripod in
it’s my name, I’m the star, right? Why shouldn’t I have my own
front of her.
line with my own profits?”
“You’ve “You never met Johnny?” Smiley asked Tara.
Johnny smiled. After all these years he still enjoyed making her happy. He loved her.
He was w standing behind the set awaiting any order from Max.
“I think he’ll go for it, hon, I really do.” Johnny said. “Yeah…. oh, and I think Jesus is fine, its ok with me, don’t worry about it,
“Ask him to grab it, and then you’ll see.”
I like it,” Johnny said.
“Smiley,” “Sm Max interrupted.
He could tell she was happy.
“Yes boss,” Smiley said
“No, really, I like it, I like it a lot,” he said. “I’ll just have to beat up anyone that makes fun of my boy,” he chuckled.
“Where’s “Wh Johnny?” Max asked.
“Listen honey, I gotta go before Max takes out his shotgun…… I love you babe, I love you.” He said “I’ll call you after we finish
“He’s “He coming boss, he’s coming,” Smiley said. He was w noticeably nervous about his answer.
ok?….bye,” Johnny said. Smiley entered the kitchen and looked down at Johnny’s dangling penis. It was something Johnny was used to.
In the th next room Johnny placed the phone to his ear anxious to hear any news. “Honey?” “Ho Johnny asked. “How are you feeling?……What did the doctor say? That’s great news, isn’t it?” He paused p a moment to hear her voice. Johnny always loved the th sound of his wife’s voice. He smiled at the thought
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133 423207 10:49:47 PM
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Staff 2007 Trey Serna Editor In Chief I like to write, but not about myself. This is my lame attempt. School is my main priority. I stress myself out sometimes for no good reason. Thunderstorms are the best. The first cold front of the season is the best. The smell before rain makes me smile. The smell of fresh-cut grass is pleasant. The best feeling in the world is driving in your car while singing along to your favorite song and having the song end as you arrive at your destination. I can be random, sometimes. I try to eat healthy. I'm like Forrest Gump, in the sense that I love jogging and I too believe life is like a box of chocolates. I’m in a constant battle with Justin Timberlake; he’s trying to bring sexy back but I’m not going to let him have it. I try my best to stay positive and we’ll see where all of this takes me from here…
Ana Ley Copy desk chief I’m a senior at UTPA with a major in print journalism and a minor in French. My campus activities include working at as a staff reporter for the Pan American since January 2005 and assuming copy desk chief responsibilities for Panorama during the fall 2006 semester. In spring 2007, I participated in the UT in D.C. Bill Archer Fellowship program and interned for the U.S. Department of Agriculture and for Latina Style magazine. Some of my hobbies are sewing and blogging on the Internet. Brenda Hernandez Writer/Reporter My name is Brenda.My stage name is bRenda splenda the benda fenda, maybe; I’m not 100 percent sure yet. I suppose the whole purpose of this is to give you an insight to my PlainJane life, so here it is. FACTS: I’m a girl. I work with Red Bull. I’m messy. My car is messy. I lose absolutely everything. I’m on my third digital camera and second iPod. I have a membership at the gym that I rarely use. I believe there’s a God. I’m a white-lie teller. And last but not least, sometimes I run, sometimes I hide… Edward Elguezabal Writer/Reporter I was in Mexico and came to study in the United States. I’ve loved reading the newspaper ever since I can remember. I’m planning to go into the education field and get my masters in Bilingual Education with a specialization in Educational Administration. I want to become a vital producer of research in education and to academically asses’ dual languages learners for cognitive language acquisition of both their languages in the elementary grade levels. My motto in life is, “Life is what you make of it.” My dream job is to be a foreign correspondent. Chevy Rodriguez Writer/Reporter I’ve been around the world. Sorry, I always say that because it’s true and because I’m scoping out the details to rule the world. I mean travel; I like to travel. I’m always looking for an adventure but never follow through because I’m lazy. Just kidding! I’ve dealt with life’s crap and keep laughing at its ugly face because God sees me through it. I go off on tangents all the time. I love and likes randomness and humor. I agree to disagree and respect your right to be wrong.
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Nayelly SJ Barrios Writer/Reporter I’m 21 years old and from Mission, Texas. I’m a junior at UTPA, majoring in English with an emphasis in Creative Writing. My passion is writing, mostly journalism and creative writing. The great thing about Panorama is that it offers UTPA students with both. Erick I. Quintero Writer/Reporter I’m a reflection of all the cool people I have encountered along the way; good, bad, and ugly. Currently, I’m on schedule to graduate in December 2007, and I have landed a job with a local newspaper as a freelance reporter covering sports. I’m a true fan of electronic dance music (except trance, eww!) My life is not some twisted, complex concoction; those would be the shots I make on a Friday night. I am a simple man, well other than the fact that I’m really, really, really, ridiculously good looking! I keed, I keed! Salvador Grajeda Writer/ Reporter I was born in a rented room. My mother didn’t get any flowers. I stand accused for not being born with a silver spoon. I was born at about 4am in Merced, Calif. on Jan. 25, 1984. My father died when I was young. Years later, my mom re-married and moved the family to Texas, which was where her new beau was originally from. The rest is history... Natalie M. Villarreal Senior photographer (fall 2006) I’m enthusiastic to learn anything I can about photography. I’ve been taking pictures since I was 8 years old and I’ll never stop. I wish I could make a living off of it, but, my other love is school, ha, so, I’m applying to law school and we’ll see how I do. I worked for Panorama for two and a half years and I had a great time. I met a lot of interesting people and it helped me learn to balance work and school. Daniel Flores Senior photographer (spring 2007) We’ve done everything we could to make sure this magazine doesn’t suck too hard, so if you think it does then there might be something wrong with you. Don’t take it out on us just because you’re a disappointment to your parents, and your significant other is a whore.
Aimee Hernandez Photographer What's a pirate's favorite sweater pattern? Arrrrgyle. What's a pirate's least favorite subject? Arrrrrythmetic. Where do pirates come from? Arrrrrkansas. All joking aside, pirates are filthy and despicable. In other news, I’m a Virgo. I like the color green. I’m an organ donor. The person above me is into clown porn. I don’t get it, but, I respect it.
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Brenda Rodriguez Writer/Reporter/Photographer After my full recovery from Middle Child Syndrome AKA “Jan Brady Syndrome,” I’ve thrown myself into the chaotic world of journalism. For a broadcast major, I have written more articles than scripts, but, I don’t mind because I like to see my name in the paper. I enjoy sarcasm, 80s music, hot-rodding and taking candid photos. I hope to graduate in December 2007. My dream job is to become a nomad with a video camera, but, without the cattle tagging along. If that doesn’t work out, I plan to join Britney Spears’ quest to time travel speed! Yolin D. Muniz Photographer I’m a transfer student from Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and I’m still getting used to the non-salty air. I’m a small-town girl with big dreams of one day owning the entire series of “NipTuck.” My favorite cheese is cheddar. I like to sing in the car and dance in the living room. When I grow up, I want to be a writer, singer, wife and mother. If that doesn’t work out, there is always Plan B: Marry a rich man. Smile, Be Happy…
Jennifer Terrazas Photographer I see everything in still frame. I live for family, friends, music and photography. There isn’t much else.
Chris Ramirez Design editor I am accused of sometimes spacing out during important events. I like to read only things that relate to my mood. I am fascinated with progress and organic shapes. My nickname used to be 3-D because of my zesty 3-D artwork. I am also addicted to cereal. Save the environment!!
Alexis Carranza Designer I’m inspired by good music. I find foreign movies fascinating. I’m addicted to work. And I dislike writing bios.
Alejandro Paz Designer I like indie music. After graduation, I’d like to find a job. I’d like one in advertising, maybe as an art director or as a creative director. Something that nobody knows about me? Uhm, I’m an alien, haha! My inspiration is Johnny Chango and when I grow up I want to be just like him.
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Esmer Olvera Designer I’m a junior art major with specialization in graphic design. I’ve been doing art since forever. I’ve been drawing since I was a little kid. I like graphic design art, too. I like zombie movies. I like any types of music; nothing in particular.
C. LeRoy Cavazos Head of ad sales I AM POLITICS. “It’s not what your country can do for you, it’s what you can do for your country,” JFK Public service. My family and God are at the top of my list. Without these two things, I would never be the person I am today. Education is a must for me because a wise man once said that someone can take all away from you, but, your education will always be yours. It can never be taken away. My friends are a big part of my life and I take pride in having good people who surround me and are constantly there for me. I leave you with a quote that I live by, “Quere Es Poder.”
Carolina Sanchez Ad sales (fall 2006) I went to UTPA for three years. I majored in Advertising/Public Relations and graduated in December 2006. I’m currently working for a PR company in Chicago. I’m really satisfied with my major.
Donna Pazdera Adviser I grew up in rural Ohio, where I drew pictures, read books and attempted to write my own. Though I aspired to be a filmmaker or a disc jockey, I ended up as a journalist, working in Ohio and Florida. Six years ago, I threw out my common sense and went to graduate school where I made films and became a journalism teacher. In 2004, I landed my first real teaching job at UTPA. In my spare time, I teach indoor cycling classes, listen to music, read books and magazines and I have a weakness for celebrity gossip.
Kimberly Selber, Ph.d. Adviser
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I grew up in Huntington Beach, Calif. I love photography, architectural remodeling, crossword puzzles and making beautiful things. My favorite artist is Charles Demuth; favorite place, anywhere hot and near the water, which makes the Valley the perfect place for me. I’m also the mother of a 4-year-old creative spirit named Danya. Staff not pictured: Javier Cavazos and Jeanette Perez
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