april 24, 2003

16
The newly elected members of Student Government Association plan to start their terms with a goal: to encourage a higher rate of student involvement with the organization. Voter turnout for March’s election was 1,179, higher than 2002’s 1,100. The new president and vice president of UTPA are Paco Viellma and Oscar Garza, respectively. They beat their opponents by over 200 votes and will now spearhead the effort to publicize the group’s work and get students into the mix. The four Senators at Large this year are Marialicia Andrade, Gabriela Lopez, Carlos Rios and Arianna Vazquez. Andrade explained that her duty is to represent the entire UTPA student body on whatever issues come up. In March there were also elections for college representatives, who bring college issues to the senators at large. Two or three people represent each college. So through that conduit arrangement, student concerns become SGA topics for discussion. “We plan events for the students and take action in what students want, Andrade said. “We try to promote student involvement and more than anything, we are the students voice when dealing with administration.” Andrade also said that SGA would like to encourage more student activity at their weekly meetings, which are held Tuesday evenings at 6 p.m. on the third floor at the Student Union. She said that usually very few students go to the meetings. “We meet every Tuesday to discuss student events and complaints,” Andrade said. “Every single person is invited to attend our meetings.” Some of SGA’s upcoming plans are to get student ideas for a new recreation THURSDAY April 24, 2003 An Inside Look: News ............................................3 A & E ............................................7 Sports ........................................16 The Student Newspaper of The University of Texas-Pan American Page 4 Campus VOICE Who do you think will win the NBA playoffs? Curfews have existed for hundreds of years, whether they are placed by a parent to ensure the safety of their children, or on a city that has been invaded by an opposing society, or even on ethnic groups like in the 1960s when African Americans couldn’t leave their homes after a certain time during race riots. Now, juveniles are the citizens being targeted with rules limiting their movement. In May 1996 President Bill Clinton announced that he was supporting a new teen curfew policy. His policy recommended weekday curfews at 9 p.m. for teenagers, with punishments of fines and court summons for parents of offenders. Though this was widely seen as an election-year tactic, it gained a great deal of attention from both the press and lawmaking bodies around the country. New curfews were added in greater numbers than ever. Currently juvenile curfews are in cities of Texas such as Austin, Baytown, Corpus Christi, Dallas, El Paso, Fort Worth, Galveston, Houston, Plano, Round Rock, San Antonio, and Wichita Falls. The Edinburg City Council is expected to vote in favor of continuing the juvenile curfew ordinance that has been placed on the city May 1, 1994. Curfews must be reviewed annually at which time their continuance is debated. The Edinburg ordinance imposes a curfew for those under 17 Sunday through Thursday from 10:30 p.m. to 6 a.m. and Friday and Saturday from midnight to 6 a.m. Edinburg Police Chief Quirino Munoz is one individual who feels that the curfew should be continued and says that it has been one of the contributing factors to the decrease in juvenile arrests. “It can continue to be an invaluable tool for the police department in the coming years in its fight against juvenile criminal activity that may develop in association with the population growth and progress in the city,” By CLARISSA MARTINEZ The Pan American Edinburg curfew impact studied By BELINDA REYES The Pan American Gabriel O. Hernandez/The Pan American Phillip Batres of the South Texas Indian Dancers performs the Grass Stomp dance for a crowd in the Quad Tuesday. See Earth Day picture page on Page 6. See CURFEW page 5 SGA electees taking command See PLANS page 5 State of Texas Decreasing Juvenile Crime1998-2002 1998 2002 Sentenced Offenders General Offenders Felony Commitments Felony Referrals Missing Juveniles Burglaries 266 2058 2341 392 86 602 99 33 158 1457 2077 128 15 559 36 32 Hidalgo Co. Cameron Co. Incarcerations Source: Texas Youth Commission SWISH!

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Page 1: April 24, 2003

The newly elected members of StudentGovernment Association plan to start theirterms with a goal: to encourage a higherrate of student involvement with theorganization. Voter turnout for March’selection was 1,179, higher than 2002’s1,100.

The new president and vice president ofUTPA are Paco Viellma and Oscar Garza,

respectively. They beat their opponents byover 200 votes and will now spearheadthe effort to publicize the group’s workand get students into the mix. The fourSenators at Large this year are MarialiciaAndrade, Gabriela Lopez, Carlos Rios andArianna Vazquez.

Andrade explained that her duty is torepresent the entire UTPA student body onwhatever issues come up. In March therewere also elections for collegerepresentatives, who bring college issues

to the senators at large. Two or threepeople represent each college. So throughthat conduit arrangement, studentconcerns become SGA topics fordiscussion.

“We plan events for the students andtake action in what students want,Andrade said. “We try to promote studentinvolvement and more than anything, weare the students voice when dealing withadministration.”

Andrade also said that SGA would like

to encourage more student activity at theirweekly meetings, which are held Tuesdayevenings at 6 p.m. on the third floor at theStudent Union. She said that usually veryfew students go to the meetings.

“We meet every Tuesday to discussstudent events and complaints,” Andradesaid. “Every single person is invited toattend our meetings.”

Some of SGA’s upcoming plans are toget student ideas for a new recreation

THURSDAYApril 24, 2003

An Inside Look:

■ News ............................................3■ A & E............................................7■ Sports ........................................16

T h e S t u d e n t N e w s p a p e r o f T h e U n i v e r s i t y o f T e x a s - P a n A m e r i c a nPage 4

CCaammppuussVOICEWho do you

think will winthe NBAplayoffs?

Curfews have existed for hundreds ofyears, whether they are placed by a parent toensure the safety of their children, or on acity that has been invaded by an opposingsociety, or even on ethnic groups like in the1960s when African Americans couldn’t leavetheir homes after a certain time during raceriots. Now, juveniles are the citizens beingtargeted with rules limiting their movement.

In May 1996 President Bill Clintonannounced that he was supporting a new teencurfew policy. His policy recommendedweekday curfews at 9 p.m. for teenagers, withpunishments of fines and court summons forparents of offenders. Though this was widelyseen as an election-year tactic, it gained agreat deal of attention from both the pressand lawmaking bodies around the country.New curfews were added in greater numbersthan ever.

Currently juvenile curfews are in cities ofTexas such as Austin, Baytown, CorpusChristi, Dallas, El Paso, Fort Worth,Galveston, Houston, Plano, Round Rock, SanAntonio, and Wichita Falls.

The Edinburg City Council is expected tovote in favor of continuing the juvenilecurfew ordinance that has been placed on thecity May 1, 1994. Curfews must be reviewedannually at which time their continuance isdebated. The Edinburg ordinance imposes acurfew for those under 17 Sunday throughThursday from 10:30 p.m. to 6 a.m. andFriday and Saturday from midnight to 6 a.m.

Edinburg Police Chief Quirino Munoz isone individual who feels that the curfewshould be continued and says that it has been

one of the contributing factors to the decreasein juvenile arrests.

“It can continue to be an invaluable tool forthe police department in the coming years inits fight against juvenile criminal activity thatmay develop in association with thepopulation growth and progress in the city,”

By CLARISSA MARTINEZThe Pan American

Edinburg curfewimpact studied

By BELINDA REYESThe Pan American

Gabriel O. Hernandez/The Pan American

Phillip Batres of the South Texas Indian Dancers performs the Grass Stomp dance fora crowd in the Quad Tuesday. See Earth Day picture page on Page 6.

See CURFEW page 5

SGA electees taking command

See PLANS page 5

State of Texas DecreasingJuvenile Crime1998-2002

1998 2002

SentencedOffenders

GeneralOffenders

FelonyCommitments

FelonyReferrals

Missing Juveniles

Burglaries

266

2058

2341

392

86

602

99

33

158

1457

2077

128

15

559

36

32

Hidalgo Co.

Cameron Co.

Incarcerations

Source: Texas Youth Commission

The men’s tennis team is headingto the Southland ConferenceTournament this weekend with onlyone goal in mind: win.

The Broncs will get their shot atthe rest of the conference startingat 9:30 a.m. Friday at the UTATennis Center in Arlington.

After finishing the season on ahigh note, beating UTSA 4-3 intheir last match of the regularseason, the Broncs will look tocontinue their fine play againstLamar University in the first round.

UTPA finished the regular seasonwith a 12-7 overall record, and 3-2in the SLC.

It will not be an easy task eventhough they beat the Cardinals intheir last meeting, by a count of 5-2.

“Last time welost the doublespoint and I didn’tfeel like weplayed well inthe doubles atall,” said headcoach ToddChapman. “Weplayed better insingles and onlylost at thenumber oneposition.”

The only pairwho emergedvictorious wassenior Matt Gower and freshmanNik Porter, both from England, whodefeated Naeem Kath and JuanPablo Alatorre 8-4. Lamar’s No. 1player Jakob Paulsen was the onlyCardinal to record a win in singles,crushing Belgian TomMangelschots 6-1, 6-0.

The strategy for Friday’s match-up is nothing but playing the tennisthey know how to play.

“We never know what Lamarteam is going to show up so theyare hard to prepare for,” Chapmansaid. “They have a great numberone player but I think we are moretalented as a team.”

Being more talented will not beenough to win the tournament andChapman knows firsthand that it isnot something to rely on.Whenteams enter tournament or post

season competition, experience canmake all the difference betweenwinning and losing.

“Last year we beat them twice inthe regular season and we almostlost to them in the tournament,” hesaid. “We can’t overlook anybodyand we have to learn from our pastexperiences.”

There are six teams participatingin this year’s SLC Tournament andfour of them are most likely tobattle for the title.

“UT-Arlington, UTSA,Southeastern Louisiana and us canwin the tournament and the teamwho is consistent and plays wellduring the whole weekend will winit,” Chapman said.

Centenary and Lamar will haveto play more than inspired tennis tobe able to take home the honors.

The Gents finished their season5-15 and 0-5in conferenceplay. TheCardinalsfared a littlebetter in bothoverallperformanceandconferenceplay, ending2003 with an8-11 overallrecord andwent 1-4 inconference.

If theBroncs make

it through the first round, they willbe most likely to face the hostingteam.

“UT-Arlington is a great teamand we lost to them 5-2 in theregular season,” Chapman said.“We’re not worried about them yetthough because right now we arefocusing on Lamar only.”

The winner of the SLCTournament will get an automaticbid to the NCAA tournament.

For the Broncs’ two seniors,Gower and Neil Barraclough, alsofrom England, it would be a greatway to end their careers and afantastic year.

“We had a great year and to topit off with being nationally rankedand win the conference tournamentwould be a great way to get out,”Barraclough said.

■ NBA Pick ’em. . . . . . . . 15■ Bronc Baseball . . . . . . 14■ Sports clipboard . . . . . .13

PAGE 16

SPORTS

Photo by Matt Lynch/The Pan American

Senior Matt Gower (Somerset, England) leaps to hit a serve earlier in the season.

Southlandshowdown

By ALEX GRAVELThe Pan American

UTPA men’s tennis team heads to six-teamconference tournament following season-

ending victory over UTSA

They have agreat number

one player, but Ithink we are

more talented asa team.

““

- Todd Chapman, UTPA head tennis coach

SWISH!

Page 2: April 24, 2003

1201 West University, CAS 170 Edinburg, Texas 78539(956) 381-2541 Fax: (956) 316-7122

http://www.panam.edu/dept/panamerican51st Year – No. 24

EditorMatt Lynch

[email protected]

Layout Designers

Ashley Brooks

Gabriel O. Hernandez

Reporters

Hilda Barrientes

Juan Flores

Omaira Galarza

Amelia Garcia

Alex Gravel

Clarissa Martinez

Luis Saavedra

Nader M. Siam

Jennifer Tapia

Arianna Vazquez

Photographer

Daniel Aguilar

Circulation

Joe Rodriguez

Advertising Coordinator

Dagoberto Perez

Adviser

Dr. Greg Selber

the PAN AMERICAN is theofficial studentnewspaper of TheUniversity ofTexas-PanAmerican. Views presentedare those of thewriters and do notnecessarily reflectthose of theuniversity.

The Pan Americangladly acceptsletters fromstudents, staff andfaculty regardingnewspaper contentor current issues.The Pan Americanreserves the rightto edit submissionsfor grammar andlength. Please limitsubmission lengthto 300 words. ThePan Americancannot publishanonymous letters,or submissionscontaining hatespeech orgratuitouspersonal attacks.Letters are printedat the discretion ofthe editor andmust include thewriter’s name,class/title andphone number.

Letters policy

April 24 2 0 0 3

Readers with dis-abilities mayrequest an alter-native format ofthis publicationat The PanAmerican busi-ness office. For special assis-tance to attendany event listedin this publica-tion, contact thecoordinator of theevent at least oneweek prior to theadvertised date.

Sports EditorEd Chrnko

[email protected]

A & E EditorAshley Brooks

[email protected]

News EditorBelinda Reyes

[email protected]

Graphics EditorGabriel O.Hernandez

[email protected]

The Pan American wants to hear what you have tosay about stories, current events or anything youwant to rant about. Send your responses [email protected]

GGOOTT SSOOMMEETTHHIINNGG

TT OO SS AA YY ??

Mission accomplished?Dear Editor:

Most would acknowledge the myriadproblems facing the area’s public schoolsystems. The list, unfortunately, is long:bloated administrations, teacher burnout,squabbling and inept school boards,alleged financial mismanagement, and anexcessive focus on TAKS preparation.The results include high rates locally forunemployment, poverty, crime, and teenpregnancy - schools simply are notproducing enough good global citizenswith fundamental learning skills toimprove Valley life.

All that makes it tragic that UTPA, themajor option for many desiring to pursuea higher education in the region, mostlyfails to provide the quality instruction that

the Rio Grande Valley so desperatelyneeds. Rather, those in charge promote a“corporate model” in which theUniversity sells student-consumers adesirable product - high grades - insteadof being a place where the disseminationof knowledge flourishes. In addition,cronyism is alive and well - Pan Am maycombine the worst aspects of bureaucracyand el cunado.

Certainly in the Humanities division,the semi-official mandate to inflategrades, practice social promotion, andpass every warm body regardless meansthat professors who attempt to maintainappropriate standards are dealt withharshly. This inversion of legitimateeducational goals, unsurprisingly, causesdespair among the most caring teachersand cynicism about the system among thebrightest students.

Whether or not Pan Am has becomemerely a diploma mill proffering devalueddegrees should be the topic of pressingdebate on campus; its head honchos, thoseresponsible for establishing policy, haveshown more interest in protecting theirfiefdoms and the flow of dollars thanhelping the school reach its academicpromise. (This letter, let me acknowledgeexplicitly, is concerned with the overallstate of affairs; undoubtedly selectindividual students are still giving it theol’ college try.) The students, of course,are the ones who ultimately suffer. Let’shope they begin to demand somethingbetter.

Sincerely,Michael Winkelman

Professor of English (retired),University of Texas-Pan American

OPINION l e t t e r s ■ e d i t o r i a l s ■ c a r t o o n sPAGE 2 April 24, 2003 sports Page 15

UTPA hoopsterspick playoffs

The NBA playoffs are underway andthere will be a battle to try to take awaythe title from the three-time championLos Angeles Lakers and their superstarsShaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant.

The battle willtake place mostly inthe West where theteams are a lot moreexperienced andwhere they knowhow to winchampionships.

The Lakers mightonly be seeded fifth

in the Western Conference, but they areplaying as good basketball as anybody inthe league in the second half of theseason. The Minnesota Timberwolvesare trying to get past them and finallyreach the second round of the playoffsfor the first time in franchise history.

The other three threats in the West arethe San Antonio Spurs, SacramentoKings and the Dallas Mavericks. Theyare ranked first, second and thirdrespectively but are also looking at toughmatch-ups in the first round.

The Spurs are facing the Phoenix Sunsand they can never count them out,losing their opening game in overtimewith a three-pointer at the buzzer byStephon Marbury. The Spurs evened theseries 1-1 Tuesday night with a 84-76win.

The Utah Jazz will most likely not beable to keep up with the young legs ofthe Kings. Karl Malone and JohnStockton have a lot of experience in theplayoffs with the Jazz but it will not beenough to come out of the first round.

Rasheed Wallace and the PortlandTrailblazers will be a handful for theMavericks, who did not finish theregular season the way they could have.They led the West for the majority of theseason but could only place third behindSan Antonio and Sacramento.

The race for the Eastern ConferenceChampionship will be a close one.Anybody can beat any team on anygiven day. There are no teams withconsistent, experienced players that canwin every night on a regular basis.

In the East, the No.1 seed in the EastDetroit Pistons (50-32) have a 1-1 leadon the No. 8 seed Orlando Magic (42-40). If the No. 1 seed only won eightmore games than the No. 8 seed, thatgives us an idea of how unpredictablethe East is going to be.

The New Jersey Nets will look to getback to the finals after they were sweptby the Lakers last year, but will have tostrike Gary Payton and his new team.The series is currently tied 1-1.

The No. 3 seed Indiana Pacers andReggie Miller are considered one of thefavorites to get out of the East, but areknotted at 1-1 in their series with theBoston Celtics.

Allan Iverson will once again try to do

the impossible and bring his team out ofthe East like he did a few years ago.Iverson will need a lot of help from histeammates to get past the New OrleansHornets, but the 76ers already have a 2-0lead.

Here are predictions from a number ofUTPA basketball players.

Sophomore MattHall

Finals: Los Angelesvs New Jersey

Champ: Los Angelesin four

Senior AndriusSakalysFinals: Los Angelesvs New Jersey

Champ: Los Angelesin six

Senior KevinMitchell

Finals: Sacramentovs Philadelphia

Champ: Sacramentoin six

Junior AllenHolcomb

Finals: Los Angelesvs Indiana

Champ: Los Angelesin six

Senior TomasSitnikovas

Finals: Sacramentovs New Jersey

Champ: Sacramentoin six

Sophomore EricMontalvo

Finals: Los Angelesvs New Jersey

Champ: Los Angelesin four

Junior Chris Fagan

Finals: Los Angelesvs Philadelphia

Champ: Philadelphiain seven

By ALEX GRAVELThe Pan American

COMMENTARY

The National Hockey League started theplayoffs with 16 teams in pursuit of theprestigious Lord Stanley Cup. Thechampionship series brings together teams fromthe United States and Canada to compete for thehighest level of achievement of professionalhockey. The first round is complete and onlyeight teams remain in their quest of hockeysupremacy.

In the Eastern Conference, Ottawa, NewJersey, Philadelphia and Tampa Bay still remain.

Ottawa advanced to the Eastern Conferencesemifinals by eliminating the New YorkIslanders, 4 games to 1. The New Jersey Devilsalso advanced in speedy fashion by disposing ofthe Boston Bruins in five games. The TampaBay Lightning did away with Washington in six,while Philadelphia and Toronto battled for sevengames until the Flyers blew past Toronto, 6-1, inthe seventh and deciding game Tuesday night.

In the Western Conference, Dallas,Vancouver, Minnesota and Anaheim look tomove closer to winning a championship.

The Dallas Stars eliminated the EdmontonOilers with a 3-2 sixth-game victory lastSaturday. The Anaheim Mighty Ducks swept thedefending champion Detroit Red Wings in thebest-of-seven series and will face Dallas in thesemifinals.

Minnesota advanced to the next round byedging out Colorado in seven games whileVancouver did the same with the St. LouisBlues.

LOCAL CONNECTIONAs hockey fans from the Valley watch the

NHL playoffs on television this year, they canlook forward to watching a professional hockeygame in person when the expansion Rio GrandeValley Killer Bees hit the ice next season.

The Killer Bees will drop the puck for theirinaugural season in October 2003 as the newestteam of the Central Hockey League.

The Killer Bees will do their battles at thenewly constructed “Hive” which will be ready

by October, and will have a capacity of 5,500.The Killer Bees’ season will start in lateOctober and will run until March 2004, with 64regular season games.

The team will play 32 of these games on theirhome ice in Hidalgo in the hunt for thePresident’s Cup, the pinnacle of the CHL.

“If you have never been to a hockey game inperson you can not imagine how much fun itis,” said Trey Medlock, president and generalmanager of the Killer Bees.

“This is the kind of entertainment the Valleynatives will love, their will be more going onaround the rink with promotions and giveawaysthen on the ice,” Medlock said. “Hockey is sofast-paced and exciting there will never be adull moment.”

The popularity of hockey in the Valley hasalready caught on with 1,000 of the 2,500season tickets available sold; as a season ticketholder there are many benefits. There will be aseat selection party with the players, and holdersnever stand in line for tickets and have firstoption for playoff tickets. Also, season ticketholders will receive 10 percent off on all KillerBees team merchandise and preferred assignedparking.

The Killer Bees will start picking theirplayers in June in a supplement draft, choosingplayers from the other 16 teams in the CHL tofill an 18-man roster.

The brain trust of the Killer Bees along withMedlock will involve newly named head coachand Director of Hockey Operations TracyEgeland.

“With the staff we have started to assemble,this team has a great opportunity to besuccessful early and possibly making theplayoffs in its first season,” Medlock said. “It’sa great time to get everyone involved andinterested about hockey, with the NHL playoffsup and running we see all over the U.S howexciting hockey can be.”

Season tickets are now available by callingthe Killer Bees front office at (956) 843-7825.For more information concerning Killer Beeshockey, visit their Web site at:www.killerbeehockey.com.

Killer Bees, hockey soonto make Valley debutBy NADER M. SIAMThe Pan American

Intramural teams play tourneys

The intramural recreation departmentconcluded a 3-on-3 basketball single eliminationtournament Tuesday where six teams battled todetermine this year’sintramural champion.

The teams that participatedwere Team Punishment, Team4, Team X , Suicide Kings,Triple Threat and All-American Shooterz. When thedust settled Team 4 won thechampionship by defeatingTriple Threat, 59-32.

In the softball tournament,the final two games wereplayed with the Outlaws andScrubs winning theirrespective games to advance tothe softball championshipwhich will be played today.

“The growth of participationof all the sports has gone up since the fields wereassigned, we are working on putting up a fence

for softball to make it more appealing,” saidCharlie Cáceres, coordinator of CampusActivities. “More students are participating in thesports that we offer because our facilities areimproving.”

In flag football, the Explosion and I EEE’s wontheir respective gamesTuesday afternoon. Theyare preparing for thecompetitive singleelimination tournamentwith the Stallions andGamblers still undefeated.

In soccer, La Pandillawon their last game of theregular season and areworking toward a possiblematchup with the front-running Illegal Aliens. Thesingle-eliminationtournament begins nextweek to determine thechampion.

For more information on the tournaments orother intramural sports call 956-292-0839 or stopby the Intramural office located at Bronc Village.

By NADER M. SIAMThe Pan American

More studentsare participatingin the sports thatwe offer becauseour facilities are

improving.

““

- Charlie Caceres, coordinator ofCampus Activities

Page 3: April 24, 2003

Volunteer service has always been a mustfor the success of a community. Whetherservice comes from a local school spending aweekend cleaning a city park, or seniorcitizens organizing monthly cultural orinformational events, a community benefitsfrom people generously offering their time fortheir town. In McAllen, there are individualsserving the community in a rather unique way.Friends of McAllen Memorial Library(FMML) is an organization of members of theMcAllen community that spends timeproviding help and service to the local library.

The McAllen Memorial Library wasoriginally created to be a memorial to the menand women who died in World War II. To thisday it continues to provide a wide variety ofresources and services to the community. Thelibrary is a member of the Hidalgo CountyLibrary System and participates in the HCLSUnion Catalog, which offers local interlibrary loans among participating libraries, as well asfree direct access to member libraries.

With all that was changing in the city, agroup of individuals felt that they could assistby spending a couple hours a week at thelibrary. Founded in 1967, FMML was one ofthe first organizations devoted to helping outthe community library. According to PatMoyer, current president of the FMML, themission of the group is to support andstrengthen the McAllen Memorial Library andits branches, to provide a means for the publicto recycle their books and magazines, and topromote fellowship among its members.

The FMML membership website explainsthat members of the organization canparticipate in a number of different volunteeractivities to help the library. Members can

help sell books in the Main Street Book Store,sort books for sale in the book store, review abook for a meeting of the FMML, or evenhost a meeting.

Through the years FMML has been able tocontribute to the library in an assortment ofdiverse ways. Major contributions includecollection of circulating art prints, and a CDmusic collection. The organization was alsoinvolved in the purchase of the firstmicrofilm/fiche reader/printer for the libraryand the complete microfiche collection ofpoetry is indexed in Grainger's Index ofPoetry.

The hardware and software used by theLibrary's Local Area Network computersystem were made possible due to a FMMLgrant and much of the equipment thatdistributes the Internet within the library wasalso accomplished by the FMML.

The Friends' Bookstore evolved from anisolated annual sale to an entire bookstore thatis located near the front of the library. It isopen seven afternoons a week, and is staffedentirely by volunteers, with sale booksdonated by the public. Books donated to theFriends are first screened by library staff, andthose which would benefit the library'scollection are donated and cataloged into thecollection.

With the publishing of a monthlynewsletter, FMML helps by listing theorganized classes that are expected to betaught at the McAllen Memorial Library aswell as announcing meetings that arescheduled to take place that month in order tokeep people aware of everything the libraryhas to offer. The FMML also sponsors authorbook chats.

For the past several weeks, the FriendsBookstore has been having specialty sales toraise money to buy new materials.

April 24, 2003 THE PAN AMERICAN Page 3

The Middle East is a hot topic thesedays, and with that in mind, Dr. Sonia L.Alianak is in the process of finishing abook depicting Middle Eastern countriesand their leaders.

Alianak, a political science professor atthe University of Texas-Pan American whofocuses on international politics, hassigned a deal with a New York publishingcompany for her first book titled, “MiddleEastern Leaders And Solid-ReligiousTensions: A Precarious Equilibrium.”

The book, part of a series called, Studiesin International Relations, deals with therole of leadership in Middle Easterncountries, and the balance between politicsand religion.

Alianak’s book also creates a newtheoretical model, which she called theSeesaw Model. With it, she explains therelationship religion takes between MiddleEast leaders and their countries.

She also explained how she wanted todo something different, beyond themundane political books that are usuallywritten about the Middle East.

“My book focuses on the religiousrelationship between the leader and theruled,” Alianak explained. “And the giveand take of the Seesaw Model.”

The theory behind the Seesaw Model isthat Middle East leaders use religion tohelp maintain a settled equilibrium. Anexample of that would be, when a leader isfaced with a crisis; the leader will turn toreligion to try to influence his people tosupport him, and his actions.

“People are more religious now,” shesaid. “So now the ruler wants to appearmore religious to stay in power.”

The book consists of five chapters, eachpertaining to a different country, and itsleader. The Middle Eastern countries areIraq, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Syria, andEgypt.

According to Alianak, because of thecurrent war with Iraq, the chapter on Iraqand Saddam Hussein might have to beextended.

“In the case of Iraq, if Saddam Husseinis removed, I will probably be adding thepart of the new regime,” Alianak said.

The chapter on Iraq focuses on howHussein actually used religion, proving theSeesaw Model, during his dictatorship.

To obtain the research material used forthe chapter on Hussein, Alianak analyzedhis speeches, and what was written abouthim on Iraqi media to learn hisbackground and intentions.

Another topic that would be seen in thebook is that of media coverage in theMiddle East, and how the media usesreligious myths to justify the rules andactions of the leader in question.

She also added that her research resultedin learning how rulers interpret the Koran,the Islamic Bible, in order to use religionto their advantage.

However, the research for this bookstarted when she first got interested inwriting publications after obtaining herdoctorate at The University of Texas atAustin in 1998.

Her background was an essentialelement to her work on the Middle East.

Alianak, of Armenian descent, was born inSudan, which is commonly known asBlack Africa, and later moved to Egyptwith her family. There, she attended schoolat the American University in Cairo,getting her bachelor’s degree in politicalscience with a minor in journalism.

Soon after, she went to the AmericanUniversity of Beirut, and got her mastersin international relations. She thenimmigrated to the United States to pursueher doctorate. In her dissertation,"Hierarchical Dissonance in Values &Iranian Revolution", Alianak found herpassion, and realized she wanted to focuson the Middle East and its leaders.

“I got interested because I have alwaysbeen interested on leadership,” Alianakstated. “I was interested in religionbecause Islam is so important now in theMiddle East, so I thought of combiningmy two interests, of religion used byleaders.”

Since she lived half of her life in theMiddle East, and knew the ropes aroundthe countries, she was not a traveler, but acitizen.

With her eyes set in the Middle East shethen started to research, and write articles,which she has presented in international,state, and regional conferences.

Out of 16 papers presented in variousconventions, Alianak has three publishedarticles. The Scandinavian Journal ofDevelopment Alternatives published oneof the three, and made it a worldwidepublication.

However, the book, which is due outnext year, has not stopped Alianak’sresearch on other articles. This weekendshe presented one of her articles at theSouthwest Social Sciences AssociationConference in San Antonio.

Dr. Jerry Polinard, chair of the politicalscience department, stated his opinionabout Alianak’s work in the university, andoutside it.

“She is a valued colleague, particularlygiven her area of expertise in the MiddleEast,” Polinard commented. “She is avaluable part of our department.”

Alianak concluded by stating herfeelings toward UTPA, and its students.She has lived here since 1989.

“I have really enjoyed teaching here atUTPA,” Alianak said. “I like the students,and the motivation and interest they bringto my classes.”

By ARIANNA VAZQUEZThe Pan American

DR. SONIA L. ALIANAK

Poly sci’s Alianakscans Middle East By CLARISSA MARTINEZ

The Pan American

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As a way to receive updated informationon issues related to counseling,rehabilitation, and addictions, theAddictions Studies Project along with TheUniversity of Texas Pan-American’sDepartment of Rehabilitation Services willsponsor The Counseling and AddictionsIssues Conference. The conference will beheld on April 25 and 26 at the Holiday InnCivic Center in McAllen.

Attendees at the conference can earn upto 10 hours of continuing education units,do some networking, and learn more aboutUTPA’s Rehabilitation Services program.

According to Judith Guetzow, coordinatorof the Addictions Studies Project, thecontinuing education units go towardlicensed counselors such as LicensedChemical Dependency Counselor, LicenseProfessional Counselor, CertifiedRehabilitation Counselor and LicensedSocial Worker.

“There are those licensed counselors whoneed to acquire 100 CEUs over a five-yearspan,” Guetzow said. “They can acquiresome at the conference and have a chance tomeet faculty and staff.”

Suzanne Mireles, coordinator of theconference, says the event makes adifference to UTPA students and

community professionals because they areable to make contact with otherprofessionals and agencies.

“Networking and collaborating with otheragencies is an important aspect in the fieldof rehabilitation and counseling,” Mirelessaid. “This aspect enhances the continuingeducation experience.”

Eva Miller, assistant professor at UTPA,will be giving a lecture on “Sexuality Aftera Spinal Cord Injury from a Women’sPerspective.” She says the conference helpsformer students as well as master’s studentsbecause the students do not have to travel tocontinue their education.

“They can stay here,” Miller said. “Theconference also supports the community andserves recruitment purposes.”

Miller added the conference will focus onother aspects of rehabilitation andaddictions, with people representing legalissues involved with disabilities, folkremedies for illnesses, ethics relating tocounseling and families during recoverystage.

Guetzow said the conference usually hasan average of 75 people attending, buthopes to reach a goal of 100 people. The feeis $100 for both days and 10 CEUs. Toattend on April 25 only, the fee is $80 and 7CEUs will be acquired. To attend on April26 only, the fee is $40 and 3 CEUs will beacquired.

By HILDA BARRIENTESThe Pan American

Addiction conferenceset to begin tomorrow

UTPA goes 1-1 in doubleheader againstUTSA, nearly pull off upset over Longhorns

The University of Texas-PanAmerican baseball team split adoubleheader yesterday afternoon toThe University of Texas-SanAntonio Roadrunners, 11-6 and 16-10, to win their 20th game of theseason against 25 losses.

With the game two victory, UTSAimproved to 22-22 on the season,and UTPA (20-25) improved to 3-14on the road.

In the second game of theafternoon, the Broncs wasted a 4-2fifth inning lead when theRoadrunners tagged reliever AarónGuerra for six runs in the bottom ofthe fifth to take a 8-4 lead.

One inning later, UTSA eruptedfor five more runs to increase theirlead to 13-4 and knock relief pitcherJuan Sáenz, the second Broncreliever, out of the game.

In the top of the seventh, Pan Amrallied for four runs to cut thedeficit to 13-8.

The Roadrunners added threemore runs in the next two innings tofinish off UTPA 16-10.

Evin Brewer got the win toimprove to 4-1 on the season, whilejunior Tommy Sorden dropped to 2-

4.In game one, UTPA avenged its

heartbreaking loss to the Longhornsthe day before by whipping Texas-San Antonio 11-6.

The Broncs unloaded onRoadrunner starting pitcher AarónRodríguez by taking an 8-1 leadafter just two innings of play.

Rodríguez allowed eight runs onas many hits and dropped to 1-2 forthe season.

UTSA chipped away at the Bronclead to close within 8-5 after sixinnings, but UTPA pulled away inthe ninth by scoring three insuranceruns to take an 11-5 lead.

The Roadrunners added a run inthe bottom of the ninth, but werenot able to overcome Pan Am’s five-run lead and eventually lost, 11-6.

Pitching on less than a day’s rest,López threw 5.2 innings of solidball to improve to 3-1 on theseason. He allowed five runs whilescattering nine hits, and striking outone batter to improve his ERA to6.31.

Junior Johnny Gibson came on inrelief of López in the sixth andpitched 1.1 innings while allowingone run on a single hit to conserve

April 24, 2003 sports Page 14

Sophomore catcher Matt Eichel takes a cut at a pitch earlier this season at Edinburg Baseball Stadium. Eichel is batting .202 this season with 24 hits in 119 at bats.

Photo by Daniel Aguilar/The Pan American

UTPA vs UTSA*Season Result Score4/23/03 L 16-104/23/03 W 11-62002 L 3-11

W 7-6L 1-13L 5-16

2001 L 8-10L 5-6L 4-8L 2-5L 1-5L 5-9L 10-16

2000 L 8-9L 1-10W 12-1L 6-12L 3-4L 1-4W 6-1W 7-6 (10)

1999 W 4-1W 8-7W 9-7W 4-3W 9-2W 4-3L 11-15L 4-6

*MOST RECENT GAMES (24-29 all time)

UTPA vs UT*Season Result Score4/22/03 L 5-64/8/03 L 3-73/24/02 L 0-203/23/02 L 0-93/22/02 L 0-102001 L 6-12

L 6-122000 L 4-121999 L 7-8

L 6-231983 L 1-61980 L 4-71979 L 2-41977 L 8-13

L 1-4L 3-9L 0-3

1975 L 2-91974 L 0-71973 L 12-14 (12)

L 1-71972 L 1-2

L 0-11971 W 4-0

W 1-0W 3-1W 4-3L 0-4W 6-5

*MOST RECENT GAMES (6-29 all time)

Broncs, ’Runners splitBy JUAN FLORESThe Pan American

See BRONCS page 13

Page 4: April 24, 2003

After observing his own sensory sensitivity, aprofessor at the University of Texas-PanAmerican uses hypnosis to look for ways toimprove human health conditions with a focuson the interaction between mind and body.

Dr. Grant Benham, an assistant professor inthe Department of Psychology ad Anthropologyat UTPA, began to wonder how people’sawareness of their environment relates to theirhealth when he discovered his own sensitivity tosound and sunlight, so he embarked on a seriesof studies that he refers to as “the body/mindinteraction.”

With his study on the connection between themind and body, he incorporates the use ofhypnosis.

“Hypnosis is a part of what I research, but it’sjust one aspect of my research,” Benham said.

“Hypnosis has many different areas. Itinvolves memory, obviously people use it intherapy, people use it in medicine,” he said.“All sorts of different areas of psychology cometogether.”

According to an article published in theScientific American in July 2001 by Michael R.Nash, “Hypnosis is finding medical uses incontrolling chronic pain, in countering anxietyand even--in combination with conventionaloperating-room procedures--in helping patientsto recover more quickly from outpatientsurgery.”

“My interests are more in the mind/bodyconnection,” said Benham, who received hisPh.D. in experimental psychology from theUniversity of Tennessee, Knoxville in Dec.2000. “So I got interested in hypnosis because alot of research has shown the possibility of usinghypnosis to influence physiological or biologicalaspects.”

As a graduate student Benham taught variouspsychology courses at UTK such as, Statistics inPsychology and Introductory Psychology. Thenhe was an adjunct professor for a year inTennessee Wesleyan College in the Departmentof Behavioral Sciences, where he taughtPhysiological psychology and Social ResearchMethods.

THE EARLY DAYSThe dissertation Benham wrote at UTK was

titled “Secretory immunoglobin A and heart ratereactions to mental arithmetic and hypnoticsuggestions,” and this paper is one of theelements in the bigger picture he envisions.

“My dissertation had been on using hypnosisto alter immune functioning,” he said.

The study showed that hypnosis did have aneffect on increasing immune functioning, but hewants to take this further.

“You may be able to show this increase inimmune functioning, but how does that translatethen later into people being sick or being well?”Benham wonders. “Does it really make aclinical difference in terms of their health?”

He has three publications in scientific journalsand one scholarly submission, all relating towork he has done in an attempt to answer hisown questions. His most recent publication canbe found in the International Journal of Clinicaland Experimental Hypnosis.

“These are all studies that have to be done,”Benham said. “they haven’t been done yet.”

CURRENT STUDIESHe initiated his current research when he left

TWC to join UTPA’s faculty in August 2002.“Right now I’m looking at two things,”

Benham said. “One study I’ve just started andthe other one I’m planning on starting in thefall.”

“One study is looking at the measure ofsensory sensitivity, its indication of howsensitive people are to stimuli in their

environments such as, heat or cold or noises orsmells,” he said. “The other one is just kind of afun thing to do, it may have practicalapplications later.”

The second study deals with a phenomenonwhere a hypnotist creates the illusion that asubjects hand is desensitized. Each studyBenham conducts is a piece of a larger puzzle.

“All of these things are baby steps towardstrying to get an idea of the bigger picture,”Benham said. “What can we do to control ourphysiology through mental techniques? Is thatreally going to make us healthier if we do this?”

STANDARDIZED SCALESBenham uses standardized scales in his

experimental research that contain a series ofquestions to determine anything from howhypnotizable a person is to what their averagelevel of stress is, depending on which scale isused.

Each scale is basically a script that a hypnotistfollows in order to hypnotize a subject. Thescale Benham uses has 39 questions, is about apage long and was taken from older scales withover 100 questions.

“We generally use a very standardized scale,around the 1950s and 60s some good scaleswere put together,” Benham said. “And theystandardized it in the sense that you follow a setscript and do specific suggestions such as,putting their arms together about a foot apart infront of them, giving the suggestion that they’regoing to be pulled together.”

“They’re going to feel a force pulling themtogether until they touch,” he said. “And thenyou have some sort of measurement to assesswhether they passed the suggestion by the endof this time period.”

During his first semester at UTPA, Benhamperformed a scale on a group of students for hissensory sensitivity study. This scale differs fromtraditional standardized scales because it hasquestions that focus more on the subject’s sensesand reaction to environmental factors.

Based on the data he hopes to understandhow sensitive they are to noise, temperature,bright lights and other environmental factors.Once he compiles the data he plans to conductscales that answer specific questions about apersons health or general well-being.

“The idea is not necessarily just to have this[information],” Benham said. “But then to seewhether it relates to other things. So we’regoing to administer scales alongside it such as,the average level of stress, how stressed they aregenerally, their health behavior, how ill theyhave been over the last six weeks or whateverelse.”

The goal is to see if there is a relationshipbetween these scales and a person’s health, andif their environment predicts their level ofhealth.

“This is very exploratory, there isn’t muchresearch out there to support this one way oranother,” he said. “It’s kind of breaking newground, which is a fun way to do research, it’sthe way I prefer to do it.”

By OMAIRA GALARZAThe Pan American

April 24, 2003 THE PAN AMERICAN Page 4

Felipe SaavedraBiologySenior

The Kings are going to win because theyare the best. They are just a really goodteam.

Juan E. GarzaRehabilitation CounselingGraduate

I’m an anti-Lakers guy and I thinkthe Mavericks are going to win.Overall, they have a really goodteam in all areas – offense anddefense, it’s a really strong team.

John AlmeidaPhysician Assistant Program Senior

I want the Spurs to win butunfortunately the Lakers are going towin. I think it is all fixed for them towin.

Who do you think will winthe NBA playoffs?

Joel GarzaKinesiologySophomore

Sacramento is going to win. They arereally good and they have the best benchon the NBA.

VOICECCaammppuuss

Pablo RazoKinesiologySenior

Kings are going to win. They are thebest and also because they’ve comeso close in many years.

DR. GRANT BENHAM

Mesmerizing researchApril 24, 2003 Sports Page 13

SSPPOORRTTSS CCLLIIPPBBOOAARRDDUTPA to attend Drake Relays

Four members of The University of Texas-Pan American track team willcompete this weekend in the 94th Annual Drake Relays at Drake Stadium inDes Moines, Iowa.

The Drake Relays is the second oldest meet in the nationSophomore Westly Keating will compete in the 5,000-meter run on

Thursday, Rowena Hamlet will run in the 400-meter hurdles, Deneb DeLunawill compete in the shotput on Friday, and Hugo Cervantes will participate inthe 3,000-meter steeplechase on Saturday.

UTPA will next compete in the Texas Invitational on May 3 at Austin.

Davis garners honorSenior guard James Davis became the second UTPA men’s basketball player

honored this year when he received honorable mention for the inauguralNCAA Division I-AAA Athletic Directors’ Association Scholar-Athlete Team.

Davis averaged 2.9 points and 2.3 rebounds per game and led the Broncswith 3.8 assists.

Lady Broncs hit recruiting trailThe University of Texas-Pan American womens basketball team added three

new recruits this past week to bring the total to five new players for the LadyBroncs.

On Monday, 5-foot-6 point guard Ashley Roberts from Butler CountyCommunity College in El Dorado, Kan., and 5-foot-9 guard Arrita Oler fromCoffeyville Community College in Coffeyville, Kan. were added to the LadyBronc Roster. Both players join UTPA as juniors and will have two years ofeligibility.

Roberts averaged 11.2 points, 3 assists and 2.8 steals per game as asophomore, while Oler averaged 15.2 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 2.52 steals pergame.

Six-foot forward Kristi Dudley from Cedar Hill High School joined UTPAon Tuesday and will begin her college career this fall. She will have four yearsof eligibility.

Golf adds athlete

Not to be left behind in the recruiting frenzy, the UTPA men’s golf teamadded Colin Norris from Cochrane High School in Calgary, Alberta, Canadaas its newest recruit.

Norris participated in the Canadian Junior Championships where he finished14th overall. He also played for the Alberta Provincial team and took firstplace at the Junior America’s Cup.

Norris joins Pan Am as a freshman and will have four years of eligibility.

Celeb softball

The Edinburg Roadrunners baseball team will kick off their season with theSecond Annual Celebrity Softball Game at 5:30 p.m. on April 27 at theEdinburg Baseball Stadium.

April is Child Abuse Awareness and Prevention Month and the softball gameis the Roadrunners’ way of helping in the fight against child abuse andneglect. Local television and radio celebrities along with local officials willtake the field with the Roadrunners to compete against their peers in the“Stars and Stripes” softball game.

The game will help the CASA of Hidalgo County raise funds for the CASAFor Kids Crisis Center that helps families in crisis.

For more information, call the CASA office at 381-HOLD.

the victory for López and pick up his thirdsave of the season.

Despite dropping two of three roadgames this week, the Broncs improved to3-9 on the road in April, 4-9 overall thismonth. Last season, Pan Am was 2-8 onroad during April.

In addition, UTPA has cranked 14 round-trippers this year and are just two awayfrom tying last year’s total of 16.

A testament to the improved hitting overlast year’s Bronc team is their current .286batting average.

Last season, UTPA finished with a .259average.

SO CLOSEOn Tuesday afternoon, the Broncs gave

the defending champion Texas Longhornsa run for their money, but Pan Am couldn’thold on and dropped a tough 6-5 loss toextend their losing streak against Texas to23 straight games dating back to 1972.

The Broncs scored five runs in a three-inning stretch to take a 5-0 lead in the topof the fifth inning.

Pan Am held on to a 5-2 lead until thebottom of the eighth when senior startingpitcher Travis Parker ran out of gas and thebottom fell out.

Texas scored three runs to tie the UTPA,5-5, and knock Parker out of the game.

Parker pitched seven solid innings untilhe was relieved by sophomore John Lópezto stop the Longhorns. Brownsville nativeParker left the game after allowing fiveruns on 10 hits while striking out fourbatters.

In the top of the ninth, UTPA was heldscoreless and gave the Longhorns thechance win it.

The Longhorns took advantage of theBroncs’ inability to score when centerfielder Joe Ferin was hit by a pitch byMission native López.

Ferin later advanced to second whenLópez balked and one out later stole thirdand ended up scoring the winning run onan errant throw to third by catcher MattEichel. López took the loss to drop to 2-1on the season.

The Mission High standout pitched 1.1innings and allowed just one run and didn’tallow a hit.

Earlier this season, López pitched 1.2innings in Pan Am’s 7-3 loss to theLonghorns on April 8. In that game, Lópezdidn’t allow any runs or hits, and struckout one Longhorn in a losing effort.

The Broncs will have a week off aftertheir recent road trip and will be back inaction against Texas-San Antonio onWednesday, April 30, at 5 p.m. in theirfinal home game of the season at theEdinburg Baseball Stadium.

Broncs continued from page 14

UUppccoommiinngg SScchheedduulleeDate Opponent Location

May 2 SE Louisiana Hammond, LA

May 3 SE Louisiana Hammond, LA

May 4 SE Louisiana Hammond, LA

May 16 NMSU Las Cruces, NM

May 17 NMSU Las Cruces, NM

Page 5: April 24, 2003

Work-study jobs are a primary source ofincome for over 900 students at theUniversity of Texas-Pan American. Recentstate-mandated budget cuts have worriedstudents who are employed by theprogram. But it appears that work-studieswill not be affected adversely.

The work-study program is a form offinancial aid students receive when theywork in a department at the university.Students depend on these jobs to pay fortuition and books.

“I felt concerned, not only for mysake,” said Mara Garcia, a senior atUTPA. “But for others who count onhaving the job semester after semester,and knowing that it helps in providing forschool and their daily lives.”

According to a memo Dr. MiguelNevarez, president of the university, sent

to all faculty and staff Feb. 24, theuniversity’s budget will be cut$12,188,559 in the next biennium. Aflexible hiring freeze for administrativeand staff positions was put into effect as astrategy to balance the budget.

The budget cuts have significantlyimpacted department’s abilities to hirefull-time employees, however,departments can still hire UTPA work-study students, William Morley wrote in aletter to all UTPA supervisors Feb. 10.

Morley, the university’s work-studycoordinator, explained that work-study isa federal program, so the money itreceives from the government will notchange in the coming year.

“The way work-study works is thegovernment pays about sixty percent ofthe student’s wages and the departmentspay the difference,” said Morley, 28.“Now if the department doesn’t have thedifference to pay those wages, they won’t

be able to hire students.”The only way a student employed by

the work-study program could be affectedis if their department is unable to pay.Departments are required to pay 30percent of each student’s wage.

“Work-studies are guaranteed a rate ofpay,” Morley said. “They’re guaranteed atleast minimum wage, so they can’t cutpay.”

At this point students have no reason toworry in either respect. Wages are set, andthe departments have ample funds.

“As far as I’ve heard so far, and I’vebeen asking a lot of departments,” Morleysaid. “I don’t see any major obstacles fornext year. We’re still going to be doingokay with the work-study program.”

Marina Escobar, an administrativeassociate with New Student and VisitorsServices, is relieved that her departmentwill continue to employ its estimated 40work-studies. She has two work-studies

under her, who she depends on to leadprojects and finish tasks she does nothave time to complete.

“Percentage-wise I rely on work-studies90 percent,” said Marina Escobar. “Idepend on them a lot and they know that.”

Escobar is not the only person whorelies on work-studies to completeprojects.

“They do count on us to get the jobsthat they need more help on done,” saidGarcia, who works in the office of thedean of college of arts and humanities.

As much as the departments depend onthese individuals, the work-studiesthemselves rely on their jobs as a sourceof income.

“I count on having the work-study jobsemester after semester,” Garcia said.“This job has helped me so much. It helpsme pay my bills, and I even pay for mybooks and everything.”

April 24, 2003 THE PAN AMERICAN Page 5April 24, 2003 THE PAN AMERICAN Page 12

By OMAIRA GALARZAThe Pan American

Munoz said in a recent Edinburg DailyReview article.

However, some feel that a juvenilecurfew is not such a good idea because itdoesn’t work on those juveniles whocommit crimes.

Dr. Rosalva Resendiz of the Universityof Texas-Pan American criminal justicedepartment is familiar with the literature ofjuvenile justice studies and feels that youthare restricted unfairly by curfews placed onthem.

“Adolescence is a time for the youth toexplore, learn and grow,” Resendiz said.“Instead of helping them to explore outsideof the box, society retains and repressesthem.”

She continued to say that adolescence isa time of rebellion, and that adding lawssuch as the curfew simply makes criminalsout of people whowould not normallybreak the law. Bybreaking curfew, achild could be labeledas deviant.

“What about thesixteen-year-olds thatare married or havechildren?” Resendizsaid. “If they areliving on their ownand need to take theirchild to a doctor inthe middle of thenight it would be oddto arrest them formissing curfew.”

Resendiz also acknowledges the fact thatjuveniles may not be the one ones that arebeing restricted. She noted the with theincrease of fear of crime, more groups arebeing singled out.

“We now are in a situation where ifsomeone is suspected of being involved interrorism, they can be held indefinitely byauthorities,” Resendiz said. “If someone isjust hanging out at a convenience store theycould be charged for loitering. What iscriminal about simply sitting in front of aplace? These laws can make someone beinvolved in an allege crime when reallythey aren’t doing anything wrong.”

Dr. Mark Dantzker of the criminal justicedepartment said that unless there is truly ameans to enforce juvenile curfew between

both police officers and parents, it's a wasteof time.

“The research is minimal at best, ofwhich there is no consensus as to whetherit works,” Dantzker said. “Personally Ithink it has little impact on crime. Thosejuveniles who are going to commit crimearen't worried about a curfew anyway.”

For those who feel a curfew isunconstitutional, Dantzker said there isnothing that a curfew law does to takeaway a citizen’s rights. He adds thatparents should be the ones to make thedecisions.

“I believe it is primarily the parents'responsibility but when they fail then thecommunity should step in.”

Resendiz however, feels that there arecertain situations where individuals’ rightsare being invaded because of the curfew,

but that when there is afear that safety is beingthreatened, authoritiesreact.

In Raymondville,detective RobertMartinez says that thecurfew is helping thetown handle theproblems that arisewith juveniles. Thecurfew which begantwo years ago is 10p.m. to 6 a.m. on theweekdays with thecurfew starting atmidnight on Friday

and Saturday. “We basically just pick up the kids and

take them home,” Martinez said. “For thepast couple of years we’ve seenimprovement, and the curfew helps ushandle the community better by watchingthe youth and their actions.”

The university itself has seen a decreasein its crime rate over the last few years butit’s unknown if the juvenile curfew has hadan impact on it.

“There has been less incidence of graffitiand skateboarding around campus but wehaven’t really seen any major majorcrimes,” UTPA University Police ChiefHoward Miller said. “However, we can’treally say that it’s been the juveniles of thecommunity that have been committed theacts.”

CURFEW continued from page 1PLANS continued from page 1

center and promote a child daycarecenter on campus, which is in currentlybeing planned.

“We know that students may notparticipate in activities, because theyhave children. So, if there is a day care,they will be able to attend class and beinvolved,” Andrade said. The cost forday care is still being researched; it maycome from student tuition fees Andradeadded.

The upcoming year for SGA is full of

plans, but there is still a missing link.There are still office positions to befilled. The openings are for three peopleto represent graduate schools, three forthe College of Education, one person forthe College of Science and Engineering,one chief of justice, two associatejustices, and several senatorrepresentatives.

Interested students should call 381-2517 or drop by the University Centerin room 322 for an application.

Work-study monies untouched

What about thesixteen-year-olds thatare married or havechildren? If they areliving on their own andneed to take their childto a doctor in the middleof the night it would beodd to arrest them formissing curfew.

““

- Dr. Rosalva Resendiz,Criminal Justice Department

Elected members of StudentGovernment Association:

President: Paco Viellma

Vice president: Oscar Garza

Senators at large: Marialicia Andrade,Gabriela Lopez, Carlos Rios, AriannaVazquez

Vacant positions, representatives from: Graduate schools, College of Education,College of Science and Engineering, ChiefJustice, Associate Judge, Senator reps.

New Officers

Page 6: April 24, 2003

Nevarez immediately responded to what hebelieves is the biggest struggle the scene hasto overcome.

“Venues! You have gear, but you can’t finda venue,” Nevarez said.

Nevarez has been providing his family-owned Tony’s Restaurant in downtownMission as such a place to hold shows.Musicians and their friends have started touse family businesses after hours or often thefamily garage for shows.

“It’s not perfect, but everyone tries theirbest to include everyone and to help eachother out,” said Guzman.

Villarreal said he thinks the scene would beat the loosing end if it were to gainacceptance.

“I think the scene would actually hurt moreor lose its already existing ‘unity’ if it wasaccepted by the mainstream community,” hesaid. “I would like the Valley community oneday to embrace its underground culturewithout exploiting or robbing the scene of itsvalue.”

The influence of the scene is strongamongst the younger scenesters. Guzman saidmore kids are picking up guitars, drumsticks,basses, and going to shows at an earlier age.

THE FUTURE OF ORIGINAL MUSIC INTHE RGV

“Ambitious individuals and the originalmusic collective in the Valley, known as theUNION, are the only methods which havegained ground and have made original musicin the Valley as a consistent phenomenon,”Villarreal said.

The UNION provides monthly shows andvotes on different bands to have a constantplace for music fans to go. Before the

UNION was started, there was the Coven ofImagination at UTPA that held shows oncampus once a semester.

“The UNION played a good part inestablishing shows on a regular basis, butyou know, you have to give props to theprevious generation that began all this in theearly 80s,” said Guzman. “Because of theirdedication, people like me came out to showsand eventually grew fond of what we had.”

The purpose of the UNION, said Villarreal,is to give bands the opportunity to playmusic based on merit and not the number ofpeople the band may know within the scene.

“I would like to think that I tried to helpnew bands and aided in attempting to givemore kids a chance to play their music in aregion that violently opposes the support andgrowth of original music,” said Villarreal.

To promote local talent, Nevarez createdthe We’ll Play for Food Festival in April of2001. The festival raised money and had acanned food drive for the RGV Food Bank.

Months later, Nevarez teamed up withanother local show promoter, Evana Vleck to

start the South Texas Underground MusicFestival. In operation for two years now,STUMF has featured local and statewidetalent. STUMF has raised money andawareness for charitable groups around theValley including ADVANCE and a youthorganization in Pharr.

With festivals and shows being held whatseems like every weekend, the scene hasstarted to earn respect in the community.

“Bands are respected and have even begunto tour and play festivals—even the WarpedTour,” said Guzman. “Bands are recordingand having their music pressed and looked atby labels. Some have been signed to localand non-local labels.”

Efforts like those of Guzman, Nevarez,Vleck, Villarreal, the various scenesters aswell as the bands keep the scene thriving.

“The scene will always be in the Valley insome way or form,” said Villarreal.

“Valley kids should be happy of who theyare and what they’re doing. Once they realizethis, and I mean really understand, then theycan move mountains. Kids won’t be waitingfor shows, or leaving town to go to showsbecause, ‘the shows back home suck.’ Insteadthey’ll make shows happen, book bands fromout of town, create their own literature, createtheir own structure that supports artisticexpression in any form,” he said.

“Once this self-defeatist mentality that the‘Valley sucks’ is finally removed from all theyouth [junior high to university level] thennot only the scene, but the Rio Grande Valleywill flourish with the dignity that all ‘culturalMeccas’ possess,” he concluded.

April 24, 2003 Arts & Entertainment Page 11

Bands arerespected and

have even begunto tour and play

festivals—even theWarped Tour.

““

- Becky Guzman, Edinburg resident

BANDS continued from page 7

April 24, 2003 THE PAN AMERICAN Page 6

Earth Day Celebration

(Clockwise from top left) Sandra Gonzalez andSalomé Diaz select from a variety of organicfruits; Yuri Barrera (with glasses) prepares fruitcups for the Pre-Dental Society; Phillip Batres ofthe South Texas Indian Dancers performs a cere-monial dance; Fernando Dominguez (right) andAlex Garcia of Master Davis’ Tae Kwon Do showtheir skills in a sparring match; Juan Aguiro(right) and Alex Garcia use Shinai swords in asparring match that simulates sword fighting;Robert Soto, leader of the South Texas IndianDancers, participates in a war dance. (Centerphoto) Robert Soto delivers an opening speechwhich commenced activities for Earth Day atthe Quad Tuesday.

Photos by Gabriel O. Hernandez

Page 7: April 24, 2003

PAGE 7

AroundTown

Book SigningApril 24 at noonPlace: UTPA Library’sSchilling Room.Event: Rene Saldana Jr, aUTPA faculty member, willautograph and discuss“Finding Our Way,” hisnewest book. The UTPABookstore will sell Saldana’sbooks at the event.Phone: (956) 381-2303

La Villa Real eventsApril 25-May 22Place: La Villa Real SpecialEvents Center, 1201 S.Bentsen Road, McAllenEvent: April 25 - RickSpringfield, $45-55 reserved,$25 general admission; April26 - Hypnotist John Milton,$20 reserved, $15 generaladmission; May 2 - JulioIglesias, $80-155 reserved,$55 general admission; May14 - Evanescence, TheJuliana Theory, 12 Stones,Reach 454, $20 generaladmission; May 22 - Juanes,$35 general admission.Phone: (956) 687-7121

One-Act PlayApril 25 at 7 p.m.Place: McAllen High SchoolAuditoriumEvent: McAllen Highstudents will perform theirUIL One-Act Play productionof scenes from Irishplaywright Marina Carr’s “Bythe Bog of Cats.”Price: Tickets are availableat the door for $3 forstudents and $5 for adults.Phone: (956) 381-2655

‘The Mousetrap’April 25-26 at 8 p.m., April27 at 2:30 p.m.Place: Harlingen PerformingArts Theatre, 1209 Fair ParkBlvd.Event: Agatha Christie’s‘The Mousetrap,’ the longestcontinuously-running play,will be performed by adiverse cast consisting ofhigh school students to an81-year-old.Price: Tickets are $12 foradults, $8 for collegestudents with ID and $6 forstudents K-12.Phone: (956) 412-PLAY

■ Gallery exhibits . . . 8-9

■ Culture Club . . . . . . . 9

■ Movie review . . . . . 10ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Throughout the Lone Star state, upalong the East Coast and across theAtlantic, the Rio Grande Valley isknown for its original music scene.

Oh no wait—it’s not. But the question then becomes, is

that a problem?Much of the original music scene

seems to suffer because venues andthe community don’t to want to hearfrom bands outside of the Tejano orcover band genres.

Becky Guzman of Edinburgdescribed what the scene means toher as well as her peers.

“It’s a family of lots of people:bands, photographers, artists, poets,singers, filmmakers, and regularpeople,” said Guzman. “The scene isanything, anyone, and everythingthat is unaccepted by the‘mainstream.’”

In a predominantly Hispanicculture Tejano bands, and coverbands, get sought out for events, andparties constantly. Many peoplerespond to music they know.

Meanwhile, countless original bandsgo unnoticed in the Valley.

“Few people embrace the musicbecause they associate it withnegativity,” Guzman said. “You haveto start off somewhere, butunfortunately, the Valley doesn’t takekindly to our bands.”

If hired to play at a bar, bands playa majority of cover songs and only afew of their own works—if they’reeven that lucky, according to JuanNevarez.

Nevarez, a show promoter, festivalorganizer, and musician, sees firsthand how original music in theValley works—or perhaps, doesn’t.

When it comes to original musicversus cover bands Nevarez says,“Patrons are not there to see theband, but to enjoy themselves, soclubs do not like originals.”

STRUGGLING FOR CHANGE

A familiar name and face withinthe scene, Marcos Villarreal mostcommonly known in the scene asMarc Hardcore, has seen his share ofstruggles since his involvementstarting in 1998.

“Original bands have had to adaptand devise ways to exist and performtheir songs without local supportfrom venues and radio,” saidVillarreal.

Nevarez said that music of thisgenre is built on ideals that

acceptance isn’t a concern or even adesire.

“There’s a difference betweenmusic and the actual scene,” saidNevarez. “The unity thatexists…does not come from the factthat people think of this music asunacceptable, but by the fact thatpeople themselves are thought asunacceptable.”

The thought of many venuesacross the Valley refusing toshowcase original music has themembers of the scene wanting to domore to get the music heard.

Guzman said the Valley’s sceneembraces a wide range of originalmusic such as hardcore, punk, emo,grindcore, and metal. The fact thatthis music exists here is unique sincepeople have been brought up in anarea that solely favors cover and

Tejano bands.“This ‘idea’ that original music

can and does exist in the Valleydespite conditions which aredesigned to eliminate it, makes theoriginal music scene much strongerand advantageous,” said Villarreal.

While other musicians may equatesuccess with wealth and fame,Villarreal said success is what themusician makes of it.

“Success is the ability to play whatyou want and how you feel to peoplewho comprehend and value yourart,” he said.

“Give me original Valley bands’passion for their music any day ofthe week, as opposed to theformulated ‘profitable’ top 40s crapof Concrete Boots.”

Once this self-defeatist mentality that the‘Valley sucks’ is finally removed from all theyouth [junior high to university level] thennot only the scene, but the Rio Grande

Valley will flourish with the dignity that all‘cultural Meccas’ possess.

““

- Marcos Villarreal, ‘Marc Hardcore’

See BANDS page 11

By EDWINA GARZAThe Pan American

Original Valley bandsstruggle for acceptancein the Tejano-saturated

local music scene

Bands trying to break music molds

(All) - Both the men’sand women’s choirsperformed Tuesdayevening in the Fine ArtsAuditorium

Daniel Aguilar/The Pan American

April 24, 2003 Arts & Entertainment Page 10

Thursday at 7 p.m. and again Fridayat 3 and 7 p.m. “Spirited Away,” thisyear’s Oscar winner for Best AnimatedFilm will be shown in the StudentUnion Theater.

It played in Valley theaters for littlemore than a week, but if you have thetime, I highly suggest catching it at oneof these three screenings at the Unionon campus.

This Japanese epic was directed byHayao Miyazaki, considered by many tobe the world’s greatest living director ofanimated films. His previous film,“Princess Mononoke,” was an amazingachievement that must be seen to bebelieved.

Prior to that he helmed “Kiki’sDelivery Service” and “My NeighborTotoro.” All of these films recently

became available on DVD following therecent Oscar victory.

“Spirited Away” is essentially anEastern spin on the familiar “Alice inWonderland” yarn.

The film begins by introducing us tothe young, whiny, apathetic Chihiro.

Her parents are driving her to theirnew home, but they quickly becomesidetracked during her father’sattempted shortcut.

They soon locate what appears to bean abandoned fairgrounds of some sort,and while Chihiro begs her parents togo back to the car, her parents find foodand begin devouring it rapaciously.

Before the audience has time to figureout what’s going on, the parents havetransformed into wild boars, greedilymunching away at the mysterious feast.

At this moment, the film takes a turnfor the surreal, and it doesn’t let up forthe next two hours, during whichChihiro must mature rapidly in order tosave her parents.

It should be stated that I am notnecessarily a fan of Japanese animationor any of its offshoots.

However, this is a brilliant film,putting substance before style, while

still managing to possess truly unique,dazzling visuals.

Still, despite being chock full offantastic creatures and focusing on ayoung heroine, the movie is not yourtypical children’s or family fare.

Miyazaki’s films, this one mostespecially, are complex, meditativetales, and you will get something newfrom them each time you experiencethem.

A local critic admitted to beingconfused by the film, suggesting thatbecause it was from a differentculture, it proved completelynonsensical to American viewers.

This is simply not the case.Just don’t sit back and expect a

totally passive movie-goingexperience. Miyazaki respects andloves his audiences enough to notonly take them into fascinating,original worlds, but also to ask themto think for themselves.

“Spirited Away” has an essentiallystorybook beginning and end, but it’sthe bizarre, beautiful journey inbetween that truly makes this amodern masterpiece.

Film makes big splash in U.S.‘Spirited Away’ takesviewers to a surreal

storybook landBy KEIL SHULTSThe Pan American

(Above) - Bathhouse workers say goodbye to Chihiro as she tries to save her parents.

(Right) - Chihiro and “No Name” ride a train to see Yubaba’s twin sister Zeniba.

www.movieweb.com

Arts & Entertainment Briefs -

Thursday, April 24-Friday, May 2 —The “Wanted,” a senior exhibition,features Bachelor’s of Fine Arts studentsAlejandra Cerda, Ana Garcia, TesalonicaGarcia, Eunice Hernandez, Adrian Lares,Ramiro Lozano and Omar Valdes in theUniversity Gallery. A reception will be heldThursday from 7 to 9 p.m. in the gallery.

Thursday, April 24-Thursday, May 1—Artists Kirk Clark and Anne Clark-Lawson present a father-daughter artexhibition titled “Traditions” in the ClarkGallery. A reception will be held May 1from 6 to 8 p.m. in the gallery.

Friday, April 25-Monday, May 12 —The UTPA Graphic Design Program andthe Department of Communication haveteamed up to co-sponsor “Faces atFred’s,” a digital art exhibition hosted byDr. Rodolfo Rocha, dean of the Collegeof Arts and Humanities.

The exhibition features graphicsimagery, web page design and 2Danimation, all by UTPA graphic designstudents.

An opening reception will be held Fridayat 5 p.m. in CAS 1.40/42, the computerroom.

Wednesday, April 30-Sunday, May 4 —The University Theater presents the worldpremier of Milcha Sanchez Scott’s newplay in the Jeffers Theatre in theCommunication Arts and Sciencesbuilding.

UTPA commissioned the work tocelebrate the university’s 75th anniversary.The play begins at 8 p.m. weeknights and2 p.m. for the Sunday matinee. Tickets are$5 for general admission, $10 reserved or$50 for a season subscription. For moreinformation, contact the theater at 9956)381-3581.

Page 8: April 24, 2003

April 24, 2003 Arts & Entertainment Page 9April 24, 2003 Arts & Entertainment Page 8

Movie: “A Walk To Remember”CD: DueloBook: “Ophelia Speaks” by Sara Shandler

Movie: “I Am Sam”CD: “Laundry Service” by Shakira

CD: “Get Rich or Die Tryin” by 50 centBook: “Tuesdays With Morrie” by Mitch AlbomWebsite: isketch.org

Nayatzin SolisJuniorEducation

Jessica GonzalezSophomoreEducation

Zaida BarreraSophomoreEducation

CULTURE CLUBWhat students like to read, listen to and surf.

The

The Valley SymphonyOrchestra is celebrating its goldenanniversary of bringing classicalmusic to Valley residents.

The orchestra began in 1952with the help of what was thenPan American College, as a groupof volunteer musicians whodevoted their time by performingfree concerts throughout theValley and parts of Mexico.

Over the years, the symphonyhas used the culture surroundingthe Valley as an asset to performdifferent types of music other thantraditional symphonic melodies.The use of Mexican, Indian, andSpanish material has been addedto its repertoire of ballets, operas,and chorale works.

Wallace Tucker, a musicprofessor and trombone player inthe symphony, has been part ofthe ensemble since 1976, and saidit has grown a lot since then.

“It has been growing more andmore all the time,” Tucker said.

“Players have improved a lot, andthe orchestra over all is a lotbetter.”

Charlotte Mizener, an associateprofessor in the music departmentand a harp player in thesymphony, also stated that afterbeing part of the ensemble fornearly 12 years, it has beenexciting to see changes.

“It is very exciting to be part ofthis growing, and changingorganization," Mizenercommented. "Every year it soundsmore and more like a professionalorchestra, and less like acommunity or university group.”

The ensemble contains avarious group of people fromUTPA students, teachers, andresidents from around the Valley.Mizener added that thecommunication and expression offeeling throughout the members isan indescribable experience.

“Having an opportunity to bepart of what I think is the peak ofWestern intellectual, and artisticcreation is a very rare gift,” shesaid. “I am grateful to work with

the othermusicians, and to[be able] tocontribute to thecultural life of theValley.”

The most recentconcert was heldMarch 27 atUTPA's Fine ArtsAuditorium. Withpacked seats, theaudience gave astanding ovation tothe musicians whoplayed classics like Brahms“Hungarian Dance No. 5,” andTchaikovsky “Romeo and Juliet,”to name a few.

This week's concert onThursday May 1, will have piecessuch as, Tchaikovsky's “PianoConcerto No. 1, op. 23,” andShostakovich's “Symphony NO.5, op. 47.”

Music instructor Chris Gassler,a trombone player in theensemble, pointed out that everyconcert held differs from eachother. He said that is one of the

things he like the most about thesymphony because the audiencegets to experience different artworks through the variety of themusic played.

“Symphony No. 5 is a verypowerful piece,” Gassler said. “Itis very different from ‘Romeo andJuliet’ because it deals withRussian society during war time.”

Tucker commented that thesymphony provides Valleyresidents with one of the highestart forms, which is pure music,and therefore, it should beappreciated.

The Valley Symphony Orchestra commemorates 50 years of performanc-es with a season finale May 1 in the Fine Arts Auditorium

By ARIANNA VAZQUEZThe Pan American

I am grateful to workwith the other musicians,

and to [be able] tocontribute to the culture

life of the Valley.

““

- Charlotte Mizener, associate music professor

· ADAGIO - a tempo having slow movement

· ALLEGRO - a direction to play lively and fast

· BEAT - the unit of musical rhythm

· CHORALE - a hymn sung by the choir and congrega-tion often in unison

· CHORD - three or four notes played in harmony

· CLASSICAL - the period of music history from the mid-1700s to the mid-1800s.

· CONCERT MASTER - the first violin in an orchestra

· CONDUCTOR - one who directs the performers. He orshe dictates the tempo, phrasing, dynamics, and style bygestures and facial expressions

· ENSEMBLE - the performance of all of the instrumentsof an orchestra or voices in a chorus

· FINALE - movement that concludes the musical compo-sition

· HARMONY - a combination of two or three tones playedtogether in the background while a melody is beingplayed

· ORCHESTRA - a large group of instrumentalists playingtogether

· OVERTURE - introduction to an opera or other largemusical work

· PRELUDE - a short piece preceded by a more substan-tial work, also an orchestral introduction to opera

· RECITAL - a solo concert with or without accompani-ment

· SYMPHONY - three to four movement orchestral piece

VOCABULARY

SYMPHONY SEATING LEGEND

First Violins -

Part of Strings

Second Violins -

Part of Strings

Violas -

Part of Strings

Cellos -

Part of Strings

Double Basses -

Part of Strings

Flutes -

Part of Woodwind

Oboes -

Part of Woodwind

Clarinets -

Part of Woodwind

Bassoons -

Part of Woodwind

Horns -

Part of Brass

Trumpets -

Part of Brass

Trombones/Tubas -

Part of Brass

Timpani -

Part of Percussion

Harp -

Part of Percussion

In an orchestra, the role of the Conductor is toindicate the musical beat. He or she is also incharge of rehearsals and preparation.

1

23

4

5 6

7

8

915 11

12

10 13

14

1

2 9

103

114

5

6

12

7 14

8 15

13

Page 9: April 24, 2003

April 24, 2003 Arts & Entertainment Page 9April 24, 2003 Arts & Entertainment Page 8

Movie: “A Walk To Remember”CD: DueloBook: “Ophelia Speaks” by Sara Shandler

Movie: “I Am Sam”CD: “Laundry Service” by Shakira

CD: “Get Rich or Die Tryin” by 50 centBook: “Tuesdays With Morrie” by Mitch AlbomWebsite: isketch.org

Nayatzin SolisJuniorEducation

Jessica GonzalezSophomoreEducation

Zaida BarreraSophomoreEducation

CULTURE CLUBWhat students like to read, listen to and surf.

The

The Valley SymphonyOrchestra is celebrating its goldenanniversary of bringing classicalmusic to Valley residents.

The orchestra began in 1952with the help of what was thenPan American College, as a groupof volunteer musicians whodevoted their time by performingfree concerts throughout theValley and parts of Mexico.

Over the years, the symphonyhas used the culture surroundingthe Valley as an asset to performdifferent types of music other thantraditional symphonic melodies.The use of Mexican, Indian, andSpanish material has been addedto its repertoire of ballets, operas,and chorale works.

Wallace Tucker, a musicprofessor and trombone player inthe symphony, has been part ofthe ensemble since 1976, and saidit has grown a lot since then.

“It has been growing more andmore all the time,” Tucker said.

“Players have improved a lot, andthe orchestra over all is a lotbetter.”

Charlotte Mizener, an associateprofessor in the music departmentand a harp player in thesymphony, also stated that afterbeing part of the ensemble fornearly 12 years, it has beenexciting to see changes.

“It is very exciting to be part ofthis growing, and changingorganization," Mizenercommented. "Every year it soundsmore and more like a professionalorchestra, and less like acommunity or university group.”

The ensemble contains avarious group of people fromUTPA students, teachers, andresidents from around the Valley.Mizener added that thecommunication and expression offeeling throughout the members isan indescribable experience.

“Having an opportunity to bepart of what I think is the peak ofWestern intellectual, and artisticcreation is a very rare gift,” shesaid. “I am grateful to work with

the othermusicians, and to[be able] tocontribute to thecultural life of theValley.”

The most recentconcert was heldMarch 27 atUTPA's Fine ArtsAuditorium. Withpacked seats, theaudience gave astanding ovation tothe musicians whoplayed classics like Brahms“Hungarian Dance No. 5,” andTchaikovsky “Romeo and Juliet,”to name a few.

This week's concert onThursday May 1, will have piecessuch as, Tchaikovsky's “PianoConcerto No. 1, op. 23,” andShostakovich's “Symphony NO.5, op. 47.”

Music instructor Chris Gassler,a trombone player in theensemble, pointed out that everyconcert held differs from eachother. He said that is one of the

things he like the most about thesymphony because the audiencegets to experience different artworks through the variety of themusic played.

“Symphony No. 5 is a verypowerful piece,” Gassler said. “Itis very different from ‘Romeo andJuliet’ because it deals withRussian society during war time.”

Tucker commented that thesymphony provides Valleyresidents with one of the highestart forms, which is pure music,and therefore, it should beappreciated.

The Valley Symphony Orchestra commemorates 50 years of performanc-es with a season finale May 1 in the Fine Arts Auditorium

By ARIANNA VAZQUEZThe Pan American

I am grateful to workwith the other musicians,

and to [be able] tocontribute to the culture

life of the Valley.

““

- Charlotte Mizener, associate music professor

· ADAGIO - a tempo having slow movement

· ALLEGRO - a direction to play lively and fast

· BEAT - the unit of musical rhythm

· CHORALE - a hymn sung by the choir and congrega-tion often in unison

· CHORD - three or four notes played in harmony

· CLASSICAL - the period of music history from the mid-1700s to the mid-1800s.

· CONCERT MASTER - the first violin in an orchestra

· CONDUCTOR - one who directs the performers. He orshe dictates the tempo, phrasing, dynamics, and style bygestures and facial expressions

· ENSEMBLE - the performance of all of the instrumentsof an orchestra or voices in a chorus

· FINALE - movement that concludes the musical compo-sition

· HARMONY - a combination of two or three tones playedtogether in the background while a melody is beingplayed

· ORCHESTRA - a large group of instrumentalists playingtogether

· OVERTURE - introduction to an opera or other largemusical work

· PRELUDE - a short piece preceded by a more substan-tial work, also an orchestral introduction to opera

· RECITAL - a solo concert with or without accompani-ment

· SYMPHONY - three to four movement orchestral piece

VOCABULARY

SYMPHONY SEATING LEGEND

First Violins -

Part of Strings

Second Violins -

Part of Strings

Violas -

Part of Strings

Cellos -

Part of Strings

Double Basses -

Part of Strings

Flutes -

Part of Woodwind

Oboes -

Part of Woodwind

Clarinets -

Part of Woodwind

Bassoons -

Part of Woodwind

Horns -

Part of Brass

Trumpets -

Part of Brass

Trombones/Tubas -

Part of Brass

Timpani -

Part of Percussion

Harp -

Part of Percussion

In an orchestra, the role of the Conductor is toindicate the musical beat. He or she is also incharge of rehearsals and preparation.

1

23

4

5 6

7

8

915 11

12

10 13

14

1

2 9

103

114

5

6

12

7 14

8 15

13

Page 10: April 24, 2003

PAGE 7

AroundTown

Book SigningApril 24 at noonPlace: UTPA Library’sSchilling Room.Event: Rene Saldana Jr, aUTPA faculty member, willautograph and discuss“Finding Our Way,” hisnewest book. The UTPABookstore will sell Saldana’sbooks at the event.Phone: (956) 381-2303

La Villa Real eventsApril 25-May 22Place: La Villa Real SpecialEvents Center, 1201 S.Bentsen Road, McAllenEvent: April 25 - RickSpringfield, $45-55 reserved,$25 general admission; April26 - Hypnotist John Milton,$20 reserved, $15 generaladmission; May 2 - JulioIglesias, $80-155 reserved,$55 general admission; May14 - Evanescence, TheJuliana Theory, 12 Stones,Reach 454, $20 generaladmission; May 22 - Juanes,$35 general admission.Phone: (956) 687-7121

One-Act PlayApril 25 at 7 p.m.Place: McAllen High SchoolAuditoriumEvent: McAllen Highstudents will perform theirUIL One-Act Play productionof scenes from Irishplaywright Marina Carr’s “Bythe Bog of Cats.”Price: Tickets are availableat the door for $3 forstudents and $5 for adults.Phone: (956) 381-2655

‘The Mousetrap’April 25-26 at 8 p.m., April27 at 2:30 p.m.Place: Harlingen PerformingArts Theatre, 1209 Fair ParkBlvd.Event: Agatha Christie’s‘The Mousetrap,’ the longestcontinuously-running play,will be performed by adiverse cast consisting ofhigh school students to an81-year-old.Price: Tickets are $12 foradults, $8 for collegestudents with ID and $6 forstudents K-12.Phone: (956) 412-PLAY

■ Gallery exhibits . . . 8-9

■ Culture Club . . . . . . . 9

■ Movie review . . . . . 10ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Throughout the Lone Star state, upalong the East Coast and across theAtlantic, the Rio Grande Valley isknown for its original music scene.

Oh no wait—it’s not. But the question then becomes, is

that a problem?Much of the original music scene

seems to suffer because venues andthe community don’t to want to hearfrom bands outside of the Tejano orcover band genres.

Becky Guzman of Edinburgdescribed what the scene means toher as well as her peers.

“It’s a family of lots of people:bands, photographers, artists, poets,singers, filmmakers, and regularpeople,” said Guzman. “The scene isanything, anyone, and everythingthat is unaccepted by the‘mainstream.’”

In a predominantly Hispanicculture Tejano bands, and coverbands, get sought out for events, andparties constantly. Many peoplerespond to music they know.

Meanwhile, countless original bandsgo unnoticed in the Valley.

“Few people embrace the musicbecause they associate it withnegativity,” Guzman said. “You haveto start off somewhere, butunfortunately, the Valley doesn’t takekindly to our bands.”

If hired to play at a bar, bands playa majority of cover songs and only afew of their own works—if they’reeven that lucky, according to JuanNevarez.

Nevarez, a show promoter, festivalorganizer, and musician, sees firsthand how original music in theValley works—or perhaps, doesn’t.

When it comes to original musicversus cover bands Nevarez says,“Patrons are not there to see theband, but to enjoy themselves, soclubs do not like originals.”

STRUGGLING FOR CHANGE

A familiar name and face withinthe scene, Marcos Villarreal mostcommonly known in the scene asMarc Hardcore, has seen his share ofstruggles since his involvementstarting in 1998.

“Original bands have had to adaptand devise ways to exist and performtheir songs without local supportfrom venues and radio,” saidVillarreal.

Nevarez said that music of thisgenre is built on ideals that

acceptance isn’t a concern or even adesire.

“There’s a difference betweenmusic and the actual scene,” saidNevarez. “The unity thatexists…does not come from the factthat people think of this music asunacceptable, but by the fact thatpeople themselves are thought asunacceptable.”

The thought of many venuesacross the Valley refusing toshowcase original music has themembers of the scene wanting to domore to get the music heard.

Guzman said the Valley’s sceneembraces a wide range of originalmusic such as hardcore, punk, emo,grindcore, and metal. The fact thatthis music exists here is unique sincepeople have been brought up in anarea that solely favors cover and

Tejano bands.“This ‘idea’ that original music

can and does exist in the Valleydespite conditions which aredesigned to eliminate it, makes theoriginal music scene much strongerand advantageous,” said Villarreal.

While other musicians may equatesuccess with wealth and fame,Villarreal said success is what themusician makes of it.

“Success is the ability to play whatyou want and how you feel to peoplewho comprehend and value yourart,” he said.

“Give me original Valley bands’passion for their music any day ofthe week, as opposed to theformulated ‘profitable’ top 40s crapof Concrete Boots.”

Once this self-defeatist mentality that the‘Valley sucks’ is finally removed from all theyouth [junior high to university level] thennot only the scene, but the Rio Grande

Valley will flourish with the dignity that all‘cultural Meccas’ possess.

““

- Marcos Villarreal, ‘Marc Hardcore’

See BANDS page 11

By EDWINA GARZAThe Pan American

Original Valley bandsstruggle for acceptancein the Tejano-saturated

local music scene

Bands trying to break music molds

(All) - Both the men’sand women’s choirsperformed Tuesdayevening in the Fine ArtsAuditorium

Daniel Aguilar/The Pan American

April 24, 2003 Arts & Entertainment Page 10

Thursday at 7 p.m. and again Fridayat 3 and 7 p.m. “Spirited Away,” thisyear’s Oscar winner for Best AnimatedFilm will be shown in the StudentUnion Theater.

It played in Valley theaters for littlemore than a week, but if you have thetime, I highly suggest catching it at oneof these three screenings at the Unionon campus.

This Japanese epic was directed byHayao Miyazaki, considered by many tobe the world’s greatest living director ofanimated films. His previous film,“Princess Mononoke,” was an amazingachievement that must be seen to bebelieved.

Prior to that he helmed “Kiki’sDelivery Service” and “My NeighborTotoro.” All of these films recently

became available on DVD following therecent Oscar victory.

“Spirited Away” is essentially anEastern spin on the familiar “Alice inWonderland” yarn.

The film begins by introducing us tothe young, whiny, apathetic Chihiro.

Her parents are driving her to theirnew home, but they quickly becomesidetracked during her father’sattempted shortcut.

They soon locate what appears to bean abandoned fairgrounds of some sort,and while Chihiro begs her parents togo back to the car, her parents find foodand begin devouring it rapaciously.

Before the audience has time to figureout what’s going on, the parents havetransformed into wild boars, greedilymunching away at the mysterious feast.

At this moment, the film takes a turnfor the surreal, and it doesn’t let up forthe next two hours, during whichChihiro must mature rapidly in order tosave her parents.

It should be stated that I am notnecessarily a fan of Japanese animationor any of its offshoots.

However, this is a brilliant film,putting substance before style, while

still managing to possess truly unique,dazzling visuals.

Still, despite being chock full offantastic creatures and focusing on ayoung heroine, the movie is not yourtypical children’s or family fare.

Miyazaki’s films, this one mostespecially, are complex, meditativetales, and you will get something newfrom them each time you experiencethem.

A local critic admitted to beingconfused by the film, suggesting thatbecause it was from a differentculture, it proved completelynonsensical to American viewers.

This is simply not the case.Just don’t sit back and expect a

totally passive movie-goingexperience. Miyazaki respects andloves his audiences enough to notonly take them into fascinating,original worlds, but also to ask themto think for themselves.

“Spirited Away” has an essentiallystorybook beginning and end, but it’sthe bizarre, beautiful journey inbetween that truly makes this amodern masterpiece.

Film makes big splash in U.S.‘Spirited Away’ takesviewers to a surreal

storybook landBy KEIL SHULTSThe Pan American

(Above) - Bathhouse workers say goodbye to Chihiro as she tries to save her parents.

(Right) - Chihiro and “No Name” ride a train to see Yubaba’s twin sister Zeniba.

www.movieweb.com

Arts & Entertainment Briefs -

Thursday, April 24-Friday, May 2 —The “Wanted,” a senior exhibition,features Bachelor’s of Fine Arts studentsAlejandra Cerda, Ana Garcia, TesalonicaGarcia, Eunice Hernandez, Adrian Lares,Ramiro Lozano and Omar Valdes in theUniversity Gallery. A reception will be heldThursday from 7 to 9 p.m. in the gallery.

Thursday, April 24-Thursday, May 1—Artists Kirk Clark and Anne Clark-Lawson present a father-daughter artexhibition titled “Traditions” in the ClarkGallery. A reception will be held May 1from 6 to 8 p.m. in the gallery.

Friday, April 25-Monday, May 12 —The UTPA Graphic Design Program andthe Department of Communication haveteamed up to co-sponsor “Faces atFred’s,” a digital art exhibition hosted byDr. Rodolfo Rocha, dean of the Collegeof Arts and Humanities.

The exhibition features graphicsimagery, web page design and 2Danimation, all by UTPA graphic designstudents.

An opening reception will be held Fridayat 5 p.m. in CAS 1.40/42, the computerroom.

Wednesday, April 30-Sunday, May 4 —The University Theater presents the worldpremier of Milcha Sanchez Scott’s newplay in the Jeffers Theatre in theCommunication Arts and Sciencesbuilding.

UTPA commissioned the work tocelebrate the university’s 75th anniversary.The play begins at 8 p.m. weeknights and2 p.m. for the Sunday matinee. Tickets are$5 for general admission, $10 reserved or$50 for a season subscription. For moreinformation, contact the theater at 9956)381-3581.

Page 11: April 24, 2003

Nevarez immediately responded to what hebelieves is the biggest struggle the scene hasto overcome.

“Venues! You have gear, but you can’t finda venue,” Nevarez said.

Nevarez has been providing his family-owned Tony’s Restaurant in downtownMission as such a place to hold shows.Musicians and their friends have started touse family businesses after hours or often thefamily garage for shows.

“It’s not perfect, but everyone tries theirbest to include everyone and to help eachother out,” said Guzman.

Villarreal said he thinks the scene would beat the loosing end if it were to gainacceptance.

“I think the scene would actually hurt moreor lose its already existing ‘unity’ if it wasaccepted by the mainstream community,” hesaid. “I would like the Valley community oneday to embrace its underground culturewithout exploiting or robbing the scene of itsvalue.”

The influence of the scene is strongamongst the younger scenesters. Guzman saidmore kids are picking up guitars, drumsticks,basses, and going to shows at an earlier age.

THE FUTURE OF ORIGINAL MUSIC INTHE RGV

“Ambitious individuals and the originalmusic collective in the Valley, known as theUNION, are the only methods which havegained ground and have made original musicin the Valley as a consistent phenomenon,”Villarreal said.

The UNION provides monthly shows andvotes on different bands to have a constantplace for music fans to go. Before the

UNION was started, there was the Coven ofImagination at UTPA that held shows oncampus once a semester.

“The UNION played a good part inestablishing shows on a regular basis, butyou know, you have to give props to theprevious generation that began all this in theearly 80s,” said Guzman. “Because of theirdedication, people like me came out to showsand eventually grew fond of what we had.”

The purpose of the UNION, said Villarreal,is to give bands the opportunity to playmusic based on merit and not the number ofpeople the band may know within the scene.

“I would like to think that I tried to helpnew bands and aided in attempting to givemore kids a chance to play their music in aregion that violently opposes the support andgrowth of original music,” said Villarreal.

To promote local talent, Nevarez createdthe We’ll Play for Food Festival in April of2001. The festival raised money and had acanned food drive for the RGV Food Bank.

Months later, Nevarez teamed up withanother local show promoter, Evana Vleck to

start the South Texas Underground MusicFestival. In operation for two years now,STUMF has featured local and statewidetalent. STUMF has raised money andawareness for charitable groups around theValley including ADVANCE and a youthorganization in Pharr.

With festivals and shows being held whatseems like every weekend, the scene hasstarted to earn respect in the community.

“Bands are respected and have even begunto tour and play festivals—even the WarpedTour,” said Guzman. “Bands are recordingand having their music pressed and looked atby labels. Some have been signed to localand non-local labels.”

Efforts like those of Guzman, Nevarez,Vleck, Villarreal, the various scenesters aswell as the bands keep the scene thriving.

“The scene will always be in the Valley insome way or form,” said Villarreal.

“Valley kids should be happy of who theyare and what they’re doing. Once they realizethis, and I mean really understand, then theycan move mountains. Kids won’t be waitingfor shows, or leaving town to go to showsbecause, ‘the shows back home suck.’ Insteadthey’ll make shows happen, book bands fromout of town, create their own literature, createtheir own structure that supports artisticexpression in any form,” he said.

“Once this self-defeatist mentality that the‘Valley sucks’ is finally removed from all theyouth [junior high to university level] thennot only the scene, but the Rio Grande Valleywill flourish with the dignity that all ‘culturalMeccas’ possess,” he concluded.

April 24, 2003 Arts & Entertainment Page 11

Bands arerespected and

have even begunto tour and play

festivals—even theWarped Tour.

““

- Becky Guzman, Edinburg resident

BANDS continued from page 7

April 24, 2003 THE PAN AMERICAN Page 6

Earth Day Celebration

(Clockwise from top left) Sandra Gonzalez andSalomé Diaz select from a variety of organicfruits; Yuri Barrera (with glasses) prepares fruitcups for the Pre-Dental Society; Phillip Batres ofthe South Texas Indian Dancers performs a cere-monial dance; Fernando Dominguez (right) andAlex Garcia of Master Davis’ Tae Kwon Do showtheir skills in a sparring match; Juan Aguiro(right) and Alex Garcia use Shinai swords in asparring match that simulates sword fighting;Robert Soto, leader of the South Texas IndianDancers, participates in a war dance. (Centerphoto) Robert Soto delivers an opening speechwhich commenced activities for Earth Day atthe Quad Tuesday.

Photos by Gabriel O. Hernandez

Page 12: April 24, 2003

Work-study jobs are a primary source ofincome for over 900 students at theUniversity of Texas-Pan American. Recentstate-mandated budget cuts have worriedstudents who are employed by theprogram. But it appears that work-studieswill not be affected adversely.

The work-study program is a form offinancial aid students receive when theywork in a department at the university.Students depend on these jobs to pay fortuition and books.

“I felt concerned, not only for mysake,” said Mara Garcia, a senior atUTPA. “But for others who count onhaving the job semester after semester,and knowing that it helps in providing forschool and their daily lives.”

According to a memo Dr. MiguelNevarez, president of the university, sent

to all faculty and staff Feb. 24, theuniversity’s budget will be cut$12,188,559 in the next biennium. Aflexible hiring freeze for administrativeand staff positions was put into effect as astrategy to balance the budget.

The budget cuts have significantlyimpacted department’s abilities to hirefull-time employees, however,departments can still hire UTPA work-study students, William Morley wrote in aletter to all UTPA supervisors Feb. 10.

Morley, the university’s work-studycoordinator, explained that work-study isa federal program, so the money itreceives from the government will notchange in the coming year.

“The way work-study works is thegovernment pays about sixty percent ofthe student’s wages and the departmentspay the difference,” said Morley, 28.“Now if the department doesn’t have thedifference to pay those wages, they won’t

be able to hire students.”The only way a student employed by

the work-study program could be affectedis if their department is unable to pay.Departments are required to pay 30percent of each student’s wage.

“Work-studies are guaranteed a rate ofpay,” Morley said. “They’re guaranteed atleast minimum wage, so they can’t cutpay.”

At this point students have no reason toworry in either respect. Wages are set, andthe departments have ample funds.

“As far as I’ve heard so far, and I’vebeen asking a lot of departments,” Morleysaid. “I don’t see any major obstacles fornext year. We’re still going to be doingokay with the work-study program.”

Marina Escobar, an administrativeassociate with New Student and VisitorsServices, is relieved that her departmentwill continue to employ its estimated 40work-studies. She has two work-studies

under her, who she depends on to leadprojects and finish tasks she does nothave time to complete.

“Percentage-wise I rely on work-studies90 percent,” said Marina Escobar. “Idepend on them a lot and they know that.”

Escobar is not the only person whorelies on work-studies to completeprojects.

“They do count on us to get the jobsthat they need more help on done,” saidGarcia, who works in the office of thedean of college of arts and humanities.

As much as the departments depend onthese individuals, the work-studiesthemselves rely on their jobs as a sourceof income.

“I count on having the work-study jobsemester after semester,” Garcia said.“This job has helped me so much. It helpsme pay my bills, and I even pay for mybooks and everything.”

April 24, 2003 THE PAN AMERICAN Page 5April 24, 2003 THE PAN AMERICAN Page 12

By OMAIRA GALARZAThe Pan American

Munoz said in a recent Edinburg DailyReview article.

However, some feel that a juvenilecurfew is not such a good idea because itdoesn’t work on those juveniles whocommit crimes.

Dr. Rosalva Resendiz of the Universityof Texas-Pan American criminal justicedepartment is familiar with the literature ofjuvenile justice studies and feels that youthare restricted unfairly by curfews placed onthem.

“Adolescence is a time for the youth toexplore, learn and grow,” Resendiz said.“Instead of helping them to explore outsideof the box, society retains and repressesthem.”

She continued to say that adolescence isa time of rebellion, and that adding lawssuch as the curfew simply makes criminalsout of people whowould not normallybreak the law. Bybreaking curfew, achild could be labeledas deviant.

“What about thesixteen-year-olds thatare married or havechildren?” Resendizsaid. “If they areliving on their ownand need to take theirchild to a doctor inthe middle of thenight it would be oddto arrest them formissing curfew.”

Resendiz also acknowledges the fact thatjuveniles may not be the one ones that arebeing restricted. She noted the with theincrease of fear of crime, more groups arebeing singled out.

“We now are in a situation where ifsomeone is suspected of being involved interrorism, they can be held indefinitely byauthorities,” Resendiz said. “If someone isjust hanging out at a convenience store theycould be charged for loitering. What iscriminal about simply sitting in front of aplace? These laws can make someone beinvolved in an allege crime when reallythey aren’t doing anything wrong.”

Dr. Mark Dantzker of the criminal justicedepartment said that unless there is truly ameans to enforce juvenile curfew between

both police officers and parents, it's a wasteof time.

“The research is minimal at best, ofwhich there is no consensus as to whetherit works,” Dantzker said. “Personally Ithink it has little impact on crime. Thosejuveniles who are going to commit crimearen't worried about a curfew anyway.”

For those who feel a curfew isunconstitutional, Dantzker said there isnothing that a curfew law does to takeaway a citizen’s rights. He adds thatparents should be the ones to make thedecisions.

“I believe it is primarily the parents'responsibility but when they fail then thecommunity should step in.”

Resendiz however, feels that there arecertain situations where individuals’ rightsare being invaded because of the curfew,

but that when there is afear that safety is beingthreatened, authoritiesreact.

In Raymondville,detective RobertMartinez says that thecurfew is helping thetown handle theproblems that arisewith juveniles. Thecurfew which begantwo years ago is 10p.m. to 6 a.m. on theweekdays with thecurfew starting atmidnight on Friday

and Saturday. “We basically just pick up the kids and

take them home,” Martinez said. “For thepast couple of years we’ve seenimprovement, and the curfew helps ushandle the community better by watchingthe youth and their actions.”

The university itself has seen a decreasein its crime rate over the last few years butit’s unknown if the juvenile curfew has hadan impact on it.

“There has been less incidence of graffitiand skateboarding around campus but wehaven’t really seen any major majorcrimes,” UTPA University Police ChiefHoward Miller said. “However, we can’treally say that it’s been the juveniles of thecommunity that have been committed theacts.”

CURFEW continued from page 1PLANS continued from page 1

center and promote a child daycarecenter on campus, which is in currentlybeing planned.

“We know that students may notparticipate in activities, because theyhave children. So, if there is a day care,they will be able to attend class and beinvolved,” Andrade said. The cost forday care is still being researched; it maycome from student tuition fees Andradeadded.

The upcoming year for SGA is full of

plans, but there is still a missing link.There are still office positions to befilled. The openings are for three peopleto represent graduate schools, three forthe College of Education, one person forthe College of Science and Engineering,one chief of justice, two associatejustices, and several senatorrepresentatives.

Interested students should call 381-2517 or drop by the University Centerin room 322 for an application.

Work-study monies untouched

What about thesixteen-year-olds thatare married or havechildren? If they areliving on their own andneed to take their childto a doctor in the middleof the night it would beodd to arrest them formissing curfew.

““

- Dr. Rosalva Resendiz,Criminal Justice Department

Elected members of StudentGovernment Association:

President: Paco Viellma

Vice president: Oscar Garza

Senators at large: Marialicia Andrade,Gabriela Lopez, Carlos Rios, AriannaVazquez

Vacant positions, representatives from: Graduate schools, College of Education,College of Science and Engineering, ChiefJustice, Associate Judge, Senator reps.

New Officers

Page 13: April 24, 2003

After observing his own sensory sensitivity, aprofessor at the University of Texas-PanAmerican uses hypnosis to look for ways toimprove human health conditions with a focuson the interaction between mind and body.

Dr. Grant Benham, an assistant professor inthe Department of Psychology ad Anthropologyat UTPA, began to wonder how people’sawareness of their environment relates to theirhealth when he discovered his own sensitivity tosound and sunlight, so he embarked on a seriesof studies that he refers to as “the body/mindinteraction.”

With his study on the connection between themind and body, he incorporates the use ofhypnosis.

“Hypnosis is a part of what I research, but it’sjust one aspect of my research,” Benham said.

“Hypnosis has many different areas. Itinvolves memory, obviously people use it intherapy, people use it in medicine,” he said.“All sorts of different areas of psychology cometogether.”

According to an article published in theScientific American in July 2001 by Michael R.Nash, “Hypnosis is finding medical uses incontrolling chronic pain, in countering anxietyand even--in combination with conventionaloperating-room procedures--in helping patientsto recover more quickly from outpatientsurgery.”

“My interests are more in the mind/bodyconnection,” said Benham, who received hisPh.D. in experimental psychology from theUniversity of Tennessee, Knoxville in Dec.2000. “So I got interested in hypnosis because alot of research has shown the possibility of usinghypnosis to influence physiological or biologicalaspects.”

As a graduate student Benham taught variouspsychology courses at UTK such as, Statistics inPsychology and Introductory Psychology. Thenhe was an adjunct professor for a year inTennessee Wesleyan College in the Departmentof Behavioral Sciences, where he taughtPhysiological psychology and Social ResearchMethods.

THE EARLY DAYSThe dissertation Benham wrote at UTK was

titled “Secretory immunoglobin A and heart ratereactions to mental arithmetic and hypnoticsuggestions,” and this paper is one of theelements in the bigger picture he envisions.

“My dissertation had been on using hypnosisto alter immune functioning,” he said.

The study showed that hypnosis did have aneffect on increasing immune functioning, but hewants to take this further.

“You may be able to show this increase inimmune functioning, but how does that translatethen later into people being sick or being well?”Benham wonders. “Does it really make aclinical difference in terms of their health?”

He has three publications in scientific journalsand one scholarly submission, all relating towork he has done in an attempt to answer hisown questions. His most recent publication canbe found in the International Journal of Clinicaland Experimental Hypnosis.

“These are all studies that have to be done,”Benham said. “they haven’t been done yet.”

CURRENT STUDIESHe initiated his current research when he left

TWC to join UTPA’s faculty in August 2002.“Right now I’m looking at two things,”

Benham said. “One study I’ve just started andthe other one I’m planning on starting in thefall.”

“One study is looking at the measure ofsensory sensitivity, its indication of howsensitive people are to stimuli in their

environments such as, heat or cold or noises orsmells,” he said. “The other one is just kind of afun thing to do, it may have practicalapplications later.”

The second study deals with a phenomenonwhere a hypnotist creates the illusion that asubjects hand is desensitized. Each studyBenham conducts is a piece of a larger puzzle.

“All of these things are baby steps towardstrying to get an idea of the bigger picture,”Benham said. “What can we do to control ourphysiology through mental techniques? Is thatreally going to make us healthier if we do this?”

STANDARDIZED SCALESBenham uses standardized scales in his

experimental research that contain a series ofquestions to determine anything from howhypnotizable a person is to what their averagelevel of stress is, depending on which scale isused.

Each scale is basically a script that a hypnotistfollows in order to hypnotize a subject. Thescale Benham uses has 39 questions, is about apage long and was taken from older scales withover 100 questions.

“We generally use a very standardized scale,around the 1950s and 60s some good scaleswere put together,” Benham said. “And theystandardized it in the sense that you follow a setscript and do specific suggestions such as,putting their arms together about a foot apart infront of them, giving the suggestion that they’regoing to be pulled together.”

“They’re going to feel a force pulling themtogether until they touch,” he said. “And thenyou have some sort of measurement to assesswhether they passed the suggestion by the endof this time period.”

During his first semester at UTPA, Benhamperformed a scale on a group of students for hissensory sensitivity study. This scale differs fromtraditional standardized scales because it hasquestions that focus more on the subject’s sensesand reaction to environmental factors.

Based on the data he hopes to understandhow sensitive they are to noise, temperature,bright lights and other environmental factors.Once he compiles the data he plans to conductscales that answer specific questions about apersons health or general well-being.

“The idea is not necessarily just to have this[information],” Benham said. “But then to seewhether it relates to other things. So we’regoing to administer scales alongside it such as,the average level of stress, how stressed they aregenerally, their health behavior, how ill theyhave been over the last six weeks or whateverelse.”

The goal is to see if there is a relationshipbetween these scales and a person’s health, andif their environment predicts their level ofhealth.

“This is very exploratory, there isn’t muchresearch out there to support this one way oranother,” he said. “It’s kind of breaking newground, which is a fun way to do research, it’sthe way I prefer to do it.”

By OMAIRA GALARZAThe Pan American

April 24, 2003 THE PAN AMERICAN Page 4

Felipe SaavedraBiologySenior

The Kings are going to win because theyare the best. They are just a really goodteam.

Juan E. GarzaRehabilitation CounselingGraduate

I’m an anti-Lakers guy and I thinkthe Mavericks are going to win.Overall, they have a really goodteam in all areas – offense anddefense, it’s a really strong team.

John AlmeidaPhysician Assistant Program Senior

I want the Spurs to win butunfortunately the Lakers are going towin. I think it is all fixed for them towin.

Who do you think will winthe NBA playoffs?

Joel GarzaKinesiologySophomore

Sacramento is going to win. They arereally good and they have the best benchon the NBA.

VOICECCaammppuuss

Pablo RazoKinesiologySenior

Kings are going to win. They are thebest and also because they’ve comeso close in many years.

DR. GRANT BENHAM

Mesmerizing researchApril 24, 2003 Sports Page 13

SSPPOORRTTSS CCLLIIPPBBOOAARRDDUTPA to attend Drake Relays

Four members of The University of Texas-Pan American track team willcompete this weekend in the 94th Annual Drake Relays at Drake Stadium inDes Moines, Iowa.

The Drake Relays is the second oldest meet in the nationSophomore Westly Keating will compete in the 5,000-meter run on

Thursday, Rowena Hamlet will run in the 400-meter hurdles, Deneb DeLunawill compete in the shotput on Friday, and Hugo Cervantes will participate inthe 3,000-meter steeplechase on Saturday.

UTPA will next compete in the Texas Invitational on May 3 at Austin.

Davis garners honorSenior guard James Davis became the second UTPA men’s basketball player

honored this year when he received honorable mention for the inauguralNCAA Division I-AAA Athletic Directors’ Association Scholar-Athlete Team.

Davis averaged 2.9 points and 2.3 rebounds per game and led the Broncswith 3.8 assists.

Lady Broncs hit recruiting trailThe University of Texas-Pan American womens basketball team added three

new recruits this past week to bring the total to five new players for the LadyBroncs.

On Monday, 5-foot-6 point guard Ashley Roberts from Butler CountyCommunity College in El Dorado, Kan., and 5-foot-9 guard Arrita Oler fromCoffeyville Community College in Coffeyville, Kan. were added to the LadyBronc Roster. Both players join UTPA as juniors and will have two years ofeligibility.

Roberts averaged 11.2 points, 3 assists and 2.8 steals per game as asophomore, while Oler averaged 15.2 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 2.52 steals pergame.

Six-foot forward Kristi Dudley from Cedar Hill High School joined UTPAon Tuesday and will begin her college career this fall. She will have four yearsof eligibility.

Golf adds athlete

Not to be left behind in the recruiting frenzy, the UTPA men’s golf teamadded Colin Norris from Cochrane High School in Calgary, Alberta, Canadaas its newest recruit.

Norris participated in the Canadian Junior Championships where he finished14th overall. He also played for the Alberta Provincial team and took firstplace at the Junior America’s Cup.

Norris joins Pan Am as a freshman and will have four years of eligibility.

Celeb softball

The Edinburg Roadrunners baseball team will kick off their season with theSecond Annual Celebrity Softball Game at 5:30 p.m. on April 27 at theEdinburg Baseball Stadium.

April is Child Abuse Awareness and Prevention Month and the softball gameis the Roadrunners’ way of helping in the fight against child abuse andneglect. Local television and radio celebrities along with local officials willtake the field with the Roadrunners to compete against their peers in the“Stars and Stripes” softball game.

The game will help the CASA of Hidalgo County raise funds for the CASAFor Kids Crisis Center that helps families in crisis.

For more information, call the CASA office at 381-HOLD.

the victory for López and pick up his thirdsave of the season.

Despite dropping two of three roadgames this week, the Broncs improved to3-9 on the road in April, 4-9 overall thismonth. Last season, Pan Am was 2-8 onroad during April.

In addition, UTPA has cranked 14 round-trippers this year and are just two awayfrom tying last year’s total of 16.

A testament to the improved hitting overlast year’s Bronc team is their current .286batting average.

Last season, UTPA finished with a .259average.

SO CLOSEOn Tuesday afternoon, the Broncs gave

the defending champion Texas Longhornsa run for their money, but Pan Am couldn’thold on and dropped a tough 6-5 loss toextend their losing streak against Texas to23 straight games dating back to 1972.

The Broncs scored five runs in a three-inning stretch to take a 5-0 lead in the topof the fifth inning.

Pan Am held on to a 5-2 lead until thebottom of the eighth when senior startingpitcher Travis Parker ran out of gas and thebottom fell out.

Texas scored three runs to tie the UTPA,5-5, and knock Parker out of the game.

Parker pitched seven solid innings untilhe was relieved by sophomore John Lópezto stop the Longhorns. Brownsville nativeParker left the game after allowing fiveruns on 10 hits while striking out fourbatters.

In the top of the ninth, UTPA was heldscoreless and gave the Longhorns thechance win it.

The Longhorns took advantage of theBroncs’ inability to score when centerfielder Joe Ferin was hit by a pitch byMission native López.

Ferin later advanced to second whenLópez balked and one out later stole thirdand ended up scoring the winning run onan errant throw to third by catcher MattEichel. López took the loss to drop to 2-1on the season.

The Mission High standout pitched 1.1innings and allowed just one run and didn’tallow a hit.

Earlier this season, López pitched 1.2innings in Pan Am’s 7-3 loss to theLonghorns on April 8. In that game, Lópezdidn’t allow any runs or hits, and struckout one Longhorn in a losing effort.

The Broncs will have a week off aftertheir recent road trip and will be back inaction against Texas-San Antonio onWednesday, April 30, at 5 p.m. in theirfinal home game of the season at theEdinburg Baseball Stadium.

Broncs continued from page 14

UUppccoommiinngg SScchheedduulleeDate Opponent Location

May 2 SE Louisiana Hammond, LA

May 3 SE Louisiana Hammond, LA

May 4 SE Louisiana Hammond, LA

May 16 NMSU Las Cruces, NM

May 17 NMSU Las Cruces, NM

Page 14: April 24, 2003

Volunteer service has always been a mustfor the success of a community. Whetherservice comes from a local school spending aweekend cleaning a city park, or seniorcitizens organizing monthly cultural orinformational events, a community benefitsfrom people generously offering their time fortheir town. In McAllen, there are individualsserving the community in a rather unique way.Friends of McAllen Memorial Library(FMML) is an organization of members of theMcAllen community that spends timeproviding help and service to the local library.

The McAllen Memorial Library wasoriginally created to be a memorial to the menand women who died in World War II. To thisday it continues to provide a wide variety ofresources and services to the community. Thelibrary is a member of the Hidalgo CountyLibrary System and participates in the HCLSUnion Catalog, which offers local interlibrary loans among participating libraries, as well asfree direct access to member libraries.

With all that was changing in the city, agroup of individuals felt that they could assistby spending a couple hours a week at thelibrary. Founded in 1967, FMML was one ofthe first organizations devoted to helping outthe community library. According to PatMoyer, current president of the FMML, themission of the group is to support andstrengthen the McAllen Memorial Library andits branches, to provide a means for the publicto recycle their books and magazines, and topromote fellowship among its members.

The FMML membership website explainsthat members of the organization canparticipate in a number of different volunteeractivities to help the library. Members can

help sell books in the Main Street Book Store,sort books for sale in the book store, review abook for a meeting of the FMML, or evenhost a meeting.

Through the years FMML has been able tocontribute to the library in an assortment ofdiverse ways. Major contributions includecollection of circulating art prints, and a CDmusic collection. The organization was alsoinvolved in the purchase of the firstmicrofilm/fiche reader/printer for the libraryand the complete microfiche collection ofpoetry is indexed in Grainger's Index ofPoetry.

The hardware and software used by theLibrary's Local Area Network computersystem were made possible due to a FMMLgrant and much of the equipment thatdistributes the Internet within the library wasalso accomplished by the FMML.

The Friends' Bookstore evolved from anisolated annual sale to an entire bookstore thatis located near the front of the library. It isopen seven afternoons a week, and is staffedentirely by volunteers, with sale booksdonated by the public. Books donated to theFriends are first screened by library staff, andthose which would benefit the library'scollection are donated and cataloged into thecollection.

With the publishing of a monthlynewsletter, FMML helps by listing theorganized classes that are expected to betaught at the McAllen Memorial Library aswell as announcing meetings that arescheduled to take place that month in order tokeep people aware of everything the libraryhas to offer. The FMML also sponsors authorbook chats.

For the past several weeks, the FriendsBookstore has been having specialty sales toraise money to buy new materials.

April 24, 2003 THE PAN AMERICAN Page 3

The Middle East is a hot topic thesedays, and with that in mind, Dr. Sonia L.Alianak is in the process of finishing abook depicting Middle Eastern countriesand their leaders.

Alianak, a political science professor atthe University of Texas-Pan American whofocuses on international politics, hassigned a deal with a New York publishingcompany for her first book titled, “MiddleEastern Leaders And Solid-ReligiousTensions: A Precarious Equilibrium.”

The book, part of a series called, Studiesin International Relations, deals with therole of leadership in Middle Easterncountries, and the balance between politicsand religion.

Alianak’s book also creates a newtheoretical model, which she called theSeesaw Model. With it, she explains therelationship religion takes between MiddleEast leaders and their countries.

She also explained how she wanted todo something different, beyond themundane political books that are usuallywritten about the Middle East.

“My book focuses on the religiousrelationship between the leader and theruled,” Alianak explained. “And the giveand take of the Seesaw Model.”

The theory behind the Seesaw Model isthat Middle East leaders use religion tohelp maintain a settled equilibrium. Anexample of that would be, when a leader isfaced with a crisis; the leader will turn toreligion to try to influence his people tosupport him, and his actions.

“People are more religious now,” shesaid. “So now the ruler wants to appearmore religious to stay in power.”

The book consists of five chapters, eachpertaining to a different country, and itsleader. The Middle Eastern countries areIraq, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Syria, andEgypt.

According to Alianak, because of thecurrent war with Iraq, the chapter on Iraqand Saddam Hussein might have to beextended.

“In the case of Iraq, if Saddam Husseinis removed, I will probably be adding thepart of the new regime,” Alianak said.

The chapter on Iraq focuses on howHussein actually used religion, proving theSeesaw Model, during his dictatorship.

To obtain the research material used forthe chapter on Hussein, Alianak analyzedhis speeches, and what was written abouthim on Iraqi media to learn hisbackground and intentions.

Another topic that would be seen in thebook is that of media coverage in theMiddle East, and how the media usesreligious myths to justify the rules andactions of the leader in question.

She also added that her research resultedin learning how rulers interpret the Koran,the Islamic Bible, in order to use religionto their advantage.

However, the research for this bookstarted when she first got interested inwriting publications after obtaining herdoctorate at The University of Texas atAustin in 1998.

Her background was an essentialelement to her work on the Middle East.

Alianak, of Armenian descent, was born inSudan, which is commonly known asBlack Africa, and later moved to Egyptwith her family. There, she attended schoolat the American University in Cairo,getting her bachelor’s degree in politicalscience with a minor in journalism.

Soon after, she went to the AmericanUniversity of Beirut, and got her mastersin international relations. She thenimmigrated to the United States to pursueher doctorate. In her dissertation,"Hierarchical Dissonance in Values &Iranian Revolution", Alianak found herpassion, and realized she wanted to focuson the Middle East and its leaders.

“I got interested because I have alwaysbeen interested on leadership,” Alianakstated. “I was interested in religionbecause Islam is so important now in theMiddle East, so I thought of combiningmy two interests, of religion used byleaders.”

Since she lived half of her life in theMiddle East, and knew the ropes aroundthe countries, she was not a traveler, but acitizen.

With her eyes set in the Middle East shethen started to research, and write articles,which she has presented in international,state, and regional conferences.

Out of 16 papers presented in variousconventions, Alianak has three publishedarticles. The Scandinavian Journal ofDevelopment Alternatives published oneof the three, and made it a worldwidepublication.

However, the book, which is due outnext year, has not stopped Alianak’sresearch on other articles. This weekendshe presented one of her articles at theSouthwest Social Sciences AssociationConference in San Antonio.

Dr. Jerry Polinard, chair of the politicalscience department, stated his opinionabout Alianak’s work in the university, andoutside it.

“She is a valued colleague, particularlygiven her area of expertise in the MiddleEast,” Polinard commented. “She is avaluable part of our department.”

Alianak concluded by stating herfeelings toward UTPA, and its students.She has lived here since 1989.

“I have really enjoyed teaching here atUTPA,” Alianak said. “I like the students,and the motivation and interest they bringto my classes.”

By ARIANNA VAZQUEZThe Pan American

DR. SONIA L. ALIANAK

Poly sci’s Alianakscans Middle East By CLARISSA MARTINEZ

The Pan American

Library uses volunteers

As a way to receive updated informationon issues related to counseling,rehabilitation, and addictions, theAddictions Studies Project along with TheUniversity of Texas Pan-American’sDepartment of Rehabilitation Services willsponsor The Counseling and AddictionsIssues Conference. The conference will beheld on April 25 and 26 at the Holiday InnCivic Center in McAllen.

Attendees at the conference can earn upto 10 hours of continuing education units,do some networking, and learn more aboutUTPA’s Rehabilitation Services program.

According to Judith Guetzow, coordinatorof the Addictions Studies Project, thecontinuing education units go towardlicensed counselors such as LicensedChemical Dependency Counselor, LicenseProfessional Counselor, CertifiedRehabilitation Counselor and LicensedSocial Worker.

“There are those licensed counselors whoneed to acquire 100 CEUs over a five-yearspan,” Guetzow said. “They can acquiresome at the conference and have a chance tomeet faculty and staff.”

Suzanne Mireles, coordinator of theconference, says the event makes adifference to UTPA students and

community professionals because they areable to make contact with otherprofessionals and agencies.

“Networking and collaborating with otheragencies is an important aspect in the fieldof rehabilitation and counseling,” Mirelessaid. “This aspect enhances the continuingeducation experience.”

Eva Miller, assistant professor at UTPA,will be giving a lecture on “Sexuality Aftera Spinal Cord Injury from a Women’sPerspective.” She says the conference helpsformer students as well as master’s studentsbecause the students do not have to travel tocontinue their education.

“They can stay here,” Miller said. “Theconference also supports the community andserves recruitment purposes.”

Miller added the conference will focus onother aspects of rehabilitation andaddictions, with people representing legalissues involved with disabilities, folkremedies for illnesses, ethics relating tocounseling and families during recoverystage.

Guetzow said the conference usually hasan average of 75 people attending, buthopes to reach a goal of 100 people. The feeis $100 for both days and 10 CEUs. Toattend on April 25 only, the fee is $80 and 7CEUs will be acquired. To attend on April26 only, the fee is $40 and 3 CEUs will beacquired.

By HILDA BARRIENTESThe Pan American

Addiction conferenceset to begin tomorrow

UTPA goes 1-1 in doubleheader againstUTSA, nearly pull off upset over Longhorns

The University of Texas-PanAmerican baseball team split adoubleheader yesterday afternoon toThe University of Texas-SanAntonio Roadrunners, 11-6 and 16-10, to win their 20th game of theseason against 25 losses.

With the game two victory, UTSAimproved to 22-22 on the season,and UTPA (20-25) improved to 3-14on the road.

In the second game of theafternoon, the Broncs wasted a 4-2fifth inning lead when theRoadrunners tagged reliever AarónGuerra for six runs in the bottom ofthe fifth to take a 8-4 lead.

One inning later, UTSA eruptedfor five more runs to increase theirlead to 13-4 and knock relief pitcherJuan Sáenz, the second Broncreliever, out of the game.

In the top of the seventh, Pan Amrallied for four runs to cut thedeficit to 13-8.

The Roadrunners added threemore runs in the next two innings tofinish off UTPA 16-10.

Evin Brewer got the win toimprove to 4-1 on the season, whilejunior Tommy Sorden dropped to 2-

4.In game one, UTPA avenged its

heartbreaking loss to the Longhornsthe day before by whipping Texas-San Antonio 11-6.

The Broncs unloaded onRoadrunner starting pitcher AarónRodríguez by taking an 8-1 leadafter just two innings of play.

Rodríguez allowed eight runs onas many hits and dropped to 1-2 forthe season.

UTSA chipped away at the Bronclead to close within 8-5 after sixinnings, but UTPA pulled away inthe ninth by scoring three insuranceruns to take an 11-5 lead.

The Roadrunners added a run inthe bottom of the ninth, but werenot able to overcome Pan Am’s five-run lead and eventually lost, 11-6.

Pitching on less than a day’s rest,López threw 5.2 innings of solidball to improve to 3-1 on theseason. He allowed five runs whilescattering nine hits, and striking outone batter to improve his ERA to6.31.

Junior Johnny Gibson came on inrelief of López in the sixth andpitched 1.1 innings while allowingone run on a single hit to conserve

April 24, 2003 sports Page 14

Sophomore catcher Matt Eichel takes a cut at a pitch earlier this season at Edinburg Baseball Stadium. Eichel is batting .202 this season with 24 hits in 119 at bats.

Photo by Daniel Aguilar/The Pan American

UTPA vs UTSA*Season Result Score4/23/03 L 16-104/23/03 W 11-62002 L 3-11

W 7-6L 1-13L 5-16

2001 L 8-10L 5-6L 4-8L 2-5L 1-5L 5-9L 10-16

2000 L 8-9L 1-10W 12-1L 6-12L 3-4L 1-4W 6-1W 7-6 (10)

1999 W 4-1W 8-7W 9-7W 4-3W 9-2W 4-3L 11-15L 4-6

*MOST RECENT GAMES (24-29 all time)

UTPA vs UT*Season Result Score4/22/03 L 5-64/8/03 L 3-73/24/02 L 0-203/23/02 L 0-93/22/02 L 0-102001 L 6-12

L 6-122000 L 4-121999 L 7-8

L 6-231983 L 1-61980 L 4-71979 L 2-41977 L 8-13

L 1-4L 3-9L 0-3

1975 L 2-91974 L 0-71973 L 12-14 (12)

L 1-71972 L 1-2

L 0-11971 W 4-0

W 1-0W 3-1W 4-3L 0-4W 6-5

*MOST RECENT GAMES (6-29 all time)

Broncs, ’Runners splitBy JUAN FLORESThe Pan American

See BRONCS page 13

Page 15: April 24, 2003

1201 West University, CAS 170 Edinburg, Texas 78539(956) 381-2541 Fax: (956) 316-7122

http://www.panam.edu/dept/panamerican51st Year – No. 24

EditorMatt Lynch

[email protected]

Layout Designers

Ashley Brooks

Gabriel O. Hernandez

Reporters

Hilda Barrientes

Juan Flores

Omaira Galarza

Amelia Garcia

Alex Gravel

Clarissa Martinez

Luis Saavedra

Nader M. Siam

Jennifer Tapia

Arianna Vazquez

Photographer

Daniel Aguilar

Circulation

Joe Rodriguez

Advertising Coordinator

Dagoberto Perez

Adviser

Dr. Greg Selber

the PAN AMERICAN is theofficial studentnewspaper of TheUniversity ofTexas-PanAmerican. Views presentedare those of thewriters and do notnecessarily reflectthose of theuniversity.

The Pan Americangladly acceptsletters fromstudents, staff andfaculty regardingnewspaper contentor current issues.The Pan Americanreserves the rightto edit submissionsfor grammar andlength. Please limitsubmission lengthto 300 words. ThePan Americancannot publishanonymous letters,or submissionscontaining hatespeech orgratuitouspersonal attacks.Letters are printedat the discretion ofthe editor andmust include thewriter’s name,class/title andphone number.

Letters policy

April 24 2 0 0 3

Readers with dis-abilities mayrequest an alter-native format ofthis publicationat The PanAmerican busi-ness office. For special assis-tance to attendany event listedin this publica-tion, contact thecoordinator of theevent at least oneweek prior to theadvertised date.

Sports EditorEd Chrnko

[email protected]

A & E EditorAshley Brooks

[email protected]

News EditorBelinda Reyes

[email protected]

Graphics EditorGabriel O.Hernandez

[email protected]

The Pan American wants to hear what you have tosay about stories, current events or anything youwant to rant about. Send your responses [email protected]

GGOOTT SSOOMMEETTHHIINNGG

TT OO SS AA YY ??

Mission accomplished?Dear Editor:

Most would acknowledge the myriadproblems facing the area’s public schoolsystems. The list, unfortunately, is long:bloated administrations, teacher burnout,squabbling and inept school boards,alleged financial mismanagement, and anexcessive focus on TAKS preparation.The results include high rates locally forunemployment, poverty, crime, and teenpregnancy - schools simply are notproducing enough good global citizenswith fundamental learning skills toimprove Valley life.

All that makes it tragic that UTPA, themajor option for many desiring to pursuea higher education in the region, mostlyfails to provide the quality instruction that

the Rio Grande Valley so desperatelyneeds. Rather, those in charge promote a“corporate model” in which theUniversity sells student-consumers adesirable product - high grades - insteadof being a place where the disseminationof knowledge flourishes. In addition,cronyism is alive and well - Pan Am maycombine the worst aspects of bureaucracyand el cunado.

Certainly in the Humanities division,the semi-official mandate to inflategrades, practice social promotion, andpass every warm body regardless meansthat professors who attempt to maintainappropriate standards are dealt withharshly. This inversion of legitimateeducational goals, unsurprisingly, causesdespair among the most caring teachersand cynicism about the system among thebrightest students.

Whether or not Pan Am has becomemerely a diploma mill proffering devalueddegrees should be the topic of pressingdebate on campus; its head honchos, thoseresponsible for establishing policy, haveshown more interest in protecting theirfiefdoms and the flow of dollars thanhelping the school reach its academicpromise. (This letter, let me acknowledgeexplicitly, is concerned with the overallstate of affairs; undoubtedly selectindividual students are still giving it theol’ college try.) The students, of course,are the ones who ultimately suffer. Let’shope they begin to demand somethingbetter.

Sincerely,Michael Winkelman

Professor of English (retired),University of Texas-Pan American

OPINION l e t t e r s ■ e d i t o r i a l s ■ c a r t o o n sPAGE 2 April 24, 2003 sports Page 15

UTPA hoopsterspick playoffs

The NBA playoffs are underway andthere will be a battle to try to take awaythe title from the three-time championLos Angeles Lakers and their superstarsShaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant.

The battle willtake place mostly inthe West where theteams are a lot moreexperienced andwhere they knowhow to winchampionships.

The Lakers mightonly be seeded fifth

in the Western Conference, but they areplaying as good basketball as anybody inthe league in the second half of theseason. The Minnesota Timberwolvesare trying to get past them and finallyreach the second round of the playoffsfor the first time in franchise history.

The other three threats in the West arethe San Antonio Spurs, SacramentoKings and the Dallas Mavericks. Theyare ranked first, second and thirdrespectively but are also looking at toughmatch-ups in the first round.

The Spurs are facing the Phoenix Sunsand they can never count them out,losing their opening game in overtimewith a three-pointer at the buzzer byStephon Marbury. The Spurs evened theseries 1-1 Tuesday night with a 84-76win.

The Utah Jazz will most likely not beable to keep up with the young legs ofthe Kings. Karl Malone and JohnStockton have a lot of experience in theplayoffs with the Jazz but it will not beenough to come out of the first round.

Rasheed Wallace and the PortlandTrailblazers will be a handful for theMavericks, who did not finish theregular season the way they could have.They led the West for the majority of theseason but could only place third behindSan Antonio and Sacramento.

The race for the Eastern ConferenceChampionship will be a close one.Anybody can beat any team on anygiven day. There are no teams withconsistent, experienced players that canwin every night on a regular basis.

In the East, the No.1 seed in the EastDetroit Pistons (50-32) have a 1-1 leadon the No. 8 seed Orlando Magic (42-40). If the No. 1 seed only won eightmore games than the No. 8 seed, thatgives us an idea of how unpredictablethe East is going to be.

The New Jersey Nets will look to getback to the finals after they were sweptby the Lakers last year, but will have tostrike Gary Payton and his new team.The series is currently tied 1-1.

The No. 3 seed Indiana Pacers andReggie Miller are considered one of thefavorites to get out of the East, but areknotted at 1-1 in their series with theBoston Celtics.

Allan Iverson will once again try to do

the impossible and bring his team out ofthe East like he did a few years ago.Iverson will need a lot of help from histeammates to get past the New OrleansHornets, but the 76ers already have a 2-0lead.

Here are predictions from a number ofUTPA basketball players.

Sophomore MattHall

Finals: Los Angelesvs New Jersey

Champ: Los Angelesin four

Senior AndriusSakalysFinals: Los Angelesvs New Jersey

Champ: Los Angelesin six

Senior KevinMitchell

Finals: Sacramentovs Philadelphia

Champ: Sacramentoin six

Junior AllenHolcomb

Finals: Los Angelesvs Indiana

Champ: Los Angelesin six

Senior TomasSitnikovas

Finals: Sacramentovs New Jersey

Champ: Sacramentoin six

Sophomore EricMontalvo

Finals: Los Angelesvs New Jersey

Champ: Los Angelesin four

Junior Chris Fagan

Finals: Los Angelesvs Philadelphia

Champ: Philadelphiain seven

By ALEX GRAVELThe Pan American

COMMENTARY

The National Hockey League started theplayoffs with 16 teams in pursuit of theprestigious Lord Stanley Cup. Thechampionship series brings together teams fromthe United States and Canada to compete for thehighest level of achievement of professionalhockey. The first round is complete and onlyeight teams remain in their quest of hockeysupremacy.

In the Eastern Conference, Ottawa, NewJersey, Philadelphia and Tampa Bay still remain.

Ottawa advanced to the Eastern Conferencesemifinals by eliminating the New YorkIslanders, 4 games to 1. The New Jersey Devilsalso advanced in speedy fashion by disposing ofthe Boston Bruins in five games. The TampaBay Lightning did away with Washington in six,while Philadelphia and Toronto battled for sevengames until the Flyers blew past Toronto, 6-1, inthe seventh and deciding game Tuesday night.

In the Western Conference, Dallas,Vancouver, Minnesota and Anaheim look tomove closer to winning a championship.

The Dallas Stars eliminated the EdmontonOilers with a 3-2 sixth-game victory lastSaturday. The Anaheim Mighty Ducks swept thedefending champion Detroit Red Wings in thebest-of-seven series and will face Dallas in thesemifinals.

Minnesota advanced to the next round byedging out Colorado in seven games whileVancouver did the same with the St. LouisBlues.

LOCAL CONNECTIONAs hockey fans from the Valley watch the

NHL playoffs on television this year, they canlook forward to watching a professional hockeygame in person when the expansion Rio GrandeValley Killer Bees hit the ice next season.

The Killer Bees will drop the puck for theirinaugural season in October 2003 as the newestteam of the Central Hockey League.

The Killer Bees will do their battles at thenewly constructed “Hive” which will be ready

by October, and will have a capacity of 5,500.The Killer Bees’ season will start in lateOctober and will run until March 2004, with 64regular season games.

The team will play 32 of these games on theirhome ice in Hidalgo in the hunt for thePresident’s Cup, the pinnacle of the CHL.

“If you have never been to a hockey game inperson you can not imagine how much fun itis,” said Trey Medlock, president and generalmanager of the Killer Bees.

“This is the kind of entertainment the Valleynatives will love, their will be more going onaround the rink with promotions and giveawaysthen on the ice,” Medlock said. “Hockey is sofast-paced and exciting there will never be adull moment.”

The popularity of hockey in the Valley hasalready caught on with 1,000 of the 2,500season tickets available sold; as a season ticketholder there are many benefits. There will be aseat selection party with the players, and holdersnever stand in line for tickets and have firstoption for playoff tickets. Also, season ticketholders will receive 10 percent off on all KillerBees team merchandise and preferred assignedparking.

The Killer Bees will start picking theirplayers in June in a supplement draft, choosingplayers from the other 16 teams in the CHL tofill an 18-man roster.

The brain trust of the Killer Bees along withMedlock will involve newly named head coachand Director of Hockey Operations TracyEgeland.

“With the staff we have started to assemble,this team has a great opportunity to besuccessful early and possibly making theplayoffs in its first season,” Medlock said. “It’sa great time to get everyone involved andinterested about hockey, with the NHL playoffsup and running we see all over the U.S howexciting hockey can be.”

Season tickets are now available by callingthe Killer Bees front office at (956) 843-7825.For more information concerning Killer Beeshockey, visit their Web site at:www.killerbeehockey.com.

Killer Bees, hockey soonto make Valley debutBy NADER M. SIAMThe Pan American

Intramural teams play tourneys

The intramural recreation departmentconcluded a 3-on-3 basketball single eliminationtournament Tuesday where six teams battled todetermine this year’sintramural champion.

The teams that participatedwere Team Punishment, Team4, Team X , Suicide Kings,Triple Threat and All-American Shooterz. When thedust settled Team 4 won thechampionship by defeatingTriple Threat, 59-32.

In the softball tournament,the final two games wereplayed with the Outlaws andScrubs winning theirrespective games to advance tothe softball championshipwhich will be played today.

“The growth of participationof all the sports has gone up since the fields wereassigned, we are working on putting up a fence

for softball to make it more appealing,” saidCharlie Cáceres, coordinator of CampusActivities. “More students are participating in thesports that we offer because our facilities areimproving.”

In flag football, the Explosion and I EEE’s wontheir respective gamesTuesday afternoon. Theyare preparing for thecompetitive singleelimination tournamentwith the Stallions andGamblers still undefeated.

In soccer, La Pandillawon their last game of theregular season and areworking toward a possiblematchup with the front-running Illegal Aliens. Thesingle-eliminationtournament begins nextweek to determine thechampion.

For more information on the tournaments orother intramural sports call 956-292-0839 or stopby the Intramural office located at Bronc Village.

By NADER M. SIAMThe Pan American

More studentsare participatingin the sports thatwe offer becauseour facilities are

improving.

““

- Charlie Caceres, coordinator ofCampus Activities

Page 16: April 24, 2003

The newly elected members of StudentGovernment Association plan to start theirterms with a goal: to encourage a higherrate of student involvement with theorganization. Voter turnout for March’selection was 1,179, higher than 2002’s1,100.

The new president and vice president ofUTPA are Paco Viellma and Oscar Garza,

respectively. They beat their opponents byover 200 votes and will now spearheadthe effort to publicize the group’s workand get students into the mix. The fourSenators at Large this year are MarialiciaAndrade, Gabriela Lopez, Carlos Rios andArianna Vazquez.

Andrade explained that her duty is torepresent the entire UTPA student body onwhatever issues come up. In March therewere also elections for collegerepresentatives, who bring college issues

to the senators at large. Two or threepeople represent each college. So throughthat conduit arrangement, studentconcerns become SGA topics fordiscussion.

“We plan events for the students andtake action in what students want,Andrade said. “We try to promote studentinvolvement and more than anything, weare the students voice when dealing withadministration.”

Andrade also said that SGA would like

to encourage more student activity at theirweekly meetings, which are held Tuesdayevenings at 6 p.m. on the third floor at theStudent Union. She said that usually veryfew students go to the meetings.

“We meet every Tuesday to discussstudent events and complaints,” Andradesaid. “Every single person is invited toattend our meetings.”

Some of SGA’s upcoming plans are toget student ideas for a new recreation

THURSDAYApril 24, 2003

An Inside Look:

■ News ............................................3■ A & E............................................7■ Sports ........................................16

T h e S t u d e n t N e w s p a p e r o f T h e U n i v e r s i t y o f T e x a s - P a n A m e r i c a nPage 4

CCaammppuussVOICEWho do you

think will winthe NBAplayoffs?

Curfews have existed for hundreds ofyears, whether they are placed by a parent toensure the safety of their children, or on acity that has been invaded by an opposingsociety, or even on ethnic groups like in the1960s when African Americans couldn’t leavetheir homes after a certain time during raceriots. Now, juveniles are the citizens beingtargeted with rules limiting their movement.

In May 1996 President Bill Clintonannounced that he was supporting a new teencurfew policy. His policy recommendedweekday curfews at 9 p.m. for teenagers, withpunishments of fines and court summons forparents of offenders. Though this was widelyseen as an election-year tactic, it gained agreat deal of attention from both the pressand lawmaking bodies around the country.New curfews were added in greater numbersthan ever.

Currently juvenile curfews are in cities ofTexas such as Austin, Baytown, CorpusChristi, Dallas, El Paso, Fort Worth,Galveston, Houston, Plano, Round Rock, SanAntonio, and Wichita Falls.

The Edinburg City Council is expected tovote in favor of continuing the juvenilecurfew ordinance that has been placed on thecity May 1, 1994. Curfews must be reviewedannually at which time their continuance isdebated. The Edinburg ordinance imposes acurfew for those under 17 Sunday throughThursday from 10:30 p.m. to 6 a.m. andFriday and Saturday from midnight to 6 a.m.

Edinburg Police Chief Quirino Munoz isone individual who feels that the curfewshould be continued and says that it has been

one of the contributing factors to the decreasein juvenile arrests.

“It can continue to be an invaluable tool forthe police department in the coming years inits fight against juvenile criminal activity thatmay develop in association with thepopulation growth and progress in the city,”

By CLARISSA MARTINEZThe Pan American

Edinburg curfewimpact studied

By BELINDA REYESThe Pan American

Gabriel O. Hernandez/The Pan American

Phillip Batres of the South Texas Indian Dancers performs the Grass Stomp dance fora crowd in the Quad Tuesday. See Earth Day picture page on Page 6.

See CURFEW page 5

SGA electees taking command

See PLANS page 5

State of Texas DecreasingJuvenile Crime1998-2002

1998 2002

SentencedOffenders

GeneralOffenders

FelonyCommitments

FelonyReferrals

Missing Juveniles

Burglaries

266

2058

2341

392

86

602

99

33

158

1457

2077

128

15

559

36

32

Hidalgo Co.

Cameron Co.

Incarcerations

Source: Texas Youth Commission

The men’s tennis team is headingto the Southland ConferenceTournament this weekend with onlyone goal in mind: win.

The Broncs will get their shot atthe rest of the conference startingat 9:30 a.m. Friday at the UTATennis Center in Arlington.

After finishing the season on ahigh note, beating UTSA 4-3 intheir last match of the regularseason, the Broncs will look tocontinue their fine play againstLamar University in the first round.

UTPA finished the regular seasonwith a 12-7 overall record, and 3-2in the SLC.

It will not be an easy task eventhough they beat the Cardinals intheir last meeting, by a count of 5-2.

“Last time welost the doublespoint and I didn’tfeel like weplayed well inthe doubles atall,” said headcoach ToddChapman. “Weplayed better insingles and onlylost at thenumber oneposition.”

The only pairwho emergedvictorious wassenior Matt Gower and freshmanNik Porter, both from England, whodefeated Naeem Kath and JuanPablo Alatorre 8-4. Lamar’s No. 1player Jakob Paulsen was the onlyCardinal to record a win in singles,crushing Belgian TomMangelschots 6-1, 6-0.

The strategy for Friday’s match-up is nothing but playing the tennisthey know how to play.

“We never know what Lamarteam is going to show up so theyare hard to prepare for,” Chapmansaid. “They have a great numberone player but I think we are moretalented as a team.”

Being more talented will not beenough to win the tournament andChapman knows firsthand that it isnot something to rely on.Whenteams enter tournament or post

season competition, experience canmake all the difference betweenwinning and losing.

“Last year we beat them twice inthe regular season and we almostlost to them in the tournament,” hesaid. “We can’t overlook anybodyand we have to learn from our pastexperiences.”

There are six teams participatingin this year’s SLC Tournament andfour of them are most likely tobattle for the title.

“UT-Arlington, UTSA,Southeastern Louisiana and us canwin the tournament and the teamwho is consistent and plays wellduring the whole weekend will winit,” Chapman said.

Centenary and Lamar will haveto play more than inspired tennis tobe able to take home the honors.

The Gents finished their season5-15 and 0-5in conferenceplay. TheCardinalsfared a littlebetter in bothoverallperformanceandconferenceplay, ending2003 with an8-11 overallrecord andwent 1-4 inconference.

If theBroncs make

it through the first round, they willbe most likely to face the hostingteam.

“UT-Arlington is a great teamand we lost to them 5-2 in theregular season,” Chapman said.“We’re not worried about them yetthough because right now we arefocusing on Lamar only.”

The winner of the SLCTournament will get an automaticbid to the NCAA tournament.

For the Broncs’ two seniors,Gower and Neil Barraclough, alsofrom England, it would be a greatway to end their careers and afantastic year.

“We had a great year and to topit off with being nationally rankedand win the conference tournamentwould be a great way to get out,”Barraclough said.

■ NBA Pick ’em. . . . . . . . 15■ Bronc Baseball . . . . . . 14■ Sports clipboard . . . . . .13

PAGE 16

SPORTS

Photo by Matt Lynch/The Pan American

Senior Matt Gower (Somerset, England) leaps to hit a serve earlier in the season.

Southlandshowdown

By ALEX GRAVELThe Pan American

UTPA men’s tennis team heads to six-teamconference tournament following season-

ending victory over UTSA

They have agreat number

one player, but Ithink we are

more talented asa team.

““

- Todd Chapman, UTPA head tennis coach

SWISH!