Download - March 6, 2008
The day before Hillary Clinton’s
much-needed Texas primary win
Tuesday, husband Bill Clinton spoke to a
crowd of about 700 people in The
University of Texas-Pan American’s
Field House.
The slim crowd barely made a dent
in the 4,000-seat venue, setting off fears
that Clinton’s presidential campaign was
on its last breath. The results Tuesday,
however, quelled those fears, for now at
least.
Clinton won 50.8 percent of the
vote in Texas, giving her 61 popular vote
delegates. Barack Obama took 47.4 per-
cent and 61 delegates. Caucus results are
still pending.
Hidalgo County proved worthy of its
Clinton country label, with 73.8 percent of
votes going to the New York senator.
The campaigning done in the
Valley by both presidential camps was
extensive, but did it really make a differ-
ence in a county where Clinton was
already the frontrunner?
Isidroalex Morgado, freshman eco-
nomics and communication double
major, doesn’t think so.
“Personally, I always thought there
was going to be that turnaround,” he
claimed. “People feel connected to
Clinton because of the past — Bill
Clinton. That’s what helped her out.”
While waiting in line to see the for-
mer president speak at UTPA Monday,
Gina Lima, a sophomore
engineering/pre-med major, said the idea
of the Clinton duo in office was a selling
point for her.
“I feel like his experience in office
has been amazing for the nation and both
of them working together, two intellec-
tual people who have experience run-
ning with the nation, would be amaz-
ing,” she said.
Morgado, who is also president of
The Republicans Club of UTPA, said
while Obama had a “really good cam-
paign,” he feels that the public’s person-
al feelings and connection with Clinton
influenced their vote.
“Sometimes, emotions and feelings
get more in the way and that’s more
important to them; feeling that connec-
The Valley may be next on the list
to receive a state-of-the-art Health
Science Center, according to Sen. Eddie
Lucio Jr. However, with many Texas
metropolitan areas vying for the facility,
the competition is fierce.
Lucio brought to light the idea in a
February meeting to the Board of Regents
at The University of Texas-Pan
American. In 2007, the senate approved
the bill but it did not follow through with
the house, so plans are for Lucio to re-file
or file another bill during the next session
which begins Jan. 13 2009.
The bill proposed a Health Science
Center with a medical school and other
health programs for first- and second-
year students that will cover South
Texas, including Jim Hogg, Kenedy and
Zapata County.
It also required a $28 million startup
for research and training facilities to be set
up at the Regional Academic Health
Center at UTPA, The University of Texas-
Brownsville and Harlingen.
“One of our biggest problems we
are facing in this region, one of the fastest
growing in the state, is that we have the
lowest physician ratios in the state,” said
Lucio. “In Cameron County, the ratio is
125 physicians per 100,000, and in
Hidalgo that ratio is 105 physicians per
100,000…without a health science center
the Rio Grande Valley is moving med-
ically backward, not forward.”He added that Valley residents
needing care should not have to travel to
Central and North Texas to receive the
care they deserve: another reason why it
is imperative to establish the center.
“We cannot continue to be ignored
or bypassed for a health science center
elsewhere with the low ratios we have,”
he said. “This area has a high diabetes
rate, and the lack of adequate health care
By J.R. ORTEGAThe Pan American
See Page 16
Women’s basketball postseason tourney
SPORTS
Toastmasters help betterpublic-speaking skills
Art E magazine featureslocal art scene
See Page 8 & 9
See Page 3
A&E
NEWS
59th YearNo. 22
ThursdayMarch 6, 2008
TH
IS W
EE
K
� STATE
By SANDRA GONZALEZ
The Pan American
Health Science Center proposal hopeful
� NATIONAL
Roxy Solis/The Pan American
VOTE FOR HILLARY - Former President Bill Clinton meets and greets with the crowd after a Monday morning rally for Sen. Hillary Clinton at The University of Texas-Pan American Field House.
THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER
See HEALTH page 11
See CLINTON page 11
� CAMPUS
Jessa Parce remembers her first visit
to America when she was 4 years old. The
new country she found herself in was a
stark contrast to her native Philippines.
“I remember in the cities [in the
Philippines had] many beggar children.
Several were cuddled on the lengthy over-
pass with one girl sitting on cardboard,
cradling a baby, and children would bathe
in the streets sometimes,” she said.
It wasn’t until she was much older
that Parce, a freshman general studies
major, realized her native country was
not the only one in peril.
“Obviously, the degree of poverty is
extremely different between the two coun-
tries, but I think some things remain the
same and hurt society equally,” she said.
“I mean, look at all the single mothers
here in the Valley, families without health
insurance, some parents working two or
three jobs just to make sure they have run-
ning water every month.”
According a 2004 study conducted
by U.S. Census Bureau, 30.5 percent of
Hidalgo County residents are below the
poverty level. Poverty level is generally
measure by indicators like the level of
income, drop out rates and jobless
households.
See VOLUNTEER page 11
Sen. Lucio saysbill first step ofmany in process
Did visits make a difference? Student todedicatebreak toserviceBy BOBBY CERVANTES
The Pan American
Texas primaryresults decidedearly, students say
20
love vacations as much as the next
person. What I’m not looking for-
ward to is hearing about everyone’s wild
adventures when they get back from
Spring Break next week.
I will be working most of the week
and catching up on sleep. Sounds boring,
I know. But it may surprise you that
those plans aren’t as rare or geriatric as
you may think.
In class this week, I overheard one
girl tell her friend that her plans includ-
ed putting in more hours at Starbucks to
make a car payment.
That got me to thinking, if you
really have that much time for partying
this coming week, I hate you. Yes, you.
Sip your overpriced, rum-filled
drink. Live your life like you’re on The
O.C. while it lasts, because if you’re cel-
ebrating your precious break at South
Padre Island, you’re money surely won’t
last long.
I hope you enjoy your nights out
and your days sleeping in. In one week,
it’s back to the drone of life. We working
schmoes are not delusional. We know
life goes on even March 10 to March 14.
I’m sure everyone will come back
with the fondest memories via pictures,
souvenirs and the most attractive peeling
skin this side of the border. Well, lobster
face, here’s some bad news: The only
truly long-lasting memory you will gain
is a mysterious rash that develops two
weeks after...ehem...that night. And the
worst part is you’ll know you deserve it.
Just be sure to card your one-night
stands, because jail bait is a real crime.
Don’t believe me? Take a look around
when you get to your sandy destination
of choice. You’ll be the oldest one there.
Going wild during Spring Break is a
high school thing. Doing it now doesn’t
make you “cool,” it makes you lame and
poorer.
But go if you must. Enjoy your
coconut drinks, beaches and one-night
stands while trying to forget that you’re
probably the only one in that club that’s
actually over 21.
Maybe I’m just bitter. Then again,
what’s new?
Well, I guess I should say some-
thing wise. Uhm...don’t be stupid. 7-167-16
The 69th annual Rio GrandeValley Livestock Show
commences at the MercedesLivestock Showgrounds.Tickets are $15 and avail-able for purchase at LittleCaesar’s and H-E-B stores
across the Valley
THE PAN AMERICANPage 2
1201 West University, CAS 170 Edinburg, Texas 78539Phone: (956) 381-2541
Fax: (956) 316-7122www.utpa.edu/dept/panamerican
THE
PANAMERICAN
MARCH 6, 2008
The Pan American is the official student newspaperof The University of Texas-Pan American. Viewspresented are those of the writers and do notnecessarily reflect those of the paper or university.
Editor-in-ChiefSandra Gonzalez.................................................
A&E EditorJeanette [email protected]
Sports Co-EditorsGreg [email protected] [email protected]
Photography EditorNicholas Dodd..................................................
Design EditorRoy [email protected]
Assistant News EditorsAbigail [email protected]. [email protected]
Designers Rick GamezJuan Torres
Reporters and Photographers
Bobby Cervantes
Leslie Estrada
Onydia Garza
Laura Garcia
Russen Vela
Ana Villaurrutia
Roxy Solis
The Pan American accepts letters of 300words or less from students, staff and facultyregarding recent newspaper content, campusconcerns or current events. The Pan Americanreserves the right to edit submissions for grammarand length. The Pan American cannot publishanonymous letters or submissions containing hatespeech or gratuitous personal attacks. Please send allstory ideas to [email protected].
Individuals with disabilities wishing toacquire this publication in an alternative format orneeding assistance to attend any event listed cancontact The Pan American for more details.
AdviserDr. Greg [email protected]
SecretaryAnita [email protected]
Advertising ManagerSamantha [email protected]
Assitant Advertising ManagerJacqueline Iglesias...................................
**Delivery**Thursday at noon
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Savethesedates
OPINIONMarch 6, 2008
6The University of Texas-Pan
American recently appointed Teofilo
Ozuna, interim dean, as the new dean of
the College of Business Administration.
The university conducted a nation-
al search for the open position and after
thorough interviews with the candidates,
Ozuna was appointed as the new dean.
Ozuna was a fresh face for UTPA at
the dawn of the new millenium. He
served as associate dean for the college
between 2004 and 2006 and after that
was interim dean until now.
Also an associate professor, he
teaches courses in economics and
finance and has won numerous awards
like Who’s Who Among America’s
Teachers both in 2004 and 2005. He
has also served on the UTPA faculty
senate.
At the time h e was interim dean, he
helped increase both Ph.D. and MBA
enrollment in the college.
He also received numerous schol-
arships for the department and helped
level salaries for faculty.
One of Ozuna’s bigger duties as
dean will be leading four departments
with eight bachelor’s degrees, three mas-
ter’s and one of the few colleges that has
a doctoral program.
Ozuna officially began his appoint-
ment as dean March 1.
� APPOINTMENT
To the editor:
I just wanted to take this opportuni-
ty to urge you to support Hillary Clinton
for President. As an American, we see
the turmoil in our economy, the environ-
mental decline, the death of so many of
our troops and the deteriorating health of
our people. In this day and age, where
we are faced with so many problems,
issues and concerns, we cannot take a
chance to place a very junior senator,
Barak Obama, into our government. We
need a strong leader, with voice, with
comprehensive plans who will make a
difference — and has made differences
in our lives already. We need a leader
who would stand up to threats and take
decisive actions. Obama cannot use
charisma to deal with terrorists — that
simply does not work. Mr. Obama lacks
specifics and only preaches rather than
detail his plans. We need to realize that
in order for his plans to work, he would
need the support of Congress. His plans
have loopholes which Congress will not
pass, and his words are going to be just
that, words not actions. Hillary has been
the First Lady of both Arkansas and The
United States. While in the Senate,
Obama has a majority of “Non Vote” in
his record. We do not need a president
who does not take part in issues that face
the world. While campaigning, Senator
Clinton does not forget that she is still a
Senator and has been addressing con-
cerns in New York while traveling from
state to state. With that said, when we
go on a job interview, we are told that in
order to secure a senior job we must
bring with us experience. We are not
hired based on the fact that we speak
well, we are hired based on the fact that
we can get the job done.
Sam Osborne
Retired psychology professor
� LETTER TO THE EDITOR
� Excited about partying atSpring Break? You’re a [email protected]
A bitter take onSpring Break
� SOCIAL COMMENTARY
BY: SANDRA GONZALEZ
I
MarchNewsinbrief
Local elections wrapped up
Tuesday, bringing an end to several heat-
ed races.
In the race for state representative,
incumbent Aaron Pena, District 40, beat
out local engineer and businessman
Eddie Saenz 9,642 to 8,646 with all
precincts reporting.
Saenz challenged Pena in the 2004
race for the District 40 seat that surveys
a vast majority of northern Hidalgo
County, but lost.
District 41’s Rep. Veronica
Gonzales also kept her seat with 13,248
votes. In District 36, Rep. Kino Flores
secured 11,169 votes to challenger
Sandra Rodriguez’s 10,245.
In other races, County
Commissioner Sylvia Handy kept her
chair in precinct 1 with 13,414 votes.
In the race for Democratic party
Chairman, Dolly Elizondo will replace
Juan J. Maldonado, taking 33,157 votes
to his 32,340.
Jesse Contreras garnered 39,916
votes to win a place as 449th District
Judge. Opponent Maxine Longoria-
Nash came up short with 28,441 votes.
Gilberto Saenz took the vote for the
Justice of the Peace Pct. 1 with 59 per-
cent of the vote compared to his oppo-
nents Felix Guajardo, garnerning 22 per-
cent and David Guerra with 19 perce nt.
� ELECTIONS
20The next edition of The
Pan American hits stands
Pharr Chamber ofCommerce will showcase30 local restaurants at the
Pharr InternationalConvention Center
6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
6 The UTPA Graduate Fairwill be held at the Annex
4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
“Mr. And Mrs. CountrySoul” to perform in front of
Student Union from noon to 1 p.m.
Comedians like Jim Carrey may be
great for getting laughs out of audiences
and moviegoers, but according to
Melanie Booth-Butterfield, there is a
way to use communication to entertain
and make people laugh.
As the first ever invited speaker for
the Hauser Lecture Series at The
University of Texas-Pan American,
Tuesday Booth-Butterfield uncovered
myths about what communication is not
and how personality traits play a role in
how people communicate in her presen-
tation “When Communication, Humor
and Emotions Collide.”
The professor responsible for her
visit, Timothy Mottet, said that, “Until
yesterday, I don’t know if our students
fully understood that human communi-
cation can be studied as a personality
orientation.”
Mottet, a newcomer to UTPA,
holds the Hauser Chair in the department
of communication; he came to the uni-
versity from Texas State. His mentor,
Booth-Butterfield, a communication
studies professor at West Virginia
University, intrigued the audience by
discussing various personality traits
whose names she coined herself.
So-called “humor orientation” took
three different forms: Hi-Ho or high
humor orientation, Lo-Ho or low humor
orientation, and Mo-Ho, a moderate form.
“Humor orientation tends to be a
very positive thing to have,” she said.
“Numerous studies show the benefits of
effectively communicated humor.”
In her presentation, actress Lucille
Ball stood for Hi-Ho while tech impresa-
rio Bill Gates was considered a Lo-Ho
according to the audience.
“I think that Bill Gates probably has
some phenomenal traits. He’s certainly
an intellectual. He’s certainly entrepre-
neurial,” Booth-Butterfield said. “Is he
someone to have around when you sit
As a college student at the
University of Minnesota, Jay
Switchtenburg was by his own admission,
“very shy and couldn’t look at anybody.”
Even after joining various speech
teams, he didn’t do very well compared
to his fellow speakers.
So after graduation, when he was-
n’t able to participate in school-spon-
sored speaking events, he got involved
with Toastmasters International.
Toastmasters, as it’s called for
short, is an organization that aims to
make members become more “compe-
tent and comfortable in front of an audi-
ence,” according to the organization’s
Web site.
“There were so many great speakers
and I [became] passionate and realized
that it is very important to communicate
effectively,” said Switchtenburg, 28.
After joining a now non-existent
club chapter at South Texas College, he
switched to The Grande Evening
Toastmasters club at The University of
Texas-Pan American and was able to
continue his pursuit in sharpening com-
munication and leadership skills.
Chartered as a local chapter of
Toastmasters International in 1998,
Grande Evening Toastmasters is the only
bilingual/bicultural chapter of the organ-
ization in the United States.
Because of this advantage,
Dedeyla Conde, club secretary, said the
group is able to “encourage a Spanish
and English audience to participate,”
and get better at conveying their
thoughts to a crowd of five, six or even
100.
Conde joined Toastmasters as a
Adjusting to college life is consid-
ered a difficult transition for most, but
imagine adjusting to college life and civil-
ian life at the same time. That’s exactly the
challenge facing Christian Murray, a dis-
charged Air Force senior airman.
Like so many vets coming home, it
isn’t so easy to switch gears. Murray
who grew up in Maryland but since then
has moved to Edinburg, said that he still
hasn’t quite adjusted.
“Transitioning from military to
civilian life can be a little bit depressing,
and a culture shock because you get used
to a certain way of life,” said the junior
pre-pharmacy major.
In an effort to support student vet-
erans like Murray, The University of
Texas-Pan American has created
Helping Ourselves and Others After
Homecoming, which will offer counsel-
ing sessions to students returning from
military service. It will debut this month.
Murray explained that since he
began attending UTPA, his military
service has been unnoticed; he has not
felt any form of encouragement from the
university.
The construction of the Rapid
Response Center has become the latest
ambitious project for The University of
Texas-Pan American. But in order to
execute this manufacturing power-
house, it will take some “seed money,”
said Miguel Gonzalez, associate dean
of The College of Science and
Engineering.
Gonzalez’s seven-year patience
was awarded when the U.S. Department
of Labor gave the North American
Advance for Manufacturing Initiative a
$5.5 million grant.
Lloyd has been working closely
with UTPA on plans for the Rapid
Response Center and with the alliances
between UTPA, South Texas College
and K-12 schools across the Rio
Grande Valley.
“Previous grants put together our
partnership,” said Gonzalez. “This grant
will bring many opportunities for stu-
dents and develop partnerships across
the region.”
UTPA will receive $2 million over
the next three years to fund the start of a
manufacturing research building called
THE PAN AMERICANMarch 6, 2008 Page 3
NEWS
By ANA VILLAURRUTIAThe Pan American
� FINANCIAL
Series on communication begins
TOASTMASTER - Maggie Medrano, a study abroad program adviser and guest at a Toastmasters meeting, exercises herspeaking skills. Participants Tuesday were given a fortune cookie and asked to present the meaning of their fortune. See GRANT page 12
New service to offersoldiers listening earBy TERESA TORRESThe Pan American
See COUNSELING page 12
� COUNSELING� CAMPUS
See SPEAKING page 12
See SERIES page 12
Ben Briones/The Pan American
By LUPE A. FLORESThe Pan American
By ABBY MUNIZThe Pan American
� LIFE SKILLS
Donʼt end aspeech with ques-tions and answers.
Instead, tell theaudience that you will take
questions and then say, “Wewill move to our closingpoint.” After the Q and A, tell astory that ties in with yourmain theme, or summarizeyour key points. Concludewith a quote or call to action.
Didyouknow?
$5.5 milliongranted tonew center
Group teaches speaking skills
Source: Rob Sherman for Toastmasters magazine
Expert explainsthe softer side ofdiscipline
NEWSPage 4 March 6, 2008
NEWSMarch 6, 2008 Page 5
NEWSPage 6 March 6, 2008
The healing power of art has long
been studied and defended. At The
University of Texas-Pan American, the
Counseling and Psychological Services
group was hoping to call upon that power
with The Mask Making project held
Tuesday morning.
“The Mask Project is part of a series
of activities that will take place during the
week, sponsored by [the office] to bring
awareness to our university community
about suicide prevention, grief, depres-
sion, hope and healing,” said Mirta Feal
Rodriguez, a UTPA counseling therapist.
Throughout the world masks are
used for their expressive power, often as
feature props of a masked performance.
They are a familiar and vivid element in
many folk and traditional pageants, cere-
monies, rituals and festivals. Many masks
are of an ancient origin.
They are often a part of costume
that adorns the whole body and embod-
ies a tradition important to a particular
society of people. They are used almost
universally and maintain their power
and mystery both for their wearers and
their audience, retaining an important
place in the religious and social life of
the community.
Rodriguez was in charge of the
event and was intent on getting the word
out to students and faculty.
“This exciting project originated
from an activity done by the Women’s
Support Group which meets on
Thursdays at noon at the Counseling and
Psychological Services. The students
who have seen the flyers and have heard
about the event are really excited and
fired up for it,” said Rodriguez before
the event.
Rodriguez, who has worked for
UTPA for 11 years, said that the event
was not just for making masks, but to
help people in need find a creative way to
put their stress or problems away.
Similar projects have been used for
suicide awareness programs in other col-
lege campuses such as UT-Austin,
UTSA, and the Dallas Art Institute. The
idea of the event is to provide an artistic
outlet for emotional healing, and to allow
participants a safe vehicle for expression
and communication of their feelings and
experiences through a creative and ideal-
ly therapeutic art activity.
In addition to the mask activity, par-
ticipants walked away with information
on these important topics.
“Masks have been used in therapy
for a long time, but this is the first time
we have attempted this type of project in
a large scale,” Rodriguez said.
Rodriguez said students were able
to channel or let go of stress by creating a
mask employing the numerous paints,
beads, gemstones, feathers, ribbons her
office has purchased for the event.
“This creative outlet will probably
be done consciously and subconscious-
ly,” Rodriguez said. “Clinical experience
has demonstrated that the images pro-
duced in making art help externalize and
resolve internalized fears, conflicts and
blocks. As an optional activity, the indi-
viduals were asked to name their masks
and write a description of their mask.”
Senior art major Monique
Rodriguez is interested in the idea of
using art as a relaxant.
“How cool is it to channel your rage
and problems into a creative thing? I
think masks are really cool, and to make
one is even better because you are design-
ing it. Nobody is telling you what color to
paint it or what jewels or feathers to put
on it, it’s your mask,” said the 21-year-old
from Edinburg. “I think it is a great cre-
ative outlet, not only for people with
problems but other people in general, and
what is so neat is that you don’t have to be
an art major or artist to make one.”
Sophomore communication disor-
ders major Giselle Mata has experienced
the relief creative arts has to offer.
“I always kept convincing myself
that I was never an artist, but one day I
was feeling kind of down so I just picked
up a paintbrush and started making a col-
lage with pictures and paint and I felt so
much better,” said the 20-year-old from
McAllen. “Using creativity to get through
a really low point in your life will always
bring you back up to a high point.”
Rodriguez and her colleagues have
shared in on the creative process.
“The experience of making a mask
can be described as an awesome, power-
ful experience,” said Rodriguez. “No
one really knows how the mask will turn
out until it is completed.”
Several examples of creative out-
put will be on public display Wednesday
through Friday at the Student Union
Commons.
Participants had the option of hav-
ing their masks displayed, taking their
masks with them, or simply getting rid
of the masks once completed. The idea
was for the experience to be as private or
as public as they wanted it to be.
Elva Galvan has never graced the
Jeffers Theater Stage, but the theater
department knows there would be no
productions without her.
Behind the scenes, Galvan, theatre
business manager, runs the show by
catering to the needs of the public. She
has been employed with UTPA since
August 2000 and has been involved
with the theatre department since
November 2001.
“I take my position very seriously
and it is my duty to be here to serve our
patrons,” the Edcouch native said.
Most recently, Galvan listened to
those voices of the all important public
and supported a major change within
the theater.
On Feb. 14, the Texas-Pan
American University Theatre was offi-
cially renamed University Theatre
Productions after Galvan noticed a bit of
confusion among theatergoers. The
vocalized uncertainty began when peo-
ple thought that University Theatre was
an actual theatre, instead of an organiza-
tion devoted to putting on plays.
The business manager noted the
complaints started within the past year
or so, and said that the organization was
willing to try the name change if it will
be helpful.
“We try our best to make all our
patrons happy,” Galvan said.
During her childhood, Galvan did
a few Christmas plays but never
thought she would be heavily involved
in theatre. Now that she’s big into the
theater, she hopes that her own family
will follow her lead.
“My dream is for my 5-year-old
granddaughter, Alyssa, to be our next
Brian Warren, director of children’s
theatre in the next 30 years,” she said.
“At her age, she already loves theatre.”
Galvan has a passion for theatre
and is proud of what the program has
accomplished. Unfortunately, there are a
few downfalls involved.
“The hardships of working in the
&RTS EA
Mirta F. Rodriguez
NTERTAINMENT� BEHIND THE SCENES
THE PAN AMERICANMarch 6, 2008 Page 7
� ART SCENE
By AMANDA ALANIZThe Pan American
Theater managermaintains productionoutput
See GALVAN page 10CREATIVE CHANNELING - UTPAʼs Counseling and Psychological Services held its Mask Making Project Tuesday morningat the Student Union, encouraging students to relieve their stress and find their inner artist through mask design.
By RUSSEN VELAThe Pan American
Students relieve stress through art
UNMASKED - The University of Texas-Pan Americanʼs counseling therapist MirtaFeal Rodriguez said mask-making is a good creative outlet for students. The eventwas one of the planned activities used for emotional healing and freedom.
Mirta F. Rodriguez
fter four years of the established First FridayArt Walk in McAllen, it has become apparent
that the growing art community has found a homefor itself in the Valley.
New galleries and venues are opening almostmonthly to accommodate the expanding art scene,but getting the word out there has been a slowerprocess. The McAllen Chamber of Commerce andMcAllen Arts Council have recently found a way tospread the news through its own publication art Emagazine. The “E” is short for experience.
While the Chamber already heavily promotesthe arts through various Web sites, the lack of a fea-tured publication came to members’ attention afterUTPA student, Michael Rodriguez’s suggestion.
“I got the idea to do this after coming back froma trip to Austin. I saw how much they had going onup there, better yet, how they had a proper media toshow what’s happening,” said the 20-year-old juniorphilosophy major. “I was a very angry individual atthe time. I kept hearing people [here] say ‘Oh noth-ing ever happens here.’ So I wanted to show peoplethat something does happen in the Valley.”
Although Rodriguez’s reason for starting a pub-lication was to make the Valley residents aware andinvolved in the art community, he himself was one ofthose individuals skeptical of the possibilities theSouth Texas culture has to offer.
“Straight out of high school, I went to Californiafor a year and half and then came back and startedgoing to Pan Am,” said Rodriguez, of McAllen. “It’sa common misconception people have that if youleave, the world’s just going to open up for them. Iwent out there and found out that there are a bunchof events going on down here.”
Rodriguez, teamed with fellow Bronc NayellyBarrios on the idea and pitched it to the board com-mittee through Virginia Haynie Gause, who runs theart event Web site Artsrgv.com.
The magazine, which published its first issue inNovember, is a quarterly publication dedicated sole-
ly to the art and entertainment community and issponsored by the McAllen Chamber and Council.Art E, according to its managing editor Barrios, is adifferent take on the average local arts publication.
“It looks so contemporary. It’s not your typicalmagazine,” said the junior English major, Barrios.“We have stories about up-and-coming artists, estab-lished artists and featured galleries. We also don’thave ads in our magazine, which a lot of people like.It’s very clean and tastefully done.”
Getting a sponsor and story ideas weren’t hardto come by, but getting a staff and audience tooksome effort.
“I’d be talking about it to people at work andthey’d be like, ‘What are you talking about? There’snot art in the Valley,” said the 22-year-old Barrios.“They would totally lose hope and say the magazinewouldn’t make it. You can’t say there’s no art.”
Supportive staff however, was not a problem. BothRodriguez and Barrios felt the publication would workbest with an all-student staff.
“We want to offer to them [the students] anopportunity. It’ll look good on your resume and it’ssomething we wanted to share with the students wecome to Pan Am with,” said Barrios, of Mission.
While their staff is composed of UTPA students,everyone has something different to add to the publica-tion, styl e and composition-wise.
“It’s very interesting to know that when youhave a group of writers that aren’t the most experi-enced writers, it feels so good to know that they’restill willing to help you,” said Barrios, a self-admit-ted creative writer. “We have one girl who started offwith no journalism experience whatsoever and sever-al other people who are mostly creative writers likeme. Big difference. But they picked it up quickly.”
Rodriguez finds the students’ unfiltered mindsto be compatible with the publication and its mission.
“I go for the students because I’d like to thinkthey have more of an open mind when it comes tolooking at things,” said Rodriguez, of McAllen. “Injournalism, you’re supposed to write like this—noopinion. I think it’s impossible to not have an opinionon something and then give the illusion that it’s unbi-
ased. I always tell my writers, ‘You’re going to haveyour own opinion, let it be known. Just don’t get tooaggressive.”
More important than an open-minded staff saidRodriguez, are the endless possibilities in the worldof art.
“With the arts, it gives variety. It gives color tolife. Art is a beautiful thing, there is nothing like it,”he said. “This is a human magazine.”
Visual attraction is a major factor of the art E‘experience.’
“You can’t tell people what art is, you can onlyshow them. I want to bring visuals to the attention ofthe person before they read the content that way theyare already seduced,” Rodriguez opined. “I want tobring the change to them. I want to put it in theirface, ‘Look at all that’s happening.’ I want to get to apoint where they don’t have to look for it, but it’sbrought to them.”
Although Rodriguez and Barrios ultimatelyenjoy sharing their work with the public, the publi-cation’s foundation lies in the art community and itsopportunities.
“Overall, it’s been very interesting getting toknow the artists,” Barrios noted. “We have a lot oftalent in the Valley and personally I feel proud to bepart of a publication that showcases it.”
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENTPage 8 March 6, 2008
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENTMarch 6, 2008 Page 9
Students feature local art community through publication
By JEANETTE PEREZThe Pan American
A
fter four years of the established First FridayArt Walk in McAllen, it has become apparent
that the growing art community has found a homefor itself in the Valley.
New galleries and venues are opening almostmonthly to accommodate the expanding art scene,but getting the word out there has been a slowerprocess. The McAllen Chamber of Commerce andMcAllen Arts Council have recently found a way tospread the news through its own publication art Emagazine. The “E” is short for experience.
While the Chamber already heavily promotesthe arts through various Web sites, the lack of a fea-tured publication came to members’ attention afterUTPA student, Michael Rodriguez’s suggestion.
“I got the idea to do this after coming back froma trip to Austin. I saw how much they had going onup there, better yet, how they had a proper media toshow what’s happening,” said the 20-year-old juniorphilosophy major. “I was a very angry individual atthe time. I kept hearing people [here] say ‘Oh noth-ing ever happens here.’ So I wanted to show peoplethat something does happen in the Valley.”
Although Rodriguez’s reason for starting a pub-lication was to make the Valley residents aware andinvolved in the art community, he himself was one ofthose individuals skeptical of the possibilities theSouth Texas culture has to offer.
“Straight out of high school, I went to Californiafor a year and half and then came back and startedgoing to Pan Am,” said Rodriguez, of McAllen. “It’sa common misconception people have that if youleave, the world’s just going to open up for them. Iwent out there and found out that there are a bunchof events going on down here.”
Rodriguez, teamed with fellow Bronc NayellyBarrios on the idea and pitched it to the board com-mittee through Virginia Haynie Gause, who runs theart event Web site Artsrgv.com.
The magazine, which published its first issue inNovember, is a quarterly publication dedicated sole-
ly to the art and entertainment community and issponsored by the McAllen Chamber and Council.Art E, according to its managing editor Barrios, is adifferent take on the average local arts publication.
“It looks so contemporary. It’s not your typicalmagazine,” said the junior English major, Barrios.“We have stories about up-and-coming artists, estab-lished artists and featured galleries. We also don’thave ads in our magazine, which a lot of people like.It’s very clean and tastefully done.”
Getting a sponsor and story ideas weren’t hardto come by, but getting a staff and audience tooksome effort.
“I’d be talking about it to people at work andthey’d be like, ‘What are you talking about? There’snot art in the Valley,” said the 22-year-old Barrios.“They would totally lose hope and say the magazinewouldn’t make it. You can’t say there’s no art.”
Supportive staff however, was not a problem. BothRodriguez and Barrios felt the publication would workbest with an all-student staff.
“We want to offer to them [the students] anopportunity. It’ll look good on your resume and it’ssomething we wanted to share with the students wecome to Pan Am with,” said Barrios, of Mission.
While their staff is composed of UTPA students,everyone has something different to add to the publica-tion, styl e and composition-wise.
“It’s very interesting to know that when youhave a group of writers that aren’t the most experi-enced writers, it feels so good to know that they’restill willing to help you,” said Barrios, a self-admit-ted creative writer. “We have one girl who started offwith no journalism experience whatsoever and sever-al other people who are mostly creative writers likeme. Big difference. But they picked it up quickly.”
Rodriguez finds the students’ unfiltered mindsto be compatible with the publication and its mission.
“I go for the students because I’d like to thinkthey have more of an open mind when it comes tolooking at things,” said Rodriguez, of McAllen. “Injournalism, you’re supposed to write like this—noopinion. I think it’s impossible to not have an opinionon something and then give the illusion that it’s unbi-
ased. I always tell my writers, ‘You’re going to haveyour own opinion, let it be known. Just don’t get tooaggressive.”
More important than an open-minded staff saidRodriguez, are the endless possibilities in the worldof art.
“With the arts, it gives variety. It gives color tolife. Art is a beautiful thing, there is nothing like it,”he said. “This is a human magazine.”
Visual attraction is a major factor of the art E‘experience.’
“You can’t tell people what art is, you can onlyshow them. I want to bring visuals to the attention ofthe person before they read the content that way theyare already seduced,” Rodriguez opined. “I want tobring the change to them. I want to put it in theirface, ‘Look at all that’s happening.’ I want to get to apoint where they don’t have to look for it, but it’sbrought to them.”
Although Rodriguez and Barrios ultimatelyenjoy sharing their work with the public, the publi-cation’s foundation lies in the art community and itsopportunities.
“Overall, it’s been very interesting getting toknow the artists,” Barrios noted. “We have a lot oftalent in the Valley and personally I feel proud to bepart of a publication that showcases it.”
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENTPage 8 March 6, 2008
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENTMarch 6, 2008 Page 9
Students feature local art community through publication
By JEANETTE PEREZThe Pan American
A
ans of HBO’s Sex and the City
should watch out for author
Candace Bushnell’s latest fashionable
addition to primetime television,
Lipstick Jungle.
The NBC show, adapted from the
best-selling novel, follows the business
and personal lives of three very powerful
women through the tumbling streets of
New York City. Nico Reilly (Kim Raver
of 24) is editor-in-chief of a popular fash-
ion magazine, anxious for a shot at CEO.
Beverly Hills 90210’s Lindsay Price plays
fashion designer Victory Ford, who’s on
the lookout for Prince Charming. Brook
Shields’ Wendy Healy lives by the enter-
tainment industry as a movie executive,
while attempting to maintain a family life.
Whether you enjoy the fabulous
life of fashion or simply want to tune in
to what’s airing Lipstick Jungle is a com-
edy-drama not to miss. Get your fill
Thursdays at 9 p.m.
Many students have wondered
what they will do once they get their
English degree. Should they pursue
work in the field they worked so hard
in, or should they try and go for some-
thing else?
English professor Jean Braithwaite
hopes students who find themselves in
such educational limbo find a home in
the masters of fine arts program at The
University of Texas-Pan American.
The program is a type of English
masters degree in which the enrolled stu-
dents are engaged in studying the craft
of creative writing, both from a scholar-
ly and a practical perspective. The goal
of the program is to provide quality
instruction in the craft of literary writing
to students who hope to pursue artistic
goals while earning an advanced degree
in English.
Braithwaite, an Arizona native
and director of the MFA program,
explained her role in the program and
its opportunites.
“Besides directing the MFA
Program, I’m the ‘creative nonfiction’
person in the creative-writing faculty in
the English Department,” Braithwaite
said. “I’m also interested in linguistics
and children’s literature and have taught
these subjects at UTPA also.”
Braithwaite, who has been at
UTPA since the fall of 2006, was eager
to express the challenges and offerings
of the MFA program, which currently
has 24 students enrolled.
“Like any MA student, MFA stu-
dents graduate from their program with
an advanced degree in English,”
Braithwaite said. “But not every MA
student writes a thesis, while MFA stu-
dents always do.”
Braithwaite said that besides the
credentials and the body of work they
accumulate, MFA students have the sat-
isfaction of devoting a couple of years to
developing their own creative work, and
being involved in a community of litera-
ture lovers while they do it.
Students can pursue careers as
writers, teachers at the college or uni-
versity level, editors, literary transla-
tors, and other related professional
careers. The specialty in literary transla-
tion is quite unusual for MFA programs
nationwide and is one of the features
that gives the program its unique char-
acter; it takes advantage of the universi-
ty’s unique border location and many
bilingual students.
What is new in the program is what
excited Braithwaite the most.
“This is the only MFA creative
writing degree available anywhere in the
Rio Grande Valley,” said Braithwaite. “It
didn’t exist at all before our first stu-
dents entered in fall 2007.”
Additions to the program include
several courses in playwriting and
screenwriting.
There are currently four tracks or
so-called specialties to choose among:
fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, and
literary translation. Within their chosen
track, students take four workshop class-
es where the focus is on their own cre-
ative writing, and two “form and theory”
classes, which involve a structural
analysis of literature.
These two types of course are spe-
cific to the MFA. In addition, students
take one course in composition theory,
three literature classes chosen from the
course offerings in the English
Department, or other departments that
offer literature classes. These course
requirements ensure that graduates also
have a significant scholarly component
to their graduate degree.
In order to enter the program a stu-
dent needs to have at least a bachelor’s
degree, not necessarily in English.
They need to provide the commit-
tee members with a sample of their best
writing, which is by far the most impor-
tant part of the application.
For more information on the pro-
gram, contact MFA director Jean
Braithwaite at (956) 382-3421 or by e-
mail at [email protected]
“Lipstick Jungle”
F
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENTPage 10 March 6, 2008
WhatYou’reNotWatching
� TV CORNER� ENGLISH DEPARTMENT
MFA program making headway in spring By RUSSEN VELAThe Pan American
Professors integrate years of work into book� FILM AND TELEVISION
By JEANETTE PEREZThe Pan American
The University of Texas-Pan
American professor Jack Stanley and
professor emeritus Marian Monta have
tutored students in directing film and
broadcast productions for the past 30
years of their teaching careers. One could
say that these things are in their blood.
Recently, they put that innate the-
ater instinct into a collaborated book,
Directing for Stage and Screen—a ref-
erence guide for all there is to know
about film, stage, screen and everything
in between.
Tuesday morning, in promotion of
their book, long-time friends Stanley
and Monta held a book discussion at the
university library.
Monta, who has been teaching at
the university communication depart-
ment since 1971, found that the pro-
gram, while efficient in the classroom,
lacked the guidelines and proper defini-
tive structure a book could provide.
“We’re a model for other institu-
tions; our program is so much more
advanced. We want all of our students to
leave Pan-Am tri-medial. I was teaching
the dramatic program in any form, but
there were no textbooks,” said Monta. “I
had to make my own handouts and was
teaching the same material twice. So I
started to write one.”
The idea for the book came from a
compilation of many years of work that
sort of just piled up to make one whole.
“At the beginning it was principal-
ly mine, then at the end it was principal-
ly Stanley’s. I didn’t realize stylistically
how different we were, however,” said
Monta, who quit teaching full-time last
year. “My writing was very active,
Jack’s was very passive. But we worked
to make it very user-friendly.”
Although the information was all
there, getting it packaged proved to be a
difficult, lengthy process.
“We had different versions
throughout the years. I used to have my
students tell me what worked and what
didn’t,” Monta explained. “We used our
notes and compiled handouts that we’d
been using and had to retype them. We
figured we had enough material for a
book so we contacted a publisher.”
After three integrated iterations, the
publisher, Palgrave Macmillan, published
three versions of the book: hardback, the
“sensible” paperback and an online ver-
sion available through Amazon.com.
While proud of their accomplish-
ment, Monta finds herself relieved after
the long-writing process but has yet to
manage the courage to read through the
final product.
“The week after it was released, I
left the country. I’ve made other people
buy it but I myself haven’t opened it,”
said the legendary theater maven with a
laugh. “I’m scared to see all the mistakes
we missed.”
Whether one plans on taking their
act to the big screen or simply wishes to
learn about what the stage and screen
industry entails, both professors hope
the message is clear.
“People don’t understand what
goes into doing this, this is to teach them
how to direct on stage and screen,” com-
mented Stanley, who is currently under-
taking another writing project on
scriptwriting. He has a novel under his
belt as well.
“But it’s good as long as they get
something out of it that they can take,”
continued Stanley.
Stanley and Monta will have a
book signing Friday at the Barnes &
Noble Bookstore in McAllen from 6
p.m. to 9 p.m.
By JEANETTE PEREZThe Pan American
theatre are to see students audition and
not get cast. Some students take it really
hard,” she said.
Galvan is proud to say she has not
missed any production the theatre has
performed and the hard work of this ded-
icated individual doesn’t go unnoticed.
Gloria Garza, administrative asso-
ciate for the communication department,
said she has noticed a major change in
the theatre department since Galvan’s
involvement.
“She’s very efficient and always
goes to the highest possible extreme,”
Garza said. “She’s always optimistic and
really involved.”
Stephanie Hawks, assistant profes-
sor of costume design and manager of the
costume shop, said Galvan has made a
great impact on the theatre department.
“She handles probably more than
her job description,” said Hawks.
“Problems arise all the time and she han-
dles them very well. She never seems to
get flustered and just keeps on working.”
Galvan has hopes that the theatre
group will grow to accommodate to the
increase in committed patrons. She is
very grateful for all the help she’s
received from people dedicated to the
theatre program.
“It takes all our efforts put togeth-
er to accomplish everything we do,”
said Galvan.
Virginia Haynie GauseTEAMWORK - The University of Texas-Pan American theater-film-broadcast professor Jack Stanley (left) and professoremeritus Marian Monta held a discussion Tuesday at the university library in promotion of their new book, Directing for Stageand Screen. Stanley and Monta will hold a book signing at Barnes & Noble in McAllen Friday evening.
GALVANcontinued from page 7
Parce hopes to do her part in curb-
ing the trend of poverty in the Valley this
Spring Break as she volunteers with the
Rio Grande Valley chapter of Habitat for
Humanity, an organization that con-
structs houses for low-income families
in the area.
Volunteering during the break is a
trend recognized increasingly among
college students, particularly since
Hurricane Katrina caused major destruc-
tion to the New Orleans area in 2005.
Following the disaster, several school
groups gave up their Spring Breaks to
make the trek to volunteer.
Locally, Habitat for Humanity
offers many different ways in which vol-
unteers can help. The group is involved
in everything from housing construction
to clerical work.
“I would like to arrive at my desig-
nated destination and begin working on
a project,” Parce said. “I don’t care what
I do all that much. Construction, answer-
ing phones; whatever it is, I’m up for it.”
Parce was aware of many organiza-
tions dedicated to helping the disadvan-
taged, but in the end, she said her deci-
sion to help with Habitat was based on
her desire to physically aid families.
“I found out about Habitat for
Humanity from a teacher,” she said. “I had
initially considered my church and some
other groups I’m affiliated with, but I
wanted something hands-on and direct.”
Hoping that her story will inspire
others who have seen the ravages of a
Third World country to help the poor in
this country, Parce’s drive comes from
her hopes of a better future for everyone.
“If enough people are willing to help
the poor, they’ll eventually get back what
they give to the community,” she said. “So
many talents are being squandered
because of poverty. Think of how many
young children can’t fulfill their dreams
because they worry about problems at
home, rather than focusing on school.
Hopefully, once we help the poor stand on
their own two feet, they can help us help
even more, possibly even globally.”
Parce said her only goal for partic-
ipating is to see a needy family get the
shelter – and humanity - they deserve.
“I honestly have no grand notions as
to what I want to get out of all of this,” she
said. “I’m excited to just help a family
begin to start a new chapter in their lives
with that quintessential symbol of inde-
pendence and ability - owning a home.”
tion with their candidate,” he said.
“People felt that connection with
Hillary Clinton.”
Whether young people felt a con-
nection with Clinton or not remains to
be seen, but exit poll results released by
Declare Yourself, a non-partisan young
voter initiative group, found more than
620,000 people ages 18 to 29 years old
voted in the Texas primaries. That num-
ber is a vast increase from the 172,000
that voted in the 2000 state primaries.
Connections aside, Adan Nieto, a
second-year graduate student in public
administration, said Obama’s hopes for
getting the majority of Valley votes
were a long shot.
“I don’t think he stood a chance no
matter what he did,” he said. “I’m sad to
say he’s too new to the game.”
Had Obama had an earlier pres-
ence in the Valley, results could have
been different, Morgado suggested.
“The thing about Obama is that he
was a great speaker and he really did a
good job talking,” he said. “But some-
times when it comes to people they will
integrate more with the person who
spends more time with them and con-
nects with them than a person who just
talks to them, because words can be
deceiving. Actions speak louder than
words and that’s how Clinton communi-
cated.”
NEWSMarch 6, 2008 Page 11
Onydia Garza/The Pan American
CAMPAIGNING - One day before the Texas primaries, former president Bill Clinton reminded local voters of Sen. HillaryClintonʼs accomplishments and many Valley ties.
CLINTON continued from page 1
HEALTH continued from page 1
can only worsen the situation for so many
individuals afflicted with this disease.”According to the local American
Diabetes Associatoin chapter, 14 percent
of Hidalgo County’s population or more
than 60,000 people live with the type 1
and type 2 disease.
Lucio added there are multiple
planning stages to building the facility.
Lucio stressed that support from UTPA
is key and that funding is the foundation
on “how far and how fast we can go;”
although it is too early to know ballpark
estimations on cost and size.
“The development of a health sci-
ence center won’t take place overnight
even if funds become available,” he said.
“We certainly will need faculty who can
teach the classes, a medical research
library and laboratories, for starters.”
Scott Gunn, a professor of biology
at UTPA and health professions adviser,
said that he can only hope a health sci-
ence center will develop in the area,
because larger cities like Austin have
been working toward one for five years.
“There is a lot of competition for
the center,” he said. “We’re just another
school in this process.”
According to Gunn, Austin is the
second largest city in the state without a
medical center, which gives them the
upper hand as far as need is concerned.
Gunn added that it is more a “political
ballgame” than anything else.
Gunn suggested that the Valley
could see a health science center emerge
on the scene sooner if residents beging
to express their opinions on the issue.
Gunn also mentioned that enroll-
ment in the department of biology has
remained steady with roughly 600
declared pre-med/bio majors, 50 to 60
students graduating each semester, and
30 to 35 attending medical school.
For students like 20-year-old
Carlos Rivera, a junior pre-med student,
the opportunity of having a health sci-
ence center would be beneficial not only
for students but for the local community
as well.
“[I think] it will draw a lot more
attention, new research, more students to
enroll,” he said.
In May 2009, Rivera hopes to have
graduated from UTPA and have contin-
ued his academic career at the Health
Science Center in San Antonio.
He said if a local health science
center was built here, more than likely
stay home because of the close-knit feel
of the region.
Rivera added that the he’s most
excited about the opportunities that will
come his way in San Antonio but the
cost of living and being away from home
will be the downside.
“The Valley is family-oriented, has
a cheaper cost of living and I just feel
more at home,” he said.
VOLUNTEER continued from page 1-j
“No, I wasn't...Ithink she has moreexperience. I thinkpeople votedbased on that.”
“They did. Ithought Obamawas going to winbecause he’d beengetting lots ofmomentum.”
“No they didn’t. Iknew Hillary hada hold on it. Texasalways liked Bill.I always knew thatwould help her getthe votes it need-ed.”
CampusViews
-Tracy Tijerinajunior English major
-Josue Galvansophomore pre-med major
Did the Texas primaryresults surprise you?
� “I don’t care what I do allthat much. Construction,answering phones; whateverit is, I’m up for it.”
-Jessa Parcefreshman
general studies major
� “We cannot continue to beignored or bypassed for ahealth science center else-where with the low ratios wehave.”
-Eddie Lucio Jr. State senator
-Eric Maciassenior biology major
NEWSPage 12 March 6, 2008
sipping margaritas? Probably not.”
The speaker stressed that commu-
nication can affect anyone, based on her
research among groups of people such as
nurses and firefighters.
“I would say that the overall thing
is that communication flows through
who we are and how we enact mes-
sages… both the emotion and the
humor part,” Booth-Butterfield said.
“It flows out into the interactions we
have with other people.”
Angie Guajardo, a junior public
relations and advertising major from
Pharr, enjoyed the presentation and liked
the fact that Booth-Butterfield made it
simple to self-categorize. She believes
that the information presented can bene-
fit people from different walks of life.
“I was kind of sad that people from
other majors didn’t attend,” Guajardo
said. “It would be nice for people from
other majors to take that information.”
The presentation was made possible
by the Henry W. Hauser and Margaret H.
Hauser Endowed Chair in
Communication which was established in
1989. The endowment was created
because Margaret H. Hauser, a communi-
cation educator, had a desire to improve
people’s ability to communicate.
One reason Mottet said that he
chose Booth-Butterfield to present is
because she has a way to reach out to
students.
“For the inauguration of the lecture
series, I wanted someone that I knew
would connect with the students,” Mottet
said. “She has a reputation, on West
Virginia University’s campus for being a
very expressive, animated teacher.”
As for how what she teaches can
affect others Booth-Butterfield simply
said, “Communication people, we study
it more in depth, but you know, every-
body can use humor.”
SPEAKING continued from page 3
the Rapid Response Center, detailed in
last week’s The Pan American.
“One of the purposes for the center
is developing talent and support
research,” Gonzalez said.
The center will provide students
with hands-on equipment and courses to
give them a leg up in the manufacturing
field. The focus of their education and
the center’s research will be to find ways
to reduce time waste.
“What we are looking for is to
shorten wasted time from an idea to the
product development to the production,”
said Gonzalez, who is hoping to get vir-
tual reality training equipment for stu-
dents studying manufacturing at an esti-
mated cost of $100,000.
John Lloyd, the center’s research
director, said they have just purchased a
computer cluster that will teach students
about computation as well as the physi-
cal aspects of manufacturing.
Gonzalez said new equipment
would take up an estimated 20 percent
of the budget, with the largest share of
the funding devoted to salaries for
staff, faculty and students (an estimat-
ed $1.2 million or 60 percent of the
budget).
“They always say ‘wait till you get
to the real world,’ but this will be the real
world, we will provide students with
hands on experience,” Lloyd said.
According to Gonzalez, a group of
24 students is already starting education
at Rapid Response through weekend
courses.
He said $300,000 of the budget
will be used for contracting new courses
for students.
Lloyd said that aside from educat-
ing, the center will be used to produce
short-term products for many local
companies.
He also said that NAMI will launch
another larger engineering facility with-
in the next seven to 10 years, but this
will cost more money.
“The thrust of this grant is for a
pipeline for Rapid Response,” said
Gonzalez. “We hope to get support from
industries eventually as we apply for
more grants.”
“It’s like an obstacle in the military,
you have an objective and you learn to
overcome it,” he said. “It would be nice
if UTPA had something to help me
adjust to civilian life.”
HOOAH is the brainchild of Sgt.
Jamie Miranda, director of the College
Assistance Migrant Program. The sup-
port group is designed to provide stu-
dent veterans with a comfortable, safe
environment to help them cope with
the transition period from military to
civilian life.
Astonishingly, Miranda’s 19-year
career in the National Reserves was not
the inspiration for the implementation of
HOOAH.
“I was at a Veteran’s Day ceremo-
ny, and a fellow veteran asked me if
there was anything on campus for veter-
ans, and that was where the idea came
from,” recalled Miranda.
According to him, many UTPA
staff members who are veterans have
expressed an interest in contributing to
HOOAH.
Although he is not a veteran,
Christopher Albert, clinical supervisor
at the UTPA Counseling and
Psychological Services, has offered his
help to the program, in addition to
Miranda’s guidance.
Albert explained that HOOAH
addresses some of the possible psycho-
logical problems returning student veter-
ans could confront, such as post-trau-
matic stress disorder, anxiety and
depression.
Any student needing additional
support besides that offered by
HOOAH will be referred to a highly
trained professional capable of taking
it from there.
“HOOAH is not a sole source of
treatment, it is just a starting point,”
Albert said.
Albert acknowledges that many
returning servicemen might feel appre-
hensive attending the sessions because
they are fearful that attendance could
damage their military career. Albert
alleviated these fears by stressing that
all information discussed at these ses-
sions will be kept in the strictest confi-
dence.
At this time, HOOAH is only
admitting UTPA veterans, however
once the program “turns into something
bigger,” according to Miranda, organiz-
ers plan to extend services to spouses of
student servicemen.
UTPA veterans interested in
becoming involved are encouraged to
contact HOOAH immediately.
HOOAH’s tentative start date is March
18 at noon in the Counseling and
Psychological Services Office, located
at the University Center.
COUNSELING continued from page 3
SERIES continued from page 3sophomore at UTPA and graduated in
2005 majoring in graphic design with
the skills necessary to present her senior
exhibition.
“We give them an opportunity for
that,” Conde said. “This is a skill. If you
make effort to practice, you get it; if not,
you don’t.”
Tackling similar subjects that are
taught in a semester of speech class, the
club differs in allowing members and
guests to “learn at their own pace.”
“We get a lot of guests. They come,
some join and stay for a year and leave
with exceptional speaking abilities,”
Conde said. “There are individual skills
that are focused on during the meetings
like visual contact, hand gestures, vol-
ume of voice, speed of delivery, and
organization.”
Conde said “crush” words hinder
effective public speaking, while other
speaking disturbances vary from uncon-
trollable shyness and nervousness to the
fear of appearing foolish or saying the
wrong thing. Crush words, she said,
include the following: uh, but, like and
um.
“The main reason why people are
so afraid of it is because they simply
don’t know what to say and how to say
it correctly,” Conde said. “That’s why
we’re here.”
Larry Thompson, coordinator for
construction special projects at the
UTPA Physical Plant, brought the pro-
gram to university grounds three years
ago after noticing the insufficient space
at the McAllen Public Library, its previ-
ous location.
The club meets for its English ses-
sions twice a month on Tuesdays and
twice a month in Spanish sessions on
Thursdays.
The next Spanish session will take
place on March 11. The next English
session will be held March 18. All meet-
ings take place in the UTPA Library
Room 210.
Newcomers can expect to take part
in an introductory speech and either a
persuasive speaking or impromptu pres-
entation.
For more information, e-mail
Dedeyla Conde at dedelyaconde@hot-
mail.com.
GRANT continued from page 3
� “Transitioning from mili-tary to civilian life can be alittle bit depressing, and aculture shock because youget used to a certain way oflife.”
- Christian Murrayjunior
pre-pharmacy major
� “The main reason whypeople are so afraid of [pub-lic speaking] is because theysimply don’t know what tosay and how to say it cor-rectly.”
-Dedeyla Condesecretary
Toastmasters International
It was a game that was in jeopardy
for a couple of days but when The
University of Texas-Pan American
men’s basketball team found out their
finale was a go, the Broncs were reluc-
tant to return home without a victory.
And after a commendable season,
UTPA ended the 2007-2008 campaign
winning its last 11 of 14 matchups,
including a 78-68 victory over the
Savannah State Tigers Feb. 28. The
Green and Orange conclude the season
with an 18-13 mark, a four-game
improvement from a year ago and their
best record in six years.
“If we had a few more wins, we
would have been in consideration for
the NIT,” Broncs coach Tom Schuberth
said. “We had a good year and I hope
we have a better year next year. We’re
going to try to build on it. You can’t
ever predict wins or losses but you can
predict attitude and effort, and I guaran-
tee you we’ll have it as good if not bet-
ter next year.”
UTPA found out two weeks ago
that their game against Cal State-
Bakersfield might have been their last
as the Tigers hadn’t finalized the sched-
uled game. Though the men got wind
Feb. 25 that SSU agreed to a home and
home series.
With the Broncs trailing 44-43 with
less than nine minutes in regulation, sen-
ior guard Dexter Shankle, who scored a
season-high 20 points, connected on a 3-
pointer to put the men ahead for good.
After three tough tournaments to
begin the 2007-2008 campaign, The
University of Texas-Pan American
men’s golf team turned the season
around a month ago as the Broncs
claimed the Jack Brown Memorial
Tournament championship.
UTPA hoped to continue the
momentum heading into Monday’s
Braveheart Classic but the tournament
field proved to be too much for the men
as the Broncs finished 11th out of 16
teams after two days of action in
Beaumont, Calif.
“The tournament in general was a
well rounded tournament and a well
rounded in the field,” men’s golf assis-
tant coach Tim McCabe said. “It was
definitely something that we needed to
get our game in shape and figure out the
things we need to work on.”
The Broncs totaled a team score of
942 after 54 while Golden State schools
dominated the classic: Cal State Poly
took the championship with a score of
900, while tournament host UC
Riverside (908) and UC Santa Barbara
(910) rounded out the top three.
In the first day of action, UTPA
stood in the same spot it finished after
one round of golf but the team did not
complete the two rounds that were
scheduled for Monday due to a large
tournament field.
McCabe said darkness prevented
three of his five golfers to finish sec-
ond-round competition, but feels the
postponement did not not affect the
results.
Oregon native Armen Kirakossian
and senior Jeff Hensley led the team,
tying for 18th place Monday. But both
men dropped their ranking the following
day as Kirakossian and junior Shane
Pearce, who fell 13 spots, tied for 41st
with a tally of 235. Hensley tied for 47th
place with freshman teammate A.J.
Gonzalez, at 236.
ALOHAThroughout its program history,
the Broncs have traveled to numerous
parts of the country to compete at pres-
tigious events. But none will be more
special than March 13 when the men
fly to Hawaii to play in the Kauai Cup.
UTPA will vie for its second tour-
nament crown, during Spring Break
and despite the honorable location,
McCabe says he expects his team to
stay focused.
LADY BRONCSJust like the men, the women cap-
tured the JBM championship to kick off
the spring season but then stumbled,
posting a ninth-place finish at the
Islander Classic Feb. 26. And while the
men head to the islands next week, the
Lady Broncs will travel to Florida for
the three-day Gainesville Shootout III as
they look to recapture their momentum.
“We’re just looking to go out,
work hard, have fun, finish on top and
hopefully all of our hard work will pay
off,” women’s coach Ofelia Lopez
said. “We need to stay in there mental-
ly…They have the ability to play but I
think they just have to believe in them-
selves and they’ll come out successful
this week.
The University of Texas-Pan
American’s Wellness and Recreational
Sports Complex will offer students an
opportunity to get some last-minute fit-
ness before spring break with its first 5K
Run/Walk Saturday morning.
Registration will begin at 7:15 a.m.
with the run starting at 8. The $7 regis-
tration fee can be paid at the event and
will cover snacks and drinks for the par-
ticipants. Free T-shirts will be available
on a first-come, first-served basis for
those participating.
“We are doing this as a service to the
community,” said WRSC marketing coor-
dinator Colleen Price. “People should
really take advantage of this opportunity.”
Trophies will be given to the top
three men’s and women’s finishers and
there will also be an additional surprise
reward for the first place winners.
5Ks are the shortest types of races
that usually attract beginning runners
because they are a little over three miles
in length (3.2).These types of races are
often called “fun runs” because partici-
pants who run do so without being high-
ly competitive.
On the other hand, for those who
take these races seriously, a five-kilometer
race is a perfect way to measure endurance
levels for longer races down the road, or to
see where one stands physically.
“I am not looking to become a
track star or anything,” said UTPA sen-
ior Gabriel Quintanilla, who works for
the center. “I guess I’m participating
because I’m a little on the plus size and
I’ve been wanting to shed a few pounds
before the break.”
Some UTPA students will use this
event as a way to relieve stress and also
obtain the benefits that exercising has on
one’s health.
“I like to stay physically active,
which helps me maintain a positive mood,”
said sophomore business major Cristina
Rodriguez. “I’m also aware of the benefits
that come with being active because of my
family’s past health troubles.”
Aside from the 5K run/walk, the
WRSC will also be having a health sci-
ence fair inside the complex from 8 a.m.
to noon that will be open to everyone.
Organizers will provide and promote
information on wellness and exercise,
while also giving free eye and glucose
exams for those interested.
A number of local businesses and
organizations are sponsoring the event,
including the Edinburg Chamber of
Commerce, Academy Surplus, H-E-B
and a collection of student organizations.
� GOLF
UTPA stumbles on West Coast, head to Aloha State Women lookingto regain statusin Florida meet
SPORTSMarch 6, 2008 Page 13
� CAMPUS
By RAMIRO PAEZThe Pan American
LEADING MAN - Menʼs sophomore golfer Armen Kirakossian led the way forthe Broncs at the Braveheart Classic, tying with Shane Pearce for 41st place.
By RAMIRO PAEZThe Pan American
Wellness Center hosts inaugural 5K By ALVARO BALDERAS
The Pan American
Nick Dodd/The Pan American
Broncs edge Tigers infinale, finish season at 18-13
� MEN’S BASKETBALL
SPORTSPage 14 March 6, 2008
The University of Texas-Pan
American men and women’s track and
field teams kicked off the outdoor season
Saturday at the Texas Border Olympics in
Laredo with a solid performance.
“We did well at the meet, I think
it was a good confidence booster for
the team,” track coach Dennis Darling
said. “Everyone is looking good and
on pace to run fast. We are just not
strong in one thing anymore. We are
becoming much more of a well-round-
ed team now.”
Universities that competed in the
annual event included Angelo State,
Trinity University, University of Dallas
and Southwestern University.
However, there were two schools that
presented the most competition at the
annual meet.
“UTSA was the best competition
for the women and for the men, Texas
A&M Kingsville,” the first-year head
coach said.
Many team members placed high in
their events despite the tough competition.
On the women’s side, Houston
native Vanessa Brown finished first in
the 200-meter dash with a time of
25.53, closely followed by teammate
Cecilia Lott, who clocked in with a
time of 26.29 en route to a third-place
finish.
In the 100, Lott earned with a sec-
ond-place finish, posting a time of
12.34. Freshman Melinda Sarmiento
claimed first place in the high jump
with a leap of 5-3, while Laredo native
Michelle Elizondo was busy all day,
receiving second in the shot put (43-0)
and hammer throw (159-7) and fourth
in the discus (127-7).
On the men’s side, newcomer
Jameson Strahon claimed first place in
the 200 meters with a time of 22.56. In
the 1500, Edinburg native Wally
Gonzalez also placed first with a time
of 4:01.25 followed by third-place fin-
isher Rolando Vela, also from Edinburg
(4:03.48) and J.J. Hernandez (4:10.88)
following closely behind at fifth.
Hernandez placed first in the 5000 with
a time of 14:57.40 along with cross-
country standout Luis Nava, who
received third place (15:31.41).
Two-time UTPA All-American
Will Littleton competed in the high
jump unattached, jumping a notable 7-
feet, while teammate sophomore Noel
Reyna received fourth place with a
jump of 5-11.
Though the men and women track
did well at the Border Olympics,
Darling strongly believes in continuing
to challenge his squads.
“They all did what I expected of
them, however there is always room
for improvement in every event,”
Darling said.
The teams will look to build on
their successes as they travel to San
Marcos Saturday for the Bobcat Open,
hosted by Texas State.
“Every week we should be
improving,” Darling said. “The team
should do better and we should have
some faster times to see.”
The beginning of March had The
University of Texas-Pan American
baseball team working harder than
usual because of the seventh-inning
halt due to rain in Friday’s game
against the Tigers of Jackson State.
With the score 8-7 at the stoppage, the
Broncs concluded the affair on
Saturday and continued with their regu-
larly scheduled doubleheader.
The postponement proved to be dis-
astrous for the men as the Tigers explod-
ed the following day en route to a 15-9
win to complete the suspended game.
“We were right there and we had
that rain delay and lost momentum,”
Bronc coach Willie Gawlik said.
Senior pitcher Cody Cisper (1-1)
was tagged with the loss, pitching 4.2
innings and allowed eight hits with
seven earned runs. First baseman Billy
Donaho led the way on offense as he
went three-for-five, had six RBIs and
two runs scored.
On Saturday, the Broncs split with
Jackson State, winning big in the night-
cap but losing the first effort. They are
now 2-6 for the season.
GAME 1Immediately following the com-
pletion game, the Broncs definitely
showed their heart and didn’t back
down but the Tigers squeezed away
with a nail-biting 9-8 victory.
During the top of the second
inning, UTPA collected three runs off of
two hits and one error. The star of the
inning was Donaho as he posted a sin-
gle, stole second, got to third on a sacri-
fice bunt by second baseman Jose
Mendoza and ended up on home plate
after a balk from pitcher Marquise
Zachary.
Then Chris Lozano grounded out to
the second base, giving him an RBI as
Esequiel Garza reached home plate.
Shortstop Andrew Perez sent one into the
bleachers giving him his first home run of
the season which made the score 3-0.
The Tigers then started their roll.
In the bottom of the second, they col-
lected two runs off two hits, and fol-
lowed up with three in the third and one
in both the fifth and seventh inning to
solidify the win.
Both teams put on a hitting dis-
play with the Broncs collecting 12 and
the Tigers 18. Lozano ended the game
2 for 3 with two runs scored while
Perez was also 2 for 3. Junior Shane
Cox (0-2) received the loss for the
Broncs.
GAME 2In the final game of a busy
Saturday, the Broncs were determined to
gain a road win after the two slipups ear-
lier in the day, and they succeeded,
crushing the Tiger ego with a punishing
21-2 victory.
“The guys could have lay down
and quit but they didn’t and fought even
harder,” said Gawlik, the fifth-year
head coach.
In the third inning, the men decid-
ed to show the Tigers how a hitting/scor-
ing clinic is performed when they scored
10 runs off of nine hits, closing the
inning with a 16-1 lead.
Ten Broncs finished with hits as
Mendoza went 4 for 6 with three RBI
and three runs, while senior outfielder
Roly Gonzalez finished 3 for 5 with
two RBI.
First-year pitcher Arnold Franco
(1-1) earned the win, pitching seven
innings, allowing one run off six hits and
striking out four batters.
UTPA will begin a streak which
will it play five games in five nights
beginning with tonight’s 6:30 p.m. start
at Sam Houston State.
Broncs recordpunishing winin series finale
� BASEBALL
� “Everyone is looking
good and on pace to runfast. We are just not strongin one thing anymore. Weare becoming much more of
a well-rounded team now.”
-Dennis DarlingUTPA track and field coach
SPORTSMarch 6, 2008 Page 15
� TRACK AND FIELD
UTPA continues early-season woes against Jackson State
By SAVANNAH S. MARTINEZThe Pan American
By PEDRO PEREZ IVThe Pan American
February 29
Texas-Pan American at Jackson State (JSU Baseball Field)Jackson State 15, Texas-Pan American 9
R H ETexas Pan-American 004 000 302 9 8 7Jackson State 210 320 07X 15 12 4
Cisper, De Leon (5), Garza (8), Brevard(8), and Tefft; Williams, and Halliman(8). W-Williams (1-0); L-Cisper (1-1); S-None. 3B: Jackson State-Cole.
March 1
Texas-Pan American at Jackson State (JSU Baseball Field)GAME 1Jackson State 9, Texas Pan-American 8
R H ETexas Pan-American 030 100 130 8 12 0Jackson State 023 210 10X 9 18 1
Cox, Cunningham (3), and Rodriguez (6). Zachary, Huggins (6), Quintero (8).W-Zachary (1-0); L-Cox (0-2); S-Quintero. 3B: Texas Pan-American-Rutenbar.
GAME 2Texas Pan-American 21, Jackson State 2
Score by Innings R H ETexas Pan-American 11(10) 000 423 21 23 1Jackson State 000 001 001 2 8 2
Franco, Melo (7), Roth (7), and Lankford (8). Stewart, Deans (3), Cline (3),Delacalle (7), Lazard (8), and Davis (9). W-Franco (1-1); L-Stewart (0-3), S-None.
Teams kick off outdoor season with top-ten finishes
March 8 Bobcat OpenHost - Texas State San Marcos All Day
March 14 NCAA Indoor ChampionshipsHost - University of Arkansas Fayetteville, AR All Day
March 21 Texas Southern UniversityHost - Texas Southern University Houston All Day
March 22 Texas InvitationalHost - University of Texas Austin All Day
March 28 Rice Bayou ClassicHost - Rice University Houston All Day
April 2 Texas RelaysHost - University of Texas Austin All Day
April 12 Kingsville MeetHost - Texas A&M Kingsville Kingsville All Day
April 19 UT TwilightHost - University of Texas Austin All Day
April 24 Rice TwilightHost - Rice University Houston All Day
May 2 Houston InvitationalHost - University of Houston Houston All Day
May 10 McNeese Last ChanceHost - McNeese University Lake Charles, LA All Day
May 30 NCAA Regional Championships Lincoln, Neb All Day
June 11 NCAA Outdoor Championships Des Moines, IA All Day
June 27 U.S. Olympic Trials Eugene, OR All Day
22852,285Number of points themen’s basketball team
scored this season
102102Number in millions
Pittsburgh Steelers quarter-back Ben Roethlisbergeragreed to in an eight-year
deal, making him one of thegame’s highest-paid players
1717The years Green Bay
Packers quarterback BrettFarve played in his NFL
career before retiringTuesday
SPORTSStatsAtAGlance
Onydia Garza/The Pan American
Page 16 March 6, 2008
IT IS TIME - Junior center Robin Garrett looks to claim the tipoff in Saturdayʼsaffair against Houston Baptist. Garrett, who is averaging 5.7 points and 3.1rebounds per game, looks to lead the pack, along with four seniors, in the2008 Independent Tournament.
� WOMEN’S BASKETBALLTHE PAN AMERICAN
ShortSports
The season might be over for
the University of Texas-Pan
American men’s basketball team but
a successful year usually indicates
awards for players.
Senior forward Zach Trader
and Harlingen South High School
alum Ryan Buck represented UTPA
on the 2007 NCAA Division I
Academic All-Independent list that
was released Monday.
It marked the third time that
Trader has made the list. The crimi-
nal justice major finished his colle-
giate career with a 3.55 cumulative
grade point average. He was also the
second-leading scorer on the team
this season, averaging 13.9 points
per game, and led in rebounds with
5.9 boards.
An early season injury side-
lined Buck for a portion of the sea-
son, but the senior forward became a
consistent contributor on the floor.
Off it, he received recognition for his
3.20 cumulative grade point average
as a mathematics major. In each sea-
son with the Broncs, Buck was
selected to the UTPA Athletic
Director’s honor roll.
� MEN’S BASKETBALL
Heading into its final game against
Houston Baptist Saturday, The
University of Texas-Pan American
women’s basketball team knew it had to
play sharp as the 2008 National
Independent Tournament loomed in the
horizon. The Huskies, on the other hand,
traveled to the exhibition game at the
Field House rusty after they last played
on Feb. 16.
If there is was one thing the Lady
Broncs wanted before heading into
tonight’s 8:05 p.m. tourney tipoff against
the top-seeded Utah Valley State
Wolverines, it was a win and they did
just that.
UTPA will host the tournament at
the Field House after snapping their
three-game losing skid against the
Huskies in a 63-56 victory on Senior
Night to close out the regular season.
“It’s a special evening because you
get to celebrate your seniors and what
they meant to your program,” women’s
coach DeAnn Craft said. “Our team was
very committed to make sure that we
represented our seniors the correct way
and that was ultimately to get the win.”
Four senior guards, LeKeisha
Gray, Tiona Wilson, Tamara Vaughn
and Cynthia Ramirez, were honored
before the game and were awarded
framed jerseys for their commitment to
the program. The ceremony motivated
the women from the get go as they
jumped out to their largest lead midway
through the first half at 26-11 on two
free throws by junior center Robin
Garrett, who scored eight points and
collected three rebounds. The visiting
team trimmed the deficit to seven
points at halftime.
In the second half, UTPA increased
the lead once again to 12 on a fastbreak
layup by Garrett. But the tide changed as
the Huskies went on an 18-6 run to tie
the game at 50. The Lady Broncs
responded with a 3-pointer by Gray, who
scored a team-high 14 points with seven
boards, and a layup by junior forward
Danielle Kostacky to seal to the victory.
“Our kids just really believe that
they’re a special team at home and they
are,” the fifth-year head coach said. “I
think that in of itself was probably
instremental in why we didn’t succumb
to Houston Baptist.”
The seniors took over the last part of
the game as they scored 19 of the final 30
points for UTPA. Three players scored in
double figures with Wilson recording 11
points and seven assists and Ramirez
adding 10 points and five assists.
TOURNAMENT TIMEThis is the second time the Lady
Broncs (10-16 overall) have participated
in a post-season tournament. During the
2004-2005 season, the women recorded
a 1-2 record in the event held at Orem,
Utah, with a three-point win against
Savannah State University followed by
setbacks against Northern Colorado and
Utah Valley State.
The Green and Orange, once a part
of the Sun Belt Conference, competed in
seven SBC tournaments (1991-1998) in
program history, but were eliminated in
all the opening round games. Craft
hopes this tournament will encompass
different results.
“We got to be ready to play from
the opening tip,” Craft said. “...It’s going
to take a full game of focus, of us exe-
cuting our gameplan. Obviously, we
love the (home) environment because
but we can’t overstate that.”
In the NIT, unlike other tourna-
ments, no team is eliminated. The Lady
Broncs will be the sixth seed and will
have to win the opening and second
round games to advance to the champi-
onship Saturday afternoon.
By RAMIRO PAEZThe Pan American