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Kayla Guerra is hoping to head
straight to the bank with a $600 check
come May. She, along with most
American taxpayers whose income does
not exceed $75,000 for individuals and
$150,000 for couples, will receive a tax
rebate check by then.
The economic stimulus package,
passed by Congress last week and signed
by Bush on Wednesday, is an attempt to
boost a wavering economy by returning
money to Americans and increasing con-
sumer spending.
At The University of Texas-Pan
American, students have differing inten-
tions regarding the windfall.
Guerra, a sophomore English major,
does not intend to spend her money once
Uncle Sam sends out the checks.
“I think I’d probably save it because
I’m not planning to work in the fall,” the
Edinburg resident said. “I need a break
from working before I really start working
after college for the rest of my life.”
Since the revenue is aimed at stim-
ulating the economy, the government
has expressed concern about the possi-
bility that Americans like Guerra will
save the money. Guerra though, believes
that most college students will spend the
extra cash.
“I think college students who don’t
live with parents are going to spend it on
food or bills,” she commented.
Damian Damianov, assistant pro-
fessor of economics and finance, agrees
with many experts who say the economy
is lethargic.
Part of the problem has been fall-
out from the situation involving sub-
prime mortgages. The rising price of
oil has also contributed to the slow-
down.
At the end of September, nearly
4 percent of prime mortgages were past
due or in foreclosure, according to the
Mortgage Bankers Association. The
delinquency and foreclosure rate for all
mortgages now stands at 7.3 percent,
higher than at any time since the group
started tracking that data in 1979.
The government response has
No plans have been finalized yet for
a rally in support of presidential candidate
Hillary Clinton despite Congressman
Ruben Hinojosa’s last minute announce-
ment Wednesday during the senator’s
stop in McAllen.
In the last moments of Clinton’s
rally at the McAllen Convention
Center, Hinojosa took the microphone
and said a rally would take place
Feb. 20 at The University of Texas-Pan
American campus.
But Dean of Students Jerry Price
said negotiations between his office and
the campaign are only “in preliminary
stages” and was reluctant to say the
By ABBY MUNIZThe Pan American
See Page 16
Broncs to bid farewell tomajor talents
SPORTS
University staff membershares story of love
Speed dating gives sin-gles leg up on Valentine’s
See Page 8 & 9
See Page 3
A&E
NEWS
59th YearNo. 19
ThursdayFeb. 14, 2008
TH
IS W
EE
K � ECONOMY
See STIMULUS page 12
Students await stimulus package
Clinton in Rio Grande Valley� LOCAL/NATIONAL
By SANDRA GONZALEZThe Pan American
See UTPA page 11
UTPA visit possible
THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER
Presidential candidate Hillary
Clinton made a highly anticipated visit
to the Rio Grande Valley Wednesday for
a morning rally at the McAllen
Convention Center.
Clinton’s stop comes the day after
three losses to Illinois Sen. Barack
Obama in the Virginia, Washington D.C.
and Maryland primaries that left her 55
delegates behind her opponent.
Clinton’s view of the future was
anything but dreary as she spoke to the
crowd of nearly 2,000.
“My campaign is about 21st centu-
ry solutions to the problems we face,”
she said. “Let’s get real about the future.
We have to deliver the solutions
America needs.”
Clinton made the most of the
15 minutes she was on stage, speaking
about health care and the possibility of a
veteran’s hospital.
“There are 20,000 vets in this
Valley that deserve to have a VA hospital
in this region,” she said.
By SANDRA GONZALEZ and
J.R. ORTEGAThe Pan American
See CLINTON page 11
Senator speaks on local issuesOnydia Garza/The Pan American
RALLY - Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton speaks to a crowd of over 2,000 at the McAllen Convention Center Wednesday. The New York senator is expected to return to the Valley next week.
don’t know if I watch too many
sports events and not enough news,
or the fact that it was breaking news
when I first saw it, but it was shocking to
discover the potential tragedy that could
have taken place in Glendale, Ariz., dur-
ing Super Bowl XLII.
Early last week, I was logging into
my e-mail on AOL and one of the stories
that was featured on the Web site was
about a man who supposedly was about
to go on a shooting rampage at the Super
Bowl, but could not go through with it.
First of all, that keeps proving to
me and hopefully others that nut jobs
really do exist in this world. The story
goes that a 35-year-old restaurateur was
denied a liquor license and threatened to
shoot people at the Super Bowl. He
drove close to the stadium with a rifle
and 200 rounds of ammunition before he
changed his mind and turned himself in
to authorities. His exact words were that
he wished to “to shed the blood of the
innocent.”
When reading this, I thought the
situation was one of the most ridiculous
things I’ve ever heard in my life. This
guy was a psycho, but fortunately he
had an ounce of sanity to turn himself
in. But if this guy did have an apparent
awakening, why would he ever think of
doing such a thing in the first place, an
event that probably would have gone
down as one of the most tragic in histo-
ry. Our country has hit rock bottom and
people still keep coming up with plots
like these to make us suffer more.
His original plan was to open fire at
Phoenix’s Desert Ridge Marketplace
near Scottsdale, Ariz., but he changed
his location because the “scum” and
“villainy” lived in Scottsdale; instead he
wanted to wreak havoc on the innocent.
I was looking for details as to when the
restaurateur was planning his scheme
and couldn’t find anything, it made me
wonder about what would have hap-
pened if tragedy had struck.
The Patriots/Giants matchup was
one of the best games that I have ever
seen and most would probably agree.
The Giants defeated the perfect Patriots
and the win will go down as one of the
biggest upsets in NFL history, but I can
only think about how that matchup
would have gone down had the man
gone through with his plot.
Thank God we will never know
and fortunately for the 97.5 million
viewers that tuned in that Sunday night,
they will only remember one thing: a
Giant upset.
20
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
FEBRUARY 14, 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 EditorsAbby [email protected]. [email protected]
DesignersRick GamezJuan Torres
Reporters and PhotographersBobby CervantesLeslie EstradaOnydia GarzaLaura GarciaRussen Vela
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
SavethesedatesFebruary
� SOCIAL COMMENTARY
� AS I SEE IT
uring Hillary Clinton’s speech at
the McAllen Convention Center
on Wednesday, a crowd of happy support-
ers cheered on the New York senator.
They whooped, hollered and
stomped at almost every word (very
annoying, by the way). They chanted
and applauded. They even made little
signs and waved them around.
At one point during the speech, she
called out to a few sign holders. One
read: “Teachers for Hillary” (or some-
thing like that). Hillary pointed and
began describing what she’s done for
teachers. And while there are several
challenges facing education today, she’s
had time to craft a plan. I want to know
how well she thinks on her feet.
Hillary said she has had the “can-
do spirit” her whole life to “take on the
tough challenges that affect people’s
lives.” Well, I want to know what she
does for those people who don’t have
unions to vote in masses for her but still
face tough challenges.
So, I’ve been brainstorming a few
sign ideas for next week’s possible visit
to The University of Texas-Pan
American. I’m hoping she’ll call out one
of mine and tell me something I haven’t
already heard semi-screamed at me at a
political rally. Perhaps if she comes up
with something good, she’ll win a vote
from someone.
Here are a few ideas I’ve been toy-
ing with:
“People with short legs who can
never find a good pair of jeans for
Hillary.” I never did hear back from her
office when I sent them my rough draft
of the Levi’s Act of 2004.
“Unpleasant 20-somethings for
Hillary.” She can’t deny that recovering
from this is a challenge.
“People who hate Bill Clinton for
Hillary.” Two to one says she replies
with “Don’t we all, sometimes?”
“Underpaid journalists for Hillary.”
You can’t blame me for trying,
right?
“Vain people for....”
wait, sorry, who were we talk-
ing about?
And here are some I’ve
been thinking of for a few
friends of mine to hold as well:
“Obnoxious screamers
for Hillary.” WHAT ARE
YOU GOING TO DO
ABOUT THAT ONE, HUH?
“Unwise fortune cookie writers
for Hillary.” Sometimes, fate is just cruel.
“People with unmanageable hair
for Hillary.” We’ve heard about health,
but I know a number of people who need
a good plan for hair care reform.
Tell me what you think. The choice
is just getting harder (for some at least).
It’s time to come up with innovative
tests of wit and ingenuity.
DBY: SANDRA GONZALEZ
OPINIONFebruary 14, 2008
Give candidates a real challenge
BY: RAMIRO PAEZ
� Do you know more aboutthe psycho who almostruined Super Bowl XLII? Letme know about it : [email protected].
Evil scheme didn’t ruin Giants’ upset
1717Weslaco Music Festival in
the Eugene A. BraughtMemorial Theatre at 3 p.m.
1616Telling Moments, an art
exhibit by local artist AnnaMarie Salinas, at the
D’Arte Center in Harlingenat 6:30 p.m.
� MUSIC
Newsinbrief
The fourth annual Rio Grande
Music Festival will be held Feb. 13-17 at
the RGV Livestock Showgrounds in
Mercedes. The event will feature five
stages of bluegrass, country, western,
folk and gospel music.
The festival will start at 8 a.m. every
day and end at 6 p.m. on Wednesday and
Thursday and 8 p.m. on Friday and
Saturday. The event closes on Sunday at
noon with a Sunday Gospel Jam.
Advance tickets are available for
$25 at the Rio Grande Valley
Partnership. They are also available at
the door for $5.
For more information, visit the fes-
tival’s Web site at
http://www.rgvmf.com.
� You know you want to:
20Nine-ball Pool Tournamentat 2 p.m. in Student Union
Gameroom
I
Student awarded for success
Norfilia and Oscar Gonzalez’s
marriage is much like that of
Shakespeare’s star-crossed lovers
Romeo and Juliet, only their story has a
much happier ending.
Raised in neighboring towns, the
two overcame family prejudice, which
31 years later has altered a family’s
perception and has proved that nothing
is more rewarding than the power of
love.
Norfilia, a secretary for the
Learning Assistance Center, and her
husband, a retired warehouse supervi-
sor of Edcouch-Elsa school district,
were high school acquaintances, but the
two lost track when he was drafted into
the Vietnam War and she stayed back
home performing gigs with sibling
band, Los Layton.
But fate brought them together
five years later, when they met again in
a chance encounter.
“Back in the late 60s the cars
would park by the railroad track and
you would see friends there so you’d
stop and just chat and say hi,” she said.
“We (she and her cousins) started in La
Villa when we were passing by the
Tears welled up in Yanci
Swenson’s eyes many times while she
recounted her tumultuous past. But even
the grief and hardships of her life did not
dampen her outlook on what could be a
bright future.
The senior advertising and public
relations major will be graduating from
The University of Texas-Pan American
in May 2008, but no matter how far she
may go in life, she embraces trying
times that have shaped her attitude
today.
Just back from a New York City
trip to claim her award as one of the
“Most Promising Minority Students” in
the nation, given by the American
Advertising Federation, Swenson rel-
ished her accomplishment and the long
road she traveled to get it.
After being nominated by
Kimberly Selber, assistant professor of
communication at UTPA, Swenson
found out she was one of 50 finalists
chosen from over 2,000 students.
As a finalist, she had to complete a
lengthy application, but in hindsight,
says it was all worth it.
“It took me about three months to
fill it out,” she said. “Having my name in
Advertising Age [one of the industry’s
most prestigious trade journals], having
my resume published is like a diamond
in the rough.”
Accompanied to the Big Apple by
Salma Ghanem, chair of the depart-
ment, Swenson interviewed with the
New York Times and ESPN multiple
times, an accomplishment she does not
take lightly.
“I won recognition. I won the pres-
tige,” she said. “I would never have this
opportunity if it were not for the AAF.”
Born in Illinois to an Anglo trav-
eling insurance salesman and a
Hispanic future Ms. Edinburg (1968),
Swenson never had a settled life, mov-
ing to a new city every couple of
months.
At the age of three, her family set-
tled in Austin where she resided until her
high school graduation from William B.
Travis High School in 1992.
Swenson said her family constantly
moved and her mixed culture really
affected the drive she has today. She said
she “did not have strong bonds,” with
her family and that her father would say
that things would not come easy in life
for her but she decided to prove him
wrong.
“Being in the family I grew up in,
it was assumed that because I was
female and because I was mixed, I
wasn’t a real Anglo,” she said. “So, I
had to be twice as good as anybody
else. I’ve always had that drive – do or
die, never give up.”
“True to the Hispanic form,”
Swenson said she had her first child at
19, got married, and a little more than a
year later, she had her second child.
Seven months into her second
pregnancy, tragedy struck when her hus-
band passed away.
At 20, with no husband, barely out
of high school, two mouths to feed and
bills to pay, Swenson admits she did not
THE PAN AMERICANFebruary 14, 2008 Page 3
NEWS
Several residents of Heritage Hall
are irate after several weeks’ worth of
unpleasant events have caused discord,
while administrators at the dorm spread
a message urging open communication
in an attempt to ease tensions.
It all began a little more than three
weeks ago, when Heritage Hall inhabi-
tants were disrupted by sounds of bang-
ing at 1 a.m. for bedroom checks. The
procedure, conducted once a semester
by resident advisers, left residents angry
and annoyed.
According to residents of the inci-
dent, resident advisors banged on the doors
in order to wake up residents to make sure
they were in their correct rooms.
“I didn’t know they were doing it
[bedroom checks] at that time. It was
Martin Luther King Day, they could
have done it all day,” said resident Myra
Canales, a resident for two-plus years.
Another resident rang in.
“It bothered me because I had class
Residentsquestionprocedures
� HERITAGE HALL
See DORMS page 12
By ANA VILLAURRUTIAThe Pan American
THE BIG APPLE - Yanci Swenson stands in front of Rockefeller Center during hertrip to New York City where she accepted an award for being one of the “MostPromising Minority Students” in the United States.
By J.R. ORTEGAThe Pan American
By BOBBY CERVANTESThe Pan American
Marissa, 9, Mari, 6, and Nicholas,
7, left the back gym of the Wellness and
Recreational Sports Complex
pink-cheeked and catching their breaths.
After they returned basketballs and vol-
leyballs to the front and got some more
water, they met up with their parents and
bid each other a farewell with an “until
next time.”
The three children took part in the
complex’s latest pursuit for a healthier
South Texas youth; the new program
called KidFIT.
The idea for the program, launched
Feb. 9, came about when University of
Texas-Pan American senior Steve
Flores, eager to work with youths and
health, ran into Fitness and Wellness
Coordinator Jacqueline Adams at a
bench-press competition.
He told her of his idea to open a
gym for kids that could especially bene-
fit those who are overweight and obese.
“She responded that they had been
wanting to launch a program of the sort,
so we started talking and the idea for
KidFIT was born,” Flores, a kinesiology
major, said.
The program will operate every
Saturday, and is designed to promote fit-
ness and nutritional health to kids ages
six to 17. KidFIT will be available to
youths who sign up under a user’s cur-
rent membership, participating either
with current students, faculty or staff of
the facility.
On the first day, Flores, an instruc-
tor, and junior kinesiology major Laurie
Muhlbauer spent an hour and a half
playing soccer and basketball, among
other sport activities, with three excited
and active kids.
By LUPE A. FLORESThe Pan American
KidFIT for healthy lifestyle
See LOVE page 12 See FIT page 12
See AWARD page 12
� FEATURE
� ACHIEVEMENT
Proving the power of love� FITNESS
Yanci Swenson
NEWSPage 4 February 14, 2008
NEWSFebruary 14, 2008 Page 5
NEWSPage 6 February 14, 2008
When fans of Ian McEwan’s 2001
best-selling novel Atonement heard it
was being made into a feature-length
film, many were skeptical of whether it
would be a faithful adaptation, or worse,
a loosely based film with no emotional
attachment to its central characters.
To their surprise, Atonement
became one the top 10 films of this year,
and has received high praise from critics
along with seven Academy Award nomi-
nations, including one for Best Picture.
With its huge wins at last month’s Golden
Globes of Best Picture Drama, and just
this past Sunday at the BAFTA awards
(the British equivalent of the Oscars) for
Best Picture, there is no doubt that
Atonement will be remembered for its
simplicity, elegance and story. While the
film came out in January, it is still being
talked about as one of the best of the year
and still continues to draw audiences to
the theater.
Directed by award-winning Joe
Wright, whose first film, Pride and
Prejudice (2006) became a sleeper hit,
Atonement rose above the odds, and
despite a budget of only $15 million has
gone on to gross more than $45 million in
the United States and over $80 million
overseas.
The film starts off in a hot summer
day in 1935 England at the Tallis family
estate. Cecilia, the eldest of three Tallis
children is played by Keira Knightley and
the garden boy to the estate, Robbie,
played by James Mcavoy, try to under-
stand and confess their undying love for
each other no matter what social classes
may tell them.
When the youngest Tallis, Briony,
played by newcomer Saoirse Ronan sees
an event between the couple, she sets off
a rollercoaster of events that ruins
Robbie’s good name, spoils her sister’s
chance for happiness and brings tragedy.
Wright, who has an obvious gift for
staging period pieces, is at his best in
Atonement. He shot the entire summer
sequence with a pair of Christian Dior
pantyhose over the camera lens to give
the feeling and emotion of the English
heat. The effect is beyond amazing. Once
he covers the events during WWII, his
direction changes into a more moody,
somber presence.
Christopher Hampton, who won an
Oscar for his adaptation of Dangerous
Liaisons in 1988, once again proves why
he is the man when it comes to adapting
classic novels into great lush, romantic
films. The dialogue is perfection. Wright
explained in numerous interviews that he
wanted his cast to act as if they were in a
1930s or 1940s film, and they achieve it
in Atonement.
Mcavoy, who got praise and numer-
ous attention for his role as Mr. Tumnus
in The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion,
Witch, and the Wardrobe, proves to be the
emotional punch of the story. Robbie is a
single man, forlorn and obsessed, his
dizzying inner turmoil reflected against
the grand canvas of a chaotic world at
war. It is a shame he and Knightley were
snubbed in favor of less worthy perform-
ances in the lead categories for Best Actor
and Best Actress by the Academy.
Along with the acting, directing and
writing, the technical aspects of
Atonement make it hauntingly beautiful
and almost mystical. The costumes
designed by Jacqueline Durran are sure to
cause a stir with females who see the
film. As for Dario Marianelli’s score?
Pure perfection. His use of a typewriter to
provides the beat of the music is beyond
brilliant, and will no doubt win this year’s
Oscar for best score.
In the end, Atonement builds to a
heartbreaking encounter with the aged
Briony Tallis, played by Oscar winner
Vanessa Redgrave, who has grown up to
become a famous novelist. As she talks
of the past and her role in the undoing of
her sister’s lover, her words are devastat-
ing and force the audience to look at
everything in a new light. As the audi-
ence roots for Robbie and Cecilia, and
yes, even Briony, to have a happy end-
ing, one recognizes that Atonement isn’t
simply a grand historical romance but an
exploration of how storytelling can both
betray and redeem someone.
It’s not often that climbing a wall
crosses one’s mind on Valentine’s Day.
The idea of being strapped from a
bungee cord, with beads of sweat and
that dreaded fear might not necessarily
be a popular choice.
The Wellness & Recreational
Sports Complex is hoping to brighten
everyone’s Valentine’s Day and pro-
mote their famous wall by hosting the
Rock of Love event in which partici-
pants will climb the wall to collect
prizes that will be situated at certain
levels on the wall for their significant
other.
Charlie Caceres, UTPA’s coordina-
tor of campus activities, organized the
event as a new form of getting the stu-
dents involved in the less technical
aspects of the wall and the more relaxing
stress-free joy that can come out of it.
The idea for the event came about during
the winter break.
“We thought it was a great idea
[for people] to come in and get a bunch
of stuffed animals and make the prizes
nicer the higher they climb,” said
Caceres. “And so far the response has
been fantastic.”
One of the main purposes of the
event is to help promote the Climbing
Wall, which has yet to receive the antic-
ipated attention as hoped.
“The Rock of Love is a way to
develop an interest for the Climbing
Wall,” Caceres continued. “Number
one: I don’t think people realize what a
great facility we have here. Number
two: we want people to come in and
climb the wall. We know that once you
get on there, you’ll enjoy it and want to
come back.”
UTPA junior education major and
Alamo native, Julie G. Montalvo says
she may participate in the Rock of Love.
and hopes the event will help the wall
gain attention.
“It’s going to get promotion. [The
participants] will receive prizes so they
can give to their significant other.
&RTS EA NTERTAINMENT� CAMPUS SCENE
THE PAN AMERICANFebruary 14, 2008 Page 7
Local cafe honors student through auction
Art, music and a great cause
joined Friday night as the Ofrendas del
Corazon silent heart art auction took
place at the Habanero Cafe in down-
town Pharr.
The event’s purpose was to raise
awareness about organ donation as
well as collect funds for a scholarship.
“We want to make people aware
of organ donations and to get them to
be registered donors,” said Ernesto
Duenas, who organized the event. “We
also want to raise funds for a scholar-
ship that has been made in honor of a
former dual-language PSJA North stu-
dent who passed away last year.”
Duenas, who was Michael
Rutledge’s 6th grade teacher, was very
excited on the turnout of the fundraiser.
“I am surprised on how the com-
munity has reacted with this fund-rais-
er,” he said. “Michael definitely left a
legacy and we can see the results.”
All the proceeds from the event
will benefit the Michael M. Rutledge
Legacy Award. Rutledge, who would
have been a junior this year, was
involved with the Raider Band and the
dual-language program. The first
award will be given in 2009 to a PSJA
North dual-language student who has
already been accepted into a university.
Although this is the first time the
event has taken place, Duenas said he
plans on making it an annual thing.
“Hopefully this is something that
� COMMUNITY
By LESLIE ESTRADAThe Pan American
By AMANDA ALANIZThe Pan American
Wellness CentercelebratesValentine’s
See WALL page 10
Atonement shows haunting love story� MOVIE REVIEW
By RUSSEN VELAThe Pan American
See AUCTION page 10MATTERS OF THE HEART - Personalized, decorated hearts were up for auc-tion Friday night at the Habanero Cafe in Pharr to benefit scholarship.
Ben Briones/The Pan American
TRAGIC LOVE TALE - In Atonement, Kiera Knightleyʼs character, Cecilia, is tornbetween her love interest, Robbie (James Mcavoy) and her familly.
filminfocus.com
ike a scene right out of a junior high dance flick,guys stayed in one group and girls in another as
they periodically glanced across the room in hopes offinding that special someone this past Saturday at
McLain’s first ever RGV Speedating event. With the vast amount of people celebrating
this Valentine’s Day with someone special andcountless others spending theirs single, it wasthe vision of Marcelo Rodriguez to help makethe day special for someonerather than a dayto dread.
“It would be a great pleasure if some ofour attendees did fall in love and become afamily; a dear friend of mine met his wifeat a speed dating event in Montreal,” saidRodriguez. “So I hope that our events
bring people together too.”Participants were required to fill out
basic information about themselvesand are given a questions tip sheet
to help them during theirspeed-date. Candidates then
have six to ten minutes perdate and if both partici-pants tell organizers theyare interested, they willbe provided with contactinformation.
“If you really wantto know someone it onlytakes five to ten minutesto know if you really like
them or not,” said Rodriguez, a McAllen resident whoheaded the event.
For first-time speed-daters like Joel, who askedthat his last name not be disclosed, said he was notsingle last Valentine’s but does not mind the holiday.
“It’s a good day for you to recognize,” he said.“It’s just a day to celebrate your love with your sig-nificant other.”
Joel said coming into the event that he was look-ing for nothing too serious, just a chance to meetsome good women but said if the opportunity for lovepresented itself, “You never know,” he added.
However when it comes to spending ValentinesDay either in a relationship or single some people stilljust can not buy the holiday.
PERCEPTIONSAaron Alvarez, a 20-year-old sophomore music
major, said he won’t really be doing much thisValentine’s Day but hanging out with friends andjust making the best out of it.
“I’m kind of glad I don’t have to spend a lot ofmoney on anyone,” he said. “No expensive dinners orpresents; it really is just saving me a lot of money.”
That, Alvarez said, is the slight upside to beingsingle but said if he were in a relationship, he wouldhave no problem doing all he can to make the holidaymemorable.
While some people dread the day, he chooses tosimply just celebrate it. He added an example of ahappy couple and a single person and how speakingyour mind about Valentine’s Day can rain on onesparade.
“A positive attitude is contagious, but so is a neg-ative,” he said. “People should keep their thoughts to
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENTPage 8 February 14, 2008
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENTFebruary 14, 2008 Page 9
themselves and let those who celebrate the day behappy; that’s what I do.”
Living the singles life is not all that bad forgraphic design major Jeanette Sosa. She said that shehas never disliked the day and finds that it is not nec-essarily for couples.
“Men my age are either settled or not interestedmuch in dating,” the 28-year-old said.
She added that she has enjoyed spending the dayin the past with friends and family and feels that isokay.
“You can do anything you want on any day withyour girlfriends and stuff,” the senior said. “Go tothe movies, go hang out with friends; it’s fun andthat’s okay.”
Students like Daisy Tercero, a single, freshmanpre-med biology major believe that Valentine’s Day isonly a good holiday if you are in a relationship other
then that, it makes those who are single feel bad.“Well when you’re alone it sucks, it is for those
people who have somebody and are together,” shesaid. “I like it, but not when I’m alone, it’s just a setdate for the hell of it.”
While many clubs will host a Valentine’s Daythemed dance, Kabos, located next to Fast Eddie’s onN. 10th street in Edinburg/McAllen will have aValentine’s Day singles party and anyone with a col-lege ID enters for free.
Local venue caters to singlesjust in time for Valentine’s
Nick Dodd/The Pan AmericanREADY TO MINGLE - Local singles can now look for that certain someone through speed dating.
By J.R. ORTEGAThe Pan American
L
ike a scene right out of a junior high dance flick,guys stayed in one group and girls in another as
they periodically glanced across the room in hopes offinding that special someone this past Saturday at
McLain’s first ever RGV Speedating event. With the vast amount of people celebrating
this Valentine’s Day with someone special andcountless others spending theirs single, it wasthe vision of Marcelo Rodriguez to help makethe day special for someonerather than a dayto dread.
“It would be a great pleasure if some ofour attendees did fall in love and become afamily; a dear friend of mine met his wifeat a speed dating event in Montreal,” saidRodriguez. “So I hope that our events
bring people together too.”Participants were required to fill out
basic information about themselvesand are given a questions tip sheet
to help them during theirspeed-date. Candidates then
have six to ten minutes perdate and if both partici-pants tell organizers theyare interested, they willbe provided with contactinformation.
“If you really wantto know someone it onlytakes five to ten minutesto know if you really like
them or not,” said Rodriguez, a McAllen resident whoheaded the event.
For first-time speed-daters like Joel, who askedthat his last name not be disclosed, said he was notsingle last Valentine’s but does not mind the holiday.
“It’s a good day for you to recognize,” he said.“It’s just a day to celebrate your love with your sig-nificant other.”
Joel said coming into the event that he was look-ing for nothing too serious, just a chance to meetsome good women but said if the opportunity for lovepresented itself, “You never know,” he added.
However when it comes to spending ValentinesDay either in a relationship or single some people stilljust can not buy the holiday.
PERCEPTIONSAaron Alvarez, a 20-year-old sophomore music
major, said he won’t really be doing much thisValentine’s Day but hanging out with friends andjust making the best out of it.
“I’m kind of glad I don’t have to spend a lot ofmoney on anyone,” he said. “No expensive dinners orpresents; it really is just saving me a lot of money.”
That, Alvarez said, is the slight upside to beingsingle but said if he were in a relationship, he wouldhave no problem doing all he can to make the holidaymemorable.
While some people dread the day, he chooses tosimply just celebrate it. He added an example of ahappy couple and a single person and how speakingyour mind about Valentine’s Day can rain on onesparade.
“A positive attitude is contagious, but so is a neg-ative,” he said. “People should keep their thoughts to
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENTPage 8 February 14, 2008
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENTFebruary 14, 2008 Page 9
themselves and let those who celebrate the day behappy; that’s what I do.”
Living the singles life is not all that bad forgraphic design major Jeanette Sosa. She said that shehas never disliked the day and finds that it is not nec-essarily for couples.
“Men my age are either settled or not interestedmuch in dating,” the 28-year-old said.
She added that she has enjoyed spending the dayin the past with friends and family and feels that isokay.
“You can do anything you want on any day withyour girlfriends and stuff,” the senior said. “Go tothe movies, go hang out with friends; it’s fun andthat’s okay.”
Students like Daisy Tercero, a single, freshmanpre-med biology major believe that Valentine’s Day isonly a good holiday if you are in a relationship other
then that, it makes those who are single feel bad.“Well when you’re alone it sucks, it is for those
people who have somebody and are together,” shesaid. “I like it, but not when I’m alone, it’s just a setdate for the hell of it.”
While many clubs will host a Valentine’s Daythemed dance, Kabos, located next to Fast Eddie’s onN. 10th street in Edinburg/McAllen will have aValentine’s Day singles party and anyone with a col-lege ID enters for free.
Local venue caters to singlesjust in time for Valentine’s
Nick Dodd/The Pan AmericanREADY TO MINGLE - Local singles can now look for that certain someone through speed dating.
By J.R. ORTEGAThe Pan American
L
we’ll continue to do every year,” he
said. “We want to do it around
Valentine’s Day because of the heart
theme going on.”
The heart has taken on significant
meaning for everyone involved since
Michael, through his parents’ gift of
organ donation, was able to give life to
four Texas residents.
“We decided to pass out wooden
hearts to the students, which were
Michael’s friends, and it sort of grew
from there,” said Duenas. “From there,
we began passing hearts out to people
in the community, local artists and
celebrities, and we were able to put on
a nice fundraising event today.”
Enrique Frias, a Reynosa resident
who attended the event, said he was
amazed at the extensive process that
went into creating the art.
“The hearts were beautifully dec-
orated,” he said. “It is truly a great gift
for someone you love and you get a
plus knowing that you are helping out
with a good cause.”
Frias said that he was glad to see
how everyone was working together to
make this event successful.
“I was surprised to see so many
young people here tonight,” he said.
“Although I never met Michael, I can
tell that he was liked and loved among
his friends. It is awesome to see how
everyone is so devoted to make this
event a great one.”
Duenas and others who organized
the event started collecting the hearts
last September from all over the Valley
community and built up the collection
for this noteworthy cause.
“We got 50 beautiful pieces back
that the community willingly decorated,”
explained Duenas. “Everyone chipped
in, we had a local business donate the
wood, a person donating his time to cut
all the wood, and of course all the differ-
ent people that put time into decorating
the hearts.”
By the end of the night, Duenas
could almost assure that the event had
been a success and couldn’t be prouder
of the turnount.
“I can’t tell exactly, but I am
guessing that we had around 300 peo-
ple in and out,” he said. “Some of the
hearts went up to 3-digit amounts,
which makes me very happy. I just
want to thank everyone who came out
and hope to see everyone next year.”
For more information about the
Michael Rutledge Legacy Award or if
you wish to send a donation, please
contact by e-mail at: michaelslega-
[email protected]. For more information
on how to become a registered organ
donor, visit organdonor.gov or
donatelife.net.
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENTPage 10 February 14, 2008
GOOD CAUSE - One of Michael Rutledgeʼs 6th grade teachers, Hal Anderson,lent a helping hand in the art auction held in Michaelʼs name.
AUCTION continued from page 1
[People should] try out the rock wall,”
said the 21-year-old.
Caceres hopes the event will have
a good turnout and could possibly give
leeway to future holiday events.
“Depending on the success of this
one, we are looking at having some-
thing for Easter,” he said.
They are also looking at creating
different events for other holidays such
as St. Patrick’s Day and Fourth of July.
“We want to attract people to
come in and have fun with this,” con-
tinued Caceres. “We are sure that once
you’ve done it, you’ll come back and
do it again.”
Nursing major Hazel Dalton said
she hopes Rock of Love will continue
as a means to provide more opportuni-
ties for students and promotion for the
Rec Center.
“I think it’s fun whenever we have
all these little events. It always attracts
more people, especially to the rock
wall. It’s been kind of slow so it’s good
to have events like this because then
we get more people interested,” said
21-year-old Dalton.
The Rock of Love will be open to
all UTPA staff and students and mem-
bers of the recreational complex from 2
p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday.
WALLcontinued from page 1
Ben Briones/The Pan American
NEWSFebruary 14, 2008 Page 11
CLINTON continued from page 1
been swift.“Put money in the hands of consumers, espe-
cially those on a tight budget, to spend on othergoods, and you see a relief in the whole economicsystem,” Damianov said.
Damianov also noted that it is the govern-ment’s hope that the stimulus will maintain theeconomy and prevent a recession from takingplace. According to experts, the plan’s capabilitydepends on how promptly Americans receive theirmoney.
“It’s sort of like a big stone going down a hill.If you wait a little too long, it might accelerate inspeed and it’s too late,” Damianov said.
Like many students, Michael Palomo, anaccounting and CIS double major from Pharr, plansto use his money once he receives it. Although hesays he will spend as he sees the need, he hopes tobuy a few domestic items.
“I think it’ll help me buy stuff for around thehouse, maybe a new flat-screen TV, and it will helppay off credit cards and a loan that I have,” saidPalomo, a junior.
Rebates of $600 for individuals and $1,200 forcouples, plus another $300 for each child with nolimit on the number of children, are part of the pro-posal. About $50 billion of the proposed stimuluspackage is to be designated for businesses.
STIMULUS continued from page 1
Clinton also mentioned her plan tocreate what she called “green-collar jobs.”
“Let’s put people to work weather-izing homes, insulating homes,installing solar panels,” she said. “Theseare jobs that will be good paying jobsand will give us the kind of energy futurewe need in America.”
Sandra Olvera, a sophomore educa-tion major, said her top concern this pres-idential election is immigration reform.
“We have family over there(Mexico),” said Olvera regarding immi-gration. “It’s really important that theywill stay here in the U.S. and that theydon’t deport them back.”
The former first lady made a briefmention of immigration, saying her plansare “comprehensive” and go beyondusing the issue as a “political football.”
Hidalgo County Judge J.D. Salinassaid he was glad Clinton visited the
Valley because that could mean impor-tant resources later, of which includefunding for levees and health care formore residents.
“Nothing against him (Obama) butHillary Clinton has been in the Valleybefore and she all ready knows the area,”he said.
Clinton first came to the Valleynearly 36 years ago to help register vot-ers along the border, a point she men-
tioned in her speech.
LOCAL SUPPORTClinton’s efforts to garner support
with the announcement of this rally werenot in vain. Congressman RubenHinojosa said 24 hours after theannouncement of her visit, the numberof endorsements from local officials rosefrom 40 to 125.
In his brief introduction at the rally,Hinojosa said South Texas residents havea “historic opportunity to play a majorrole in selecting the next president.”
“The vote each and one of youcast will determine the future of ourcountry. For far too long our electoralvoice has not been heard,” he said.
“Today marks the milestone where thatis going to change.”
Hinojosa projects that Valley voterswill turn up in twice the numbers they didfor the last presidential primary in 2004,which would be about 100,000 people.
Clinton could return to the Valleyas soon as Feb. 20, he added.Tentatively, she may speak at TheUniversity of Texas-PanAmerican in themorning and have an evening rally atThe McAllen Memorial Stadium onBicentennial Street.
Tony Martinez, a member of theYoung Democrat’s Club at UTPA, saidObama’s campaign has also contactedthem with tentative plans to visit theValley, although no date has been set.
UTPA continued from page 1
event was a sure thing.“I know that an announcement
was made this morning, but nothinghas been set,” Price said. “It is some-thing [Clinton’s campaign is] consider-ing.”
Price said he could learn ofClinton’s final plans as early asThursday afternoon.
Presidential campaigns are allowedto rent locations on campus for events orrallies, but UT System rules forbid theuniversity from sponsoring a particularcandidate, according to UniversityRelations.
Campaigns can avoid paying forspace on campus if they are sponsored
by a student organization. The YoungDemocrats Club, while a natural choiceto host the former first lady, will beunable to sponsor her visit, according tomember Tony Martinez.
“There are still two Democrat can-didates,” the senior political sciencemajor said, referring to Clinton and heropponent, Illinois Sen. Barack Obama.
Martinez confirmed that theClinton campaign plans on paying fortheir space at UTPA. The amount theywill be charged was unavailable atpress time.
This marks the second time withina week that word of a Clinton visit hascirculated campus. Price said his office
had been in talks with her campaignuntil Monday when they learned “expec-tations for the event had changed.”
Clinton’s camp had been exploringthe Field house and the Quad as possiblelocations, but the convention center waseventually chosen as the venue.
Price said if plans do come tofruition, it would be a great event for allstudents.
“It would be great for our studentsto see a presidential candidate on cam-pus,” he said.
Visit www.utpa.edu/dept/panamer-ican for updated information onClinton’s possible rally at UTPA as itbecomes available.
Roxy Solis/The Pan AmericanGREETINGS - Clinton spent nearly 25 minutes shaking hands and meeting localsfollowing her speech in McAllen Wednesday morning.
Ben Briones/The Pan AmericanISSUES - Sen. Hillary Clintonʼs 15-mintue speech touched on health care, the possibility of a veteranʼs hospital and other issues.
band passed away.At 20, with no husband, barely out
of high school, two mouths to feed andbills to pay, Swenson admits she did nothave much time to plan a future.
“I didn’t have time to think aboutit,” she said. “So, I started working.”
Taking after her father, Swensonbegan to think of sales as the “familybiz,” and decided to undertake the jobto make ends meet, moving to Arizonaand then Arkansas to try and do that.
“I knew it. I knew I could do it inmy sleep,” she said of the family busi-
ness. “I knew I could make money.”She credits her mother for pushing
her to begin college 2003 and to realizeher potential, despite intimidation bystudents who are not “even legal todrink yet and people who grew up oncomputers…text messaging and all ofthis technology stuff.”
“Everything happens for a rea-son,” she said. “When you’re in thethick of it, everybody is like, ‘If I didn’thave bad luck, I wouldn’t have any luckat all.’ And, you have a tendency to feelsorry for yourself or just give up.”
As for her future, Swenson will bestudying for her master’s degree atUTPA in fall 2008 and will continue asa teaching assistant in the department.
“I don’t know what is in the cardsright now, but eventually I’ll probablyend up back in the Valley and openingmy own agency.”
In 2007, UTPA student BrendaHernandez, was among one of the win-ners of the “Most Promising MinorityStudents” award. In 2006, LyndaLouise Laurin won was also nominatedfor as a finalist for the award.
NEWSPage 12 February 14, 2008
at 10:35 a.m. the next day,” said SoniaTretro, 18, an education major.
One of Tretro’s suitemates, had anearly-morning class the next day and saidit was unfair to conduct the checks at thetime they were.
“Half of us have early classes and Iwas asleep,” she said. “When you’rewaked up at that time you not aware ofwhat’s going on.”
Residents went to Chad Martin,director of resident life, and others even-tually took the problem up with Dean ofStudents Jerry Price.
“I did meet with some students onthe bedroom checks and was upset abouthow they were handled. Once the issuewas brought to me, the next day it wasfixed,” said Price.
According to Price, bedroom checksshould take place between 6-8 p.m. andhe is making sure that another late nightbedroom check does not occur. Martinsaid the reason the bedroom checks weredone so late was because of a “miscom-munication” between himself and the hallcoordinators.
“There have only been two com-plaints raised on that topic. Both wereresolved that very week,” said Martinabout the bedroom checks.
The office of residence life hasalways made sure that bedroom checksare conducted once a semester.
Lee Mahi, an RA, said they hadbeen told to do bed checks at that time inorder to better catch people that werestaying overnight.
Mahi also said that RAs have per-mission to confiscate belongings,however, this semester the RAs haveconfiscated items without leaving arequired note on why items like candlesand toasters were confiscated.
“We were not leaving notes, whichwas something Esther let us do,” she said.
Esther Rodriguez is the hall coordi-nator and is responsible for runningHeritage Hall.
LENGTHY PROCESSESBut the bedroom checks are not the
only problems at the Heritage Hall thissemester.
Dnnie Rae Vargas, who said faint-ing spells related to an undisclosedcondition could be easily triggered bystress, wanted to move in with friendTreto and Savannah Martinez. She gotapproval from Martin, but she saidRodriguez still denied her.
“I wanted a room change in case Iwould collapse and I had rather havesomeone who is there and who knowsme,” said Vargas.
Rodriguez did not want to com-ment on the issues because they were“private matters,” and instead directedthat Martin speak on behalf of HeritageHall.
Vargas felt that others who request-ed room changes were given more atten-tion than hers.
“I thought it was sad that I had togo above and beyond like that,” she said.
Policies for room changes requirethat residents fill out a form stating whythey would like to change rooms. Theycan also contact their hall coordinator.
“Esther’s not very approachable,”said Triauna Carey, a resident ofHeritage Hall. “She doesn’t know much,she’s very new.”
Rodriguez and Martin were not atliberty to discuss whether Rodriguezacted accordingly but Liz Ramos, an RAat Heritage Hall defended Rodriguez.
“Anyone can reach her if you leavea message at the desk,” Ramos said.
Price encourages residents to con-tact him if there is a problem needing tobe addressed.
DORMS continued from page 3Flores and Adams, along with
WFRC director Jim Watson, have setcommon goals for the program: to dowhat they can to help address the prob-lem of rising obesity recent reportshave shown and to help children of theValley understand the importance ofadopting healthy habits. They alsowant to encourage exercise and healthyeating to ensure a healthy lifestyle asan adult.
“If we can get in there and teach kidsthat fitness doesn’t have to be running ona treadmill. It can be games, activities andplay,” saidAdams. “It creates that need for(daily activity). It becomes a discipline. Itbecomes something that they crave intheir lives.”
The Center for Disease Controland Prevention’s most recent studiesreported that obesity inHispanic/Latino youth living in theU.S. has risen at an alarming rate. Thenational rates for overweight and obesechildren (ages six to 11) in America are30.3 percent and 15.3 percent, respec-tively. Obesity percentages for adoles-cents ages 13-19, are 15.5 and 30.4
percent for those overweight.Jane Collins, acting director for the
adolescent and school division of theCenter for Chronic Disease Preventionand Health Promotion, noted in herstudy, Battling Childhood Obesity – TheDifference Between Your Child’s GoodHealth and Unhealthy Body Weight, that“these numbers are even more dramaticwhen compared to Mexican-Americanchildren (living in the states) of whom39.3 percent are overweight and 23.7percent are obese.”
She reported Mexican-Americanadolescent overweight and obesity per-centages to be 43.8 and 23.4, respectively.
With percentage numbers predictedto soar above 50 percent for Americanyouths by 2014, the trio are hoping theirprogram gets through to the UTPA com-munity – especially those with youngrelatives who could benefit from such aplan to deter the prevalence of Type 2Diabetes and elevated blood pressureand cholesterol. The ultimate goal is tointroduce them to a healthy lifestyle theycan stick to.
Sophomore business major Celine
Rincon is enthusiastic about making hersister part of KidFIT.
“I think it will be a good program,”she said. “I want my sister to getinvolved in something like this to findout things like what she can eat and whatshe can’t, ‘cause she is just gainingweight.”
Though the new program is not atechnical gym for youths, it provides theopportunity for them to take part inlearning benefits of becoming healthythrough fitness and proper nutrition, andmaintaining those practices to lead ahealthy life.
“The main importance is the bene-fit of the young kids,” said Flores, ofMcAllen. “Nowadays, a good majorityof kids are obese at a young age, and arecoming out with health dangers like dia-betes, among others. It’s good that wehave our mind-set on helping tochange that.”
The membership is obtainable aftera $50 charge for yearly admissions.Children can be enrolled by their parentor guardian WFRC member with a $6fee.
FIT continued from page 3
LOVE continued from page 3
AWARD continued from page 3
tracks and saw Oscar.”Oscar, at that time, was from La
Villa and Norfilia from Edcouch-Elsa, atown separated by railroad tracks; aphysical barrier that would soonbecome symbolic of the prejudicesbetween their families.
BEGINNINGSTheir relationship began like
countless others have: boy meets girl,boy asks girl and girl accepts; but grow-ing up in the late ‘60s with a tight-knit,prominent Hispanic culture was morecomplicated than that.
Her father found out about the rela-tionship and did not approve becauseOscar was from the city beyond thetracks; a city Norfilia said she remembersbeing called “no man’s land.”
“My father was a very jealousperson. I can’t deny that, and my broth-
ers were very protective of me,” shesaid. “I would hang out with my house-keeper, because if I wanted to go out Ihad to go with someone… I was 21.”
At the time, Oscar’s family wasknown for everything her family didnot stand for, she was well off and moreconservative, while his family’s historywas riddled in dilemmas.
“Back then, I was very obedient Iwas an obedient daughter, but I felt thathe wasn’t giving Oscar the chance toprove himself,” she remembers. “Hedidn’t want to give him the opportunity,he didn’t want to get to know him at all,the true him.”
Her obedience somewhat paid offwhen her father let his guard down andpermitted periodic visits undersupervision.
A year and half into the relation-ship the two were ready to be engaged,
but getting her father’s blessing was tothis day, the hardest thing she’s everhad to do.
Oscar and his mother did the rightthing by approaching Norfilia’s fatherto ask for her hand in marriage.
“But you know that she’s my onlydaughter. You know that she’s used tothis other lifestyle that your son willprobably not be able to provide forher,” said Norfilia, quoting her father.To no surprise, her father rejectedOscar’s offering.
But one morning, seemingly outof the blue, her father gave his permis-sion. He said his deceased mother andgrandmother came to him in a dreamand told him it was time to let go.
“I knelt down and cried like ababy, like I had just won a million dol-lars, I had everything, I didn’t needanything else,” she said.
THE MARRIAGEHer father was not in for a disap-
pointment either. Within the first fiveyears of marriage, they bought theirfirst home and started a family, com-plete with daughters Laura and Lizette.
But one day, they found the founda-tion of their life burned to the ground.
Their house had burned to theground due to an electrical shortage.
“It was so hard,” she said.” That’swhy I say we’ve had our thorns andwe’ve been through so much, but my los-ing the house does not compare to thepain that I went through when I wasstruggling to try and get my father to giveOscar the chance to prove himself.”
But instead of crumbling, theymoved forward and soon purchased amobile home along with the 34 acres ofland.
“At that given point we lost every-
thing in our home it was just materialthings. We can survive,” she said.“That’s the least of your worries, so aslong as your person is not touched.”
As time progressed, her fatherbegan to realize Oscar was the rightchoice because of how he treated the fam-ily and helped out tremendously.However in 1993, her father passed awayof a heart attack but Norfilia is just happyhe got to know the true Oscar and trustthat she was in good hands.
Everyday Norfilia manages to besurprised by the things he does on adaily basis but also the sweet things hehas done in the past 31 years. Norfiliasaid everyday is Valentine’s for themand that she cannot choose just oneromantic thing he has done for her.
Instead, Norfilia sat back against herseat, looked up and said with tears of joyswelling in her eyes, “Ay, que Oscar.”
Green and Orange suffers losses on the road
It was an up-and-down weekend
for The University of Texas-Pan
American men’s and women’s tennis
team in Little Rock, Ark.
The women recorded a 7-0 victory
Friday over Central Arkansas, but suf-
fered two setbacks the following day to
Tennessee Tech and Arkansas-Little
Rock. The men gave 68th-ranked
Tennessee Tech a run for their money
Saturday but came up short to a 4-3
decision. On Sunday, the Trojans of
Arkansas-Little Rock handed the Broncs
their fourth loss of the season.
“Both teams went to Little Rock
to win,” tennis coach Robert Hubbard
said. “We felt that we were competi-
tive and in a position to defeat teams
farther up the food chain and/or nation-
ally ranked like UALR and Tennessee
Tech. We just came up a hair short, lit-
erally missing a win over Tennessee
Tech by one point.”
Despite high hopes, competition in
Little Rock was fierce.
In women’s singles against
Tennessee Tech, Giana Oliveira lost
against Kelly Holtzhausen with a score
of 6-2, 6-4. Julia Cirne-Lima suffered a
loss against Diana Woodstock with a
score of, 6-2, 4-6, 7-5 and Mireia Cano
defeated Megan Bedeau with a score of
6-1, 4-6, 6-4.
In the fourth spot, Stephanie
Willerding gave a valiant effort as she
defeated Kay Ngiam with a 6-2, 6-2
setback. Fellow teammates Luisa
Cantu and Silke Buksik each earned
victories as Cantu defeated Evgenia
Yartseva 6-4, 7-5, while Buksik
claimed a win over Katie Barnhill
7-6(7-1), 5-7, 1-0, (10-6).
“Silke Buksik and Luisa Cantu
have been on fire,” Hubbard said.
“Megan Bedeau, Stephanie Willerding
and Sarah Burton have improved
tremendously from their freshman year,
and Julia Cirne-Lima and Giana Oliveira
continue to show that they are seasoned
seniors handling the best players from
our opponents.”
Regardless of the new combina-
tions in their plays, the men’s team
showed much improvement as they
came up shy of an upset over the
Golden Eagles.
India native Nirvick Mohinta and
freshman Andrew Irving kept the fire
going as they defeated Juan Gomez, 4-6,
6-3, 6-4, and James Crawford with a
score of 6-2, 6-2.
Newcomer Marcus Dornauf was
defeated by Dean O’Brien, 6-2, 6-2,
while in doubles action Ivan Avila and
Irving recorded an 8-3 win over
O’Brien and Giovanni Vaglietti in the
second flight, but sophomore Brett
Bernstein and Ashwin Vijayaragavan
fell to an 8-7 decision.
“Overall, I feel as though we are a
young team,” Hubbard said. “We are
progressing in the right direction with
the near victory against the 68th ranked
Tennessee Tech attests.”
The Broncs will resume play
tomorrow at 5 p.m. in the Coastal Bend,
as they will face nationally ranked Texas
A&M-Corpus Christi. They will return
to the Valley for a Sunday date against
Monterrey Tech at the Cimarron
Country Club in McAllen.
The Lady Broncs will play their first
home game of the season at the Orville
Cox Tennis Center Saturday against Texas
State, while they join the men Sunday to
face Monterrey Tech at 1:30 p.m..
� SEEN AND CAPTURED
Men fall to 3-4,women slip to6-3 on the season
SPORTSFebruary 14, 2008 Page 13
Onydia Garza/The Pan American
� TENNIS
FIELD MASTERY - Senior Will Littleton (above) sprints toward a bar in the high-jump competition where he finished in second place. Junior Michelle Elizondo (left)goes through her weight-throwing movements in Saturdayʼs morning field events.Elizondo finished in sixth place with a throw of 47-10 and claimed seventh place inthe shot-put competition with a 41-8-meter throw.
By SAVANNAH S. MARTINEZThe Pan American
After some record-setting perform-
ances at the Houston Invitational last
week, The University of Texas-Pan
American men’s and women’s track and
field team traveled to the Gulf Coast for
the third consecutive time Saturday and
did it again, posting top finishes at the
Bayou Classic.
The men’s distance medley team
recorded a top finish at the event and
set a new Bronc record with a time of
10:15.96, breaking last week’s time of
10:16.38.
UTPA All-American Will
Littleton placed second behind Marcus
Harris of Shore’s Athletic Club with a
jump of 7-0 ½.
Senior J.J. Hernandez, with a time
of 8:45.69, and freshman Angel
Ramirez, who clocked in at 15:28.94,
placed fourth in the 3,000-meter and
5,000-meter races, respectively.
On the women’s side, senior long
jumper Liliana Cavazos finished third
with a jump of 17-08.
Brownsville native Carolina
Izaguirre’s time of 10:23.68 led her to a
fourth-place finish at 3,000 meters and
Valley View High School alum Sara
Rodriguez placed fourth in the 5,000.
The Bayou Classic was the last
indoor event before the team travels to
Boston Feb. 23 to compete in the all-day
USA Indoor Championships. The out-
door season begins March 1 with the
Border Olympics.
Bronc teams stride at Bayou Classic
SPORTSPage 14 February 14, 2008
After suffering from a three-game
losing streak, The University of Texas-
Pan American men’s basketball team
knew no one was going to stop them
from claiming victories in their final two
home games of the season, where they
said goodbye to seven seniors.
The Bronc faithful witnessed a
determined UTPA squad who rolled past
the New Jersey Institute of Technology
Higlanders Saturday, 90-64 and the
Roadrunners of Cal-State Bakersfield
three days later, 86-68.
CAL-STATE BAKERSFIELDIt took about midway through the
first half for the Broncs to pick up where
they left off Saturday as the Green and
Orange noticeably outplayed its oppo-
nent the rest of the way. Tied at 16 dur-
ing the first 10 minutes of the game,
UTPA went on a 23-4 run and never
looked back, leaving CSUB confused.
“The key word was defense,” sec-
ond-year coach Tom Schuberth. “Our
guys were just ready defensively.”
Michigan native Paul Stoll set a
career high in assists, dishing out 14
while also snagging six steals and eight
points. Stoll’s assists were more than the
Roadrunners’ combined (9).
“That was crazy,” Stoll said. “I was
definitely inspired with this being my
last home game.”
Five seniors led the Broncs in scor-
ing as they combined for 68 of the team’s
86 points. Zach Trader recorded a team
high of 17 points and grabbed six boards
and senior guard Brian Burrell con-
tributed 16 points and seven rebounds.
NEW JERSEY TECHThere couldn’t have been a better
way to snap the three-game skid for the
men than to win big on senior night dur-
ing Saturday’s game against the
Highlanders.
After lackluster performances from
both teams during the first half, the
Broncs started a 29-6 run at the 18-minute
mark of the second half which gave them
a commanding 70-46 lead.
The run gave Schuberth the
opportunity to give minutes to his
young and eager bench, which main-
tained the lead and finished the game,
giving them the victory.
“It was a game with two complete-
ly different halves,” he said. “We
weren’t ready to play during the first
half. It was as if we didn’t show up. We
played excellent perimeter defense in the
second half which helped us a lot and
also had great energy off the bench
which contributed to the win.”
Sixth-man Emmanuel Jones came
off the bench giving the Green and
Orange a much needed spark with 14
points and two blocks.
“Coming off the bench, I gave as
much energy as I could, especially after
coach got on us about our slow start in
the beginning,” Jones said.
Jones threw down three monster
dunks in the second half that seemed to
set the intensity level throughout the
remainder of the game.
“I haven’t had those in a while. It
sparked me and my teammates up to
get back in the game,” the junior for-
ward said.
Stoll led UTPA with 19 points to go
along with six assists and Burrell had a
solid 16-point, six-rebound night with
14 of his 16 coming in the first half.
The men will resume action on the
road Feb. 22 at 9:05 p.m. against the
Roadrunners.
SPORTSFebruary 14, 2008 Page 15
Onydia Garza/The Pan American
By RAMIRO PAEZThe Pan American
� MEN’S BASKETBALL
UTPA soars past visitors in home finale blowouts
ONE LAST TIME - Senior guard Dexter Shankle looks to make a pass over aRoadrunners defender. Shankle finished his Bronc career at home, recording 12points. He is one of seven seniors who will leave the 2007-2008 campaign.
|----TOTAL----| |-----3-PTS-----| |----REBOUNDS----|
## Player GP-GS Min -- Avg FG-FGA Pct 3FG-FGA Pct FT-FTA Pct Off Def Tot Avg PF FO A TO Blk Stl Pts Avg
32 Trader, Zach............ 29-29 977 33.7 159-313 .508 0-6 .000 89-118 .754 51 121 172 5.9 74 2 69 65 1 14 407 14.004 Stoll, Paul................ 29-29 958 33.0 99-208 .476 78-169 .462 125-148 .845 6 71 77 2.7 76 3 213 96 4 73 401 13.805 Burrell, Brian............ 29-29 958 33.0 150-376 .399 73-205 .356 27-36 .750 37 117 154 5.3 72 2 43 68 2 38 400 13.802 Hawkins, Nathan..... 29-28 747 25.8 114-211 .540 0-0 .000 94-161 .584 48 69 117 4.0 76 2 13 31 2 2 322 11.110 Jones, Emmanuel.... 20-0 369 18.5 62-120 .517 0-2 .000 50-72 .694 30 47 77 3.9 46 0 16 19 15 10 174 8.715 Shankle, Dexter....... 27-27 728 27.0 61-127 .480 39-85 .459 20-33 .606 6 53 59 2.2 67 1 47 23 3 9 181 6.701 Puente, Danny......... 29-2 320 11.0 25-64 .391 23-56 .411 8-9 .889 4 11 15 0.5 20 0 42 20 2 8 81 2.812 Weiermiller, Nick...... 28-0 389 13.9 22-52 .423 11-29 .379 17-17 1.000 4 27 31 1.1 30 1 35 27 0 10 72 2.611 Franklin, Damon...... 13-0 63 4.8 14-23 .609 1-3 .333 3-6 .500 3 14 17 1.3 5 0 2 8 0 1 32 2.533 Buck, Ryan.............. 16-1 164 10.3 11-20 .550 0-1 .000 8-15 .533 9 16 25 1.6 28 0 9 8 1 3 30 1.924 Smith, Ben............... 20-0 100 5.0 6-33 .182 6-26 .231 8-10 .800 2 12 14 0.7 12 0 11 5 1 1 26 1.320 Silva, Steven............ 5-0 9 1.8 2-8 .250 1-4 .250 1-2 .500 2 0 2 0.4 2 0 2 0 0 0 6 1.240 Trader, Jacob........... 13-0 43 3.3 4-9 .444 0-0 .000 0-2 .000 2 2 4 0.3 8 0 0 3 0 1 8 0.6
TEAM....................... 50 45 95 3.4 1 4
Total.......................... 29 5825 729-1564 .466 232-586 .396 450-629 .715 254 605 859 29.6 517 12 502 377 31 170 2140 73.8
Broncs improverecord to 16-13on the season
ROLE PLAYERS - Freshman Steven Davila (middle) celebrates with team-mates Ben Smith (left) and Jacob Trader (right) during Tuesday nightʼs homefinale against Cal State-Bakersfield. During the final minutes of the game, Davilaconnected on a 3-pointer to contribute to the teamʼs romp.
Onydia Garza/The Pan American
1212The number of UTPAbaseball players who
signed national letters ofintent for the 2008 season
11The place the men’s distancemedley team recieved at theBayou Classic in Houston, apersonal best for the season
66The 2008-2009 college
football preseason rank forthe Texas Longhorns,
according to ESPN.com
SPORTSStatsAtAGlance
Onydia Garza/The Pan American
Page 16 February 14, 2008
� FEATURETHE PAN AMERICAN
ShortSports� WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
The 2007-2008 campaign has been
a rollercoaster ride for The University of
Texas-Pan American men’s basketball
team, as the Broncs have experienced
their share of triumphs, defeats, heart-
breakers and injuries this year.
But at the end of the day the men
remember one thing: they are the pride
of UTPA. And as the Green and Orange
wrap up their season finale Feb. 28 in
Georgia against Savannah State
University, they will say goodbye to two
influential players who helped turn the
program around.
Senior guards Brian Burrell and
Paul Stoll joined the roster at the
beginning of 2006-2007, along with
now second-year head coach Tom
Schuberth. And although they have
only been part of the UTPA family for
two seasons, the pair has undoubtedly
made a splash in Edinburg.
“UTPA has become my home,”
said Stoll, who is from Lansing, Mich.
“Since Michigan is so far away, I rarely
get the chance to go home and visit,
therefore Bronc Village has turned into
the place I look forward to coming
home to on a daily basis.”
Although Burrell, a Texas native,
and Stoll were born at opposite ends of
the country, the two share many things
in common, including a quiet, humble
attitude. They each take a winning
mindset to the Division I court after
starting their collegiate careers at the
junior-college level.
Burrell began at Paris (Texas)
Junior College and led the Dragons to
the 2004-2005 NJCAA national cham-
pionship. The following year, he helped
guide the team to a 24-6 record en route
to the top seed in the region. Burrell was
the second leading scorer on the team
and his teammates selected him Most
Valuable Player.
To the north, Stoll helped the
Lansing Community College Stars
clinch a post-season berth during his
freshman year and led Region XII in
free-throw percentage (89 percent) and
assists per game (5.3).
Schuberth came to town as head
coach in 2006 and decided to add the
guards to his roster; they were two guys
he believed would fit into the UTPA
academic and athletic system.
“I had to find some young men that
were kind of being under-recruited,” he
said. “I found out about them because of
our relationships with coaches that we
had and they felt that these were young
men that were not getting the fortunes
they deserved.”
Schuberth said the situation
worked out perfectly.
“We were fortunate to have schol-
arships, and the coaching change came
at a time that enabled us to get involved
with them,” he explained. “We were
excited they were available and chose to
come with us.”
The newcomers made their way to
South Texas, adjusted to the Valley
lifestyle, and now find themselves two
weeks away from their final game.
Burrell, one of the team’s leading
scorers the past two seasons as a 6-
foot-3 guard, has enjoyed all experi-
ences at UTPA from being a college
student, joking around with and imitat-
ing the coaching staff or bonding with
teammates.
Stoll says attending UTPA will be
an experience he will never forget. His
dream was to play basketball at the
Division I level and he got the chance
from Schuberth.
“He took a chance on me when
nobody else would,” stressed the assist
king. “And I’m just trying to make sure
I don’t let him down and show him he
made the right choice by signing me.”
But if you ask Schuberth, there are
absolutely no regrets about that, as Stoll,
the leading scorer for the Broncs along
with Burrell and fellow graduating sen-
ior Zach Trader, netted a career-high 37
points Jan. 22 against Houston Baptist,
recorded a career-high 12 assists against
Alabama in December and is the top
assist man in the nation (199).
His mates realize what Stoll has
meant to the squad since he arrived.
“Paul is a competitor,” Burrell
said. “Hands down, I’ve never met any-
one who hates losing as bad as he does.
He’s a very excellent player who is get-
ting better every game.”
Both players end their two-year
run at UTPA feeling lucky to have had
the opportunity to play Division I bas-
ketball. And they’re looking toward
future ambitions.
Burrell hopes to continue his bas-
ketball career at the professional level
after graduating with a degree in com-
munication studies. Stoll’s goal is to
establish a good job and healthy fami-
ly, valuing nothing more than simple
happiness.
“(UTPA) has been a great experi-
ence for me as a student as well as an
athlete,” he said. “Honestly I’m lucky I
had the chance to come and play here.”
It was a short-lived winning streak
for The University of Texas-Pan
American women’s basketball team.
After snapping their seven-game
losing skein with back-to-back home
wins, the women traveled to the Salt
Lake state in hopes of keeping the
momentum going, but stumbled on Utah
Valley State’s “Think Pink” day, an
event to help raise breast cancer aware-
ness. The Wolverines held UTPA and
senior guard LeKeisha Gray in check as
they handily defeated the Lady Broncs
70-52 Saturday afternoon.
The Green and Orange fell to 10-14
on the season.
The home team quickly set the tone
of the game from the opening tipoff as
they got off to a 10-0 start and led by 22
points at halftime.
UTPA shot 31.7 percent for the
game compared to State’s 50.9 percent
and was outrebounded 44-28. Gray was
held scoreless on 0-of-7 shooting and
guard Tiona Wilson was the only Lady
Bronc who scored in double figures, fin-
ishing with 11 points.
With only two games and an exhi-
bition remaining before the start of the
National Independent Tournament, the
Lady Broncs will return for a home date
against the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi
Lady Islanders at 7:05 p.m. Monday.
By RAMIRO PAEZThe Pan American
