March 21, 2007

PAN AMERICAN

See Page 14

The Valley offers off-beat, unique ways to stayin shape

Sports

THE

T h e S t u d e n t N e w s p a p e r o f T h e U n i v e r s i t y o f Te x a s - P a n A m e r i c a n M a r c h 2 1 , 2 0 0 7

Fast-food chain chargedwith unfair treatment offarm workers

Local saloon-style clubgains in popularityamong college crowd

See Page 10See Page 3

A&ENews

Professor arrested, accused of having child porn

Shortly before the beginning of

Spring Break, Brian Butler, an associate

professor of history, became the second

professor at The University of Texas-Pan

American in two years to be arrested for

a crime of a sexual nature.

Butler, who has worked at UTPA

since 2000, was arrested March 13 after

an international sting led investigators to

his North McAllen

home, where they

found over 400

images of child

pornography on

his home comput-

ers.

Back in

2005, Raymond

Landry, an associate professor of

accounting and business law, was arrest-

ed at a McAllen bus stop after soliciting

what he believed to be a 13-year-old girl

online. He later pleaded guilty and was

sentenced to five years in prison.

Upon hearing the news about

Butler, Bradley Gamboa, a sophomore

history major, said he was shocked.

“He was a good professor so I was

really caught by surprise,” said Gamboa,

who had Butler last semester for

American Heritage II. “I can’t say there

is a certain type of person that gets

caught in these situations, but he was the

last person I thought of when I first

heard about a professor from UTPA

being arrested.”

Butler’s students this semester are

currently being taught by other profes-

sors. While Butler, 48, is still an offi-

cial employee at the university, he is

currently in custody after being denied

bond.

Butler was first noticed by authori-

ties after he accessed a child-porn Web

site in January; it was being monitored

by the FBI.

The office of Brent E. Cavazos,

attorney for the professor, declined to

comment on whether or not a court date

had been set or give any further details

as to the case’s progress.

By SANDRA GONZALEZ

The Pan American

See ARREST page 11

The thought of going 24 hours

without a computer can be daunting,

especially since the technology has

become so dominant in the last decade.

But on March 24 that’s exactly what

people around the world will be doing

on National Shutdown Day.

The creators of the event, Denis

Bystrov, 29, and Michael Taylor, 27,

from Montreal, Canada, consider this an

experiment to find out if people can stay

away from their computers for a whole

day.

The duo belongs to a group called

Blame Computers First. When news got

out about this plan, Daniel Bachhuber, a

freshman from Whitman College in

Walla Walla, Wash., decided to help

spread the word.

“I first came across the event and

site on digg.com, a social news site. The

story made the front page and I thought

I might pass the word on through

Facebook,” Bachhuber said.

The word about Shutdown Day has

spread around the world like a virus.

With a few days to go there had been

45,000 global pledges to participate and

7,000 others who admitted that they

wouldn’t be able to give up their com-

puter for an entire day.

While the prospect of going com-

puter-less for one day may seem enticing

to some, Kayleigh Rose Garcia, a junior

English and computer information sys-

tem major at The University of Texas-

Pan American, said she would never

take part.

“That’s ridiculous,” the McAllen

resident said. “Sometimes when I forget

my cell phone or iPod, I feel naked, so I

couldn’t imagine going a day without a

computer.”

As a student, Garcia, said that she

sometimes needs to send her professors

papers though e-mail and if that were

the case March 24, she wouldn’t be

able to participate in Shutdown Day

because doing so would prevent her

from completing the work. Garcia

feels that the technology available

today is convenient and efficient for

people to use.

“This would be extremely

inconvenient for doctors, students or

any professions that use computers,

because they need to use a computer to

get their work done and

help other

p e o -

p l e , ”

she said.

Garcia says she

also uses the computer two to three

By BRENDA RODRIGUREZThe Pan American

See SHUTDOWN page 11

Shutdown Day tests users’ willpower

The Regional Academic Health

Center, the first biomedical research

facility of its kind along the Texas-

Mexico border, announced the receipt of

a $1.2 million grant March 9 to support

ongoing research.

Leaders from The University of

Texas Health Science Center at San

Antonio and The University of Texas-

Pan American gathered to celebrate the

grant, which is one of the largest bio-

medical research awards ever given in

the Rio Grande Valley

“It’s an honor to be a part of

expanding the Health Center to this

part of Texas,” said Dr. Francisco G.

Cigarroa, president of UTHSC. “I can’t

thank Dr. [Blandina] Cardenas (presi-

dent of UTPA) enough for being a part

of this. It’s with her leadership and

with others that we were able to do

this.”

For the next three years the RAHC

will be able to focus on studying dis-

By VERONICA GONZALEZThe Pan American

See GRANT page 11

RAHC gets$1.2 million

grant forresearch

BUTLER

1201 West University, CAS 170

Edinburg, Texas 78539

(956) 381-2541 Fax: (956) 316-7122

http://www.panam.edu/dept/panamerican

56th Year – No. 23

The Pan American gladly accepts letters fromstudents, staff and faculty regarding newspapercontent or current issues. The Pan Americanreserves the right to edit submissions forgrammar and length. Please limit submissionlength to 300 words. The Pan American cannotpublish anonymous letters, or submissionscontaining hate speech or gratuitous personalattacks. Letters are printed at the discretion ofthe editor and must include the writer’s name,classification/title and phone number.

M a r c h 2 1 , 2 0 0 7

PAGE 2

News EditorSandra Gonzalez

sandra_panamerican@

yahoo.com

A&E EditorFrank Calvillo

[email protected]

Sports EditorLuke Koonglkoong2004

@yahoo.com

IN THE NEXT ISSUE OF

THE PAN AMERICAN

THE

PAN AMERICAN

The Pan American is the official studentnewspaper of The University of Texas-PanAmerican. Views presented are those of thewriters and do not necessarily reflect thoseof the university.

Available March 29A good year- Learn more about the flourishing winescene in the Rio Grande Valley

READERFORUM

Designers

SecretaryAnita Casares

Gregorio Garzathe_nataku@ yahoo.com

Rick [email protected]

Leslie Estrada

Onydia Garza

Patrick Kennedy

Kristyna Mancias

Jeanette Perez

Rafael Roux

Angela Salazar

Erick Quintero

Reporters and Photographers

Advertising [email protected]

DeliveryThursday at Noon

AdviserDr. Greg Selber

Ad ManagerLillian Villarreal

Asst. Ad ManagerSamantha Quintana

Photo EditorSidney Meadowsoutintherain@

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Design EditorRoy Bazan

[email protected]

EditorClaudette Gonzalez

[email protected]

Mistreatment of minors- Find out more about the allegationsfacing the Texas Youth Commission

Letters to the editor

To the editor:

In reference to “Campus Cat

Controversy” (March 15), releasing

feral campus cats in rural areas is

inhumane and bad environmental

practice.

I found it shocking that the

Director of Environmental Health

here at The University of Texas-Pan

American would prescribe the blatant

release of the campus feral cats into

the Lower Rio Grande Delta ecosys-

tem. This is both bad environmental

practice and inhumane.

First, cats are textbook predators

with razor sharp teeth, retractable

claws and an innate need to stalk,

pounce and kill anything that resem-

bles prey item. So ingrained is their

tendency to hunt that no amount of

taming and domestication can curb

this behavior even when the cats are

well fed. Thus even the outdoor

friendly feline poses a problem to

wildlife, those members of a healthy

functioning ecosystem.

Cats are known predators of

wildlife. For example, the National

Audubon Society (NAS) estimates

that hundreds of millions of songbirds

are taken every year by outdoor feline

pets, strays and ferals. They have sig-

nificantly contributed to the decline

and extinction of birds species. I have

personally seen the tamest of outdoor

cats kill brilliant red cardinals, mock-

ingbirds.

In short, to harbor an outdoor cat

is inhumane, and to release one or

many into the countryside is a crime.

The only humane and environ-

mentally responsible way to deal with

the stray cats is to capture them and

turn them over to the proper authori-

ties such as humane societies where

they will get a shot at having a home,

or unfortunately, as with most feral

born cats, must be put down humane-

ly as most are not tamable. I also call

for those self-proclaimed cat-advo-

cates to concentrate on the root of the

problem, taking a more informed,

rational and proactive role in the com-

munity that goes beyond simply talk-

ing and running education campaigns.

Ruben Zamora

graduate student

To the editor:

I am not sure the article

(“Campus Cat Controversy”) is

appropriate because it implies that

cats are basically being “dropped” off

on the side of the road - which is not

true. All the cats that have been

released have been essentially adopt-

ed and are probably better fed than the

ones on campus.

In reference to the letter above:

Mr. Zamora, I can read from your let-

ter that you perhaps are a bird lover,

which I appreciate. However, please

understand we also need to be sensi-

tive to those on the campus that think

that taking the cats to the Humane

Society is “inhumane.”

Richard Costello

director

Environmental Health and Safety

“The only humane andenvironmentally responsibleway to deal with the straycats is to capture them andturn them over to the properauthorities such as humane

societies...”

- Ruben Zamora

graduate student

Savannah Martinez

To the editor:

I was glancing through The Pan

American earlier this week and made

a startling discovery. UTPA endorses

the Plan B contraceptive. I was

floored.

Instead of advertising for book

sales or encouraging the use of FREE

contraceptives given out by Planned

Parenthood, The Pan American felt it

was best to endorse an ad that states

“$30 for your first pack, get the sec-

ond pack for $20!”

What message are we trying to

send to our students here at UTPA?

That unprotected sex is okay because

there is always Plan B? By the way,

Plan B is just an emergency birth con-

trol that is only effective IF contracep-

tion has not already occurred.

I think it is absolutely absurd

that this has been allowed to be placed

in The Pan American. I would strong-

ly recommend that you replace the ad

or remove it completely.

A better message would be that

of free birth control. I get birth control

from Planned Parenthood for free, so

I know what I’m talking about.

If The Pan American is insistent

upon placing the ad in again, I would

hope that you might place some con-

sideration upon putting an ad in for the

Pregnancy Crisis Centers of the Valley.

Thank you for your time,

Janet Sellers

sophomore

interdisciplinary studies major

“All the cats that havebeen released have beenessentially adopted and areprobably better fed than theones on campus.”

- Richard CostelloEnvironmental and Health Safety

“What message are wetrying to send our studentshere at UTPA? That unpro-tected sex is okay becausethere is always Plan B? Ithink it is absolutelyabsurd...”

- Janet Sellerssophomore

interdisciplinary studies major

To the readers:

Recently expressed concerns

(like the one above by Ms. Janet

Sellers) have prompted us to make it

clear that The Pan American does not

endorse any of the products and serv-

ices advertised in the paper.

Advertisements are just that -

advertisements. They are paid for by

outside companies not necessarily

affiliated with the newspaper or the

university.

We do not endorse Plan B or its

distributor any more than we endorse

Portillo Jewelers, El Bosque

Apartments, Apple Computers or any

other of our advertisers.

Moreover, the paper is an equal

opportunity advertiser. If the

Pregnancy Crisis Centers of the

Valley were interested in running an

ad in our newspaper, we would give

the same consideration as anyone

else.

The Pan American Staff

Staff editorial

McDonald’s was dubbed “the best

place for minorities to work,” by

Fortune Magazine in 2005. However,

some are saying that while that may be

true for those who work in the restau-

rant constructing sandwiches and

managing shipments, it is not the

case for those who pick the pop-

ular eatery’s tomatoes.

Every day McDonald’s

feeds approximately 46 mil-

lion people, according to

studies done by media

endeavor Super Size Me,

which was responsible for

the documentary film of the

same name. Because of the

demand for burgers and

sandwiches, McDonald’s has

leveraged massive purchasing

power, buying tomatoes by the

ton.

Buying in bulk is not a

new trend. Large corporations

have been doing it to cut costs

for decades. However, farm

workers in Immokalee, a major

agricultural center in Florida,

spoke openly about their struggles

to pick tomatoes for 40 cents per 32

pound bucket.

In a documentary made by the

Coalition of Immokalee Workers, field

laborers were interviewed about their

working conditions. One CIW mem-

ber said he works 12-hour days and

earns $40 to $50 per day.

The CIW is a community-

based worker organization con-

cerned with the working and liv-

ing conditions of people in low-

wage jobs throughout Florida.

However, the coalition is not the only

organization to demand social responsi-

bility from the McDonald’s Corp.

Students and community members

in South Texas have been getting in on

the action as well. Movimiento

E s t u d i a n t i l

Chicano de

Aztlan, a

student organization at The University

of Texas-Pan American, has joined

forces with World Peace Alliance to edu-

cate area citizens on worker rights.

“We are

here to cre-

ate aware-

n e s s

a b o u t

farm worker oppression nationwide,”

said Hector Guzman, a MEChA repre-

sentative and philosophy major.

One way these organizations create

awareness is through documentary view-

ings open to the public, where they dis-

tribute informative material. Some of

that material was recently posted on

campus.

“These documentaries

A town hall meeting will be heldMarch 28 at 2 p.m. in the StudentUnion Auditorium to answer anddiscuss questions regarding Webtime entry for all hourly employees.

News in brief:

See MCDONALD’S page 12

Students, advocates accuse McDonald’s ofhindering laborers’ ability to earn fair wages

The Student Government

Association hosted its first constitution-

al convention yesterday to reform the

way student government is structured

and to use student input to address cam-

pus concerns.

Tony Matamoros, senator-at-large

and chairman of the Personnel

Committee, said there were several

loopholes in the constitution that the

senate wanted to address.

“A lot of the senates in the past

have had a lot of internal problems over

the years. The main purpose is to allow

students to participate in the process of

reformation,” Matamoros said.

In early February, Matamoros and

two other senators spearheaded a move-

ment to remove President Argelia

Barrera from office because of her

alleged failure to attend meetings. The

attempt was

foiled, however,

because SGA

grievance policy

had not been fol-

lowed.

M a t a m o r o s

said the senate

hopes to establish an official impeach-

ment process, but maintains that the con-

flict with Barrera was not the root of the

bill, saying it was in the works long

before the clash began.

Moreover, the senate hopes to

streamline the process of presidential

appointments.

“The constitution says the presi-

dent can appoint people to positions and

then the senate reviews the appoint-

ments,” he said. “The by-laws state that

a committee should be able to review the

applications and that has caused conflict

between the president and senate.”

Because the constitution does not

define certain responsibilities, different

branches can claim responsibility.

“It’s very open to interpretation.

Since we’re such a large body, it can be

very conflicting,” said SGA vice-presi-

dent Bonnie Bustos. “We don’t want to

See CONVENTION page 12

NEWSSGA tackles issues at first constitutional conventionBy LUKE KOONGThe Pan American

A leading food management serv-

ices company in North America has

taken measures to improve the quality of

food for its more than 6,000 clients,

including The University of Texas-Pan

American.

In January, Sodexho announced its

conversion to zero trans fat oil, or trans

fat free, service nationwide.

Trans fat is formed when liquid

vegetable oils go through a chemical

process known as hydrogenation, which

raises bad cholesterol levels that may

increase the risk of developing heart dis-

ease, according to the Food and Drug

Administration.

“We want to let students know that

we’re taking a proactive approach to

what they’re eating,” said Elson Rivera,

Sodexho general manager at UTPA.

Students do not have to worry

about their favorite dish being less tasty,

according to Rivera. In fact, not a single

customer has noticed the transition to

zero trans fat oil in the food that they eat

since the switch.

By ANNA FLORESThe Pan American

By SARAH JESKEThe Pan American

MATAMOROS

See SODEXHO page 12

UTPA’s foodsupplier

goes health-conscious

“Hopefully the change tozero trans fat oil will have apositive outcome so that wecan be healthier.”

- Florencio Martinezcriminal justice major

Page 4 NEWS March 21, 2007

March 21, 2007 NEWS Page 5

University officials tacklepedestrian hazards

Saving a few seconds by choosing

to ignore the lights at street crosswalks

can be a dangerous and expensive

choice, according to officials at the

Department of Environmental Health

and Safety at The University of Texas-

Pan American.

In an effort to evaluate and main-

tain crosswalk safety, the department has

spent over $125,000 revamping cross-

walks and strongly encourages their

usage, according to Richard Costello,

director of the DEHS.

Costello said that increased traffic

along Highway 107 has caused the uni-

versity to address the dangers of jay-

walking for all involved parties.

“If you don’t put a crosswalk [in a

place one is needed], the burden on

being safe is placed solely and in most

cases on the motorist,” he said.

“However when you put up the cross-

walk, you now share that burden.”

Currently, there are about 30 cross-

walks around campus. Consultants were

hired to estimate traffic and pedestrian

activity in these areas, in order to better

accommodate the crosswalks. The proj-

ect is currently about three-quarters

done, according to Costello.

In recent years UTPA has seen var-

ious instances in which students were

hurt because of not properly using the

crosswalks.

Costello recalls one student who

was standing a few feet from a cross-

walk, but chose to jaywalk. The person

had not measured the distance of the

approaching vehicle accurately.

While the student suffered only

minor injuries, cases like these make the

department always consider the worst-

case scenario. Others are on board, so to

speak.

“Not everybody follows the rules,”

Alex Morales, a junior psychology

major, said. “It’s all about the conven-

ience of the situation.”

Crossing at an appointed spot may

seem a burden to many, but James Loya,

assistant chief of police at UTPA, said

that jaywalking has costly consequences.

“Our patrol officers enforce all traf-

fic laws,” he said. “The officers will issue

citations if they witness the violation.”

Currently, the fine can be up to

$500.00 and is a class C Misdemeanor,

according to Loya.

Crosswalks have to meet very

picky specifications, which include

length, color of striping and the types of

warning signs that should be placed in

the vicinity.

According to the National Safety

Council, each year, automobiles kill

about 5,900 pedestrians, while 84,000

pedestrians suffer nonfatal injuries in the

United States alone.

Costello said with so many inci-

dents occurring every year, crosswalk

safety is an important issue. Moreover,

he said if anybody sees anything wrong

with campus crosswalks, they are

instructed to contact the university safe-

ty department.

By MANUEL TISCARENOThe Pan American

Rafel Roux/The Pan American

JAYWALKER - A UTPA student crosses Schunior Road without using the nearbycrosswalk. UTPA officials are currently cracking down on crosswalk use.

Rafael Roux/The Pan AmericanSPEAKING OUT - Alyssa Burgin, a member of Texas for Peace, visited The University of Texas-PanAmerican March 8 to speak to the Students for Peace organization.

“Our patrol officersenforce all traffic laws. Theofficers will issue citations ifthey witness the violation.”

- James Loyaassistant chief of police

McDonald’s fué nombrado “El

mejor lugar de trabajo para minorías,”

por la revista Fortune en 2005. Sin

embargo, algunos dicen que tal vez eso

sea verdad para los que trabajan en el

restaurante, haciendo sandwiches y

manejando embarques, pero no es el

mismo caso para los que cosechan los

tomates de la popular cadena.

Todos los días McDonald’s alimen-

ta a aproximadamente 46 millones de

personas, de acuerdo con estudios

hechos por la investigadora de medios

Super Size Me, que también fué respon-

sable por el documental del mismo nom-

bre. A causa de la demanda de hambur-

guesas y sandwiches, McDonald’s ha

apalancado un poder adquisitivo masivo,

comprando tomates por toneladas.

Comprar al por mayor no es un

hábito nuevo. Grandes compañías lo han

hecho para recortar costos por décadas.

Sin embargo, trabajadores en

Immokalee, un centro agricultural

mayor en Florida, hablaron abiertamente

acerca de su lucha por recoger tomates a

40 centavos por cubeta de 32 libras.

En un documental creado por la

Coalición de Trabajadores de

Immokalee, los trabajadores fueron

entrevistados acerca de las condiciones

de trabajo. Un miembro de CTI dijo que

el tenía jornadas de trabajo de 12 horas y

ganaba de $40 a $50 por día.

El CTI es una organización comu-

nitaria de trabajadores que se preocupa

por las condiciones de trabajo y de vida

de personas en trabajos de salario bajo a

lo largo de Florida. No obstante, la coali-

ción no es la única organización que

demanda responsabilidad social de la

McDonald’s Corp.

Estudiantes y miembros de la

comunidad en el sur de Texas han estado

metiéndose en la acción también.

Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de

Aztlan, una organización en la

Universidad de Texas-Pan American, ha

unido fuerzas con la Alianza de la Paz

Mundial para educar a los ciudadanos

del área sobre derechos de trabajo.

“Estamos aqui para crear concien-

cia acerca de la opresión de los traba-

jadores granjeros a escala nacional,” dijo

Hector Guzman, un estudiante de

filosofía y representante de MEChA.

Una manera en la que esas organi-

zaciones crean conciencia es a través de

documentales abiertos al público, donde

distribuyen material informativo. Un

poco de ese material fue expuesto por

MEChA en un evento en el Student

Union dia 8 de Marzo 8.

Mientras esperaban afuera del

teatro antes de que la película comen-

zara, los miembros del club recordaban

acerca de sus propias experiencias traba-

jando en los campos; su participación de

primera mano es parte de la razón por la

que son tan firmes acerca del tema.

“Nosotros queremos que la gente

se entere de cuán duro trabajan las per-

sonas en los campos y el poco respeto

que reciben por eso,” dijo Vicky

Lorraine, un miembro de APM.

Nacionalmente, CTI está haciendo

difusión acerca de una protesta que será

en Abril 13-14 afuera de la oficina cen-

tral de McDonald’s en Chicago.

“Estamos intentando juntar dinero

para ir a Chicago. Queremos mostrar

nuestro apoyo a los trabajadores de

Immokalee y a todos los demas,” dijo

Lorraine.

UN NUEVO OBJETIVOEsta no es la primera vez que CTI ha

puesto su mira en una compañia grande.

En 2005 el grupo mantuvo protestas a

nivel nacional fuera de Taco Bell hasta

que Yum Brand Corp., dueños de la cade-

na, elevaron el salario mínimo un centavo

por libra de tomates recogidos.

Elizabeth Wagoner, una estudiante

de leyes en la Universidad de Texas-

Austin y un miembro de la Alianza de

Estudiantes Trabajadores de Granja,

espera que el resultado de sus esfuerzos

con McDonald’s sea similar.

“Estas grandes compañías necesitan

saber que tienen una gran responsabilidad

social, y que ellos necesitan asegurar los

derechos humanos de los trabajadores del

campo,” Wagoner dijo.

La compañía McDonald’s asegura

que está pagando a todos los trabajadores

de campo al menos un centavo por libra.

Esta paga, sin embargo, no cumple con el

salario mínimo, y es la misma paga que

los trabajadores ganaban en 1978.

Llamadas y correos electrónicos a la

oficina central de McDonald’s para

respuestas a las acusaciones no fueron

devueltas al tiempo de la impresión.

En el Valle, activistas en apoyo de los

trabajadores de campo continúan difundi-

endo las noticias acerca de los derechos, o

la falta de, según como lo vean.

Visita http://www.myspace.com/

wpeacea_events para información en

eventos por venir.

Grupos presionan a McDonald’s para mejores salariosPor SARAH JESKETraducido Por JUAN PINTORThe Pan American

EN ESPAÑOLEl Centro Académico Regional deSalud (RAHC) recibió una subvenciónde $1.2 milliones para investigaciónsobre enfermedades que afectan lapoblación Hispana.

Noticias en breve:

The University Program Board

Nightlife Committee presented the

“Happy Hour, Comedy with a Twist”

tour with comedian Bernie McGrenahan

March 7 at the Student Union Theater.

McGrenahan opened the 7 p.m.

show with comedy that made the audi-

ence laugh from the moment he stepped

on stage. After about 30 minutes of hilar-

ious jokes, he continued the show by

talking about his experience with alcohol

and drugs and how he successfully over-

came those problems.

The tour, which is now 10 years

old, reaches about 65 universities and

colleges every year.

“I am really excited about the fact

that the Happy Hour tour will turn 10 this

year,” McGrenahan said. “I tour six

months with Happy Hour and six months

with regular comedy and people seem to

enjoy my show, which is very important

for its success.”

The comedian, who shares his life

experiences with students all over the

country in hopes of making a difference

in their lives, decided to start the tour

after he found out the high rate of alco-

hol consumption by students, especially

in college.

“Alcohol is a drug and it should be

treated as one,” McGrenahan said.

“People think that alcohol is essential to

have fun at a party, when in reality it is

not. It is something that is creating a lot

of problems.”

Carlos Gonzalez, a junior mechani-

cal engineering major at The University

of Texas-Pan American, enjoyed the

message McGrenahan delivered to the

audience.

“I really liked the fact that he talked

about his problem with alcohol without

trying to make us stop drinking,”

Gonzalez said. “He just presented his

experience and how he got out of his

problem, but never trying to make us

change our lifestyle.”

According to McGrenahan his

show makes a difference because he

doesn’t preach, “Don’t drink,” but out-

lines the problems of drinking and makes

students aware of what could happen to

them.

He addresses the social norm that

validates how much alcohol students

actually drink, but acknowledges that

most students of legal drinking age do

consume alcohol moderately and respon-

sibly.

“You can’t tell someone to not

drink because some people can drink

responsibly,” he said. “Some students

can drink twice a month and only have a

couple of beers. It’s the people that go

out several nights a week and get drunk

each night that I’m trying to get across

to.”

McGrenahan was voted the most

important comedian in America by the

L.A. Daily News because of the message

he shares.

“I really think that’s a very impor-

tant compliment,” the comedian said. “It

was a critic’s opinion after watching the

show. He really liked the fact that I was

doing something more than just offering

laughter to the audience.”

“Happy Hour” attempts to inspire

students to achieve their dreams by deal-

ing with life’s obstacles in a positive

way.

By LESLIE ESTRADAThe Pan American

For more information aboutMcGrenahan and his tour, visitwww.happyhourcomedy.com.

For Ricardo and Debbie Backal,

collecting art is a way of life. But their

focus isn’t on big- name pieces. Instead,

they have amassed a collection of retab-

los, also known as laminas, which are

small oil paintings on tin, wood, copper

or zinc.

The couple, originally from

Mexico City, has a strong passion for art

and the stories that lay behind it.

According to Debbie Backal, these

paintings originated not among profes-

sional artists, but among grateful wor-

shippers who wanted to say thank you.

“The story behind this collection is

that these are basically hung in churches

or home altars,” Backal said. “They are

mainly made by people who wanted to

thank saints for miracles and hang them

on the altar. And it’s not that it’s a famous

artist, but the story behind the painting.”

During the time that this art form

began, the paintings would be hung in

churches. Later, in the 1800s, when less

expensive materials such as copper and

tin made the paintings available to the

masses, they were hung in home altars

as a source of spiritual strength and

appreciation.

This art form was most well known

during the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries.

Now, an exhibit titled “Retablos: The

Art of Faith” has come to the Visitors

Center at The University of Texas-Pan

American.

“UTPA brings exhibits that might

not otherwise be seen by the Rio Grande

Valley community,” said Sally

Mendiola, associate director of admis-

sions and new student services.

Each painting depicts a religious

image, mostly of saints, Jesus, Virgin

Mary and angels. The artworks use bold,

rich colors to evoke emotions from a

two-dimensional image.

The exhibit on display at UTPA is

one part of a larger collection. Another

portion is on display at the International

Museum of Arts and Sciences in

McAllen, and features silver pieces from

colonial Mexico.

“[Collecting] has been a family

hobby for over 50 years,” Backal said.

“You start buying and researching and

find something interesting and that’s

how it starts.”

For the Backals, the exhibits repre-

sent a tie to Mexico, one that they want

to share.

“We want students to get in touch

with Mexico, with their family and their

roots,” she said. “This can help them

come closer to that.”

&RTSNTERTAINMENT

Editor’s Pick:

‘Retablos’ exhibit embodies spirituality, gratitudeBy ANGELA SALAZARThe Pan American

Comic brings valuable message to UTPA students

Must-See Movie“Dead Silence” is the lat-est offering from theminds behind the popular

“Saw” series.E A

Tabitha Arce/The Pan American

LAUGHTER, LESSONS - Critically acclaimed comedian Bernie McGrenahan brought “Happy Hour,” a comedy act thatstresses the hazards of excessive drinking, to UTPA students on March 7.

Joey Cortez/The Pan American

SPIRITUAL ART - The University of Texas-Pan American’s Visitors Center is currently hosting an exhibit titled “Retablos:The Art of Faith,” which features religious paintings called retablos or laminas.

For more information, contactthe Visitors Center at (956)292-7338.

March 21, 2007 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Page 9Page 8 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT March 21, 2007

The music industry has taken on various shapes andforms over time. With each passing year come new artistswith new sounds to entertain and inspire the ever-changingmusic-buying public.

What happens to the old artists? Well it is up to them toreinvent themselves and keep up with the change in trends,thereby reinforcing their staying power while continuing toplease old fans and win new ones.

On the other hand, there are some artists who haveproven their longevity without succumbing to thevarious trends shown by their young rivals.Holding true to the sounds and styles thatmade them famous, some artists have con-sistently managed to produce criticallyacclaimed records while refusing togive in to the latest musical fad.

But while these artists maystick to their traditional formulas,

there is a price they must pay. Even though an artist may beestablished, success doesn’t include automatic or lifelong ado-ration from the industry, at least not if they aren’t consideredto be the hottest thing at the moment. As a result, an artist cango on producing albums that bring in respectable sales, butstill be given very little attention from the media or public.

However there are those who feel that some of them areworth a second look.

BORN TO FLYWhen it comesto country

m u s i c

sirens, Shania Twain, Faith Hill and Leann Rimes areprobably the first names that come to mind. Yet one thatdoesn’t pop into the minds of country lovers, at least notright away, is that of Sara Evans.

Even in the world of country, Evans’ popularity is lim-ited, especially in certain circles where she is referred to as“the poor man’s Shania.” But those who have been fans ofthe singer certainly have plenty of reasons to adore her.

Evans entered the country music world at the age of25. Her debut album “Three Chords and the Truth,” wasreleased in the summer of 1997 and introduced the up-and-coming singer as someone to watch out for. Evans fol-lowed up the next year with her sophomore effort “NoPlace That Far,” which was certified gold. The albums“Born to Fly” (2000), “Restless” (2003), and “Real FinePlace” (2005) were all hits, selling millions of copies inAmerica.

With hits such as “Cheatin’” and “Backseat of aGreyhound Bus,” Evans has said that it’s her honesty thathas helped her achieve success.

“People always say you can tell the real deal, and Ifeel like there’s nothing fake about what I do,” Evans saidin a 2003 interview with The Herald Journal. “It’s justalways been my life.”

Critics have always loved Evans, calling her heart-felt material edgy, earthy and raw. Yet for all her suc-

cess, she has never managed to achieve the samelevel of fame as some of her contemporaries. Asidefrom a brief stint on last season’s “Dancing withthe Stars,” mainstream notoriety continues toelude her.

I JUST WANNA ROCK DJHailing from England, 33-year-old

pop/rocker Robbie Williams is the mostsought after and beloved artist in his nativecountry. With countless albums sold and arecord deal reportedly worth 80 millionpounds (one of the most lucrative inmusic history), Williams has easilybecome one of the most legendary musicmavens in all of Europe.

Williams has charmed and captivat-

ed with his songs, which boast lyrics that are both poeticand deep. This is a sharp contrast to the public Williams,who has a reputation of being overly frank, honest andoftentimes offensive.

Williams first burst into the British music scene in theearly ‘90s as part of the successful boy-band Take That.After the band’s breakup in 1995, Williams went into adeep depression fueled by excessive use of drugs and alco-hol. After cleaning himself up, Williams released “I’veBeen Expecting You” (1997). However, the album was aflop and no one took notice. It wasn’t until his secondalbum, “Life Thru a Lens” (1998), was released a year laterthat people began taking the singer seriously as a soloartist. Records such as “Sing When You’re Winning”(2000), “Escapology” (2002), “Intensive Care” (2005),and “Rudebox” (2006) all followed and to date the contro-versial singer has sold nearly 50 million albums world-wide.

Williams, however, never takes himself as seriously asother people do.

“I come from the tradition of a big Irish family thatloves to sing and perform,” Williams said in a 2000 inter-view with the British magazine “Loaded.” “I’m not amusician, though. I’m an entertainer.”

Although the singer’s 1999 debut single in the states,“Millennium,” did get some attention, his second single“Angels,” wasn’t as well received. Some of his materialhad been released since then, but American music fans did-n’t buy and eventually Williams and his record labelstopped trying. How such a gifted musician can be famousall over the world except in one country will alwaysremain a mystery.

THUG WORLD ORDERIn the world of hip-hop, most casual listeners would-

n’t call Bone Thugs-N-Harmony the frontrunners of thegenre, yet for some, that’s exactly what they are.

Before Eminem and 50 Cent reigned supreme, BoneThugs-N-Harmony made headlines and sold huge numbersof albums to legions of fans. Some feel it was the rap-singing quartet that was most responsible for bringing hip-hop to the mainstream.

For well over a decade, the rap group has passed mile-stones, crossed boundaries and defied the odds in showing

the public the true essence of hip-hop through songs such asthe Grammy-winning “Tha Crossroads.” Though staying trueto the conventions of their chosen music field, the rappershave also tried endlessly to give their music credibility as wellas a voice that many can identify with.

The members of the group - Krayzie Bone, Layzie Bone,Wish Bone and Bizzy Bone - came together in 1990 and bythe following year established their own record label andreleased an independent album, “Faces of Death.”

It wasn’t until 1994 that they were signed to amajor label and released their first mainstreamalbum, “Creepin on ah Come Up” (1994). Thealbum was a hit, selling more than four mil-lion copies worldwide and propelling thegroup - and hip-hop - into the publiceye. Their followup album “E 1999Eternal” (1995), debuted at the topof the pop charts, becoming one ofthe most successful hip-hopalbums to date.

Six albums later, the rapgroup (now down to a trio)has signed what has beencalled a “monumental” dealwith Interscope records andplans to release a newalbum soon.

Member LayzieBone (real name, StevenHowse) feels that it is thegroup’s own life experi-ences that account fortheir resonance with rap-music lovers.

“We talk aboutthings that can happen tous as well as our kinfolkor our kids,” Howse saidin an interview with JazzWeekly.com. “We talkabout the whole experi-ence of what we see andwhat we see our people gothrough.”

While some are quick to forget Bone Thugs-N-Harmony’s imprint on the hip-hop culture, their longevitycannot go unnoticed.

So for every Christina, Fergie and Justin populating (orpolluting) the airwaves, there are those who have consistent-ly strived to produce great music for their loyal fan bases.Even though they may not be on your friends’ top playlists,

these artists have more than proven themselvesin a cutthroat industry. Now only

time will tell if their words,hopes, feelings and fears

will ever again reach thewide audiences some

feel they deserve.

Story By: Frank Calvillo Layout By: Roy Bazan

Current under-appreciated greats to include on your playlists

March 21, 2007 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Page 9Page 8 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT March 21, 2007

The music industry has taken on various shapes andforms over time. With each passing year come new artistswith new sounds to entertain and inspire the ever-changingmusic-buying public.

What happens to the old artists? Well it is up to them toreinvent themselves and keep up with the change in trends,thereby reinforcing their staying power while continuing toplease old fans and win new ones.

On the other hand, there are some artists who haveproven their longevity without succumbing to thevarious trends shown by their young rivals.Holding true to the sounds and styles thatmade them famous, some artists have con-sistently managed to produce criticallyacclaimed records while refusing togive in to the latest musical fad.

But while these artists maystick to their traditional formulas,

there is a price they must pay. Even though an artist may beestablished, success doesn’t include automatic or lifelong ado-ration from the industry, at least not if they aren’t consideredto be the hottest thing at the moment. As a result, an artist cango on producing albums that bring in respectable sales, butstill be given very little attention from the media or public.

However there are those who feel that some of them areworth a second look.

BORN TO FLYWhen it comesto country

m u s i c

sirens, Shania Twain, Faith Hill and Leann Rimes areprobably the first names that come to mind. Yet one thatdoesn’t pop into the minds of country lovers, at least notright away, is that of Sara Evans.

Even in the world of country, Evans’ popularity is lim-ited, especially in certain circles where she is referred to as“the poor man’s Shania.” But those who have been fans ofthe singer certainly have plenty of reasons to adore her.

Evans entered the country music world at the age of25. Her debut album “Three Chords and the Truth,” wasreleased in the summer of 1997 and introduced the up-and-coming singer as someone to watch out for. Evans fol-lowed up the next year with her sophomore effort “NoPlace That Far,” which was certified gold. The albums“Born to Fly” (2000), “Restless” (2003), and “Real FinePlace” (2005) were all hits, selling millions of copies inAmerica.

With hits such as “Cheatin’” and “Backseat of aGreyhound Bus,” Evans has said that it’s her honesty thathas helped her achieve success.

“People always say you can tell the real deal, and Ifeel like there’s nothing fake about what I do,” Evans saidin a 2003 interview with The Herald Journal. “It’s justalways been my life.”

Critics have always loved Evans, calling her heart-felt material edgy, earthy and raw. Yet for all her suc-

cess, she has never managed to achieve the samelevel of fame as some of her contemporaries. Asidefrom a brief stint on last season’s “Dancing withthe Stars,” mainstream notoriety continues toelude her.

I JUST WANNA ROCK DJHailing from England, 33-year-old

pop/rocker Robbie Williams is the mostsought after and beloved artist in his nativecountry. With countless albums sold and arecord deal reportedly worth 80 millionpounds (one of the most lucrative inmusic history), Williams has easilybecome one of the most legendary musicmavens in all of Europe.

Williams has charmed and captivat-

ed with his songs, which boast lyrics that are both poeticand deep. This is a sharp contrast to the public Williams,who has a reputation of being overly frank, honest andoftentimes offensive.

Williams first burst into the British music scene in theearly ‘90s as part of the successful boy-band Take That.After the band’s breakup in 1995, Williams went into adeep depression fueled by excessive use of drugs and alco-hol. After cleaning himself up, Williams released “I’veBeen Expecting You” (1997). However, the album was aflop and no one took notice. It wasn’t until his secondalbum, “Life Thru a Lens” (1998), was released a year laterthat people began taking the singer seriously as a soloartist. Records such as “Sing When You’re Winning”(2000), “Escapology” (2002), “Intensive Care” (2005),and “Rudebox” (2006) all followed and to date the contro-versial singer has sold nearly 50 million albums world-wide.

Williams, however, never takes himself as seriously asother people do.

“I come from the tradition of a big Irish family thatloves to sing and perform,” Williams said in a 2000 inter-view with the British magazine “Loaded.” “I’m not amusician, though. I’m an entertainer.”

Although the singer’s 1999 debut single in the states,“Millennium,” did get some attention, his second single“Angels,” wasn’t as well received. Some of his materialhad been released since then, but American music fans did-n’t buy and eventually Williams and his record labelstopped trying. How such a gifted musician can be famousall over the world except in one country will alwaysremain a mystery.

THUG WORLD ORDERIn the world of hip-hop, most casual listeners would-

n’t call Bone Thugs-N-Harmony the frontrunners of thegenre, yet for some, that’s exactly what they are.

Before Eminem and 50 Cent reigned supreme, BoneThugs-N-Harmony made headlines and sold huge numbersof albums to legions of fans. Some feel it was the rap-singing quartet that was most responsible for bringing hip-hop to the mainstream.

For well over a decade, the rap group has passed mile-stones, crossed boundaries and defied the odds in showing

the public the true essence of hip-hop through songs such asthe Grammy-winning “Tha Crossroads.” Though staying trueto the conventions of their chosen music field, the rappershave also tried endlessly to give their music credibility as wellas a voice that many can identify with.

The members of the group - Krayzie Bone, Layzie Bone,Wish Bone and Bizzy Bone - came together in 1990 and bythe following year established their own record label andreleased an independent album, “Faces of Death.”

It wasn’t until 1994 that they were signed to amajor label and released their first mainstreamalbum, “Creepin on ah Come Up” (1994). Thealbum was a hit, selling more than four mil-lion copies worldwide and propelling thegroup - and hip-hop - into the publiceye. Their followup album “E 1999Eternal” (1995), debuted at the topof the pop charts, becoming one ofthe most successful hip-hopalbums to date.

Six albums later, the rapgroup (now down to a trio)has signed what has beencalled a “monumental” dealwith Interscope records andplans to release a newalbum soon.

Member LayzieBone (real name, StevenHowse) feels that it is thegroup’s own life experi-ences that account fortheir resonance with rap-music lovers.

“We talk aboutthings that can happen tous as well as our kinfolkor our kids,” Howse saidin an interview with JazzWeekly.com. “We talkabout the whole experi-ence of what we see andwhat we see our people gothrough.”

While some are quick to forget Bone Thugs-N-Harmony’s imprint on the hip-hop culture, their longevitycannot go unnoticed.

So for every Christina, Fergie and Justin populating (orpolluting) the airwaves, there are those who have consistent-ly strived to produce great music for their loyal fan bases.Even though they may not be on your friends’ top playlists,

these artists have more than proven themselvesin a cutthroat industry. Now only

time will tell if their words,hopes, feelings and fears

will ever again reach thewide audiences some

feel they deserve.

Story By: Frank Calvillo Layout By: Roy Bazan

Current under-appreciated greats to include on your playlists

It is barely 11:30 p.m. but there are

so many cars that there isn’t a single

empty space in the parking lot.

Customers quickly fill in the parking lot

at the neighboring plaza before heading

inside. That’s how a Wednesday night

goes down at Hillbilly’s in McAllen.

The little club located on 10th

Street near Dove Road was packed.

Nothing less could be expected; it was

Karaoke Night after all – its busiest

night.

Hillbilly’s is a night club and bar

specializing in country music. Open

four days a week, Wednesdays through

Saturdays from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m., this

establishment has really made a name

for itself. According to owner Enrique

Martinez, on Wednesdays it’s almost

impossible to find parking. It’s obvious

the people love it.

Pass by the place any other day,

and one might take it for being rundown

and rather small. It appears desolate and

out of place. Walk inside when it’s open

and it’s a whole different story.

More than 200 people gathered

behind those doors, the music so loud,

you could hear the walls vibrating from

outside.

The club smells of Texan pride. A

black, glittery ceiling appears like the

dark, Texas night sky. Neon beer signs

illuminate the otherwise dark room.

Cow skulls adorn the tin-covered walls.

Texas and U.S. flags hang overhead

near the main bar. Saddles rest on rail-

ings. Televisions display an intense

poker game. A pitcher of beer sits on

each table. Many guys wear cowboy

hats.

To the right of the entrance is

where the party was at. A private booth

with a large, shelved CD collection and

a framed, signed Garth Brooks portrait

stand next to the night’s main attraction

– the stage. Martinez’s son emceed the

night while the audience provided the

entertainment. The majority watched

from their tables. Others hung out and

chatted alongside the bar. The rest two-

stepped their way around the dance

floor.

The left side was a bit calmer;

places to catch your breath, shoot some

pool, throw some darts, hit the slots or

ride “El Gacho,” the mechanical bull. Or

simply chill and down some cold ones.

Named after Tex Ritter’s famous

“Hillbilly Heaven,” the club, which has

been around for almost 20 years, wasn’t

always a club. And it wasn’t something

Martinez had intended on.

“It used to be a lumber yard. It’s

gone through a lot of remodeling,” he

said. “I never really had any intentions

on starting a night club. The opportuni-

ty just presented itself and I took it.”

“The Club with Balls,” as it’s also

called, has only recently drawn in a

huge college crowd, said Martinez, but

it’s never had a weak moment.

“It’s always been very strong.

Always. But Wednesday nights have

grown so much with the college crowd.

Thursdays through Saturdays are for

country – my regulars. Right now [on

Wednesdays] we have all kinds of music:

Tejano, mariachi, even rock n’ roll.”

There’s a reason why it’s been so

successful.

“We ourselves are always here,”

the owner explained. “Me and my

brother always try to be here every

night. We work behind the bar, try to

meet and talk with everyone. It’s more

of a personalized atmosphere.”

Some risk-taking never hurt either.

“Country has always been very

strong for us. Nobody has tackled it. No

one else has risked it,” said Martinez,

who also owns a print shop. “I bought it

very cheap from my brother for

$10,000. I forced my wife into early

retirement and I sold my old house for

down payment.”

Martinez’s risk-taking has certain-

ly paid off. New customers are drawn in

every week.

South Texas College nursing major

Diana Rodriguez, 20, of Weslaco was a

first-timer. Her friend Eloy Rodriguez,

23, was going on his third.

“It’s a cool environment. I have a

lot of friends that come here all the time

just to hang out. I really like it,” Eloy

Rodriguez said.

Diana Rodriguez agreed, saying

the music and companionship were key.

“It’s actually pretty good. The

music is good. There are a lot of peo-

ple,” she said. “Everybody should come

out, have a few drinks and have a good

time.”

Page 10 A & E March 21, 2007

While waiting for “Wild Hogs” to

begin playing, the audience in the the-

ater sat through an endless parade of

coming attractions. As is the case with

most theaters,

the managers

decide what

previews to show based on the type of

movie the people are there to see. In

other words, for someone at a horror

film, all the coming attractions will be of

upcoming horror films. The previews

for “Wild Hogs” were chock full of trail-

ers for lame comedies using tired old

jokes, leaving the audience bored and

restless for the movie to begin.

That should have been the first

clue.

If there’s anything to be said for

“Wild Hogs,” at least it offers up a plot

that is easy to follow and requires little,

if any, thinking on the part of the audi-

ence. The story is about four middle-

aged, motorcycle-riding friends played

by John Travolta, Tim Allen, Martin

Lawrence and William H. Macy. Upon

discovering that something is missing

from their lives, the quartet decides to

embark on a cross-country motorcycle

trip in a bid to recapture their lost youth.

On the way, they encounter a number of

obstacles including a group of blood-

thirsty bikers.

With one of the few remaining

plots that haven’t been done to death,

“Wild Hogs” started out promisingly

enough with light and comical introduc-

tions about each character that gave the

audience information about their lives.

However it wasn’t long before the

movie fell into a number of cliché-rid-

den traps using recycled sight gags and

lines that bear resemblance to those in a

number of other slapstick comedies.

Perhaps the reason most of the audience

watching “Wild Hogs” wasn’t laughing

was that they already knew what was

coming next.

At just over two hours, “Wild

Hogs” runs way longer than it should, a

gross misstep for any movie to make.

The film’s length is due to a number of

useless and unfunny scenes that are

inserted between the ones that actually

matter to the story. Sequences such as

having three of the main characters

interact with an angry bull prove unnec-

essary but remain in the film, much to

the audience’s chagrin.

If there’s one thing “Wild Hogs”

will be remembered for, it’s the odd

casting choices. If you had asked me

before if I thought that any of these four

actors would ever be in a film together, I

would have said no way. Although I

would have been wrong, my reaction

would have been justified.

This film proves to be nothing new

for Lawrence and Allen, both of whom

coast through with their trademark

humor intact. The two former sitcom

stars are used to projects like this, espe-

cially Allen, who played a similar role in

the 1997 comedy “For Richer or

Poorer,” opposite Kirstie Alley.

The real question is how Travolta,

who just finished playing real-life detec-

tive Elmer C. Robison in the true-crime

drama “Lonely Hearts,” and Macy, who

was excellent as the frustrated hotel

manager in last year’s “Bobby,” got

stuck in such a bland comedy. While

Travolta is embarrassingly miscast, it is

nice to see Macy, who plays the shy and

meek member of the group, display a

sharp sense of physical comedy he has

rarely shown.

While well-respected actors such

as Marisa Tomei and Ray Liotta are rel-

egated to the sidelines with virtually

nothing to do, the principle actors are

indeed the movie’s saving grace.

Knowing that the movie won’t win

them any new fans or accolades, the

group enjoys being in the film and all

genuinely seem to be having fun with

this project. After all, what actor would

turn down a chance to play slapstick in a

movie that requires them to do very lit-

tle, all the while collecting an enormous

Hollywood paycheck? Not many.

By FRANK CALVILLOThe Pan American

By JEANETTE PEREZThe Pan American

Bland new comedyrecycles gags, lines

LOOKING FOR ADVENTURE - (from left to right) John Travolta, MartinLawrence, William H. Macy and Tim Allen star in the new buddy comedy “Wild

Essence of honky tonkalive, kickin’ at Hillbilly’s

About.com

Moses Garcia/The Pan AmericanSALOON DAYS - Hillbilly’s in McAllen brings back the feeling of an old-fashioned Texas hang-out complete with music,karaoke, drinks, dancing and a game of pool.

March 21, 2007 NEWS Page 11

ARREST continued from page 1eases that most affect the Hispanic pop-

ulation, such as schizophrenia and dia-

betes, according to lead researcher Dr.

Michael A. Escamilla, a professor of

psychiatry at UTHSC.

“They’re chronic illnesses that

spring up from genetic and environmen-

tal factors,” he said. “Much of who we

are comes in large part of what we inher-

it from family.”

Escamilla agreed that working in

an area where many family members

stay in contact with one another is bene-

ficial to the research, as it will provide a

stable environment for them to conduct

studies that will involve families of the

same genetic makeup and Hispanic

background.

The grant came as a result of Texas

Legislature appropriations, which offi-

cials from the City of Edinburg lobbied

for in Austin last month.

State Sen. Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa,

who was partly responsible for sponsor-

ing the bill to authorize a RAHC in the

Valley, said the funding should help

develop research and is a big step in

making the RGV an epicenter for med-

ical discovery.

“My hope is that [the RAHC] will

become a freestanding medical school

and cut the strings from UTPA,”

Hinojosa said. “That is my promise to

you.”

The RAHC is equipped with 12

state-of-the-art laboratories including a

Biosafety Level 3 lab, which provides a

place for graduate and undergraduate

students to develop their interest in

research and medicine without having to

leave the area.

Cardenas said she is devoted to

making the necessary decisions to

address the issues of medical research

and education in the area.

“We have an urgent need,” she

said. “Just two weeks ago all the emer-

gency rooms [in the area] were full.

That shows you we’re short of health

care.”

Cigarroa added that any and all

support for the facility and its research is

necessary for the development of the

Valley.

“We’re really trying to set the stage

for any citizen to reach the stars,” he

said.

GRANT continued from page 1

Gamboa admitted that while recur-

ring arrests of professors for sex-related

crimes does reflect poorly on the univer-

sity, there is little solution.

“Is there anything they really can

do?” he asked. “I mean, he did this in his

own home. What right does the school

have to know what someone does at

home?”

In a statement released to the press,

University Relations said the university

takes allegations and charges against

their employees “very seriously.”

“We will cooperate fully with

authorities if and when we are asked,”

said the statement. “If there is any offi-

cial investigation and proceeding by the

authorities, the university will take

appropriate action within our well estab-

lished policies if and as needed.”

Currently, there is no evidence that

shows Butler used university computers

to access pornographic sites, according

to The Monitor.

Moreover, Gamboa said the fact

that he was taught by a teacher who is

accused of such heinous acts does both-

er him. However, he said Butler was

nonetheless a good teacher.

“What he (allegedly) did was still

wrong and he should still be punished,”

he said. “He just did a good job hiding it,

and it didn’t affect his work.”

If convicted, Butler could serve up

to 20 years in prison.

SHUTDOWN continued from page 1

hours per day to visit sites like Google,

Myspace and Facebook because she sees

the computer as the best way to commu-

nicate with others.

“Some people would probably just

use their cell phone to talk to other peo-

ple,” she said. “There’s always an alter-

native to communication but it’s cheap-

er to talk on the Internet than a cell

phone.”

Conversely, James Elizondo, a

sophomore TV/film major from

McAllen, said he wouldn’t mind giving

up his personal computer for 24 hours.

But he noted other technological

options.

“My own computer, I can do that

because I have my cell phone and if not

I have television,” he said.

Elizondo did say that he would be

able to find other things to do besides

sitting in front of a computer screen. He

said he would watch TV, play his guitar,

go watch a movie, play pool and go out

with friends.

Elizondo, who works at an insur-

ance company, said the absence of

computers would set the company back

by slowing down business. However,

he does suggest that the idea of

Shutdown Day would have an effect on

others.

“This would be positive for kids

because they would notice that it’s not

the end of the world and they won’t die

without using a computer for a day,” he

said.

Shutdown Day will take place

Saturday from midnight to 11:59 p.m.

On Sunday the creators of the event will

have a display on their Web site showing

the Internet traffic and asking for people

to post comments about their life with-

out a computer for a day. For more infor-

mation visit www.shutdownday.org.

“Sometimes when I forgetmy cell phone or my iPod, Ifeel naked, so I couldn’timagine going a day without a

computer.”

- Kayleigh Rose Garciajunior English major

BIG MONEY - Dr. Francisco Cigarroa, president of UTHSC, announced the $1.2 million grant that was awarded to TheUniversity of Texas-Pan American’s Regional Academic Health Center March 9.

Sidney Meadows/The Pan American

Could you go one daywithout a computer?

www.shutdownday.org

47,846Yes No

As of 10 a.m. March 20

7,371

Page 12 NEWS March 21, 2007

Rivera said a few faculty members

have become aware of the change, but

only after seeing the “zero trans fat”

label on menus.

Yvette Arredondo, a sociology

major from Mission, eats regularly at the

Student Union and cafeteria. She said

she did not notice the change in the type

of oil used. But she was appreciative.

“It’s good that the university is try-

ing to help students eat healthier because

there are many overweight people on

campus,” Arredondo said.

The problem with obesity is far

from a university exclusive problem.

Over 60 million adults in the United

States are considered obese. Wide-

spread concern about obesity has

prompted the university to exercise all

possible measures to alleviate the prob-

lem, according to Rivera.

But Arredondo said she remains

skeptical of the efforts.

“I don’t think it’s going to make

much of a difference,” she said.

The FDA estimates that the average

daily intake of trans fat nationwide is 5.8

grams for people that are 20 years of age

and older. Forty percent of the major

food sources of trans fat for adults are

contained in bakery products such as

bread, cookies and cakes. For this rea-

son, Rivera realizes the importance of

the conversion.

“A lot of students tend to overeat,”

Rivera said. “Most of the time it’s hard

for students to eat the healthiest foods. In

many cases they are away from home

and nobody controls what they eat, espe-

cially if there is an all-you-can-eat buffet

like the one here on campus.”

The FDA suggests checking nutri-

tion facts, limiting intake of foods that

are high in cholesterol and choosing

foods that are low in saturated and trans

fat to construct a more nutritionally ade-

quate diet.

Florencio Martinez, a criminal jus-

tice major, said he believes the new

measures being taken by the university

will prove beneficial.

“Hopefully the change to zero trans

fat oil will have a positive outcome so

that we can be healthier,” he said.

SODEXHO continued from page 3

CONVENTION continued from page 3

outline and detail everything, but some

things are not quite as specific as we

would like.”

Another example cited was within

the Personnel Committee. It is allowed

to file grievances against senators, but

there is no definite process outlined in

the constitution for the committee to fol-

low.

The judicial branch is another area

of concern. Currently, the president is

allowed to appoint all three justices,

which Matamoros said could lead to

bias in the branch. An idea has been

brought forth which would create stag-

gered terms for justices. The president

would be allowed to appoint one justice

to a two-year term. Bustos said SGA

would like to expand the roles and

responsibilities of the judicial branch to

keep the branch active in the governing

process.

SGA also hopes to create more

positions, define the roles of committees

and senators and expand the roles of the

president, according to Matamoros.

“If you have a government that is

dysfunctional because of all these struc-

tural discrepancies, you’ll never get any-

where,” he said. “Our idea is to fix as

much as possible and avoid a lot of the

personal interpretations of what the con-

stitution means.”

The constitutional convention has

been a passion for Matamoros, who

wanted to implement it last year. He

authored Senate Bill 009, which was

passed last month.

Matamoros said the idea for reform

has been present for several semesters.

“This was something we wanted to

do last year, but there wasn’t as much

enthusiasm about it as there is now,” he

commented.

In order for the senate to keep the

student body’s interests in mind,

Matamoros said it is important that

reform take place.

“Increasingly, the senate is con-

cerned more with senate issues and not

student issues because they are trying to

fight over themselves on these constitu-

tional issues,” he said.

Matamoros said the changes

wouldn’t affect students’ everyday lives,

but would help ensure their concerns

were being fully addressed.

“Largely, it won’t affect students

immediately, but it will affect how their

government is being run,” the senator

said. “It’s important though because

these problems are not being clarified

and creates conflict within the senate.”

The convention was open to all stu-

dents. Only students appointed by a

campus organization were allowed to

vote on the proposals, however.

“We really targeted student organi-

zations because they’re already active on

campus. They are the ones who have

first-hand experiences with campus con-

cerns,” Bustos said.

Matamoros stressed it was impor-

tant for the senate to receive student

input.

“Senators can get together and

reform the constitution, but that’s not the

best way to do it,” he said. “It will have

the label that this was what students

wanted.”

Bustos said having student input

will help create new ideas and bring

forth new referendums. The creation of

the Student Union and the future

Wellness Center began in similar fash-

ion.

The reforms proposed and passed

at the convention will now go before the

senate for approval. With a two-thirds

vote, those proposals will then be passed

to the student body during the April elec-

tion. With majority approval by the stu-

dents, the proposals will then go before

the university administration for final

approval.

SGA estimates that by early next

year or late this year, the final draft of

the constitution might be ready, depend-

ing on how long the university adminis-

trators take to review the changes.

“We’re going to try to advocate for

them to do it as soon as possible because

we did this for a certain reason and

would like it implemented before the

next student government comes in,”

Matamoros said.

He said holding the constitutional

convention is a historic jump for SGA

and the students it serves.

“We hope that this can be a learn-

ing experience for students and we want

to get them as involved as possible with

their student government,” Matamoros

said. “Hosting this event means we care

about student input and we want to know

what they think about what we’re pro-

posing.”

MCDONALD’S continued from page 3

are the best because they talk to the

workers out in the fields,” Guzman said.

MEChA hosted an event in the

Student Union March 8 to show these

films.

While standing outside the theater

before the viewing began, club members

reminisced about their own experiences

working in the fields; their firsthand

involvement is part of the reason they

are so adamant about the subject.

“We want people to know how hard

people work in the fields and how little

respect they get for it,” said Vicky

Lorraine, a member of WPA.

Nationally, CIW is spreading word

about a protest to be held April 13-14

outside McDonald’s headquarters in

Chicago. And members desperately want

to be there to pitch in.

“We are trying to raise money to

get to Chicago. We want to show our

support to the Immokalee workers and

everyone else,” Lorraine said.

Elizabeth Wagoner, a law student at

The University of Texas-Austin and

Student Farm Worker Alliance member,

said that the rally in Chicago is the main

event of the CIW’s Truth Tour.

The tour is a campaign that will

start in Immokalee and travel across

the United States educating people

about fieldworker’s low wages and

less than par work conditions.

A NEW TARGETThis is not the first time CIW has

set its sights on a large corporation. In

2005 the group held nationwide

protests outside of Taco Bell until the

Yum Brand Corp., owners of the chain,

raised the minimum wage of farm

workers one penny per pound of toma-

toes picked.

Wagoner hopes the result of their

efforts with McDonald’s is similar.

“These big corporations need to

know they have a lot of social responsi-

bility, and that they need to ensure the

human rights of the farm workers,”

Wagoner said.

The McDonald’s Corp. ensures that

it’s paying all farm workers at least one

penny per pound. In fact, most laborers

in Immokalee earn 40 cents per 32-

pound bucket. This wage, however, does

not meet minimum wage standards and

is the same rate field workers earned in

1978.

“The CIW is asking that

McDonald’s become responsible for its

community,” Wagoner said.

Repeated calls and e-mails to

McDonald’s headquarters for a response

to the allegations facing it were not

returned at press time.

In the Valley, activists in support of

farm workers are continuing to spread

the news about rights, or lack thereof as

they see it.

They are also getting ready for

Farm Worker Action Week, March 25 –

April 4. Check out http://www.myspace.

com/wpeacea_events for information on

upcoming events.

YUM - Luis Gonzalez, a sophomore political science major, is one of many studentswho continue to enjoy food in the cafeteria after Sodexo’s decision to begin cookingwith trans fat-free oil.

Joey Cortez/The Pan American

“A lot of the senates in thepast have had a lot of internalproblems over the years. Themain purpose is to allow stu-dents to participate in theprocess of reformation.”

- Tony Matamorossenator-at-large

“We are here to createawareness about farm workeropression nationwide.”

- Hector GuzmanMEChA representative

“It’s good that the universi-ty is trying to help studentseat healthier because thereare many overweight peopleon campus.”

- Yvette Arredondosociology major

The majority of trans fat canbe found in shortenings, stickmargarine, cookies, crack-ers, snack foods, fried foods,doughnuts, pastries, bakedgoods and other processedfoods made with or fried inpartially hydrogenated oils.

Did you know?

So if any of you are into March

Madness, you most likely filled out a

bracket for the Men’s NCAA

Basketball Tournament. And, unless

you’re Biff from “Back to the Future,”

you wouldn’t have seen Virginia

Commonwealth University upsetting

Duke. As of today, my bracket sits at

64.6 percent correct.

My Final Four is already devastat-

ed. Judging by current progress, my per-

centage will probably get worse.

On the other hand, my fantasy bas-

ketball team, the Cows, is recovering.

The return of Yao Ming has boosted me

into fourth place after I had been sitting at

11th or 12th for much of the season. Now

all I need are players who can improve

my free-throw percentage category. I only

won three points from it last week.

And let’s not get into my Fantasy

Premier League team. Perhaps it would

help if I knew more players…

So, here’s to a predictable

Regionals round in the NCAA

Tournament. Here’s to a good week in

the NBA for all of the Texas teams, espe-

cially Houston.

And here’s to the staff of The Pan

American as we set out to compete

against the rest of Texas at the Texas

Intercollegiate Press Association com-

petition in San Antonio (which happens

to be hosting the South Regionals

action).

Please send all questions, com-

ments or pictures of Shih Tzu’s to

[email protected].

BASEBALL

Statistics current as of March 19

AVG AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI EPlayer

Gonzalez, R. .333 105 20 35 4 1 0 17 1Flores, O. .321 112 13 36 11 0 0 16 8Hutcherson, J. .273 33 6 9 3 0 0 4 0Tognietti, D. .272 92 13 25 7 0 3 12 4Garcia, A. .263 80 12 21 1 0 0 6 5Johnson, J. .254 59 10 15 0 0 0 5 7Brooks, P. .239 113 17 27 7 0 5 21 3Guzman, M. .211 95 12 20 1 0 0 4 8Autrey, L. .208 101 11 21 3 0 0 10 2Bartosh, L. .200 25 0 5 1 0 0 2 0Bourn, N. .195 41 3 8 1 0 0 4 0Dugas, J. .174 23 4 4 0 0 0 3 0Guajardo, A. .167 6 0 1 0 0 0 0 0Whittlesey, B. .163 43 4 7 0 0 0 4 0Smith, Z. .160 25 0 4 0 0 0 2 0Spears, N. .000 10 1 0 0 0 0 0 0Honeycutt, B. .000 8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0Garza, E. .000 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 0Davila, S. .000 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0Linder, C. .000 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1

Team Total .244 975 128 238 39 1 8 110 45

Pitching statistics

ERA W-L APP SV IP H R ER HRPlayers

Flores, O. 0.00 0-0 3 2 3.0 2 0 0 0Wymer, J. 2.95 3-4 8 0 55.0 45 25 18 1Linder, C. 3.21 1-0 3 0 14.0 13 6 5 0Silva, R. 4.11 1-0 10 2 15.1 22 9 7 0Guajardo, A. 6.75 1-3 11 0 41.1 58 35 31 3Johnson, J. 7.04 0-0 2 0 7.2 12 12 6 1Hutcherson, J. 7.11 1-0 5 0 6.1 7 5 5 0Rodriguez, P. 7.45 0-0 7 0 9.2 14 9 8 0Davila, S. 7.71 1-4 19 4 25.2 25 26 22 2Smolen, B. 7.89 3-3 7 0 29.2 48 29 26 3Cisper, C. 8.54 0-4 7 0 32.2 40 33 31 4Janecka, S. 9.00 0-0 3 0 2.0 7 6 2 1Sheppard, M. 10.03 0-1 7 0 11.2 19 14 13 4Pena, C. 30.00 0-0 3 0 3.0 11 11 10 1Mancini, E. 40.50 0-0 5 0 0.2 3 3 3 0Radermacher, R. 54.00 0-0 1 0 0.1 1 2 2 0

Team Total 6.59 11-19 30 8 258.0 327 225 189 20

March 21, 2007 SPORTS Page 13

ENLIGHTENED BY LUCAS

Predicting a fantasy outcome

Baseball team goes 2-1 in weekend actionUTPA basketball receives honors

By LUKE KOONGThe Pan American

Baseball

The University of Texas-Pan American baseball squad finished its

three-game series with the University of Northern Colorado with a 7-6 vic-

tory Sunday. On St. Patrick’s Day, the Broncs fell by a score of 7-2 after

opening the series on Friday with a win on a Patrick Brooks home run in

the seventh inning. Their weekend work leaves the Broncs at 11-19.

Basketball

Six UTPA basketball players received All-United Basketball League

honors this week. Senior MaHogany Daniel, junior LeKeisha Gray and jun-

ior Tamara Vaughn made the all-conference team, which was announced

Monday. Daniel leaves the Lady Broncs’ program after getting 196 points,

55 blocks and 196 rebounds this season.

Junior Brian Burrell, senior Colin Lien and junior Paul Stoll notched

honors for the men’s side. Burrell was the UBL Newcomer of the Year after

scoring 10 or more points in 25 of 29 games this season. Lien was among

the top 10 players in NCAA Division I Independent for total rebounds and

rebounds per game. Stoll received Independent Newcomer of the Week

three times this season.

Golf

On the golf course, the Lady Broncs finished 10th at the Fifth Annual

Shamrock Intercollegiate on Sunday. Junior Elizabeth Rodriguez and

freshman My Bark were UTPA’s top golfers as both tied for 37th overall.

The golfers will compete again March 26 at the UALR/UNT Golf Classic.

Track & Field

Senior Will Littleton received national recognition March 15 when he

was named to the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches

Association All-American Team. He finished with a height of 7-2.25 in the

high jump and earned seventh place.

The Pan American

MEN’S GOLF SCHEDULE

April 2 Branson Creek InvitationalHost - Missouri State Branson, Mo. All DayApril 3 Branson Creek InvitationalHost - Missouri State Branson, Mo. All DayMay 11 National Minority College Golf Championships

Port St. Lucie, Fla. All DayMay 12 National Minority College Golf Championships


Port St. Lucie, Fla. All Day

WOMEN’S GOLF SCHEDULE

April 2 MSU/Payne Stewart MemorialHost - Missouri State Springfield, Mo. All DayApril 3 MSU/Payne Stewart MemorialHost - Missouri State Springfield, Mo. All DayMay 11 National Minority College Golf Championships



Port St. Lucie, Fla. All Day

April 4 Texas RelaysHost - University of Texas Austin All DayApril 5 Texas RelaysHost - University of Texas Austin All DayApril 6 Texas RelaysHost - University of Texas Austin All DayApril 7 Texas RelaysHost - University of Texas Austin All DayApril 147 ASU/David Noble RelaysHost - Angelo State University San Angelo All DayApril 21 Longhorn InvitationalHost - University of Houston Austin All DayMay 4 Houston InvitationalHost - University of Houston Houston All DayMay 10 ACU Last Chance MeetHost - Abilene Christian Abilene All DayMay 25 NCAA Midwest Regional ChampionshipsHost - Drake University Des Moines, Iowa All Day

May 26 NCAA Midwest Regional ChampionshipsHost - Drake University Des Moines, Iowa All DayJune 6 NCAA Outdoor National ChampionshipsHost - Sacramento State Sacramento, Calif. All DayJune 7 NCAA Outdoor National ChampionshipsHost - Sacramento State Sacramento, Calif. All DayJune 8 NCAA Outdoor National ChampionshipsHost - Sacramento State Sacramento, Calif. All DayJune 9 NCAA Outdoor National ChampionshipsHost - Sacramento State Sacramento, Calif. All DayJune 22 USA Outdoor Championships

Indianapolis, Ind. All DayJune 23 USA Outdoor Championships



Indianapolis, Ind. All Day

MEN’S AND WOMEN’S TRACK AND FIELD SCHEDULE

March 20

Texas-Pan American at A&M-Corpus ChristiA&M-Corpus Christi 4, Texas-Pan American 1

R H ETexas-Pan American 100 000 000 1 5 0A&M-Corpus Christi 000 022 00X 4 12 2Shepherd, Davila (6), Silva (7) and Flores; Wall, Burdine (3), Thompson (6), Harris (8), Maldonado (8) and Plumaj. W-Burdine (1-0);

L-Shepherd (0-2); S-Maldonado (3). HR-A&MCC: Williams, C., Williams, D., Parra.Texas-Pan American (11-20), A&M-Corpus Christi (14-11)

Spring break has come and gone,

and many a student here at The

University of Texas-Pan American has

made the long and weary journey from

the bikini-clad shores of South Padre

Island to the backpack-laden hallways

of the university, with vacation still on

their minds.

With a three-month break on the

distant horizon, many students are look-

ing to beef up or slim down for summer

fun. Some seek out unusual and/or New

Age forms of exercise.

DANCING TO FITNESSOne of the new exercise crazes tak-

ing the Valley by storm issSalsa exer-

cise. Many dance studios around the

Valley, like Salsa Dance and Fitness stu-

dio of McAllen, offer classes to men and

women, feature a vigorous fat burning

exercise while teaching the fiery Latin

dance.

“It is a total body exercise, but it is

also a mind exercise,” says the owner

and creator of Salsa Dance and Fitness,

Orlando Perez. Perez, a founder of the

Salsa McAllen Dance Company, says

that dancing - and helping others devel-

op healthy lifestyles - has become very

important to him.

“I’ve been dancing all my life, and

I am very passionate about what I do,”

he said.

Perez says that clients who have

seriously taken up dance exercise have

seen dramatic results in their overall

health. In fact, salsa dancing can have

such a deep impact that some doctors are

referring patients with heart problems to

the studio.

Male and female clients of Salsa

Dance and Fitness have reported

improvements in their physical and men-

tal well-being, as well as improvements

in their sex lives. For those wondering,

Perez describes salsa dancing as a very

effective form of aerobic exercise.

Although some students may

enjoy the feisty rhythms of salsa, others

prefer the beats and grinds of another

type of dance exercise, the art of

“krumping.” Krumping is a form of

dance exercise invented by Tommy the

Clown in the early ‘90s. It combined

the music of hip-hop and tribal dance

moves to form a rigorous form of break

dancing. This West Coast style has peo-

ple hitting the floor and dropping the fat

at McAllen’s Urban Underground

dance and exercise studio.

At Urban Underground, clients

from seven to 30 years of age practice

dance moves in a relaxed atmosphere.

“We practice the elements of hip-

hop in a positive environment,” says

founder Christie Trevino, a former UTPA

student who has used her extensive dance

background to bring the art and exercise

of krumping to the Valley. In fact, Trevino

was once a member of UTPA’s Folkloric

Dance Company, and studied under

Francisco Munoz and his wife, both pro-

fessors of dance at the university.

The “positive environment” that

Trevino speaks of is one unique to the

Valley exercise scene. When those

working out are tired and wish to take

a break, they can choose to play a little

X-Box in one corner of the building, or

paint their own graffiti art on a wall

used for tagging.

Because krumping requires many

lifts of the body, it is a very effective

way to work on upper body strength.

“People are coming from as far away as

Brownsville to come and participate in

our krumping classes,” Trevino said.

According to her, Krumping is

gaining popularity in the Valley, as evi-

denced by the appearance of her students

krumping at venues such as the South

Texas Scorcher and on television, for the

“Orale Charlie!” show.

ANCIENT BUT NEWWhile some students get down to

the hardcore beats of hip-hop, others -

women in particular - have searched for

a more exotic way of getting in shape.

Their quest has led them to the art of

belly dancing.

Belly dance instructor Monique

Jeffery Sanchez travels the city of

McAllen throughout the week teaching

women the art and exercise of belly

dancing. She teaches classes at Salsa

Dance and Fitness, Cornerstone Fitness

Center and Urban Underground.

The senior sociology and psychol-

ogy major from Belize is a certified per-

sonal trainer and aerobics instructor who

studied with the National Dance

Company of Belize. She says that belly

dancing is “sultry and seductive.”

“Women come in looking for a

physical transformation, but leave hav-

ing both lost weight and having gained

confidence with themselves,” Sanchez

said.

The dance and exercise, which has

attracted women from the age of 16 to

86, burns approximately 300 calories an

hour and serves as a great abdominal

workout.

“The most important result of belly

dancing is not the weight loss,” says

Sanchez, “but the dancer becoming

more comfortable with herself.”

Elizabeth Kennedy/The Pan American

Playing a collegiate sport and being

a full-time student is a balancing act for

many athletes. It takes a certain type of

individual to maintain high standards on

the court and in the classroom. Here at

The University of Texas-Pan American

there are several athletes that have over-

come the obstacles of playing on the

road while managing to excel academi-

cally.

The Bronc Pride 3.0 club is a way

student-athletes can be recognized for

their efforts in the classroom. In the fall

semester, UTPA had 46 student-athletes

maintain a 3.5 grade point average,

including 16 with a 4.0 GPA.

“The 3.0 club is made up of stu-

dent-athletes who’ve had 3.0 or above in

each semester or cumulative GPA,” said

first year Academic Counselor Frances

Garate. “Student-athletes that do have it

are the ones that have really good time

management skills. They report to class

and they do what is asked of them.”

UTPA’s golf squads rank among

the top academically as the Broncs have

a cumulative GPA of 3.292 while the

women recorded the highest of all sports

with 3.519.

Time management is the key to

success when trying to maintain a high

GPA. While some students have a full-

time job, student-athletes view practice

and road trips as full-time commitments.

Traveling is the most difficult part of

being a student-athlete, but with technol-

ogy it seems to bring the classroom clos-

er to the student.

“Traveling is the only difficult part

because you miss class, but most of the

professors are pretty lenient in getting

you caught up. What I found out is that

most of the professors try to help you

and try to make special accommodations

when we are on the road,” said criminal

justice major and basketball forward

Zach Trader.

Doing well as a student-athlete in

the classroom translates to shining on

the court, and coaches will be the first to

tell you that. Head men’s basketball

coach Tom Schuberth recognizes his

athletes’ efforts off the court.

“You want your students-athletes

to be a student first and an athlete sec-

ond. They need to perform in the class-

room. That’s something that’s a given. If

they don’t do well then that’s a correla-

tion that they are not going to do well on

the court,” Schuberth said. “I’m very

proud of the fact that we’ve had several

guys this past semester achieve a 3.0 and

be a role model for some of the other

teammates and some of the fellow ath-

letes on campus.”

Entering freshmen are required to

attend a certain number of study hall

hours each week. If student-athletes fail

to meet these requirements they will suf-

fer the consequences on and off the

court.

Graduate student Ryan Buck, who

is currently working on his master’s in

business administration, agrees that

being a student-athlete is a full-time job.

“You have to go to 10 hours of

study hall, balance class and practice is

like a full-time job,” Buck said. “You

have to make sure to balance all your

school-work with basketball and any-

thing else you got going on in your life.”

Athletes quickly learn that being a

student comes first before anything else.

Lady Bronc Cinthia Ramirez, who will be

a senior on the basketball squad next sea-

son, offered advice for entering freshmen.

“I would tell every freshman to

take their first year serious,” Ramirez

said. “I think your first year is the most

important. It is the base for college. If

you start off really good with your class-

es and learn to manage your time and

work hard, it will get easier at the end.”

Page 14 SPORTS March 21, 2007

Unique fitness regiments find followers in Valley

By KRISTYNA MANCIAS

The Pan American

By PATRICK B. KENNEDYThe Pan American

Student-athletes honored for academic success

IN RHYTHM - Monique Jeffery Sanche, senior sociology and psychology major,teaches belly dancing at Urban Underground.Belly dancing is a good way to loseweight and boost self-confidence.

RAMIREZ BUCK TRADER

To watch a person compete in a

field event is to observe the body in the

purest of physical poetry, agility, grace

and beauty. Though it may seem easy

when you watch the Olympics, The

University of Texas-Pan American field

athletes know how much work it takes to

achieve such perfect grace.

Junior theater major and high

jumper Noel Reyna said the most chal-

lenging aspect of his event is the mental

and physical conflict that comes with it.

“You have to be flexible, you have

to be strong, you have to be quick and

you have to be mentally strong in order

to do the high jump,” Reyna, a native of

Burlington Township, N.J. said. “Your

mind can be your best friend or your

worst enemy.”

Hammer thrower Amanda Ferris

from San Antonio agrees with Reyna as

she said a clear mindset is essential to

performing in her event. Clarity during

the Tom Tellez Invitational helped Ferris

take first place with a 171-7 in the ham-

mer throw.

“The hammer throw is a mind

game. I prepare my mind every day that

I go out to practice,” said the junior kine-

siology major. “I can’t be thinking about

other things. I have to be real relaxed

and I have to have a clear mindset if I

want to throw far.”

For some of the field athletes the

most difficult part of their events is more

physical than mental.

“My events that I participate in

really demonstrate your strength. What

makes them so challenging is that you

have to be really technical. You have to

get the technique down before you even

try to throw far,” said Michelle

Elizondo, a sophomore mathematics

major and shot put/hammer thrower

from Laredo. Elizondo’s best perform-

ances to date have been a 42-3.50 in the

shot put and a 149 in the hammer throw.

Long and triple jumper Liliana

Cavazos of Weslaco agrees with her

teammate Elizondo.

“Both [of my events] are very chal-

lenging because there is a lot of pound-

ing on your body and you have to be

really strong to stay level,” said

Cavazos, a junior kinesiology major.

Cavazos’s physical preparations

have helped her notch a 17-8 in the long

jump and a 37-3 in the triple jump.

Reyna’s father encouraged him to

compete in the high jump.

“Many, many moons ago I saw my

brother compete in the high jump and I

thought to myself, ‘I can do that better’,”

he said. “So I joined the summer track

programs at age 12. I started winning a

couple of meets and setting a couple

middle school and high school records. I

got hooked and I knew this was it.”

Cavazos said it wasn’t watching

someone else do a field event that

inspired her. It was someone guiding her

through the physical process of jumping.

“In the seventh grade I started

jumping, and my coach had gotten mad

at me because I didn’t know how to do

triple,” Cavazos said. “I remember

telling him, ‘Coach, I don’t know what

the triple jump is,’ and he apologized

and taught me how to do it. That was the

event that took me to Junior Olympics,

and state my senior year.”

Many of the athletes take pleasure

in what they do. Cavazos enjoys the glo-

rifying moment of landing.

“The best part of the long and triple

jump is the landing. I like to feel the

sand on my toes afterwards.”

NOTES: Will Littleton placed first

in the high jump and broke the previous

school record with a 7-3 performance.

Ferris placed first in the hammer throw

for her third straight event champi-

onship. Carolina Izaguirre of

Brownsville finished with a 18:15.90,

fifth-best in program history and enough

for second place at the Tom Tellez

Invitational. Senior David Trevino of

Brownsville took first place with

1:53.77 in the 800-meter dash. Both

squads will compete on Saturday at the

Texas Invitational in Austin.

March 21, 2007 SPORTS Page 15

By SAVANNAH MARTINEZThe Pan American

Field athletes hit new marks during outdoor season

The University of Texas-Pan

American men’s tennis squad posted a 1-

2 record at home over Spring Break,

including a March 14 loss (6-1) against

the University of Nebraska, followed a

day later by a 5-2 home victory versus

Marist College and a 4-3 defeat against

visiting Monterrey Tech.

It wasn’t that the loss hurt him; it

was the lack of effort that infuriated him.

So when the men’s squad gave up signif-

icant leads only to be swept by a visiting

Nebraska team in doubles action, first-

year head coach Robert Hubbard had no

choice but to rip into his team.

“They’ve got to have courage,

absolutely, because it’s late,” he said.

“We are fourteen matches into the sea-

son and we faded at all three doubles

spots. We had leads in all three doubles

and we were up a service break late in all

three.”

At the number-one position for

UTPA, David Lopez-Heredia teamed up

with freshmen Brett Bernstein to take a

commanding 5-3 lead over Arturo

Navarro and Mark Tate but cooled off as

the Cornhusker pair iced the first match,

8-6.

The Bronc duo of junior Ivan Avila

and freshmen Nirvick Mohinta squan-

dered an early 6-3 lead against David

Bendheim and Adrian Szatmary thus

dropping the number-two spot 9-7. In

the third round UTPA junior Gary

Bianco fought hard alongside Finnish

import Shashank Vij, but faltered versus

James Clow and Francois Van Impe, 8-4.

“If it’s the second or third match in

the season against a nationally ranked

team I might understand a little more,”

said a disappointed Hubbard. “There

was no reason to fade like that. That was

concentration, heart and basically back-

bone.”

The fiery coach added the melt-

down was inexcusable, concluding by

saying the squad’s goal is to move back

into the national rankings.

“The guys chose to come here

because we have that national schedule

so you have to buck up and have a little

bit of heart,” Hubbard said.

Bianco played smart and avenged

his doubles defeat to Van Impe in the

singles number-two spot, 1-6, 6-2, 7-6 to

capture the lone point for the Broncs.

COMEBACKTwenty-four hours later the men

dealt Marist College a 5-2 setback.

Bianco teamed up with Avila and defeat-

ed Pedro Genovese and Federico Rolon

in the number-one doubles spot 8-3. But

the two and three duos dropped 8-6 and

8-3 decisions as Marist opened the score

1-0; however UTPA dominated singles

play 5-1 and captured the match.

Bianco said strong doubles play is

critical to the Broncs’ success.

“We feel like we have three com-

petitive doubles teams and we don’t win

enough of the doubles’ points,” he said.

“Sometimes we have one doubles, some-

times we have none, but we need two out

of three to get the doubles point. It’s an

important point because it’s the start of

the match. You start 1-0 instead of 0-1.”

Bianco proved prophetic as UTPA

stumbled in doubles competition 1-2 on

Sunday to a visiting Tech en route to a 4-

3 defeat. The team is now 6-11 overall

and will resume play March 25 in San

Antonio against Louisiana-Lafayette.

WOMEN IN ACTIONOn the other side of the racket

Monterrey Tech snapped the Lady

Broncs current five-match winning

streak, with a 5-2 victory on Sunday

afternoon in Edinburg.

The streak dated back to a 4-3 vic-

tory over Texas A&M Corpus Christi

Feb. 17 and included wins over Nicholls

State, 4-3, Prairie View A&M, 7-0,

Connecticut, 5-2 and a 4-3 win March 15

over Stephen F. Austin.

“Five in a row. They came out and

made a real statement as we swept all

three doubles,” Hubbard said in praise of

the women.

In the singles’ round junior Giana

Oliveira and freshmen Meagan Bedeau

lost their tie breaker, while Stephanie

Willerding suffered a foot injury and lost

her game 6-3, 6-4 to Laura Harrison.

“I would have loved to have seen

the number one and four singles played

out in the third set instead of the super

tie breaker,” Hubbard said about the

Oliveira and Bedeau matches. “It’s just

really sort of a crab shoot there, but I felt

confident that we could have won the

third set in both of those.

“The girls didn’t play the super tie-

breaks well; it’s tough to play them when

you’ve already clinched the match. Still

we need to play those super tiebreakers a

little better, but a victory is a victory. We

did well. We knew they were going to be

a tough one for us to beat.”

The women earned the doubles’

point winning two out of three matches,

as Julia Cirne-Lima and Willerding

defeated Monterrey Tech’s Chris

Martinez and Nora Madrazo 8-6 in the

number-two spot. In the number-three

spot Bedeau and sophomore Silke

Buksik upended Cordelia Montemayor

and Adriana Canepa 8-6. Buksik man-

aged the only other point for the women

at the number-five spot, defeating

Montemayor 4-6, 7-5, 6-1.

The loss drops the Lady Broncs to

7-8 on the season as they look forward to

the next action, March 30 in Houston

versus Rice.

Men fade late, go 1-2 during break while women fall to TechBy ERICK QUINTERO

The Pan American

STRONG PERFORMANCE - Junior Amanda Ferris placed first for the third straightcompetition in the hammer throw. UTPA track and field competes again Saturday.

Onydia Garza/The Pan American

“Adventure” and “competitive”

are two words that 22-year-old

Shaskank Vij and 20-year-old Nirvick

Mohinta both used to describe their

challenging lives.

Mohinta and Vij are two new

players for The University of Texas-

Pan American’s tennis program. They

relocated to Edinburg in January after

Hurricane Katrinia cut short their

careers at the University of New

Orleans.

The aftermath of Katrina left

Mohinta and Vij scrambling to find a

new scholarship. UTPA tennis coach

Robert Hubbard gave them that second

chance.

“They were both part of the

International Tennis Federation and

part of the junior world rankings,”

Hubbard said. “They also came from

The University of New Orleans already

on scholarship. They are very fine

players and we knew they would be

great additions to our lineup.”

Both men play singles and dou-

bles matches and have competed

against many top universities.

Mohinta’s record currently stands at 4-

8 in singles and 5-6 in doubles and

Vij’s record stands at 1-10 in singles

and 5-5 in doubles. It took them a

while to get back on the tennis court

after Katrina, but Mohinta and Vij are

determined to get better and forget the

tragedy that struck them in New

Orleans.

Mohinta is currently a sophomore

marketing major. He was born in

Calucutta, India, and moved to New

Orleans in the fall of 2005 because of a

scholarship offer. As a young boy, his

dream was to always play at the best of

his ability and make it to the

Association of Tennis Professionals

Tour. Mohinta has been playing tennis

since he was 7 years old and ranks

600th in the world, 16th in his country

and second in his state.

Vij, a sophomore computer engi-

neering major, was born in Helsinki,

Finland. He, too, moved to New

Orleans in the fall of 2005 after receiv-

ing a tennis scholarship. Vij, who has

been playing tennis since he was 6

years old, dreamt of being No. 1 in the

world. While he isn’t quite there yet, he

is working on it. Vij played for a

national team in Finland that traveled

around Europe and while still under the

age of 18, ranked second in his country.

While in New

O r l e a n s ,

Mohinta and Vij lived on campus until

Katrina hit and forced them to evacu-

ate. Leaving was hard and in the end,

both returned to New Orleans for a

time. Mohinta said he got stuck on

campus and couldn’t leave, which

prompted him to call state police. They

came to pick him up and drove him to

a church 70 miles away, which took 15

hours due to traffic.

“I stayed at the church for three

nights along with about 500 students

from different schools,” Mohinta said.

“The Red Cross gave us water and sup-

plies and on the fourth day announced

that they were low on items, so they

were going to have to transport us to

the Superdome.”

But Mohinta did not want to relo-

cate there and instead called a friend in

Tennessee who offered him shelter.

There, he attended Tusculum College

in Greenville, Tenn., a private sister

college to Princeton. He was there for

about four months before he decided to

go back to New Orleans.

Vij, on the other hand, ended up

staying with a private hospital where a

friend’s mom worked since he had

nowhere else to go. He slept on the

floor of an office for a couple of days

until it was safe to go back.

Since New Orleans was not a liv-

able city and school was going to be

cancelled for a while, he relocated to

Texas A&M for a semester and then

decided to go back to New Orleans.

Arriving back at New Orleans,

Mohinta and Vij both witnessed

firsthand disasters all around the

city. Houses destroyed, trees on

top of houses and on streets, shattered

windows and destroyed electricity

lines were everywhere.

They wanted to continue playing

tennis there, but unfortunately for

them, few players returned to be on the

team and there was no coach to lead

them.

HEADING SOUTH

Mohinta and Vij then started seek-

ing universities to attend. They applied

to many schools but The University of

Texas-Pan American was the one that

gave them scholarships. Both men say

that Hubbard has been very supportive

with everything that has happened to

them and is helping them out in every

aspect of the college experience,

including education and tennis. The

team members have also embraced the

refugees.

“They allow us to be competi-

tive,” said Gary Bianco, captain of the

men’s tennis team. “They add depth to

the team and don’t give up on the court.

They are good teammates and always

cheer on the team.”

For Vij and Monhinta, acclimat-

ing themselves to the campus, local

people and warm

weather has gone

smoothly. According

to both men, the

biggest difference

b e t w e e n

N e w

Orleans and Edinburg is the culture and

the standard of living. They say that

Edinburg consists of mainly Hispanics

while New Orleans had many African

Americans. The standard of living is a

lot higher here than it is in New

Orleans, as well.

Life for Mohinta and Vij has been

like a rollercoaster since coming to the

United States but both have managed

to do well in every obstacle that was

thrown their way.

Mohinta plans to continue playing

tennis at UTPA and wants to one day

compete at the professional level.

Depending on how that is working out

for him, he says that he may go back to

school to get his master’s. For now, he

continues to live by a mantra instilled

in him by his father.

“Till this day, even when I call my

dad on the phone, he never forgets to

tell me that there is no substitute for

hard work,” Mohinta said.

Vij also plans to continue to play

at UTPA and wants to stay on to com-

plete a master’s degree. Despite the

hardships, Vij says life is good.

“Many things of my life and my

enthusiasm for tennis have gotten me

up to this point,” Vij said. “I definitely

wouldn’t change anything and without

the hurricane, I wouldn’t be here right

now.”

SPORTSEditor’s Pick: Game to Watch

Texas A&M

Time: 6:27 p.m.

Memphis

When: Thursday

Where: Alamodome

By RAMIRO PAEZThe Pan American

Will be aired on CBS Sports

N’awlins transfers spice up Bronc squad

Luk

e K

oong

/The

Pan

Am

eric

an

Documents

March 21, 2007