The Prospector January 26th, 2016 by UTEP Prospector

VOL . 101, nO. 16

T H E U N I V E R S I T Y O F T E X A S AT E L PA S O

JAnUARY 26, 2016

BLAZED AND CONFUSED Campus officials concerned that students are unaware of drug policies

By JasMine aguilera The Prospector

College students smoke pot. No surprise there. Marijuana has become as associated with the college experience as beer pong or Greek life. But officials at UTEP are concerned that many students may not know or understand the consequences of being found in possession while enrolled in school. Aside from the charge showing up in a background check—which can make it harder to find employment or lease an apartment—a student who has been caught with marijuana on or off campus may have the federal government and the UT System to deal with. A possession charge can disqualify a student from federal financial aid and the student can lose rights or privileges from the university. Some students may get suspended from the university or campus housing. Some may also be required to complete a program at the UTEP Police Department. “The drug policy that we have in the handbook of operating procedures—those recommendations are specific from the UT System,” said Jovita Simón, director of the Office of Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution. “We cannot ignore those obviously. We have to abide by those.” So even though 23 states and Washington, D.C. have legalized pot use in some form, UTEP officials must abide by UT System policy, which states that all illegal drugs are prohibited on campus. Charlie Gibbens, director of Residence Life, oversees students who are living on campus and has seen an uptick in the number of students caught in possession of pot. He said he is

see pOt on page 6 PhoTo BY michAelA romÁn / design BY JAcoBo de lA rosA / The ProsPecTor

PAGE 2 January 26, 2016

perspectives

Editor-in-Chief

Amanda Guillen, 747-7477

Not everyone a fan of “The Cloud” By Mike Vazquez The Prospector

UTEP students were caught off guard as their first week of school was not only met with a stack of syllabi and new class routines, but a new piece of public art commissioned by the city standing tall in the center of Schuster’s roundabout. Unfortunately for people without depth perception “The Cloud,” by Donald Lipski, is a three-dimensional structure of a healthy, fluffy cloud made up of individual white and gray panels. “The Cloud” is a part of the city’s public art program which was put in place by the 2006 City Council in attempts to beautify communities in El Paso with pieces of art reflecting the city’s history and uniqueness. As of now, the program has established over 50 pieces art, including this past year’s light sculptures on I-10 near Airway, the cloud off of Schuster, and the baseball stadium’s stained glass tower seen from Franklin Avenue. The city’s decision to commit 2 percent of every Capital Improvement Project budget is exactly what El Paso needs to be taken seriously as a progressing city. Tracey Jerome is the director of the city’s Museum and Cultural Affairs department and one of the city’s officials who helped see the cloud to completion. She is on most of the panels that decide which artists are best suited to design pieces for different parts of the city. “One of the goals of the public arts program is to create a visual identity for visitors and residents,” Jerome said. “UTEP is known for its Bhutanese architecture, ‘The Kingdom of the Clouds.’ This interpretation of a cloud ties into the design of the UTEP campus and helps create a focal point as people drive through the area.” As suitable as it may be for UTEP’s campus, not everyone is entirely happy with the installation. Robert Groh, a junior business administration major, likes the idea but feels the execution was a miss. “The beams supporting it are pretty distracting,” Groh said. “It looks more like a highway billboard than anything.” While the cloud does little more than advertise the different shades of white, the supporting beams do extend past the cloud’s boundaries, and in a way dwarf the actual piece of art by the systems supporting it. Erica Ramirez, a junior studying English and American Literature, disagrees. “I think it was a good use of money,” Ramirez said. “It’s visually appealing, especially right there where it’s just concrete and traffic.” The city’s public art is a lot like the Kardashian family: it’s already put in place in society so you might as well

have a strong opinion about it. Art cannot be separated from infrastructure as if it were a kid brother with a handful of crayons. There are artists in El Paso honing their craft to professionally, and it is decisions like this that allow our local talents to share their art with the same environment and community that inspires them. We must step out of the mindset that art comes from stereotypes like the hunched painter, goateed sculptor or wiry musician. These are our friends, aunts, brothers and coworkers, and people who drive on I-10, visiting family in Juárez and drowning the same tacos in salsa who are hunting for an opportunity to share their art. If we want El Paso to have landmark restaurants, then we have to find ways to allow master chefs to step out of their kitchen. If we want to see local bands headline festival giants like Coachella and Lollapalooza, then we must find spaces for them to try out their newest music. The public arts program is definitely a step in the right direction, allowing visual artists a canvas in the city to create upon, but it comes from an understanding that although it is important to have savvy businessmen and women build the city, it is just as important to have artists bring their point of view to build El Paso in a direction unlike any city in Texas and, dare I say, the nation. Aside from the installation of the roundabout this past year, the Schuster area of campus has seen few changes. Whether or not the cloud is aesthetically pleasing or efficiently executed is a secondary reason to its existence. “Public art changes the way we view our community,” Jerome says. “By investing in public art and in our local artists, our city has created a vibrant community where art is an integral part of who we are.” She is not wrong about this. By merely existing, the cloud has sparked conversation between students and teachers alike, and to debate whether or not it is a good piece of art is to interact, share and connect with members of the community. Even by grimacing and holding your breath for fear of losing the air to express your disgust of the cloud to your classmate is to do exactly what public art is meant to do. For more information on El Paso’s current and completed works of public art, visit mcad.elpasotexas.gov/public-art. Mike Vazquez may be reached at theprospector.news@ gmail.com

STAFF V O L . 1 0 1 , n o . 1 6 Editor-in-Chief: Amanda Guillen Layout Editor : Jacobo De La Rosa Copy Editor : Jasmine Aguilera Spor ts Editor : Adrian Broaddus Enter tainment Editor : Jose Soto Photo Editor : Michaela Román Multimedia Editor : Andres Mar tinez Staff Photographers: Angel Ulloa, Christopher Zacherl Staff Repor ters: Javier Cor tez, Julia Hettiger, Juan Carlos Navarrete, Mike Vazquez, Julio Cesar-Chavez Car toonist: Omar Hernandez Contributors: Christopher Piñones, Jason Green

michaela roman / The Prospector

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Letters will be edited for clarity and brevity. Letters over 250 words are subject to editing to fit available space. Please include full name, street address and telephone number and e-mail address, plus major, classification and/or title if applicable. Address and phone number will be used for verification only. Write to 105 E. Union, e-mail theprospectordaily.news@gmail.com, call 747-7477 or fax to 747-8031. The Prospector is published by the Student Publications Editorial Board, 105 Union East, 500 W. University Ave. El Paso, Texas, 79968. The Prospector appears in print once per week on Tuesdays during the fall, spring, and summer semesters. The newspaper is not printed during holidays and when classes are not in session. The Prospector does provide news online at www.theprospectordaily.com. The Prospector is provided to students through student fees. First copy is free. Any additional copies, if available, must be purchased for $1 through the Department of Student Publications. The Prospector is not responsible for claims made by advertisers. Additional policy information may be obtained by calling The Prospector at 915-747-5161. Opinions expressed in The Prospector are not necessarily those of the university.

THEPROSPECTOR

NEWS | 3 |

January 26, 2016

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The pride and joy of a basketball city BY amanda guillen The Prospector

special to The Prospector The 50th anniversary of the Texas Western men’s 1966 NCAA basketball championship will be celebrated by El Pasonas starting Feb. 1.

El Paso has been called a basketball city time and time again. UTEP’s basketball programs are touted as the gems of the athletic programs at the university. It all began with the Texas Western men’s 1966 NCAA basketball championship 50 years ago. Now UTEP is preparing a celebration in honor of the legacy left behind by the ‘60s champions. The County of El Paso will recognize the 50th anniversary of the 1966 men’s basketball NCAA championship at the County Court House at 9:30 a.m. on Feb. 1. Along with the recognition there will be a 50th anniversary celebration game on Feb. 6 at 3 p.m. against Western Kentucky University. Student tickets will be available from now until Feb. 4 and no guest tickets will be up for sale for this game. The Texas Western Miners and the Kentucky Wildcats met on March 19, 1966, and this matchup was unlike any game played in college basketball at the time. Head coach of the Miners, Don Haskins, went against the grain by

starting five black players against an all-white Kentucky team. The Miners went on to defeat the Wildcats with a score of 72 -65. El Paso Times sports writer Bill Knight was one of the many who

It gives me, as a basketball player, motivation to accomplish something and to bring joy to the city again

- Tevin Caldwell UTEP basketball guard

watched the 1966 game unfold. Knight was in Dallas playing basketball for UT Arlington at the time and said that he knew the importance

see 1966 on page 5

Pope’s visit means campus closure, Sun Bowl party BY Javier cortez The Prospector

special to The Prospector UTEP will be closed on Feb. 17 due to Pope Francis’ visit to Ciudad Juárez.

The UTEP campus will be closed on Feb. 17 in response to Pope Francis’ visit to Ciudad Juárez. The Office of Special Events and the Catholic Diocese of El Paso is expecting a big crowd for the “Two Nations, One Faith” viewing party at the Sun Bowl, which will simulcast the pope’s papal Mass being held across the border. Tickets went on sale on Jan. 18 on ticketmaster.com, and are also on sale at the University Ticket Center. The price of admission is $10 for local parishes and $15 for the general public, plus service charges. According to Jorge Vasquez, executive director of special events, the Sun Bowl will operate in the same capacity as it does for any other event. Bathrooms, assigned seating and concessions will all run as usual. “Due to the uniqueness of this event, it is hard to predict (the attendance),” Vasquez said. “Although it may not be the largest event the stadium has held, this event is major for the Paso del Norte community and the Diocese of El Paso.” Whereas Benito Juárez Stadium will host the main event, the Sun Bowl viewing party is an alternate option across the border. City officials estimated that about 450,000 people will be participating in the Papal Mass in Juárez, but there is a

possibility that the number of participants might be slightly lower. Nevertheless, the trip to Juárez is expected to be long and costly. According to Elizabeth O’Hara, communications director for the Catholic Diocese of El Paso, the walk across the border could take six to eight hours, making the Sun Bowl a viable option. “It gives you the opportunity to be with people from the Catholic community,” O’Hara said. “There will be cultural events, live entertainment and, of course, we will be joining the simulcast of the pope’s mass, in which we are anticipating him acknowledging those of us who were here at the Sun Bowl.” O’Hara added that the Sun Bowl viewing party will be less stressful on the viewer’s wallet for people coming from out of town. With airfare, hotels and transportation, going to Juárez may be too costly for some. More so, O’Hara stressed that the viewing party is much more than a simulcast of the mass, and said that it will be a fun-filled event that will include live entertainment. Guitarist Tony Melendez is one of the entertainers who has confirmed to play at the Sun Bowl on Feb. 17. “We certainly wanted to make sure this felt like more than just a viewing party because if it was just a viewing party people could do that at home,”

see pope on page 6

THEPROSPECTOR

| 4 | NEWS

January 26, 2016

Despite weather, thousands attend March for Life BY luis gonzalez SHFwire

WASHINGTON – It has been 43 years since the Supreme Court’s decision in Roe v. Wade made abortion legal. For the 42nd straight year, anti-abortion activists gathered on the National Mall and marched to the Supreme Court. With the hope that one day Roe v. Wade will be overturned, men and women, young and old, American and international, those opposed to abortion braved the cold to express their beliefs – even if that meant staying in Washington an extra day or two. Some groups canceled trips because of the predicted record snowfall. “We’re here to stand for the truth that all life is sacred from conception to natural death,” said Sister Anna Grace, who has been part of the Sisters of St. Cecilia in Nashville, Tenn., for the last 19 years. “We would like to speak for those who can’t speak for themselves, the most vulnerable.” Grace and other members of her order drove 11 hours overnight from Nashville to be at the march. Their plan is to return home Sunday, but like most others at the march, they were prepared for delays because of the weather. Thomas LaPointe, 26, of Lakeland, Fla., was at his second consecutive march chaperoning over 30 students from Santa Fe Catholic High School and St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Polk County, Fla. The group arrived Thursday night and will be forced to stay at least an extra night at their hotel before returning home. Before heading to the National Mall, some of the group’s chaperones made sure they were prepared for the weekend storm. They made a trip to a WalMart. “We know a lot of stuff is going to be closed,” LaPointe said. “We had to prepare earlier this morning just to make sure the kids have something to eat.” The sacrifices they made to be in Washington, and the delays they might experience, didn’t seem to worry LaPointe and the rest of the thousands of marchers. The statement being made by their presence

heather khalifa / shfwire Ricardo Zavala, 16, of Palacios Texas was one of thousands that stood out in the cold for this year’s March for Life.

heather khalifa / SHFWire Constitution Avenue was close off from traffic for the march. on their beliefs and views about the state of American society was much more important to them. “Our culture right now does not respect the dignity of life like it should,” LaPointe said. “This is, I think, one of the best ways we can fight that. It’s a peaceful march, a

peaceful process, and that’s absolutely critical to maintain.” In a statement, President Barack Obama reaffirmed his disagreement with abortion opponents. Obama celebrated the anniversary of Roe v. Wade and said he will keep working to protect the decision.

“As we commemorate this day, we also redouble our commitment to protecting these constitutional rights,” Obama said. “Including protecting a woman’s access to safe, affordable health care and her right to reproductive freedom from efforts to undermine or overturn them.”

Just as Obama promised to continue protecting abortion rights, abortion opponents promised to keep fighting them. According to Tait Pilegaard, 26, a freshman at Christendom College, in Front Royal, Va., the march in bad weather showed exactly how committed this segment of the American population is. After expressing his support for the cause, Pilegaard applauded the effort of those in at the march. “That’s an amazing sacrifice,” Pilegaard said. “That’s showing the perseverance of the American people and that shouldn’t be taken lightly. We’re talking about life and death. … This is a fight and we’re here to stay.” With several states passing laws leading to the closing of abortion clinics and the Supreme Court preparing to hear the case challenging a Texas law restricting abortion practice, abortion is at the center of American life as much as it has ever been. With many people who had planned to attend the march canceling their trips to Washington, braving the cold and changing plans to support the cause was not only admired by all of those in at the rally but attendance but also enjoyed as a privilege. “Fortunately, in a way it’s kind of a blessing, I think, if our flight gets canceled or we can’t get out early because I want to be here and I know these youth want to be here,” LaPointe said. Only a small number of anti-abortion protesters stopped to take a break at the Supreme Court, where a short prayer and protest had been planned. A majority opted to march directly to the nearest Metro station. Protesters were scheduled to lobby with lawmakers on Capitol Hill after the long march from the Washington Monument, but the winter storm forced federal buildings to close hours before the march ended. The protesters marched on despite the falling snow. Reach reporter Luis Gonzalez at luis.gonzalez@scripps. com or 202-408-1493. SHFWire stories are free to any news organization that gives the reporter a byline and credits the SHFWire. SFHWire reporter Eric Payne also contributed to this story. Like the Scripps Howard Foundation Wire interns on Facebook and follow us on Twitter and Instagram.

Texas Tribune convenes to discuss educational attainment By Julio Cesar-Chavez The Prospector

UTEP hosted a Texas Tribune discussion Friday, Jan. 22, taking a look at urban public education in the state of Texas. The first talk concentrated on changing demographics in public schools, while the second covered the complexities of social and emotional learning. The third phase of discussion centered around the importance and challenges faced by school systems trying to get more high school students into colleges and universities. Challenges, the panel members said, that can’t be dealt with by only one side. “College people don’t really understand high school and high school people don’t really understand college,” said Daniel King, superintendent of the Pharr-San Juan-Alamo Independent School District. King emphasized the need for universities and local school districts to coordinate, working together to encourage more students to go after post-secondary education.

That encouragement, the panel said, is about more than simply having more students apply to and graduate from universities. “We need to make sure the students have options and that they know what those options are,” King said. Among those options, panel members discussed, more paths than a traditional college education should be presented. “Technical training is still college,” said William Serrata, El Paso Community College president. Serrata said many students think the only path after graduation is a traditional college education. While he said more should be aware of technical careers, he said that those who follow them do so as much as they can, and become professionals in their field. Finding out how to maximize each student’s potential is no easy task. “There isn’t just one solution, there are a million solutions,” said Susan Hull, superintendent of the Grand Prairie Independent School District. Despite the hard work that would be required, they also agreed the efforts would be worth it.

“The more you learn, the more you earn,” Serrata said. BEYOND THE BACHELOR’S As efforts increase to have more students enter colleges, some are con-

We need to make sure the students have options and that they know what those options are.

- Daniel King, superintendent of the Pharr-San Juan-Alamo Independent School District

cerned job requirements may increase as the job market gains more people with the same qualifications. Fears, others say, should not be felt much. “Most of the companies that come recruit here are looking for undergraduate degrees,” said Craig Thompson, associate director of the UTEP Career Services. Thompson clarified that although some companies are asking for more than just a degree, it does not mean students would need a master’s degree to get a job instead of a bachelor’s. “It doesn’t really mean the degree isn’t worth anything, it’s that they are looking for job-specific criteria,” Thompson said. He said those companies that ask for more than a degree usually look for students who have had previous experience in similar positions which give the students extra training for the job. Those job-specific criteria, Thompson said, are gained by internships and work experiences the students seek out while still in college. He said the experiences might give students a chance to learn things they wouldn’t normally in a classroom setting.

Students agree that out-of-class experience is crucial to finding a job after graduation. “It’ll give you an advantage over other people who don’t have experience and just do the [academic] work,” said Cassandra Kuntz, a junior literature major. For some students it means more than just working in internships. Junior political science major Miguel Alvarez said he wants to go into law enforcement, but was advised to not follow the criminal justice degree plan. Instead he is studying political science, and plans to approach his career from a different angle. He said with the number of people going into law enforcement with criminal justice degrees, a political science degree will set him apart from the crowd. “People should do extra work, should stand out and should go the extra mile, because in the end it pays out,” Alvarez said. Julio Cesar-Chavez may be reached at theprospectordaily. news@gmail.com.

THEPROSPECTOR

NEWS | 5 |

January 26, 2016

tory that was made half a century ago, some say that this championship is overlooked by many current students that have parents that weren’t yet born in 1966. Senior psychology major Fernando Hernandez said that many current students have told him that they had never heard of “Glory Road” or of the 1966 national championship. Hernandez played for Haskins in the ‘90s and said that because of the NCAA championship, he decided to stay in his hometown to play basketball. “When you are a basketball player and you are trying to find a school to play at, you are looking for a school that has had a legacy and I was just lucky enough since I was local,” Her-

angel ulloa / The Prospector The Union gallery will showcase the “Road to Glory” until Feb 6.

1966 from page 3 of the game and what it meant for sports in the United States. When Knight became a sports writer for the El Paso Times in the late 1980s, he was able to cover UTEP basketball and create a working relationship with Haskins. Knight even traveled with the team to Springfield, Massachusetts, in 2007 to cover their induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Knight said that he has seen the pride that the championship brought

to the city and how it lives on even after 50 years. “I think they are proud of the fact that they won the national championship first of all,” Knight said. “Secondly, and probably just as importantly, that it was such a significant national championship.” Senior multidisciplinary studies major and UTEP basketball guard Tevin Caldwell moved to El Paso 11 years ago and remembered realizing the importance of the 1966 championship when he was a senior at Americas High School.

Caldwell said that now, as a basketball player for UTEP, he sees how important the championship is for UTEP fans. “It’s definitely something that the city takes pride in,” Caldwell said. “I know a lot of UTEP fans and every time I run into them they always bring it up. You know, ‘take us back to the championship, or 1966’ and all that stuff. It gives me, as a basketball player, motivation to accomplish something and to bring joy to the city again.” Although many in the city and the university are reminiscing on the his-

nandez said. “I grew up dreaming of playing for that program and playing for coach Haskins. Being a part of that team was something very prestigious and something very special.” Now with the 50th anniversary a little over a month away, the UTEP community is preparing itself for celebrations. The basketball program, although not likely to bring home an NCAA championship this year, continues to use history as a motivator for the future. “It gives us, as a basketball team, hope,” Caldwell said. Amanda Guillen may be reached at theprospectordaily. news@gmail.com.

THEPROSPECTOR

| 6 | NEWS pope from page 3 O’Hara said. “This is something that our parishioners told us that they wanted to do. They wanted to get together in the Sun Bowl to pray, celebrate, join together and feel like one.” With the mass viewing turning into an event, O’Hara is hoping for a sellout. “It would be fantastic if it did (sell out),” O’Hara said. “It’s certainly what we are working for. The ‘Two Nations, One Faith’ celebration is going to be El Paso’s way of being able to gather in a faith-filled community and celebrate the success of this visit for our brothers and sisters in Juárez.” The Sun Bowl seating capacity is listed at 51,500. Although the advertising for the viewing party has ramped up, some UTEP students are still unclear on the event details. General business major, Akira Fogge-Jones has only heard mentions of the viewing through word of mouth in class. “I was thinking about looking into it because how often does this happen?” Fogge-Jones said. “I know in class teachers have mentioned it, but I have never heard any mention of anything or the entertainment that all goes with it.”

January 26, 2016

Then there are some students, like sophomore graphic design major Deena Mustin, who might opt out of going to the viewing because of the bad traffic that might occur. “It depends on how crazy things get because I am expecting so many people to inundate the area,” Mustin said. “I’m in the middle because it is a once-in-a-lifetime thing, but I don’t know how it’s actually going to be getting here and trying to get through the crowd.” Organizers at the Sun Bowl have experience hosting large events, such as the One Direction concert that happened on Sept. 19 of last year, where close to 45,000 fans filled the stadium. UTEP’s Office of Special Events is enforcing strict parking rules that do not allow attendees to park overnight, any vehicles that are parked overnight will be subject to ticketing. The parking lots will open at 6 a.m., and all parking is first come, first serve. Tickets for the events do not guarantee parking. Javier Cortez may be reached at theprospectordaily. sports@gmail.com.

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andres martinez / The Prospector The number of students found in possession of marijuana has increased in the past year.

pot from page 1 concerned that not enough students are reading the campus drug policy. “When students move in, we strongly encourage them to make sure they know what the policies are,” Gibbens said. “But I think a lot of the times, unless it directly effects you, then you don’t think about it.” Gibbens shared an anecdote about international students who were

found in possession at their dorm. The students were removed from campus housing, and because these particular students were in a program that required them to live on campus, they ended up having to leave the university and return to their home countries. There has been an increase in how many students have been found in possession on campus. According to the Office of Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution, 13 drug-related incidents were reported in fall 2015. That is up from seven in spring 2015 and two in fall 2014. Simón said the growing number is a concern, but the numbers do correlate with the growing student population and the number of students living on campus, which has increased to almost 1,000. Simón sees all of the students who have been charged with a drug-related offense. She said her office tries to take more of an educational ap-

proach, where they require students to think through their actions. She said that usually, students will be put on a probationary period that can last anywhere from four months to their graduation day, depending on the severity of the offense. Many students will also have to go through the Individual Reflective Experience program at the UTEP Police Department, which requires students to sit one-on-one with UTEP Assistant Chief of Police Raymundo Rodriguez, write a reflective essay and attend presentations by lawyers and speakers. “If your employer calls the university to get a background check, they don’t care what’s in that file, all they care about is that you have a file,” Gibbens said. “It scares me that students may not know the negative repercussions of someone lighting up a joint.” Jasmine Aguilera may be reached at theprospectordaily. news@gmail.com.

PAGE 7 January 26, 2016

entertainment

Editor

JOSE SOTO, 747-7477

Prickly Elder is inviting with nostalgic decor

MICHAELA ROMAN / The Prospector (Left) Prickly Elder bartender Kristy Coss prepares a drink for a customer. (Right) A customer pours out an Elder Punch from a vintage teapot.

BY JOSE SOTO

The Prospector It takes some creativity and originality to create a niche bar, especially in a city where the bar scene is growing. But one recently opened location has taken niche to another level. Opening the door to the Prickly Elder on 916 N. Mesa Street, will give you a sense of nostalgia. The place looks as if you are walking into your grandma’s house. Except you’re not. You are actually walking into one of the most distinctive bars in town. Prickly Elder has adapted the concept of a vintage, classy grandma’s house for its decor, which works wonders for its appeal. Located at the corner or Mesa and Rio Grande Street, it’s easy to miss the new bar, which was previously Sumatra Hookah Lounge, but you definitely don’t want to miss out on this place. Old wall clocks, floral-print wallpaper and knitted placemats help give Prickly Elder the notion that you’re at your grandma’s house, but don’t get bored just yet. The new bar is actually a fun place to visit. The TV might be showing classics like “The Twilight Zone,” “Murder, She Wrote,” or “The Price is Right,” but the music is all contemporary indie rock and pop. “It was incredibly hard to come up with an original idea for our bar,” Allison Barker, manager of Prickly Elder, said. “We wanted a unique theme for our bar, something that hadn’t been done.” Prickly Elder has done exactly that, managing to be the only bar in the area that mimics granny’s homey and cozy home. “The floral-print wallpaper is one that is discontinued,” Barker said. “We actually had to order it from somewhere in Canada. Much of the things that decorate our place were actually given to us by my mother. She loves thrift store shopping. It was

We wanted a unique theme for our bar, something that hadn’t been done.

- Allison Barker, manager of Prickly Elder actually cool to finally put these old things to good use. It’s like finding a treasure in someone else’s trash.” Along with paperback books and wooden-framed sofas, Prickly Elder’s biggest appeal is the way they serve their cocktails. While your grandma might serve you some simmering Earl Grey tea from her ancient teapot, at Prickly Elder, you’ll be served an interesting mingled adult beverage. “There is actually a bar in England that serves their cocktails in teapots, which is where we got the idea for that,” Barker said. “It’s obviously a British concept since they drink tea daily, but it’s something that has definitely been interesting here in El Paso.” What’s more interesting than the teapots is what’s inside of them. The bar offers unique recipes on their drink menu. Espresso, mint, raspberries, lemon juice, green tea and bitters are all ingredients you’ll find in Prickly Elder’s teapot-sharing options. Their Elder Punch, I would argue, is their signature offering. Composed of Bombay Sapphire Gin, Campari, sweet vermouth and juices,

the Elder Punch isn’t your grandma’s typical five o’clock cocktail. Although sweet and fruity profiles might trick you into thinking you’re having juice, the punch surely has a kick to it, which is probably why they make you share it. The other drinks offered have an intriguing recipe as well. “Our bartender, Gil Herrera, is the one who comes up with most of the concepts for our teapot cocktails,” Barker said. “He wants to keep it as fresh as possible. He’s been educating himself for over a year on different flavor profiles. He definitely wants to keep his concepts as original as possible. He’s even asked me to purchase a plant from Africa,

which will give the drinker a ‘pop’ sensation like Pop Rocks would.” The offerings at Prickly Elder surely make Gil Herrera a talented mixologist. If mixed drinks aren’t your preference, the bar still offers a good selection of craft beers, including some from the Deep Ellum Brewing Company. Once a month, the venue will host their Grandma’s House Party event, which features house music played by live DJs. In the near future, Barker said the bar will include a white picket fence topped with roses in their patio. “It’s something we want to include once the weather get’s nicer,” Barker said. “That’s only one of the ideas we have to really take this theme of ‘grandma’s house’ as far as we can.”

If the location wasn’t different enough, the name by now should have sparked some interest. “I really wanted our name to stand out and be different,” Barker said. “It needed to be distinctive. I literally looked up weird plant names and prickly elder came out. It was perfect. It was witty and suiting.” Prickly Elder offers $2.50 Lone Stars, $2 Pabst Blue Ribbons, $4 Jamesons and $3 Fireballs all day. Their teapot cocktails are $2 cheaper during the day. For more information on Prickly Elder, visit facebook.com/pricklyelder. Jose Soto may be reached at theprospectordaily.ent@ gmail.com.

michaela roman / The Prospector The decor at Prickly Elder includes wooden-framed couches.

THEPROSPECTOR

| 8 | ENTERTAINMENT

January 26, 2016

MindCanvis coloring books promote interactive art

special to The Prospector ”Spirit Animals” is the title of the coloring book illustrated by Carlos Gonzalez.

BY JULIA HETTIGER The Prospector

While some may take up exercising or knitting, many have found the old childhood ritual of coloring can be a relaxing way to unwind after a day of stress. Artist Carlos Gonzalez, art director at MindCanvis Publishing, has brought the fun back to col-

oring for adults with the release of his coloring book “Spirit Animals,” which features 30 pages of drawn out animals waiting to be colored. The coloring book, which can be purchased on Amazon or at Barnes and Noble, includes engaging and interactive art created to give artists and non-artists alike the opportunity to unleash their creativity.

Gonzalez, who is a UTEP alumnus, said he gets his artistic inspiration from everything and anything. “I’ve been drawing since I was 2 years old, so I’ve been doing it pretty much my whole life,” Gonzalez said. “Sometimes it doesn’t all make sense in the moment, but I usually catalog everything in my head and use it later. I get inspired by life

and different events, things that have happened or might happen.” Enrique Macias, MindCanvis’ co-founder, said they chose to do coloring books because demand was growing and it became the perfect medium for Gonzalez to get his talents out into the world. Macias said that past projects have yielded very little monetary return, but were done simply to be creative. “I’ve always known Carlos has an amazing talent, so we needed to give it the visibility it deserved,” Macias said. “Once we realized the coloring book phenomenon was overtaking the art scene, we figured it was a great medium to showcase what Carlos has the ability to do, and at the same time, creating the experience to not only let people enjoy his art, but take part in being the artist themselves.” In addition to making the art interactive, the duo behind MindCanvis also believe coloring can help people alleviate stress and take their mind off everyday pressures. “Not only does it draw on your childhood, but it does it in a way that you’re not worrying about your emails or text messages or your bills,” Gonzalez said. “It does it in a meditative way that maybe people have tried in the past, but haven’t explored it enough to say ‘wow, this is a better alternative to managing stress.’” Irena Fierro, junior studio art major, said art—particularly drawing and coloring—helps alleviate her stress by giving her a nice distraction.

“It gives me a sort of distraction from over thinking and gives me full attention and focus to the current subject I am working on,” Fierro said. Carlos Gonzalez, who was born in Los Angeles but grew up in El Paso, said being raised here gave him the drive to strive for bigger and better things within the art world. “I learned a lot about etiquette,” Gonzalez said. “If you love it enough, put in the work to get it done, and growing up in El Paso in that sense gave me the work ethic.” To celebrate the release of “Spirit Animals,” Trade Craft coffee shop and bar will have an adult coloring book meet up on Feb. 4. “This upcoming one is our second one so far,” said Joe Jimenez, an employee at Trade Craft. “When the idea for this event came about we knew it would be popular. However, we didn’t expect the huge turnout

ended

getting.”

For more information about the coloring books or the meet up at Trade Craft, visit MindCanvis’ Facebook page or website at mindcanvis.com. Julia Hettiger may be reached at theprospectordaily. ent@gmail.com.

question of the week

How do you feel about coloring to relieve stress? michaela roman, angel ulloa/ The Prospector

Cindy Van

Daniel Guillen

Diana De La Rosa

Isaiah Alfaro

Kiana Schultz

“I think it’s a great idea. Sometimes we just need to take a step back and relieve our stress somehow. I would try it.”

“I think they do help. It helps you focus on something else, they’re good during leisure time.”

“I think the coloring book is a good thing for older people, because it’s a good distraction of the mind. I would use them, not right now, but maybe later on if I was stressed.”

“I feel like they’re a good stress reliever for people who have the patience to. I personally wouldn’t because I don’t like coloring, but I do see the benefit.”

“I think it’s a good idea but I think I would get distracted instead of actually focusing on my school work.”

Javier Romero

Sydney Wharton

Muayad Mohammed

Rosa Escalera

Nickolas Gottwinter

“I think these coloring books are a new perspective to the children’s coloring books, but I would not use these as stress relievers because I’m not into coloring.”

“I feel like this is a great invention and I’m really excited about it. I think I would invest in one, I’m taking a lot of hours this semester and I think it would be good to sit back and scribble.”

“I heard from my friend, she likes adult coloring books and they work well. I would use them too.”

Senior biochemistry major

Freshman kinesiology major

Junior engineering major

Sophomore pre-pharmacy major

Freshman social work major

Junior civil engineering major

Freshman philosophy major

Freshman forensic chemistry major “I think it’s cool because you see these

everywhere, but this person is from El Paso and it’s good to see someone from here get out there like that, and I’ve used some before but I would use his also.

Sophomore psychology major

Sophomore civil engineering major “I don’t really care about these adult coloring books, because I would probably never use one, not even as a stress reliever.”

THEPROSPECTOR

ENTERTAINMENT | 9 |

January 26, 2016

Love Buzz hosts first ‘Thursgays’ with ‘Ride The Rainbow’ art event tainment one would not usually see at Pride Square in downtown El Paso. “Even by virtue of having a show where there is hip hop, there’s rock ‘n’ roll, there’s comedy,” Torres says. “It sets a precedent for diversity.” Almost everyone in attendance wore the rainbow color spectrum somewhere on their body. Kat Alaniz, one of the night’s comedians, sees “Ride the Rainbow” as something more than a celebration of the LGBT community. “These events help us connect with each other,” Alaniz said. “The outreach of the community of artists in El Paso should be expanding and this is a chance for people to get comfortable with each other and share their art with each other.”

MIKE VASQUEZ / The Prospector Aaron Torres, event coordinator, paints the face of one of the attendees.

BY MIKE VASQUEZ The Prospector

Love Buzz, a bar located at 3011 Pershing Drive, hosted the first official “Thursgays: Ride the Rainbow.” The night featured an array of local art, comedy and musical performances, including LEZBINATI, a female hiphop group from El Paso, all geared to celebrate the LGBT community. From designer fashion to photography, face painting to drag, the night became a hub of artistry where local artists came to share and show their work. The bar is a neighborhood dive snugged between a Dollar General and the Pershing Inn, two business-

es that have been there for decades. There was a unicorn piñata with the rainbow horn standing on the table in the middle of the room. The bartender, a bearded guy casually sporting a unicorn onesie, was the first person to greet everyone. On the patio, patrons were able to paint blank mannequins, buy handmade jewelry and paintings from local artists. With a title like “Ride the Rainbow,” it’s easy to assume that this event was marketed specifically to the gay community alone, but Aaron Torres, the event’s coordinator, said that it isn’t true. “It’s not gay night at Love Buzz,” Torres said. “To me, it’s queer night.

miner welcome WEEK tuesday, jan. 26-greeks on the plaza Meet UTEP’s fraternities and sororities at the Centennial Plaza and see what they have to offer. Hosted by Fraternity and Sorotity Life. Event starts at 10 a.m.

wednesday, jan. 27-miner spirit Live music, a food truck and activities will be held at the Union Plaza as UTEP Athletics host this event starting at 10 a.m. Be sure to wear your UTEP gear.

THURSDAY, JAN. 28-THROWBACK THURSDAY Flashback to the ‘80s at the Union Plaza starting at 11 a.m. Vintage arcade games will be available as well as T-shirt tye-dying.

FRIDAY, JAN. 29-FRIDAY NIGHT FLICK “The Hunger Games, Mockingjay: Part 2,” will be screened at the Centennial Plaza at 6:30 p.m. Concessions open at 6 p.m. Free admission.

It’s a night about openness and really an accepting of everybody regardless of orientation and gender.” This is Torres’ first year back in El Paso in a decade. His plans for the city begin with events like “Ride the Rainbow.” “Pride Square (El Paso’s gay club strip) is known as a safe spot, but I want people to realize that El Paso is really open minded and progressing to where you can be yourself at any bar,” Torres said. The night lived up to its name. From the bold rapping of LEZBINATI to The Genders self-proclaimed genderless post-punk rock, “Ride the Rainbow” aimed to provide enter-

The idea is ambitious, but not the least bit unattainable. As El Paso expands to becoming one of Texas’ well-known cities, it will need its thinkers, artists and doers to meet one another, and events like “Ride the Rainbow” give them a chance to build relationships that will help them achieve their plans for El Paso. Love Buzz will be hosting Thursgays every third Thursday of the month from 8:30 p.m. to 2 a.m. Mike Vasquez may be reached at theprospectordaily. ent@gmail.com.

=Free and confidential services include= + Pregnancy Testing/Verification + Limited Ultrasound + Compassionate & Non-Judgemental Care + Consultation on ALL your options

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www.icumobileep.org 915-539-1000

THEPROSPECTOR

| 10 | ENTERTAINMENT

January 26, 2016

La Patrona is a good choice for both adult and children

Mexican plate, the french fries at La Patrona are the bomb — according to my dinner date, a 10-yearold food critic. The grilled food is where it’s at for La Patrona, though. If you’re dining with a big group, the plates for four are an enormous value. For just about $40, you can get a carne asada plate that is ample food for four, consisting of phenomenal carne asada, sausage, four baked potatoes, four orders of beans and grilled onions and peppers. It also includes beans, of course. If it is lunchtime, you cannot beat any of the lunch specials ranging from $5 to $7 all served with beans and homemade tortilla soup chicken, beef or JASON GREEN / The Prospector La Patrona serves plates that cater to both adults and children alike.

BY JASON GREEN The Prospector To review this restaurant, I took my 10-year-old son. I told him that we were going to review a restaurant and that it was a top secret mission, which really made the whole experience a lot more fun for me — watching him tip-toe to the bathroom multiple times to check out the décor and report back to me. Our readership is not always single students but, very often, single mothers and fathers or married parents

with children — they have to eat too — just like I did last Thursday night at La Patrona, just north of campus on 4131 N. Mesa St. The new restaurant has opened where several former bars inhabited along with a few other restaurants. I took my son mainly as a way of finding out how kid friendly the place truly was — yes, I used him as a guinea pig. He enjoyed it. The restaurant was only about a quarter full at 7 p.m. on a weeknight. We found a seat in the pink tinged, gangster-era atmosphere of the aptly named restaurant and

pork being the protein. Second only to the amazing grilled meat are the outstanding homemade corn tortillas.

were greeted by our waiter who took our drink orders and returned promptly with homemade chips and several condiments including perfectly spiced red and green salsa. We started with an appetizer of Ceviche de Pescado, which the waiter explained — or tried to explain — was Paraguayan. Ceviche is marinated raw fish. It was absolutely amazing. Apparently, Paraguayan means that it has much more lemon and cilantro than those who are used to Mexican ceviche would be expecting. The fish pieces are bigger too. At La Patrona,

it is recommendable along with the aguachiles according to some inebriated friends that I made in a subsequent visit. Aguachiles is a Mexican dish made up of shrimp drenched in a liquid seasoning of lime juice, onions, chili peppers and salt. They also recommended the drink specials. Speaking of drink specials, there are a plethora of them. The menu includes specials for almost every night of the week at the full bar. On Friday, there is a mariachi band and on Saturday a full on rock band takes the stage. Although not a traditional

Parents should not let the bar look or atmosphere scare them off. This place will please you as well as your children. Everyone else, seriously, it is grilled meat, homemade tortillas and outstanding homemade salsa with cheap drink specials. I highly recommend that you go to La Patrona as soon as possible. Jason Green may be reached at theprospectordaily.ent@ gmail.com,.

PAGE 11 January 26, 2016

Sports

Editor

Adrian Broaddus, 747-7477

Women’s post best start in program history the Panthers without two key players: Turner and Chrishauna Parker. Parker had to attend a funeral in Houston, and Turner had concussion-like symptoms from the FAU game, and was kept out of the game. As these difficulties struck the team, it was time for players to step up and fill the gap. Lulu McKinney started in the empty guard spot, making this her second start of the season. Alongside Breedlove, McKinney overcame the stress and led a dominating 69-57 campaign over the Panthers. With the help of Breedlove’s three 3-pointers in the first quarter, the Miners stormed out to a 24-7 lead. FIU could not come back in the contest. Breedlove (20 points, five steals) led the Miners in scoring, followed by McKinney (17). “I’m extremely proud of this team,” Adams said. “It was a great team win.”

About the Golden Eagles

michaela roman/ The Prospector UTEP women’s basketball has won eight straight games and is currently undefeated in Conference USA.

By Adrian Broaddus The Prospector A historic season in the making rolls on for the Lady Miners as they come home to face Southern Miss (Thursday, Jan. 28) and Louisiana Tech (Saturday, Jan. 30) in the Don Haskins Center. The Miners (16-1, 7-0 ConferenceUSA) are off to the best start in program history. They are currently on an eight-game winning streak and currently ranked 31st in the nation,

according to the NCAA Women’s Basketball RPI. The only other CUSA team with an undefeated conference record is Western Kentucky (7-0). Before returning to the Don Haskins Center, the squad overcame adversity on their two-game road trip to Florida last weekend. After trailing Florida Atlantic 3018 deep into the second quarter, they rallied with a 60-36 run and took the win, 78-66. Jenzel Nash, Cameasha Turner, Starr Breedlove and Sparkle

Taylor recorded 17, 16, 15 and 14 points, respectively. The four accounted for 79.5 percent of the team’s points. Head coach Keitha Adams commended her team for their comefrom-behind victory, and called the game “a hard-fought win against a good team.” The second roadblock for the Miners came after their victory against FAU. Without much rest, they had to travel to Florida International for Saturday’s game; but they had to face

he is still a freakishly good athlete. But the slight deterioration is obvious, he gets beat off the dribble by smaller guards more often, he does not elevate as high with the same consistency and his effort on defense has dropped significantly in the past two seasons. LeBron has resorted to what could be called the cherry picker defense, rather than recover on blow bys, he opts to sprint down the court for easy baskets via outlet passes, in hopes that the man he defended turns the ball over or misses the shot. He constantly poaches for steals, roams around in the half court and now rarely covers the opposing team’s best players unless it’s his positional matchup. He still puts in effort on defense, but not like the LeBron of old. This is not because he’s an NBA diva, who doesn’t care, it is just a side effect of aging in the NBA. For most greats, the first thing that goes along with their athleticism is their defense. I’m not saying LeBron has gone full James Harden circa 2014, but he does show signs of being a bad defender from time to time. Next on the agenda are the numbers. It is simple, the stats do not lie. You could look at how his points, re-

bounds, assists, steals and blocks per game averages have all dropped, but those are not good indicators in explaining a decline. The five major per game averages can easily be doctored by playing more minutes or increasing usage percentage, they don’t really delve into how efficient a player is. At the heart of LeBron’s greatness is, or was, his efficiency. He is the most efficient player since the turn of the century, and possibly of all-time. He’s led the NBA in player efficiency, a heavily weighted advanced offensive statistic six times, which is only second to Michael Jordan and Wilt Chamberlain, who did it seven times. PER is definitely a flawed stat that is not kind to great defensive players, but it’s baseline reading is pretty good, the season-by-season leaders in PER are usually the best players in the league. He had a seven-year stretch where his field goal percentage improved every season, with his peak year coming in the 2013-14 season with a mind boggling field goal percentage of 56.7. Lastly, during the 2012-13 NBA season, LeBron set an NBA record with six straight 30-point games, where he shot over 60 percent from the field.

defense, she contributes with 16 steals for the season.

Home is where the heart is The Miners are currently perfect (60) when playing in the Don Haskins Center. This is the second-longest winning streak at home in program history. Under coach Adams, the 2007-08 team was the only team to go 14-0 at home. They have already assured a winning record at home this season.

Defense wins championships The squad has gained national attention for their defensive pursuit. UTEP currently ranks sixth in the nation for steals (180 total, 12 per game). Breedlove is 23rd in the na-

Southern Miss (10-7, 3-3 C-USA) enters Thursday’s contest trying to put aside a disappointing 72-37 loss to Louisiana Tech. Led by guard Brittanny Dinkins and freshman center Caitlin Jenkins, this squad is balanced beyond the arc and inside the post. Dinkins is able to shoot and dish out the ball, leading the team with 58 assists and posting a positive 12.1 points per game. Jenkins leads the team in points per game (12.8), blocks (32) and rebounds per game (10.4).

tion for steals (53, 2.3 per game). They

Louisiana Tech (9-8, 4-2 C-USA) comes into week 12 of the NCAA schedule on a hot streak, much like the Miners. Despite losing two of their first three conference games, the Bulldogs have won three straight. They currently rank fourth in C-USA standings. Senior guard/forward Brandi Wingate leads the team on both ends on the ball. She leads the team with 16.8 points per game and shoots 57 percent from the floor. On

also hold a 42.3 field goal percentage.

Scouting the Bulldogs

have held foes to under 35.2 percent shooting from the floor and 28.5 percent from 3-point range.

Scoring sensation Through 17 games, the Miners have recorded a +13.4-scoring margin over opponents. Four Miners average 10 or more points per game, including Nash (14.0 ppg), Turner (11.9), Taylor (11.5) and Breedlove (11.1). They As part of their two home games at the Don Haskins Center, they will allow free admission to Thursday’s game against Southern Miss for their annual Pack the House night. Tip off will be at 7:05 p.m. Adrian Broaddus may be reached at theprospectordaily. sports@gmail.com.

Lebron on the downhill slippery slope By javier cortez The Prospector

Instead of writing a cool, hip introduction to this column, let me make it clear why this is being written. Our sports editor heard some reports about some radio personalities saying that LeBron James is on the decline, and he wanted me to give my take. Is LeBron James on the decline? Short answer is yes. Before we get into the details, let me preface one last time and say that everything that follows is not pro- or anti-LeBron, it is just the reality of his situation. LeBron James is on the decline. His best years are behind him. He is slowly becoming less and less athletically dominant, and his stranglehold as the NBA’s best player is not as firm as it used to be. You could go even further and say that LeBron is not the best player in the league anymore. LeBron is on the decline, which can be proven by three factors: health, statistics and consistent impact on a game-to-game basis. He is not the athlete he used to be, and that is saying something, because

To summarize, LeBron was an extremely efficient player in his prime, which is not the case anymore. His PER has dropped, his field goal percentage has dropped, his shooting percentage from 10 feet and out has plummeted. In fact he has become a poor mid-range to long range jump shooter. I can go on and on, so I will. His true shooting percentage, win shares, box plus/minus (BPM), and value over replacement player (VORP), all of which are advance statistics, have dropped off, some more significant than others, meanwhile his usage percentage has not changed. Ok, so two down, one to go. His all-world ability does not directly correlate with his diminishing game-togame impact. James is still considered the best player in the NBA because of his overall game and his ability to impact a game in various ways. That assertion is true and it will still probably be true for another season or two. Theoretically, LeBron can still change a game better than any other player in the NBA because of his talent level, but in reality he cannot do that every game because of his previously mentioned dip in athleticism and efficiency.

Every all-time great goes through this. They get the benefit of the doubt based on past achievements, even when a better player comes along. In reality, Kareem was better than Wilt in ‘69, Jordan was better than Magic and Bird in ‘88, Shaq was better than Jordan in ‘98, LeBron was better than Kobe in ‘08 and now Curry and probably a few others are better than LeBron in 2015. The once malleable, omnipotent and robust LeBron James has come and gone. He is now a slightly more human version of superman. It’s tough to think that LeBron is past his prime and entered the stage of his career where he shows signs of decay. The guy is barely three decades old, still putting up eye-popping stats, to go along with nightly highlight reels. But that is what makes this guy so freaking great, even as a player in decline he is still really good. So stop worrying NBA fans, LeBron still has some good years ahead of him. Javier Cortez may be reached at theprospectordaily. sports@gmail.com.

THEPROSPECTOR

| 12 | SPORTS

January 26, 2016

Men prepare for Southern Miss, La Tech By juan carlos navarette The Prospector The Miners’ back-and-forth season continued on Saturday, Jan. 23, when they lost at home to Florida International University, 79-69. UTEP hopes to put that loss behind them as they take on Southern Miss on the road. The Miners (11-9, 3-4 C-USA) had a chance to take over fourth place in Conference USA when they took on FIU at home. The Miners’ loss proved to be detrimental not only because it places the team under .500 yet again, but also because the Miners seemed to be reliable at home. “We got beat by a club that I thought was just better than us tonight. We got up 7-2 in the ball game–they went on a 17-2 run,” head coach Tim Floyd said. “It became about stops, I think we reverted back a little bit and we could put a three or pass rule to move the ball. It went out to the post, it needed to be kicked out, it wasn’t

kicked. I think that offense contributed to it.” Although the Miners were able to cut what was once a 21-point lead to three, they were not able to get the win at home. “I do respect our effort late and the fact that we tried to come back we tried to fight,” Floyd said. “We tried to double, tried to force the issue, all those things were positive the last 15 minutes, but then again the 17-2 run after being up 7-2 was not good.” The biggest issue for the UTEP team has become being able to play on the road. The Miners so far are winless in Conference USA when they have to play a team in any arena that is not the Don Haskins Center.

We got to figure a way to win on the road.

- Tim Floyd, UTEP men’s basketball head coach “We got to figure a way to win on the road,” Floyd said. “The team we

Angel ulloa / The Prospector Head coach Tim Floyd and the Miners have not yet won a game on the road this season. are playing on Thursday (Southern Miss, Jan. 28) beat this team, they beat them on the road.” UTEP will not only have to play with a winless record on the road, but they also are playing a team that beat FIU 66-60. Southern Miss brings to the table a great front line that can shoot it from behind the arc, which the Miners will have to try to neutralize. The Miners will have to keep a close eye on Southern Miss’ guard Kourtlin Jackson, who is averaging 13 points per game. Jackson is also great behind the arc and is shooting almost 50 percent from the 3-point line. “We are just going to close out hard, and make them put it on the floor, and make them take it to the rack, and not

let them have any open shots,” Omega Harris said. To win on the road is not easy for any team, but the Miners are going to have to find a way to win against Southern Miss. Although the Miners are at 3-4 and in sixth place in Conference USA, coach Floyd is trying to make sure that his team keeps on fighting. “It won’t be easy. None of them are easy for us right now,” Floyd said. “I look at our 11-9 record, I watched UCLA this afternoon, they are 118. There are a lot of teams fighting it right now.” Confidence is something this team does not lack even after a loss. With players like Omega Harris, who every game is looking better. Harris

has carried his weight from behind the arc; he is making half of his 3s every game. “I mean, we still feel we can go out our way. It’s just another loss on the record and go get the next one,” Harris said. “We are going to go in there with the same mentality we’ve been having when we are at home. We are on the road and just handle our business and come back with a W–that’s all.” Juan Carlos Navarette may be reached at theprospectordaily.sports@gmail.com.

Bring Johnny to Dallas By christopher piñones The Prospector The Cleveland Browns are making significant changes this offseason starting off with Hue Jackson, the former Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator, who was hired as the head coach. The new arrival dwells on a startling question for quarterback Johnny Manziel and the decision of his future in a Browns uniform. Manziel has been a backup quarterback since being drafted in 2014, but we have failed to see him in a Browns uniform as “Johnny Football,” the proclaimed name given to him as a heroic and exciting figure at the quarterback position. Nowadays because of off-the-field discrepancies, Johnny has not been favored or liked in the Browns’ offices. Now, two questions arise: where will Manziel end up and if his career in the NFL is over. After two seasons with the Browns, Johnny threw for 1,675-yards and had a QB rating of 74.4. Over the course of 14 games, he posted a 3-11 record when starting at the QB position. Jerry Jones, owner of the Dallas Cowboys, has high interest for the young quarterback, and Johnny has not been shy about expressing his desire to be a Cowboy. He would be returning to his home state of Texas, where he grew up playing high school football and

college ball for Texas A&M. This would be a smart move for him. Manziel has shown spurts of what he can do, but we haven’t seen his full pro capability. We need to see Johnny go to Dallas. Jones was a hot topic a few years ago because he wanted to desperately draft Manziel, but instead, he selected Zack Martin. If somehow Jones can make this move with the Cleveland Browns, who are obviously sick of Johnny Football, both sides will be happy. Jones has settled similar predicaments with stars that weren’t media friendly, and each time it’s been a success. The Cowboys have needed a good backup dating back to the Jon Kitna era. History has shown that none of these backups can win games or perform their duties well. This past 2015 season was a prime example as America’s team finished with a 1-11 record without their starting quarterback, Tony Romo. Three back-up quarterbacks, Brandon Weeden, Matt Cassel and Kellen Moore, could not get the job done this past season. If Romo goes down and Manziel is on hand, there can be a sigh of relief that a young QB is ready to go. Johnny Football has not been favored over the years, and it has surprisingly only gotten worse; but fans in Texas want him here. He is a young guy who could use a second chance. In the past, Jones has been successful in turning a “troubled player” into a hot commodity. A few years back, Dez Bryant, the Cowboys’ star

wide out, was in discussion for the same maturity level as an NFL pro. Look at Terrell Owens, Adam “Pacman” Jones and Greg Hardy as examples of guys who caused troubles off the field before arriving to Dallas. Jones seems to welcome these types of players with open arms, and has helped resurrect their careers. With Jones’ techniques, he could do the same for Johnny Manziel. The pieces could call for a fit of success with both parties receiving what they want, but the controversy of this failing is also a high risk. Johnny, although being a good prospect, is also a liability. He has been arrested numerous times and has been caught partying in a way the NFL does not wish to be represented. Then again, he is improving. On and off the field, the improvement is there. Manziel is a hot commodity with a lot of electric star-studded highlights at the quarterback position. The talent is absolutely present and it is up to him to not let it go to waste. A team like the Dallas Cowboys could unleash Johnny Manziel back to “Johnny Football.” Christopher

Piñones

may

theprospectordaily.sports@gmail.com.

reached