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The Prospector & Minero Magazine for The Battalion
The wait time to cross to Juarez is inhumane
UTEP basketball loses second straight game
Bad Bunny brings the heat to Don Haskins:
VOL. 107, NO. 11 FEBRUARY 15, 2022
Assayer of Student Opinion
THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT EL PASO
Rams rally to defeat Bengals in Super Bowl LVI BY EMILY AUTUMN VELASQUEZ The Prospector
The Los Angeles Rams went on to win its second Super Bowl Feb. 13 after defeating the Cincinnati Bengals 23-20 in Super Bowl 56 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. For the second straight year, the Rams have joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in being the only teams
to win the Super Bowl in their own stadium. This is also the second straight year that a team acquired a new quarterback in the offseason and won the Super Bowl. This was Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford’s first season with the team after he was traded a year ago after playing with the Detroit Lions for 13 years. He is the seventh quar-
Natalicio's Legacy
terback to start in a Super Bowl with a different team than the one that drafted him. Bengal’s quarterback Joe Burrow was not only the first quarterback to be drafted number one overall in the draft and make the Super Bowl in his second year, but he was also first to make it when leading the NFL in number of times he was
The legacy of former UTEP President Diana Natalacio, Ph.D, will continue to live on for years to come. Natalicio's death late last year had a profound impact on the El Paso community, and her personal book collection gives the community a chance to walk away with a piece of her personality this March. In an estate sale earlier this year, Brave Books owner Jud Burgess had the good fortune of acquiring hundreds of books from her personal collection. “I went (to the estate sale), and she had quite a nice collection,” said Burgess. “I just basically worked with the estate sale director and was able to acquire the entire collection.” With almost 600 books, her collection consists of a wide array of things she loved, including art, linguistics, travel, baseball, Mexican history, and the Southwest, including El Paso. However, some of these books will be a part of a private collection that Burgess hopes to showcase at the planned event and annually. The private collection will contain books that are not only in great condition, but personally signed
and dated by Natalicio. Other books were also inscribed to her by friends such as El Paso legends Abraham Chavez, Tom Lea and others. “We’re keeping many of the books that were inscribed to her from some of her closest friends because it shows how beloved she was,” said Burgess. “It’s just something that we want to share with the public in the years to come. We want to be a repository of her legacy and share that as well besides offering her books.” The event is scheduled to take place during spring break and is titled “The Dr. Diana Natalicio Book Collection Tribute,” where Burgess hopes people come and not only see but take a piece of the collection home with them. Though the main event is planned for two days, the selling and showcasing of her books will go on for weeks. Not only will the books be shown, but certain personal items such as kokeshi dolls, vases, and Bhutanese tapestries will be on display which give another glimpse into the life of someone who dedicated so much of her time to UTEP and the city of El Paso. The significance of this collection is enormous as it is one of the few chances many can walk
FINAL SCORE Rams
23 to 20
Bengals
see SUPER BOWL on Page 11
“We’re keeping many of the books that were inscribed to her [...] it shows how beloved she was. We want to be a repository of her legacy.”
Brave Books acquires former UTEP president's collection BY ITZEL GIRON The Prospector
sacked. The Bengals won the coin toss and elected to defer, which makes it eight straight years that the team to win the opening coin toss has lost. Bengals tried to make a statement by going for it on fourth down on their first drive but were unable to convert, allowing the Rams to take
theprospectordaily.com
Jud Burgess, owner of Brave Books
Owner of Brave Books, Jud Burgess, will be highlighting a Diana Natalicio book collection in memory of the late UTEP President mid-March. The collection will include books owned and signed by Natalicio herself, after the bookstore came to possess them at an estate sale. Photo by Annabella Mireles/The Prospector
away with a piece of history. “We have been able to secure this collection and say, ‘Look, this is a person that influenced you throughout your educational process, and now you have this opportunity to get a window into what she was like in terms of her book collection,’” said Burgess. “You can take a piece of Diana Natalicio, this
person that influenced you, and just put it on your own shelf and say, ‘you know what, I got a piece of this person; something that was very personal to her is now in my collection.’” Mark your calendars as Brave Books will hold this event March 12-13; no times have been set but will be revealed closer to the date.
Brave Books is located at 1307 Arizona Ave. and is open seven days a week from noon to 5 p.m. Information can be found at @bravebooks. tx on Instagram or Brave Books on Facebook. Itzel Giron is the Audience Engagement Editor and may be reached at iagiron@miners.utep.edu; @by.itzel.giron on Instagram; @itzel_anahi_16 on Twitter.
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PAGE 2 · FEBRUARY 15, 2022· THE PROSPECTOR
Opinion
Alberto Silva Fernandez, editor-in-chief
The Prospector & Minero Magazine support The Battalion newspaper The Battalion, the student-led newspaper at Texas A&M released an article on Feb.11 detailing that their university President Katherine Banks, Ph.D., is forcing the 129-year-old publication to stop printing. The decision was made without consulting any journalism professors on campus and was purely “a decision made by university leadership,” said Banks in an interview with The Battalion. Regardless, The Battalion has said it will continue printing. The Prospector & Minero Magazine support The Battalion in their decision to diligently continue printing news-stories despite university leadership demanding the publication to go completely online. We see Texas A&M’s new policy of forcing The Battalion to stop printing as an overreach and a violation of their First Amendment
rights. The university, along with attempting to cease printing, are trying to force the paper to move to the university’s Department of Journalism where the university would have full control of what gets published. If The Battalion choses to stay as a student organization they would lose their office space, its faculty advisor, and general manager. Prior to this decision, The Battalion had run as an independent student organization reporting on student-issues at Texas A&M. Under Texas A&M’s 2021 system policy, official messaging regulation, 09.02. ,any form of publication would have to be approved by the university. All funding for The Battalion’s printing and payroll is made through selling advertisements and no funding is received from the university.
At the University of Texas at El Paso, students have reported, designed and printed The Prospector either weekly or bi-weekly since 1915 and Minero Magazine each semester since 2004, began printing Minero magazine, a bilingual publication, each semester. Based in a bi-national community, UTEP’s student journalists are faced with readers – college students or not – who consume media in a wide variety of ways. UTEP’s international student population sometimes means that they must cross the U.S.-Mexico border, sometimes waiting up to four hours everyday not only to attend classes, but sometimes just to access a computer. This means that no, not everyone is online and not everyone can afford to be online. The ability to do journalism, to read journalism in a wide variety of
formats is a privilege. Texas A&M’s president did not speak to any journalism professionals before making her decision and the President has no prior experience in journalism. “I’m not a professor of journalism. I don’t understand exactly why [print media] is important to the field,” she said in an interview with The Battalion. The ability to take a physical newspaper or magazine home where students might not have access to the internet or home to parents or guardians who might not know how the internet works is an important one to keep in mind. When considering how to keep the public informed and how democracy is sustained in both the local and international level, accessibility is of the utmost importance. Our unique student body lives and learns in a city where national
and international policies become daily life. They want to know about what’s going on in their city and the city across the border. Because of this, our publication team knows first-hand that it is essential to maintain increased accessibility to new-sources, regardless of where the publication is based. Although both publications have adopted online formats to better connect with the increasingly online generation of students each year, the choice not to abandon printing, despite the increasing prices of print, is a willing one. We will stand by The Battalion’s students and we hope they choose to continue to print and remain an organization in the name of student-press freedom.
The need for activism without tragedy KRISTEN SCHEAFFER The Prospector
On Jan. 11 one of my podcasts dropped a new episode. I grabbed my shopping list for Target and headed out, starting the new episode to listen to on my way. This episode stuck with me. It was NPR’s “Code Switch,” and the episode was, “They came, they saw, they reckoned?” and it discussed the racial reckoning of Summer 2020. Why does it take tragedy to bring attention to the injustices happening in the United States? Recently, Nikole Hannah-Jones, the creator of the 1619 Project, opened her first Freedom School for the project, and we hardly heard anything in the news about this. Yet, there was plenty of national news on newly appointed Gov. Glen Youngkin of Virginia keeping critical race theory out of the Commonwealth school system. (Was CRT actually
Kristen Scheaffer
practiced to begin with?) Critical race theory is the idea that racism has become ingrained in legal systems and policies and race is essentially a social construct, according to edweek.org. CRT is not teaching prejudice towards white people, nor is it encouraging any su-
periority of one race over another. CRT teaches that these things still exist, and we must be aware of them to make change. You can’t solve a problem if you aren’t aware there is a problem. We need to ask ourselves why we are not having these discussions. Why are we not fighting for the education of the future? Is it because there is no George Floyd or Breonna Taylor to go with this fight? Is it a lack of media coverage, or is it a lack of interest for the media to cover it? For that matter, why are we (myself included) only discussing these matters during specific periods, for example, when it is Black History Month? These issues do not disappear at sunset on Feb. 28. On Sept.1, Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas signed a bill into law, known as the 1836 Project. This bill was instated to ensure students are getting a “patriotic education,” ac-
VOL. 107, No. 11 February 15, 2022 EDITORS & STAFF Alberto Silva Fernandez, Editor in Chief Hugo Hinojosa, Designer Victoria Rivas, Arts & Culture Editor Maria Luisa Guerrero, Web Editor/Copy Editor Annabella Mireles, Photo Editor Anahy Diaz, Multimedia Editor Emily Autumn Velasquez, Sports Editor Itzel Giron, Audience & Engagement Editor
Kristen Scheaffer, Staff Reporter Daniel A. Lopez, Staff Reporter Katrina Villareal, Staff Reporter
PHOTOGRAPHERS
ADMINISTRATION
VIDEOGRAPHER
Veronica Gonzalez, Director Tracy Roy, Assistant Director Amy Ontiveros, Administrative Assistant Isabel Castillo, Accounting Specialist Vacant, Account Executive Vacant, Advertising Coordinator
Monica Chavarria
Connor Martinez Carolina Uribarri
CONTRIBUTORS Alyson Rodriguez Andres Castellano Eduardo Flores Elisha Nuñez Julia Lucero Maria Salette Ontiveros
cording to The Texas Tribune. Does this bill contradict the teachings of the 1619 Project? The year, 1836 was chosen because of Texas’ victory over Mexico, with that victory came independence, but not for everyone. However, this was one of many bills, including the SB8 bill banning abortion after six weeks, signed Sept. 1, 2021, leaving this bill to be buried. “Was there a dark side to Texas history? And the answer, well of course (there is), your common sense would tell you. There had to be, so was there corruption among the leaders of Texas? Yeah. But there was also a very good side and people need to be able to weigh those things, use their own judgement, right to do so,” said Richard Gutierrez Ph.D., professor of political science at UTEP. “But when you get such a slanted biased story, you grew up thinking that all these others didn’t contribute anything
and that they were all inferior.” Do we get to select our history? If we are to be patriotic, does this mean the school system will skim over the darker side of Texas history? Does denying the education of slavery “prevent” a racially divisive future? If that were the case, why are there people like Philando Castile and Trayvon Martin since Critical Race Theory hasn’t been in our schools? We, especially white people, need to be better and need to do better. Yes, we may be allies, but at the end of the day, we still go home to our privileged homes with our privileged families. Doing better starts in the classroom and educating others. Instead of disputing something we heard a snippet about on the radio, let’s do our research and be better allies for a better future. Kristen Scheaffer is a staff reporter and can be reached at kmscheaffer@miners.utep.edu.
SP E A K YO U R M IND! …and submit a letter for publication. Please include your full name, street address, telephone number and e-mail address, as well as your student major, classification and/or titile if applicable. Write us to 105 E. Union, prospector@utep.edu, call us to 747-516, or send a fax to 747-8031. Personal information (phone numbers and address) will be used for identification only. Letters are subject to editing to fit available space, clarity and brevity. The Prospector is published by the Student Media and Publications 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 and spring 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 Media and 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 necessary those of the university.
THE PROSPECTOR · FEBRUARY 15, 2022
NEWS Page 3
Why the wait time to cross to Juarez is inhumane
BY HUGO HINOJOSA THE PROSPECTOR
Border commuters await long hours to cross to Ciudad Juarez, Feb. 13, 2022. Photo by Hugo Hinojosa /The Prospector
If you are a fellow border commuter, you probably know the pain of crossing from Ciudad Juarez to El Paso every day. Unless you possess the privilege of owning a SENTRI card, and the tag for the express line, you are left to the will of destiny to cross in the mornings. Luckily, it usually takes one or two albums or podcast episodes to get you going. Heck, you could even hear NPR or our own Prospector podcast (which I will shamelessly tag beside this story so you can listen to our content). However, it is at the crossing back to Juarez where we all become mere mortals. There is nothing like a two-hour-line to feel your youth decay as every particle of oxygen flows through your body. You may be thinking, “Well, it can’t be that bad, is just like in the morning, you simply get another album to listen to.” That would be a fair thing to say if we lived in an ideal world of kindness and respect, but here at the borderline is apoca-
Hugo Hinojosa
lyptic chaos. El Paso Administration recently concluded the construction of the Cordova Americas Bridge. But like a toxic friendship, the first weeks are cute until condescendence comes in. Indeed, the CBP officers are all calling us stupid when they bottle the three lines coming from I-20 into one just for fun. They take it as a joke, but it hurts our selfesteem, nonetheless. Now, if we compare it to the
Downtown bridge, Cordova becomes a 3-hour walk in the park. I remember once arriving at 6 p.m. and having to start the line at Overland Ave. In terms of distance, yes, it is shorter. But the truth is, reader, there are five lights between me and liberty. Morality rots as every light turns green and I only move 3 inches. And it does not get any better as you advance. Paisano becomes “Mad Max Fury Road.” If you let someone pass you over, you will be greeted with a symphony of claxons, and I WILL be playing the violin No.3. A random car used its horn pad (yes, that is what it is called) for 15 seconds (and yes, I count them). We were all thinking of it, but she did it. Honestly, we cannot trust each other. I tried to let someone cross the street and a truck cut in front of me. In fact, let us make it a consensus not to trust men in trucks. Though, that is an opinion piece for another time.
As you get to the entrance after an hour and a half of misery, you have no option but to accept your predicament. But mind you, I will be paying $3.50 to the government for making me wait in this line. If we hold dull professors to a high standard, why don’t we treat these wait times with the same ferocity? I can handle it for one hour, sure. But if it takes more time to get to my own house on my way back from school when I can be traveling to Ruidoso, then why are we accepting it? We know it is unnecessary, it is a waste of our time, and, just like the other (frankly, quite more important) issues of the border, is being handled poorly. So, I am saying it first, the wait times at the border are inhumane and we need accountability. Hugo Hinojosa is the layout editor and can be reached at hahinojosap@miners.utep.edu; @fotohinojosa on Instagram.
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THE PROSPECTOR · FEBRUARY 15, 2022
Page 4 NEWS
Abbott responds to winter storm, prepares for power outages BY KRISTEN SCHEAFFER The Prospector
Winter Storm Uri hit Texas and the eastern half of the United States Thursday, Feb. 3, 2021, leaving nearly 4 million Texans without power, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas. The damage adds up to nearly $295 billion. That storm took 246 Texans' lives and spanned 77 counties, according to the Texas Health and Human Services. It was reported that almost two-thirds of these deaths were caused by hypothermia. Learning from that tragedy, Gov. Greg Abbott seems to be prepared with a plan this year. Abbott distributed a press release with representatives ranging from ERCOT, the Public Utility Commission of Texas, the Texas Division of Emergency Management, and more, detailing the current stance on the power grid and preparations for the storm. “At the expected peak demand, there should be about 10,000 megawatts of extra capacity,” Abbott said during the press release. “To put that into context, that is about enough extra power to sup-
With Texas being hit with another winter storm, Gov. Greg Abbott addresses Texans with a plan at an Austin news conference Feb. 1. Gov. Abbott said there would be 27 state agencies supporting Texans and 10,000 megawatts of extra capacity for use at the expected peak demand. Photo by Kristen Scheaffer/ The Prospector
ply about two million homes.” During this year’s storm on Feb. 3, the grid did hold strong as storms brought snow and ice to cities across the state. However, power was still lost due to reasons ranging from wind and ice affecting fallen trees and powers, according to
poweroutages.us. Power was lost among 52,000 Texans within the state during this month’s storm. Abbott explained in a press release that the power grid would hold its own but warned that fallen trees and other effects from the storm could lead to residents experiencing
power outages for short periods of time. In a statement, Gov. Abbott ensured Texas residents that there were people in place to address the situations as they happened. He made clear that there were 27 state agencies in place ensuring the support Texans may need.
"The State of Texas has deployed a plethora of resources to ensure our communities have the support they need to respond to this storm," said Abbott in a press release. "Texas is experiencing one of the most significant ice events in decades, but we have taken unprecedented steps to ensure that our power grid continues to function reliably despite treacherous weather conditions. As we continue to face freezing temperatures, precipitation, and other dangerous elements, I urge Texans to be prepared and heed the guidance of their local officials as we all work together to keep people safe." Abbott did sign an emergency proclamation after the Feb. 3 storm for 17 of Texas’ counties, majority being in North Texas. This storm was mild compared to last year’s Storm Uri. Abbott stated in the press release that arrangements were made, many would be on standby to service places of need. Kristen Scheaffer is a staff reporter and can be reached at kmscheaffer@miners.utep.edu.
UTEP SGA holds meeting to discuss student request funds BY EDUARDO FLORES The Prospector
The UTEP Student Government Association held its weekly Senate meeting virtually on Feb. 3 due to the university closure caused by the weather conditions that impacted the region of El Paso. During the meeting, four appropriation bills were passed by the SGA cabinet. An appropriation bill has the mission to help organizations request funds to endorse travel and non-travel events financially. Appropriation Bill 51, authored by Morgan Wagner, Rachel De La Rosa, etc., included the sum of $1500 to help defray expenses of sending five students to attend The Society for Personality and Social Psychology 2022 annual conference at the Hilton San Francisco Union Square in San Francisco, California, from Feb. 16-19.
Eduardo Flores
Appropriation Bill 33, authored by Jagadish Paudel, included $409 to help defray expenses of sending one student to attend the Conference in Higher Education Pedagogy held in The Inn at Virginia Tech & Skelton Conference Center from Feb. 9-11.
Appropriation Bill 44, authored by Ernesto Villalobos Jr, requested $350 to help defray expenses of sending one student to attend the Texas Educators Association Clinic & Convention in San Antonio, TX, from Feb. 9-12. The last bill approved was Appropriation Bill 40, authored by Adan J. Mireles, requesting the sum of $100 to help defray the expenses of the registration of one student to participate in COMAP’s Virtual Mathematical Contest in Modeling (MCM) from Feb. 12-21. Also, the SGA cabinet appointed Benjamin Shipkey, Alessandra Vasquez, and Xitllali Aguirre for a 30-day trial as Supreme Court Justice. Furthermore, Beatriz Rodriguez from UTEP Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) was present at the SGA meeting with a presentation to inform students
about Stress Management and Cultivating Happiness. For more information or schedule an appointment with CAPS, call 747-53-02. Under executive cabinet reports, President Austin Stephens informed about a meeting with the cabinet for the first time where a new record of two hours and one minute long was achieved. Also, he discussed the significance of the term of accountability with the cabinet. Vice President for Internal Affairs Samantha Morales informed the cabinet about the importance of monitoring all the movement of senators in committees and of attendance. Besides, Morales discussed Special Projects with all senators to hear ideas on what they will be expected to work on in the upcoming months before the current administration ends. Vice President for External Affairs
Armand Avila informed about a Blue Light replacement app meeting, issues with form permissions are creating confusion of the new MineTracker interface, attendance to Student Advisory Council (SAC) virtually meeting and an update on the Senate meeting location. Margarita Gomez, chair of the Student Application Review Committee (SARC), also informed that the committee has conducted four interviews and plan to continue interviews. In addition, SARC invited two potential applicants for Supreme Court Justice, one for Traffic Court Justice, and three applicants for Legislative Assistant. Senator Joseline Avila adjourned the Feb. 3 Senate meeting by unanimous consent. Eduardo A. Flores is a contributor and may be reached at eaflores17@miners.utep.edu; @eduardo_aa_flores on Instagram; @floreseduardoa on Twitter.
UTEP alumnus on hunger strike for Latinx and Black school communities BY ITZEL GIRON The Prospector
Eleven schools in the Oakland Unified School District are set to close at the end of the California academic school year May 25. However, it is a motion that had no community input and was voted on solely by certain school board members. The schools in question range from elementary, middle, and intermediate (K-8) schools that are in predominantly Black and Latinx communities. The sudden announcement of closures sparked debate amongst the community, students, parents, and teachers and created a hunger strike by teacher and UTEP alumni Maurice André San-Chez. Camped outside of their workplace Westlake Middle School, San-Chez went on strike at the beginning of February,
in hopes of halting the vote that took place Feb. 8 which would determine what schools would be closed, merged, or reduced to certain grade levels. “I think they tried to base it off (the school closures) of test scores and like certain logistics and they’ve also been saying enrollment is low,” said San-Chez. “They were going to close the schools at the end of this year with no community input.” The board meeting resulted with the initial proposal that started with 16 schools; including Westlake Middle school, to be finalized with 11 schools to be affected. One of those schools taken off the list was Westlake, in hopes that the hunger strike would end. “It’s a small win for us, but we’re in this so no school has to close.”
said San-Chez. “People have asked if we’re going to stop anytime soon but it’s not going to happen until our demands are met.” They are currently on the second week of their hunger strike; as of Feb. 14, they continue to hope for more of their demands to be met such as, meeting with the other board members and the governor so that these schools affected are not closed. “We’re meeting with the superintendent today (Feb. 14) and we have some other teachers from other schools that are ready and willing to join in our fight,” SanChez said. District 5 Director of OUSD Mike Hutchinson has also voiced his concern over the closures and tried to act against the closures of these schools.
“There is no way – no way – you can change this list, cut down this list, or do anything that the community is going to accept. So, it is a clear choice, either we postpone this to January, or the community is going to make sure we stop this anyway,” Hutchinson said at the Feb. 8 Board meeting. Hutchinson has been a part of the Oakland School district for more than 20 years according to his biography on the school district website. His dedication to public education and the Oakland community is the reason for his support for these schools not to close and for community input on the decision. “I’m really disappointed and on a personal level I'm furious that y’all would choose to do this to the community when you know there
is no justification,” Hutchinson said at the meeting “You see the community's response. You know we cannot afford to not make any of these changes so how dare you inflict this on my community? So, you have a choice, and everyone is going to hold you accountable for those choices.” The school district has not made any further strides to shorten the list even further or possibly eliminate the list entirely. The Prospector did reach out to the Superintendent of OUSD with no response as of Feb.14. More about the hunger strike can be found on Instagram @hungerstrike4oaklandschools along with information on how to support and help the cause. Itzel Giron is the Audience Engagement Editor and may be reached at iagiron@miners.utep.edu; @by.itzel.giron on Instagram; @itzel_anahi_16 on Twitter.
THE PROSPECTOR · FEBRUARY 15, 2022
NEWS Page 5
Sex/Love and Respect Week to be held at UTEP BY KRISTEN SCHEAFFER THE PROSPECTOR Jessica Ruiz asks true or false questions to students who participate at the Sex/Love and Re-spect booth at Centennial Plaza Feb. 14. Photo by Carolina Uribarri /The Prospector
UTEP will be hosting a series of events to mark this week to educate the student body on healthy relationships. These events will kick off on Monday, Feb. 14, and will be ongoing for the week. The month of February marks Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month, where education is essential as high school and college students enter the dating scene. One in three teenagers will experience abuse, whether it's physical, emotional, or sexual, before they reach adulthood, according to loveisrespect. org. TDVAM is a way to open doors for youth. Valerie Barela, Student Wellbeing Initiative Coordinator and Collegiate Recovery Program Coordinator, found inspiration with the National Association for Student affairs, NASPA. The organization develops a focal point on sexual responsibility around this time of the month. Barela met up with other departments to create this educational week for UTEP. This will be the university’s first year, bringing awareness to campus. “I thought that it was a really worthy cause to bring to campus. When I spoke with some other departments, the Campus Advocacy, Resources, and Education, so the CARE department focuses on teen violence or teen dating violence awareness month,” said Barela. “So for that reason, we said let’s work together. All of this coincides with one another and let’s turn it into a combination.” “The focus is on bringing attention to sex and the stigma related, to talking about sex and all aspects of sex. Certainly, there is health aspects of sex, there’s psychological aspects, there’s physical-like pleasure aspects of sex, and there’s also the connection piece of sex be-
tween people,” said Barela. “Similar things happen within relationships and healthy relationships.” The schedule is as follows for Sex/ Love and Respect Week: Monday-Tabling and Raffle where you can test your knowledge on sex, love, and respect. From 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. at Centennial Plaza. Tuesday- Counseling and Psychological Services, CAPS, will be hosting a speaking event on sexual boundaries, consent, and refusal. From 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. this will be located in the Acacia Room, 102A in Union East. Wednesday- UTEP library will host a love is…photo booth on the third floor from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday- Another tabling and a last chance to enter a raffle while testing your knowledge. From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Union East, West Entrance (across from Starbucks). Also, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., CARE will have a presentation called “Healthy Talk is Sexy Talk,” which is showcase conversation on health in sex and relationships. Friday- The raffle winner will be announced on Instagram at noon, check out @utepcare and #uteplove. For students seeking on-campus resources, there is CARE, CAPS, and the office of student conduct and conflict resolution. Off-campus resources include loveisrespect. org, RAINN, the center against sexual and family violence, Planned Parenthood, and advocatesforyouth.org.
Sex/Love and Respect at Centennial Plaza, Feb. 14. Photo by Carolina Uribarri /The Prospector
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THE PROSPECTOR · FEBRUARY 15, 2022
Page 6 NEWS
The Future Miner Vision: 2030 Strategic plan BY: ALYSON RODRIGUEZ The Prospector
The 2030 Strategic plan lays out the university's vision, and how it plans to grow the campus over the next 10 years. It was created in 2020 after President Heather Wilson was appointed the 11th president of UTEP. It is a vision into the future of UTEP but what is in store for America’s top leading Hispanicserving University? “In 2020, campus leaders worked on a strategic planning process intended to help our campus community identify and assess viable strategies to advance our mission and have an even greater impact on the students and community we serve. We carefully evaluated our strengths and the needs of the community we serve and presented our findings to the UTEP and El Paso community in April 2021,” said Andrea Cortinas, Vice President and Chief of Staff and the Co-lead of the Strategic Plan Implementation Council There are four goals for the plan which include the following: The main objectives of the first goal titled teaching, learning and the student experience is to
UTEP's Centennial Plaza. Photo by Connor Martinez/The Prospector
strengthen recruitment in our primary region 19 market, expanding our primary recruitment market beyond region 19, and lastly to prioritize target secondary markets. It also includes leveraging our place and strengthening our ties to our community and redesigning our core curriculum, starting with the highest-enrollment courses. Increasing internships, co-ops, and employer-sponsored professional development programs is also a priority among other objectives to improve the miner student experience on campus. Goal two is comprised of advanc-
ing discovery on campus. UTEP will begin to enhance support for research and scholarship across all disciplines, leveraging areas of strategic strength and potential for growth and distinction for research. The goal is to create a more advanced environment for future research programs. UTEP will put in the effort to expand their successful research teams and centers through development and strategic recruitment of faculty and staff. The last initiative of goal two is to expand Ph.D. programs and to increase research experiences. Community impact and public
service is the third goal of the 2030 strategic plan. The main initiatives include increase cultural and educational activities that enrich community life, establishing the UTEP Business Engagement Center, and deepening the university’s partnerships with health care providers to meet the needs for talent and advance collaborative research. The university will produce meaningful artistic, cultural, scientific and educational events involving our students and faculty, produce high-quality intercollegiate athletic events and will develop and strengthen KTEP, our campusbased public radio station, as an engaged learning and information platform to tell the stories of our region. The KTEP radio station was given a 2-million-dollar gift in order to provide scholarships to dozens of undergraduate students every year. The donation was given by the estate of the late Margaret Herman. Funds will be distributed to both the radio station and an NPR affiliate housed in the Cotton Memorial building. The UTEP Business Engagement Center will build and manage relationships with industry to develop co-curricular education-
al experiences for current students and employment for graduates and will The last goal is shaping the future of higher education. Advancing the development and application of knowledge to improve higher education for underrepresented students and under-resourced regions is the main initiative of this plan. Researching and teaching bilingualism is also top priority for this goal. “While every Vice President is responsible for leading their divisions as we implement the Strategic Plan and key initiatives, we have established a 12-member Strategic Plan Implementation Council comprised of representatives across different divisions, who will share information, advance implementation, and provide updates to ensure we continue our momentum. Our first report on results and progress on implementing the Strategic Plan will be released later this year,” said Cortinas. To learn more about the 2030 strategic plan and it’s initiatives visit the website at https://www. utep.edu/strategic-plan/. Alyson Rodriguez is a contributor and may be reached at prospector@utep.edu; @alyson_rod1127 on Twitter.
UTEP Professor receives grant to aid individuals with HIV BY: JULIA LUCERO The Prospector
UTEP Associate Professor Julia Lechuga Ph.D., received a $3 million grant from the National Institutes of Health and National Institute on Drug Abuse, and will
work alongside Programa Compañeros to help implement interventions for people living with HIV and those that inject drugs, UTEP communication newsletter said. Programa Compañeros is a nongovernmental program in Ciudad
Juárez that participates in research and responds to the population most vulnerable to HIV/AIDS and injection drug addiction. Lechuga wants the program to focus and conduct interventions designed for latinx to push them to
get treatment. “Interventions have shown success in achieving shorter-term viral suppression outcomes among people who inject drugs, but we propose to identify the intervention components that derive the greatest benefits and impact on viral suppression with the goal to promote long-term viral suppression,” Lechuga said. The study will be conducted on the U.S. Mexico border, and interventions will take in a realworld setting and with real world constraints to create the greatest possibility of scalability, Lechuga said. The four intervention studies taking place over the next five years include patient navigators to help participants obtain HIV treatment services, provide psychological therapy to treat depression, improve access to methadone treatment, and offer educational sessions and skills for medication adherence, UTEP communications newsletter said. “We wanted to see which of the four types of interventions would be most impactful in getting people who are living with HIV to be virally suppressed for at least a year,” Lechuga said. Around 384 participants will be enrolled in a clinical trial so researchers can understand which behavioral intervention component will help the individuals the most to take their medications and achieve viral suppression, Lechuga said. “This area where we live in is very underserved compared to other borders,” Lechuga said. Lechuga said a greater proportion of individuals living along the border live below the poverty line, don't have health insurance and
have limited health care providers. According to the CDC, in 2019, Hispanic/Latino people made up 29% (10,494) of the 36,801 new HIV diagnoses in the US and dependent areas. Hispanic/Latino gay and bisexual men accounted for most new diagnoses in 2019, with 85% of cases being male to male contact, CDC HIV report said. For every 100 Hispanic/Latino people with HIV, 84 of them knew of their status, CDC HIV report said. Executive Director of Programa Compañeros, Maria Elena Ramos said that the new project would allow the organization to implement new interventions to assist individuals who inject drugs and those living with HIV adhere to medication by providing new public health strategies such as psychological therapies, UTEP Communications newsletter said. Ramos said to UC, “We will also learn about other tools to detect and treat the most prevalent mental health conditions such as depression in the population that we serve,” UTEP Communications newsletter said. Lechuga says her team applied the principles of harm reduction to the study. The philosophy of harm reduction acknowledges that human beings are imperfect. When it comes to health, there is no need to seek perfection, it matters when the individual tries their best, Lechuga said. “Change begins with that, with acknowledging that you’re trying,” Lechuga said. Julia Lucero is a contributor and may be reached at jlucero13@miners.utep.edu.
THE PROSPECTOR · FEBRUARY 15, 2022 · PAGE 7
Arts & Culture
Victoria Rivas, editor
Bad Bunny brings the heat to Don Haskins BY ITZEL GIRON THE PROSPECTOR
International superstar, Grammy and multiple Latin Grammy award winner, Bad Bunny, performed at the Don Haskins Center Feb. 11, 2022, as part of his “El Último Tour del Mundo 2022.” Photo by Salette Ontiveros/The Prospector.
Highly anticipated Puerto Rican star Bad Bunny arrived at the Don Haskins Center Friday Feb. 11, as fans lined up outside for hours before the show started. It was only the second show in his biggest tour to date, “El Último Tour del Mundo” and setting the bar high for not only his performance but for the following shows. Bad Bunny announced his tour last spring, and it quickly became one of the biggest shows to come to the Don Haskins Center and as tickets sold out within minutes. Tickets had prices exceeding $1,000 for resale, but fans were
more than willing to dish out the cash to see him live. However, it is not the first time Bad Bunny has come to the borderland as he has performed at the El Paso County Coliseum years before. This was his second time performing at the Don Haskins Center, since he had previously performed two years ago for his ‘X100PRE’ tour. Bad Bunny prepared to bring the high energy and entertainment value starting with a bigger venue. The stage was set with a semitruck, seen on the cover of Bad Bunny’s album “El Último Tour del
Mundo,” beginning to slowly move to the center of the stage where Bad Bunny later emerged. Right on top of the trailer of the semi, he would perform at least two songs before it would unfold and separate into three different pieces. Once the stage was set completely, colorful lights and pyrotechnics filled the building as the crowd sang along during the first half of the set. The fast-paced music was sure to keep everyone engaged as well as the interactions he had with the crowd from afar. His sold-out show, allowed Bad Bunny to play hits from across his
discography including “Si Veo a Tú Mamá”, “Cómo Se Siente,” “Yo Perreo Sola,” “Safaera,” “Maldita Pobreza,” and “Booker T.” He played at least one song from each album to make sure no fan walked away disappointed. High energy was seen as the crowd could not contain their excitement, even with songs about heartbreak people could not stop dancing and singing along. Bad Bunny filled the building with electricity as diverse dancers joined him on stage for multiple songs throughout the night. Eventually, he closed his show by perfoming
his current hit “Dakiti” and got the crowd jumping just in time for confetti to rain down on everyone. Ending the night with a bar set high and with electric energy, Bad Bunny is set to continue this tour until April before taking a small break and heading on the road again. His second tour of the year “World’s Hottest Tour” is set to start Aug. 5. in Orlando, Florida as he makes his way to Mexico City where the tour will end in December. Itzel Giron is the audience engagement editor and may be reached at iagiron@miners.utep.edu; @by.itzel.giron on Instagram; @itzel_anahi_16 on Twitter.
Super Bowl advertisements take the spotlight BY VICTORIA RIVAS The Prospector
The Super Bowl is one of the biggest events every year, and viewers do not only tune in to enjoy the halftime show but to watch advertisements that cost millions of dollars for a 30-second airtime slot. For years, the Super Bowl advertisements have incorporated humor, nostalgia and celebrities to captivate the audience’s attention, and this year was no different. Most of the advertisements included celebrities promoting products like Budweiser, Uber Eats, Amazon Alexa’s, Planet Fitness, Gillette, Frito Lay and more. Although not all commercials were captivating, the best advertisements were unique, included humor, and successfully promoted their product.
Amazon Alexa’s featured Scarlett Johansson and Colin Jost as they navigate through game day, imagining how their lives would be if Alexa could read their minds. However, they both decide that it is better for Alexa not to read their minds because it would expose their lies to each other and their friends. Planet Fitness made its Super Bowl debut with a commercial featuring Lindsay Lohan living a better lifestyle. The commercial shows the paparazzi’s crying because Lohan decided to stay in and sleep better than go party. Lohan becomes more productive just by going to the gym. Another company that debuted during this year’s Super Bowl is Sam’s Club. The ad featured
Kevin Hart as he appeared walking around the store and bragging to customers about how he does not need to wait in line to pay; he simply uses his phone to scan the barcode and checks out immediately. Hart is known for using humor, and he did not disappoint in this commercial either. He believes he could skip the line just because he is VIP when in reality, all customers could also check out the same way. Frito-Lay aired several commercials throughout the Super Bowl featuring celebrities and athletes like Peyton Manning, Eli Manning, Seth Rogen and Paul Rudd. However, their best commercial promoted Flamin’ Hot Cheetos and Doritos. The jungle animals taste Doritos and Cheetos, and as they deal with
the spiciness, they gain the ability to talk and sing. Megan Thee Stallion, voicing the songbird, starts rapping Salt-N-Pepa’s “Push It.” Uber Eats featured cameos by Gwyneth Paltrow, Jennifer Coolidge, Trevor Noah and Nicholas Braun. These celebrities are confused because Uber Eats is now delivering non-edible products like diapers, candles, soap and aluminum foil. They start eating these items thinking they must eat them because it is Uber Eats. Another commercial that captivated the audience‘s attention without using humor but instead promoted inclusivity was Google Pixel 6. Lizzo, an award-winning artist, is featured and debuts her song, “If You Love Me.”
The ad introduces Google’s Pixel 6 camera with real tone, an algorithm that highlights every skin tone. It brings awareness to how several camera technologies do not work well with darker skin tones. Whether it used humor to sell a new product or service, or they used celebrities to invite you to join a better lifestyle, or used the 30 seconds to promote diversity, this year’s Super Bowl ads were definitely entertaining. Victoria Rivas is the Arts & Culture editor and may be reached at vrivas7@miners.utep.edu; @VicRivas_18 on Twitter.
THE PROSPECTOR · FEBRUARY 15, 2022
Page 8 ARTS & CULTURE
UPCOMING EVENTS El Paso ready to laugh with Kevin Hart BY ELISHA NUÑEZ The Prospector
This February, Kevin Hart will make an appearance in the borderland, for four shows. Originally, Hart only scheduled one performance in El Paso, but because of skyrocketing ticket sales, he decided to add three more shows, all of which will take place at the Abraham Chavez Theater. The shows will be Thursday, Feb. 24 and Friday, Feb. 25, with two shows on each day, at 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. Hart is undoubtedly one of the most popular comedians in the country and the world, so what do El Pasoans think about his visit to the borderland? “He’s really funny. He could be controversial on some topics, but I don‘t really look much into him. I like his movies, and I’ve seen a lot of his sets,” said Jessica Tapia, a junior majoring in accounting, who was surprised about Kevin Hart’s appearance in El Paso. “I feel like
a lot of [famous comedians] don‘t come here because they can’t sell out here like other people. I know a lot of people who try to come here, and they don’t [do as good as they] do in other big cities, like it wasn‘t as good as they expected.” Can Kevin Hart’s appearance in El Paso signify a green light for other prominent comedians or entertainment groups to come to the borderland? It’s possible that El Pasoans have been waiting for him to visit, and are anticipating other big artists to perform in the future. Although he is known for some controversy in recent years, many are still anticipating to enjoy his act. “I know there’s a lot of controversy around him, I‘m not the biggest fan of his. I think his comedy can be funny, but I know people [who are excited] that he‘s coming, especially ’cause [we don’t] get that many people coming into town,” said Ariel Castillo, 21, multimedia journalism major student. “I feel
like [the city] can try hosting bigger events. I think once they get people coming to El Paso, it‘ll get more recognition from other people and their agencies, so I guess if they try to advocate for El Paso, maybe we will get more people.” UTEP students are excited and surprised at Hart’s appearance in the city. It’s also clear that some people believe the city should bring more celebrities like Hart. “I think it’s great [that] he’s coming to El Paso! [It’s] a great opportunity for everyone who loves him and his comedy,” said Vianney Frias, a 19-year-old senior at UTEP. “They definitely do need to bring more celebrities here and show that this is a great city to perform in.” Tickets for all four performances are sold out. For more information, visit ticketmaster.com Elisha Nuñez is a contributor and may be reached at egnunez2@miners.utep.edu.
Comedian Kevin Hart will perform at the Abraham Chavez Theater Thursday, Feb. 24 and Friday, Feb. 25. Hart added three more shows to his tour in El Paso due to high demand. Photo courtesy of Kevin Hart’s instagram.
Immerse yourself in upcoming Van Gogh’s art interactive exhibit BY ALYSON RODRIGUEZ The Prospector
“Irises,” “Bedroom in Arles,” “Wheatfield with Crows,” “The Starry Night,” immerse yourself in the Van Gogh experience by stepping into some of Van Gogh’s most famous paintings. “Beyond Van Gogh the Immersive Experience” is coming to El Paso this year. The exhibit will be open to the public from Nov. 21 to Jan. 29, 2023, at the El Paso County Coliseum, and will show more than 300 of Van Gogh’s art pieces. This interactive art exhibit is an entirely different experience from appreciating these artworks in a museum. “I can’t wait to go to the Van Gogh immersive exhibit with my boyfriend when it comes to El Paso. I think it will be a really cool
experience and a fun place to take pictures at,” said UTEP education major Maddison Del Toro. Viewers can experience these masterpieces come to life as they are freed from their frames. The paintings will be projected throughout the walls of the building. The gallery was created in Canada and has traveled across the western hemisphere. UTEP biology student Jennifer Muniz, who is also an avid painter and fan of Van Gogh, says she can’t wait to attend the exhibit. “I have been painting since I was a little girl, and Van Gogh is one of my favorite painters. So, it is super exciting how an art exhibit like this can come to El Paso,” said Muñiz. Van Gogh died a poor, tortured soul but has become one of the
most influential artists of all time. His legacy is kept alive as his artwork is showcased in some of the biggest museums in the world. This is a unique opportunity for engaging all the senses in his works. Vincent Willem Van Gogh was a Dutch Post-Impressionist painter. He was born March 30, 1853, in Zundert, Netherlands, and died July 29, 1890, in Auvers-sur-Oise, France. His purpose in life was to give the world happiness through his art. “Vincent Van Gogh was a Dutch painter and has become a mythical figure for the art community because of his use of colors and brush strokes. People are also intrigued by his life story and how his mental illnesses motivated his artworks. There is a lot of emotion in his
work, and you can see it through his use of color,” said UTEP Assistant Professor of Art Melissa Warak, Ph.D., who is interested in disability studies and Van Gogh’s artworks. Warak has visited the interactive exhibit in Houston. Van Gogh had a tough life filled with many defeats. He accidentally cut his own ear lobe off, spiraled into madness and depression and was admitted into the local mental hospital. After he got out, he committed suicide in the wheat field by his house. He created many different works of art throughout his lifetime, which became famous after his death. “This past winter break, I went to the Van Gogh immersive experience show in Houston. I’ve seen
some of Van Gogh’s art pieces in person at museums, and it’s a different experience seeing the artworks projected in these huge warehouses,” Warak said. “The immersive experience is a good way to see these paintings as motion pictures, but there is not a lot of history about the paintings. You can learn more about the history if you go to a major museum.” History or not, art lovers and civilians alike can learn about Van Gough through their own interpretation and experience in “Beyond Van Gogh the Immersive Experience to reserve your tickets or to find out more information on the exhibit visit vangoghelpaso.com/. Alyson Rodriguez is a contributor and may be reached at prospector@utep.edu; @alyson_rod1127 on Twitter.
Halftime performance surprises fans with rap icons BY VICTORIA RIVAS The Prospector
UTEP students have mixed opinions after five hip-hop and rap legends, for the first time, headlined the halftime show for Super Bowl LVI Sunday, Feb. 13, at the SoFi Stadium. Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Mary J. Blige, Kendrick Lamar, and a special guest performance by 50 Cent brought their California pride to the stage and transported the audience back to the late 1990s and early 2000s. Their performance was highly anticipated since the NFL announced the lineup back in October 2021. However, for some UTEP students, the halftime show did not meet their expectations. The Prospector asked students to share their thoughts on the halftime show performance on social media, and some responded saying, it was not what they hoped for or simply described it with one word, “blah.”
Other UTEP students responded to The Prospector’s poll, saying they loved it and that it was the best halftime show of all time. Although all six artists performed, the show centered around Dr. Dre. Dr. Dre helped produce several songs performed during the show, he also mentored and collaborated with all the artists who performed at the halftime show, when they started their careers. The stage was a series of all-white stages that represented the homes of South L.A. Dr. Dre and Snoop Dog opened the show by performing “The Next Episode” and paid homage to Tupac by performing “California Love.” Throughout their performances dancers surrounded the stage with low riders lined up in the front. Fans were not expecting a special guest, but 50 Cent surprised the crowd by making a special appearance upside down and performing “In Da Club.” Blige was the star of the show as she appeared at the rooftop with a
sparkly silver attire with high knee white boots surrounded by dancers as she performed her hit songs “Family Affair” and “No More Pain.” She ended her performance flat on her back. She was the only artist who had previously performed at the Super Bowl halftime show in 2001. Although fans were excited over the biggest halftime show headline to date, not all artists had the same amount of time to perform. Kendrick Lamar, the youngest performer on stage and the most contemporary artist, stood out and performed “M.A.A.D City” and “Alright” around dancers despite having less time to perform. Eminem later appeared on the rooftop alongside Anderson .Paak on the drums and performed “Lose Yourself ” and kneeled as he ended his performance. All six artists joined to rap “Still D.R.E.” for the closing act. Victoria Rivas is the Arts & Culture Editor and may be reached at vrivas7@miners.utep.edu; @VicRivas_18 on Twitter.
THE PROSPECTOR · FEBRUARY 15, 2022 · PAGE 9
Sports
Emily Autumn Velasquez, editor
Miners lose second straight game BY DANIEL ALEC LOPEZ THE PROSPECTOR
UTEP’S junior point guard Jamal Bieniemy plays offense against Marshall University Feb. 13 at the Don Haskins Center. Photo by Annabella Mireles/The Prospector
The UTEP men’s basketball team (14-10, 7-5 Conference USA) fell to the University of Marshall (9-16, 2-9 C-USA) Feb. 13 at the Don Haskins Center. The Miners could not get stops on defense, which allowed Marshall to make consecutive baskets inside the paint, and outside the paint, in this 79-88 loss. Junior guard Souley Boum and junior guard Jamal Bieniemy scored in double figures in this contest, but that was not enough to overcome this loss. “That’s just a talented team that can ball,” Boum said during a after game press conference. “They’re a good offensive team, they knocked us out of the tournament. They shoot the ball really well, our defense wasn’t up to par.” In the start of the first half, the Miners took a 15-11 lead. Junior forward Tydus Verhoeven increased that lead on a hook shot to push the Miners lead to 17-13. But the Thunder Herd began to chip away at the Miners early lead in this contest. The chipping away started with the Thunder Herd tying the game 19-19 with a 3-pointer. However, Boum gave the Miners a 22-19 lead after a made 3-pointer. Freshman forward Ze’Rik Oneyma dunked the ball to give the Miners a 32-24 lead. Later on in this contest, UTEP
had a bit of a problem keeping the ball, as the Miners turned the ball over a couple of times in crucial possessions. That actually helped the Thunder Herd go on a run and get back into the game. Marshall went 15-6 on offense, towards the end of the half, giving the Thunder Herd a 38-39 lead in this contest after made free throws. At halftime the Thunder Herd led 38-39. The Miners in the first half struggled to close out on defense, whether it would be in the paint or at the 3-point line. “We did not deserve to win this game,” UTEP head coach Joe Golding said. “Marshall played great, total respect for Marshall. They outcoached us; they outplayed us. Give credit to Marshall. We’ve been through a lot, and they continue to grind. They’re playing hard. Tonight it just wasn’t our night, and it wasn’t on them (the team), it’s on me.” In the start of the second half, Marshall took a 41-38 lead after a lay-up. The Thunder Herd led for three minutes, until the Miners tied the game up 46-46 after free throws from Bieniemy. Then, Marshall took a 53-59 lead
off back-to-back 3-pointers. Later on, the Thunder Herd took a 71-63 lead after a 3-pointer. But the Miners got free throws from a technical foul to cut the lead down to 65-71. The Miners got a late 3-pointer from freshman forward Jamari Sibley to put the score at 75-84. Unfortunately, the Thunder Herd ended up winning this contest 88-79. Leading scorers of this game for the Miners were Boum with 32 points and three rebounds, followed with Bieniemy scoring 23 points and grabbing four rebounds. Finally, Sibley contributed to the team by scoring 7 points and grabbing 10 rebounds. “Everything in year one is a learning experience,” Golding said. “We’re a work in progress still. We’re still trying to get better on things, and tonight’s a great example.” The UTEP men’s basketball team can be seen back in action in their next game against Louisiana Tech University at 5:30 p.m. Feb. 13 at the Thomas Assembly Center. Stats provided with the help of UTEP Athletics. Daniel Alec Lopez is a staff reporter and can be reached at dalopez23@miners.utep.edu.
TOP: Tydus Verhoeven and the UTEP men’s basketball team walk on to the court before competing against Marshall University Feb. 13 at the Don Haskins Center. BOTTOM: UTEP cheer performs before the UTEP game against Marshall University. Photos by Annabella Mireles/ The Prospector
THE PROSPECTOR · FEBRUARY 15, 2022
Page 10 SPORTS
Softball falls to ACU at UTEP invitational BY KATRINA VILLARREAL THE PROSPECTOR
UTEP Batter Ilena Santos concentrates at the home plate at the Helen of Troy Softball Complex Sunday, Feb. 13. Photo by Maria Salette Ontiveros/The Prospector
Miners closed the UTEP invitational with a doubleheader Sunday, Feb. 13 at the Helen of Troy Softball Complex with Creighton University (3-2, 0-0 Big East Conference) vs. Abilene Christian University (1-4, 0-0 Western Athletic Conference). They closed it off with a game against ACU vs. UTEP (4-2, 0-0 Conference USA). In the first game of the invitational, Creighton faced off against ACU at 9:30 a.m., where Creighton came out on top with a score of 9-1. The first inning was scoreless, but in the third inning sophomore outfielder Cayla Nielson hit a threerun home run to give the Bluejays a lead of 4-0. To start off the fifth inning, Nielson hit her second home run of the game to extend the lead to 6-1. Within the same inning, sophomore outfielder Emma Rosonke hit her first home run of the season with a three-run to close out the game 9-1. Nielson led the BlueJays with two
hits and recorded a career-high of five runs batted in (RBI). In the second game of the day, the Miners took on ACU at 12:30 p.m. where UTEP fell to ACU 1-5. In the first two innings of the game, it was scoreless, but the Wildcats were able to put up four runs to take the lead in the third inning. In the third inning with two outs and bases loaded, ACU’s sophomore first base/pitcher hit a single to drive in a run, and an errant throw from the Miners caused another run to bring ACU’s score to 2-0. Within the same inning, the Wildcats were able to bring in
two more runs with a hit down the middle by junior outfielder Mercedes Eichelberger and a reach by junior infielder Shaylee Alani on an error. At the top of the seventh inning, freshman shortstop Rose Gonzales of ACU hit a double to push its lead 0-5. The Miners were able to score at the bottom of the seventh with an RBI single by sophomore outfielder Lexi Morales to bring in freshman outfielder Jordyn Lopez which brought the score to 1-5. The Miners’ efforts were too late due to the lead the Wildcats took in the third inning of the game. The Miners were held to only
three hits thanks to Wildcats graduate pitcher Sydney HolmanMansell. While Miners’ freshman pitcher/infielder Annika Litterio threw 4.0 innings where she recorded a total of three strikeouts. Some game leaders for the Miners include redshirt junior infielder Pate Cathey with three at bats (AB), sophomore catcher/utility Marijn Crouwel with two at bats and one hit, Morales with two at bats, one hit and one RBI, and lastly redshirt senior utility Ilena Santos with two at bats and one hit. At the game, five Miners were named All-Tournament team that includes freshman pitcher Aalijah
Alarcon, freshman infielder Kaylin Jackson who was also named Most Valuable Player (MVP), Morales, and sophomore catcher/utility Cheyenne Stark. UTEP will be back in action when they host UT Arlington at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 16, at the Helen of Troy Softball Complex. All stats for Creighton University courtesy of Creighton University Athletics, gocreighton.com All stats for ACU courtesy of ACU Athletics, acusports.com All stats for UTEP courtesy of UTEP Athletics, utepminers.com Katrina Villarreal is a staff reporter and may be reached at kvillarreal1@miners.utep.edu.
First Mexican figure skater in 30 years competes at Olympics BY HUGO HINOJOSA The Prospector
Donovan Carrillo made history Tuesday, Feb. 8, for becoming the first Mexican figure skater in 30 years to compete in the Winter Olympics. “Dreams do come true,” he said following his debut at the men’s short program competition. The milestone comes after going viral on social media in 2016 when he performed to a Juan Gabriel song. At the time, the figure skater faced backlash for not being “manly” enough, with people labeling his performance as “gay.” “It’s infuriating that people see the word ‘gay’ as an insult to my effort,” he said. In addition to the discrimination, Carillo struggled to find a proper
stadium in which to perform. In fact, Mexico does not have professional facilities dedicated to figure skating. At the age of 13, Carillo needed to leave his hometown following the shutdown of the ice rink where he practiced. Despite the machismo and the lack of infrastructure, Carrillo was determined to make his dream a reality. And he did so this week at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing. Considered his best performance to date, Carillo landed a flawless quad toe loop and tough triple axel, becoming the first Mexican figure skater to participate at the Olympics in three decades. “I didn’t want it to be over,” he said in a statement to the press. “I was enjoying to the limit what I
love the most in life, that is skating.” Carillo also brought Mexico to the Olympic rink, performing the first half of his short program to “Black Magic Woman” by Santana. Carlos Santana, the lead guitarist, was born in Mexico. “It is something that I always try to do in my performance, involve Mexican culture,” he said. Carillo broke the record of being the first Mexican skater ever to qualify for the final free skating competitions Wednesday, Feb. 9, as well. Free skating, which is also known as the long program, is the second of two segments of the Olympic competition, performed after the short program. It is the ultimate challenge in figure skating and only
those who succeed at the short program may advance. “Love to my family and love to Mexico,” he said. “Dreams do come true.” Certainly, his performance at the free skating serves as an example of discipline and wonderful ambition. Despite lacking infrastructure and elite training, Donovan Carillo sets a precedent. Fellow Mexican students, one’s own power and capacity are enough to become an Olympic force. To master a free program requires dedication, but to claim a spot at the Olympics takes believing in your dreams. Hugo Hinojosa is layout editor and can be reached at hahinojosap@miners.utep.edu
Mexican figure skater Donovan Carrillo. Photo courtesy of Unomásuno website
THE PROSPECTOR · FEBRUARY 15, 2022
SPORTS Page 11
Miner miscues lead to loss at Marshall BY EMILY AUTUMN VELASQUEZ The Prospector
The Miners struggled to get a rhythm going Feb. 13 when the UTEP women’s basketball team (13-10, 5-8 Conference USA) traveled to take on Marshall (12-10, 7-6 C-USA) at the Cam Henderson Center in Huntington, West Virginia where they suffered a 60-48 loss. There were big second and fourth quarters that resulted in Marshall taking the win over UTEP. Scoring was low ti start the game and it was tied at 15 with 4:18 to go in the half. In the second quarter, the Thundering Herd turned a close game into a 9-point lead after a 7-point run in the last 55 seconds of the half. Marshall led 26-17 at the half. UTEP kept the game within single digits for most of the third quarter thanks to sophomore point guard Avery Crouse, who managed to hit three straight baskets in the middle of the quarter. Marshall also managed a hot streak in the fourth quarter to extend their lead from 45-39 to 57-41 with a little more than two minutes remaining. They held UTEP without a basket for nearly five minutes. “Every time we would make a run
The UTEP women’s basketball team lost 60-48 against Marshall University at the Cam Henderson Center Feb. 13. Photo by Annabella Mireles/ The Prospector
at them they would hit a timely three, and that’s not really what they do. But you have got to give them credit. they hit the shots that we could not hit,” said Head Coach Kevin Baker. “For whatever reason we just were not shooting the ball well today. It’s a shot makers game. If you want to win in Conference USA, especially on the road, you have to hit some perimeter shots.”
SUPER BOWL from page 1
Rams rally to defeat Bengals in Super Bowl LVI over on the 50-yard line. The Rams were able to take advantage and score a 17-yard touchdown after a pass from Stafford to wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. This meant the Rams were first on the board and now up 7-0. Beckham was acquired by the Rams in November after starting the season with the Cleveland Browns. After playing the first half of the season in Cleveland, he had only 17 catches, 232 yards, and no touchdowns. In the postseason alone, Beckham had 21 receptions, 288 yards, and 2 touchdowns with the Rams. Cincinnati knew they had to get on the board, and they set themselves up nicely after a 46yard completion from Burrow to wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase. This drive led to a 7-3 score after a 29yard field goal from kicker Evan McPherson. Stafford and his offense answered back with an 11-yard touchdown from wide receiver Cooper Kupp. After a bad hold from punter John Hekker, the extra point was unsuccessful resulting in a 13-3 score. The Bengals answered back with a 12 play, 75-yard drive where running back Joe Mixon threw a 6-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Tee Higgins, making the score 1310 with 5:47 remaining in the half. On the following drive is when things started to get rough for the Rams. Beckham got injured on a non-contact play and never returned to the game. Then to end
that drive, Stafford’s pass was intercepted by Cincinnati safety Jesse Bates III in the end zone at the 2:00 minute warning. At halftime, the score was 13-10 with the Rams ahead. To start the second half, the Bengals came out aggressive on the first play with a 75-yard touchdown from Burrow to Higgins to take the lead with a score of 17-13. This reception was the longest touchdown anyone has scored on All-Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey in his career. After Stafford’s pass was intercepted by Bengal’s cornerback Chidobe Awuzie, the Bengals managed to extend their lead to 20-13 after a 38-yard field goal from McPherson. The rookie kicker went a perfect 14/14 made field goals in the postseason, tying retired kicker Adam Vinatieri’s post-season record. The Rams went on to make the score 16-20 after a 41-yard field goal from kicker Matt Gay. With just six minutes remaining in the game, the Rams needed to score a touchdown to keep their hope alive. After four penalties in the final two minutes of the game, the Rams managed to score a 1-yard touchdown after a pass from Stafford to Kupp leaving only 1:25 remaining. The Bengals tried to drive the ball downfield to give McPherson a chance to send it to overtime but were stopped on 4th-and-one. This allowed the Rams to get into victory formation and win.
The Miners struggled throughout the game as they went 19-of-55 overall and 2-of-14 from distance. UTEP won the rebounding battle 44-36 and had 23 bench points compared to eight from Marshall. Crouse led the Miners with 12 points, six rebounds, and two assists. Freshman forward Elina Arike followed with eight points and six rebounds. Sophomore guard Eliana
Cabral and freshman forward Brenda Fontana contributed to the team’s effort when called in from the bench. For Marshall, senior Aaliyah Dunham and sophomore Savannah Wheeler point guards both had 16 points as they helped lead their team to a victory with Lorelei Roper adding a team-high 12 rebounds.
The women’s basketball team can be seen back in action as they host Louisiana Tech at 7 p.m. Feb. 17 at the Don Haskins Center. This will be the women’s second to last time hosting a regular season game.
The Bengals are now officially 0-3 in Super Bowl appearances and Burrow tied retired quarterback Roger Staubach’s record for most times sacked (7) in a Super Bowl. Rams head coach Sean McKay is
the youngest to win a Super Bowl (36 years) in NFL history. Kupp won MVP as he finished the game with 8 receptions, 92 yards, and 2 touchdowns. Kupp also won Offensive Player of the
Year at the NFL Honors after being the first player since 2005 to win the receiving triple crown. Stats provided by ESPN.
Emily Autumn Velasquez is the sports editor and can be reached at eavelasquez@miners.utep.edu; @ emilyautumn20 on Twitter
Emily Autumn Velasquez is the sports editor and can be reached at eavelasquez@miners.utep.edu; @ emilyautumn20 on Twitter.