VOL . 100, NO. 17
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
F E B R U A R Y 1 7, 2 0 1 5
HAPPINESS IS A WARM
GUN BY ALONSO MORENO The Prospector As Senate Bills 11 and 17 move forward, Texans find themselves closer to the possibility of not only being able to openly carry guns, but also being able to sport concealed firearms at public colleges and universities. On Thursday, Feb. 12, the Texas Senate Affairs Committee approved both bills by votes of 7-2, which will now send the bills to the full Senate. Voting against the bills were the committee’s two Democrats. Of the two bills, Senate Bill 11 would lift the ban on concealed handguns on university campuses, and Senate Bill 17 would allow gun owners with a license to carry holstered guns in public places. However, lawmakers amended one of the bills in the event that if both were to pass, open carry wouldn’t be allowed on state university and college campuses. The bills passed, despite facing opposition from law enforcement, some universities and gun control advocates. State Sen. Jose Rodriguez, who leads the opposition to gun proliferation, issued a press release where he stated that the issue is not about taking people’s guns away, but rather about protecting them. “I am deeply concerned that the bills proposed today would greatly expand the reach of handguns in the public sphere without doing enough to protect the public by keeping guns out the hands of criminals and other violent elements,” Rodriguez said. Regarding concealed carry of firearms on campuses, Rodriguez said they are places for learning, and those responsible for the education and safety of students are saying that the proposals simply don’t make sense. “As much as I like guns, I feel like it would increase the risk of a shooting.
Texas Legislature considers open-carry bill
Yes, it might be evened out if I have a gun, but it would be better if people were just not armed at all,” said Carla Stevenson, junior business major. Those in favor of the bills, however, said that the possibility of someone carrying a gun might deter possible criminals. “I think it’s great, it will allow people to protect themselves and there will be less crime. Usually, there is less crime where people are able to defend themselves,” said Michael McIntyre, general manager from local gun store and shooting range, Gun Central. There is also debate on how the laws might affect both perception and response from law enforcement and citizens. Dr. Charles Boehmer, associate professor of political science, said that the perception of threat is a technical issue some have brought up since it’s not easy to determine if someone is up to no good. “There is some technical issues and complications that just involve guns in general, especially in crisis situations,” Boehmer said. “Those go beyond the kinds of scenarios that are often depicted.” A similar scenario was brought up by several police chiefs who testified against the measures. They pointed out that law enforcement agencies would be strained and it would make it difficult to identify possible criminals at the scene of a crime. Among those who testified was Austin Police Chief Art Acevedo, who presented data which showed that 76 percent of 300 Texas police chiefs polled were against open carry laws. However, not all law enforcers agreed that the bills were unnecessary or a burden. McLennan County Sheriff Parnell McNamara testified that he is in complete support of concealed carry on campus, as police can’t be everywhere
see GUN on page 3 PHOTO BY ANDRES MARTINEZ, ILLUSTRATION BY JACOBO DE LA ROSA / THE PROSPECTOR
PAGE 2 FEBRUARY 17, 2015
perspectives
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
LORAIN AMBROCIO, 747-7477
Rights for the unarmed BY MARIA ESQUINCA The Prospector
Obama called the three Muslim students killed last week at Chapel Hill University “brutal and outrageous,” and added, “no one in the U.S. should ever be targeted because of who they are, what they look like, or how they worship.” Much of the mainstream discussion regarding this incident has revolved around questions about the motive of Craig Hicks, the white man who killed the three students, his motivation and whether the incident, which started over a parking incident, was a hate crime. The incident will become more relevant than ever to university students all over Texas, because if passed, Senate Bill 11, also known as the Campus Personal Protection Act, authored by Sen. Brian Birdwell (R-TX), among others, gets passed, it will allow concealed weapons to be carried on campus by Sept. 15, 2015. At the hearing, Birdwell explained that, “it has not been in the past nor it is my intention to allow for the open carry of hand gun on campus…my legislative intent focuses solely on the concealed carry of a hand gun on campus by a CHL (concealed handgun license) holder, thus affirming his or her constitutional right… The open carry on campus will be prohibited.” More than 100 people signed up to testify either for or against SB 11 and SB 17. One of the bills lifts a ban on concealed guns on university campuses (which is supposed to be amended to only include concealed handgun license owners) and the other allows licensed holders to carry guns openly. “This is not an anti-gun thing, this is a thing where we let schools decide what’s best for them,” said Carlos Martinez, a representative of college Democrats across the state, while testifying at the Senate State Affairs Committee against Senate Bills 11 and 17. After Martinez testified, Robert Holden, a firm supporter of the two bills, said, “wow it’s amazing how people fear freedom.” The bill is very similar to one introduced by U.S Sen. John Cornyn (RTX) called The Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2015. The bill would allow CHL owners to carry concealed guns in states that prohibit concealed guns. In light of this, the inevitable questions is, how hard is it to get a concealed handgun license?
According to TxDPS, the requirements of getting a CHL are, you must be 21 years of age or older and you must meet federal qualifications to purchase a handgun. Certain factors may make you ineligible to purchase one, such as felony convictions, whether a person has been diagnosed by a licensed physician as suffering from a psychiatric disorder, among others. Despite eligibility requirements, it’s safe to say Craig Hicks could qualify for a concealed handgun license. He was never hospitalized, or diagnosed by a psychiatrist. In fact, he was an exemplary student, described by a former instructor as “bright, hardworking and smart.” He had several Facebook posts advocating for samesex marriage rights. There is no eligibility requirement to buy a CHL that checks for Islamophobia, or for a propensity to commit a hate crime. Despite ongoing shootings like the one that happened at Chapel Hill, state legislators are pushing for the right to carry a concealed handgun on campus. The basis for much of the argument is that it’s a constitutional right. But, what about the right to walk on campus without fearing that there are people like Craig Hicks walking around? Is it less of a right because it is not written in the state or federal constitution? And why are the rights of one group more justifiable than another? There are many questions that remain to be answered. But, what is clear is that state legislators need to consider the protection and rights of all of its constituents before it passes legislation that will affect everyone. It is clear that eligibility requirements to be granted a CHL are not enough to safeguard the protection of innocent lives. There is an ongoing plethora of articles already written in the history of school shootings. A continuous blood spillage, headed by the likes of Wayne De La Pierre, who argues that the answer to bad guys with guns is good guys with guns. Yes, people have a right to carry guns. But people also have a right to not get killed for parking in the wrong space or for being Muslim. If legislators want to protect the rights of gun owners, they should do it responsibly by safeguarding the rights of those who don’t have one.
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up ad bring your friends
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JACOBO DE LA ROSA / THE PROSPECTOR
Maria Esquinca can be reached at theprospectordaily. news@gmail.com.
STAFF V O L . 1 0 0 , N O . 1 7 Editor-in-Chief: Lorain Ambrocio Assistant Editor: Amanda Guillen Layout Editor: Jacobo De La Rosa Copy Editor: Maria Esquinca Sports Editor: Luis Gonzalez Entertainment Editor: Kimberly Valle Photo Editor: Michaela Román Multimedia Editor: Christopher Zacherl Staff Photographers: Ruby Cerino, Andres Martinez Staff Reporters: Jason Green, Valerie Herrera, Juan Carlos Navarrete, Benjamin Woolridge Cartoonist: Blake A. Lanham Contributors: Hugo Brito, Julia Hettiger, Jesus Lopez Vargas, Andrea Sandoval
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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
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Líneas de El Paso a Juárez afectan a estudiantes POR FERNANDA LÉON The Prospector Desde tiempo atrás las líneas que se forman en el Puente Internacional Córdova-Las Americas de El Paso a Ciudad Juárez han representado un problema para estudiantes que cruzan diaramente, incluso afectando su economía. Un agente de aduana del Servicio de Administración Tributaria dijo que aparte de las vacaciones y días festivos, son los viernes, sábados y lunes los días cuando las líneas de regreso a Ciudad Juárez por el Puente Internacional Córdova-Las Americas son más largas. El agente dijo que no solo existen alumnos de Juárez que van a estudiar a El Paso, también existen alumnos que estudianen Juárez y que los fines de semana es cuando visitan a sus familiares en la ciudad de El Paso. Lucia Romero, estudiante de publicidad, es una de los muchos estudiantes que regresan a Ciudad Juárez después de haber cumplido con sus labores estudiantiles en la universidad. “Yo creo que es muy desgastante salir de la escuela cansado después de tener todo un día académico pesado, con maestros, tareas, estarte horas extras en la biblioteca y llegar al puente y hacer una ó dos horas de fila de regreso”, Romero dijo. “Yo pienso que deberían de hacer una línea especial para alumnos”. Las líneas de El Paso a Juárez, aparte del retraso y el desgaste físico que pueden causar a a los alumnos cuando regresan a sus hogares, también afecta su economía.
“Económicamente también afectan las líneas por la gasolina, el desgaste del carro y todo ese tipo de cosas afectan a fin de cuentas”, Romero dijo. El agente aduanal del SAT dijo que las líneas representan una cuestión económica, política y social. El agente dijo que debido a que los demás puentes Zaragoza y Santa Fe, cobran tanto por la entrada a El Paso. Muchos alumnos y trabajadores que cruzan diariamente prefieren ahorrar ó no gastar ese dinero. Representando una de las razones por las cuales se crean líneas largas en el puente Córdova de las América. Karen Hernández, estudiante de segundo año de educación, dijo que a sido afectada económicamente por el tiempo que le toma llegar a su hogar. “A veces tengo que pagar la cuota para cruzar el puente para poder llegar lo más rápido posible a mi casa”, dijo Hernández. “La mayoría del tiempo cruzo el puente caminando y no consumo tanto tiempo en las líneas, pero por más beneficioso que parezca también es muy inseguro y a mucha gente le afecta económicamente a causa de la cuota para cruzar el puente caminando en los puentes del centro y Zaragoza”. Hernández dijo que para regresar de El Paso a Ciudad Juárez ella paga tres dólares y 50 centavos si regresa en carro. “Gasto 90 dólares al mes en el puente y como las líneas son muy largas también gasto más gasolina”, dijo Hernández. “Yo diría que hicieran los agentes de migración una nueva estrategia para mejorar el tráfico y también para hacerlo más beneficioso para la gente que cruza el puente constantemente”.
FILE PHOTO / THE PROSPECTOR Para el agente aduanal del SAT, la solución a las largas líneas en el Puente Internacional Córdova-Las Americas seria mejorar la infraestructura del puente y hacer mejor uso de los puentes ubicados en Juárez y El Paso. Fernanda Léon puede ser theprospectordaily.news.@gmail.com.
contactada
GUN from page 1
at once and it gives Texas students a chance to protect themselves. “People have a right to survive. They have an obligation to get home to their loved ones,” McNamara said. At the hearings, two of the state’s top universities made their opinions known regarding whether campus carry would comprise student safety. University of Texas System Chancellor William McRaven sent a letter to the hearings to be read. He said his concern was that passing the bills would make universities less safe, because of the stress and emotional strain students might be subject to. In contrast, Texas A&M University System Chancellor John Sharp, who also sent a letter to the hearings, said that campus carry did not raise safety concerns for him and that the real question for him was trust. “The real question is this, do I trust my students, faculty and staff to work and live responsibly under the same laws at the university as they do at home?” Sharp wrote. “Of course I do.” Alonso Moreno may be reached at theprospectordaily. news@gmail.com.
ANDRES MARTINEZ / THE PROSPECTOR
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THEPROSPECTOR
| 4 | NEWS
FEBRUARY 17, 2015
What do you think of people that carry guns on them? HUGO BRITO, RUBY CERINO, ANDRES MARTINEZ, SERGIO ZAMORA, ADAM ZIEGENHALS / THE PROSPECTOR
ANDONI EUGUI
NATALIA FLORES
TOMAS SANDOVAL
“El Paso is a safe city, so there is no need for someone to carry a gun with them.”
“It’s dangerous and super unnecessary because, most likely, you won’t need it.”
“I think it’s a bad thing that they carry guns in the open, it doesn’t send the correct message.”
KRISHANNA TURNER
GUS LUTIA
“I think it can go both ways. Some people use it for protection, others for other reasons. If I lived in a town where crime was high, I would probably carry one, too.”
“As long as they don’t shoot me.”
Freshman psychology major
Junior kinesiology major
Freshman psychology major
Senior education major
Sophomore accounting major
IBERIA RODRIGUEZ
Freshman kinesiology major “I think that people who carry guns are on their way to commit a crime or are being paranoid.”
MICHAEL BUSTILLOS
Freshman environmental science major
KEIGHTON ALLEN
Junior economics major
“People that carry guns shouldn’t really cause concern, at least not to me. As long as they are not waving it around and are actually being responsible with one.”
“Those who lawfully have conceal and carry permits are red-blooded, hot-dog eating, baseball watching, ‘Murica-loving patriots, who have the responsibility to defend the constitution and the weak.”
OSELEONOLEME WILLIAMS
JONATHAN AVILA
“I think it’s perfectly fine. Everyone has the right to protect themselves.”
“Its a good thing because people need to protect themeselves, but at he same time, if you know you’ll be in a familiar neighboorhood, then don’t cary one.”
Freshman nursing major
Junior baiology major
THEPROSPECTOR
NEWS | 5 |
FEBRUARY 17, 2015
Overrides cause overcrowding BY BEN WOOLRIDGE The Prospector Before each semester at UTEP, students try to enroll in classes that best fit their individual degree plans, but sometimes it leads to classrooms exceeding the capacity limits. Steven Alonzo, junior digital media production major, has experienced overcrowding in a documentary video practicum course he enrolled in this semester. “My class had more people than expected,” Alonzo said. He said there were a few students who were left standing, while others sat randomly in chairs throughout the room, which had a limited number of computers available. Kerri Harrison, department of communication lecturer and advisor, said that every academic department turns in a schedule to the scheduling department with information pertaining to the course, days, times and number of students in a class for each semester. “It used to be that we could also request the classroom, and generally speaking, we would get the classrooms we requested,” Harrison said. She said specific room requests are now reserved mainly for instructors with disabilities or other issues, but that the scheduling department still tries to accommodate instructors. “They have a formula that they now work from, so we don’t request rooms anymore,” Harrison said. She said that overcrowding results from classes that are being placed in
smaller rooms and instructors allowing students beyond the room capacity into their classrooms.
“All they have is a number on a page that says the room seats this many.”
- Kerri Harrison, department of communication lecturer and advisor “The room they have me teaching in seats 30. I allow 30 students into my class even though it’s capped at 27,” Harrison said. “There’s no place for me to sit when they’re giving presentations.” Amanda Vasquez, senior director of enrollment services, said that there are special circumstances where students are allowed to enroll beyond the section capacity. “Academic departments are given discretion to issue special permis-
sion for students to enroll in a section beyond its original capacity so long as the section’s enrollment does not exceed the classroom’s capacity,” Vasquez said. “This discretion is often very important in order to permit students to register for classes that are needed for timely graduation.” Javier Villanueva, senior graphic design major, also attended a class that was overcrowded. He said the principles of advertising class had between 30 to 40 students, and was moved from a small room in Quinn Hall to a larger one in Cotton Memorial. Villanueva said the move had a positive effect because it was nearer to his job on campus. Alonzo said that his many experiences with overcrowding have been negative because they don’t permit him to enroll in required courses. “When you do not have enough room, for example, in digital media production, a student has to take another class just to fill a schedule,” he said. “Then you have students who cannot get into classes because they are full, which now makes them overfill other classes.” Harrison said that instructors sometimes make errors by not keeping track of department overrides and allowing students to enroll beyond the section capacity limit. “You’ll sign a waiver for somebody. They hold on to it for two weeks. They don’t register,” Harrison said. She said another student is also given a waiver, and then the first student decides to register.
New dining experience will open for fall BY STEPHANIE FRESCAS The Prospector Construction for a new dining area on the second floor of the Union East Building will start April 25. The venue is scheduled to open Aug. 1. The World Of Wings will close the day before construction starts, but there is no date for its re-opening or a new location yet. Victor Pacheco, vice president for business affairs, said the food court and the El Paso Natural Gas Conference Center are being considered, but that World of Wings will not open before the new dining hall. As a restaurant concept, the dining hall will not include brands. Instead, it will offer a variety of selections in one buffet-type area. Though the menus will change daily, the restaurant will include a Mongolian grill, a deli station, American and Italian comfort food and a salad bar, among other options. “We conducted some focus groups about a year ago and we had several students comment that they wanted an all-you-care-to-eat cafeteria-style menu,” Pacheco said. “These are very popular at other universities, and they cater a lot to residential students who live on campus. So it’s real convenient to come eat at a venue like this.” Although the main purpose of the unnamed venue is to cater to students with a meal plan, it will serve breakfast, lunch and dinner on weekdays, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. throughout the semester. Shorter weekend hours will offer brunch and dinner menus. Aymee Dominguez, sophomore health promotions major, said she was glad there would be more variety, especially since she currently does not have a lot of options as a vegetarian.
“I would like to have a vegetarian restaurant,” Dominguez said. “We have Quiznos and another one, but it’s not that good. I’d like veggie burgers or something like that. They just give us salads.” Alhough a vegetarian-specific station is not planned, Ofelia Dominguez, director of Union Services, said the new venue will give students with vegetarian and gluten restrictions more selections. The expenses for construction of the site will be covered by the food service management company, Sodhexo, who will also be taking charge of the operation of the buffet. Although construction will not begin for some months, the pool tables that were previously located in the area of the planned renovation were removed. Dominguez said the tables will not be relocated after construction is over. “We totally did away with them because, for one thing, they were hardly being used and that was taking up a lot of space,” Dominguez said. This will be the third renovation to this dining area in the past four years, but the first change to the back area since the WOW was put in nine years ago. “We did some renovations a few years back, and that was to update that whole front area that’s facing into the center lounge,” Dominguez said. “We had not touched that front area in a long time. The back area was not touched at all.” Stephanie Frescas may reached at theprospectordaily. news@gmail.com.
“Now you have one more than you’re supposed to,” she said. Vazquez said that the Enrollment Services Center and the Environmental Health and Safety Office work together to monitor instances of overenrollment to ensure that sections do not exceed classroom capacity. “There were no sections that exceeded classroom capacity this term,” Vazquez said. Harrison said that even though she does not consider overcrowding to be a serious issue and those issues
regarding rooms that exceed capacity limits are resolved, detailed knowledge of the rooms to prevent overcrowding is still lacking. “All they have is a number on a page that says the room seats this many,” Harrison said. Ben Woolridge may be reached at theprospectordaily. news@gmail.com.
The University of Texas at El Paso 21st Century Scholars The Division of Student Affairs prepares UTEP students for high caliber leadership in today’s competitive workforce. Through innovative and impactful programming, students are given the opportunity to sculpt essential skills toward their future professions. On Wednesday, February 11, 2015, the 21st Century Scholars participated in a highly interactive, hands-on workshop with an emphasis on developing and strengthening career-related leadership skills that included: communication in a professional setting, networking, self-promotion and working in a collaborative setting. Students in the program represent some of the best untapped, high potential talent at UTEP.
A special Thank You to Dr. John Hadjimarcou (Faculty-in-Residence) for providing a vision of leadership for the 2015 Class of 21st Century Scholars.
CONGRATULATIONS 21st Century Scholars Class of 2015! Taylor Adams Karen Aguilar Jaqlyn Alderete Richard Alegria Omar Altamira Carolina Alvarado Rene Travis Balandran Fabian Barragan Daniela F. Barraza- Escudero Jordan Beard Moises Blankenship Claudia L. Borunda Ashley Gray Brandon Diana Caraveo Martha C. Cardona Aracely C. Marquez Jacqueline Cason Rachel L. Castillo Laura Chacon Rosaura J.Chapina Crystal Chavez Matthew Chavez Juan Corona Andrea Crespo Angela Cutaia Alexandra Davila Carlos Dominguez Roberto Dominguez Paulette Dozal Denise Elliott Amber Ellis Gabriela Enriquez Edgar Escalante Alderete Jose Esparza Saul Espinoza Jasmine Flores Aaron S. Foster Jacqueline Franco
Ivan Gallegos Viridiana Garcia Clarissa Gardea Bianca I. Gomez Joe A. Gonzales Jr. Peter Gonzalez Priscilla Gonzalez Aimee Granados Gabriella Guerena Gloria Guerra Emily Guerra Mario Gurrola Adrian Gutierrez Mayra A. Gutierrez Victoria Hall Elizabeth Haro Jered A. Holder Victor Hurtado Qusai Issa Jesus Jimenez Melissa Jones Isabel Junco Lindsey Larson Jacqueline Lechuga Crystal Lecuyer Erica Jo Leffler Rita E. Lerma Aaron Lopez Jose Lopez Karla Lujan Jesse Marin Isabella Marin Stephany N. Martinez Briana Martinez Amy Paulina Medina Jeanette Mendez Maria Fernanda Mendoza Melissa Molina
Yazmin Montoya Mariel Mora Paul Nathan Monique Navarro Andrea Norte Angel U. Ortega Jorge Ortiz Ricardo Paez Maria R. Parada Daniel Peralta Jennifer Allen Posern Ana Quevedo Herman Quintana Denise Ramirez Morgan Rasmason Rogelio Reyes Jonathan Rocha Maria Laura Rodriguez Sheryl Rodriguez Ilsse Rodriguez Diana Laura Rubio Marisol Ruiz Rodolfo Sanchez JoAnne Savage Tiffany Seale Patrick Serna Brenda Berenice Simental Unzueta Damien Smith Katerina Soltero Jennifer Tellez Carlo Terrazas Adrian Santiago Terrazas David Torres Courtney Valenzuela Krystal Vickers Emma Weatherly Ivan Yanez Sven Zellner
PAGE 7 FEBRUARY 17, 2015
entertainment
EDITOR
KIMBERLY VALLE, 747-7477
Indoor go-kart speedway is sparking up attention
HUGO BRIT0/ THE PROSPECTOR New motor speedway is located at 8600 Gateway East Blvd.
BY VALERIE HERRERA The Prospector A new motor speedway opened in East El Paso on Feb. 6, but plans for the official ribbon cutting of Zero to 60 Motor Speedway is expected to take place Mar. 6. The track, located at 8600 Gateway East Blvd. in the Kessler Industrial Park, is a quarter-mile long and can accommodate about eight to 10 drivers at a time. The indoor gokart speedway features 100 percent electric Sony-manufactured go-karts from France that can hit top speeds of 50 miles per hour. “We are the only motor speedway in the country to carry the latest generation of kart technology from Belgium and Europe,” said Joe Acosta, partner and operator of Zero to 60 Motor Speedway. “The manufacturer is known to be the best in the world as far as karting and we are very lucky and proud to have it.” Adult go-kart drivers must be at least 16 years of age with a valid driver’s license. Racers under the age of 18 must have a minor release form signed by a parent or guardian and notarized if not present. All adult riders must be a minimum of 11 years of age and at least five-foot-4-inches tall. Acosta said for safety precautions, it is recommended that all drivers wear closed-toe shoes and their hair tied up inside the helmet during the race. “They are a blast to ride and get your adrenaline running high,” Acosta said. All races are based on time and not on position. The races are usually eight to 10 minutes long and drivers
are able to get about 20 to 25 laps in during one race. “The 15th lap is usually the best one in most races and we have software technology that is able to track the times for every lap,” Acosta said. “The program enables us to keep a record of the best drivers so we can invite them back to compete in other races.” Kevin Keenan, senior computer science major, said this is something El Paso has been anticipating. “The city is growing and we don’t see a lot of unique attractions developing around here so this sounds unique and thrilling,” Keenan said. The main attraction of Zero to 60 are the go-karts, however the 30,000-square-foot facility also features a retail shop, a bar that serves beer and wine, other concessions, pool tables and a lounge area with Wi-Fi. Drivers are allowed to have a maximum of two drinks prior to entering a race. Television monitors displayed throughout the facility will air Nascar and Formula One races, other sporting events and fights throughout the day. Zero to 60 also features two large private rooms available to rent for any type of event such as birthdays and corporate meetings. “We want to accommodate to everyone,” Acosta said. “Parents can eat some lunch and do some work in the lounge area while the kids enjoy themselves in the speedway, and anyone using our private rooms for a meeting, for example, can grab a bite to eat and race the karts in between breaks.” The motor speedway will also have a kitchen that will offer a variety of
unique menu items named after auto phrases. Some items they will be serving are appetizers, hamburgers, hotdogs and nachos. The kitchen is scheduled to be ready by the end of this month. Mariel Frias, sophomore media advertising major, said Zero to 60 is interesting. “I have never heard of this before, but I would love to try it out,” Frias said. The ideas for the Zero to 60 Speedway were sparked three years ago.
“El Paso is like a hidden treasure and is growing in a good direction,” Acosta said. “It doesn’t really have a lot of entertainment areas that are appealing to adults and young adults, which is why we decided that El Paso was the right market for this kind of industry.” Acosta said the concept of the company is automotive so they are looking to work with local dealerships in town to showcase their latest models and new vehicles.
“It was an incredible and massive project, but we are proud of it and happy to bring it to El Paso for the community to enjoy,” Acosta said. Zero to 60 is open every day of the week, Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday to Saturday from 11 a.m. to midnight and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.. Each race costs about $20 per race per driver. Valerie Herrera may be reached at theprospectordaily. ent@gmail.com.
HUGO BRITO / THE PROSPECTOR The indoor go-kart speedway features 100 percent electric Sony manufactured go-karts from France.
THEPROSPECTOR
| 8 | ENTERTAINMENT
FEBRUARY 17, 2015
El Paso’s food takes flight
SPECIAL TO THE PROSPECTOR Food Flight ships signiture Mexican food from local El Paso restaurants, nationwide.
BY JESUS LOPEZ The Prospector Not all places in the United States can pull off the specific taste of authentic Mexican food, and Food Flight, a new business from El Paso, has decided to change that. Food Flight ships signature Mexican foods from local restaurants and stores in El Paso to many areas across the nation. “Items and products, such as Chicos Tacos, menudo, green chile and products like that, they just can’t be found with the same genuine taste in other cities around the United States,” said Leila Melendez, UTEP alumni and founder of Food Flight. “We know
that no one does Mexican food like El Paso does, not even San Antonio or South Texas match the quality.”
The idea for Food Flight came from Leila Melendez doing the same technique with her own family members in the past. Whenever Melendez traveled to Dallas, she would take several
“Items and products, such as Chicos Tacos, menudo, green chile and products like that, they just can’t be found with the same genuine taste in other cities around the United States.”
pounds of chorizo and green chile in her suitcase to her family. Leila Melendez said they first started their business with family and friends to test out the interest. She said it wasn’t hard to find a market for their business and its products. “At first we didn’t buy a lot of material, for we weren’t sure if the concept had merit. However, just a couple of weeks ago, it went viral,” Leila Melendez said. “That’s when we quickly
- Leila Melendez, UTEP alumni and founder of Food Flight
realized how many people across the United States valued and missed the flavors of El Paso.”
Food Flight begins by buying the ingredients and products once the orders are placed and then freezing them until the shipment is made to guarantee freshness. is shipped to their buyers. The delivery takes about two days, depending on the distance. takes about two days, depending on the distance. “My husband and I have thought When an order is confirmed, Food Flight securely packages the items within insulated bags with ice packs to assure satisfaction of the client, and then the food plenty about how El Paso’s Mexican food has the signature of being more Mexican than food from any other place in the United States,” Melendez said. “It is definitely our own thing and, being proud of it, we want to share it with as many people as possible.” Javier and Leila Melendez have just started up their business and are taking notice of its future potential. “My wife and I are perfecting the system, our process and our capacity,” Melendez said. “We do what we can for our customers and their satisfaction. We are so proud of being able to share a taste of home to the rest of the country.”
Food Flight has shipped to several places in Texas and other places as far away as New York, Washington, Nebraska and Florida. Josh Paredes, junior chemistry major, said if he lived far away from El Paso, he would consider Food Flight. “I would think that shipping food to other parts of the nation is a bit impractical, since there are Mexican food stores in many cities,” Paredes said. “But the food from El Paso really has its own peculiar taste I would totally think about buying.” For more information, Food Flight may be contacted on their Facebook, or through their website at foodflightelp.com. Jesus Lopez may be reached at theprospectordaily.ent@ gmail.com.
THEPROSPECTOR
ENTERTAINMENT | 9 |
FEBRUARY 17, 2015
Girl empowerment comes to UTEP
PHOTO COURTESY/ LATINITAS FACEBOOK PAGE The college chica workshop will be held Feb.21 at the Mike Loya Services building.
BY JULIA HETTIGER The Prospector Latinitas, an organization that works to empower young Latina girls, will be collaborating with UTEP to host their College Chica Workshop. The purpose of the workshop is to explain the importance of college through campus visits, presentations and other activities. The event will take place on Feb. 21, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Mike Loya Academic Services building. Girls ages nine to 17 are encouraged to attend and learn about the importance of education.
“We want girls to walk away inspired to focus on education and to give them the tools they need to get ready for college early,” said Alicia Rascon, co founder of Latinitas. The girls who attend the workshop will have the opportunity to meet with college mentors and interview professional women with college degrees. “The workshops will give girls a breakdown of the steps needed to apply for college and how they can start preparing throughout middle and high school to get ready for college,” Rascon said.
There will be workshops to help girls prepare financially for college by covering the basics of financial aid. “We will also help girls in planning how they can fund their college education through financial aid and scholarships,” Rascon said. Participants will go on a tour of UTEP and meet with student leaders, giving them the chance to ask questions and get hands-on experience from current college students. They will also work in teams to create public service announcements to help share the importance of college with their peers.
Rascon and her colleagues at Latinitas hope to recruit 100 girls from middle and high schools in the El Paso area for the event. “Latinitas offers numerous outreach programs to help empower girls to build confidence, discover their voice and grow as leaders,” Rascon said. The College Chica Workshops offer many other programs and activities to encourage girls to be leaders and take charge in many aspects of their lives. “We host monthly girl empowerment programs and offer ongoing after-school programs in partnership
with local schools and community centers,” Rascon said. Latinitas will also be having an event titled Viva la Mujer as a celebration for Women’s History Month on Mar. 27, from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Café Mayapan at 2000 Texas Ave. They will also be collaborating with the UTEP Women in Business Association to host their Girl Power Fest in April. Latinitas is located at 215 N. Mesa. For more information, call 915-219-8554. Julia Hettiger may be reached at the prospectordaily. ent@gmail.com.
| 10 | ENTERTAINMENT
THEPROSPECTOR FEBRUARY 17, 2015
INBRIEF
Get ready for a Fat Tuesday filled with Beads BOURBON STREET ON CINCINNATI ST. Take a tour of New Orleans at El Paso’s longest-running block party. Get showered with beads while enjoying good food, live outdoor music and drink specials from nine bars and restaurants. New Orleans-style food such as gumbo, po’boys and much more will be served. Activities begin at 3 p.m. to 2 a.m. in Cincinnati district. A $10 cover will be charged after 4 p.m., all attendants must be 21 and over to attend.
FIRST ANNUAL FAT TUESDAY CELEBRATION AT CANTINA MALOLAM Malolam, Hommework and Elevenivy will come together for the fattest of all Tuesdays at the TI:ME at Montecillo shopping center. Contests and giveways will be taking place and all entrants must do whatever they can to deserve them. Doors open at 9 p.m. at 4935 N. Mesa. For more information, call (915) 875-8670.
10TH-ANNUAL MARDI GRAS BLOCK PARTY AT UNION PLAZA Enjoy the tradition of Fat Tuesday at El Paso’s 10th-annual Downtown Union Plaza block party on Feb. 17. Come in Mardi Gras attire to enjoy live entertainment from DJs Ace Hussel, Julian V and Omar Garnica. Drink specials will be offered from the Garden, Tabla and 1914 Lounge. There will be a $5 cover fee to enter.
FAT TUESGAY’S DANCE
Party with Midas Bison and Disco Down at Tricky Falls Lounge. Tricky Falls will be featuring the sounds of indie and retro dance beats from Midas Bison and Disco Down at 209 S. El Paso Street. There will be drink specials, make-out sessions and fun entertainment. Bring beads and be ready to party. Admission will be free beginning at 9 p.m. For more information, visit trickyfalls.com or call (915) 351-9909.
FAT TUESDAY MARDI GRAS AT 301 NIGHTLIFE SMG Events and 301 Nightlife Presents El Paso’s largest Mardi Gras Party on Feb. 17, at 301 S. Ochoa St., where $1000 in cash and prizes will be given to the lady with the most beads at the end of the night. Free beads are provided inside, and a $99 bottle service special is offered before 11 p.m. Doors open at 8 p.m. and patrons 18 and over are welcome. Ladies 21 and over do not have to pay a cover fee. Customers 21 and over can RSVP in advance for free admission. Dress code is strictly enforced. No tanks, cut offs, sneakers, shorts jerseys, baggy or torn jeans. Tickets are $10. For more information on purchasing tickets, visit Facebook, key word 301 Nightlife, or visit eventbrite.com.
PAGE 11 FEBRUARY 17, 2015
Sports
EDITOR
LUIS GONZALEZ, 747-7477
Men’s basketball streaking, in second place of Conference USA BY LUIS GONZALEZ The Prospector The UTEP men’s basketball team has won six-straight games and sits alone in second place in Conference USA. After two wins at home, first against Charlotte and then against Old Dominion, the Miners’ 10-3 conference record trails only Louisiana Tech’s 10 wins and two losses. UTEP’s longest conference home stretch continues when they host the University of Texas at San Antonio on Saturday, Feb. 21, at the Don Haskins Center. “We had expectations of this team and we would have expected that,” said Miner head coach Tim Floyd about the team’s current place in the standings. “We got a long way to go, we got five really, really difficult games to go.” UTEP came in to this past weekend’s games on a four-game winning streak set to face one of the worst teams in the league, record-wise. The Charlotte 49ers came to El Paso with an unthreatening 3-7 conference record, but it was a team who had narrowly lost at Old Dominion, at Middle Tennessee and took UAB to overtime. “I think everybody should see that team, which is now 3-8 (in the conference), is very, very, talented and once they figure it out, it’s going to be a team that everybody is going to have to reckon with in the conference tournament,” Floyd said. “The kind of team that can just storm through it and win four games.” After an uncharacteristic fast start that saw UTEP get out to a 10-2 lead, the Miners had to battle throughout the rest of the game to ward off a very resilient Charlotte squad. Charlotte shot the ball well in the first period, but the Miners’ defense just did not allow the 49ers to shoot much. The visitors made half of the shots they took during the first 20 minutes of play, but they also turned it over 14 times. UTEP took advantage of the forced turnovers, scoring 15 points off of them. A 34-27 lead at the break was cut down to as little as three with about a minute left in the game, and those unthreatening 49ers had all of a sudden put UTEP’s victory in danger. The Miners allowed Charlotte to get close because of their struggles when it came to rebounding the ball. Charlotte outrebounded UTEP 39-26, in-
cluding 12 on the offensive glass in the second half. UTEP went 9-10 from the freethrow line to finish the game and secure the 73-68 win. “All in all, it’s a good win,” Floyd said. The Miners followed the hardfought victory with what could arguably be their biggest victory of the season. The once-nationally ranked Old Dominion Monarchs came into the Don Haskins Center and left having scored less than 50 points for only the second time this year. Floyd’s men played some of the best defense they have played all year and limited the Monarchs to a woeful 26.9 percent shooting in the first half and 30.8 percent for the game. Senior guard Julian Washburn had the challenge of guarding one of the top offensive players in Conference USA in Old Dominion’s Trey Freeman. Averaging 16 points a game, Washburn limited Freeman to just six points on nine attempts from the field. “I think that’s probably the best defense we’ve played all year,” said senior guard C.J. Cooper. “Julian (Washburn) shut down their main player and I think he affected all of us.” The game ended fittingly with UTEP forcing a turnover that resulted in Washburn slamming on the other end to seal the 62-47 Miner win. The Miners’ six-game winning streak is the longest active streak in the conference and is one win shy of tying the longest of the season. Western Kentucky, who has lost three of their last five games, started the conference season with seven-straight victories. The second-place Miners now turn their attention to the UTSA Roadrunners. Both teams will have plenty of time to prepare since they will be off on Thursday night while the rest of the conference remains active. The Roadrunners are coming off an eight-point loss to Charlotte this past Saturday in San Antonio, but are one of the better road teams in Conference USA. UTSA will be looking to avenge its loss to UTEP earlier this season, when the Miners traveled to San Antonio and came away with a 73-55 victory. “I think they’ve won as many road games as we have,” Floyd said.
“They’ve been outstanding on the road and that will be difficult here.” UTSA has actually won four games on the road, compared to UTEP’s five, but that is still good enough to put them among the top three in the conference when it comes to playing away from home. UTSA’s 7-6 conference record, 1311 overall, is good enough for sixth place in the conference and they still face the possibility of finishing among the top four teams, which means they will receive a first-round bye in the conference tournament. The Roadrunners are among the best offenses in the league, averaging 72 points per game, just a tad better than the 69.7 UTEP is averaging. When it comes to defense though, the gap is a little wider. UTEP is third in Conference USA in scoring defense, allowing 62.9 points per game. UTSA, on the other hand, sits in the bottom three, allowing opponents to score just over 70 points per contest. After having to deal with Old Dominion’s Freeman, the task will not get
any easier for UTEP as UTSA brings to town another explosive scorer in senior forward Jeromie Hill. The 6-foot-8, 250-pound Australian was just named the co-player of the week in Conference USA, and is averaging 16.8 points per game—third best in Conference USA. Hill is also among the best rebounders in the league, averaging 7.8 boards per game. UTEP’s Vince Hunter still leads the league in that category with an average of 9.6. Hill will not come to El Paso alone. Three other Roadrunners are averaging points in double figures and are among the top 25 scorers in the league. Senior guard Keon Lewis is averaging 15.1 points, junior guard Ryan Bowie is averaging 12.6 and the senior center Kaj-Bjorn Sherman is averaging 11.8. The 7-foot Sherman is also averaging seven rebounds per game, sixth best in Conference USA. UTEP and UTSA have met seven times over the years. The Miners lead the series 6-1, with their most recent victory coming earlier this season in mid-January. The lone victory the
Roadrunners have against UTEP came in 2011. On that occasion, UTSA came into the Don Haskins and beat the Miners 73-64 in what was Floyd’s first year in charge of the program. That UTEP team would go on to lose to Memphis in the championship game of the conference tournament and to New Mexico in the first round of the NIT. Defense has been the staple of Tim Floyd’s teams ever since he came back to El Paso and the Miners will look to continue to rely on that facet of the game as they reach the final stages of the regular season. With the possibility of a regular season conference championship still very much real, UTEP is focused on protecting their home court every time they take the floor. “I think what we are bringing to our home court is a team that can really, really guard,” Floyd said. “If we can continue to do that these next three games then we have a chance to win.”
great matchups and some of the best soccer the sport has to offer. As any fan would know, the eight matchups are split into two weeks. The first week of competition pits Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea against the high-spending Paris St. Germain, the ultra-talented Bayern Munich versus Shaktar Donetsk, defending champions Real Madrid and Germany’s Schalke 04 and Portuguese superpower FC Porto against the Swiss FC Basel. The most attractive of the four games has to be the re-match of last year’s quarterfinals when Chelsea miraculously escaped elimination against the Zlatan-less PSG. Plagued by injuries and many underachieving players who have not seen their best form throughout this season
the French squad cannot be considered the favorite by any stretch of the imagination—especially when you consider the fact that Chelsea is considerably better than that team that was lucky to reach the semis of last year’s tournament. Cesc Fabregas, Juan Cuadrado and Diego Costa are significant upgrades that have contributed to Chelsea playing very un-Mourinho like—that is enjoyable to watch. I would add Thibaut Courtois to the list, but it seems Petr Cech is set to make the start, even though it seems crazy to me. Cech is good, but Courtois is one of the best three keepers in the world right now, at least. I guess you can make a case for PSG, because they really have nothing to lose. Those players like Thia-
go Silva, Edinson Cavani, Ezaquiel Lavezzi, among others who seem to still be hung over from the World Cup could be compelled to show their best football under the bright lights of the biggest stage. The combination of Silva and David Luiz is good enough to negate the threat of Costa and Zlatan Ibrahimovic is the best forward in the game—an attack centered around him will always be dangerous. PSG’s only chance of advancing past the Premier League leaders will come at home on Tuesday. They need to go to Stanford Bridge with some sort of advantage, two goals would give them a real chance. The question is, can they come together and produce their best form when it matters most? And will
Mourinho let his side play or will the special one be content with leaving Paris not losing? Hopefully it’s the first one and we get a game we all enjoy. There is not much to talk about when it comes to the Bayern-Shaktar matchup. The German powerhouse who struggled coming out of the winter break seem to be getting back into their usual menacing form after a 8-0 annihilation of fellow Bundesliga squad Hamburg. It is still unbelievable for me to think that Frank Ribery, Robert Lewandowski, Arjen Robben, Bastian
MICHAELA ROMAN / THE PROSPECTOR Senior guard Julian Washburn has scored double figures in the past two games.
Luis Gonzalez may be reached at theprospectordaily. sports@gmail.com.
Champions League is finally back BY LUIS GONZALEZ The Prospector The Round of 16 Champions League draw is one of the worst days in sports. I hate it. Sure, we learn who will play who in the first of the decisive stages of the most competitive soccer tournament there is, but then we have to wait months before these matchups actually occur. Thankfully though, the Champions League is back this week with some
see CHAMPIONS on page 12
THEPROSPECTOR
| 12 | SPORTS
FEBRUARY 17, 2015
Softball picks up first wins of the season in Las Vegas BY JASON GREEN The Prospector The UTEP softball team went to Las Vegas for the Wilson/DeMarini Desert Classic tournament and came back with their first two victories of the season. During prior weekend, the Miners were in Arizona for the Kajikawa Classic, where they lost all five games. After this Desert Classic, the Miners’ record stands at 2-8. In the first game of the Vegas tournament on Friday, the Miners put on an impressive show of offense to exact a measure of revenge from a team who had defeated them the previous week.
The thing we always talk about is never giving up and being that scrappy team. - Tobin Echo-Hawk, UTEP softball head coach Sophomore pitcher Erika Harrawood started the game against Portland State and allowed four earned runs in the first two innings. Junior Danielle Pearson came in for the final five innings and allowed only one earned run. Pearson became the winning pitcher, following an unbelievable eight-run inning in the top of the seventh that gave the Miners a 8-5 victory.
Head coach Tobin Echo-Hawk was very impressed with the fight in her team. “It was a great way to finish the game. The great thing is you saw the fight and determination,” Echo-Hawk said. “The thing we always talk about is never giving up and being that scrappy team.” In Friday’s second game, the Miners’ bats stayed hot and carried the team to their first win over a Big 10 opponent in almost eight years. The Miners defeated the Indiana Hoosiers by a final score of 4-1 as preseason All-Conference USA selection senior Ashley Eldridge pounded out three hits with a double and two runs batted in. After starting pitching woes plagued the Miners earlier in the day, it was probably a relief for the entire team to see the performance that sophomore pitcher Kaitlin Fifield put on. Fifield pitched a complete game, allowing only one unearned run and striking out three. Echo-Hawk was very pleased with her young pitcher’s performance. “Kaitlin did an amazing job tonight, setting the tone and getting the outs we needed,” said Echo-Hawk. “It was great to see her have an outing like that.” In the Miners’ third game of the tournament, the pitching issues returned. Starting pitcher sophomore Taylor Grohmann gave up five earned runs in the first inning to Brigham Young University. Harrawood came in to relieve Grohmann and allowed four more earned runs to the Cougars. BYU’s starting pitcher sophomore McKenna Bull held the Miners to one hit in getting the win for her team. In the fourth game of the tournament, Pearson was not able to repeat her dominating pitching performance of the day before. The Miners lost 6-3 to the University of Nevada. Pearson allowed five earned runs on eight hits.
FILE PHOTO The UTEP softball team will head to Hawaii for the Bank of Hawaii Invitational Tournament next weekend. The Miners’ usually potent offense was stymied once again as the Miners left nine runners on base. The highlights of this game were two new Miners, sophomore transfer Kiki Pepi and freshman Hope Moreno who both hit their first home runs in the orange and blue. In the final game of the Desert Classic for the Miners, Fifield once again
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pitched an outstanding game. Unfortunately, the Miner offense was held scoreless yet again. The Miners lost 2-0 to the University of Nevada-Las Vegas. Fifield allowed only two earned runs on seven hits – with six strikeouts. The Miners were held to only four hits by UNLV sophomore pitcher Kwyn Cooper. Cooper struck out three different Miners including leadoff hitter senior Tahla Wade and designated player junior Jade Rodriguez twice. The Miners may have left Las Vegas with only two victories, but the team showed that they have addressed many problems that plagued them in the previous tournament. The pitching staff as a whole was able to lower its’ earned run average by almost a full two points to 7.34. The Miner bats
are still as impressive as they were last season. Junior Kawehiokalani Netane leads the team with a .394 batting average and 13 hits. Freshman Courtney Clayton paces the offense with five runs batted in on the season. The Miners will head to Hawaii soon to play in the Bank of Hawaii Invitational next weekend. The Miners will take on the home team Hawaii on Friday, Feb. 20 to begin the tournament. Jason Green may be reached at theprospectordaily. sports@gmail.com.
Schwansteiger, Mario Gotze, CHAMPIONS from page 11 Thomas Muller, David Alaba, Manuel Nauer and Xavi Alonso the way they have been as of late in this kind of stage. are all on the same team. Finally we have the champiEven without captain Phillip ons. I would love to make a case Lahm, Thiago Alcantara or Javi Martinez, there is no arguing this for Schalke against the La Liga is the deepest, most talented squad leaders and it would not be that there is in the world. I have no farfetched—Real Madrid always doubt Pep Guardiola’s men will have struggles with these kinds of no trouble with the Ukrainians and teams, they just do. Carlo Ancelotti has a lot of key there should be plenty of goals to pieces out of commission too, but keep this one-sided tie entertaining. I don’t know who got luckier the German squad has even more. FC Basel or FC Porto. There was Both of these teams will be hamno side any of the group winners pered by injuries and Madrid’s would have liked to face more struggles as of late might make this a much more even matchup, espethan the team from Switzerland. By the same hand, the opponent cially in this first leg in Germany. Still, at the end of the day Real for Basel could have been much worse than the Dragons. Neither of Madrid is going to advance bethese two teams is a realistic can- cause they are Real Madrid and didate to play in Berlin come June, Schalke is just Schalke. There is no soccer like the one but it’s a nice opportunity for Porto to reach the quarterfinals—some- played in Champions League and thing they have not done since the first set of matches should provide plenty of excitement. With winning the tournament in 2004. It’s a great opportunity to get great players and interesting stomany of its young promising play- rylines across the board we should ers some experience. The value have plenty to talk about come and experience of guys like Alex Thursday morning. I’m so glad the Sandro, Hector Herrera, Casemi- wait is finally over. ro, Bruno Martins Indi could reLuis Gonzalez may be reached at theprospectordaily. ally improve if they are able to play sports@gmail.com.