News
Pandemic: Students return from abroad, page 3
Entertainment
‘Tiger King’ a brilliant docuseries, page 5
Sports
NCAA grants extra year, page 7 V O L . 10 5, N O . 23 A P R I L 7, 2 0 2 0
THE UNIVERSIT Y OF TEX AS AT EL PASO W W W.TH E PROS PEC TO RDA I LY.COM
UTEP names new provost
Isaiah Ramirez The Prospector University of Texas at El Paso President Heather Wilson announced John S. Wiebe will be promoted to become the university’s president for academic affairs and provost after holding the interim position since January of last year. “During my first seven months here John’s quiet advice and active engagement on difficult problems improved the quality of decisions,” Wilson said in an email Tuesday, March 31. “While unfailingly professional John is an effective and thoughtful member of the cabinet and he makes the team better.”
UTEP first announced its search for a new provost in October 2019 with the search committee being led by Vice President of Student Affairs Gary Edens. The position of a provost is a highly touted position at a university, as it oversees all areas related to university curriculum and faculty appointments, as well as being the chief academic officer. Wiebe earned his doctorate degree in clinical health psychology from the University of Iowa in 1998 and earned his undergraduate degree from Ohio Wesleyar. see PROVOST on page 3
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opinion
EDITOR IN CHIEF VALERIA OLIVARES,
747-7446 APRIL 7, 2020
Borderland dwellers, if you can stay home, do so Salette Ontiveros The Prospector On March 24, the World Health Organization categorized the country of Mexico in phase 2 of 3 in the COVID-19, or coronavirus, pandemic, changing everything for its residents. Up until this week many Ciudad Juárez residents have not taken the coronavirus seriously, posting memes on social media about the situation and continuing to go out.
I don’t think most understand the gravity of the situation and what is happening throughout the world. I think that one of the reasons people are not staying at home is because there are not many cases confirmed in the state or Juárez. According to the official page of COVID-19 from the state of Chihuahua, there are only four cases confirmed in Ciudad Juarez and two in the city of Chihuahua, making a total of six cases confirmed in the whole state. Even though there are not a lot of cases, Governor of Chihuahua Javier Corral tightened sanitary measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. The governor asked to suspend all
activities as weddings, close churches and any place that can give place to big group meetings. I understand that not everybody in Mexico can afford to work from home, as many Mexicans must live day by day. For those people who can be in quarantine, however, who can work from home and not go out for some time, should do it in order to lessen the amount of people that are outside. There is another thing that everyone can do if you are in quarantine, which is staying healthy both physically and mentally. Wash your hands constantly and boost your immune system. Take care of your mental health. It’s important to take care of what you are eating, what type of news you are reading,
think carefully about what you share on social media. Think whether you are generating fear for your family or if you are calm and being conscientious. I invite people to stay at home if they have the privilege to do so. Do not ignore the situation. Help others if you can and stay positive, even though we are not in the greatest of situations. I know that not everybody is happy staying at home, but if we obey what authorities are saying, the faster this nightmare is going to end, and things will go back to normal. Salette Ontiveros may be reached at theprospector@utep.edu
Essential habits for working from home Margaret Cataldi The Prospector With all the chaos surrounding COVID-19, many institutions have started operating remotely from home. For those fortunate enough to keep their job amidst this global pandemic, the new work-from-home format might seem like a win at first, especially for a homebody like me. Still, as the days go by, I find myself struggling to be productive and actually getting to work. For any of you who find yourselves in the same boat, here are some tips I've come across that have helped me adjust to this drastic lifestyle change. Wake up and go to bed at a consistent time It may be tempting to sleep in since you no longer have to report to duty at a specific time,
but the hour that you get out of bed can make or break the structure of your entire day. I recommend waking up no later than 9 a.m. This way, you can still eat breakfast and get cracking before mid-morning. Similarly, I recommend going to bed at a decent hour (before midnight, at the very least), so it is easier to get up in the morning. When you wake and sleep at a consistent time each day, this allows for a more structured mindset, overall. Change out of your pajamas Having nowhere to go also means that there is no reason to get dressed. However, without changing your clothes for the day, it can feel tempting to stay in bed and do nothing. Change into something comfortable yet work-appropriate and fix yourself up as if you were getting ready for work. While a full beat isn't necessary if you put in the effort to get prepared for the day, this can trick your mind into feeling like you're still going to work like usual.
STAFF V O L . Editor in Chief: Valeria Olivares Web Editor: Marisol Chavez Layout Editor: Cynthia “Teddy” Baylon Copy Editor: Alexia Nava Sports Editor: Michael Cuviello Entertainment Editor: Bryan Mena Photo Editor: Claudia Hernandez Multimedia Editor: Glenda Avalos Staff Reporters: Isaiah Ramirez, Jaqueline Martinez, Margie Cataldi, Paulina Spencer Photographers: Maria S. Ontiveros, Hugo Hinojosa Contributors: Victoria Almaguer, Anette
105,
NO.
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Baca, Anahy Diaz, Daniel Guerrero, Daniel A. Lopez, Sasha Mijarez, Maria Ramos Pacheco, Exodis Ward, Sven Zackey-Kline Account Executive: Ana B. Gonzalez, Senior Designer: Cynthia “Teddy” Baylon Videographer: Alejandra Molina Advertising Coordinator: Natan Contreras Administrative Secretary: Crystal J. Brown Accounting Specialist: Isabel Castillo Assistant Director: Tracy Roy Director: Veronica Gonzalez
Have a designated working space Speaking of tricking your mind, if you sit down at a desk or table, you will likely feel more in the zone and able to work as if you were still in the office or at campus. I recommend setting up camp in an area far away from any bed or couch that can entice you to take a quick "break" that ends up turning into a 5-hour nap. Out of sight, out of mind. Schedule regular breaks However, don’t forget that breaks are still important. Our human attention spans can only last for so long, after all. A quick 20-minute break every hour or so is necessary to keep our minds stimulated and engaged enough to avoid a mid-afternoon crash. Remember to eat, drink water, use the bathroom, call a friend and keep yourself sane. Put your phone on “do not disturb” and avoid checking social media
Try not to let your break drag on for too long. As someone who lacks self-control and is highly dependent on my phone for entertainment, I'm guilty of letting my "breaks" turn into scrolling through social media until the sun goes down. To avoid this, I recommend putting your phone on Do Not Disturb mode and placing it in another room entirely. However, if you aren't as dependent on your phone as I am, maybe putting it on silent and keeping it face down on the corner of your desk will do. Remember that every human is different, and nobody is perfect. While some of these tips will be more practical than others, it's crucial to find a routine that works for you. Don't be discouraged if you don't tackle everything on your todo list. These are tough times, and we're all navigating through it the best that we can. Margaret Cataldi may be reached at prospector@utep.edu
SPEAK YOUR MIND Submit a letter to the editor! 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, prospector@utep.edu, call 747-5161or fax 747-8031. 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 necessarily those of the university. This issue was not printed and is only available in this digital PDF format
APRIL 7, 2020 PROVOST from cover Wiebe joined the UTEP faculty the same year and his research has focused on adaption to severe chronic medical conditions, such as end-stage renal disease and Human Immunodeficiency Virus infection, according to the university’s website. He began a program of community-engaged research on mental health and has mentored undergraduate and graduate students. His work is published in the Journal of Health Psychology, he has served as the president of the faculty senate for two terms and became associate provost in 2012. In January 2019, Wiebe was named interim provost after former provost Carol Parker transferred to New Mexico State University (NMSU) as its provost in May 2019, according to an NMSU news release. “John is well-regarded by faculty and students for his expertise and calm problem-solving ability,” Wilson said. “He is approachable and understands how to get things done in our complex organization. Isaiah Ramirez may be reached at prospector@utep.edu
NEWS 3
Returning home as pandemic folds study abroad programs Anahy Diaz The Prospector It was March 14, a Saturday night in El Paso, when Alejandra Sanchez returned from what she had hoped would be a semester abroad experience in Spain after it was interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The UTEP senior majoring in finance was enrolled in four different business-related courses at the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB) under the American Institute for Foreign Study (AIFS), a study abroad third-party provider. During the two months Sanchez spent in Spain, she was able to forge strong bonds with foreign students and develop a deep interest in the courses she was taking. “Barcelona is a city where there is so much to do, every day was different,” Sanchez said. “At no point did I imagine something like this would happen.” As news and concerns about COVID-19, or coronavirus, spread as quickly as the disease itself, UAB and AIFS maintained Sanchez and her peers informed about the precautions they
should take during their time abroad, something Sanchez says kept her relatively calm. “They would send us emails almost every day about how to take care of ourselves, what emergency line to dial if we showed symptoms and they would also accompany us to the doctor if we needed it,” Sanchez said. However, on March 3, as the coronavirus continued to spread across Europe, UTEP contacted Sanchez to give her two options: return to the U.S. or stay in Spain. Not wanting to lose the experience she had been planning since she arrived at UTEP, Sanchez made the decision to stay. “I told them I wanted to stay because I honestly didn't want to miss the opportunity to continue studying abroad,” Sanchez explained. “However, the next day, after Spain became a level 3 country, they canceled the program and began looking to return all American students to the U.S. who were studying anywhere in Spain.” It was then that UTEP began booking flights for all students located in Spain or France. In the span of only 48 hours, UTEP had booked Sanchez a flight and sent her an itinerary to immediately return to El Paso.
“I felt very disappointed,” Sanchez said. “I had already planned a lot of trips, made various friends and had only spent time for half of the program. I was truly sad, but I understood that I had to return.” On her way back to the U.S., before arriving to Dallas, Texas, where she would then board a flight to El Paso, Sanchez and the rest of the passengers were required to complete a questionnaire that asked them to list if they had traveled to countries such as China, South Korea or Italy and to notify whether they presented any symptoms related to the coronavirus. At the time, Sanchez listed she was experiencing a flu and dry cough. Sanchez says there were approximately 10 people directing passengers and collecting each questionnaire once the plane landed in Dallas. After collecting the questionnaire, the passengers were directed to meet with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), where Sanchez had to wait two hours in line due to the large number of people arriving from abroad who were also waiting to get treated. see STUDY ABROAD on page 4
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APRIL 7, 2020
STUDY ABROAD from page 3 Once it was her turn, Sanchez was escorted to a room where a doctor took her temperature six times. The doctor then informed her that she did not have coronavirus, just a mild flu, but was still advised to remain in isolation for 14 days. Sanchez says she believes she was not required to test for the virus, as she did not present a fever. “I was not worried because I did not feel sick and I was not exposed to crowded places in the last week,” Sanchez said. Since her arrival in El Paso, Sanchez has remained in constant contact with UTEP. She says she is not allowed to visit campus and the university has advised her to follow proper guidelines as a form of precaution, such as monitoring her temperature twice a day for 14 days, avoiding contact with other people and constantly washing her hands. UTEP has reported four out of the 35 positive COVID-19 cases in El Paso to be affiliated with the university. One of them being a female student who returned from overseas travel and tested positive for the virus on March 14. According to UTEP, the student did not visit campus and has practiced self-quarantine while university officials remain in contact with her.
Sanchez continues to follow the recommended guidelines and is still under self-quarantine. She says she has tried to stay busy within the comfort of her home by exercising, dancing, watching movies, listening to music and cooking vegan recipes she comes across online. Sanchez’ study abroad program is also not entirely lost. UAB is offering the courses online and, due to the program being canceled because of Spain’s Level 3 emergency status, AIFS will be providing reimbursement to students. As for Sanchez, she hopes to return to Spain in the future to pursue a master’s in business. “Studying in another country is an incredible opportunity that everyone should experience,” Sanchez said. “Although I was only there for half of the duration of the program, it was worth it.” On Tuesday, March 24, El Paso Mayor Dee Margo implemented an executive “Stay Home, Work Safe” order for the City of El Paso that went into effect that same day at 11:59 p.m. as a way to combat the spread of the coronavirus. The order applies to everyone in El Paso County with the exception of essential businesses and activities. As of now, it is unknown how long the order will last. Anahy Diaz may be reached at prospector@utep.edu.
PHOTO COURTESY OF PIXABAY ON TUESDAY, MARCH 24, EL PASO MAYOR DEE MARGO IMPLEMENTED AN EXECUTIVE “STAY HOME, WORK SAFE” ORDER FOR THE CITY OF EL PASO THAT WENT INTO EFFECT THAT SAME DAY AT 11:59 P.M. AS A WAY TO COMBAT THE SPREAD OF THE CORONAVIRUS.
I ASK YOU DECIDE Sexual Assault Awareness Month • April 2020
utepcare
utepcare
#SAAM2020 April 7
April 15
Day of Action: Wear Teal & Virtual Clothesline Project
‘Roll Red Roll’ Netflix Party: Virtual Film showing and group discussion
Post a picture of you wearing teal for a good cause using the #UTEPSAAM Design a virtual t-shirt with an empowering message for survivors via Instagram: @UTEPCARE
“Roll Red Roll” is a documentary that goes behind the headlines to uncover the deep-seated and social media-fueled “boys will be boys” culture at the root of sexual assault in America. Via Netflix Party: for access to the link visit us at www.utep.edu/care
April 22
April 30
SAAM ‘Relationships 101’ Zoom Discussion
Take Back the Night
We will discuss the signs of Healthy vs. Unhealthy Relationships. Sexual Assault Awareness Resources available for students. Join Zoom meeting: https://us04web.zoom.us/j/900720031 Time: 2:00PM-3:00PM
Virtual display of our “What Were You Wearing” exhibit online at: https://ohiotoday.org/what-were-you-wearing/ Click on each outfit to see the survivors' story.
UTEP.EDU/CARE CARE@UTEP.EDU (915) 747-7452
EDITOR BRYAN MENA,
747-7446
APRIL 7, 2020
entertainment
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Games to keep you connected while social distancing Sasha Minjarez The Prospector COVID-19 ushered in the era of social distancing which means that a lot of us will be staying at home in the coming weeks but that still doesn’t mean we can’t stay social through other avenues — like videogaming. Here are some interactive videogames that you can enjoy in the comfort of your home while still staying connected with friends online: “I Love You, Colonel Sanders! A Finger Lickin’ Good Dating Simulator” For PC This game was developed as a commission for Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) in an attempt to further ingrain this fast food chain’s brand into popular culture. The objective of the game is to charm a dapper anime trope rendition of KFC founder Colonel Sanders by way of text-based decisions and exchanges. At the culmination of the game you find out whether or not you’ve won his deep-fried saturated heart. Maybe going out to date with that cutie from Tinder isn’t feasible at this moment, but at least you can have a virtual date with the Colonel. I love you, Colonel Sanders! A Finger Lickin’ Good Dating Simulator can be found free on Steam. “Animal Crossing” For Nintendo Switch, iOS and Android (Pocket Camp) Animal Crossing is especially fitting since it’s a game that centers around social simulation. You can engage in a number of wholesome activities that include decorating a campsite with a flare of your own, going fishing, finding fossils, catching bugs, collecting resources, visiting friends, and even lending a neighbor a helping hand – something we can all learn from during this time. Animal Crossing is $59.99 for the Nintendo Switch and free on mobile.
llustration by Claudia Hernandez
“Minecraft” For PC, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, iOS and Android In Minecraft, up to eight players can collaborate online to construct anything they can creatively conjure up. One interesting thing about Minecraft right now is that a virtual library was recently inserted in a map of the game which features a digital library of banned literary resources. Organizations such as Reporters Without Borders are trying to make it so that individuals living in restrictive countries can have access to this censored information. This price of Minecraft varies but you can expect to pay about $19.99 which is what it is listed in the Playstore. “Fallout Shelter” For PS4, iOS and Android Fallout Shelter is a resource management simulator, again, something extremely relevant to the current climate and how we’ve all bore witness to in the recent resource scarcities such as toilet paper and other everyday items. Playing an overseer role, is it your duty in Fallout Shelter
to maintain the happiness of vault dwellers, procure resources, and expand your shelter. Fallout Shelter is free on all platforms. “Grand Theft Auto V” For PC, PS4, Xbox One / Red Dead Redemption II for PC, PS4, Xbox One Similar in the sense that they were both created by Rockstar Games, Grand Theft Auto and Red Dead Redemption are two open world interactive games where you can play online with friends or strangers and participate in various events and/or missions. Pick up GTA if you’re feeling more like a heist and Red Dead if you’re feeling like more of a western twist. The price of Grand Theft Auto V now varies but can be purchased for about $15 and Red Dead Redemption II can be purchased for $59.99. “Mario Kart Tour” For iOS and Android Mario Kart Tour is a mobile racing game where tours are named after real life places and courses feature roads from places like New York City and Tokyo. The multiplayer function allows you to play and compete with up to seven
people that you know or even around the world. Mario Kart Tour is free on mobile. “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare” For PC, PS4 and Xbox One Modern Warfare is the latest installment of the “Call of Duty” videogame franchise. What makes this first-person shooter particularly significant to this is that it’s one of the few games that can be played cross-platform which means you can play with friends or anyone around the world regardless of their gaming preferences. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare can be purchased for $59.99. “Overcooked” For PC, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch In this wholesome game about being a chef, you and up to three other players prep, cook, serve, and clean in a kitchen with various obstacles that bring a whole new meaning to “if you can’t stand the heat stay out of the kitchen.” One great thing about this game also is its degree of inclusivity. You can unlock and select from a diverse array of chefs of different ethnicities and backgrounds my personal favorite being the Racoon Chef who is in a wheelchair. The price of Overcooked varies but you can expect to pay in the range of $5.99 an $16.99 depending on the version. “Pokémon Go” For iOS and Android The initial intention of this game was to get people mobile and while it did succeed, developers are now adapting to the world’s current circumstances and making it so that players can play more indoors. More Pokémon will spawn within personal distance and items such as the incense packs that attract Pokémon for up to an hour are also being discounted. The Go Battle League also allows you to battle your Pokémon with other players worldwide. Pokémon Go is free on mobile. Sasha Minjarez may be reached at prospector@utep.edu
‘Tiger King’ is a mind-blowing masterpiece, a tragic story of abuse, insanity Sven Kline The Prospector Since its debut on Netflix, “Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness” has sent the internet ablaze in shock, laughter, and awe while keeping audiences stuck at home simply mind blown. Tiger King follows the deadly and chaotic feud between tiger zoo owners Joseph “Exotic” Allen Maldonado Passage, Bhagavan “Doc” Antle, and Carole Baskin. There is no boring episode
here, so if you plan on checking out this docuseries, prepare yourself to be utterly frustrated, disgusted and shook. “I’ve done a lot of (expletive) in my life, but I never experienced anything like Joe Exotic.” The documentary begins with an interview with Rick Kirkham, a self-made producer who worked closely with Exotic and his crew to produce a documentary about him and the world of tigers in the United States. The documentary was produced for Exotic’s YouTube show, “JOEEXOTICTV.”
Before Eric Goode and his film crew hit the tiger scene, Kirkham spent years working alongside Exotic, filming everything he could due to the nature of insanity taking place at the Garold Wayne Exotic Animal Memorial Park (G.W. Zoo) in hopes of publishing a documentary on his experiences working under Exotic. Toward the end of the series, Kirkham recounts the event of his studio and all his equipment, including all film, being destroyed in an intentional fire engulfing both the studio and an alligator holding pen.
“I saw a tiger, and the tiger saw a man.” A failed 2016 presidential candidate, a former prison inmate, an internet television host, a fake country singer, a zookeeper and a trending internet meme are some of the titles that describe Exotic, the lead character of Tiger King. “He’s a completely insane, gay, gun-toting, drug-addict fanatic.” Doc said of Exotic early on in the. series. Simply put, Exotic’s first experiences in the zookeeping business began as early as early see TIGER KING on page 6
6 ENTERTAINMENT
APRIL 7, 2020
Five more shows to binge-watch while in quarantine Michael Cuviello The Prospector "The Good Place" (Netflix, Hulu) This comedy about the afterlife stars Kristen Bell as Ellen Shellstrop, a recently deceased soul whose amoral nature has her believing that she is not in the right place. The entire cast puts on an excellent comedic performance and the script continually has you wildly guessing what’s going to happen next. The “good place” is this destination for people that have attained a certain amount of points based on their moral choices in life. Those that do not achieve enough points are sent to “the bad place.” Ted Danson, playing an architect of the heavenly community, is at his comedic best. Full of twists and turns as well as a philosophical take on morality, this show delivers the laughs. "Better Call Saul" (AMC, Netflix) A prequel of sorts to “Breaking Bad” that serves as an introduction to Saul Goodman, a shady lawyer that represents all levels of low lives. The show starts with Goodman's origin
as Jimmy McGill and his relationship with his brother Chuck who takes issue with Jimmy's shortcuts. Bob Odenkirk stars as the title character and has been nominated every season for a prime-time Emmy for this role. Although a crime drama, the show has a comedic timing with many of its scenes to ease much of the tension it establishes. McGill continues to follow down the darker path as the series progresses to a possible point of no return. Every action has a consequence and Goodman’s journey is a must-see. "Ozark" (Netflix) Jason Bateman stars as Marty Byrde, a financial adviser that is involved with laundering money for a Mexican drug cartel. After his partner is murdered, he convinces the cartel that he has a perfect plan to clean the money in the Ozarks. Three-time Oscar nominated actress Laura Linney stars as Wendy, his conflicted wife with her own demons. The stakes are continually high for the Byrde family as they engage in a crossfire of issues with the Chicago
mob, local drug farmers and the cartel. Actress Julie Garner plays a young and feisty Ruth Langhorne who gets involved with the Byrde's and has her own criminal family issues. Tough decisions abound for each character having a lack of trust for the motivations of the other. The devolvement of these characters and their ill-fated future is a compelling crime drama. "Justified" (FX, Hulu) From the legendary pulp fiction novelist, Elmore Leonard comes Justified, a crime drama based on his short story “Fire in the Hole.” Timothy Olyphant portrays hardnosed Raylen Givens, a United States marshal based in Harlan, Kentucky. Givens is very much a throwback to old western lawmen as he dictates justice in his own manner. The show initially focuses on Given's’ initial feud with the Boyd criminal family. Given's’ arch-nemesis for much of the series is Boyd Crowder, played brilliantly by Walter Goggins. Boyd is continuously in a state of flux with his character arches as he changes motivations on a whim. The interplay between
TIGER KING from page 5 childhood working on a ranch and later working at various pet stores and then opening one with his brother Garold in Arlington, Texas. After the death of his brother, Exotic sold his pet shop and bought 16 acres of land to later on open the infamous G.W. Zoo where insanity of all kinds would ensue over the coming decade. A plethora of memes have surged in the wake of Tiger King’s release, centered around Exotic’s bizarre life decisions and inappropriately timed quotes. “He’d rub those balls in my face. Those balls were like golden nuggets to that boy. Everyone here knows what I mean, you seen his balls.” Exotic said at Travis Maldonado’s funeral in front of guests including his mourning mother — he was his husband. The legacy of Exotic is that of insanity; from flying over Big Cat Rescue Sanctuary in a helicopter which gave a tiger an unintentional seizure due to the noise to feeding tigers expired meat off a Walmart truck or from running for president to hiring a hitman to kill “that (expletive) Carole Baskin.” “Hey all you cool cats and kittens…” Carole Baskin is the owner and coordinator of Big Cat Rescue Sanctuary in Florida. To say the least, Baskin is a crazy cat lady who got her wish to live her life side by side with the animals she has been obsessed with since infancy. But behind Baskin’s everyday tiger print attire is the unsolved mystery of her second husband, Don Lewis. Whether truth or false, the mystery of Lewis’ disappearance remains unsolved, but the series
PHOTO COURTESY OF NETFLIX TIGER KING IS AN EXPLORATION OF BIG CAT BREEDING AND ITS BIZARRE UNDERWORLD, POPULATED BY ECCENTRIC CHARACTERS.
presents a disturbing theory that Baskin fed him to her tigers — and her testimonies do not help her case at all. “The only way to get a tiger to eat someone is to cover them in sardine oil or something.” Baskin said in an article. Spreading her message that tiger breeding is animal abuse; VHS tapes come to light of younger Baskin teaching how to breed and raise tigers with a VHS scene showing how the cubs must be ripped away from the mother immediately at birth. After Lewis’ disappearance, Baskin remarried to Howard Baskin, with a honeymoon photo that has trended on social media of Howard on hands and knees dressed in a lewd tiger print outfit leashed with Carole holding the other end
which has become a trending meme. “Bhagavan means that you’re a friend of God.” Doc is the founder and director of The Institute for Greatly Endangered and Rare Species, or TIGERS, located in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Doc flaunts what he has with confidence and in the second episode, Doc is shown riding a fully grown elephant through the residential neighborhood greeted by his neighbors like a celebrity and with good reason. Doc has dipped his toes in the superstar world with the aid of exotic animals and appearing with large named celebrities such as Britney Spears in her 2001 music video “I’m A Slave 4 U” providing a tiger and a white snake for the production and has worked as an animal expert
the two rivals is riveting and makes one continue to want more from the show. "BoJack Horseman" (Netflix) This is an animated series set in a world where anamorphic animals and humans coexist in society understanding each other much like "Zootopia.” BoJack Horseman is a horse voiced by Will Arnett who is a melancholic, narcissistic drunk that wants to regain relevance in writing his autobiography. Bojack was once star of a ninetiesninety's television sitcom called Horsing Around. The show is a very dark comedy and goes places that many sitcoms would not go in dealing with issues such as depression and substance abuse . This is a quite funny show that deals with the realities and consequences of the main character's actions toward other people in his path, often resulting from his selfishness. A cautionary comedic tale of addiction and the perils of celebrity, BoJack Horseman is a unique watching experience. Michael Cuviello may be reached at prospector@utep.edu
for critically acclaimed movies such as “Dr. Dolittle” and “Ace Ventura” while also appearing frequently on late night talk shows. At TIGERS, Doc provides performances with flare for visitors alongside his son Kody Antle and his five wives who do not live in the same house as Doc but rather live in separate houses side by side on his preserve, working from 8 a.m. to midnight, due to the fact that “You can’t get into my complex lifestyle.” according to Doc. Barbara Fisher debuts in the series giving her personal experience of living at the TIGERS preserve and the terrible conditions she and other young girls lived in such as roach infested “horse stalls” living quarters and the one hundred dollar weekly pay with the only way of ascending their job positions and living situations was by sleeping with Doc. Aside from abusing women, the abuse of tigers is most certainly there too because Doc would use gas chamber to euthanize tigers once he deemed a tiger as no longer profitable. Five out of five pickaxes.
Tiger King is a truly remarkable series that will keep you stuck to the screen throughout all nine episodes, either cringing or laughing. It is a mind-blowing series perfect for being quarantined. Netflix has struck gold. Sven Kline may be reached at prospector@utep.edu
EDITOR MICHAEL CUVIELLO,
APRIL 7, 2020
747-7446
sports
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Men’s basketball: The shine is already fading
Michael Cuviello The Prospector Finishing up the 2018-2019 season, UTEP Miner fans were convinced that the eight-win campaign was a time of development and growing for the team. With seven players sitting out the season due to transferring or grades, the addition of these players to the young core that played out the season would pay off in the long run. Head Coach Rodney Terry brought one of his better players from his former school Fresno State in junior Bryson Williams who was a 14-point scorer as a sophomore for his former team. He also brought in former Fresno player Eric Vila, a 6’11” forward, already on his third college with stops at Texas A& M and Northwest Community College prior to UTEP. Having recruited in the Fresno area, Terry was able to pouch athletic guard Deon Stroud from his former university and convince graduate transfer senior Darryl Edwards to become a part of his team. Both players played high school locally in Fresno. Sophomore Efe Odigie who was named to the Conference-USA (C-USA) AllFreshman team also was originally supposed to play for Terry at Fresno State before he left the program. Tydus Verhoeven’s father had played at Fresno State and was considering the university before Terry took the UTEP job. During the season the Miners added one of the biggest prospects the Miners have lured to El
PHOTO BY MICHAEL CUVIELLO UTEP HEAD COACH RODNEY TERRY LOUDLY VOICES HIS DISPLEASURE WITH OFFICIALS CALL IN A LOSS AT NEW MEXICO STATE DEC. 3, 2019.
Paso in recent memory in 6-6 swingman Kaden Archie. Archie was a top 100 recruit in the nation and had offers from 17 schools, including the universities of Texas, Kansas and Oklahoma State. Texas Christian University was the surprise choice of Archie with which he only stayed for 10 games before transferring. Two significant contributors for the program last season decided to transfer on March 12 of that year. Sophomore guards Evan Gilyard, the leading scorer for the team and Koby Magee a top reserve both announced their intentions to leave.
About a week later, March 20, assistant head coach Lamont Smith resigned from the program after being caught up in a recruiting scandal at the University of San Diego. Smith was accused of helping a player secure admittance to San Diego in exchange for cash. A few days later another assistant coach, Brian Burton, was fired in an unrelated matter that was never disclosed. Following these events, the Miners ended up losing their only two high school commitments, guards Brenden Wenzel and Jessie Zarzuela. Wenzel was a recruit of Burton and the reasons for the decommits were logical given all the
transfers already waiting in the wings. Wenzel signed with Utah and Zarzuela signed with a junior college. Over the summer the team added sophomore Xavier transfer guard Keonte Kennedy. Kennedy is 6-5 and from Austin, Texas. In August, the team added Edwards from Louisiana State. At the beginning of the season, the Miners were considered one of the top teams in conference. All of the transfers had a full season to develop a rapport with coaches and teammates. Fans were understandably excited especially with all the disappointment of the Tim Floyd era at UTEP. Last year’s top player Odigie even showed up noticeably trimmer, shedding at least 30 pounds=. The team began the season playing a charity gamne against national championship runner up Texas Tech. UTEP won the game 70-60 and Edwards displayed his tremendous scoring ability with 24 points. Even though it was an exhibition game, expectations were raised with this victory. Overall, the team was considered very deep in talent and a contender in conference, maybe even a sleeper team for NCAA tournament. Archie was declared eligible to play earlier than expected in November and the Miners went on to win the West Star Classic and started 8-1. This was the high point of the year for the Miners. When things were going well there was see MENS BASKETBALL on page 8
NCAA grants an extra year of eligibility for spring athletes Michael Cuviello The Prospector The NCAA agreed Monday, March 30, to grant an extra year of eligibility for spring athletes that seasons were lost due to the COVID-19 outbreak. In a lost season of athletic competition for many athletes, this is a lifeline for students that would have their senior seasons wholly wiped out. Financially there could be some implications for some seniors that return for another year. It will be up to the schools and on the players possibly to find financial aid. Schools can reduce or eliminate financial aid for returning seniors. Scholarship aid from school will be determined on an individual basis for those granted the waiver and the programs may put conditions on continuing their career. Coaches will be forced to make decisions on what people to retain based on their ability to
pay. Returning seniors who have exhausted all eligibility will be at the mercy of schools whether to offer the same financial aid or lower it to what they deem necessary, even allowing none. Schools will be able to use the NCAA's Student Assistance Fund to pay for scholarships for students who take advantage of the additional eligibility flexibility in 2020-21. Those individual athletes that apply for eligibility will not have their scholarships count against a school's overall scholarship counts. In some cases, it will be an advantage for teams but may inhibit playing time for players that were expected to step into new roles for their teams. This decision now gives all athletes six seasons to use all of their athletic eligibility rather than the usual five. "The council's decision gives individual schools the flexibility to make decisions at a campus level," said Division I Council Chair M. Grace Calhoun, athletic director at the Univer-
sity of Pennsylvania. "The board of governors encouraged conferences and schools to take action in the best interest of student-athletes and their communities, and now schools have the opportunity to do that." At UTEP, the sports that will be affected are softball, golf, tennis and track and field. Basketball is not eligible since it is considered a Winter sport and outside of the tournament, all play concluded. "This is the fair thing to do," Senter said of the NCAA's decision to the El Paso Times. "For all our student-athletes who want to come back, I'm delighted for them." If all senior athletes decide to return, the costs to the university could be upwards of $250,000. Still, Senter said he expects the price to be significantly less as not all athletes will exercise that option. Track and field is the only program so far to announce any seniors that intend to use the extra season of eligibility. Sprinter Sean Bailey will
not have another season to chase a UTEP record and his Olympic dream. Bailey is the junior NCAA record holder in the 200-meter dash and has finished within a fraction of second of the school record. Announcing his intention to return also is the school's record-holding hurdler Shakeem Smith. Smith set the school record in the 60-meter hurdles Feb. 8, 2019, in New Mexico with a time of 7.89. "In this world with student-athletes, I don't think they had any choice; there is no way they could have just voided the year," Track Coach Mika Laaksonen said. "It was the right thing to do." Overall, it remains to be seen what impact this ruling will have on UTEP teams, but for two top-track athletes, it is a chance only to get better and chase their aspirations of gold. Michael Cuviello may be reached at prospector@utep.edu
8 SPORTS
APRIL 7, 2020
MENS BASKETBALL from page 7 a level of teamwork and dedication that would not be seen the rest of the season. Two days later the Miners would change the trajectory of its season. Playing on the road at Houston the Miners were dominated, losing by 20 points. Three days after that, the Miners arrived for the Diamond Head Classic in Hawaii and lost its opener to the host team. Finishing 1-2 in the tournament, the Miners finished among the bottom teams of the classic. Less than a week after the poor showing, two players announced their intention to transfer. First Hawkins, then Lathon announced they were entering the transfer portal. Lathon, a starter, cited family issues and Hawkins gave no reason although his playing time had decreased from the previous season. Lathon left the team for about a week and Hawkins immediately rejoined the team after his departure. Rejoining the team with no comment, Lathon was then relegated to a bench role while Hawkins started. With a bench role, Lathon’s erratic shooting went zero for the month of January with no field goals made. To make matters worse, Terry became critically ill during a pregame meal on Jan. 3 before a game at Florida International. The lineup and rotation were in a serious state of flux for the Miners all season. Edwards, Wil-
liams and Boum were the only constants in the lineup. Outside of those players the rest of the team took turns being in the doghouse or just not getting any playing time for various reasons. By the end of the season Terry had whittled the rotation down to seven players with big men Vila and Odigie firmly entrenched on the bench. Verhoeven, Archie and Stroud became key players down the stretch as the rotation shrank. For the season, the Miners finished nine games better than the previous season at 17-15. The team feasted on the bottom four teams in conference going 6-1 against the cellar dwellers. Unfortunately, the team went 2-9 versus the rest of the conference and were mercifully bounced from the C-USA tournament in the opening round by Marshall to end a once-promising season. Since that time the Miners have now had four players announce they are entering the transfer portal and there could be more turnover. Lathon and Hawkins enter the portal for the second time in less than six months and neither is expected to change their mind again. Joining these players soon after was senior to be forward Anthony Tarke who, after receiving much praise in the off season, only received minimal playing time. Tarke, a physical specimen at 6-6, 220 failed to ever develop into any role with the team due to many factors including some injury related.
Most surprising of all the transfer announcements was freshman Deon Stroud who had sat out a season due to academics. For most of the season Stroud had struggled to earn playing time but down the stretch became an essential part of the rotation. Stroud gained quite a fan following for his thunderous dunk Jan. 9, versus Southern Miss. Stroud has already announced his attention to play for Fresno State University in the fall. "You have to adapt and adjust," Terry said in a news conference. "Roster management, you're continually working on that. This is everybody, not just us. ... Kids transfer no matter what. Teams that win 25 games have four, five, six transfer." This has been the only comment from Terry about players transferring this offseason. Uncertainty is now prevalent for the Miners lineup next season. Replacing these transfers will now be a more intricate situation with most of the country shut down due to Covid-19. The starting five of the Miners should still be strong with Williams and Boum as the main scorers. Archie and Verhoeven established themselves as defensive presences but are lacking in any real offense at this point. Back-to-back 11-point games in Hawaii seem to be an aberration for Archie as his offense completely disappeared down the stretch. The final starting spot may come down to Odigie or Vila, but Terry has expressed disappoint-
ment all season with his point-guard play. Both players could potentially not be here next season depending on what happens with the team. Odds are the point guard that team has been missing is not on the team currently. Kennedy is the only other player on the roster that logically could get major playing time next season. At most seven players on this roster are viable players for the Miners next season, quite a departure from the supposed deep team UTEP had this season. It would seem the depth was overrated or was not utilized properly. Terry finds himself in a familiar situation to his first season at UTEP minus players he had recruited while at Fresno State. No players have come out and publicly criticized the coach when announcing their departure but regardless the team has had issues internally. With football being a perennial bottom dweller, Terry has less pressure from the fan base but this season’s letdown has drawn criticism from many. Terry was considered a top-level hire from a solid program and now he will get a chance to prove he can actually build a program at UTEP. Patience will now be the word of the day as Terry must prove his worth as a recruiter and coach. Michael Cuviello may be reached at prospector@utep.edu.
TAKE CARE OF YOUR WATER. KEEP IT CLEAN
Do not dump waste, chemicals, paint, custodial waste, and general rubbish items (tires, old car parts, shopping carts, etc.) into storm drains, channels, or ditches. No tirar basura, aparatos electrodomésticos, muebles, llantas, y chatarra a canales y acequias del sistema de drenaje pluvial.
Properly dispose of hazardous wastes, pesticides, and fertilizers. Call UTEP EH&S to schedule waste pickups.
Storm drains are easily identified with “NO DUMPING” decals at stormwater inlets.
Deseche correctamente los residuos peligrosos, pesticidas, y fertilizantes. Llama al departamento EH&S en UTEP y agenda fecha para recoger los desperdicios.
Alcantarillado de aguas pluviales es identificado con anuncios de “NO REVERTIR DESECHOS AQUI”
Keep material out of the stormwater conveyance system (curbs, gutters, sidewalks, streets, drains, culverts, and arroyos). Dispose of grass, leaves, yard waste, and construction debris properly.
Recycle oil, antifreeze, and other vehicle fluids, or dispose of them properly to prevent the pollution of stormwater, groundwater and the Rio Grande.
No tapar el flujo pluvial a canales, alcantarillas y arroyos con basura. Disponga correctamente de basura vegetal (césped, ramas, y hojas) así como basura de construcción.
Recicle aceite, anti-congelante y lubricantes o disponga propiamente de ellos para prevenir contaminación del sistema de drenaje pluvial, mantos acuíferos y el Río Bravo.
Leave natural vegetation in place where possible to prevent erosion. Si es posible, deje crecer la vegetación en forma natural para evitar la erosión.
HERTZOG BUILDING, ROOM 170 (915) 747 - 7124 • eh&s@utep.edu