VOL . 101, no. 26
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
April 12, 2016
UTEP and ASARCO Collaborate for exhibit PHOTO by Christopher ZacherL, design by jacobo de la rosa / The Prospector
By Amanda Guillen The Prospector The long-standing collaboration between ASARCO and UTEP didn’t end when the smokestacks were brought down on April 13, 2013. The partnership continues and one of the more visual ways is through the exhibit, “ASARCO in El Paso: A Visual History of Industry on the Border,” displayed on the third-floor gallery of the UTEP Library. ASARCO Site Custodial Trustee Roberto Puga donated all of the materials to the university and also helped in the process of archiving some of the material. The department of Special Collections at UTEP put the exhibit together, which will be open to the public at no cost for about two months.
Head of Special Collections, Claudia Rivers, said that there were thousands of documents, photographs, manuals and supporting documentation that were handed over to their department. “We have materials from people who were protesting the pollution and who really didn’t want the plant to reopen,” Rivers said. “We have materials about the pollution and things about the efforts the plant made to help the economy, so it is going to be a balanced exhibit.” Along with the faculty and staff at Special Collections, Michael Reyes, senior English and American literature major and intern at Special Collections, was the only student involved with helping the department put the exhibit together. “I am really happy with how it came out. It definitely gives me a
sense of place with where I want to go and that I can actually say that I am prepared to do another major exhibit,” Reyes said. On April 8 an opening reception was held at the library’s third-floor gallery. Members of the community and those impacted by ASARCO were present along with Puga and UTEP President Diana Natalicio. Natalicio said that it is important for the community to understand the university’s relationship with ASARCO. “We hear a lot of people talk about university-industry collaboration,” she said. “Well the truth is it has been going on for a long time, about 100 years, and I think this collection will provide a lot of opportunities to learn about how this region developed, because ASARCO was one of the biggest employers and most important
industries, and the mining school really came into existence to produce professionals who could work, not only here, but in mines all over Mexico. So, I think there is a lot to be learned about our own roots as a community.” Natalicio also addressed the future of UTEP and ASARCO’s collaboration. She said there are no immediate plans, given ASARCO is still in the remediation (meaning cleaning up the pollution) phase this year. “Of course there has been some talk about the possibility of our acquiring the property, but we are still in negotiations and discussions about that,” she said. “Frankly I hope so, but we will see what happens. We are all patient.” Puga spoke to the audience at the reception and said that he has enjoyed his time in El Paso since be-
ing appointed as the site’s custodial trustee back in 2009. He said he also looks forward to the future of the smelter site and hopes to keep the public’s trust. “We should be done with the remediation this year and then move to the last phase of my charge, which is to repurpose it. We are working diligently to find the right partner to take that site into the future,” Puga said. “It is an iconic location for the city and it has a very vast and very important history in the city, and I have full confidence that we have left the site in a condition where it can continue as a center of importance for all El Pasoans.” Amanda Guillen may be reached at theprospectordaily. news@gmail.com.
PAGE 2 April 12, 2016
perspectives
Editor-in-Chief
Amanda Guillen, 747-7477
Live dangerously, turn on your ‘read receipts’ By Mike Vazquez The Prospector I know exactly what I’m doing when I read a message and don’t reply. I know what you go through too—don’t worry, I’ve been there. That little notification pops up, “Read at 4:03 p.m.” and by 4:20 you’re scraping every reason together to figure out why I haven’t replied. “Shoot, did he really not like the fact that mango is my favorite flavor of frozen yogurt? Did I come off too strong?” No, you didn’t, and mango is a great flavor, but the fact that you’ve had enough frozen yogurt to have a preference isn’t going to warrant an immediate reply. I’ve got business to take care of. And so do you, and I’d rather you continue conquering the world than strive to write a thoughtful response to my “just got out of work! Gonna hit the gym!” text. I get it, even I am not that interesting sometimes. Sometimes. But God forbid the other person finds out we’re not too busy, that we’re not wading through a pile of textbooks, work uniforms and unbathed dogs trying to get to our phones to reply to them. No, we’d rather turn off our read receipts just so that the other person has a sliver of hope that we haven’t opened our phones yet, that the ringer was off or the vibration was too soft or the professor’s lecture on the French and Indian War was too enthralling to look away. I have my read receipts on and I take full advantage.
I cannot explain to you the pleasure of getting a huge chunk of text from my ex, explaining in detail how awful of a person I still am and hitting her with one of these: “Read at 12:14 a.m.” By two in the morning I can hear her cursing at me through the phone. Call me a jerk, but I didn’t create this mentality, it’s all of us hiding behind “Delivered,” while scrolling through Instagram or rechecking Snapchat, leaving that person on the other end shamelessly hopeful you really are taking a nap. Let’s flip sides for a second. You’re waiting for that reply from that cutie you met last week and it comes an hour later with no explanation other than information solely about the last text. “No way! I love country too lol!” Well, sir, you better have been meeting Brad Paisley himself, otherwise you were working at two keystrokes a second. But imagine if he did have “Read Receipts” on and you saw that he really read that message a minute after you sent it, you could quietly move on with your life and find someone who really does love country just as much as you do, someone who will take the time to pull his phone out once out of the 110 times per day (real statistic) to text you back. Mike Vazquez may be reached at theprospectordaily. news@gmail.com.
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STAFF V O L . 1 0 1 , n o . 2 6 Editor-in-Chief: Amanda Guillen Layout Editor : Jacobo De La Rosa Copy Editor : Jasmine Aguilera Spor ts Editor : Adrian Broaddus Enter tainment Editor : Jose Soto Photo Editor : Michaela Román Multimedia Editor : Andres Mar tinez Staff Photographers: Angel Ulloa, Christopher Zacherl Staff Repor ters: Javier Cortez,, Rene Delgadillo, Julia Hettiger, Juan Carlos Navarrete, Christopher Piñones, Eric Vasquez Car toonist: Omar A. Hernandez E. Contributor : Gloria Heredia
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Letters will be edited for clarity and brevity. Letters over 250 words are subject to editing to fit available space. Please include full name, street address and telephone number and e-mail address, plus major, classification and/or title if applicable. Address and phone number will be used for verification only. Write to 105 E. Union, e-mail theprospectordaily.news@gmail.com, call 747-7477 or fax to 747-8031. The Prospector is published by the Student Publications Editorial Board, 105 Union East, 500 W. University Ave. El Paso, Texas, 79968. The Prospector appears in print once per week on Tuesdays during the fall, spring, and summer semesters. The newspaper is not printed during holidays and when classes are not in session. The Prospector does provide news online at www.theprospectordaily.com. The Prospector is provided to students through student fees. First copy is free. Any additional copies, if available, must be purchased for $1 through the Department of Student Publications. The Prospector is not responsible for claims made by advertisers. Additional policy information may be obtained by calling The Prospector at 915-747-5161. Opinions expressed in The Prospector are not necessarily those of the university.
THEPROSPECTOR
NEWS | 3 |
April 12, 2016
UTEP’S Brazilian Students Say Goodbye Pao de Laho, a type of garlic bread, and deserts such as milk pudding and Mexican candy. The music played was called Forro, which is a type of country music, and featured the Quadrilha Dance, which is a celebratory dance that all take part in. Pedro Silva, one of the Brazilian students, is a metallurgical engineering major originally from Sao Paolo. He said that he’s going to miss his El Paso friends and is already making plans to have friends come and visit him in Brazil. Silva said that he was surprised by how nice and helpful people were in El Paso. He said he expected El Pasoans to be the city types—people who are too busy to help one another. “Here I see everyone doing stuff just to help people, so it gets to you, so you want to help and that’s probably what I’ll take back to Sao Paolo,” he said.
angel ulloa / The Prospector Brazilian exchange students along with other students and residents enjoy the Festa Junina which included traditional Brazilian music, food and dances.
By Christian vasquez The Prospector The Study Abroad program held a heartwarming goodbye celebration for 59 Brazilian exchange students who made El Paso their home for the year. The Festa Junina emphasized traditional Brazilian music, food and dances and was open to students and residents. The celebration was modeled after the traditional Brazilian festival usually celebrated in June or July. Anna Barbosa, the student exchange manager for the Study Abroad program, said this celebration came about because students wanted to do something for the exchange students
This is the last group that will be here for the time being while the country is restructuring its finances.
- Anna Barbosa, student exchange manager Study Abroad program
before they left and give other students an opportunity to learn more about Brazilian culture. Barbosa is from Brazil herself and decided to stay after getting her master’s degree in education from UTEP. “When they think of Brazilian events, they think Carnival...But Festa Junina is our local tradition that is huge,” Barbosa said. “This is the last group that will be here for the time being while the country is restructuring its finances.” The event featured Brazilian-style hot dogs, with the bread and hot dog that everyone is used to, but included toppings such as mashed potatoes, corn, peas and fried onions. Guests were greeted with the aroma of Brazilian food such as traditional BBQ,
The students are here as part of the Brazil Scientific Mobility Program, which provides scholarships to students to study in STEM fields (science, technology, engineering and mathematics). Study Abroad’s aim is to facilitate international relations between schools. “It’s good for us to introduce new people to our culture, our food, the things that we like and what make us happy,” said Carlos Araujo, one of the exchange students from Belo Horizonte, Brazil. For more information go to the Study Abroad website at utep.abroadoffice.net or visit the Study Abroad Office in the Academic Service Building, room 218. Christian Vasquez may be reached at theprospectordaily. news@gmail.com.
THEPROSPECTOR
| 4 | NEWS
Luis Gonzalez Spring 2016 The White House, the Senate, the House of Representatives, the Supreme Court, the National Press Club and even Nationals Park and RFK Stadium are just some of the places I never thought I’d get to visit, let alone cover. Thanks to the Scripps Howard Foundation Semester in Washington program I was able to have these experiences and more. I am beyond grateful for the invaluable knowledge and confidence I have attained thanks to these three months I have spent in D.C. The more I interact with interns at other programs the more I realize how one of a kind this Scripps program was. From housing being provided in a great location, to a week-long conference in New York City. Aside from the experience, I have learned and grown as a journalist thanks to Jody. I am so grateful to her for the opportunity, patience and guidance she has provided from day one. I can’t stress enough how grateful I am for having this opportunity and I know it will impact my personal and professional career forever. Thanks Jody and thanks Scripps
April 12, 2016
The Scripps Howard Foundation’s Semester in Washington Program selects six junior or senior college students including one international student for a paid internship in Washington, D.C. for the Scripps Howard Foundation Wire. They report and write a variety of stories, and also talk with experts at the Capitol, the Supreme Court, the Student Press Law Center, the Washington Post, the State Department, the Pentagon and others to better understand how to cover the news. Interns cover government, politics, breaking news, business, sports and features.
Amanda Guillen Fall 2015 On the plane coming home from D.C., I remember looking out the window flying over the city and still trying to process what I had just experienced. Me, a young Latina from El Paso, interned in the nation’s capital, and not only that but I was able to report from the White House, Capitol Hill, the Supreme Court and even got to cover Pope Francis’ U.S. visit. With tears slowly running down my face, I had never felt more proud or had never felt my heart so full and warm. Jody Beck taught me not only how to be a better journalist, but how to be an independent and strong woman. Thank you Jody for everything you have done for your students and good luck with all of your future endeavors!
Jose Soto Spring 2015 A year after I interned with the Scripps Howard Foundation Wire, I still feel nostalgic about D.C., the other interns, the office. But mostly, I get nostalgic about the experience of reporting in the nation’s capital under the direction of Jody Beck. Jody and the internship have been instrumental in my development as a reporter. I will forever be grateful for the opportunities I had while in D.C. I wouldn’t have been able to do half of the things I accomplished while in the program if it wasn’t for Jody. Thank you, Jody, for everything! It was a great pleasure being part of your team.
Jody Beck has been the director of the Scripps Howard Foundation Semester in Washington Program since 2003, she will retire at the end of this semester. Along with her retirement the Scripps Howard Foundation Wire will go on a temporary hiatus effective May 2016. The program began taking one student from UTEP for each fall and spring semester in 2009, and several of these students have been from The Prospector.
Alejandro Alba Spring 2014 I want to thank you, Jody, for helping me grow as a person and a journalist. Interning at Scripps in D.C. helped me realize that journalism was a passion of mine. I don’t think other organizations would’ve allowed me to report from the Capitol or The White House and stand right in front of President Barack Obama. Spring 2014 was definitely an unforgettable experience. Thank you so much for being an amazing director, editor and now, friend. Your time with Scripps might be coming to an end, but I’m sure you’ll still find ways to help aspiring journalists. I wish you the best in any future endeavors and know that I’m always free to go eat Schmackary Cookies when you’re in New York City.
Aaron Montes Hispanic Link intern Spring 2014 The Scripps Howard Semester in Washington was my first step to experiencing journalism on a professional level outside of college. With the guiding hands of Jody Beck and Charlie Ericksen (Hispanic Link), I gained enough experience and confidence to think that I might be a worthy journalist. I walked the halls of the White House, witnessed the State of the Union speech, and experienced the streets of our nation’s capital. Throughout my stay, I learned what it meant to consider community and public service while researching and writing my stories. Thank you Jody, and thank you Scripps Howard for an incredible experience and for the lifelong memories.
THEPROSPECTOR
NEWS | 5 |
April 12, 2016
LorainWatters-Ambrocio Fall 2014 Jody, Remember that long project you helped me work on about Tysons’ Corner? The one that took me weeks just to get right? We stayed in the office pretty late some nights just to edit and pull everything together in such a way so as to actually make some sense. I still think about that to this day—your patience through it all, while I tried to scramble around the District to get that story right. Thank you for helping me become a more firm and diligent person. Thank you for helping me see what it takes to be a reporter. Thank you for helping me realize that the only person stopping me from being a great writer was myself. Good luck in your future endeavors, and I hope our paths cross again soon.
Andres Rodriguez Fall 2013 I remember bumping into these white tents near the Capitol late one night after covering a story. It was getting dark, I was tired and I wanted to get the metro station quickly, but I stopped by to see what was happening. People outside the tents lit candles and held each other’s hands as they sung songs in Spanish. They were blessing fasters, who had set up shop at the National Mall to pressure Congress to pass comprehensive immigration reform. They all held out their arms to bless them and I recall being moved by the sense of community and hope they showed. This was after I had just covered an immigration reform rally at this very spot where more than 200 people were arrested in protest. These people were not giving up and it was apparent. I took a deep breath, took out my recorder and started talking to people. Thank you, Jody, for helping me realize that a good story is just around the corner if you look hard enough.
Kristopher Rivera Fall 2012
It’s the end of an era. The Scripps Howard Foundation Wire served as a launch pad for many young reporters. The work experience at SHFW prepared me for the challenges that awaited me. Jody Beck, SHFW director, was a great mentor. The guidance Jody provided still resonates in my work today. I remember arriving to D.C. and thinking I was in another world—all the greenery and monuments were new sights coming from the high desert of El Paso. I loved the new lasting friendships I made in DC. I have a lot of nice memories from my experience there; seeing the Who at the Press Club; covering veterans issues, U.S. Rep. Beto O’Rourke’s transition to Capitol Hill when he was first elected and many more. It’s sad to see the SHFW come to an end. I’m happy for those of us who were fortunate to be a part of it.
Jasmine Aguilera Spring 2013 Interning at the Scripps Howard Foundation Wire opened the door that set the rest of my life on its course. Scripps led to other internships and networking opportunities throughout the country, and as a young and broke Latina, those opportunities are very hard to come by. As competitive as the world of journalism is, it’s even tougher for students from minority communities like El Paso, and if it weren’t for the program and its partnership with UTEP, I probably would not have the experience and chops necessary to make it in the media world. I owe a huge thank you to Jody Beck for all of her support. I have never learned so much from anyone in my life. The program, and all of the people I met while a part of it, will always hold a special place in my heart.
David Acosta Spring 2011 The Semester in Washington Program and particularly its director Jody Beck were a big influence on me and my future career as a journalist. When I entered the program, I didn’t know whether or not I would pursue a career in news, even though I majored in journalism. I was a returning student who had started my degree 10 years prior. When I took the opportunity to go to D.C., I was a semester away from graduating and I figured, I might as well see if I can actually do this. Jody’s guidance throughout the semester was invaluable and helped me realize that I actually had many of the tools I needed to be a smart, responsible journal-
ist, I just needed the practice. As an editor, Jody taught me how to write tight, concise stories, under deadline—and to always, ALWAYS, get a name, phone number and age of every source, regardless of whether you think the story requires it, and to always make sure the microphone on whatever device you are using to record interviews is on. I also made friends and connections in the journalism world who I still keep in touch with and who have helped me along in my career. Thank you Jody and thank you Scripps Howard Foundation for everything you’ve done for young journalists, especially those from UTEP.
Justin Monarez Fall 2009 I cannot thank the Scripps Howard Foundation, Jody Beck, Peter Copeland and the rest of the DC Bureau reporters for the invaluable professional growth and lifetime friendships made during my internship. Although I never became a professional reporter, I credit my internship at Scripps for cultivating my interest in social justice. The experience opened my eyes to issues at the local, regional, national and international level. Without the great leadership at Scripps, I would have never become a teacher and activist for inner city schools in Atlanta, Los Angeles and now El Paso. Thank you Jody for giving a young 19-year-old reporter his first chance to see life beyond the border.
THEPROSPECTOR
| 6 | NEWS
April 12, 2016
President Obama calls on Congress to end tax inversions Ac c u r ac y Watc h
The Prospector is committed to accuracy. If you think we have made an error of fact, e-mail us at theprospectordaily.news@utep.edu.
erick payne / shfwire President Barack Obama urges Congress to close corporation tax loopholes during a press briefing Tuesday at the White House. Obama says tax inversions make it harder to keep the economy strong.
By Erick Payne SHFWire WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama on April 5 called on the Republican-controlled Congress to end tax inversions, praising new steps taken by the Treasury Department to curb the corporate practice. The best way to end this behavior is with tax reform that lowers the corporate tax rate and closes loopholes, Obama said at a White House press briefing. “When companies exploit loopholes like this, it makes it harder to invest in the things that are going to keep America’s economy going strong for future generations,” Obama said. “It sticks the rest of us with the tab.” In a tax inversion, a large corporation acquires a smaller company in
anther country and moves its headquarters there. That makes the company subject to more beneficial tax laws. This relocation is viewed as an act of tax avoidance. The U.S. corporate tax rate is 35 percent, while other countries’ rates can be 12 percent. The corporations keep most of their business here to benefit from American infrastructure, technology, research and workers, but by declaring they’re based somewhere else, they get all the rewards without fulfilling the responsibilities of paying their taxes, Obama said. “It’s not that they’re breaking the laws, it’s that the laws are so poorly designed that they allow people, if they’ve got enough lawyers and enough accountants, to wiggle out of responsibilities that ordinary citizens
“Living on campus the last three years as a student athlete have definitely been worthwhile. With the hectic everyday schedule that participation in athletics demands, I cannot count the times I was able to stop by my room and grab a snack or a quick nap. Another positive aspect of living on campus was the proximity to all of my football obligations. I was always thankful that my walk was just 5 minutes away when I had to get up at 4:30 a.m. It was great to be able to have a bunch of my teammates and athletes from other teams living in the same area to hang out. If I was going to do college over again I wouldnʼt change my choice to live on campus. A safe, friendly environment was all I needed to make my UTEP experience complete!”
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are having to abide by,” Obama said, referring to the Panama Papers. The Panama Papers was a leak of more than 11.5 million financial and legal records that exposed corruption by people using secretive offshore holding companies. The investigation by an international consortium of journalists revealed information connected to people in more than 200 countries and territories. According to a 2015 compilation by Bloomberg, 79 companies had completed a tax inversion or similar tax avoidance restructuring, including medical company Medtronic, Burger King and Fruit of the Loom. The most popular countries for new headquarters are Ireland, Cayman Islands, Bermuda and Canada. “Unless the United States and other countries lead by example in closing some of these loopholes and provisions, then in many cases you can trace what’s taking place, but you can’t stop it,” Obama said. “There is always going to be some illicit movement of funds around the world. But we shouldn’t make it easy.” These net outflows aren’t billions of dollars or even hundreds of billions of dollars – estimates are it may be trillions of dollars worldwide, Obama said, noting the money could be spent on needs in the U.S. “It could make a big difference in terms of what we can do here,” Obama said. Reach Erick Payne at erick.payne@scripps.com or 202408-1489. SHFWire stories are free to any news organization that gives the reporter a byline and credits the SHFWire. Like the Scripps Howard Foundation Wire on Facebookand follow us on Twitter and Instagram.
PAGE 7 April 12, 2016
entertainment
Editor
JOSE SOTO, 747-7477
UTEP Dinner Theatre brings back “Fiddler on the Roof”
michaela Román / The Prospector The musical “Fiddler on the Roof,” will run at The UTEP Dinner Theatre from April 15 to May 8.
By mike vasquez The Prospector The UTEP Dinner Theatre is preparing for the debut of “Fiddler on the Roof,” Broadway’s second longestrunning musical behind “Grease.” The play will begin on April 15 at 8 p.m. and will run until May 8. Based on Sholom Aleichem’s short stories, “Fiddler on the Roof ” tells the story of Tevye, a family man with five daughters, all with names with way too little vowels, trying to earn a living as a milkman in early 20th century Russia. The action revolves around the social relationships between the town butchers, Tevye’s daughters and the family cow, proving that the show will be a cut and dry musical, a stark contrast to the explosive rock show that the Dinner Theatre produced with “Rock of Ages.”
Originally, the play won 10 Tony Awards including Best Musical. Some of plays most noticeable songs are “If I Were A Rich Man,” “Sunrise, Sunset,” and “Matchmaker, Matchmaker.” Jorge Blakely, who plays Fyedka, the play’s main character, is a senior at Franklin High School. Blakely said this production is an entirely different experience from when the UTEP Dinner Theatre first produced the play in the 1990s. “I wasn’t born yet, but I heard and asked about it and everyone says that it was very different,” Blakely said. “I’m not sure how to tell you without giving some surprises away, but definitely different.” Without prior knowledge of the musical’s success, it can be hard to see what the draw is. The plot summaries read more like a Dostoyevsky novel, and just reading the names off the character list begs for note taking.
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I’ve heard of the title, but now reading the plot, it’s like I’m going to see what Broadway is actually like more than going to listen to the music. - Clara Schlemeyer, sophomore advertising major
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Clara Schlemeyer, sophomore advertising major, said this is the kind of show Broadway enthusiasts go to experience an actual musical. “I’ve heard of the title, but now reading the plot, it’s like I’m going to see what Broadway is actually like more than going to listen to the music,” Schlemeyer said. However, the cost of the dinner and show might continue to deter students away from the seats. With tickets topping off at $43, Oscar Saenz, a senior studying computer science, hesitates to click the checkout button. “I get it. Sodexo food is expensive and they got to pay the electricity bill and all that,” Saenz said. “But it comes down to the chance of whether or not it will be my style of entertainment, and I know I’m not going to go alone, it’s a hard decision to make.” While ticket prices might seem off the roof, it is important to keep in
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mind that actors in the show get compensation for the work they put into these productions. Students may be more inclined to spend the money on a musical they associate with, such as last month’s “Rock of Ages” or last year’s “Westside Story.” For “Fiddler,” the theater will serve chicken jerusalem, wild rice, vegetables julienne, garden salad with house dressing, snowflake dinner rolls, coffee, iced tea and red velvet cake for dessert. Tickets can be bought at the UTEP Ticket Center or online at ticketmaster.com. For more information, call 747-6060. Mike Vasquez may be reached at theprospectordaily. ent@gmail.com
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THEPROSPECTOR
| 8 | ENTERTAINMENT
April 12, 2016
Ac c u r ac y Watc h The Prospector is committed to accuracy. If you think we have made an error of fact, e-mail us at theprospectordaily.news@utep.edu.
Upcoming festivals to offer a fun time BY JOSE SOTO
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It’s often said that there isn’t much to do in El Paso, but that will soon be fallacy as three festivals, the Sun City Bacon Fest, the El Paso Burger and Craft Beer Fest and the Sun City Craft Beer Festival, come to the borderland. With these upcoming festivals catering to both young and adult populations, there won’t be an excuse to not have fun during the month of April. Starting with the Sun City Bacon Fest at 11 a.m. on April 17 at the Union Plaza Entertainment District, El Pasoans will be able to enjoy one of America’s favorite side dishes. This event is particularly suitable for college students because admission is free. Veronica Hernandez, live events manager at Townsquare Media, said the company knew events like Bacon Fest have been successful across the nation. “We have seen events of this nature really take off across the country, being that we are foodies here in El Paso,
we thought, why not try it here?” Hernandez said. “It sure did work out the first year and we expect an even better turnout this year.” Hernandez said her team requested menus from participating vendors in order to secure a variety of bacon items, which she said will include bacon-wrapped Oreos. Vendors will be selling bacon-infused menu items from $2 to roughly $20. The Texas Federal Credit Union will be providing attendees with coins priced at $2 each. Coins must be used to purchase all items at the event. No cash will be accepted. VIP tickets are available for $25 in advance and $35 at the door. VIP ticket holders are granted four bacon samples valued at up to $6 and two drink tickets for your choice of beverage. VIP tickets also grants access to private bathrooms, which might come in handy after a day of heavy indulgence. Vendors will include Crave, Hillside Coffee, Malolam, Independent Burger, Stonewood Modern American Grill and The Garden.
“I think that events like this encourage community engagement,” Hernandez said. “Events like this provide family fun at a low cost. No monetary barriers create a great environment for anyone to enjoy a great event.” The newest addition to the growing number of El Paso-based festivals is the El Paso Burger and Craft Beer Festival, which will take place starting at noon on April 30 at Cleveland Square Park. Cesar Alonso, organizer and founder of the event, said it’s been an “extensive route to get the event on its feet.”
I think that events like this encourage community engagement.
- Vanessa Hernandez, Townsquare Media live events manager “I always question why no one had ever done a burger fest in El Paso,” Alonso said. “Me and some partners traveled around to get information about how to make a burger festival happen. Mostly, we found that people love the food competition portion of the event, so our event here in El Paso will also include a legit food competition.” Alonso said the price of attending is relatively low compared to other festivals. There are $5 pre-sale tickets available at elpasoburgerfest.com and $10 tickets at the gate. Children under the age of 12 go in for free. “We wanted to make this as affordable as possible so that we can begin making a name for ourselves as a family-friendly event, which is why there is also a Kids Realm,” Alonso said. “We plan to continue this as an annual event and want it to grow.” The Hoppy Monk, Crave, Burger Theory, El Chefe, Roof Top, Jonbalaya, Steve’Os, Just Fit Foods, Rulis’ International Kitchen and Ode Brewery will all be serving up their burgers at the event. Beers from Alaskan Brewing Co., Breckenridge Brewery, Deep Ellum Brewing Co. and Deschutes Brewery will be available at the event. On it’s third year of operating as one of El Paso’s most anticipated festivals, the Sun City Craft Beer Festival will be moving from Cleveland Park to the El Paso Convention Center and will be both an indoor and outdoor event. This year’s SCCBF will begin at noon to 8 p.m. on April 30. Local bands such as Chuco Soul Project will perform at the event, which will also have live, on-spot brewing. The event will feature more than 150 regional and national beer brands. General admission is $30, which includes ten samples of your choice of beer and a commemorative pint while supplies last. For more information visit suncitycraftbeerfest.com. Jose Soto may be reached at theprospectordaily.ent@ gmail.com.
THEPROSPECTOR
ENTERTAINMENT | 9 |
April 12, 2016
El Paso Comic Con coming back to El Paso an agreement with the guest, the contract is signed, the guest is booked and you arrange to pay the guest.” Jose Perez, graduate computer science major, said he is looking forward to attending the convention. “I love making new friends, and we rarely get a convention in El Paso,” Perez said. “I’m also looking forward to seeing the actor from ‘The Walking Dead.’” He’s also excited to see the cosplayers and will be dressing up as well. “Since I’ll only be going on Saturday, I’m debating on whether to go as ‘Gambit’ or ‘Cyclops,’” Perez said.
The El Paso Comic Con will be from 5-9 p.m. Friday, Apr. 15, 10 a.m.- 7 p.m. Saturday, April 16 and 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Sunday, Apr. 17 Tickets and more information can be found on their website, elpasocomiccon.com. “I did not want to throw together a subpar Comic Con,” Stegner said. “El Paso deserves a Comic Con they can be proud of.” Julia Hettiger may be reached at theprospectordaily. ent@gmail.com.
special to The Prospector Adam West, as seen in the 1960’s Batman television series will appear at this years El Paso Comic Con, on April 15.
By Julia Hettiger The Prospector
The El Paso Comic Con is returning to El Paso on April 15 at the El Paso Convention Center as a three-day event. This year’s lineup includes actors Adam West and Burt Ward, who played Batman and Robin on a 1960s’ television show, and Kevin Eastman, creator of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. The fun begins with “Zombie Escape,” an activity where guests reenact a zombie apocalypse, which will kick off on opening night. The Comic Con will be in full swing on Saturday and Sunday, where attendees will be able to meet the invited celebrities. Troy Stegner, owner of the El Paso Comic Con, said he hopes the event becomes a proud tradition in El Paso. “I want El Paso Comic Con to be one of the jewels in the city’s crown,” Stegner said. “I would like to see Comic Con spill out of the Convention Center and into the rest of Downtown El Paso.” In 2014, it was announced El Paso Comic Con would be ending indefinitely, this amid reports of the event falsely advertising the participation of actress Shannon Elizabeth, who later dismissed her attendance through her official Twitter account. But Stegner
knew he could not let this happen. Having previously worked on comic conventions in Las Cruces, he knew he had the skills needed to run the El Paso one. After negotiating with the previous owner, Stegner purchased the El Paso
I am bringing the El Paso Comic Con back to the Convention Center in Downtown El Paso where it belongs.
- Troy Stegner, owner of the El Paso Comic Con Comic Con franchise along with its social media. “I am bringing the El Paso Comic Con back to the Convention Center in Downtown El Paso where it belongs, and I am bringing featured guests
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people want to meet and events they want to see,” Stegner said. The event will bring artists, actors and unique cosplay groups who specialize in bringing characters to life. This year, featured guests include Seth Gilliam from “The Walking Dead” and comic book artist Brett Booth. “When I choose featured guests, I go with people that appeal to a large fan base,” Stegner said. “It doesn’t matter what genre, as long as they have a good following.” To feature these guests, Stegner said he had to go through a detailed negotiation process. “If the guest is available and within your budget, you then negotiate their contract,” Stegner said. “All featured guests have different needs and wants in their contract, and if you come to
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THEPROSPECTOR
| 10 | ENTERTAINMENT
April 12, 2016
‘Cleopatra’ by The Lumineers is an old soul’s dream By Jasmine aguilera The Prospector Folk band The Lumineers got very close to becoming another Mumford & Sons folksy hipster joke after the overkill of “Ho Hey” from their 2012 freshman album. But that changed with the release of their single “Ophelia,” off the sophomore album “Cleopatra.” Although it may take two or three listens, “Cleopatra,” released on April 8, holds up as a solid follow-up to the success of self-titled “The Lumineers,” the band’s first album.
It’s filled with the great story telling, heartbreak and passion that the Denver trio will probably always be affiliated with. And of course, the band’s typical folk piano, cello and guitar that can make you feel like you’ve been transported to a 1920s speakeasy. And like music from that era, most of the songs on “Cleopatra” are short, at around three minutes or less each. The Lumineers didn’t seem to experiment with their sound for this album, which may be a good thing since they’ve solidified their own style—a vintage sound with lyrics that only an old soul can relate to.
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“But I was late for this, late for that, late for the love of my life. And when I die alone, when I die alone, when I die I’ll be on time,” is a lyric off the albums third track, “Cleopatra,” a story told from the perspective of an elderly actress, which inspires images of Liz Taylor. It’s a line that showcases the lyrical skills of songwriters Wesley Schultz and Jeremiah Fraites, as practically every song on this album is a character-driven vignette that explores loneliness, love and aging or coming of age. “God and medicine take no mercy on him, poisoned his blood and burned out his throat. Enough is enough, he’s a long way from home,” is another thought-provoking lyric from “Long Way From Home,” the albums eighth track, where we finally hear Schultz’ raspy vocals that help the album transition to a soulful, passionate end. Although none of the songs off “Cleopatra”—except maybe “Ophelia”—will likely hit the airwaves, it’s an enjoyable listen. That is as long as you can appreciate songs about elderly people, emotionally charged tracks and, occasionally, a blue grass twang. “Cleopatra” is now available on Apple Music. Jasmine Aguilera may be reached at theprospectordaily. ent@gmail.com.
special to The Prospector
PAGE 11 April 12, 2016
Sports Top five hits for Chihuahuas opener Editor
Adrian Broaddus, 747-7477
michaela roman/ The Prospector The El Paso Chihuahuas will return home for a four-game series against the Reno Aces starting Friday, April 12.
By Adrian Broaddus The Prospector The 2016 Triple-A baseball season is underway and the El Paso Chihuahuas (1-2)—who are coming off a losing series to the Reno Aces—will be on the road this week and play against Tacoma. They then return home on Friday, April 12, to face the Aces at Southwest University Park. Here are the five things to note before their inaugural home game:
5 Weekend Recap
the inning scoring six runs. Then, Carlos Asuaje hit a two-run homer in the fourth inning to cap the game. Saturday’s matchup was cancelled due to rain. While they had success hitting during Friday’s win, the Chihuahuas were held to only five hits on Sunday, April 10, and fell to the Aces 6-1. Renfroe hit an RBI single in the top of the first inning for the Chihuahuas, but they did not get on the board for the remainder of the game as Reno tallied six unanswered points.
4 Unfamiliar faces
Over the weekend, the Chihuahuas lost the series to the Reno Aces 2-1. On opening day on Thursday, April 7, the Chihuahuas, for the first time in their three-year history, lost an opening game. Not only did they lose to the Aces on the road, but they were also shut out 8-0 in the game to start the season. The Aces capitalized on two fielding errors by the Chihuahuas and scored four runs in the second inning. After allowing four runs in the first inning, pitcher Daniel McCutchen rallied his squad and helped the Chihuahuas win 8-6 in the second game of the series on Friday, April 8. Outfielder Hunter Renfroe’s RBI single sparked the come-from-behind victory in the top of the third inning. They ended
Fan favorites from the 2015 season such as Cody Decker, Jason Lane and Jake Goebbert are no longer with the organization. Key returners in the lineup include Renfroe, catcher Austin Hedges, outfielder Alex Dickerson and catcher Jason Hagerty. Although these individuals are at the Triple-A level, it must be recognized that due to the under par talent that the San Diego Padres have, it is expected that there will be countless roster changes throughout the season because the Padres will spontaneously call up and send down players. In fact, pitcher Robbie Erlin, who was the Chihuahuas’ starting
pitcher at the start of the season, was called up to San Diego prior to opening day. Also, after batting .500 in the first two games, infielder Alexi Amraista was called to the Padres for his slugging tactics.
3 Barajas profile The San Diego organization announced during the off-season that Rod Barajas would take charge of the El Paso club during the 2016 season. This year marks the fourth season that Barajas has been with the San Diego program as a coach, following 17 seasons playing major league baseball. After Jaime Quirk filled the role as the El Paso club manager late in the 2015 season, Barajas took the reigns of the Single-A affiliate, the San Antonio Missions. Barajas has hopped around multiple major league baseball teams, including the Arizona Diamondbacks (1999-2003), Texas Rangers (200406), Philadelphia Phillies (2007), Toronto Blue Jays (2008-09), New York Mets (2010), Los Angeles Dodgers (2010-11) and Pittsburgh Pirates (2012). He also served as a catcher for the Mexico national team (2009). His roots with El Paso are evident. He played in the minor leagues with the El Paso Diablos during his time with the Diamondbacks, and married his wife in El Paso.
2 Pitching takes a back seat After they lost Erlin to the Padres, the Chihuahuas seem to be rattled at the pitching spot. Instead of signing a new pitcher after the Padres called up Erlin, the club obtained first baseman James Loney from the Tampa Bay program. In just three games, the pitching rotation has allowed 30 hits, 20 runs and three home runs. Missed fielding assignments are also another problem that plagues the Chihuahuas. Throughout the weekend, Reno capitalized off a total of eight runs off of assignment errors by the Chihuahuas defense.
1 Rely on the hitters This season, the sluggers on the squad have batted exceptionally well. This could be a positive trait at the moment, but a potential hurt in the long run. After shortstop Amarista hit .500 in just two games, he was called up to the Padres. Trends of calling up good hitters to San Diego could possibly
continue. Asuaje, who is second on the team with a .375 batting average, will also be expected to ascend to the Padres’ organization at some point this season. The consistent hitters such as Renfroe, catcher Austin Hedges and Loney will all be expected to shine some light offensively. All three combine for nine hits and a pair of runs. A hitter to watch out for this season is Manuel Margot, who was acquired from the Boston Red Sox organization. He was the Padres’ number one prospect in the offseason and has numbers to back him up. He was awarded the Eastern League Player of the Week in the last week of the Double-A season when he was playing for the Portland Pilots. While playing for the Pilots, he hit .441 and totaled two home runs.
A look ahead This week, the Chihuahuas will travel to take on the Tacoma Rainiers (3-1) for a four-game series from April 11 through April 14. Tacoma is currently third in the Pacific Coast League for hitting, totaling 40 hits, 24 runs and holding a .294 batting average. Over the weekend, the Rainiers won three of four games against Albuquerque. The Chihuahuas will return to the Sun City for their first home game on April 12 against the Reno Aces. The opening pitch for the game is slated at 7:05 p.m.. Adrian Broaddus may be reached at theprospectordaily.sports@gmail.com. Adrian Broaddus may be reached at theprospectordaily. sports@gmail.com.
THEPROSPECTOR
| 12 | SPORTS
April 12, 2016
TK Powell emerges as key weapon for offense By juan carlos navarrette The Prospector Once a walk-on football player, to having a break out game with 150-yards: that is the fast-forward journey of sophomore running back TK Powell. This spring, Powell is vying for the second place spot on the depth chart behind standout running back Aaron Jones. While Jones has been using the spring to rehabilitate the injury he suffered from last season, Powell continues to shine in the practices that the Miners have been having. “We knew he had major run skills,” head coach Sean Kugler said. “Now he is coming on as a blocker.
He understands the system; he’s going to be a major role player for us.” It was his mom who initiated the conversation about Powell playing the sport when he was in elementary school. “I didn’t start playing football until I saw it for the first time—I was around nine, and my mom was just like ‘you want to get hit?’” Powell said. “She signed me up and from then I was just a stand out child.” Although he said he was a significant player, Powell’s journey in football was not always clear. He was part of a varsity high school football team that was made up entirely of freshmen. His class was the first in his high school and went through the hardship of playing against opponents who were much older than him and his team. “The first year our school opened we actually accomplished one thing barely no body else accomplished— we won a varsity game,” Powell said. Because he was at a school with little success, Powell was not recruited heavily and only had one recruit look at him. “I had one offer, but it was only because of SAT scores—that’s it,” Powell said. “I got looks and I went to the mini combines to help my name get out. If they liked what they saw and they saw papers
photo courtesy utep athletics Running back TK Powell evades a Louisinana Tech defender. Powell rushed for 150-yards against the Bulldogs. about you, that was the only way to get noticed.” Family is what brought him to UTEP. His cousin, the late Thomas
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Howard, also played for UTEP under ex-head coach Mike Price. His old high school coach was also a Miner and convinced him to play for Kugler. “I didn’t get offered from UTEP— I’m a walk on here,” Powell said. “I have a cousin who played here—he was rushing MVP in 2004, my rushing coach from senior year set it up, I went from walk on to preferred walk on.” As a freshman, Powell redshirted as a running back and never expected to play. He forgoed his freshman year to remain eligible for four more seasons while still being able to practice with the team. This was a smart move for any running that was sitting behind Aaron Jones. His freshman year, though, was anything but typical. Aaron Jones got injured in the second game of the season and the running back depth chart quickly changed. The injury-riddled season that the Miners had put a lot of pressure on coach Kugler to burn Powell’s redshirt and use an available running back. This would take the year that Powell was going to have and waste it on three games; something Powell did not mind whatsoever. “I was excited. I called my mom right when it happened,” Powell said. “I was so excited, I was like ‘mom they are pulling my redshirt.’ I was happy even though it was the last three games, I was like I finally get to put my name out there.” The back’s success did not come easy. He got his first opportunity to play against Old Dominion. During that game, Powell ran for four yards on one carry. In the next game, Powell would get his breakout game against Conference USA powerhouse LA Tech. There he ran for 124 yards and even had a breakaway run for 37 yards. Powell ended his freshman year at North Texas where he ran six yards. TK Powell was one of only two rushers that year that ran for over 100 yards in a game. Though he only played for three games, he said that his motivation is to continue to improve. Though coach Kugler has said many times the decision to burn a redshirt is not one that he takes lightly, he said he felt proud of Powell for doing it. Kugler now sees Powell as part of the game plan. “TK is a hard runner, he has natural skills,” Kugler said. “We
burned his redshirt last year when were kind of decimated at running back and ended up running for 150 against Louisiana Tech.” Kugler also said he plans to keep Powell involved in the offense and that last year was no fluke. With his sophomore year coming up, coach
We knew he had major run skills... He understands the system; he’s going to be a major role player for us. - Sean Kugler UTEP football head coach Kugler has plans for TK Powell. Powell started his career as the fifth running back down the depth chart, and was going to end his year with no change. He is now the third string running back and continues to fight for the second string spot. Powell’s motivation comes from his mother. “I’m studying for business—I’m trying to be an auditor like my mom,” Powell said. “She travels the world for AZZ Incorporated, and I like what she does and traveling. Who wouldn’t want to travel and make money?” The backup battle is currently between Powell, Treyvon Hughes and Orion Prescott. In the first scrimmage of spring football, Powell led the rushing core with six carries for 27 yards. During the second scrimmage, he piled a short run in for a touchdown and was second in rushing, totaling 25 yards. Powell and the Miners will conclude their spring practices on Friday, April 12, for their annual spring game. Kick off for the orange-white game will be at 7:05 p.m. The spring football game is slated in three weeks at 7 p.m. on April 15 at the Sun Bowl. Juan Carlos Navarrette may be reached at theprospectordaily.sports@gmail.com.