VOL . 100, 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 28, 2015
LISTEN TO YOUR HEART
“Good art is not what it looks like, but what it does to us.” - Roy Adzak PHOTO by michaela roman / The Prospector
PAGE 2 April 28, 2015
perspectives
Editor-in-Chief
Lorain Ambrocio, 747-7477
@BaltimorePolice: Please remain peaceful By Maria Esquinca The Prospector “The streets were never ours to begin with, because on these same streets our sons and brothers, fathers and uncles were, and still are, prey,” wrote Edwidge Danticat, in an article for the New Yorker titled “Enough is Enough” after the death of Eric Garner, who died in a chokehold position by a cop after muttering, “I can’t breathe.” The quote is particularly illuminating concerning the flood of deaths of young men of color at the hands of white cops. Currently, the newest victim was a 25-year-old unarmed young man of color, who was killed in police custody due to a spinal cord injury. A website called killedbypolice.net chronicles the occurrence of every death by a police officer in the U.S. The spreadsheet contains the name of the victims, the sex and a link to a news article associated to their death. Last year there were more than 1,000 deaths by cops, and since Freddie Grey died, there have been 21 more people killed. The death of Grey, similar to the death of Brown, has incited protests in the city of Baltimore, Md. However, protests turned violent after the funeral of Grey. The violent protests lead Gov. Larry to declare the city in a state of emergency and activate the National Guard. Larry stated that looting and acts of violence will not be tolerated. “I strongly condemn the actions of the offenders who are engaged in direct attacks against innocent civilians, businesses and law enforcement officers. There is a significant difference between protesting and violence and those committing these acts will be prosecuted under the fullest extent of the law.” It seems that once protestors resort to violence, it allows for their pain and suffering to be undermined. On Twitter, you’ll find #FreddieGray, and you’ll also find #BaltimoreRiots. An article from the Daily Kos read, “Baltimore erupts into chaos.” Carson Daly tweeted, “Really sucks to see these looters ruining the great city of @Baltimore. This isn’t protest, this is a violent attack on your OWN city.” You can almost see the flames burning in mid-air. While others point out a different reality, an article from Black Westchester headlines “10,000 strong peacefully protest in Downtown
Baltimore, media only reports the violence and arrest of dozens.” The article goes on to detail that out of the 10,000 peaceful protestors in Baltimore, mainstream media focused on the 100 who “acted up” and the 35 who were arrested. Jamison Foser tweeted, “Dear @BaltimorePolice: Please remain peaceful. Several of our citizens have been killed.” But the point of this column can be framed more poignantly through a Tumblr user called mysharona1987 who wrote, “I wish people were as mad about the police literally severing a man’s spine and killing them, as they are about some broken car.” I can understand the indignation that may be spurred after people begin “looting” and “rioting” and creating “chaos.” It’s violent, it causes damage to property and it’s breaking the law. But once one title (protestors) is replaced by another (looters), it allows for the narrative to be changed, and suddenly the damage they inflict on the city, on cars, on property, becomes more significant than the damage that has been inflicted on their lives. Erased is the pain felt by communities of color, by families, fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, friends and the fear they must live with day by day, as their loved ones are murdered with impunity and a blatant disregard for their pain. I will never understand the hypocrisy of that logic. If at the core of the enragement is that “rioters” are breaking the law and destroying property and enticing violence, where is the enragement when cops kill unarmed young men? Eric Garner, Michael Brown, Freddy Grey—what they all had in common besides being young men of color is that they were unarmed. How does someone without a weapon pose a threat to someone with a weapon? The reality is that this is a race issue, and we need to ask ourselves why unarmed black men are threatened by white cops? But we also need to ask ourselves why, as a society, we seem to be more enraged and alarmed by the 100 “rioters,” who loot and burn cars, rather than the cops who continue to kill a plethora of unarmed men of color, adding up to a 1,000-plus death count.
the golden age of grotesque
illustration by jacobo de la rosa / The Prospector
Maria Esquinca may be reached at theprospectordaily. news@gmail.com.
STAFF V O L . 1 0 0 , n o . 2 6 Editor-in-Chief: Lorain Ambrocio Managing Editor: Amanda Guillen Layout Editor: Jacobo De La Rosa Copy Editor: Maria Esquinca Sports Editor: Luis Gonzalez Entertainment Editor: Kimberly Valle Photo Editor: Michaela Roman Multimedia Editor: Christopher Zacherl Staff Photographers: Ruby Cerino, Andres Martinez Staff Reporters: Jason Green, Valerie Herrera, Julia Hettiger, Jesus Lopez Vargas Juan Carlos Navarrete, Benjamin Woolridge Cartoonist: Blake A. Lanham Contributors: Fernanda Leon, Alonso Moreno, Andrea Sandoval,
illustration by jacobo de la rosa / The Prospector
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Letters will be edited for clarity and brevity. Letters over 250 words are subject to editing to fit available space. Please include full name, street address and telephone number and e-mail address, plus major, classification and/or title if applicable. Address and phone number will be used for verification only. Write to 105 E. Union, e-mail theprospectordaily.news@gmail.com, call 747-7477 or fax to 747-8031. The Prospector is published by the Student Publications Editorial Board, 105 Union East, 500 W. University Ave. El Paso, Texas, 79968. The Prospector appears in print once per week on Tuesdays during the fall, spring, and summer semesters. The newspaper is not printed during holidays and when classes are not in session. The Prospector does provide news online at www.theprospectordaily.com. The Prospector is provided to students through student fees. First copy is free. Any additional copies, if available, must be purchased for $1 through the Department of Student Publications. The Prospector is not responsible for claims made by advertisers. Additional policy information may be obtained by calling The Prospector at 915-747-5161. Opinions expressed in The Prospector are not necessarily those of the university.
THEPROSPECTOR
NEWS | 3 |
April 28, 2015
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April 28, 2015
Our view
photo Editor
Michaela Romรกn, 747-7477
Denim Day Fashion Show brings awareness to sexual assault
andRes martinez / The Prospector In support of Sexual Assault Awareness Month, the Office of Student Life hosted the Denim Day Fashion Show Wednesday, April 22. The show was held at the Union Plaza and had seven participants walking the runway.
THEPROSPECTOR
| 4 | NEWS
April 28, 2015
UTEP Dinner Theatre entertains audiences for 32 years By Amanda Guillen The Prospector As the curtain rises, the UTEP Dinner Theatre prepares to finish up their production of “Mary Poppins” in their 32nd year. “Mary Poppins” is among the many acclaimed musicals the UDT has produced. As the only year-round full-time dinner theater on a college campus in the United States, the UDT has built an impressive resume of productions and reputation. In 1983, Gregory Taylor, who majored in theater arts, was eager to direct a musical. Taylor always had a strong interest in musical theater from a young age and knew that this was something he loved to do. While attending a Thanksgiving luncheon with another fellow student in the Union building, Taylor imagined the space as the perfect location for staging a musical in a dinner theater setting. From that moment Taylor approached the dean of students, who then pointed him in the direction of the director of the Union. Taylor was awarded $1,000 by the Special Programs and Activities Committee of the Student Programs Office and the rest is history. Taylor was given the opportunity as a UTEP student to direct, and the show he chose was “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.” “When I started the dinner theatre as a student 32 years ago it was all by accident. I did not set out to found
PHOTO courtesy of the utep dinner theater The UTEP Dinner Theatre’s first opening night was March 10, 1983 and still continues to serve the El Paso community today. a new theater that would grow in to what we have today,” Taylor said. “We were just lucky that we had supportive administrations over the years and a large following that has enabled us to continue.” With food prepared by Union Services and with the Union Ballroom as the venue, the show opened on March
10, 1983 and ran for three sold-out performances. From that moment on, Taylor caught the show biz bug, which prompted him to approach the Student Programs Office for additional funding to produce a second show. With approval from the office, “Jesus Christ Superstar” opened the fol-
lowing summer and garnered another sold-out crowd. Taylor was offered a work-study position to keep the dinner theater running and soon began running a four-show season. Now called the UTEP Dinner Theatre, Taylor is still at the head of thetheater, and many productions have had sold-out crowds.
In addition to a supportive administration, UDT has also gained the support of a famous lyrist and author, Sir Tim Rice. Rice is best known for his work with Andrew Lloyd Webber in creating “Evita,” “Jesus Christ Superstar” and “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” and is also
see dinner on page 8
THEPROSPECTOR
NEWS | 5 |
April 28, 2015
Texas legislation moving to ban powdered alcohol By Alonso Moreno The Prospector The idea of bringing “powderitas” to outdoor activities or parties without the added bulk of a bottle might not become a reality as Texas looks to ban powdered alcohol. A bill by state Rep. Charlie Geren, R-Fort Worth, would ban the sale and possession of powdered alcohol in Texas and was approved by The House Licensing and Administrative Procedures Committee in March. Powdered alcohol, also referred to as “palcohol,” is a powder that when mixed with water, soda, juice or other beverage turns into an alcoholic beverage. It is sold in a small pouch in an amount equivalent to a shot and is available in vodka, rum, cosmopolitan, margarita and lemon drop flavors. During the committee meetings, Geren expressed concern about powdered alcohol and stated that it could lead to alcohol abuse. “We have a new dangerous and intoxicating substance and it’s called powdered alcohol,” Geren said. “I don’t think it’s something that we need to have on our shelves at our liquor stores.” The creator of powdered alcohol, Mark Phillips, claims on his website that he created the product in order to meet his needs of enjoying an alcoholic drink while participating in outdoor activities such as hiking, biking, camping and kayaking. “It’s a bit funny to be honest, you barely hear about it in the news and
the Internet, but before you know they are already trying to ban it,” said Africa Deleon, senior Spanish major. “I feel it’s a bit weird that you ban a certain form of alcohol and not question the other types.” Although the product is meant to be a portable form of alcohol, establishments have sold and distributed similar products for a long time now. “Powdered alcohol might just be a novelty in the sense of how it looks and is sold, but there are other forms of alcohol that are easy to carry around,” said Michael Farrar, a former nightclub general manager. “You have miniature bottles that are sold in liquor stores or given along with a drink so that you may do your own mixing. Next time you visit a liquor store, just look behind the counter and you will see all the options that currently exist.” Products such as the Pocket Shot are among the alcohol items that are legal to sell in Texas and have been approved by the FDA. In similar fashion, the pocket shot was created for those who love the outdoors or anyone who needs a cocktail on the go, with the mission of being designed to “satisfy your thirst for spirits on the go. With eight flavors, Pocket Shot offers the largest selection of premium spirits in a pouch on the market,” according to their website. Critics of powdered alcohol point out that the portability of the product is what makes it such a danger and that minors will have an easier time concealing it.
“With pockets small enough to fit into a child’s pocket, it will be harder for schools and parents to identify and confiscate this substance from our youth,” said Grace Barnett, a spokeswoman for Texans Standing Tall, a nonprofit that advocates against youth drug and alcohol use, during hearings for the bill. Those who have experience with underage drinking, however, point out that it’s not that hard to find ways to get alcohol. A former UTEP student “Louie,” who wished to not be identified, shared his story about smuggling and drinking in high school. “It does not have to be portable or small, you just need to know a way to carry it around so that it’s not suspicious,” Louie said. “I used to find multiple ways to smuggle it to school and drink there. For example, if it was clear (the liquor), a simple water bottle could do the trick or you could mix it before you even showed up school.” Louie also pointed out that getting alcohol is just a matter of finding the right person or simply being “sneaky” about it. “There is always someone who knows a person or has an older sibling who can get it for you. Also, some homes just have a lot of liquor in them,” he said. “People collect bottles or miniatures (bottles) sometimes. A lot of people don’t realize that a miniature is gone unless they really pay constant attention to them.” Although the source was caught and faced discipline for attending school
special to The Prospector in an inebriated state, he pointed out that what occurred could have had much more severe consequences. “I was a dumb kid who got carried away, was not careful and eventually got caught because I reeked of alcohol, but the reality is that if I wanted to, I could have smuggled alcohol every day to schoo,” he said. “Some schools are just too big and are worried about other issues such as drugs. Like I said, it’s not hard.” Geren’s HB 1018 would classify powdered alcohol as an illicit beverage, illegal to sell or possess in Texas. Currently, the bill has been filed, but
has yet to be approved by the House or the Senate. “The form does not matter, what matters is the people and if they want to drink they will eventually find a way. I certainly did,” Louie said. Amanda Guillen may be reached at theprospectordaily. news@gmail.com.
THEPROSPECTOR
| 6 | NEWS
April 28, 2015
How do you express your creativity?
hugo brito, ruby cerino, andres martinez, michaela roman, adam ziegenhals / The Prospector
Diana Ortiz
Senior music performance major
“I am an Opera singer. As a singer you are supposed to sing how the composer wrote the song, but at the same time you can put your own essence in every song to make it sound a little different.”
Grace Chavarria
Senior computer information systems major
“I express my creativity by painting. If I am in a happy mood I tend to use brighter colors. I love making my own patterns and putting them up in my dorm.”
Juan Macias
Brenda Ledezma
Kevin Santisteban
“I use my guitar and piano to express my creativity.”
Senior commercial music major
Orlando Zamora
Freshman mechanical engineering major
“I express my creativity by playing guitar, singing as well as painting.”
Andrea Ugarte
Junior digital media major
Sophomore business major
“The way I express my creativity is by playing my guitar. It relaxes me and it helps me express myself.”
“I express my creativity through playing guitar. It is what I love.”
Allison DeSegura
Victor Jimenez
Monica Veleta
“I express my creativity through musical liberation.”
Junior geology major
Sophomore accounting major
“I express my creativity through writing, I like organizing my thoughts in a way that is most effective because I like sharing them with other people.”
Junior electrical engineering major
Senior graphic design major
“I am creative, but I just haven’t found a way express that yet.”
“I play guitar and draw a lot to express my creativity.”
Arturo Jacobo
Caitlyn Mullins
Sophomore electrical engineering major
“I’m not creative. I just don’t like arts or anything like that.”
Freshman pre-business major
“I use a lot of painting to express my creativity.”
Abiodun Alao
Mauricio Barba
“I show my creativity by designing devices that can change the world that prevent things like seizures.”
“By listening to music and using it to think things through.”
Senior electrical engineering major
Senior electrical and computer engineering major
THEPROSPECTOR
NEWS | 7 |
April 28, 2015
New postage stamp honors writer Maya Angelou
Photo courtesy of the U.S. Postal Service Maya Angelou is known as one of the best authors of the 20th century. She received the biggest honor in the U.S. Postal Service on Tuesday by having her own stamp in the Forever collection. The sheet of stamps includes a of the stamp adorned the theater and By Alicia Alvarez the state during a ceremony. quote,” Try to be a rainbow in someSHFWire Intern The stamp shows Ross Rossin’s one’s cloud,” from Angelou’s book WASHINGTON – Maya Angelou’s 2013 portrait of Angelou, which can “Letter to My Daughter.” smiling face greeted members of the be seen in the Smithsonian Institucrowd as they entered the Warner Anglou’s best-known work is her tion’s National Portrait Gallery. It also Theatre on April 7. memoir “I Know Why the Caged Bird The late African-American author features a quote from an interview Sings.” was honored by the United States she gave: “A bird doesn’t sing because The stamp was designed by Ethel Postal Service with postage stamp as it has an answer, it sings because it has part of its forever collection. Posters
a song.”
Kessler of Bethesda, Md.
With the Angelou stamp, there are now 181 women featured on stamps, 37 of whom are African-Americans. The unveiling ceremony of the stamp was attended by first lady Michelle Obama, Oprah Winfrey, Attorney General Eric Holder, Postmaster General Megan Brennan and Angelou’s son and grandson, Guy and Colin Johnson. “Doctor Angelou certainly had a song in her,” Brennan said. She is the first female postmaster general. She started her term in February. Angelou’s son, Guy Johnson, said that his mother left a stamp on everything she touched. “It is only fitting that the U.S. Postal Service is bringing out a stamp in recognition to her life’s work,” he said. Johnson spoke about his mother’s difficult childhood before handing the microphone to his son, Colin, who said that continuing his grandmother’s legacy was easy because of what she had done. Brennan said Angelou’s work embodied her personal struggle, but also the triumph of courage and the human spirit. Angelou came from poverty, fought against segregation and violence and became one of the most important American authors of the 20th century. She died in May at age 86. Winfrey said that it was “incredible” that the stamp was happening and thanked the Postal Service for doing it. Halfway through her speech, a wide-spread power outage in down-
town Washington cut the lights in the theater. The television personality continued talking. “This new forever stamp serves as a tribute to humanity and contribution to our nation,” Brennan said. There was controversy regarding the stamp. The Washington Post reported that the quotation on the stamp, attributed to Angelou on several occasions, might not be hers. The quote was attributed to Angelou by President Barack Obama when he presented her with the the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2011. Angelou won the National Medal of Arts in 2000 and two Grammys for spoken word albums, among many other honors. She used the quotation in an interview. The original quote is from the book “A Cup of Sun” by the children’s book authorJoan Walsh Anglund. The book came out in 1967, two years before Angelou’s “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.” None of the speakers acknowledged the controversy during the ceremony. Brennan called the words on the stamp “joyous words of inspiration.” Reach reporter Alicia Alvarez at alicia.alvarez@scripps. com or 202-408-1489.
| 8 | NEWS
THEPROSPECTOR
inbrief
sga elections
-SGA Elections are underway once again. This week students will be campaigning throughout campus. Presidential and vice presidential debates will take place Wednesday 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. at the Union Breezeway. Elections will take place Wednesday starting at 7 a.m. and will run until Friday at 5 p.m. Students can vote online at my.utep.edu.
UTEP’s Speech and Debate Team
-From 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday at the UTEP Library Blumberg Auditorium, UTEP’s Speech and Debate Team will host its 2015 Showcase and Celebration. Highlights of the debate, public speaking and dramatic interpretation of literature will be presented. For more information contact Dr. Mary Trejo at mrtrejo@utep.edu or Michael Brooks mebrooks@utep.edu.
Essentials of Human Resources -UTEP and the Professional and Public Programs Unit of the extended University Professional Training and Development will be offering Essentials of Human Resources courses from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. every Saturday from May 2 to June 6. These courses will cover six key topics including Human Resource Management, Employment Law and Selection, Compensation and Benefits, Employee Development and Performance Development. To register online, visit www.utep.edu or call (915) 747-5142.
Mobile Voting
-Early Mobile Voting for city, schools and community college elections will take place from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on April 28 at the UTEP Library Blumberg Auditorium Room 111. General Election will be on May 9.
April 28, 2015
dinner from page 4 known for his work for Disney with Alan Menken and Elton John. In 2008, the UDT celebrated its 25th anniversary by hosting a concert celebrating the songs of Sir Tim Rice. In a letter to Taylor, Rice said, “I can hardly believe that you have enjoyed 25 years of unparalleled uninterrupted triumph at UTEP...I know I shall enjoy my fifth visit to your town as much as I have the previous ones and it is more than kind of you to create an evening around my musical past. You inspire me to think about my musical future.” Although the UDT has risen above expectations in all areas, Taylor said it is not without challenges. “The main challenges are always financial. It costs a lot of money to do what we do and we are always searching for ways to save money,” he said. “Also the fact that our theater only seats 184 people at a time means we have to do so many performances to make our budget.” Other challenges include limited performance space and technical equipment. Associate director of the UDT, Beverly Kerbs-Ward, said although there are financial challenges the theater is lucky to be a part of the university because there is no need to pay for rent or cleaning crews. Kerbs-Ward goes on to say that working for the UDT has been a rewarding experience. “We cater to a lot of older folks too, not just our students here at the university, but we have become a very special part of the El Paso community, and knowing that we have been able to keep going for so long it is a wonderful experience,” Kerbs-Ward said. “The beauty of entertainment, having someone come here and laugh or cry, being able to take someone out of their normal life and to just get away–we all need that.” Taylor and Kerbs-Ward both emphasize the fact that the success of the UDT is largely due to the staff, most of whom have been around for more than 20 years. When it comes to future plans for the growth or expansion of the theater Taylor said that it is all still up in the air. “Three years ago there was mention of trying to get us a new facility, but I have not heard anything since then,” Taylor said. “We are always on the lookout for when the latest Broadway hit gets released so we can bring the show to our audience.” The next UDT production will be “Pippin,” and auditions will take place at 7 p.m. on May 11 at the theater, located on the second floor of Union West. Students do not have to be theater majors to be involved in the shows, whether as actors, technicians or musicians. “We encourage all students to get involved,” Taylor said. The UDT’s 32-year-journey is one that began with an idea from a student, who now is an associate professor and director of theater and dance at UTEP. His advice to students is simple and comes from experience. “The university did believe in me and gave me a chance, so I would tell students that have a new idea to give it a shot, no matter what, because you never know what might happen.” Amanda Guillen may be reached at theprospectordaily. news@gmail.com.
THEPROSPECTOR
NEWS | 9 |
April 28, 2015
Landmark Radiohead album preserved at Library of Congress the board chooses recordings that are
By Jose Soto SHFWire Intern
“culturally, historically, or aestheti-
Radiohead’s 1997 landmark album, “OK Computer,” has just earned a new credential. The album won the 1998 Grammy for best alternative album and has been a favorite among fans, including myself. Now, it will be preserved by the Library of Congress. “OK Computer” is Radiohead’s third full-length album. It extended the band’s fan base with songs like “Karma Police,” “No Surprises” and “Paranoid Android.” It shifted the band’s sound from predominantly guitar driven to the experimental approach it is known for today. The sound was considered innovative for its time. In the late 1990s, when the airwaves were saturated by pop music and alternative rock, the album enlightened the rock scene with modern digitalaged fusion of electronica and guitar riffs. The diversity of the album also showed off lead vocalist’s Thom Yorke’s creativity and eccentrics. Matthew Barton, a recorded sound curator at the library, said Radiohead’s “OK Computer” has been getting public nominations and considerable discussion from the board for many years. “Support for OK Computer has been building since it became eligible.” “The expression of feelings of alienation, fears for the future and trying to deal with your own impermanence now has a pretty long history in rock music” Barton said. “’OK Computer’ is a very effective and lasting work of
cally significant” and at least 10 years old. The final selections are made by James Billington, librarian of Congress. “Billington decides, following a year-long deliberative process,” Barton said. “The process involves the library’s Recorded Sound Section, the National Recording Preservation Board and the public, who can nominate recordings via email.” Barton said that the board tries to cover a broad historical range. “This
includes
many
different
genres of music, as well as radio broadcasts, field recordings, poetry and other spoken word recordings,” Barton said. The album has won many awards and positive reviews from music critic for many years, including the third slot on Rolling Stone’s 100 Best Albums of the Nineties. special to the Prospector that kind, but very original in its own right.” The National Recording Registry takes on the annual task of adding
25 new recordings to be preserved in the library. The National Recording Preservation Board, a group of pro-
fessional organizations and experts in the recording process narrows the list. Under the terms of the National Recording Preservation Act of 2000,
Albums by The Doors, Lauryn Hill, Sly and the Family Stone, Joan Baez and otherswill also be admitted. Reach Reporter Jose Soto at jose.soto@scripps.com or at 202-408-1494.
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| 10 | NEWS
April 28, 2015
Art Junction studio ignites local artists creativity
Ruby cerino / The Prospector The Art Junction studio tour, which took place April 18 and 19, is located at 500 West Paisano St.
By Jose Soto
Glaze said the studio gives its rent-
The Prospector
ers 24-hour access to their spaces
Art enthusiasts in the city had the opportunity to see work from local artists and some artistic ensembles last week. The local artists showcased their pieces, from abstract acrylic pieces and bronze sculptures to artisan jewelry, during a two-day event. The Art Junction studio tour, which took place on April 18 and 19, gave art lovers an inside look of the spaces where artists go to create their works of art. Located at 500 West Paisano St., the studio was established 14 years ago. Art Junction includes 34 spaces available for rent. It also includes a black-and-white and color photography darkroom. The studio is a part of the El Paso Art Association. Erin Galvez, a local artist and director of the tour, said the studio started off as an open-floor establishment without any walls. “Over the course of the first five years, walls were built, doors were added and areas were partitioned,” Galvez said.
to have a “secure place to craft their work.” “It’s like a small community of creatives working alongside each other,” Galvez said. “We also have a large space that can be rented for teaching or hosting events appropriate for this place. For example, I believe a photography club meets here monthly. We have weekly figure-drawing sessions and a weekly textile class that meets here. I have even seen someone who was taking head-shots for models utilize the space for his services.” Galvez said the tour brought in 240 guests. “It was a great success,” he said
It’s like a small community of creatives working alongside each other.
- Erin Galvez, local artist and director at The Art Junction studio “We had people of all ages and walks of life. It was representational of the individuals that presently rent the studios. We had traditional landscape oil painters, portrait painters, contemporary acrylic painters, large-scale drawers, socially engaged mixed media artists, textiles, bronze sculptors, Chinese brush painters, jewelers, photographers, a graphic designer, a canine-outfit crafter. It is very diverse.” The artists who rent out spaces and work at Art Junction are also diverse, Galvez said. “They range from people in their 20s to people in their 70s We also have retirees, full-time artists, students, teachers; its a really amazing little community.” The Art Junction is open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays. For more information, visit www.elpasoartassociation.com. Jose Soto may be reached at theprospectordaily.news@ gmail.com.
paGe 11 April 28, 2015
entertainment
Editor
KiMBerly valle, 747-7477
Artists struggle in El Paso
adam ziegenHals/ THe PrOsPecTOr Senior studio art major, Francisco melendez shows off one of the burnt butterflies from his “nobody Wants To see That” exhibition.
By FErnanda lEon The Prospector For some, art in El Paso may not seem to be appreciated as much as in bigger cities like New York and Los Angeles. Francisco Melendez, senior studio art major, said art in El Paso has been growing year by year, but that there’s still a long road ahead in order to make the city aware of the talent that it has. “I think overall the people of the city have a very outdated idea of what art is, there’s a sort of a divide in the city between people who think of art as oil paintings of landscapes or religious themes,” Melendez said. “Or graphite drawings of family members and pretty girls; versus people who have actually been able to attain an education in modern and contemporary art.” Performing arts also go unappreciated, said Julian Maldonado, senior dance major. He said dance has also grown considerably in El Paso, but not in a way where it is appreciated as a form of art. “I feel that dance has very little importance in El Paso and is not taken seriously,” Maldonado said. “I noticed that more people are going to studios than ever before. I believe it is due to how popular dance has become. Shows like ‘So You Think You Can Dance’ and ‘Dancing with the Stars’ have helped drastically in promoting dance’s popularity.” Making a living out of art in a small city like El Paso may be a challenge to someone who dedicates his or her life to create art. For Maldonado, making a living in El Paso from dancing is a struggle due to the low rate of dance studios available in the city. “A huge factor that gives me a negative look on making a living in El Paso is a huge lack of respect for the performing arts,” Maldonado said. Melendez said it is hard to make a living as an artist in El Paso.
“The fact that the vast majority of the people in the city have such an outdated view makes it really hard for anyone who’s doing anything with a modern or contemporary influence to have any real chance of selling or displaying their work in the city,” Melendez said. Melendez also said being an artist and dedicated to art is a challenge. Many UTEP graduates have been making a living out of art. Some of them have been successful in the city of El Paso, while others have moved to continue with their passion in other cities such as Mexico City and other different U.S. cities. There are design and advertising studios, such as Sanders/Wingo Advertising and Viva + Impulse Creative, located in El Paso that have given work opportunities to UTEP graduates. Anne Giangiulio, associate professor of art, said there are students from UTEP working in design studios in New York City such as Mario Aguilar, who came to UTEP to give a lecture last semester, or Andrew Yañez, who owns a design studio in Fort Worth called Pytch Black. “UTEP is the only university in town, so of course our designers make up the majority, if not all of those working here,” Giangiulio said. Professors help many art students while they’re still in college by being mentors, providing opportunities to get students’ work shown at El Paso events and encouraging them to apply for different internships and job opportunities. “Whenever I hear of job opportunities, be they work-study gigs here on campus, summer internships or permanent positions, I pass that info along to students and encourage them to apply,” Giangiulio said. Student organizations among art students are also an important outlet to obtain opportunities and learn about local and international art. “I have been part of the Maximo Art Society for a few semesters. Now,
adam ziegenHals/ THe PrOsPecTOr Senior studio art major, Francisco melendez continues to showcase his art in el Paso, although it can be hard for many local artists to make a living. since its induction, and I am current- portfolios, resumes and curriculum “I believe if you are truly good at ly the vice president,” Melendez said. vitae. what you do and aren’t afraid to be “So what we do in the organization is Art in El Paso has been growing try to provide art students with op- year by year, but it still presents a enterprising and creative, you can portunities to develop as profession- challenge for many local artists who make a living doing anything anyals in the art field.” want to make a living out of their art. The Maximo Art Society helps art There are more opportunities, intern- where,” Giangiulio said. students to showcase their work; they ships and different outlets that local Fernanda leon may be reached at theprospectordaily. organize lectures from professional artists may take in order to achieve artists and help students to build their their goals and grow professionally. ent@gmail.com.
THEPROSPECTOR
| 12 | ENTERTAINMENT
April 28, 2015
HBCU marching band competition comes to El Paso
special to The Prospector
By Valerie Herrera The Prospector After three years of planning, El Paso will host the Historically Black Colleges and Universities marching band competition for the first time. The Battle of El Dorado will be showcased at 2 p.m. May 2 at the Sun Bowl Stadium. The community will get to witness unsurpassed showmanship and student-musicians’ talent. With a mission to bring diversity to the community, Sports X, an El
Paso-based organization, along with UTEP and Ticketmaster, collaborated to bring a much-needed educational aspect to El Paso. The main focus of the event is to offer college scholarships in all aspects of marching band to El Paso area students. “Marching band members are athletes who work hard during the season and have limited outlets to use their talents to gain a college education,” said Johnny Rivers, Sports X and Battle of El Dorado’s spokesperson.
“We wanted to give them something to aspire to just like any other sport at the end of the season.” The winner of the competition will receive a monumental trophy created by El Paso resident Don Davis, who is a world-famous National Hot Rod Association racecar builder and former Gadsden educator. Serving as a platform to highlight and celebrate the heritage and showmanship of HBCU marching bands, more than 600 band members from Alcorn State University, Mississippi
Valley State University and Prairie View A&M University will participate, and up to 90 different scholarships will be awarded to the best competitors. “Our target audience for this event are the families of the bands members represented within the colleges and universities. So we want to expose their hard work and talent and reward those students for it,” Rivers said. “Wowing giant crowds is expected from other HBCU competitions and the Battle of El Dorado will be no different.” More than 30 high schools in the El Paso area will also get the chance to win cash prizes. There will also be a local drum-line competition, which will take place prior to the main event. A plaque will be given to the each school band and band-related scholarships from the participating universities at the main event. Sports X will be using drones to add viewing components never seen before in marching band competitions. The Battle of El Dorado will also attempt to set a Guinness world record for the most college marching band scholarships awarded at a single event. “We are honored to support these programs with scholarships and want to stand out as a national music scholarship program dedicated to supporting HBCU music education programs,” Rivers said. Support for the HBCU band competition came from U.S. Congressman Beto O’Rourke, D-Texas, and his local staff, Destination El Paso, the Downtown Management District and
other local business and community organizations. Inspiration for naming the competition came from Edgar Allen Poe’s poem “El Dorado,” and Sports X incorporated it’s own adaptions into all aspects of the event. The theme of the popular poem depicts a knight in search of great wealth in the fictional city of El Dorado, which in the competition is represented by El Paso and the knight is represented by the three university bands that are participating. Using a torch and individual welding rods, Davis’ statue was created more than 50 years ago at Texas Western College (now UTEP). The one-of-a-kind trophy signifies the particular style of the marching band culture and costs more than $20,000. Erika Esquivel, senior communication major, said the Battle of El Dorado benefits the community in many ways. “It brings diversity to our community, where other people from across the country get to see the beautiful things El Paso has to offer,” Esquivel said. “Not only that, but our local high school students get the opportunity to participate and showcase their talents, which would be great for recruiting opportunities.” A band performance will also take place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 1 at Freedom Crossing at Fort Bliss.
Valerie Herrera may be reached at theprospectordaily. ent@gmail.com.
THEPROSPECTOR
ENTERTAINMENT | 13 |
April 28, 2015
Fifth-Annual Texas Showdown Festival to be in El Paso By Julia Hettiger The Prospector The Texas Showdown Festival, an annual tattoo and music festival, will take place this year from noon to midnight July 17, 18 and 19 at the El Paso County Coliseum. The festival will feature professional tattoo artists as well as more than 20 famous bands and musicians such as The Offspring, which is known for their songs “You’re Gonna Go Far,” “Kid and The Kids Aren’t Alright,” as well as Limp Bizkit and Buckcherry. The concerts will begin at 3 p.m. each day. The Texas Showdown Festival is one of the largest tattoo and music festivals in the world and has been held since 2010. “I think it’s really cool that El Paso is able to host unique events like this one,” said Ruben Paredes, junior accounting major. “I always try to attend shows like these.” The festival will feature more than 300 tattoo artists. Some of the artists include Stefano Alcantara, a tattoo artist from Peru, Sarah Miller, tattooist and manager at Wyld Chyld Tattoo in Pittsburgh, and Joshua Carlton, a tattoo artist and painter from Indiana. Tattoo artists and celebrities from television shows such as “Tattoo Titans,” “Best Ink” and “Tattoo Nightmares,” as well as representatives and stars from television networks including Spike, TLC and Oxygen. Dinorah Vazquez, senior psychology major, said she has not been to the festival before, but would like to go. “I probably will attend the Texas Showdown Tattoo Festival, mostly because I have a fascination with tat-
PHOTO courtesy of the texas showdown festival facebook page The 2015 Texas Showdown Festival will take place July 17, 18 and 19 at the El Paso County Coliseum. toos themselves and have been considering getting one,” Vazquez said. “This festival will bring many great tattoo artists so I can see which style, design and technique to better ease my decision of getting a tattoo that I would like.” Jasmine Rodriguez, known internationally as a talented female tattoo artist and star of “Tattoo Nightmares,” will be performing live tattooing all three days. Robert LaSardo, actor and tattoo artist who has starred in “CSI: Miami,” “Nip/Tuck” and the movie “The Human Centipede,” will be available for a meet and greet. Some of the other tattoo artists include Roman Abrego, an internationally recognized tattoo artist who has been tattooing for 12 years, and Rodney Eckenberger, a tattoo artist
and the owner of the nationally recognized tattoo shop, Wicked Ways Tattoo, in Lakeville, Ind.. Patrons will be able to receive tattoos from these artists and have the opportunity to meet and talk with them to discuss the art of tattooing. Local tattoo artists and piercers will also be performing live tattooing at the festival. “I personally like tattoos and body piercings are a taste to acquire,” Vazquez said. “Tattoos are a great way to express ones self.” All of the tattoo artists will be required to get a temporary health permit from the El Paso Health Department and must have a valid license before giving tattoos to patrons. There will be live music, shows, art giveaways and other activities includ-
ing human suspension shows, food trucks and a full outdoor bar. Each year, the festival features shows demonstrating human suspension, which is a form of body modification, where humans are suspended in the air by hooks that are hooked to different parts of the body. Typically the hooks are inserted in areas such as the shoulders, arms and legs. The art involves knowing acute geometry, anatomy and physiology. There will also be piercers available to do piercings and sideshows featuring BMX stunt shows and carnival rides that focus on taking their riders out of their normal element. Steam Punx, a group of sideshow performers known for their shows based on illusions, will be performing daily at the County Coliseum’s center stage.
There will be food from more than 100 vendors, including Twin Peaks, El Jefe (Mexican food) Red, White and Chew, Off the Grill and La Shakalosa. The vendors have the opportunity to compete in a food truck showdown, with the winner receiving the opportunity to compete next year. The champion is based on votes cast by patrons. “I think it is a great idea to have events like this take place in El Paso, mostly because it helps El Paso attract a new age crowd,” Vazquez said. “With the growing tattoo fad, that over the past years, tattoos have become less taboo, and recent additions of tattoo shops have been added to El Paso, and I think it helps El Paso Tattoo artists get a feel of what techniques, instruments, designs and styles are out there on the market so that they can find their own unique style of tattooing.” The entertainment lineup includes the famous rapper Ice Cube, known for his song “No Vaseline,” and the “21 Jump Street” franchise, The Offspring, Limp Bizkit, Yelawulf, Pepper-iration and Pop Evil. Ice Cube will be headlining on July 17, Limp Bizkit will be performing July 18 along with Buckcherry and Hollywood Undead, and The Offspring, with DJ Starscream, will be on stage on July 19. The Texas Showdown Festival is open to all ages. For more information, call 231-6739. Julia Hettiger may be reached at theprospectordaily. ent@gmail.com.
Broadway brings the big apple to the Sun City
michaela roman/ The Prospector “Wicked” will take the Plaza stage for two weeks from May 20 through May 31.
By Amanda Guillen The Prospector With this year’s lineup recently announced and one of Broadway’s biggest musical blockbusters on its way to the Sun City, Broadway in El Paso brings a bit of “42nd Street” to 125 Pioneer Plaza. Since 2003, Broadway in El Paso has been providing the El Paso community with shows that have graced the Broadway stage. JAM Theatricals, a Chicago-based entertainment company that presents
and produces Broadway engagements throughout North America, has teamed up with El Paso Live to produce Broadway in El Paso. “Wicked” will be the last show of the 2014-2015 season and will take the Plaza stage for two weeks from May 20 through May 31. This is the second time “Wicked” has headlined Broadway in El Paso– the first time was in 2012. The 2015-2016 lineup has already brought excitement to UTEP students who look forward to attending every year.
Junior theater major Luis Torres has attended productions of both “Beauty and the Beast” and “Wicked” when they toured through El Paso. “Live theater is so different from television and movies,” Torres said. “So much work and dedication goes on behind the curtain every night, and one performance is never exactly the same each night. It’s a wonderful, unexplainable sensation that I love to feel when I go see a production.” Next year’s lineup includes “I Love Lucy-Live on Stage,” “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical,”
“Ragtime: The Musical,” “Riverdance: The 20th Anniversary World Tour,” “Stomp,” and “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.” Headlining the season is the Tony award-winning musical “The Book of Mormon,” which has seen rave reviews over the years. Vice president of programming at JAM Theatricals, Scott Sampson, said that shows are selected based on what the team feels will be successful in the region. “We try to bring the best mix of new and old Broadway productions
that would please the local population base,” Sampson said. “We determine this with the help of local people in the market as well as from our knowledge of how these shows have performed in other markets around the country as well as on Broadway.” Sampson said that these shows, although very similar to the ones you’d see in New York, do have some differences. There are two types of touring shows, equity and non-equity productions, and some of the equity productions are very similar to what one would see on Broadway. “Good examples of this would be ‘Chicago- The Musical’...another example is ‘Wicked,’ which is coming back for a return visit to El Paso this May, and ‘Jersey Boys,’ which was there last May, were also equity productions,” Sampson said. “There will be a surprise title that will be coming to El Paso next November that hasn’t been announced yet.” The “Book of Mormon” will play at the Plaza Theater Nov. 10-15. Sampson also said that the El Paso market does very well in relation to other markets that have Broadway seasons and that the future of Broadway in El Paso looks bright. “We’ve been doing this for 11 seasons in El Paso and believe we’ll be here for many more seasons to come,” Sampson said. “El Paso really supports our series and loves the shows, and we love being able to bring them to the community.” Amanda Guillen may be reached at theprospectordaily. ent@gmail.com
THEPROSPECTOR
| 14 | ENTERTAINMENT
April 28, 2015
Cantina offers a tasty twist on Mexican food By Julia Hettiger The Prospector Tucked in the center of a cultural hub, Cantina Malolam is a new, hip Mexican restaurant located on 5001 N. Mesa. My mom and I ate there on a Saturday night, during one of their busier times, but the service was still good and I was not disappointed. The restaurant and bar combination seemed intimidating at first for someone who doesn’t normally go to bars or experience these kinds of places. The atmosphere was relaxed and the waiters were warm and inviting. They invited us in as soon as we walked in through the door and allowed us to sit wherever we wanted. Although it was a bit chilly outside, we decided to eat on their patio at one of their picnic tables. My mom was worried they would forget we were there because we were a tad hidden from the rest of the patrons, but our waiter was always available to refill my iced tea. I ordered chicken tacos with a side of rice, and was surprised with how much rice I got. I had the choice of black beans, calabacitas (zucchini), Mexican fried rice, French fries or a side salad for a side.
hugo brito / The Prospector Cantina Malolam is a restaurant and bar, known for their different way of serving Mexican food. The rice was delightfully mixed with chorizo and pico de gallo, and I had enough of it for leftovers for two days after, which was a good thing because it was uniquely delicious. The chicken tacos contained chopped strips of chicken on a bed of warmed corn tortillas, marinated in an array of spices and topped with onions, green onions and cilantro. They tasted like a mix of homemade, Mexican-style tacos and street-food tacos you would buy at a food truck.
The tacos were of decent size and had me wanting more, even though they left me full and satisfied. The salsa accompanying the meal, which my waiter warned me of possibly being incredibly spicy, was a blend of spices and chili and definitely had me guzzling water afterwards. My mom ordered fish tacos and was really pleased with her order. Like the chicken, the fish was marinated in spices that accented the flavor well.
Some of the other items on the menu included soups and salads, burgers, street dogs, tortas and coconut shrimp tacos. I really want to try the French fries topped with citrus vinaigrette the next time I go. The patio was pleasantly lit with lights all around and the music was just as loud and invigorating as it was inside. They played classic artists, like Shakira and Aventura along with other classic Spanish songs (which all happen to end with “dun dun!”). Although I did not sit inside, the inside of the restaurant seemed like a very inviting place to eat. The interior combines a traditional restaurant with a simple and futuristic feel. Large glass tiles with custom Mexican
The rice was delightfully mixed Teh
images printed on them gives an ode to their background, while their allblack furniture and brown wooden floors give it its futuristic look, which helps it blend in and stand out in the center of what has become one of El Paso’s most bustling scenes. Toward the back, they have a bar with TVs lined up with different sports programs playing all at once. With a mix of barstools, high tables and booths, Cantina Malolam creates a welcoming and relaxed environment to go eat, drink, watch sports and listen to trendy, Mexican music. Overall my experience was very pleasant. The food was delicious, the service was great and the environment was enjoyable. I would definitely recommend this to anyone wanting to try a tasty twist on traditional hugo brito / The Prospector Cantina Malolam is located on 5001 N. Mesa St. in TI:ME at Montecillo.
Mexican food. Julia Hettiger can be reached at theprospectordaily.ent@ gmail.com.
PAGE 15 April 28, 2015
Sports
Editor
Luis Gonzalez, 747-7477
Tomorrow’s wrestling stars in El Paso today By Jason Green The Prospector
Jason Green / The Prospector Super Chaos poses with his XCW Tag Team Title Belt prior to a match.
Is it a sport? Is it entertainment? Whatever it is, it is a hit with the fans who come out to see Xtreme Cruces Wrestling. About 150 fans turned out for a recent event at a party hall on the east side of El Paso. The crowd was ecstatic. They were there to see their favorite local wrestling stars. There is a strong history of professional wrestling in the El Paso-JuárezLas Cruces area and the wrestling bug bit Andy Palafox at a very young age. “Wrestling is something that I have wanted to do since I could remember,” said the muscular 28-year-old Palafox, who goes by the ring name of Awesome Andy. “My first memory of wrestling was WrestleMania 6 (in 1990) and in particular Hulk Hogan vs. Ultimate Warrior. After seeing that I was hooked.” Awesome Andy has performed all over the country and the world and has even been to the pinnacle of professional wrestling, World Wrestling Entertainment—the world’s largest sports-entertainment company.
UTEP looks for revenge after controversy
“That was something that I thought would never happen,” Palafox said. “Not that I doubted myself, but just for the simple fact that WWE is the biggest wrestling company in the world.” Palafox wrestled WWE Superstar Kofi Kingston on “WWE Superstars,” a weekly television show produced by WWE in 2012. “I have also had numerous non-televised WWE tryout matches, where I competed against current WWE superstars before WWE TV tapings,” Palafox said. “I have traveled to South Korea, Japan, Mexico and the majority of the major cities in the U.S.” Palafox has been wrestling in XCW since the organization’s inception in 2007 in Las Cruces. After adding a championship belt, tag team belts were soon added. Now the organization does shows monthly in El Paso with a running storyline, much like the ones seen on television with WWE.
The Prospector
By Jason Green The Prospector Heading into this Tuesday’s doubleheader with New Mexico State, the story line was already set up. The UTEP softball team had one very bad inning in Las Cruces and wound up losing 12-6 in March. The Miners are now seeking revenge in their last home games of the season, when the hated Aggies head down I-10 and into the Helen of Troy Softball Complex. But first, Marshall came to town last weekend.
On Saturday, the Thundering Herd and the Miners split a doubleheader, which allowed UTEP to head into Sunday’s matchup with a half-game lead on North Texas and Charlotte in the Conference USA standings. UTEP was barely in the C-USA tournament in eighth place when controversy during Sunday’s game looked like it could dash their hopes altogether. The UTEP-Marshall rubber match was called in the seventh inning while UTEP had the bases loaded and slugger Kawehiokalani Netane was at the plate. Marshall, knowing that the game would be stopped promptly at 2:30
p.m., made two pitching changes while Netane waited. The delay in the game caused the umpires to end the game with both teams tied 7-7. Prior to conference officials ruling on the outcome of the game, Miner head coach Tobin Echo-Hawk was happy with the fight that her team showed in the final inning. “I don’t lose my cool very often, but I got close today,” Echo-Hawk said. “It was great that we came back in the seventh, though. We kept fighting. It was a good weekend against a great team.”
see softball on page 18
on the independent professional wrestling circuit in the United States. Robert Martinez, part of the XCW creative team, has nothing but the utmost respect for Awesome Andy. “Andy is one of the hardest working guys on the independent scene,” Martinez said. “There are three things, in my opinion, that make this man a true professional—he’s hardworking, dedicated and humble.” On Sunday, May 3, Awesome Andy and other local professional wrestlers will be in El Paso for an XCW show at Barnett Harley-Davidson as part of Sun City Bike Fest IV. The show will begin at 11 a.m. In the current storyline, Martinez, formerly the ring announcer for XCW, leads the faction known as The Devil’s Rejects. Made up of XCW champion Aydan Colt and
see WRESTLING on page 16
The art of the walk-up song By Luis Gonzalez
ruby cerino / The Prospector The UTEP softball team lost the final of three games against Marshall, even though the game was stopped early and the score was tied at seven.
Palafox is one of the biggest draws
From national anthems to team songs and halftime shows, music has always had a place in the world of sports. Baseball and music are intertwined with each other, maybe more than in any other sport. The organ and songs such as “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” and “God Bless America” go hand in hand with a glove, a bat and the diamond. As of late though, the walk-up song has become an important facet of America’s favorite pastime. The tune that plays as a batter heads to the plate or as a pitcher jogs out to the mound is almost as important as his wind up, delivery or swing. “Yes, I do feel a lot of pressure,” said Major League pitcher Jonathan Papelbon in an interview in 2012. “It’s like, holy cow.” The 15 seconds a player gets to walk from the on-deck circle to the batter’s box are used as a way to focus, get pumped up, connect with the crowd or just identify themselves and their personalities. The song “Enter Sandman,” made famous by Metallica, will bring one name to any baseball fan’s mind— Mariano Rivera.
Professional wrestling popularized introduction through song in the late 1980s. Although WWE superstars get more than 15 seconds to walk to the ring, the song becomes synonymous with the athlete, generating a pop in the audience even before he is in sight.
You pick a song that pumps you up, that is lyrically related to you, your game or the game. - Tahla Wade, UTEP softball senior outfielder The idea behind the walk-up song, has been present in baseball since the early 1970s. Nancy Faust, organist for the Chicago White Sox until 2010, would play the player’s home state songs as they walked up to the plate. The phenomenon has evolved and modernized away from the organ obviously, but the idea is the same.
see song on page 18
THEPROSPECTOR
| 16 | SPORT
April 28, 2015
Chihuahuas firing on all cylinders By Luis Gonzalez The Prospector The El Paso Chihuahuas are among the best teams in the Pacific Coast League after playing 18 games this season. After winning five of their last six games, the Chihuahuas have a 12-6 record that puts them atop of the Southern Division going into the
final two games of their seven-game home stand. El Paso closes out the home stand against Salt Lake and will have one day to travel before taking the field again for eight consecutive road games. From Thursday, April 30 through Sunday, May 3, the Chihuahuas will be in Sacramento, Calif. They will travel down to Fresno for
a four-game series against the River Cats from May 4-7. El Paso will be closing out a very successful month of April in which, after a 4-4 start, the team has won eight of its last 10 games and has yet to lose a series. Manager Pat Murphy’s team has shown balance between some solid pitching and defense and an explo-
ruby Cerino / The Prospector Chihuahuas manager Pat Murphy talks to his players during a trip to the mound.
Wrestling from page 15 tag-team champions The Deans of Chaos, the team is constantly trying to tarnish and deface the company. “This isn’t your abuelo’s taco stand Lucha Libre. You’ve got three stars that have been overlooked for a long time. All it took was for one genius—that’s me—to recognize that these men are money,” Martinez said without breaking character from his sunglass-wearing, arrogant XCW persona. “It’s lonely at the top, but the Devil’s Rejects like it that way.” When it comes down to the sports or entertainment question, Palafox understands that the mystery around professional wrestling has been diminished by television shows and movies such as the 2008 critically acclaimed film “The Wrestler.” In simplest terms, professional wrestling is entertainment performed by incredibly gifted athletes. “The sad part is that the movie is about 90 percent true. The old guy in the back that doesn’t want to give it up is something we see a lot,” Palafox said. “Wrestling is a natural drug, so it’s hard to kick the habit.” The wrestlers in this weekend’s show may be sore or injured, but they are far from the washed-up wrestler played by actor Mickey Rourke.
Local wrestlers such as Palafox, Danny Gee, Dom Vitalli, Gabriel Gallo, LuchaStar, Ryan Dean, Super Chaos and Aydan Colt are up-andcoming young stars who are still working hard to make it to even bigger and better pay days. Just recently, local wrestler Oscar Vasquez, who goes by the ring name Magno, signed a contract with WWE. He will be appearing on the WWE NXT television show with the ultimate goal of appearing full-time at WWE events around the world. Magno has wrestled numerous times for XCW. Palafox already thinks he may know the next wrestler to follow in his footsteps. “Even though he is a villain, keep an eye out for the XCW Champion Aydan Colt. He is a natural in the ring and he is going to have a long successful career,” Palafox said. If you are looking for entertainment this weekend—and possibly a chance to see future WWE superstars in person—Barnett Harley-Davidson is the place to be on Sunday. “There is not many times you can watch live entertainment for $10,” Palafox said. “This weekend’s show will have a mix of high flyers, heavyweights, heroes and villains–so it’s something for everyone.” Jason Green may be reached at theprospectordaily. sports@gmail.com.
sive offense that has scored 38 runs so far in this current home stand. “We’ve been getting a lot of production from our offense at big times,” said Chihuahua infielder Tommy Medica. “Our pitching staff, our starters are settling in a little more and going a little deeper into games and throwing really well.” Coming off their first series win on the road against Tacoma, the Chihuahuas opened their home stand against Sacramento. The canines outscored the River Cats 35-10 in the four games they played on the field at Southwest University Park. On the mound for the first game against the River Cats was left-hander Robbie Erlin. He shut down Sacramento’s line-up the first time around, retiring every batter he faced in the first three innings. His perfect start came to an end in the fourth, when he allowed the only run of the game after a couple of hits. By this point, El Paso had already put a couple of runs on the board, something any starting pitcher can appreciate. “The offense coming up and scoring early made it easy to kind of settle in, put my mind at ease and get the game plan,” Erlin said. Leading 2-1 after the top of the fourth, the Chihuahuas went to the plate and got to work. Erlin bunted to advance runners, Medica doubled, right-fielder Rymer Liriano tripled and center-fielder Abraham Almonte homered in a four-run inning that would seal the deal for El Paso. Erlin did not allow another run in his two innings of work after the fourth and Murphy used three relievers, who each pitched a hitless inning, to close the game. Second baseman Taylor Lindsay crossed home in the bottom of the eighth to make it a 7-1 Chihuahuas’ victory. The offense continued to shine the following night, with a 13-5 win in front 6,591 fans. The Chihuahuas’ offense scored at least a run in six of the eight innings in which they came to the plate, including a big six-run third inning. “We put together some good innings,” Murphy said. “(We had)
that kind of relentless, stay-with-it attitude.” Every field player on the Chihuahuas’ line-up got at least one hit. Almonte led the way with four RBI’s and a home run on a night when he went 3-6 at the plate. Left-fielder Alex Dickerson went 2-5, adding three RBI’s and a home run of his own. Starting pitcher James Needy strug-
We are clicking on and off the field. We’ve just got to ride it while we can. - Alex Dickerson, El Paso Chihuahuas second baseman gled at times during his five innings of work, but with little consequence thanks to the plentiful production on offense. Murphy once again called on three relievers, who went a combined four innings allowing just one run. For the third game of the series, El Paso once again came out and roughed up the opposition’s pitcher early. Liriano went 3-4 from the leadoff spot, including two home runs and three RBI’s, and the Chihuahuas scored all of its seven runs in the first four innings on their way to a 7-3 win. Liriano struggled mightily at the plate at the start of the season, going 2-14 at the plate in the first four games. He seems to be shaking off the slump after getting a hit in 10 of his last 11 games. During this time, in the one game that he did not record a hit, Liriano still got on base thanks to a walk.
see baseball on page 17
Jason Green / The Prospector El Tiburon and El Ilegal shake hands before their match.
THEPROSPECTOR
SPORTS | 17 |
April 28, 2015
UTEP hosts track meet under the lights By Juan Carlos Navarrete
The meet provides fans an oppor-
The Prospector
tunity to witness world-class athletes
With the track and field season coming to an end, UTEP will host its third track meet of the year on Friday, May 1 at Kidd Field. The Twilight Meet will be the Miners’ final competition before the Conference USA Outdoor Championships. The Miners will be using this meet as a final warm up before the conference championships. It’s the perfect opportunity for the athletes to keep improving, even for those who have already qualified for nationals. For the coaches, it’s one of the final times they can test their athletes. “Many of our seniors have not performed to their full potential,” said head coach Mika Laaksonen. “They have a chance to prepare and perform like they did last year.” This will be the first time in 10 years the Twilight Meet will be hosted at UTEP. It features just two schools besides UTEP, along with some unattached athletes who will also participate. The University of New Mexico and New Mexico State University will be in town taking the Battle of I-10 and I-25 to the track.
compete up close and personal. Many, like Anthony Rotich, have aspirations to one day compete in the Olympics. Rotich just finished running the mile in less than four minutes at the Brutus Hamilton Challenge this past Saturday. He clocked in at 3:59.93 and will be competing on Friday. Rotich has already qualified for the national competition, but will be in action as he continues to prepare for the season’s crucial stretch. He, along with fellow Miner Cosmas Boit, will compete in the mile. The Twilight Meet will also provide some novelty for Rotich. He is planning to compete in the 800-meter race for the first time in his career—just for fun, something he has had in mind ever since he started wearing the orange and blue. “I wanted to challenge my teammates who run the 800,” Rotich said. “This might be the last opportunity to run it, I just want to run with them.”
If you’re ever going to go see a meet, now is the time.
There are other attractions besides UTEP’s spectacular distance runners. Rasmus Maokonen is another name to highlight. The freshman javelin thrower had an impressive showing the last time the Miners competed at Kidd Field. He won the event two weeks ago getting within a meter of his personal best, he could break that record at the Twilight Meet.
- Mika Laaksonen, UTEP track and field head coach The smaller number of schools participating, in comparison to other competitions, is something Laaksonen said he welcomes. “It’s easier when it’s not six to 10 schools,” Laaksonen said. “It will just be us against them.”
baseball from page 16 Liriano went 3-4 from the leadoff spot, including two home runs and three RBI’s, and the Chihuahuas scored all of its seven runs in the first four innings on their way to a 7-3 win. Liriano struggled mightily at the plate at the start of the season, going 2-14 at the plate in the first four games. He seemed to be shaking off the slump after getting a hit in 10 of his last 11 games. During this time, in the one game that he did not record a hit, Liriano still got on base thanks to a walk. “I was more calm on home plate waiting for the pitches,” Liriano said. “A week ago, I was a little off, but after working and working I was able to improve my swing.” Starting pitcher Bryce Morrow recorded his second win of the season in three starts after pitching over six innings, allowing six hits, two runs and striking out five. El Paso won its fourth in a row on Friday night and sealed their first
andres Martinez / The Prospector The UTEP track and field team will host the Twilight track meet on Friday, May 1 at Kidd Field. “The running is going to start at six o clock,” Laaksonen said. “The sun is practically down, the lights are on, it’s a different feel to the meet.” After a poor turnout at UTEP’s last home track meet, where weather could have played a major role, the Miners are hoping for plenty of support. UTEP will have some of its best athletes on the track, and a palpable
home-field advantage may help in maximizing their performance. Laaksonen hopes all UTEP Miners will make it out to Kidd Field to attend a great athletic event for the family. “It’s a perfect time for a meet,” Laaksonen said. “If you’re ever going to go see a meet, now is the time.”
The Twilight Meet is named be-
cause it starts significantly later than the rest of the track meets that UTEP hosts throughout the year. Instead of starting in the morning, the meet will kick off at 2 p.m. with field events. Running will not start until 6 p.m., sending the meet well into the night. The track meet under the lights is something fans do not get a chance to experience very often.
sweep of the season with a final score of 6-1. Jason Lane had his best start of the year, going seven innings and allowing just one run. He also struck out five and was hit six times. The veteran left-hander came out locked in, commanding his various pitches almost to perfection. He dominated the River Cats’ lineup, allowing their only run of the game in the first inning, mainly in part to some unfortunate bounces. “The first inning was just bad luck,” Lane said. “Two infield hits and a ground ball just got through.” The offense did its thing once again, but this time it was shortstop Ramiro Pena leading the charge. The 29-yearold Mexico native was perfect at the plate, getting a hit on every single one of his four plate appearances. The ex-New York Yankee and Atlanta Brave was just a home run shy of hitting for the cycle that night, after hitting two singles, a double and a triple. He scored three runs and had one RBI. “It’s a different guy every night,” Murphy said. “It’s kind of cool.”
The winning streak was stopped by the Salt Lake Bees on Saturday night. El Paso’s offense was kept in check and the Chihuahuas lost 6-3. The Bees’ starting pitcher Andrew Heaney, a first-round pick in 2008, was not dominating, but good enough to neutralize an offense that came into the game red-hot. Chihuahuas’ starting pitcher Daniel McCutchen and reliever Stephen Kohlscheen both struggled on the mound, each allowing three runs. McCutchen worked for four innings and Kohlscheen pitched just over two. “We didn’t make big pitches at big times like we’ve been doing,” Murphy said. “They (Salt Lake) got key hits when they needed to.” El Paso got even on Sunday afternoon in an old-school pitching duel. Hits and runs were at a premium, and El Paso did just enough to come away with a 2-1 victory despite being outhit 9-5. Erlin pitched for the second time in the home stand, and went six innings allowing seven hits and just the one run for a second-straight game.
“I felt good,” Erlin said. “Some pitches were up, but for the most part I felt all right.” Once Murphy thought Erlin had done enough, it was time to call in what could be the most consistent part in the Chihuahuas’ game of this young season. Nick Vincent and Marcos Mateo came out of the bullpen and pitched a combined three innings. They struck out four of six batters that came to the plate and allowed just two hits. Mateo and Vincent are not the only players that have made El Paso’s bullpen dominate and as feared, if not more, than its offense. Kevin Quackenbush, Scott Elbert, among others, have made the final three to four innings of games unbearable for opposing hitters on a consistent basis since opening day. “I think every starter on this team is happy to turn the ball over to the pen when that time comes,” Erlin said. “The bullpen’s been outstanding.” After finishing up the series with the Bees, on Monday, April 27 and Tuesday, April 28, the Chihuahuas
will head to the road and will not be
Relays could also be a highlight for fans as both the men’s and women’s relay teams have been producing well. The 4x400 men’s team, made up of Robert Camacho, James Bias, Abiola Onakoya and A-Shawni Mitchell, is coming off a first-place finish at the Brutus Hamilton Challenge.
Juan Carlos Navarrete can be reached at theprospectordaily.sports@gmail.com.
back at Southwest University Park until Friday, May 8. After a sub-par first year, the start to this season for the Chihuahuas has been outstanding. No matter what happens during the final three games of the month, El Paso will finish April with a record well above .500, at the top of their division and among the top three teams in all of the PCL. It’s a time to enjoy for players, coaches and fans. “These are the times you’ve got to enjoy,” Dickerson said of the win streak. “We are clicking on and off the field. We’ve just got to ride it while we can. There will be times when it’s not going so good. But we’ve got a lot of talent in this locker room. It’s insane.” Luis Gonzalez may be reached at theprospectordaily. sports@gmail.com.
THEPROSPECTOR
| 18 | SPORTS
April 28, 2015
song from page 15
Back
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Chatsworth, Calif., as she hit the batting cages with her dad, Ryder noticed a correlation between her hitting and the song. When the song played, she simply hit better. She hopes that’s the case every time she’s at the plate for the Miners too. “I get this feeling, I’m getting pumped,” Ryder said. “I just hear everything starting up, the guitar starts and everything goes and I’m like, ‘Okay, now is the time, I can do it.’”
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“A lot of girls put a lot of work into their songs, I know I do,” said UTEP senior outfielder Tahla Wade. “I think about it about three months in advance.” Wade walks toward the batter’s box as the speakers at the Helen of Troy Softball Complex blast “The Rain,” by Missy Elliot. The lyrics “Me I’m supa fly,” describe one of Wade’s main attributes on the baseball field—her speed. “You pick a song that pumps you up, that is lyrically related to you, your game or the game,” Wade said. UTEP freshman catcher Kaitlin Ryder is not necessarily worried about connecting with the crowd when her music hits. She picked “Welcome to the Jungle,” by Guns N’ Roses, because it helped her perform.
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Sergio Zamora / The Prospector Chihuahuas right fielder Rymer Liriano hits a pitch against the Sacramento River Cats. Chihuahuas’ shortstop Ramiro Pena uses his walk-up song with basically the same idea that Faust did back in the 1970s. Originally from Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico, Pena plays a song of the genre known in Mexico as grupero to identify himself with his fellow countrymen. “I wanted to put something that was Mexican and it’s just a song that I really like,” Pena said. “You never
know, I might change it. But, I like to put songs that are Mexican.” No matter what the player has in mind when picking his or her song, it is slowly becoming a tradition in one of America’s oldest sports. It is as important to fans as it is to the players, who put quite some time into the process and are very proud of the crucial walk-up song.
softball from page 15 On Monday morning, C-USA ruled that the score would revert back to the last full inning played, giving the Miners a 7-4 loss. Echo-Hawk was unable to be reached for comment on Monday and was reported to have likely been on the phone with C-USA officials for much of the day. Luckily for the Miners, the other teams in the tournament chase did not fare well either, and they ended the weekend still a half game up in the tournament hunt. The team will need to win two of the three games at North Texas next weekend in order to secure their first tournament berth since 2010. Always upbeat senior outfielder Ashley Eldridge is ready to move past the controversial ending and on to Denton. “I think we just need to work hard next week and get two wins at North Texas,” Eldridge said. “We’ll be all right.” In the meantime, there is some unfinished business to be taken care of. Whether UTEP sees maroon and white or Marshall’s green and white while they attempt to punish the Aggies remains to be seen. Following March’s heartbreaking loss, head coach Tobin Echo-Hawk already had revenge on her mind. “I think that will be a whole different feel (playing NMSU in El Paso)— a whole different ball game,” EchoHawk said. “Now they kind of know what to expect. It’s a lot different when you’re playing at home.” Revenge can take a team a long way, but Tuesday’s doubleheader will be a tall test regardless. Since the two
As a fan complimented Chihuahua catcher Austin Hedges on his choice of “Tremor,” by Dimitri Vegas, Martin Garrix and Like Mike, another fan said, “He fist bumps all through it (the song).” “That’s what I want,” Hedges said. “Trying to get the people going a little bit.” Luis Gonzalez may be reached at theprospectordaily. sports@gmail.com.
teams last met, NMSU has only gotten better. The Aggies (40-13) went 14-1 on their way to securing another Western Athletic Conference championship. The power-hitting Aggies have scored 389 runs in 53 games. The Aggies are led by slugging infielder Fiana Finau, who comes into Tuesday’s series with 21 home runs and 63 RBIs. If there is a glimmer of hope to be had by the Miners—apart from revenge—it is that the team’s pitching has improved dramatically since the first meeting with the Aggies. Sophomore pitcher Kaitlin Fifield has lowered her earned run average seemingly every game since the beginning of April. The Chapin High School grad currently has a 3.98 ERA and is holding opposing batters to a .292 average. Fifield and most likely fellow sophomore pitcher Erika Harrawood will be tasked with containing the Aggies’ potent offense. It may be hard for the team not to look ahead to next weekend’s all-important road series, but revenge can be pretty sweet, too. Jason Green may be reached at theprospectordaily. sports@gmail.com.
THEPROSPECTOR
SPORTS | 19 |
April 28, 2015
our view
Editor
Michaela Roman, 747-7477
UTEP women’s soccer finishes off Spring Season Women’s soccer closed their Spring Season on Sunday, April 26. The Miners hosted the Universtiy of New Mexico at University Field. It was the team’s fifth and final spring game. The Lobos prevailed over the Miners 2-0 after three periods of 25 minutes. UTEP was coming off a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Eastern New Mexico University the previous afternoon.
The losses this weekend put the Miners’ spring record at 1-4. UTEP lost at Arizona State University and at the University of Arizona at the end of March. The lone victory for UTEP came on Saturday, April 18 versus the New Mexico Highlands University Cowgirls by a final score of 4-0.
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2015 Student Government Association (SGA)
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THE VOICE OF THE STUDENTS WORKING TOGETHER AS ONE
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3 Andres Martinez / The Prospector 1. Junior midfield Angela Cutaia battles for a ball. 2. Sophomore midfielder Bri Williamson tries to steal the ball from an opponent. 3. Sophomore goalkeeper Keighton Allen throws the ball out to a teammate.
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