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
VOL . 100, no. 29
June 16, 2015
Creativity For
By Valerie Herrera The Prospector In an effort to raise awareness and support for the LGBTQ community, the Women’s and Gender Studies Program collaborated to create the “Engendering Community,” which aims to reveal challenges and areas of resilience brought amongst LGBTQ individuals in the El Paso and Juárez borderland. In 2010, Dr. Brenda Risch, director of Women’s and Gender Studies Program, took the initiative into exploring the complexities of various LGBTQ persons on both sides of the border. “I felt LGBTQ history wasn’t being recorded and I wanted to take initiative into collecting and preserving that data because I was in the position to do it,” Risch said. By conducting interviews with more than 100 participants, the project first started off as a women and gender studies oral history project, where participants and students spoke about concerns dealing with
family, identity, religion and activism pertaining to their experiences as a member of the LGBTQ community. Because colleges and universities stand at the forefront of pushing progressive policies and support for students, campuses remain the ideal candidates for initiating movements and promoting change in the realm of social justice. Risch said having people tell their stories was a very important and powerful thing to acknowledge and that universities are supposed to empathize as well as expand on new information. “We felt it was necessary to give a voice to these people and allow them to share their own truths rather than have outsiders make their own assumptions,” Risch said. Research conducted by the women’s and gender studies showed that LGBTQ concerns are progressively becoming an openly accepted subject to talk about as more individuals have been increasingly coming forth to participate in the study in recent years.
As current Texas legislative proposals appear to be discriminating and actively working against the rights of LGBTQ individuals, the issue has become a hot topic and will become more so when election season rolls around. During the last legislative session, nearly two-dozen pieces of legislation failed to pass which would have allowed discrimination against LGBT people. Legislators also introduced bills that would have toughened Texas’ Religious Freedom Restoration Act and prohibit the issuance of marriage licenses for same-sex couples. Risch said Texas is not the best state at protecting diverse people struggling with gender identity. “Social and academic development is tied to leadership and though there is good support involved, more engaged leadership is needed,” Risch said. Since religion is significantly tied to the Hispanic culture and deeply rooted in the El Paso and Juarez region, many border residents turn to
religion and spirituality to cope with life’s challenges. However, according to research conducted by the Engendering Community project, many LGBTQ citizens from the local community encounter discrimination due to strict religious beliefs that result in rejection and lead to a complete loss of faith and/or shame in some cases. Joshua Lopez, a UTEP graduate student majoring in English and American literature, LGBTQ community member and women’s studies research assistant, said the project champions the cause by making the history of their presence known in hopes of gaining acceptance and understanding. “The notion of this project was to illuminate El Paso on the experiences of the LGBTQ community in the El Paso and Juárez borderlands,” Lopez said. “The community and UTEP students learn that we have our presence in history, and we are trying to implement what is rightfully ours. In an effort to acknowledge the Engendering Community project, the
PHOTO by sergio zamora / The Prospector
Equality
Centennial Museum will be showcasing an exhibit displaying donated items that LGTBQ members associated with their experiences from June to Sept. 19. The project, along with the Women’s and Gender Studies Program, will also participate in other future events to be held later this year that involve discussions associated with current policy changes that include Texas LGBTQ rights forum, tolerance lectures and poetry reading workshops. “Telling and hearing stories are important. They allow us to give voice to those who were voiceless, make that which was invisible visible and allow us to gain new perspectives,” Lopez said. “It all starts though listening and engaging with our stories.” Valerie Herrera may be reached at theprospectordaily. news@gmail.com.
PAGE 2 June 16, 2015
perspectives
Editor-in-Chief
AMANDA GUILLEN, 747-7477
Do it! Take the trip By Michaela Roman The Prospector At the beginning of the year, I received an email from one of my previous digital media production professors. Ramon Villa, regarding studying abroad in Peru during the Maymester. The email explained that the trip would consist of producing a documentary while also taking courses. It all sounded overwhelming, but everyone I spoke to encouraged me to at least apply and see if I got accepted. The drive I have to strengthen my photography and video skills, along with my love for traveling, played a huge role in why I decided to seize the opportunity. Once I received the acceptance letter, the trip just became a matter of numbers. I was able to fundraise for myself, received a partial scholarship, and although I did have to take out one small student loan, I can now assure you it was all worth it. We had a group of around 20, including two professors. I enrolled in two courses, Latin American border studies and film studies. Not only was I able to receive six credit hours in just three weeks, I was actually immersed in the culture we studied. Before this trip, my only conception of Peru was what I had watched as a kid in “The Emperor’s New Groove,” so everything was a new and exciting experience. Our visit began and finished in Lima, the capital of Peru. With nearly 10 million residents, at first it seemed like any other major metropolis. The streets were packed with reckless drivers, pedestrians and the sky was nothing but a cloud of pollution. It wasn’t until our return that I noticed what a beautiful city Lima truly is. The beach, vibrant buildings and diverse architecture all find a way to blend together. After staying in Lima, which has an altitude that ranges from sea level to 5,000 feet, we took a flight to Puno, which is around 12,000 feet. The change in altitude definitely took a toll on my body and I spent our first day there sick. This is when we started to chew coca leaves, which Peruvians have used for centuries to help your body adjust to the high altitudes.
Puno was the first place we actually came face to face with indigenous cultures. There was a mixture of traditional and modern attire. Also, most people spoke either Quechua or Aymara, along with Spanish. Everyone on the streets seemed to be a salesperson, mainly the women, selling everything from guinea pigs to trinkets–all aimed at tourists. I recovered from my sickness just in time for a tour of Lake Titicaca. We toured the Andes, where the locals shared a meal with us, performed music, danced and wove clothing, which they offered for sale. We also visited the manmade Uros floating islands. The Urus seemed to have a routine ready for when our group arrived, which made sense because the money from tourism is how they survive. We didn’t mind. After spending some time in Cusco, we did a homestay for five days with families in a village named Huilloc. Surrounded by mountains, lakes and tons of animals, the natural beauty of the village was enchanting. It made the freezing nights bearable. The people there are known as the Quechua, which is the name of the main language as well. Some people know Spanish, but mainly just the men. There, we were paired up with a classmate and given a family to live with. My family was very young, the father was only 30 years old and his wife was a few years younger. They had a 1-year-old daughter who was very shy. During the day we would work on the documentary, have class and eat meals with our families. There were always potatoes incorporated in each meal and I tried plenty of new dishes like Alpaca and Guinea pigs, both considered Peruvian delicacies. We got to spend time helping the elementary school build a cafeteria for the kids by carrying adobe bricks down a hill. It was a wonderful way to leave our mark in the community. The children were very energetic and were always curious as to what I was doing with my camera. The whole community was extremely welcoming and even when language was a barrier, the sentiment would overcome it. Homestays have a great individual impact. I now appreciate little things I constantly take for granted, like living in a house with heaters and warm water. After staying in freezing weather, we took a hike through the extremely hot and humid Inca Trail in Santa Teresa. Every part of my body was sweating and all I could think about was how grateful I was to be out of the cold. Before ending our trip in Lima, we spent a night in Aguascalientes in order to get a tour of Peru’s historical sanctu-
STAFF V O L . 1 0 0 , n o . 2 9 Editor-in-Chief: Amanda Guillen Layout Editor: Jacobo De La Rosa Copy Editor: Alonso Moreno Sports Editor: Luis Gonzalez Entertainment Editor: Jose Soto Photo Editor: Michaela Román Multimedia Editor: Christopher Zacherl Staff Photographers: Ruby Cerino, Andres Martinez, Sergio Zamora Staff Reporters: Jason Green, Valerie Herrera, Fernanda Leon, Julia Hettiger, Juan Carlos Navarrete Cartoonist: Omar Hernandez Contributors: Adam Ziegenhal, Juan Raygoza
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ary: Machu Picchu. It was surreal to get to walk around the Inca ruins and learn about what was believed to have taken place there over 600 years ago. Most of Peru seems to flourish off of tourism while still preserving its history and rich culture. I would love to go back and I’m grateful I had the experience to study in another country. I built new friendships and learned a lot about how far I could physically and mentally push myself. Most importantly, I now have a newfound perspective on what it’s like to be a tourist without imposing on anyone’s life, which is an important lesson that not everyone gets
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to receive. If it weren’t for UTEP’s study abroad program who knows if I would’ve ever gotten the chance to see Peru.If you have the chance to study abroad, jump on it before it’s too late. Michaela Roman may be reached at theprospectordaily.
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.
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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 |
June 16, 2015
Study abroad builds cosmopolitan students In the NAFTA study, it was shown that Caucasians made up the majority of students taking advantage of the study-abroad programs nationally (60 percent), with Hispanics coming in second place (15 percent). Larios said that this also the case at UTEP. However since UTEP has a very diverse population, in some instances Hispanics have taken the lead, but have been closely been followed by Caucasians as well. Sophomore business major Roman Robles said he is eager to study abroad. “This coming fall I plan to inform myself,” Robles said. “I am very interested in going into other countries in order to study, since I would most likely
AndRes MArtinez / The Prospector Electrical Engineering major, Aldo Munoz looks over study abroad pamphlets.
By Juan Raygoza The Prospector According to a NAFSA (Association of International Educators) study done recently, the number of study-abroad students has grown only 2 percent nationally. In the 2012-2013 school year, the number of students applying for study-abroad programs increased from 283,332 to only 289,408 students. A statistical report from the University of California, Merced, showed that 97 percent of students enrolled in study-abroad programs are more prone to find jobs within 12 months after graduation, compared to 49 percent of college graduates in that same period. That same study showed that 84 percent of students felt studying abroad helped them build valuable skills for the job market. But getting job skills for the job is not the only thing studying abroad provides students with. Researchers at the
Friedrich Schiller University at Jena, Germany, showed that it helps students develop emotional stability, and an openness and ability to cope with new experiences. Mayra Larios, UTEP’s study-abroad advisor, said that studying abroad provides students with great opportunities for students to explore the world, have an adventure, immerse in a whole new cultures, as well as meet interesting people and gain independence in order to become global citizens. Larios also said as stated in the study done by UC Merced studying abroad will indeed help students appeal to future employers and professional schools. Larios attributes the lack of growth in the number of students going into the program to the myths that exist between students and parents have about studying abroad. “They think that going abroad will be very expensive and not affordable for
them—that they don’t even think about taking this opportunity,” Larios said. She also believes that if parents got informed with the necessary guidance, they would surely invest in this valuable learning experience. “Parents and students should work together for making this to happen and the students can be part of the studyabroad experience,” Larios said. UTEP is currently associated with more than 200 universities in more than 50 countries, and more are being added to the list on a regular basis. One of the latest countries to be added is Mexico. In addition to this, UTEP’s study abroad office also accepts students from universities that have established agreements with the university, who want to study abroad for a semester or for the academic year. The office coordinates the application, acceptance and immigration process for all incoming students.
inbrief Students Invited to Create UTEP’s 25th Annual Minerpalooza UTEP students are invited to participate in a poster to design this year Minerpalooza Poster. The contest runs from Monday, June 15, through Sunday, July 5. For more information visit minerpalooza.com or contact the Office of Student Life at 915-747-5648.
Foster Homeless Adopted Resources Donation Drive FHAR donation drive from June 22, through July 2. All donations are to be dropped off at the Academic Advising Center on Hawthorne Street, El Paso, TX. Food and clothing items are not recommended donations.
end up working for a business when I graduate, I would already know how to communicate and understand other cultures.” Junior art major Maria Mendoza also said she would benefit a lot from going into a study-abroad program, but she said she is still uninformed regarding the programs. “I am very interested in studying in another country and get a different experience of the education there,” Mendoza said. “I’m just to scared maybe my credits won’t transfer or something like that.” Juan Raygoza may be reached at theprospectordaily. news@gmail.com.
THEPROSPECTOR
| 4 | NEWS
June 16, 2015
History and progress at center of D.C. Pride Parade needs of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. “One of the ways it is growing and changing is there are more same-sex families who have children. We wanted to provide them with a place to grow and enjoy,” Delia said. Mark Hegedus, 51, of Washington, a lawyer at the Federal Trade Commission, normally marches with the Gay Men’s Chorus. However, this year he joined his nephew, Kyle Hegedus, 23, and other family members on the sidelines at their first pride parade. “What is amazing is the sense of accomplishment,” Mark Hedegedus said. The number of people who came out Sara fultont/SHFwire Luciana Harrington Marchesini, 31, of Washington approaches to the judges’ stand with members of World Bank GLOBE and other international organizations. SHFwire photo by Sarah Fulton
By Sarah Fultont SHFwire WASHINGTON – Everything around Dupont Circle, from hair to popsicles, was rainbow Saturday as an estimated 150,000 spectators packed the streets for the 40th annual D.C. Pride Parade. Hosted by the Capital Pride Alliance, the parade of 186 groups marched 1.5 miles in three-hours. “The fact that we have had this around for 40 years is wonderful. It is
a testament to how the community has grown, changed and developed over these last 40 years,” Bernie Delia, Capital Pride Alliance board president, said. Deacon Maccubbin, who served as a grand marshal, held the first Washington pride festival outside his shop, Lambda Rising, in 1975. Delia said that time was not favorable for the gay community. “It was not really that long ago that the community was far from accepted. There were criminal statutes against same-sex relationships,” Delia said.
“There were people who were fired from their jobs with their federal government because they either were or were perceived as homosexual.” Themed “flashback,” this year’s parade was intended to celebrate the country’s progress since then. “We think it is always important to look back, especially on these marker anniversaries. It is a chance to look back and see where we came from and where we are going to be,” Delia said. This year George Carrancho, who works for a corporate travel company,
and Sean Franklin, who works for a technology consulting group, were married on a float in front of the judges’ stand. They live in New York. For the second year in a row a U.S. Armed Forces color guard led the parade. Before last year, no military guard had participated in a pride parade. Through the organization Scouts for Equality, Boy Scouts and Girls Scouts also marched for the first time. Also new this year was a “family fun zone” meant to cater to the changing
in support had an impact on Shohreh Mohebbi, 61, a retired Virginia teacher who now lives in Washington. “It is really good that so many people support it,” Mohebbi said. Reach reporter Sarah Fulton at Sarah.Fulton@scripps. com or 202-408-1492. SHFWire stories are free to any news organization that gives the reporter a byline and credits SHFWire. Like the Scripps Howard Foundation Wire interns on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.t
State-of-the-art dormitories to open in August By Juan Raygoza The Prospector Come this fall, the brand-new Miner Canyon student housing complex will be ready for students to move in. As part of a $23-million project, the new dormitories will feature 83 units able to house approximately 352 students in bedroom residences that will range from single-person efficiencies to four and six-bedroom suites for students to live in. Charles Gibbens, director of housing, said the new and ambitious project will be ready by late July. He also said the entire project cost of $23 million dollars includes the site preparation, construction and all the furnishings as well. The only requirement to live in Miner Canyon will be the same as it is with Miner Village and Miner Heights–being a registered UTEP student. However, during the summer the university receives students who come to do research from other countries and they are allowed to get housing during the summer because there are a lot of vacancies during that time. These new dormitories will be available to students and athletes equally and will not have any special preferences to athletes as has been rumored. However, with that being said, the athletic department requires all first-year scholarship athletes to live on campus, so housing and the athletic department do work closely to reserve spaces for those student-athletes. Miner Canyon will not be a traditional dormitory as the ones that al-
michaela roman/ The Prospector Miner Canyon student will feature 83 units able to house approxamitely 352 students. ready exist on campus. The facility will have many special features, or as Gibbens says, “state-of-the-art student housing.” According to Gibbens, national research has shown that students graduate at a higher rate when they live on campus because of the positive peer pressure that exists. The design of this facility will be specifically to have the old features of student dormitories, but coupled with the new living-learning laboratories. The lobby area will be a
place where everybody can interact and will be equipped with TVs, dry-erase boards and movable furnishings. The purpose of this lobby area, according to Gibbens, is to have a lot of community space so students can get to know each other and mingle with each other. These lobby areas will make study areas a lot more efficient than those available in the other housing complexes. Also at the end of each floor will be individual study rooms.
All rooms will be fully furnished they will be equipped with wireless application protocols (WAP) for every two students, Internet protocol television service, three different study areas on each floor equipped with 70-inch TV monitors, which will be useful to practice presentations or work on group projects, a computer lab and printing stations.
“Everything we do is about developing an environment that is conducive to academic success,” Gibbens said. Although these apartments were designed in collaboration with students, faculty and staff at the university to better fill students, some current students at UTEP felt those funds could have served a better purpose. Senior metallurgical engineering major Pedro Cruz said that it would be better to invest those millions on labs or maybe reducing the cost of tuition. “A clear example is the department of metallurgy, classrooms and laboratories are ancient there,” Cruz said. “In fact this semester they canceled two labs for lack of equipment.” Cruz also said the prestige of UTEP will be higher with these state-of-theart dormitories, but he said there are a lot of things that need improving at UTEP as well. Senior multimedia journalist Daniel Alvarez said he would surely enjoy living in a high-tech dormitory complex at least for a semester before he graduates. “I live at home, but it would be cool to live in that new dormitory just to be from the first generation to do so,” Alvarez said. “I’ll inform myself when the project is finished.” Juan Raygoza may be reached at theprospectordaily. news@gmail.com.
PAGE 5 June 16, 2015
entertainment
Editor
JOSE SOTO, 747-7477
Museum brings first LGTBQ exhibit in El Paso
sergio zamora/ The Prospector The “Engendering Community” Exhibit will be held at the UTEP Centennial Museum until Sept. 19
By Fernanda Leon The Prospector The first exhibit in El Paso to highlight the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer community is now open to the public. This is a progressive move toward recognition among the LGBTQ community in the Sun City as their artistic endeavors are presented to the rest of the El Paso community. The UTEP Centennial Museum and Chihuahuan Desert Gardens will be displaying the “Engendering Community” exhibit from June 2 to Sept. 19, showcasing the artisan work that depicts the struggles, triumphs and lifestyle of El Paso’s LGBTQ demographic, covering topics from same-sex marriage to gender identity.
Jose Galeano, junior art major, said it is very important to have an exhibit of this nature in the city. “This could help many people to comprehend more about the topic and that way they can represent and support the LGBTQ community without judging or offending,” said Galeano. The items in the exhibit are objects that the LGBTQ community from El Paso and Cd. Juárez have donated. These items mark their experiences. “We have photographs, a drag queen’s gown, a trans person’s chest binder, journals, among other items,” said Joshua Lopez, English and American literature graduate student. Lopez is also a researcher and participant with the “Engendering Community” exhibit.
out really knowing,” said Galeano. “Nowadays, the majority of us have someone on our side that is part of the LGBTQ community.” According to Lopez, the exhibit challenges the public to see things from a different perspective and to stand from a new and different place. Depicted on one of the exhibit’s walls is a quote from a UTEP alumni and former lecturer Victor MaciasGonzalez that reads: “I was aware that a community does not exist if it doesn’t have history. The important thing, I told myself, is to collect history...you are not a current social problem but…belong to a community with a long trajectory and presence. You can’t be erased if you’re in history.” For Lopez, this quote sums up the meaning of the exhibit. “It all starts through by listening and engaging with our stories,” Lopez said.
Lopez also said the exhibit will bring awareness to UTEP students and the community in general of the presence that the LGBTQ community has in history and their efforts to have the same rights as everyone. “We have broken many schemes in different social problems and it’s already time to break the scheme of keeping the LGBTQ community hidden,” Galeano said. The Centennial Museum and Chihuahuan Desert Gardens at UTEP are open from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday through Saturday. The exhibit is free of charge for the general public. For more information about the exhibit “Engendering Community,” visit museum.utep.edu or call (915) 747-5565. Fernanda Leon may be reached at theprospectordaily. ent@gmail.com
Among the other things that the public will find in the exhibit are newspaper articles from El Paso Times that relate to LGBTQ activities. There are also items that feature the LGBT organizations on campus. The history of the LGBTQ community is an important aspect that the exhibit wants to portray. “Telling and hearing stories is important,” Lopez said. “They allow us to give voice to those who were voiceless, make that which was invisible visible, and we gain new perspectives.” The LGBTQ community has gone through many struggles and it can still be a marginalized community for many people. “The LGBTQ community in El Paso is a topic that is still very closed– in where people are judgmental with-
Local businesses work to ensure summer fun safety BY JOSE SOTO The Prospector The sun is blazing, the days are long and the heat is ever rising. Summer is in full effect in the Sun City. That means El Pasoans are taking to the streets to enjoy the hot summer months. The people of El Paso are out and about enjoying themselves now more than any other season with many events to choose from, many of which are party orientated. Many clubs, bars, restaurants and businesses host daytime pool parties, brunches and other events that attract the summer crowd. This obviously entails alcohol consumption. According to a study conducted by the Foundation For Advancing Alcohol Responsibility, June and August were the deadliest months on the road in 2013. Furthermore, 43 percent of traffic-related fatalities during the summer were from drunk driving and there were more highblood acohol content fatal traffic crashes during August than any other month of the year. To ensure the safety of those partaking in these party-orientated events, some locations are taking special measures. Kenji Shigematsu, one of the partners from The Garden, said the location has reiterated proper training for their security. “We’ve gone through old procedures with our security staff and have implmented new ones as well,” Shigematsu said. “We make sure our staff
knows exactly what to do while working any event held here. Shigematsu also said The Garden has increased their security staff for the summer party events. “Along with more security, we also hire undercover police to secure the surrounding area,” Shigematsu said. The Garden’s bartenders also go through extra training during the summer months. “We make sure that every bartender is up to par with TABC (Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission) policies and procedures,” Shigematsu said. “They also go through proper training in order to identify when someone has had too much to drink. That way, we can stop serving them before they become completely intoxicated.” Shigematsu said The Garden also enforces proper dress code in order to prevent any illegal firearms or weapons from being introduced into the venue. “It is also to attract a well behaved crowd,” he said. Like The Garden, Malolam also has increased their security staff. Adrian Castillo, manager at Malomam, said they have hired more security for the summer, especially for their newly implemented brunch parties. “The brunch has attracted more people during the daytime, so we’ve hired more daytime security,” said Castillo. “Then we bring in more security once the night crowd starts coming in.”
Castillo also said Malolam bartenders have also gone through proper training to ensure their attendees don’t over-consume alcohol. “It’s important for us to maintain the good behavior of our crowd,” Castillo said. “Our bartenders know how to tell when someone has had too much to drink. Our bussers and servers do as well. We all communicate with each other to ensure that no one is getting over-served. Once someone shows signs of inebriation, we cut them off.” Castillo said Malolam has so far had “good luck” with their summer parties. “Luckily, nothing unfortunate has happened,” Castillo said. While bars and restaurants do their part to ensure everything goes well inside their establishments, the El Paso Sheriff ’s Department will be doing their part to ensure everything goes well outside as well. Sgt. Michael Lara said the department is well prepared to handle the summertime party crowd. “The department does have plans in place to help curb any partying problem,” Lara said. “We have enough units out to help maintain control.” Lara said the department is also equipped to respond to any situations that may happen at the outskirts of town. “We have off-road vehicles and a portable lighting system powered by a generator,” Lara said. “They have used this equipment on many
occasions when responding to situations that occur in the desert area off of Montana such as Red Sands. Savannah Hernandez, junior psychology major, is one of many who will be partaking in the summer partying. “As college students, there are always many invites to attend pool parties, cook-outs, parties at bars,” Hernandez said. “It’s obvious that many young El Pasoans are going to be attending many of these events. The trick is to know exactly what you are doing and what your limit is.” Hernandez said knowing the difference between alcoholic beverages is also crucial. “You’ve got to know what it is that you’re drinking and how it affects you,” Hernandez said. “Beer affects people differently than a cocktail, for example. You’ve got to know your drink.” Both Malolam and The Garden offertransportation services to those who have had too much to drink.“If you let us know, we’ll find a way to get you home safely,” Castillo said. “We are happy to provide rides to people who recognize that they have had too much to drink.” Both Castillo and Shigematsu encourage partygoers to drink enough water between alcoholic beverages, to party on a full stomach and designate a sober driver. For a free ride home, call (915) 212-7777. Jose Soto may be reached at theprospectordaily@ent.com
THEPROSPECTOR
| 6 | ENTERTAINMENT
June 16, 2015
Festival challenges local filmmakers to produce film in 48 hours
MICHAELA ROMAN / The Prospector Daniel Fuentes, digital media production graduate, will participate in the Ghostlight Creative 48-Hour Film Festival.
BY JULIA HETTIGER The Prospector Most films take months or even years to be produced. Some films take years just to be conceptualized. However, one local film festival will challenge this notion. The Ghostlight Creative 48-hour Film Festival will challenge local filmmakers to work under-pressure in order to shoot, produce and edit their films in a short amount of time. Started in 2010, the creative minds behind the festival made it their goal to give artists in the El Paso region a chance to take their creativity to the next level by encouraging them to create new projects.
“We thought creative storytellers should have a reason to start and finish their own project,” said Ray Sanchez, principal director of Ghostlight Creative. There are only a few requirements for filmmakers to enter the festival. “To participate, someone needs only to register, have a way to record video, even an iPhone will work, and be able to upload the video in the formats we require for judges and public screening,” Sanchez said. The goal of the festival is to allow artistic minds to tap into their creative juices and use the time to focus entirely on their project. Sanchez said this helps them to focus on a story
rather than the visual effects of the film. “A time frame of 48 hours to make an eight-minute movie virtually ensures that a story gets started and finished,” Sanchez said. “The focus must be on the plot and how well a director can tell a short story, and things like special effects, elaborate sets, meticulous rehearsing or multiple takes on a scene take a back seat.” Some advice Sanchez has for participants is to incorporate someone on their team to keep production organized. “I advise participants to add the roll of producer to their team roster, which is someone who keeps the production moving on schedule,” Sanchez said.
“He or she should be a strong personality and not a pushover.” Sanchez also advises participants to use the same setting for the film and to get into post-production quickly. “Shooting in the same general vicinity helps, as does going into post production as soon as possible,” Sanchez said. “Saturday afternoon is good and save four to five hours for upload.” Many UTEP students have participated in the film slam in the past. Daniel Fuentes, senior digital media production major, will be participating this year. “One of the reasons why I decided to participate in this 48-hour film slam competition was to get, in a way, real experience of how the process of producing quality forms of media to an audience in a short deadline works in the real world such as TV news,” Fuentes said. There are many aspects to creating films, such as acting and production. Fuentes broke down the production process into three major sections. “The art of filmmaking is divided into three parts of production; the first stage is called pre-production. This is the longest stage of the three, and it is where all the first arrangements for producing a film takes place such as writing, casting, location scouting, getting permission of authorities for filming on such locations, planning out the scenes and the schedule in which they will be filmed as well as thinking of all the little details such as housing and food service to all the crew members,” Fuentes said. The other parts include the filming and editing.
“The second stage is called production, and it is the stage in which the filming takes place,” Fuentes said. “The last, but not least, is post-production, and it is the one where the footage taken from the filming goes into editing so the story can come together and make sense.” Fuentes said the challenge of completing the film process in 48 hours could both help and hinder creativity. “We know that the process of making a quality eight-minute entertaining and engaging short film is not going to be easy, yet my team and I are not discouraged that we can produce something interesting, entertaining and engaging to us, the audience and the judges,” Fuentes said. According to Fuentes, completing an eight-minute film in 48 hours can help him with his creative process, but also presents roadblocks. “We know that this challenge can certainly help creativity in many ways because it gives us freedom to produce something we believe in and that we would like to showcase to an audience,” Fuentes said. “But, just as everything, short deadlines can also be an obstacle for creativity because outside factors such as stress and tiredness can result in mind block that can hinder the project.” Filming will take place between June 26 and June 28. Screenings of the films will be on July 17 at the El Paso Community Foundation. To register for the film slam, visit www.ghostlightevents.com/details. Julia Hettiger may be reached at theprospectordaily. ent@gmail.com.
PAGE 7 June 16, 2015
Sports
Editor
Luis Gonzalez, 747-7477
Rotich does it again! Track and field wraps up season at NCAA Championships By Juan Carlos Navarrete The Prospector
michaela roman / The Prospector Anthony Rotich became just the third athlete in history to win three consecutive 3000-meter steeple chase national championships.
UTEP track and field’s season has come to an end after the 2015 NCAA Outdoor Championships. Of the four Miner athletes who traveled to Eugene, Oregon, senior Anthony Rotich was the most successful. Rotich was not only looking to be the first to finish inside the top 10 in an event for UTEP, he was taking the track in search of his thirdconsecutive Steeplechase National Championship. For Rotich, the race was different than what he had been running before. The race was much more competitive and had many runners fall—including one of Rotich’s running mates. “This one was a little different from what I had been doing every year,” Rotich said. “This one I had to run by myself after one of my friends fell down. I did not have an option.” Losing the man he was hoping would pace the race, Rotich was forced to take the lead for most of the competition. With about 100 meters to go, fellow Kenyan Stanley Kebenei would take the lead briefly, putting Rotich’s three-peat in serious danger. That’s when the Miner hit another gear and was able to secure the win. “The prophecy is fulfilled,” UTEP distance coach Paul Ereng said. “This is the most wonderful victory he’s had. A lot of people were trying to put pressure on him and he came through.” Rotich finishes his career at UTEP as only the third—second in UTEP history—ever to win this event three
times in a row. He is considered among the best in the nation and don’t be surprised to see him compete at a much higher level. The second Miner athlete in action was sophomore javelin thrower Rasmus Maukonen. The Finland native went to Eugene with a goal of making a 75-meter throw. Unfortunately, he was well under that distance with his best throw reaching 65 meters.
The prophecy is fulfilled. This is the most wonderful victory he’s had. - Paul Ereng, UTEP distance coach “Rasmus simply had a bad day today,” said Miner head coach Mika Laaksonen. “Season’s worst performance here. He just looked flat.” Maukonen finished in 20th place and will get All-American Honorable Mention for his performance. Senior Jallycia Pearson wore the orange and blue for the last time in Eugene, competing in the heptathlon.
see Track on page 8
Paul Thomas ready to contribute: ‘It’s really all about the team’ By Luis Gonzalez The Prospector UTEP men’s basketball began introducing its new recruiting class last week. After suffering important departures after this year’s season, head coach Tim Floyd is hoping forward Paul Thomas will help fill the hole left by all-conference forward Vince Hunter. “In the preseason, we signed a couple of bigger guys, anticipating Vince Hunter would leave us prematurely,” Floyd said. “Paul is a guy…who can play the small forward (position) and play out on the floor.” The 6-foot-9-inch Thomas, listed by ESPN as a four-star recruit, led his high school to a 6-A Bi-district championship while earning First Team All-District honors. In Hunter, who declared for the NBA draft after his sophomore season, UTEP and Floyd lost a versatile athlete who could contribute on both ends of the floor. That might be the exact way to describe Thomas, even if those contributions might come in different ways to those of Hunter. The comparisons with Hunter did not wait, but even for Thomas, the differences between him and Hunter are significant.
“I think me and Vince are two totally different players,” Thomas said. “He’s a really great player and I’m obviously not there yet.” Hunter, UTEP’s leading scorer and rebounder last year, was a natural power forward who was almost unstoppable in the paint. Floyd looked to take full advantage of Hunter’s athleticism by playing him over long stretches of time at the small forward position. Thomas is a more natural small forward, who appears to be more comfortable playing outside of the paint than the man who he will try to help replace. “My most intriguing skill would be my length and versatility,” Thomas said. “Being able to space the floor out for driving lanes. I’m just a versatile guy, who can put the ball on the floor and create plays.” Thomas was heavily recruited before ultimately deciding he would wear the orange and blue. He had offers from programs like the University of Memphis, the University of Houston and Texas Tech. Members of Conference USA like Rice and Western Kentucky were also looking to secure the services of Thomas for the 2015-16 season.
see Basketball on page 8
adam ziegenhals / The Prospector Paul Thomas is listed by ESPN as a four-star recruit.
THEPROSPECTOR
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June 16, 2015
Overall, Pearson ends her career
The Miners had another thrower participate at the national competition. Freshman Samantha Hall, who this year has been ranked inside the top-10 in the country, went to Eugene to compete in the discus throw. After fouling on her first two attempts, Hall launched the discus 52.15 meters. The throw was just outside of the top nine, who got to throw three more times. That would be her only official throw of the tournament. It was still good enough for 13th place. “This was a great experience for Samantha–a great year for her overall,” Laaksonen said. “Expectations will be really high for her next year and she learned a lot.” Hall has been named a Second Team All-American for her throw at the NCAA Championships. Although she did not finish in the top 10, the Jamaican has a lot of time left at UTEP and can become a better thrower after this. The Miners’ track season has now come to a close and it left fans with a lot to cheer and talk about. It is a group that will be losing key seniors, but many of the team’s best are still underclassmen. Though the Miners did not win the outdoor conference title, both the men and women finished second in C-USA and the women were first in the indoor season earlier in the year. The season may be over, but the team is left with a lot to celebrate.
with a good place in UTEP track and
Juan Carlos Navarrete may be reached at
track from page 7 She came in to the national competition with hopes of a top eight finish. Pearson, the reigning C-USA indoor heptathlon champion and outdoor runner-up, began her quest with a 5.45-meter long jump. In the next event, the El Paso native threw the javelin a personal best 41.69 meters. In the 800-meter run, Pearson clocked in at 2:30.81. Pearson ended the competition and her season in 22nd place with a total of 5,320 points. “I could not be more proud of Jallycia and what she has done for us during her time at UTEP,” Laaksonen said. “It will be tough to find a replacement for her.” Pearson had been competing while injured since early in the year hampering her as she competed. “Jallycia performed well under the circumstances…She is finally healthy and able to compete, but she lost weeks of practice time leading up to this event due to an injury and that unfortunately shows in her stamina and
execution,”
Laaksonen
said.
“(But) she went out like a true champion, competing hard, giving everything she had and doing it all with a smile on her face.”
field history.
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NEED
WANT
CRAVE
Adam ziegenhals / The Prospector Thomas speaks to the El Paso media for the first time.
basketball from page 7 For Thomas, it came down to Coach Floyd and what he can offer his players. “It came down to the University of Houston, which is my hometown school, Texas Tech, and UTEP,” Thomas said. “It really came down to Coach Floyd. He’s such a well-respected coach.” Thomas made it clear he is well aware of the tradition he has joined and the responsibility that it represents to play at a school that has close to 20 NCAA tournament appearances, nine conference titles and the only national championship in the state of Texas. “Being a UTEP Miner means a lot to me, playing for a coach like Coach Floyd and (knowing) there is so much history behind the program,” Thomas said.
His goals as a Miner are clear, Thomas has arrived in El Paso ready to contribute in any way, shape or form to get the program back to the levels it became accustomed to in the ‘80s and early ‘90s. His hard work, dedication and team-first mentality were some of the qualities the freshman from Humble, Texas., stressed the most. “(I do) not have too many personal goals, it’s really all about the team,” Thomas said. “I really want to get a chance to play in the NCAA tournament as a freshman. I think the whole team is focused on getting to the tournament and probably winning the Conference USA title.” The departure of such a promising talent in Hunter left a hunger for UTEP and its fans for someone to be excited about. With even the slightest similarities, the comparisons for Thomas will be almost unavoidable
no matter how different they might really be. Thomas will most likely be an immediate contributor in a rotation that will include Jake Flaggert—coming off a redshirt season—and fellow freshman Josh McSwiggan. Only time will tell just how much impact he will have on a program aching for success. Like Hunter, Thomas comes to UTEP with what seems to be incredible potential and the possibility of becoming an important asset for Tim Floyd’s program. “I think he shoots the ball better than Vince did from the perimeter and passes better,” Floyd said. “I don’t think he can rebound at his level, but he is a really versatile athlete who is going to get better and better and better.” Luis Gonzalez may be reached at theprospectordaily. sports@gmail.com.
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