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Volunteers WORK with immigrants at local shelter By Jose Soto The Prospector A UTEP professor and some of his students have been volunteering at the Annunciation House, putting what they have studied and their social work skills to good use as an increased number of immigrants being sent to El Paso. This influx has created a dire need for housing for more than 2,000 people at a time. Thousands of undocumented immigrants are being captured along the southern border between Texas and Mexico and have caused immigration officials to fly them to other cities such as El Paso because of over-exceeded capacity at the holding stations. For more than 36 years, the Annunciation House has provided hospitality to undocumented immigrants. Mark Lusk, professor of social work, has been working closely with immigrant refugees and the Annunciation House for some time. Lusk has provided assistance with refugees and migrants off and on since the sanctuary movement began during the early 1980s. The movement was a response to restrictive and challenging asylum policies that made it difficult for Central Americans to enter the U.S. as refugees. “I worked in Tucson, where we assisted refugees from Central America who were fleeing the so called dirty wars in that region, where dictators murdered farmers, indigenous people, intellectuals, priests and nuns,” Lusk said. “I have been working with refugees here in El Paso for the past six years. When the Annunciation House put out a call for volunteers, I rallied the students in the social work department.” Christian Salas, a graduate student in social work, is amongst the UTEP volunteers. “I started volunteering with these efforts when an organizational meeting was held by Annunciation House,” Salas said. “As social work students and recent graduates, we volunteered for the area in which we would have the most interaction with the families.” Salas said that his acquired skills in social work allow him to intervene and assist the immigrants with personal issues they might be facing. “We mainly contact their family members here in the United States and inform them of what they can do to arrange travel methods for their relatives,” Salas said. “We allow them to speak to each other and that’s when we see the raw emotions pour out at times. We receive travel confirmations from the family and collaborate with the transportation area for a driver to take them to the bus station or the airport.” Viridiana Sigala, also a graduate student in social work, works closely with the immigrants and said it has been a great experience to help the immigrants in some way. “I have been fortunate to be a volunteer for Annunciation House for more than five years. However, I have never been able to be part of something this meaningful,” Sigalas said. “This experience has helped
This is a humanitarian issue. Regardless of what the immigration situation is in the political realm, these are human beings.
- Christian Salas, graduate social work student me to become more aware of all the issues that my community is facing, to understand that there still a lot to be done for them, to see how our government sometimes doesn’t care. It has helped me become more passionate about my career because I know that someday I will be able to promote equal rights no matter where you’re coming from”. Lusk and his students said they have seen first hand the traumatizing effect that migrating to the United States has had on the immigrants. “Refugees have often experienced trauma and criminal victimization in their home country and on the journey north,” Lusk said. “Naturally, it can be a depressing and demoralizing experience. Nonetheless, I am continually surprised by how resilient and optimistic they are despite the adversity they have experienced.” Salas and Sigala said that the situation these immigrants have endured affects their psychological health and you can visibly see the effects. “This is a traumatic experience, especially for the children that are traveling alone, but at the same time, the resiliency they have is amazing,” Sigala said. Ali Boyd, a volunteer at the Annunciation House, said that the help they have received from the UTEP social work team has been very helpful. Boyd also said that the Annunciation House hopes the UTEP community can come to understand the level of severity of the situation. “We feel it is important for UTEP students, faculty and staff to know exactly what is happening because they are at the forefront of the political and economical realm. They are out future,” Boyd said. Through their volunteer work, Lusk and his UTEP student team said they have also witnessed the political aspect of their involvement in aiding the immigrants. “This is a humanitarian issue. Regardless of what the immigration situation is in the political realm, these are human beings,” Salas said.
see shelter on page 3
michaela roman / The Prospector The Annunciation House provides immigrant families with shelter, food, and opportunitues within the city.
special to The Prospector UTEP volunteers help out at the Annunciation House.
paGe 2 July 22, 2014
perspectives
Editor-iN-chiEf
lorain Watters, 747-7477
coluMN
run, hilary, run! By JaVier cortez The Prospector I really hate American politics for one simple reason—it’s all bullshit, or to put it in more decent terms, it’s a façade. There’s corruption, lies and pointless dialogue that fills the airwaves of American politics. In a recent interview with CNN, Bill Clinton cryptically said that he doesn’t want his wife to run for president, but at the same time he said it would be fine if she did. “We’ve reached a point in our life when we think you really shouldn’t run for office if you don’t have a clear idea of what you can do and a unique contribution you can make and you can outline that,” Clinton told CNN’s Anna Coren. “Now that the book is done, she wants time to think about that and work through it. I think so much of politics is background noise, and we don’t need the background noise anymore.” Anyone who knows the history of the Clinton’s knows that they have more “background noise” than just about every other political couple, duo, family or whatever you want to call it. Let’s be honest, Bill doesn’t want Hilary to run because of the campaign-shit-storm it would cause when election time comes around. The worst thing about American politics is how it is covered and presented to the public—every four years, candidates from each party and biased media outlets deviate from important issues at hand and focus on hurling shit at each other for six months. If Hilary runs in 2016, you can bet your bottom dollar Fox News and whatever Ruplican nominee will bring up the Whitewater scandal, the Lewinsky scandal, the Benghazi scandal and anything else they can get their hands on. When Clinton says, “you really shouldn’t run for office if you don’t have a clear idea of what you can do,” that is complete and utter bullshit. Do you really think Republican and Democratic nominees are really going around the country talking about economic stimulus bills, GDP infla-
tion and the nuances of socialized health care and “Obamacare”? The future nominees are going to do the same things they always do. Republicans will talk about smaller government, God, guns and a strong military. Democrats will talk about cutting taxes for the poor, same-sex marriage and the dreaded health care argument. Presidential campaigns are fixated on a dumbed-down rhetoric, no politicians go into complex or in-depth issues, it’s reductionism 101. Politics in this country are mired in antiquated debates such as abortion, freedom of religion and so on. Bill Clinton doesn’t want to spend the next four to eight years of his life going through all of this again and that’s understandable. But America really needs Hilary to run and win this upcoming presidency, not because she will pass any meaningful legislation or change the landscape of the American economy, but because she is a woman. Hilary winning the 2016 presidency would be a huge step in women overcoming years of oppression, just like Obama did six years ago with race. Socially, her winning the presidency is something this country needs. The United States still has problems with women and minorities in the forefront, even though minority groups keep getting larger and now there are more women in college than men. So what if she faces bigots from the right and turns in a mediocre presidency? It most likely wouldn’t be her fault , anyway. The Senate and the House are full of intransigent members and she would probably deal with similar problems that Obama has faced, but in her case it would be bigotry and male chauvinism. The social change that 16 years of Obama and Clinton could bring about would be great for this country, and there would most likely be a huge proliferation in voter interest for the next generation to come. In conclusion, Bill Clinton should shut up and put a big smile on his face for the next four to eight years as the first husband. It’s not like she can cause any more grief than he did, unless there are some young handsome White House interns in 2016. Javier cortez may be reached at theprospectordaily. sports@gmail.com.
arChiveseArCh Visit www.theprospectordaily.com to search the archives for your favorite articles and multimedia projects since 2007. www.theprospector.newspaperarchive.com
stAFF V O l . 9 9 , n O . 3 5 Editor-in-Chief: Lorain Watters Managing Editor: Jasmine Aguilera Layout Editor: Diego Burciaga Copy Editor: Andres Rodriguez Sports Editor: Javier Cortez Entertainment Editor: Andrea Acosta Photo Editor: Michaela Roman Photographers: Cristina Esquivel, Tania Moran Multimedia/Online Editor: Amanda Guillen Staff Reporters: Cassandra Adame, Luis Barrio, Luis Gonzalez, Aaron Montes, Ashley Muñoz, Jose Soto, Christopher Zacherl
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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 |
July 22, 2014
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The Freedom of Information Improvement Act of 2014, a bill that would amend FOIA, has been drafted by senators John Cornyn, R-Texas, and Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., and has been introduced to the U.S. Senate. The Freedom of Information Act is a federal law that gives people the right to access information from the government. It was signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1966. In order to access public records from a federal agency, a person must make a written FOIA request, in which a person describes the information they need and then they must turn it into the appropriate agency. Millions of FOIA requests are submitted every year, and according to the official foia.gov website, the Department of Homeland Security receives the most requests. In fiscal year 2013, DHS received 231,534 FOIA requests. At the end of fiscal year 2013, there were still 65,676 pending FOIA requests. Under the current law it can take weeks, months and sometimes years for a FOIA request to be processed and it often entails dealing with multiple agencies and offices. Murphy Jones is a freelance journalist based in southern Arizona who focuses on immigration and border enforcement. He submitted a FOIA request to Customs and Border Protection, and it took two years and several e-mails before CPB answered his request. “I believe I sent it (FOIA request) some time in 2012 and got records in 2014,” Jones said.“The system doing its thing meant I didn’t get records for over a year…My experiences have been very disappointing and extremely exasperating” Aaron Martinez, a UTEP and Prospector alumni and a staff reporter at the El Paso Times, has a FOIA request pending from the Department of Justice. His request is one of thousands that is sent to the Department of Justice. As of the end fiscal year 2013, the DOJ had 10,298 pending FOIA requests.
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New FOIA bill will allow for more transparency The Prospector
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policy
By Maria Esquinca
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inbrief
“I’ve been on the wait list for three months. I call them every week. I send them an e-mail every day,” Martinez said. “I’m waiting in line with a bunch of other people. There needs to be a better system.” According to Kevin Goldberg, legal counsel to the American Society of News Editors, one of the organizations that support the FOIA Improvement Act of 2014, the bill would allow for a more open government and would specifically address the amount of time an agency has to fulfill a FOIA request. “We want to make it easier to get access to records… It’s our number one goal to make it work more efficiently,” Goldberg said. One of the provisions under the FOIA Improvement Act of 2014 would provide for electronic accessibility through the creation of a FOIA website to make requests and check the status of the requests. Other
provisions
include
an
amendment to Exemption 5, which would require agencies to include a public-interest balancing test to weigh the public interest before deciding to deny a FOIA request. Last February, a similar bill known as the FOIA Oversight and Implementation Act of 2014 passed unanimously 410-0 in the House, but failed to move through the Senate. According to Goldberg, the FOIA Improvement Act of 2014, which is the Senate version, has a chance to pass. “It’s going to be introduced to the Senate Judiciary Committee… it’s got a chance to move forward this year,” he said. Maria Esquinca may be reached at theprospectordaily. news@gmail.com.
shelter from page 1
not spoken to refugees,” Lusk said. “I
Sigala wants to create awareness in the community because she said there is still a lot to be done as far as educating and promoting equality. “This is a human rights issue and they deserve to be treated as human beings, not as what they are referred to—illegal aliens,” Sigala said. Lusk said that some will insist that the immigrants are here for economic reasons and that they are just seeking an easy path into the U.S. “People who say these things have a political agenda and I dare say have
would ask such experts to visit Central America, as I have many times, and see for themselves what is going on there.” For more information regarding donations and volunteering at the Annunciation House, call 545-4509 or fill out a volunteer form at annunciationhouse.org. Jose Soto may be reached at theprospectordaily.news@ gmail.com.
UTEP VS. TEXAS TECH / SEPT. 6 HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH / SEPT. 15 ONE DIRECTION / SEPT. 19 GLORY ROAD GLOW RUN / SEPT. 27 UTEP will offer new night permits for evening students. Parking with these permits begins at 4 p.m. in all parking garages, except the Glory Road Parking Garage. The permit is also valid for all inner campus lots after 5:30 p.m
HOMECOMING GAME: UTEP VS. DOMINION / OCT 11
THEPROSPECTOR
| 4 | NEWS
July 22, 2014
national
Lawmakers call for more transparency in port-of-entry funding By Anna Giles SHFWire Intern
anna giles/ shfwire intern (Top) John Wagner, Assistant Commissioner for the Office of Field Operations at CBP, left, and Eugene Schied, Assistant Commissioner for of the CPB Office of Administration said the mission of CBP is to ensure efficient international trade at ports of entry while maintaining security. (Bottom) El Paso Mayor Oscar Leeser makes his case for more funding of border crossings that connect El Paso, Texas to Juarez, Mexico at A House Subcommittee on Border and Martime Security hearing Wednesday.
WASHINGTON – Texas needs more funding for its ports of entry. So does Michigan. Lawmakers from both states berated federal officials Wednesday for failing to improve the ports and for not even having a current list of which ports are on a list for funding. “The lack of transparency is troubling, to put it kindly,” Rep. Candice Miller, R-Mich., said during a House subcommittee on Border and Maritime Security hearing. “Customs and Border Patrol cannot continue to be a big black hole when it comes to ports of entry infrastructure needs, which can impact both trade facilitation and homeland security.” Infrastructure needs at ports of entry often refers to CBP staffing, identification technology and roads. Nearly 170 ports of entry are used daily for U.S. trade with Mexico and Canada, the country’s two largest trading partners, Miller said. In addition to a lack of data on investment priorities, Miller warned that more broadly “delays and backups caused by old and inadequate infrastructure cost businesses millions of dollars in lost opportunity.” El Paso, Texas, Mayor Oscar Leeser advocated for more investment at ports of entry that connect El Paso to Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. He said more investment in U.S. ports near the U.S.-Mexico border would ensure the economic security of the entire country. One in 24 workers in the U.S. depends on trade from Mexico, Leeser said, claiming a lack of manpower and investment in El Paso would affect business and trade in states all over the U.S. “The city of El Paso’s economic security depends on the flow of goods and people across our international ports of entry, so it’s important not only to ensure trade continues to flow freely but that people and vehicles can move quickly across the border,” Leeser said. He said his biggest concern is manpower, a worry shared by Rep. Beto O’Rourke, D-Texas, who represents the El Paso area. He called staffing at U.S. ports of entry a “serious problem” and that it was important for the U.S. to “get border crossings right.” More people and goods are coming through U.S. ports of entry than ever before, John Wagner, CPB assistant commissioner for the Office of Field Operations, said. During the hearing CBP officials did provide Miller information from four years ago about how they choose
:
THIS WEEK
which ports of entry to invest in – a process that takes into consideration how economically important a port of entry is, whether it has already been awarded funding by Congress and security needs, Wagner said. An updated list should be ready next year. Miller slammed officials from CBP for their selection of which ports of entry top the list, citing concerns over a delayed upgrade to the Blue Water Bridge Plaza that connects to Canada about 60 miles north of Detroit. It’s the second busiest border crossing in the northern part of the U.S. At a time when federal funding for port-of-entry investment is strained, CBP is trying to find new ways to fund more efficient processing at border crossings, Wagner said. One such project, launched by Congress in 2013, is being piloted at five port of entry locations, including El Paso. It allows private businesses to help pay for additional overtime for CBP officers at border crossings through donations and reimbursements. If the project runs smoothly over the next five years, CBP might replicate it nationwide. Some members of Congress said they are concerned that trying to speed up border crossings by processing people faster would create security vulnerabilities. Eugene Schied, assistant commissioner for the CPB Office of Administration, said deteriorating infrastructure surrounding ports of entry, such as roads, is making the work of CBP officers very difficult. Rep. Jeff Duncan, R-S.C., called the southern border “porous” and criticized CBP officials “for having no idea what’s coming through the southern border.” He said he his concerns are especially urgent considering a recent flow of thousands of unaccompanied children, mostly from El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala. Most CBP port of entry facilities are not designed to meet post 9/11 security needs, Wagner said, and more “innovative approaches are needed to meet the growing demand for new facilities.” Anna Giles may be reached at anna.giles@scripps.com or 202-326-9861.
paGe 5 July 22, 2014
entertainment
Editor
anDrea aCosta, 747-7477
World’s largest film festival keeps growing photo BY michaela roman / the prospector
plaZaclaSSicfilMfEStival august 7 / “the seven Year itch” august 8 / “oKlahoma” august 9 / “the wiZard of oZ” august 10 / “rear window” By KiMBerly Valle The Prospector The Plaza Classic Film Festival, the world’s largest film festival, is expecting approximately 40,000 attendees from all over the country. The seventh-annual event will officially begin on Aug. 7. The idea for the festival began in 2008, with a simple conversation between the CEO and founder of the El Paso Community Foundation, Eric Pearson, and Vice President and cofounder, Charles Horak. They talked about a possible film series and bring-
august 11 / “gUess who’s comming to dinner”
august 14 / “indiana Jones and the temple of doom”
august 12 / “crimes of the heart”
august 15 / “the towering inferno”
august 13 / “a hard daY’s night”
august 16 / “the good, the Bad and the UglY
ing back movies to the downtown Plaza Theatre, which was a movie palace in the ‘30s. “We wanted to make sure that people knew that the Plaza Theatre and the city facility was theirs and it was a gift from the El Paso Community Foundation,” Pearson said. Pearson said this year will be different as they have renovated the idea of a film festival. “As we get older and we see all these movies come out, we have changed our philosophy, definition of a classic film and broaden it a bit,” Pearson said. “We will have a whole bunch
of outdoor stuff. We have an exhibition of beautiful movie posters from around the world right now at the El Paso Museum of Art.” The Plaza Theatre is a part of the history of the city. The attractive venue adds an element of nostalgia, making it seem like you are stepping into a mid-20th century era. “El Paso deserves excellence, every time we can achieve it, it is rewarding to us, we pour our hearts and our souls into the community,” Pearson said. Loida Martinez, UTEP alumna, said that her first time attending the
festival was such a fun experience and she has been attending every year. “It was a blast. We had to go back and watch a couple of other classics. I’d definitely recommend students, graduates, families and everyone to go. It’s such a fun experience,” Martinez said. Henry Arrambide, UTEP alumni and filmmaker, has shown his work at the festival two previous times and said he’s very excited to be given the opportunity to feature his films again this year. “The Arts Festival Plaza is a really cool little piece of downtown El Paso and to have this little local showcase
of talent alongside these classic film venues was nice,” Arrambide said. Arrambide first showcased his short dark comedy film, “Monday Morning Coming Down,” in 2011, and two years later his short drama film, “At the Door.” Both films have been part of The Good, The Bad, and The Indie local showcase that the festival holds each year. This year, Arrambide submitted stoner comedy entitled “Rick Mysteryson,” as well as surrealist drama, “All My Plans Lead Nowhere.”
see FIlM FestIVAl on page 6
rEviEW
French Fry heaven makes its tasty way into the community By KiMBerly Valle The Prospector A restaurant where french fries and nothing else is served now exists in El Paso. French Fry Heaven first opened in Jacksonville, Florida, in 2011, and now has 18 locations throughout the nation. Its first location opened in El Paso on July 2 and is located at 12380 Edgemere Blvd., Ste 106. With over 30 different combinations of fries, French Fry Heaven has attracted people from all over town. Their artistic walls make the place inviting for customers to enjoy their fries and sit down on comfortable couches. Valerie Herrera, sophomore multimedia journalism major, said her first experience was satisfying and unlike anything she had ever tasted. “I heard about them through the Downtown Street Music Festival. I ordered the baked potato flavor. I liked how the fries were nice and crispy and they allowed me to try different
samples of flavors,” Herrera said. “It felt like heaven in my mouth.” John Hernandez, one of the owners, said that after a short time of advertising in the streets before its new location opened, French Fry Heaven had already gained a crowd of eager customers waiting for the eatery to open. “I even had a customer wait outside the Street Fest and pay $30 just to get in and get his fries,” Hernandez said. French Fry Heaven is also planning to attend charity events in the city and donate fries to the people attending the events, Hernandez said. Despite its brand-new location and recent opening, the place has started to have a constant flow of customers. “I love these fries. I have never tasted nothing like this,” said Samantha Ortega, sophomore communication major. “Mine had a nice spicy kick to it! Just how I like it.” French Fry Heaven also provides healthy eaters with some options.
According to Hernandez, these fries may be healthier than the average fry. “The fries are freshly made from scratch. They are gluten free, zero trans fats and are not processed. They are baked first with insignificant amount of oil and fried in the fry-o-lator machine,” Hernandez said. “Our fries go green real quick and are real fries. Samples are given to customers since the variety of combinations can make the decision tough. “I would suggest trying every flavor because they are all delicious. I’m glad that they decided to finally bring the franchise over here to El Paso for everyone to enjoy. I would definitely buy them again, I mean, who doesn’t like fries?” Herrera said. My first order was called “Festival,” consisting of sweet potato fries, topped with vanilla and powdered sugar. This particular combination was delicious, especially because they have a nice
see FrIes on page 6
JUstin rodrigUeZ/the prospector French Fry heaven opened its first location in el paso at 12380 edgemere Blvd., ste 106. (above) angel wing fries are served for customer.
THEPROSPECTOR
| 6 | ENTERTAINMENT
July 22, 2014
Theatre
New theater to offer a different movie experience By Ashley Muñoz The Prospector A new theater experience will soon be available in the Sun City. The Alamo Drafthouse based in Austin, Texas, will be building one of their theaters in El Paso later this year. The Alamo Drafthouse currently has more than 11 locations across the nation. Neil Billingsley-Michaelsen, owner of the Lubbock and El Paso Alamo Drafthouse cinemas said El Paso was chosen because of the renaissance taking place in the city. “The Alamo (Drafthouse)-Montecillo will mark a new foundation for El Paso cinema,” he said. “Families can expect to enjoy movie-making memories together at the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema.” This new theater will offer a dining experience. Alongside the food and drinks, the famous theater is also known for its strict rules on texting and talking. According to Billingsley-Michaelsen, the Alamo DrafthouseMontecillo will go beyond what viewers are accustomed to, to provide an unforgettable movie-going experience. “The theater will be state-of-theart theater with eight screens. Each auditorium will be equipped with Sony 4K Digital Cinema Projection,” Billingsley-Michaelsen said. “It will feature selected auditoriums with
RealD 3D, a stand-alone bar with selected cocktails and 35mm projection capabilities, which the Alamo will to screen rare and archival prints of select films.” The Alamo will offer fresh food and beverages. Patrons can order their favorite wine, beer or cocktail, alongside a pizza, burger, salad or simply dessert. Given that the other theaters usually only allow popcorn and candy, the Alamo is expected to change the way viewers think about movie munchies. “It sounds nice,” said Thomas Correa, sophomore engineering major. “This might open up more doors for other theaters. If it’s for the family to enjoy, I say it’s a combination of old and new
Families can expect to enjoy movie-making memories together at the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema.
- Neil Billingsley-Michaelsen, owner of the Alamo Drafthouse
El paso development news The Alamo Drafthouse will be equipped with Sony 4K Digital Cinema Projection, RealD 3D, a stand-alone bar with selected cocktails and 35 mm projection capabilities. rules. This is a twist for a theater, but I’m sure that’s what makes it different.” However, Correa said he does not agree with the zero-tolerance policy towards talking and texting during a movie. “I think it’s a little harsh to be escorted out of a theater. For texting, sure I can see that, but for talking, it’s a whole different story,” Correa said. “Other theaters are fine with it because the movies are usually so loud, you can’t hear anyone talk.”
Savethedate UTep Centennial night: El paso Chihuahuas game Aug. 28/7:05 p.m./Southwest University Park The El Paso Chihuahua’s will celebrate UTEP’s Centennial during a game on Aug. 28 as they take on the Salt Lake Bees. Food and drink specials will take place from 5:30-8 p.m with $2 12 oz. beer, $2 20 oz. soda, $2 value sized popcorn. For ticket prices visit http://www.milb.com/ index.jsp?sid=t4904.
opera bhutan: Acis & galatea
Aug. 30/6 p.m./Don Haskins Opera Bhutan unites UTEP students, faculty, and staff with Bhutanese dancers. Artists from around the world, including Italy, Cameroon, Canada, Australia and the United States will be collaborating with UTEP, the El Paso Opera, the Royal Government of Bhutan, Bhutan’s Royal Academy of Performing Arts, and Bhutan’s Royal Textile Academy. George Frideric Handel’s opera Acis and Galatea is a love story from Greek Mythology that emphasizes love and virtue, tragedy and transformation, transcendence and triumph. This once-in-a-lifetime performance incorporates elements of song, dance, instrumentation and visual arts from Western opera and Eastern musical storytelling of the Kingdom of Bhutan.
minerpalooza
Sept. 5/6 p.m. Minerpalooza is an annual campus-wide event/pep rally that kicks off the UTEP football season with its first home game on Sept. 6 against Texas Tech. Highlights include carnival booths, inflatable games, a Kid Zone, musical entertainment, food and special appearances by student athletes and coaches. Over the last several years, the event has grown from a picnic-style program, this year it is expected to surpass last years’ attendance of 30,000 as an effect of UTEP’s Centennial. Minerpalooza will be set at the corner of Glory Road and Sun Bowl Drive. This is event is free and open to the public.
The Alamo Drafthouse’s official website states that “if talking or texting occurs during a movie, the viewer will receive a warning. If it happens again, they will be kicked out without a refund.” Billingsley-Michaelsen said that there are policies in place to provide a good experience for all movie-goers. “We also have a strict age policy at the theater, no children under the age of 6 are allowed, nor unaccompanied minors unless it is a specific day for
FRIEs from page 5
them, where we play movies at a lower volume and raise the lights a bit,” he said. “By enforcing this, we promote family values, kids enjoying the movie rather than being dropped off.” The new Alamo Drafthouse Montecillo Cinema will be constructed at 5000 N. Mesa Street, and is expected to open later on this year. For more information, visit drafthouse.com/el_paso/montecillo. Ashley Muñoz may be reached at theprospectordaily. ent@gmail.com.
French Fry Heaven is planning to
crisp to them and I didn’t get full right away. The second order was called the “Angel Wing,” which were regular fries topped with buffalo sauce and garlic ranch dressing. These fries have a spicy kick to them, but the ranch calms down the hotness of the wing sauce. Despite the unfriendly customer service that I experienced during my visit, my fries were delivered to me pretty quick and they were mouthwatering good.
expand in all areas in El Paso. Their
FILM FESTIVAL from page 5
based on her Pulitzer-winning play, and Medoff will appear with his “Children of a Lesser God,” based on his Tony-winning play. Raul Armendariz, junior environmental science major said he is looking forward to the festival’s atmosphere. “This would be my first time attending the festival and I am excited to experience it,” Armendariz said. “I really would like to watch the Wizard of Oz.” The Plaza Classic Film Festival will also be celebrating several anniversaries, including the 75th anniversary of “The Wizard of Oz” on Aug. 9 the 50th anniversary of The Beatles’ debut in the U.S. of “A Hard Day’s Night,” and the 30th anniversary of the movie “Purple Rain,” starring Prince. For the entire schedule of the showcase and details about the event, visit plazaclassic.com. Tickets are on sale at the Plaza Theatre box office and through ticketmaster.com. You may also buy a festival pass for $200 for admission to all of the films, a jumpthe-line express lane and more.
More than 80 movies will be featured at six different locations near the plaza, between Aug. 6–Aug. 17. The event will open up with the feature film, “The Seven Year Itch,” starring Marilyn Monroe. This year, there will be a big festival warm-up event featuring “Field of Dreams” at 8 p.m. on Aug. 6 at Southwest University Park. “People should definitely get to experience and support this event. I think it has become such a big success with everyone, because the fact that there is a film for everyone to enjoy,” said Oscar Garza, a recent UTEP graduate. Special guests such as Ryan Piers Williams and Shirley Jones will sign autographs for a fee at the Camino Real Hotel on Aug. 9. Robert Wagner will also make a special appearance and sign copies of his new book, “You Must Remember This,” about the Hollywood of the ‘40s and ‘50s, on Aug. 16. There will be some private receptions and hosted series of free film talks throughout the festival. “Its really about showing films and concerts,” Pearson said. Playwright and screenwriters Beth Henley and NMSU’s Mark Medoff will also be attending. Henley appears with “Crimes of the Heart,” which is
next phase is to open up a restaurant inside Bassett Place. “This was my first time here and it was really good,” said Omar Franco, UTEP alumni. For more information, visit http:// frenchfryheaven.com/locations/ texas/elpaso/. Kimberly Valle may be reached at theprospectordaily. ent@gmail.com.
Kimberly Valle may be reached at theprospectordaily. ent@gmail.com.
paGe 7 July 22, 2014
sports
Editor
Javier CorteZ, 747-7477
uteP football ready for new start luis Barrio
The Prospector The UTEP football team is on its way to Alpine for training camp and despite being picked to finish dead last in the conference by 13 coaches, optimism within the team remains high, especially on defense. “I love going away to camp and the chemistry on the team is very good,” said head coach Sean Kugler. “It furthers it when you can get together as a large group and stay in tight quarters for a couple weeks.” Defense was without a doubt the Achilles heel of the squad last season. If the Miners want to succeed, defense will have to be the focal point during the season. Defensive back Wesley Miller is fully healthy once again and will be key if he can stay on the field. The senior appeared in four games last season, three of which he started. The new coaching staff was definitely an adjustment for Miller, with a new head coach and defensive coordinator, Scott Stoker. “It was all new,” Miller said. “It happened so fast when we switched our defensive coordinators. Now we have been in the system for over a year now and we’ve expanded the playbook.”
Tomlinson making the preseason conference USA team, Showers said he is excited about his sophomore wide receiver Brandon Moss, who he said is a great route runner. Last year, the duo of Showers and Jordan Leslie was a potent tandem for the Miners. With Leslie’s transfer to BYU, Showers sees senior Ian Hamilton as that replacement and has a different mentality heading into the fall. “We have a different mentality and different attitude this year. Win football games and go to a bowl,” Showers said. With a full offseason to learn the defense, all players healthy, and a good mindset, UTEP and the city has plenty to be excited about.
Quarterback Jameill Showers pointed out the vast improvement he has seen in the Miners defense during the offseason. “I know defensively we have gotten 10 times better,” Showers said . “They just had time to actually learn the defense. Last year they were thinking too much and the defense is playing a lot faster now.” One of the most crucial characteristics of the team at the moment is that they are all healthy and in football shape going into the final stretch of the offseason. This allows for a more competitive training camp when vying for starting positions. “Coach (Kirk) Davis and his staff did an outstanding job in the weight room,” Kugler said. “They’re in outstanding shape and reports from the weight room from an energy standpoint have been great.” Coach Kugler is interested seeing the battles at the linebacker position as well as his secondary, coach Kugler said these positions are full of talented players. Despite all the improvements, every coach in Conference USA has not given UTEP much credit. The Miners were picked to finish dead last in the conference, but the players and head coach know that preseason rankings mean nothing.
“We’re not paying attention to that theprospectordaily.sports@ stuff,” Showers said. gmail.com. If one thing is for sure, it is that the starting quarterback and head coach are not interested in superfluous preseason rankings. “I don’t worry about any of that stuff,” said Kugler. “You win games and everything takes care of itself. The team vastly improved in the spring and I look for the same in the fall.” michaela roman/ the prospector Flying under the radar going into the 2014 campaign will be the receiv- senior Quaterback Jamiell showers is expects the miners to turn things around and make a ing core. With senior tight end Eric splash in conference Usa
After recommitting to Miami, Dwyane Wade took a pay cut, but his health and effectiveness throughout a complete season remain huge question marks. Wade’s pay cut seems to be negated by the Chris Bosh deal, who flirted with the possibility of leaving Miami also. There are a lot of people that think the Heat would have been able to get Bosh for less money, but after LeBron’s departure, they could not afford to lose Bosh as well. Additions such as Luol Deng, Danny Granger and Josh McRoberts are solid, but none has the ability to even come close to what LeBron provided Eric Spoelstra’s team on a nightly basis. The Heat are not going to be an afterthought, like some would like to believe, but the days of being a conference finals guarantee are definitely over, and that has them on the losing side this summer.
Loser: Houston Rockets Carmelo Anthony was option number one, but that was never a real possibility. For a moment there, after LeBron’s announcement, Houston appeared to be the second-biggest winner of free agency 2014. Dwight Howard, James Harden and Bosh made an already dangerous Houston pretty terrifying. Instead, Bosh resigned with Miami and the Rockets were left without Omer Asik, Chandler Parsons, Jeremy Lin and a future first-round pick. For a team that underachieved by being bounced out in the first round of last year’s playoffs, Houston hoped Bosh would bring the ingredients needed to put the Rockets on the same level as San Antonio and Oklahoma City. The marriage looked great on paper. To make Bosh a real possibility, Houston risked a lot, trading both Asik
and Lin with a first rounder and eventually letting Parsons leave to Dallas. The departures and arrivals leave the roster with less depth and in worse shape than last year. Houston went all in–reeling in one of this summer’s big fish–they gambled and it could not have gone worse. Loser: Indiana Pacers At a time when the Eastern Conference is as open as ever, the Indiana Pacers had the opportunity to come out of free agency as the favorites. Instead of making a statement, the roster ends up in worse shape. With the departure of Lance Stephenson, who signed with Charlotte, Indiana, they are left with Paul George as the only real explosive threat on the offensive side. For all his antics and controversial behavior, Stephenson was the Pacers’ best option when penetrating to the basket.
The offensive woes in Indiana, even when they weren’t falling apart in the second half of the season, have been well documented and Stephenson’s departure makes an unwatchable offense probably that much more unbearable. Just a year ago, Indiana appeared to be the only viable threat to the thenmighty Miami Heat, now they are just another team in the second-best conference of the league. Teams’ future possibilities can change dramatically when losing out on a certain free agent they failed to lure or keep. Miami, Houston and Indiana all appear to be on the wrong side of this summer’s action, but we won’t know for sure until the ball begins to bounce come October.
playing side by side with James, and along with a talented cast of athletes, the Cavaliers a threat in the East. The Cavaliers may still not be done making big moves. A possible trade involving their No. 1 overall pick in Andrew Wiggins for All-Star Kevin Love is still a possibility As for the Eastern conference, this is the conference where LeBron led the Heat to four consecutive titles. With LeBron gone, the Heat have less of a shot to make it five straight titles. In an already weak conference, and the loss of guard Lance Stephenson , the Indiana Pacers, presents a wideopen gap for LeBron and the Cavs to win the conference. Winner: Dallas Mavericks
For the Dallas Mavericks, the departure of Vince Carter and Shawn Marion made way for the Mavericks to welcome back Tyson Chandler and bring in newcomers Raymond Felton and Chandler Parsons. An athletic frontcourt to go along with an experienced and athletic backcourt in Raymond Felton and Monta Ellis give the Mavs as strong a starting five you’ll see in the NBA. Dirk Nowitzki took a paycut by accepting a three-year, $25 million deal, which made it easier to sign the young promising player in Parsons. He agreed to a three-year, $46 million deal. Chandler and Felton both played together in New York, which makes the transition easy for the new point guard—Felton. Felton is not a scoring
point guard but what he brings to the team is the ability to regulate the action on the court. This starting five will make it difficult for other defenses to keep up with— Parsons is able to shoot the ball as well as put it on the floor, Nowitzki does what he does best and Monta Ellis is a slasher shootingguard, who can create his own shot. The Mavs have reloaded and are ready to make another run at the title. Winner: Chicago Bulls Finally, the Chicago Bulls stopped trying to sign scoring machine Carmelo Anthony and went with plan B by signing NBA champion Pau Gasol and 23-year-old big man Nikola Mirotic from Real Madrid to compliment All-Star center Joakim Noah.
They have arguably the best frontcourt in the NBA despite power forward, Carlos Boozer, joining the Lakers. Its difficult, but do not forget about Derrick Rose. The Bulls have managed to pose some threat in their conference without their MVP. They have done so because of what head coach, Tom Thibodeau, has done for the defense. The missing puzzle pieceis a healthy Rose. Above all, the Gasol acquisition gives the Bulls a high favorability in the weak Eastern Conference. Whether you like the new faces in new places, one certainty remains true. It sure does make for an exciting NBA season ahead.
we have a different mentality and different attitude this year—win football games and go to a bowl game
- Jamiell Showers, Miners Senior Quaterback
luis Barrio may be reached at
losers of 2014’s nba free agency By luis Gonzalez The Prospector The offseason is when teams analyze what was done the previous year and plan for the next season. Free agency becomes the most interesting part of the summer in the NBA, especially when players such as LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony are available and looking for options. One signature, or the lack thereof, can change a team’s future and perception throughout the league. For every team that is successful in free agency, there is a team that lose. Loser: Miami Heat No matter what other additions it makes, when a team loses the best player in the world, they are considered losers. LeBron James’ return to Cleveland changes the entire landscape of the Eastern Conference and leaves Miami with a lot of doubts.
luis Gonzalez may be reached at theprospectordaily. sports@gmail.com
Winners of 2014’s nba free agency
By luis Barrio The Prospector
The culture of today’s NBA is profoundly different than the NBA of 30 or even 20 years ago. Today, for the most part, players rarely stay in one place for an entire career. Granted, there are still winners to be named in this summer’s free agency period. Winner: Cleveland Cavaliers A domino effect was set off once LeBron James decided he would leave the Heat and return to Cleveland for a second act. James decided he wants to return to his hometown of Akron, Ohio, and play for the Cleveland Cavaliers under a contract that assures him nearly 42 million for two years. Superstar Kyrie Irving will be
luis Barrio may be reached at theprospectordaily. sports@gmail.com.
THEPROSPECTOR
| 8 | SPORTS
July 22, 2014
Campus Life
Padres-Angels trade has an impact on all homefronts By Javier Cortez The Prospector On July 18, the El Paso Chihuahuas major league affiliate, the San Diego Padres, made a big trade that not only impacted the Padres, but all three of their minor league affiliates. In the trade, the Los Angeles Angels received veteran closer Huston Street, and in return, the Padres received four minor league players. The Chihuahuas come into the mix with the acquisition of second baseman Taylor Lindsey. The Scottsdale, Arizona, native will be a big boost for the Chihuahuas in their infield due to the fact that their roster has been depleted by players being called up and because of injuries. Chihuahuas Manager Pat Murphy addressed the problem before the AllStar break, but is optimistic about the team’s chances to turn it around “Were decimated,” Murphy said. “We have guys going into the MLB and DL (disabled list), but we’re battling back. With these injuries we had, guys have been stepping up.” Padres Assistant General Manager and Vice President professional scouting, A.J. Hinch, spoke about how much the trade would help the whole organization with the San Diego media on July 18. Hinch was specifically happy with the acquisition of Taylor Lindsey. Drafted straight out of high school, Lindsey has made a quick climb up the minor league ranks and is poised for a bright future in the MLB. “We’ve known him and his whereabouts since he was a high pick,”
michaela roman/ The Prospector
The Padres minor league system will see an influx of talent coming through El Paso due to the Padres-Angels trade Hinch said. “He’s a good hitter and he’s gotten up to Triple-A at the very young age of 22. We’ve scouted him over the last couple of years, and we feel like we hit the mark on all four of these guys.” This season for the Salt Lake Bees, Lindsey posted a .247 batting average, with eight home runs and 30 runs batted in. Lindsey was fourth on the team in home runs, third in triples and first in runs scored. The other three players acquired in the Angels-Padres trade were Jose
Rondon, R.J. Alvarez and Elliot Morris. These three players will not see any immediate playing time with the Chihuahuas as all three will be scattered around Class-A and Double-A affiliates. In time though it could happen—all season the Chihuahuas have been promoting players from lower-level affiliates. In fact, much of the team has had little to no Triple-A baseball experience. “All year we have had guys coming in with no experience at this level,” said Murphy. “A lot of the players on the team have never played Triple-A
baseball before, so it’s an adjustment. We’re a young team.” Whether the players are experienced or inexperienced, the Chihuahuas and the Padres organization hope this trade will give them the needed boost heading into the playoffs. The Chihuahuas are currently second in their division with a 49-53 record. “Were in second place and that’s a good testament to our guys,” said Murphy. “They’re all that you can ask for as players and we are happy to have them.”
The Las Vegas 51’s currently have a nine-game lead over the Chihuahuas, but first baseman Cody Decker says the Chihuahuas cannot worry about Las Vegas. “What we need to worry about is playing winning baseball. Whether we win or lose is one thing, but winning baseball is an entirely different thing,” Decker said. Javier Cortez may be reached at theprospectordaily. sports@gmail.com.