VOL . 100, NO. 2
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
September 16, 2014
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PAGE 2 September 16, 2014
perspectives ColuMNS
Taking a chance on passion
By lUis gonzalEz The Prospector I was a semester and a half away from an industrial engineering degree, but I was sitting in an office in Cotton setting up a schedule full of communication classes. After five years of struggling through engineering courses and flirting with a change of major, I finally chose to pull the trigger—my parents were not thrilled. For as long as I can remember, sports have been as important an aspect of my life as anything else, maybe to a fault. My schedule revolved around practices, games, tournaments and TV listings. My plans and thoughts about the future were no different, focused solely on my love of sports and the idea of getting paid to play them. Up through high school and my first years in college, while playing at a division II level, the dream was alive and well. That meant not much thought went into the process of choosing a career, I just didn’t have time or interest in a second option. When I was forced to choose a major, I took up engineering—I was good with math and it paid well. Why I didn’t play professionally or how close I truly got is not important, but when it didn’t happen, I was stuck in a career that I simply didn’t like. Semester after semester, I drifted through, because I had to, lacking the motivation that had propelled me to excel in many other areas of my life. It was not that I was not capable, I just didn’t care. So the solution: change. Even if it meant going from a strong and profitable field to one in relative crisis. But I would be involved with something I loved, with my passion. I understand the importance that money has in life, but I do believe that it should not dictate it completely. It is totally possible to have an occupation doing something you enjoy and also be well-off financially. That should be the goal and although that is not al-
ways possible, this is the best time for most of us to shoot for that kind of life. Later, as we grow older, responsibilities and the variables around us increase, and choices and opportunities become less and less. Now, like I said before, just because I have decided to go into a complicated field doesn’t mean I don’t expect to be financially stable. It just means I have to work harder and therein lies the key. Hard work becomes relative because when you are doing something you love, it really isn’t work. Even the things that might be less attractive become bearable because of your affection for the big picture. Sure, I could have gotten my engineering degree, found a job somewhere and have been fine. But fine should not be good enough, greatness is what we should all strive for. And in my experience, most, if not all, examples of greatness have passion among their many qualities. Passion gives you the opportunity to find that extra gear, the one that will push you to work harder and reach heights you usually would not be able to. It makes the sacrifices easy. Those sacrifices I was not willing to make as an engineering student. The kind of sacrifices I made all throughout high school, when I was going to bed instead of parties on Friday nights because of the game I had early Saturday morning. The kind of sacrifices that helped me to become a scholarship student-athlete. Those were not sacrifices, the sacrifice would have been to miss the game or not be able to perform at my best. The same goes now for what I am doing with journalism. I enjoy having to sit down and study stats before having to write a preview, it is entertaining to listen to other people’s opinions and different points of view before having to give mine. I have no problem combating my chronic shyness to do an interview. After years of struggle, I finally had the courage to choose my major for love, not money, and that is the best chance you can ever give yourself.
EditoR-iN-CHiEF
JASMINE AGUILERA, 747-7477
comfort over compromise
By aManDa gUillEn The Prospector
My entire life I always knew I wanted to be in front of an audience. Whether it be performing, playing sports or speaking, I wanted to communicate something important to others. Throughout my high school career, I joined as many clubs and organizations as possible in order to fulfill this desire. I was a cheerleader, a theater kid, president of Skills USA, vice president of the debate team and a class officer. I knew that getting my voice out there and being recognized would later make some sort of impact. This is what ultimately led to my future career choice. Journalism is something that I always took an interest in and is something that I knew would ultimately lead to helping people. Reporting on issues that matter is something that can help the public discover the truth and provide knowledge that they probably couldn’t have uncovered on their own. These important issues regarding our country, our politicians, our laws and the protection of our rights and freedoms are what determine the future of not only where we reside, but also involve our own personal wellbeing. This is where things get confusing for me and for many others, when I explain my dream job. E! News is considered the entertainment news mecca, and this is where I hope to see myself in the near future. Although this goes against my main goal as a journalist, which is in-
forming the public on the news that impacts their lives directly, I believe that this is a smart move for my career and for my financial future. The reasoning behind my new desire to work for E! News strictly comes down to two things, happiness and money. I consider myself to be a happy person; I am always looking for the positive in any situation and love the feeling of making others happy. The job of a journalist many times can be stressful due to the fact that a lot of the truths that are uncovered tend to be negative and discouraging. The service of providing news to the public can often times bring emotional distress to the journalist, making for an unhappy career. I often speak with other journalists or with people who are constantly surrounded by journalists and they say that often times they are stressed and moody. I can say that I have experienced a glimpse of this stress while working for The Prospector, from covering controversial issues such as a breaking news story involving the death of a student to being editor-inchief of a 100-page issue. I do believe that my best work has been when I am under immense pressure. Although I have no doubt that the pressure keeps me going, I do know my limits and know that if this is to be my life-long career, I will reach my breaking point someday. My optimistic attitude is something that I want to keep throughout my life, especially when it comes time to build my family. Working for E! is something that I know will relieve this stress. Not to discredit any of the work that this network produces, but I know I am not the only one to say
that when watching this network I feel at ease. When I want to wind down at the end of a long day, I often flip the channel to E! and listen to the latest in pop culture news. This entertainment and enjoyment allows me to keep a smile on my face even after a long and stressful day. Next comes the financial freedom that this network allows you to have if you work for them. Their lead anchor, Giuliana Rancic, is said to have an annual salary of $1 million with other co-hosts making no less than $100,000 a year. While this may seem like I am selling out for money, it is far from the truth. I can easily attest to the fact that I would love to see myself in the next few years as a young and successful journalist. I have always wanted to be a journalist and I don’t plan to change my mind. I believe that if I can have the best of both worlds, happiness and financial stability, I will be able to live out my ultimate dream—being a journalist who makes a difference in others’ lives by providing them with an outlet of stress-free news while maintaining my optimistic and friendly demeanor in the process. I always tell people never judge anyone or their profession just because you don’t think what they do is worthy. As long as what you are doing makes you happy and makes you feel like you are making a difference, no disrespect should be shown. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for me, whether it is reporting in a small town or reporting live from the red carpet, I know that the future is in my hands. Amanda Guillen may be reached at theprospectordaily. news@gmail.com.
Luis Gonzalez may be reached at theprospectordaily. news@gmail.com.
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. 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 . 1 0 0 , N O . 2 Editor-in-Chief: Jasmine Aguilera Managing Editor: Amanda Guillen Layout Editor: Diego Burciaga Assistant Layout Editor: Jacobo De La Rosa Copy Editor: Luis Gonzalez Sports Editor: Javier Cortez Entertainment Editor: Andrea Acosta Photo Editor: Michaela Roman Photographers: Cristina Esquivel, Justin Rodriguez Multimedia/Online Editor: Amanda Guillen Staff Reporters: Cassandra Adame, Luis Barrio, Luis Gonzalez, Aaron Montes, Ashley Muñoz, Jose Soto, Christopher Zacherl
Cartoonist: Blake A. Lanham Contributors: Eric Alba, Lesly Limon, Jaime Quesada Asst. Director-Advertising: Veronica Gonzalez Student Ad Manager: Anna Almeida Ad Executives: Genesis De la Cruz, Mariel Mora, Jaime Quesada Ad Layout Manager: Edgar Hernandez Ad Designers: Damian Balderrama, Fernando Enriquez Accounting Specialist: Isabel Castillo Student Assistant: Ashley Muñoz Student Publications Director: Kathleen Flores Administrative Secretary: Marcela Luna
SPEAK YOUr MIND
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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 |
September 16, 2014
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National
Washington Monthly ranks UTEP in the top ten
By Maria Esquinca The Prospector The 2014 ranking released by Washington Monthly Magazine place UTEP at No. 8 out of 277 universities, a drop down from the 2013 ranking. “UTEP, again, is ranked among the top ten universities in the entire United States by Washington Monthly magazine. How cool is that?” UTEP President Diana Natalicio said at an Aug. 26 announcement ceremony. For the past three years, UTEP has consistently ranked No. 1 in social mobility, or the recruiting and graduating of low-income students. In research expenditures spent in the millions, UTEP was ranked No. 139, a jump up from the 2013 ranking. In community service participation, UTEP was ranked No. 136. In the category of social mobility there was a decrease in the amount of students receiving Pell Grants from 67 percent in 2013 to 59 percent in 2014. There was also an increase in net price—the difference between the full cost of attending UTEP minus grants and scholarships a student might be eligible for—from $2,543 in 2013 to $3,258 in 2014. Gary Edens, vice president of Student Affairs, said the decrease in Pell Grants was due to less money given to the university by the federal government. “I mean, that’s how simple it is,” Edens said. “The amount of money we have every year is based on the federal government and unfortunately that number has been decreasing.” Craig Westman, associate vice president for enrollment management solutions, said the decrease was due to the federal government enforcing what is known as the 600 percent rule.
The federal Pell grant aid a student receives is limited to six years, because the maximum amount a student can receive from Pell Grants is 100 percent, the six year equivalent is 600 percent. According to Westman, before the federal government started enforcing the 600 percent rule, students could transfer to another school and go over the six-year limit. “Everyone’s Pell numbers went down and it’s because they (the federal government) enforced the 600 percent rule…it impacted a lot of our students, and of course, everyone nationally,” Westman said. University of California at Berkley, Stanford and Case Western Reserve University, three of the top ten nationally ranked universities in 2014 by Washington Monthly were the only ones that saw an increase in the percentage of students receiving Pell Grants from 2013 to 2014. According to Westman, at UTEP approximately 76 percent of students receive Pell Grants. Despite the drop in ranking, Edens said UTEP will continue to strive for excellence. “We don’t do what we’re doing because of some ranking,” he said. “If you stay true to yourself then you can do great things.” Washington Monthly created their college rankings in 2005 as a counter against traditionally esteemed ones like the one from U.S. News and World Report, which Paul Gastris, editor in chief of the Washington Monthly, said rely “on crude and easily manipulated measures of wealth, exclusivity and prestige for its rankings.” Maria Esquinca may be reached at theprospectordaily. news@gmail.com.
michaela roman / The Prospector President Diana Natalicio speaks on UTEP’s ranking on Washington Monthly.
THEPROSPECTOR
| 4 | NEWS
September 16, 2014
HEALTH
Students suffer dramatically from sleep depravation
By Kimberly Valle The Prospector Studies have shown that most college students, on average, get less than the recommended hours of sleep. The average student sleeps about five or six hours a night, less than the eight recommended. According to a study done by the University of St. Thomas in Minnesota, 70 percent of college students receive less than the recommended eight hours of sleep, choosing to engage in other activities instead. The study surveyed 1,125 students. Researchers found that 68 percent have difficulty falling asleep due to academic and emotional stress. These statistics disclose that stress has a much more substantial impact on sleep quality than other factors, such as alcohol consumption or late-night electronic usage. Shocking rates of sleep deprivation occurred in students among the ages of 16 to 25, during a regular school week. The study showed that 20 percent of students pull all-nighters at least once a month and 35 percent stay up past midnight at least once a week. Some freshmen said they are noticing drastic changes in their sleeping patterns now that they are in college. Alexandra Dominguez, freshman multimedia journalism major, said she is getting less sleep in order to work on homework and study for her classes. “It’s such a big change, these couple of weeks have been a little stressful because I’m doing homework I wasn’t
expected to do, and I don’t sleep as much,” Dominguez said. Some students, such as junior psychology major Rudy Ramirez, said they have already gotten used to their irregular schedules and sleeping habits. “I get out of school and go to work,” Ramirez said. “I work nights, I get three or four hours of sleep, then back to school again. I got used to it.”
“Sometimes people brag about how little they sleep, but it’s really damaging, they need to be aware of that”
- Edna Reyes-Wilson, clinical counselor and psychologist at UTEP. Anxiety, depression, physical health problems and academic troubles could begin to develop with sleep deprivation. A lack of sleep can also damage skin and kill a person’s sex drive. It can lead to heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, diabetes, depression and obesity. “Sometimes people brag about how little they sleep, but it’s really damag-
ing, they need to be aware of that,” said Edna Reyes-Wilson, a clinical counselor and psychologist at UTEP. “When you don’t sleep, you tend to want to eat more foods with fat content, we tend to eat foods with carbs to get more energy and that can lead to gaining weight.” While sleeping, everything that is learned throughout the day is being recorded into long-term memory. Reyes-Wilson also said that when a person uses alcohol to help sleep, it can weaken the quality of sleep. “The quality of the sleep will not help consolidate the information you learned throughout the day, not able to repair the wear of the body that is done during the sleep time,” Reyes-Wilson said. The University Counseling Center will host a workshop from 1:30-3 p.m., Sept. 30 on sleep deprivation. There will be a depression screening for students from 9 a.m.- 3 p.m., Oct. 8, which will help students determine other disorders that are caused by sleep deprivation. Both workshops will be free. For more information, students can visit the University Counseling Center in room 202 Union Building West or call 747-5302. Kimberly Valle may be reached at theprospectordaily. news@gmail.com.
Michaela roman/ The Prospector A student doses off between classes at the Union.
THEPROSPECTOR
NEWS | 5 |
September 16, 2014
FINANCIAL
Some students chose passion, others chose security By Maria Esquinca The Prospector Elizabeth II softly sings out onto the hot summer air, spewing notes on the C major pentatonic scale. “I broke Elizabeth the first. It seemed like a classy name for my classical guitar,” said Tajei Lee Roy Harper, sophomore history major, as he strums his fingers against Elizabeth’s strings. “I could be a vet if I want to. That’s not my passion and I can’t see myself doing that for the rest of my life.” Elizabeth II is a beauty. On her smooth, sleek, black surface is a taped photograph of Harper smiling with his three siblings above “I love Music” and “I voted” stickers. In a notebook, “Long live the lord that plays many chords,” is written in all caps. Some students such as Harper value passion when pursuing a degree, others such as James Newson, senior engineering major, value job security. “I like money and I wanted to travel the world. Engineering offered me that opportunity,” Newson said. “I always go back to the issue of money. You hear all the stories of students getting out with tens of thousands of dollars of debt from college—that was something I never want to experience.” A recent report by Payscale, a salary information firm, surveyed 68,000 workers and found that liberal arts majors are more likely to be underemployed. According to the report, 62.4 percent of criminal justice majors felt underemployed, followed by business management and administration, health care administration, general studies, sociology, English, graphic design, liberal arts, education and psychology. Poor pay was the biggest reason survey respondents claimed they felt underemployed.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, science, technology, engineering and mathematics majors had the lowest percentage of underemployed jobs. Six of the 10 majors on the list were in the engineering field. “You can follow your dream, but you have to live within reality, that’s maybe the best advice I can give to people,” Newson said. “Things can’t always pan out as you hoped.” Despite the uncertainty that might be attached to non-STEM majors, Harper prefers to study a degree he believes he will enjoy for the rest of his life. “I think it’s better to struggle for a couple of years than finding a job you don’t like for the rest of your life,” Harper said. “Nothing in life comes easy, it’s all about the struggle.” While job prospects for liberal arts majors are dim, that’s not the case for STEM majors such as Newson. “Within the first five years, 90 percent of engineers get employment,” Newson said. “It’s kind of a ritual among some engineers, after they graduate that they go to a vacation in different parts of the world.” A separate 2014 college salary report done by Payscale looked at earnings for graduates with bachelor’s degree. Of the top 20 colleges, 19 specialized in STEM fields. Harvey Mudd College earned the top spot. An undergraduate from Harvey Mudd College is estimated to earn a beginning salary of $75,000. UTEP was ranked 292 out of 1,002 in the Payscale report, with an expected earning of $45,600 as an early-career salary. Although some reports seem to project job security with STEM fields, some surveys cite unhappiness that can be attached to them. The Princeton Review 2012 edition of the “Best 376 Colleges” surveyed thousands of college students and published a list of “the least
Alliance Française Fall French classes are now open for enrollment - classes for beginners, intermediates and advanced students in east, west and central El Paso (close to UTEP).
Maria esquinca / The Prospector Sophomore history major Tajei Lee Roy Harper plays guitar in front of the Library. happy students.” Six out of the seven colleges were mainly composed of engineering students. In a poll by EE Times, 1,035 engineers revealed that engineers are four times less likely than the average American to be completely satisfied with their jobs. According to Jorge Marquez, clinical counselor at the UTEP Counseling Center, different factors account for a person’s happiness in a career, including family influence, job security, passion, among others. If students are struggling with confusion about what career they want to pursue, Marquez encourages them to visit the Counseling Center for career counseling. “Our role is to make sure we discussed every factor possible. In the end we’re just hoping the student is able to learn how to make these decisions. So they make the decision that they think is best for them,” Marquez said. Maria Esquinca may be reached at theprospectordaily. news@gmail.com.
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THEPROSPECTOR
| 6 | NEWS
September 16, 2014
MILITARY
Student vets struggle with workforce By Helen Yip The Prospector According to an article in The Washington Post, just a year ago the national rate for unemployment of U.S. veterans was 6.9 percent. According to the data, this was only slightly lower than the national average. UTEP’s Military Student Success Center approximates that 2,000 military-affliated students are enrolled for the fall 2014 semester and have gone through the MSSC to claim military benefits. Samantha Ungos, certifying official at MSSC, and a graduate student in social work, works with veterans to process their benefits. Ungos was in the army for six years and said a big reason student veterans return to get an education is to better their chances for a career. “Depending on what their job was in the military, like infantry, that doesn’t really translate to civilian jobs,” Ungos said. “They might have
some training, but it doesn’t make them necessarily marketable.” According to Ungos, UTEP provide credit for certain training the student may have received while enlisted. “If they were nurse assistants in the military, those trainings will count to credit,” Ungos said. Ungos said there might be a stigma attached to veterans, which is why some may struggle in finding a job. “I have some people in my program who have shared that people would look at them differently once they found out that they served in the war,” Ungos said. “You would think military experience would give you an advantage, but employers are looking for experience, so a lot of them come back to school.” Jairemy Edwards, junior psychology major, did three overseas tours as part of the U.S. Army and experienced first-hand some of those adjustments. “The first thing is practicing tolerance and compassion,” Edwards said.
matthew euzarraga / The Prospector The Military Student Success Center is located in room 205 at the UTEP library. “You can’t expect people to think and plan the way you do and just be a sponge.” Edwards is currently just focusing on being a full-time student. However, he is confident that he will have no problem getting a job. “Some companies, like JP Morgan, get tax breaks for hiring veterans, so I feel like if I want to go get a job right now I could,” Edwards said. Rudy Duran Jr., sophomore nursing major, was born and raised in El Paso and joined the Navy four years ago. Duran came back to school after 14
years and he found it difficult to get a job interview. “Out there, it’s hard, no one would call me back after I would apply,” Duran said. Duran said he was applying at entry-level places like Starbucks, Banana Republic and Target and found trouble getting considered. Duran also said he hurt his feet while he was aboard a ship that required four surgeries. He received an honorable discharge due to disability. “I think my background did have something to do with it because I am a disabled veteran,” Duran said.
Although it was hard for Duran to find a job in civilian life, he was hired quickly at UTEP. Currently, Duran works at MSSC. “I think military experience will help me to get a job in the future. I want to work in a military hospital,” Duran said. “It’s just entry-level positions that don’t seem to care about military experience.” Helen Yip may be reached at theprospectordaily.news@ gmail.com.
SPECIAL TO THE PROSPECTOR
Religious vocations also a career option By Jose Soto The Prospector A religious vocational calling has some students tackling on more than the usual college tasks. Although it may seem rare, these students seek to serve the church while pursuing their college degrees. These students follow up their college education with an additional five years for a master’s degree in divinity. Alongside nursing and practicing law, pursuing the priesthood is a lengthy endeavor, but there are a few who embark on the journey. One recent UTEP graduate has experienced this first hand. Francisco Hernandez, a philosophy graduate, is continuing his quest for priesthood. Hernandez is now enrolled at the University of Saint Thomas in Houston. Hernandez said most students pursue a bachelor’s degree in Catholic or Christian philosophy at a college associated with the Catholic Church, but he chose to pursue secular philosophy, without focusing entirely on religion. “My degree in philosophy gives me the foundation of understanding the philosophical questions of our human nature,” Hernandez said. “I will use these degrees in my ministry to
rely on them to provide spiritual care to the people I will be serving.” The Catholic Campus Ministry, located at 2230 North Oregon Street, is a religious center that offers mass, counseling and bible studies for students, faculty and staff members. Father Andy Martinez, one of the directors and priests at the ministry, helps students follow their religious beliefs while undertaking the demands of receiving a college education. “Our organization serves as a way to help students maintain their Catholic identity within a secular school,” Martinez said. Alberto Bravo, sophomore history major, wants to foster his faith as well as the faith of the community while pursuing his bachelor’s degree. “We all experience the ride, that we have come to call college, in our own unique way,” Bravo said. “I do think, however, that a religious vocation adds an extra flavor to it. Plus I think it makes the educational journey a bit longer, all in good faith of course.” Bravo also said he believes it is important to receive an education, but said a degree serves no purpose if its primary function is not to serve others. “Through the church, I will learn theology and how to find God and
guide others in their faith,” he said. “Yet in college, you learn the needs of the world, you learn to see things from a new perspective alongside different students within a diverse background. This will hopefully enable me to one day merge both my vocation and degree to understand and serve people.” Bravo said that although it might seem uncommon for students to pursue a religious vocation, it is also uncommon for individuals who have decided to follow a calling with the church to attend college at all. “Mostly, when one thinks of people in the process for a religious vocation, they think of them immediately right after high school jumping on a bus and being shipped out to a monastery or seminary, somewhere to avoid life corrupting them, but that is not the case,” he said. “Though many young men do join right out of high school, everyone’s religious vocation journey is a bit different.” For more information on the Catholic Campus Ministry, contact Father Andy Martinez at 915-838-0300 or at campusministry@elpasodiocese.org. Jose Soto may be reached at theprospectordaily.news@ gmail.com.
THEPROSPECTOR
| 8 | NEWS
September 16, 2014
Events
Estudiantes buscan mantenerse en el país POR CASSANDRA ADAME The Prospector Nota editorial: Esta es la primera de una serie tres partes. Estudiantes internacionales buscan la manera de seguir viviendo y trabajando en los Estados Unidos una vez que concluyan sus estudios universitarios, pero las prácticas profesionales abren brechas laborales para los estudiantes internacionales. El coordinador del programa de prácticas laborales para estudiantes, Nick Zweig, opina que las prácticas profesionales son críticas. Sirven para ayudar a las personas a desarrollar sus habilidades personales especialmente para los estudiantes internacionales. “Cuando los estudiantes internacionales son capaces de aumentar su comerciabilidad se vuelven más atractivos a las compañías”, dijo Zweig. Por otro lado, Zweig aclara que se tiene que entender que existe un esfuerzo financiero extra al contratar a un estudiante internacional mas allá de una práctica profesional. “Las compañías tienen que tomar una decisión estratégica ¿es esta persona alguien que valga la pena? todo ese tiempo extra y dinero! Las tarifas de los abogados por una visa de empleo son de miles de dólares, sin mencionar el costo de la visa en sí ”, dijo Zweig. Las visas que utilizan más los estudiantes son la visa H-1B, visa de trabajo temporal para los que tienen al menos una licenciatura, y las visas NAFTA, que facilitan el traslado temporal de profesionistas entre Canadá,
México y Estados Unidos. Desde el 1 de enero de 2004, los trámites se han simplificado para los mexicanos al eliminar el requisito de peticiones y solicitudes de condiciones laborales. Luis Fernando Marines, estudiante de 25 años de edad, actualmente cursa su último semestre de ingeniería civil. Nació en Chihuahua, Chihuahua, y profesionalmente no tiene planes de regresar a México. Marines, con la ayuda del departamento de prácticas profesionales de UTEP, consiguió una práctica profesional en una empresa, lo que le brindo experiencia laboral. Debido a la clase “temas especiales”, Marines conoció al contratista general de una empresa constructora de El Paso. “Al final de la clase me acerque, le dije que estaba interesado en trabajar con ellos y le di mi curriculum, fui a la entrevista y me dieron el trabajo”, dijo Marines. Gracias a su interés y experiencia laboral, él será el primer mexicano contratado con visa de trabajo en dicha empresa. Marines comentó la clave aquí es moverse, hacer todo a tiempo, conocer gente y ser proactivo. “Nadie empieza sabiendo todo”, dijo Marines. “No te va a llegar nada sentado, es un asunto de sentido común”. Para Marines, los trámites para conseguir las prácticas laborales no han sido difíciles y dijo que será lo mismo para obtener la visa de trabajo. “No es algo fuera de lo común, es mas más papeleo”, dijo Marines. Los estudiantes que forman parte de la carrera de ingeniería, ciencia o
tecnología tienen preferencia y más facilidades al momento de conseguir un trabajo fuera de la escuela. La Dra. Catie McCorry-Andalis, vicepresidente asistente del departamento de vida estudiantil, comentó que esto fue establecido por el gobierno estadounidense como áreas altamente requeridas en el país. Antonio Marban, de 26 años de edad, nació en Acapulco, México. Actualmente estudia kinesiología y le queda solo un año para buscar trabajo en alguna clínica u hospital donde pueda aspirar a una visa de trabajo. Marban estudia y trabaja de tiempo completo, lo que le complica buscar eficientemente un trabajo que le ofrezca las condiciones que busca.
Un estudiante internacional puede ser más propenso a experimentar problemas económicos y más trámites administrativos. “Es muy diferente el tener la ayuda de “financial aid” (ayuda financiera), no te tienes que preocupar por pagar, pero como estudiantes internacional pues sí. Mis papas hacen el esfuerzo, me mandan dinero para la escuela pero yo tengo que buscarle para vivir, la comida, la renta”, dijo Marban. “Claro hay unos internacionales que tienen más dinero que otros y se les facilita más, pero en mi caso, no”. A Marban, le gustaría trabajar en la rehabilitación de niños. De no encontrar trabajo en un hospital o clínica planea seguir estudiando para para-
special to the prospector médico u enfermero. Si por cuestiones económicas no lo consigue quiere entrar al programa OPT (entrenemiento de prácticas opcional) o a una carrera técnica de rehabilitación de dos años. “Honestamente, por más que quiero a México y lo extrañe, hay más oportunidades aquí, es más fácil salir adelante. En México, si no tienes las condiciones es muy difícil entrar en un trabajo bien pagado”, dijo Marban. Como una de sus últimas opciones, es regresar a México e intentar buscar trabajo en los centros de rehabilitación de Teletón. Contacte a Cassandra Adame por medio de theprospectordaily.news@gmail.com
PAGE 9 September 16, 2014
entertainment
EditoR
ANDREA E. ACOSTA, 747-7477
students struggle to erase the tattoo stigma maTTheW eUzarraga / The ProsPecTor Developmental math professor saul soto writes a formula on his classroom white board.
By MaTTHEW EUzarraga The Prospector According to a 2013 survey done by the Center for Professional Excellence at York College of Pennsylvania, 61 percent of human resource managers said tattoos would hurt a job applicant’s chances. There are exceptions in tattoo-friendly companies such as Kohl’s, Petco and Home Depot. The study shows that 45 million people in the U.S. currently have tattoos, and 30 percent are college graduates. Betsy Castro, interim director at the University Career Center, encourages students to understand their field and the type of work they are going into when dealing with tattoos and the workplace.
“If they’re going into a conservative work environment, I always encourage students to cover them up, because you don’t know how that representative from that organization is going to react,” Castro said. With no laws that require or ban companies from hiring people with tattoos, most job applicants and employees know that when it comes to the work place, body art just needs to be covered. Although there are a few companies that have a tattoo-friendly policy, there are still generation gaps within the work place. Alyssa Mijares, a tattoo artist and UTEP alumni, doesn’t understand why tattoos are still frowned upon within the work place. “It’s not logical. It’s just what some people associate it with and where it
came from, which is prison tattoos,” she said. “I think it’s evolved enough to be looked as a professional business to a certain extent, but for those who are ignorant, don’t understand the dynamics of the industry, so they could not relate to it.” According to an article from Daily Finance, there are approximately 15,000 tattoo parlors in the U.S. and the tattoo industry earns approximately $2.3 billion annually. Tattoo culture is now far more accepted than when they used homemade tattoo machines to ink other prison inmates. “I think it comes down to presentation. If you don’t present yourself the right way, it doesn’t matter if you have tattoos or not,” Saul Soto, developmental math professor said. “I’ve had plenty of jobs, even in the teach-
ing field, where I had to cover them, and that’s part of the responsibility you have if you’re a professional.” Soto has tattoo sleeves on both his arms and encourages students to follow the dress code at their current jobs if they have tattoos. “I haven’t covered my tattoos here on campus, but I have worked at other schools and business firms, where the dress code requires for me to cover them up,” Soto said. Although the number of people who have tattoos is growing rapidly and the tattoo industry is currently booming. There are not many companies that are on the bandwagon of tattoo acceptance. Most require their employees to cover up visible piercings, hair color or any other body modifications that
may be distracting to coworkers and potential customers. Candi Hall, sophomore art major, said that students have to be very careful about what part of the body they are getting inked as it will often times need to be covered for the workplace. “(Getting a tattoo) is a huge decision. You have to decide: Do I care if it shows? Am I going to be comfortable with keeping it covered in the work place?” Hall said. “You have to be able to carry on and know that just as long as you feel like you’re yourself and not being denied any personal rights, then go for it, I know I will.” Matthew Euzarraga may be reached at theprospectordaily. ent@gmail.com.
Food
Eating like a professional does the job
By JosEPH EsPosiTo The Prospector
Preparing for a job interview takes more than dressing your best and reciting a few lines before setting foot into what will hopefully be your future workplace. In fact, studies have been conducted in order to determine what foods make the best choices for those who are preparing for an interview. Something as simple, and often overlooked, as a different choice of lunch could make all the difference while sitting in front of those who will decide whether or not they should hire you. “I don’t really think about what I eat before I go to a job interview. I just eat what I would normally eat,” Danyel Estrada, freshman geological sciences major, said. According to a study conducted by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, sources of lean protein
such as fish, poultry and eggs give off a lesser amount of tryptophan—a chemical that helps you fall asleep, as opposed to other foods, while releasing sources of norepinephrine and dopamine—two chemicals that both raise alertness in the brain. Depending on whether you would rather be alert or calm during a job interview, lean proteins could be included in your pre-interview meal. “Before going to a job interview, I eat something light, like a salad or a piece of chicken. I don’t want to eat too much and feel too full or bloated,” Steven Hampton, freshman biological sciences major, said. In addition, brain foods such as nuts, fruits and whole grains are high in vitamins and are healthy for the human body overall. According to author and physician Steven Pratt’s book, “Superfoods RX: Fourteen Foods Proven to Change Your Life,” blueberries are especially healthy for the brain. They have been
i’ll definitely put more thought into what i eat before interviews now. it never occurred to me that certain foods can make a difference. -Danyel Estrada, freshman geological sciences major proven to alleviate stress and diminish conditions that develop with age such as Alzheimer’s disease. Juliann Jose, freshman education major, always eats a banana 30 or 45
minutes prior to an interview, as she says it helps calm the nerves. “If not a banana, I’ll have a granola bar or some other light snack,” Jose said. While it’s always a good idea to follow up certain meals with breath mints—certain foods that give off strong odors such as onions, garlic and some seafood are best considered to be left out before an interview. The smells produced by these foods can be hard to get rid of. Bad breath can hinder the impression you leave on those who interview you, and while it may not seem like much of a problem, looking and smelling your best can only be beneficial in a face-to-face discussion. “One thing I always make sure to avoid is anything that would smell bad. That’s a must,” Estrada said. Spicy or greasy foods should not be on the list for dinner interviews either, since this may provoke pains, gastric noises and an upset stomach.
“I always avoid greasy foods and
soft drinks, which could make you dehydrated. Water is all I drink before job interviews,” Hampton said. With a meal fit for a person ready to become the newest addition to a workplace, interviewees who are prepared both inside and out will start their interviews with an advantage. Important meetings require both mental and physical readiness, with food choices being a factor that is often ignored. “I’ll definitely put more thought into what I eat before interviews now,” Estrada said. “It never occurred to me that certain foods can make a difference.” Joseph Esposito may be reached at theprospectordaily. ent@gmail.com.
THEPROSPECTOR
| 10 | ENtERtaiNMENt
September 16, 2014
CultuRE
UTEP celebrates Hispanic heritage By lUis Barrio The Prospector
JUsTin rodrigUez/ The ProsPecTor Ballet Floklorico Flor y canto, inc. performs at the union.
UTEP is well into celebrating Hispanic heritage. The celebration began in late August and will continue into early November. Traditionally, Hispanic Heritage Month takes place between Sept. 15 and Oct. 15. The celebration encompasses presentations on border studies, violence on the border, theater and dance performances, exhibits and more. Key events began with a free public presentation about academic study, global politics and local business on Sept. 13 at 10 a.m. in UTEP’s Blumberg Auditorium. Kathleen Staudt, professor in political science and renowned educator for her work on the Western Hemispheric Trade Policy, spoke about border studies all over the world. She and UTEP graduate student, Pamela Cruz, discussed their shared research on business people, their organizations and local political officials dealing with trade and security priorities at the U.S.-Mexico border. The celebration continued with the annual El Grito ceremony, which commemorates the Declaration of Mexican Independence, Sept. 16. The event took place at 11 a.m. Sept. 15 at the Union Plaza. Upcoming events include a presentation by Lalo Alcatraz, cartoonist and political satirist, who will visit UTEP at noon, Sept. 25, at the Tomás Rivera Conference Center in room 308 in Union Building East. He will discuss the increasing popularity of his commentary on race and class relations in the U.S. His visit is expected to draw a large audience. On Nov. 1, the university will pay homage to Día de los Muertos.” Luis Barrio may be reached at theprospectordaily.ent@ gmail.com.
HisTory, cUlTUrE anD TraDiTion Friday, Sept. 19, 2014. Sept. 19, 2014. Telecast: “Seminario Binacional Diversidad sin Violencia.” With presenters from the Universidad Pedagógica Nacional–Plantel de Cd. Juárez, the Secretaría de Educación Pública – Cd. Juárez, UTEP and UT Austin College of Health Sciences and School of Nursing Building, room 212, 9 a.m. Sept. 19, 2014. Religion and Culture Fair: “4th Annual International Day of Peace Celebration.” Union Breezeway, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 19, 2014. Religion and Culture Fair: “4th Annual International Day of Peace Celebration.” Union Breezeway, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 25, 2014. Presentation: “An Afternoon with Lalo Alcaraz.” Tomás Rivera Conference Center, Union Building East, room 308,
arT anD EXHiBiTs Jun. 9 – Sept. 27, 2014. Exhibit: “Ignite: The Artistic and Educational Heritage of Gaspar Enríquez.” The Stanlee and Gerald Rubin Center for the Visual Arts, gallery hours: Monday – Wednesday, Friday 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., Thursday 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2014. Lecture: “Alejandro Almanza Pereda: Artist Talk.” The Stanlee and Gerald Rubin Auditorium, noon. Sept. 1 – 30, 2014. Art and Book Exhibit: “Chicano Art: Mirror of Culture.” Featuring UTEP art graduates, former students and El Paso artists. University Library, Sixth Floor, regular library hours.
Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2014, Reception & Presentation: “Artists from El Paso.” By UTEP librarian Juan Sandoval. 5 p.m. Sept. 1 – Oct. 3, 2014. Exhibit: “José Cisneros and the 1951 TWC Flowsheet.” University Library, fourth floor, regular library hours. Thursday, Sept. 18, 2014. Workshop: “Gaspar Enríquez Airbrushing Workshop.” At the Fox Fine Arts Center, (Third floor), 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. Space is limited, registration required, call 915-747-5161 to register. This workshop is in conjunction with the exhibition Ignite: The Artistic and Educational Heritage of Gaspar Enríquez.
liTEraTUrE, DancE, FilM, MUsic anD THEaTEr Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2014. Film Discussion: ¿Es El Chapo? Film director Charlie Minn will discuss his work documenting the Mexican cartel wars. Union Theatre, 1:30 – 3 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 28, 2014. Performance: “Murales en Movimiento/Moving Murals.” As part of the 10th Annual Lincoln Park Day Celebration at Lincoln Park,
4001 Durazno, Ave., El Paso, TX, 79905, 2 – 3 p.m. Sept. 26 and 27, 2014. Performance: “Dzul Dance – México Maya.” Magoffin Auditorium, 8 p.m. Ticket information: UTEP Ticket Center, 915-747-5234 or ticketmaster.com, 800-7453000. Tickets are $26 + service fees.
THEPROSPECTOR
ENTERTAINMENT | 11 |
September 16, 2014
question of the week
Have you had to quit your job before? Why? cristina esquivel/ Justin Rodriguez/ ruby Cerino / The Prospector
cecilia hao
Freshman political science major
Sarah Aguilar
Freshman art major
Aaron Johnson
Graduate mechanical engineering major
“I had to quit a job because I found a job here at UTEP that worked better with my schedule and was just better to balance out work and school.”
“I quit my job because it was interfering with school, I wasn’t paid well and others were stealing my tips.”
Demetre Flores
Israel Perez
Esmeralda Treviño
“I worked at EPCC and then I had an internship during the summer, so I had to quit. I couldn’t work and do that.”
“I quit Village Inn because it didn’t fit into my schedule, I didn’t like the kind of work I was doing because I didn’t feel I was using my skills I was getting in college.”
“Yes, recently I had quit a job in retail. I found that I was being treated pretty badly by my managers.”
Ruben Guzman
Korina Gallegos
Abigail lopez
Freshman nursing major
Freshman health promotion major
“It was too much workload, and it was interfering with school.”
“It was hard to handle the kids at the school I used to work at, and sometimes my boss wasn’t flexible with my schedule.”
“I worked at the restaurant for three weeks. I quit because I didn’t like it.”
Jesus cortez
Margarita Espinoza
Jose Luis Barraza
“ I had to quit a job because they no longer wanted to work with my school schedule They were like, ‘Oh you would really have to choose, either school or work’ and I chose school.”
“I quit a job because I had to go visit my family in Mexico. It was an urgent family trip so I quit.”
Senior geological sciences major
Freshman biomedical science major
Freshman business “I used to work at Tinseltown back when I was in high school and soccer practice was at 7:00 a.m. It was pretty stressing having to go to sleep very late and having to wake up early so I had to quit.”
Sophomore math major
Junior microbiology major
“I worked at a restaurant. The reason I left was because I got tired of working on the weekends and long hours. After that I wanted to work in something professional or an office environment.”
Sophomore multimedia journalism major
Freshman pre-med major
Stephanie Davis
Freshman education major “Although I have not had to quit a job, I’ve had to balance my time more and drop an organization. This is mostly because I didn’t manage my time as efficiently and in order to do so.”
joseph lopez
Freshman metallurgical engineering major “I had a job in Dallas. I quit because I had school and other extracurricular activities, and I wanted to focus.”
THEPROSPECTOR
| 12 | ENTERTAINMENT
September 16, 2014
Business
UTEP alumn offers a new way to wake up
By kimberly valle The Prospector
A new coffeeshop is coming soon as Stacking of the Coffee Box brings a unique touch in the city’s downtown area. It is set to open UTEP alumni, Nahum Avila and Miguel Veloz co-owners of the Stacking of the Coffee Box, teamed up on and came up with the idea that will combine both of their passions, coffee and business. “I have been a coffee drinker for most of my life, and I am very pleased to be able to share this passion with others,” said Avila. According to co-owners, it took a year for plenty of research from both to assure where would be the best place for the coffee shop. “We analyzed the market and saw potential on the location, we further discussed whether we should lease a space or build the location,” Avila said. Once the research was done Avila and Veloz approached to the archi-
tects and they came up with the layout of the shop. “I really liked the idea of bringing something unique to downtown El Paso, something that can even become a land mark for visitors coming to our great city,” Avila said. What makes this coffee shop so unique from others is their architecture the stacking of two cargo containers, one slid off to the side. Avila got the idea of this blueprint by sighting people using the cargo containers to build houses, hotel rooms and offices. “I thought it would be and interesting architecture if it could be used for a coffee shop,” Avila said. Avila said this concept took a lot of effort and encourages interested students, who are contemplating on starting their own business after graduation, to think outside the box. “One thing that many people fear is to share their ideas, specially because they might think that someone will steal it away,” Avila said. “If you have an idea share it, share it with positive
people that might want to help you during the process, they might think you are crazy but if they see your vision they will help along the way.” Avila and Veloz will focus on bringing the finest coffee quality to the city and are proud to offer their locally roasted coffee to the shop. The stacking of the box will also offer deliveries to the offices around the shop. “I believe El Paso is growing so fast and we are really proud to be part of the great development happening in the city we call home,” Veloz said. Since their ground-breaking ceremony the Stacking of the Coffee Box on Aug. 27, the coffee shop has gotten a lot of interest and positive feedback from residents that are interested in the project.
Jackie Candelaria, senior electrical engineering major is eager to taste the coffee shop’s locally brewed coffee and the atmosphere that the Stacking of the Coffee Box will bring to the area. “The structure itself is very modern which is appealing in many ways. I am excited to taste their coffee and I know I will be visiting this location,” said Jackie Candelaria senior electrical engineering major. “We didn’t expect such a great media coverage and we love to know that we are bringing something that El Pasoans want,” said Avila. Kristen Sobrino, sophomore business and accounting major said that although she is not a coffee fanatic, she is excited for new businesses opening up on downtown.
“With the new ballpark I think we need more places like that as far as catering more to our generation. I am very excited to see what’s in store for the coffee shop. I’m excited to see how it turns out,” Sobrino said. Though it will be a bit of a walking distance from UTEP, it won’t stop coffee lovers like Judith Gutierrez, junior pre-nursing major. “I’m excited to see how people will react to having a home grown coffee shop rather than Starbucks, which is a huge corporation. The design of the coffee shop is different and unique which is perfect for El Paso,” said Gutierrez. Kimberly Valle may be reached at theprospectordaily. ent@gmail.com.
michaela roman / The Prospector The Coffee Box is set to open in late October or early November. It is located on the corner of Mesa and Main St.
When: Saturday, September 27, 2014 Where: UTEP PARKING LOT R-4 ( Next to the University Ticket Center) Time:10:00 am -2:00 pm
PAGE 13 September 16, 2014
Sports
Editor
JAVIER CORTEZ, 747-7477
How sweet it is, the domination of a rival By Javier Cortez
The Prospector In football, every win is counted the same. It does not matter if you win with a game-winning field goal or a 30-point blowout—a win is a win. But there is one exception to that rule. When it comes to rivalry games, the complexity of the game changes. Defeating your rival can make up for a season of trials or tribulations, or a loss can take away everything that a city, school and team were looking for—bragging rights. Full steam ahead and the Miners have already made major strides in the young 2014 season—an impressive road win over New Mexico and a closely contested battle against Texas Tech showed that the Miners were not the same team they were last year. And Saturday night’s game against New Mexico State proved that once again, as the Miners won 42-24. Head coach Sean Kugler has been involved in the rivalry as a player, assistant coach and now as head coach. “We take this game very seriously and I know the fans do, so it’s exciting for both sides,” Kugler said. “I respect the rivalry. I really enjoyed playing in it, I enjoyed coaching in it, and since I have been head coach I have enjoyed coaching in it as a head coach. It’s exciting, it’s intense and that’s what football is all about.” Although the outcome is counted the same, the adulation and joy that comes with beating a rival can make up for a season of mishaps and disappointments. Last year, the UTEP football team had a dismal season, finishing with one of the worst defenses in the nation and a laundry list of injuries that resulted in a 2-10 record for the Miners. One of the few bright spots in that season was the Miners’ win over New Mexico State in the Battle of I-10. It
michaela roman/ The Prospector Saturday night the Miners tied the record for most consecutive wins by any team in the 100-year-old rivalry with six straight wins. was a dominant win for the Miners, something that was a rarity last season. The 42-21 score was overshadowed by the overall disappointment of the season; but senior safety Wesley Miller has made it clear this season that the Miners are not looking back on last season. “We don’t really look at positives from last year,” Miller said. “It was just a rough year all around. Looking back now, you never want to lose a game to your rival. Last year that wasn’t really in our mind. This year that was all that was on our mind.” The 18-point routing of the Aggies marked the Miners’ sixth straight win in the Battle of I-10, which ties the longest winning streak for either team in the 100-year old rivalry. The Miners have dominated the rivalry
In high school, you always hear them compare Las Cruces football to El Paso football. Showing that we can play is a good feeling - Aaron Jones, sophomore running back
over the past 15 years, and for the seniors on the 2014 squad, they have gone out in dominant fashion with Saturday’s win. “It’s fantastic, I can’t really express it right now,” Miller said. “We’re definitely ending the rivalry on a high note, I hope it continues. I think its been six straight for us and we hope to continue that for the next couple of years.” For Miller, the win was nothing short of special. After tearing his MCL in last year’s game, the Fresno, California, native finished his career off against New Mexico State in style. With New Mexico State driving midway through the second quarter, Miller intercepted a pass in the end zone, while taking a big hit. If the pass had
been completed, the Aggies would have taken the lead. Miller’s interception changed the state of the game in favor of the Miners, and is the lasting memory of Miller’s career against the Aggies—not his injury from last year. “Yeah that totally washed away that memory,” Miller said. “It hurt so good. I felt it right when it happened, but it was totally worth it and I would do it every time.” Even for underclassmen, the importance of the game is understood with clarity. From freshman to senior, every Miner understood how important the game was and how much it means for UTEP and the city of El Paso. “Growing up watching the games and seeing the previous UTEP teams win, we didn’t want to lose the (Silver) Spade,” said sophomore running back Aaron Jones. “In high school, you always hear them compare Las Cruces football to El Paso football. Showing that we can play is a good feeling.” The Miners now lead the overall series 55 wins to 35 losses, with two draws. Over the Miners’ six-game winning streak over the Aggies, the average margin of victory is 19 points, with the Miners averaging a staggering 36.8 points per game. Whether the Miners go onto have success down the road this season or falter like the teams of the past, the 2014 squad will always have the memory of dominating the Battle of I-10. How sweet it is. Javier Cortez may be reached at theprospectordaily. sports@gmail.com.
Athletes
Collegiate sports, a job in itself By Juan Carlos Navarrete The Prospector Between midterms, essays and 15 class hours per week, many would consider being a student as a parttime job. Mix in practice, weight sessions, going out of town to that equation, and you’ve got yourself a full-time job. There is no doubt a student-athlete’s life involves just as much studying and dedication to school work as any other student on campus, but when you consider the physical rigors an athlete must endure as well as the time constraints of being on a team and its travels, it becomes easy to see why student athletes consider their sport a full-time job. Cooper Foster, a redshirt sophomore for the UTEP football team, knows all about the time and commitment football requires. “We only truly get one day off from practice a week and what not, and even when we have time off, we are still watching film and in meetings in order to be ready for the next week,” Foster said. A popular stigma among students is that athletes don’t have the same academic requirements as full-time
students since they are here on athletic scholarships. Student athletes must commit to school as much as they do to their sport, which means they need to be students before they can be athletes. According to the NCAA, if a student athlete is to remain eligible to participate in intercollegiate athletics they must meet a minimum requirement of hours per semester as well as a minimum GPA to ensure success as a student first. A student athlete must complete a minimum of 24 hours their first year of college as well as maintain a minimum GPA of a 2.0 in order to play. Though a 2.0 GPA is not considered high by any means or enough to put any student on the dean’s list, it is a significant benchmark to reach considering studying and term papers may be written on buses,planes and in hotel rooms. The life of a student athlete consists of travel and studying from mobile places, making desks and libraries a luxury on the road. “I definitely have studied on the bus for sure,” Foster said. “Bringing readings for the way there and the way back, and once I’m there it is hard to focus on school. My mindset is no longer on school. I usually am trying
to focus on the game and read my assignments for the team.” A struggle that student athletes often endure is the time the sport actually takes outside of competition. Between classes, practice and homework, athletes commonly seem to be at a shortage of hours in a day to get all their schoolwork done and still have time for rest and relaxation. Jalen Anderson, a redshirt freshman for the UTEP track and field team, knows all too well the struggle to find free time outside of school and sports. “Managing time would be important because you need to make time for practice and rest, definitely have to encourage grades, and I think managing your time is crucial because there’s not enough hours in a day,” Anderson said. I dedicate around six hours a day between practices and workouts every day and I have to include time for rest.” College students quickly learn after their freshmen year that a 9 a.m. class on a Monday is not a good idea, nor is it anything compared to a 9 a.m. class back in high school. Much like full-time employees who work from nine to five, student athletes endure the early morning routine. With team
meetings at 6:45 a.m and practice at 8:15 a.m., football players find sleep is another thing they have to sacrifice to keep doing what they love. “Practice is basically class for us in the morning,” Foster said. “I set my alarm at five o’clock and hit snooze until I can wake up to be at the training room at six a.m. to get my ankles taped and be at the team meeting by 6:45, right before practice. If I have a
It’d be great to get paid, a lot of people would argue for it, but I’m getting my school paid for and my living expenses paid for - Cooper Foster, redshirt sophomore football player
9 a.m. class on Monday’s I am happy, because that’s sleeping in for me.” Factoring in the amount of time spent on the sport between practice, workouts, travel and games, it’s clear to see why most student athletes consider playing their sport as a full-time job. When asked about playing and getting paid like a full time job Foster simply said, “It’d be great to get paid, a lot of people would argue for it, but I’m getting my school paid for and my living expenses paid for,” Foster said. “Yeah it’s hard, I know my role on the team and I’m going to be the next man up on the team, but at the end, it’s worth it.” For most student athletes, life after college won’t involve sports, and although many of them consider their sport a job, it is not their main priority. Both Foster and Anderson said they are students first, then athletes and their main job right now is school. Though they don’t get paid to be a student athlete, for them being an athlete is a job they’d love to get paid to do but would do it for free any day. Juan Carlos Navarrete may be reached at theprospectordaily.news@gmail.com.
THEPROSPECTOR
| 14 | SPORTS
September 16, 2014
Soccer
Miners in prime form for Border Shootout
By Luis Gonzalez The Prospector
Conference play is the priority and the focal point of most college programs. That is definitely the case for the UTEP women’s soccer program, but that doesn’t mean its non-conference schedule is not important. Already off to a great start with this 2014 season, head coach Kevin Cross’ team will host Northern Arizona University and the University of Nevada at Las Vegas, on Friday and Sunday, respectively, for the 15th-annual Border Shootout. These two matches, will take place on the pitch of University Field, are the final two before UTEP begins its Conference USA schedule. “We’re just taking it one game at a time. I’m thankful the team is playing well and scoring goals and playing good defense,” Cross said. “We obviously have to keep playing better.” The Miners, picked to finish fifth among the 14 teams in Conference USA, have gotten off to a great start with solid contributions across all of its lines. Led by midfielder Angela Cutaia and forward Bri Barreiro, the Miner offense has scored a considerable amount of goals and have only allowed a few, thanks to a strong defense anchored by Hannah Asuchak and Preseason All C-USA selection Aleah Davis. The few times opponents have found a way past the Miner back four, senior goalkeeper Sarah
Dilling has been close to unbeatable, recording four shutouts in six games. The importance of these games is not lost on Cutaia, who is responsible for four Miner goals this season. “Obviously, you want to go undefeated, for preseason that’s something we all talked about,” Cutaia said. “It’s our mindset—that we want to win all the time.” In the Lumberjacks of Northern Arizona, the Miners will face last year’s second-best team from the Big Sky Conference. Picked to finish third this season, NAU recorded 11 wins last season and has seven returning starters, including six All-Sky Conference selections. Led by Coach Andre Luciano, in his 14th year, and midfielder Cierra Gamble, a 2013 All-Big Sky First Team selection and the conference’s golden boot winner, the Lumberjacks come to El Paso looking for their first-ever win against UTEP. In four meetings, the Miners have come out on top every single time, outscoring NAU 15-6. These two teams met as recently as last year, when UTEP traveled to Flagstaff, and thanks to four second-half goals, they earned a 4-3 victory. Among the current Miner players who participated in that contest are Barreiro and Cutaia, each contributing a goal to the cause. After the meeting with NAU, the Miners will take on another team with double-digit wins in 2013. The UNLV Rebels come to town being
michaela roman/ The Prospector Midfielder Angela Cutaia is having a breakout season for the Miners in her junior year, leading the team in goals and points. tabbed to finish seventh in the Mountain West Conference, one spot lower than they did a year ago. Coach Chris Shaw is in his first season heading the program and has 16 players returning from last season and seven starters. Still, the Rebels must deal with a certain lack of experience, having just one senior on the roster, and the loss of its best player in 2013—Jenn Wolf. Making up for the on-field production of two-time All-Conference for-
ward, Wolfe will be no easy task for Shaw. Wolfe left big shoes to fill after leading the team in scoring for the past two years, tallying 19 goals, and 19 assists in 2013. The Miners and the Rebels have only met once before in 2000, when UNLV hosted and prevailed over UTEP, shutting the Miners out 3-0. Closing out the final stretch of nonconference games positively is important for coach Cross and the Miners. Forward Barreiro understands the
task of not only getting good results, but also improving in order to be ready for the most important part of the schedule. “Every game, we need to get better and better, which is what we’re doing,” Barreiro said. “Once conference hits, those are going to be our hardest games of the year.” Luis Gonzalez may be reached at theprospectordaily. sports@gmail.com
THEPROSPECTOR
SPORTS | 15 |
September 16, 2014
Tennis
Third time’s a charm
By Javier Cortez The Prospector
For the third time this year, women’s tennis has a new coach, forcing them to start over once again. Three coaches in less than one year is not a methodology that UTEP tennis is practicing by choice, but luck has not been on the Miners’ side. Former head coach Mark Roberts left the team for an assistant coaching position with Southern Methodist University right as the spring 2014 season was starting, and former head coach Myriam Sopel only lasted eight months before her visa expired. Now up to bat is Cristina Moros, and she brings with her a hefty resume. Moros’ playing career alone trumps Sopel and Roberts— Moros was a five time All-American at the University of Texas, and she was part of the 1995 national championship team.
After her playing career, Moros has etched out a prestigious coaching resume. The UT grad has coached all around the country, at some of the best tennis academies in the United
They’ve definitely had a rough go, college wise for sure. It’s going to take a while...by no means do I think it’s perfect right now - Cristina Moros, UTEP women’s tennis head coach
Javier cortez / THE PROSPECTOR
New head coach Cristina Moros is the third head coach in the last nine months for UTEP tennis.
States. Most notably, Moros coached at the Bollettieri Tennis Academy in Bradenton, Fla. It’s safe to say, Moros’ resume speaks for itself. When recruiting rolls around, Moros knows that her experience can be beneficial. “I’m very fortunate, where I stayed in junior tennis coaching as long as I did. I gained even more contacts at different academies in Florida and Texas,” Moros said. “It does help, but I’m not naïve and think that we’re going to get the best girls to come here, they’re still going to go to the big programs—it’s just the way it is. But I am very confident in my coaching abilities and my developmental abilities. I want to find someone that hasn’t peaked yet and make them better.” As for now, Moros has to gain the trust of the four returning players from last year—senior Davina Meza, senior Anastasiya Sylenko, junior Matilda Tench and sophomore Daphne Vischer. For all four players, Moros is their third head coach at UTEP, and hopefully their last. “Obviously it’s tough for them,” Moros said. “They’ve definitely had a rough go, college wise for sure. It’s going to take a while, we’re still getting to know each other a little bit, by no means do I think it’s perfect right now. We definitely have some work to do.” Just as Moros is learning to gain the trust of her players, the same thing is happening on the other side of the net. Meza understands the experience of starting over and having new coaches better than anyone on the team, as a transfer from Cal State Stanislaus, Moros is coach number four for Meza. “It’s very overwhelming,” Meza said. “Actually, having Cristina is the best
thing that could happen to us. She’s a great coach, the whole team seems to like her and respect her.” For the first time since Meza has been at UTEP, she feels settled—but when the news of a new coach and four incoming players came in, Meza, along with her teammates, were uncertain about more changes coming.
“It was hard to think about another new coach,” Meza said. “The returners, we were scared, we didn’t know what was happening, plus four new girls. We were really doubting. But it’s so easy to get along with her (Moros). We know what she is expecting and we just have to work hard.” Javier Cortez may be reached at theprospectordaily. sports@gmail.com.
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