T H E U N I V E R S I T Y O F T E X A S AT E L PA S O
VOL . 102, NO. 1
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VoTErÍA debunks ‘my vote doesn’t matter’ new efforts are made to encourage El Pasoans to vote in local elections by MiChaela roMán The Prospector La Lotería, also known as Mexican Bingo, has been a favorite pastime in Mexican culture for generations. Whether played on holidays with family for prizes or teaching U.S. children Spanish—the century-old game is one many have become familiar with. Cemelli de Aztlan, a lecturer in liberal arts at UTEP, along with being a member of El Paso Equal Voice Network wanted to inform El Pasoans and young voters about the importance of voting, and used the popular game to inform potential voters with their version—Juego De Voteria. The EPEVN network is made up of local organizations such as La Mujer Obrera, AYUDA, Border Network for Human Rights, Texas Rio Grande Legal Aid and the Paso del Norte Civil Rights Project. These organizations work together to address issues affecting low-income families in the community. Because it’s an election year, the coalition wanted voter engagement to be their main focus. “We found that voter registration never went far enough because it didn’t guarantee that people would be invested in who they’re voting for, what they’re voting for or how they’re voting,” said de Aztlan. The network wanted to address the fact that, when it comes to the issues, the root of change is policy.
“Voters in El Paso were mostly coming out for the presidential election despite the fact that local elections matter more,” de Aztlan said. Each square of the Votería cards tells a story about an issue at hand in the El Paso community such as fracking, children being denied their birth certificates and immigration policy. “We got really great funding and printed about 200 card games. It comes with curriculum in both English and Spanish and goes into specific issues, making it a great teaching kit,” de Aztlan said. De Aztlan and those working with the network have been going to different community events and setting up the game to teach the issues at hand in a fun way. “We just set up the table and play and it gives people that spark of knowledge,” de Aztlan said. “It’s like that moment of realization or enlightenment that we get them to as far as realizing that their vote matters.” Local artists Zeke Peña and Rogelio Lozano collaborated on the artwork for the game. They worked together for months on the illustrations and meaning behind each image. The game has now been inducted into the Austin Nettie Lee Benson Latin American Collection at UT Austin. Voto Latino—a media organization that recognizes Latino leadership based in Washington D.C.— also contacted the equal voice network about using the card game. “Despite the fact that it’s very El Paso specific, people can relate to the issues
anywhere, specifically communities of low-income and color,” de Aztlian said. De Aztlan continues to give around two Votería presentations each week. She wants people throughout El Paso to feel connected to the issues through the game. “You also see that you and your culture are important in the political process despite the historical neglect that we’ve been invisible and left out,” de Aztlan said. De Aztlan also wants El Pasoans to know that their basic needs can be met just from voting. “In the end no matter who wins, every vote that’s submitted translates into federal and state dollars that pave your streets and fund your schools, and so it really presses on people to consider why their vote matters,” De Aztlan said. The United States Census Bureau predicts that in the 2020 elections, minorities will become the majority population. The EPEVN network has started on a 20/20 vision project to address this. The community is invited to Votería training sessions, where participants can become voter registration deputies and inform others about the issues and register them to vote. “For the winners we give them a mazapan de la rosa (common Mexican candy). I say, here’s something sweet, despite the bitter truth,” de Aztlan said. To learn more about the game and upcoming training sessions, visit elpasoequalvoice.org. Michaela román may be reached at theprospectordaily. news@gmail.com.
PhoTos By michaela román / The ProsPecTor
Tenders, Chicken & Sweet Tea
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PAGE 2 September 27, 2016
OPINION
Irony at its finest
by rene delgadillo The Prospector
We as Mexicans and Hispanics complain about Trump’s idea of building a wall. We defend our flag and our people, and we expose all the injustices that our people suffer as a minority in the U.S. We speak with pride about our people and culture, without noticing that Mexico is racist against immigrants, just as much as the United States. Did you know about the Mexican newspaper that supports Trump’s idea of building a wall? El Mañana, a newspaper in the state of Tamaulipas, reported that the idea of the Republican candidate is a good one, the only difference is that they want a wall between southern Mexico and Central America. El Mañana said that the immigration problem that Mexico and the U.S. are going through can be resolved with the construction of a wall that would prevent illegal Central Americans from entering Mexico. “Peace and tranquility has ended in the Mexican border and deported Central Americans from the U.S. who stay in Mexican territory have been a cause of this loss of peace,” El Mañana wrote. El Mañana also said that Central Americans are deported from the U.S. to Mexican territory and not to their original country, which presents a problem for Mexican people. They said that many Central Americans become delinquents, who commit crimes such as kidnappings, and in the worst of the cases, they end up joining the drug cartels. Irony at its finest? I think so. How can a Mexican newspaper support the idea of a wall in the southern border knowing the struggles that the Mexican population has to experience once they decide to reach out for the “American dream?” Why are they making Central Americans responsible for crimes? Instead of making these arguments against immigrants, make your government responsible for the crimes in your nation. Central Americans just want a better life, so why should we blame them for the violence in Mexico? The comments by El Mañana are no different to Trump’s when he insulted Mexican immigrants. How can you ask for a wall between Mexico and Guatemala without taking into consideration all the abuses that your country commits against immigrants? The Guardian has reported that Mexican officials in the southern border confuse their own citizens by calling them illegal Central Americans. Many of these indigenous Mexicans don’t speak Spanish, and as a result, many officials take advantage of the indigenous people.
Michaela Román, 747-7477
They are accused of holding false documents and forced to sign documents without knowing what are they’re agreeing to. According to The Guardian, Mexican officials physically abuse Central Americans and Mexicans, who they think are not legal. Then they are deported to Guatemala, a country they don’t know anything about. Yes, authorities in the southern border of Mexico have and continue to abuse Central Americans immigrants. Complaints of abuse caused by Mexican officials have grown by 40 percent after President Enrique Peña Nieto’s border plan was implemented in 2014. Also at the end of June 2015, Mexico’s National Commission on Human Rights reported that 567 abuse complaints had been filed against officials at the National Migration Institute. Peña’s idea was to have a safer border and to have human rights protected, even for people without Mexican nationality. Safer border and protection of rights? Does it sound familiar to Trump’s ideas? It pretty much does. Trump has made it clear that he wants to build a wall that would stop the “rapists and the ones who bring crime,” but allow the entrance of those immigrants who do good while respecting “American values.” Many of us are not informed, we make judgments and we feel as we are the biggest victim of these immigration issues. The reality is that Central Americans have it way harder than Mexicans, and just to make it clear, I’m not trying to minimize the injustices that Mexican people suffer. But it’s time for Mexicans to understand that other people have to travel greater distances and have to go through bigger injustices. A study by the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean reported that it is the poverty rate of immigrants who came illegally to Mexico that has forced many to leave their native countries. Mexico and Central America have a poverty problem, and it’s pretty big, which forces many to leave. But when it comes to resources and opportunities, Central Americans are much further behind than the people of Mexico. Central Americans suffer abuses in Mexican territory, they suffer physical violence, they travel on “The Beast,” a dangerous train, women are raped, and others suffer hunger and racism even before reaching the United States. The abuses and sacrifices that Mexican people have to go through are important issues that must be resolved. We should all speak against these injustices, but without forgetting about Central Americans. Even though I don’t support the Republican nominee, I believe that before critiquing Trump you should look at your own country and see if similarities exist. Rene Delgadillo may be reached at theprospectordaily. news@gmail.com.
STAFF V O L . 1 0 2 , n o . 1 Editor-in-Chief: Michaela Román Web Editor : Javier Cor tez Layout Editor : Rene Delgadillo Copy Editor : Christian Vasquez Spor ts Editor : Adrian Broaddus Enter tainment Editor : Eric Vasquez Photo Editor : Gaby Velasquez Multimedia Editor : Andres Mar tinez Staff Repor ters: Grecia Sanchez Shericka Lawrence, Andria Granado, Contributors: Vania Castillo, Mike Flores, Gloria Heredia, Claudia Hernandez, Stephanie Hinojosa, Andres Gallegos, Nina Titovets
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THEPROSPECTOR
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your next president
Voter turnout on the border still low michaela román / The Prospector
by Christian vasquez The Prospector Voter turnout in El Paso is so low that is has been longer than a decade since 50 percent of registered voters decided to participate in the government process. The presidential elections usually double the number of voters compared to the regional elections, which is what happened in ’92, when voting was at 64.3 percent of registered voters, according to the Texas Secretary of State department. And while it does make sense that the more media-driven elections encourage voters, it leaves the fate of El Paso in the hands of a few thousand. Iliana Holguin, the chair of the El Paso Democratic Party, said that it’s a problem of information and El Paso’s own organizations. “There’s a lot of groups who try to register new voters and who successfully register new voters,” said Holguin. “The reason we don’t see that translate into more people voting is that I don’t think a lot of these organizations, and I’m going to include ourselves in it, I don’t think we do a good enough job in following through with these voters.” Currently, El Paso County has 420,678 registered voters, which might sound like a lot, but falls short for two reasons. The population is 835,593, according to the 2015 census report. Of that total population, 27.9 percent are under the age of 18, which makes the number of eligible voters, assuming they are all eligible, at 602,462. Compared to the number of registered voters, El Paso appears to have a solid grasp on getting citizens to register. The number of registered voters has steadily increased since ‘88, when it was at just 199,671. The reason the number of registered voters falls short is because the number of actual voters has fallen dramatically since ’88. In fact, the number of actual voters is lower than it was in ’88, which was 118,781. In 2014, only 80,279 votes were cast out of 403,979 registered voters. Bob Penya, executive director of the Republican Party of El Paso, explained the problem. “You know we had a mayor elected with something like 3 percent of the population,” said Penya. “They say 19 percent of the electorate (vote)? But how many people are even electorate?”
According to the El Paso County Elections, the mayoral election had only 44,762 voters participate, and out of those votes, Oscar Leeser won by 21,776 votes. “We have a very extremely low voter turnout, and we have a lot of people registered, they just don’t vote,” said Penya. Registration is only the first step to voting. In the most important step, actually casting the vote, El Paso falls far behind. El Paso is a council-manager form of government, meaning that El Paso elects a mayor alongside eight council members, each of which represents a district in El Paso. And while the mayor is elected by a fraction of the population, the council members are a fraction of that fraction. The votes for city council members range as low as 2,681 for District 5 to as high as 6,540 for District 7. “You have our city council that is elected by just a few hundred voters and these people manage a budget of half a billion dollars,” said Penya. “A corporation of that size would not have that type of representation— people would watch it.” Those few hundred voters decide how the city’s money is going to be spent. From the construction that surrounds Mesa Street to the policies of the El Paso Police Department, it is all in the hands of those who take the time to vote.
“These are the entities that tax us as homeowners, they determine our tax rate, they determine the policies that govern our actual day-to-day life,” said Holguin. “Not just city council and the mayor, but the schoolboard elections. School boards are also major tax entities and so they decide whether or not they want to bring bond proposals to the voters.” But the city has a plan to help boost those votes. In 2018, the elections will be moved from May to November in hope of getting more people to vote at once. Since El Paso has the greatest number of people voting when there is a presidential election alongside other municipal elections, the plan is to have other municipal elections bundled together so people can vote for multiple positions. “Right now our city council races are held in May, they’re staggered terms so you see the same problem everywhere,” Holguin said. “When the mayor is up for election, you get a higher voter turnout, but when it’s the off-year when only four city reps are up for election, you get a lower turnout.” However, Penya fears that this will decrease the number of people voting with a solid grasp of the candidate’s policies. “How much can a candidate for municipal court judge position or a candidate for city council or commissioners court – how can he reach the
people when he’s going against the billions dollars of advertising on television,” said Penya. “Because Governor Abbot has a lot more money than city council woman X.” These elections might also encourage straight-ticket voting, where a person votes down the ballot for the party that they identify closest toward, which might bode well for
Democrats since El Paso has traditionally voted blue. But if people cannot find the time to research every candidate from the president down to the sheriff come November, some wonder if the increase in votes is worth it. Christian Vasquez may be reached at theprospectordaily. news@gmail.com.
THEPROSPECTOR
| 4 | NEWS
September 27, 2016
UTEP student selected as an Archer Fellow in D.C. by grecia sanchez The Prospector
PHOTO courtesy of kristian villegas Junior political science major, Kristian Villegas is representing UTEP as a Bill Archer intern in Washington D.C.
Kristian Villegas, a junior political science major, recently was selected for the Bill Archer Fellowship Program. The award offers juniors, seniors and graduate students the opportunity to receive firsthand networking and learning experiences in Washington D.C. The fellowship was started by Congressman Bill Archer, along with the University of Texas System in 2001. The program involves students taking credit classes, assisting with major-related events and interning at places such as the White House, Capital Hill, the Smithsonian or NASA. “My responsibilities at the fellowship are the same as if I was still physically at UTEP: I attend class, I go to my internship on a daily basis and I stay out of trouble,” Villegas said. “A big responsibility that I have is to represent my university— UTEP—in Washington as professionally as I can.” Villegas said it was at a senate meeting in the Student Government Association that he first heard about the fellowship. “A former student, known as an Archer Fellow, was presenting the program to the members of the SGA and I was in the audience learning about the program,” said Villegas. “When I found out that I had to at least be a junior to apply, I felt discouraged, but was determined to apply to the program the second I got into my junior year and so I did.” Fellowship winners started their internship on Aug. 22 and will continue for the entire fall semester until Dec. 11.
In order to become the only UTEP student who was granted the fellowship in this year’s cycle, Villegas had to have previous internship and community service experience, maintain an average of 3.0 GPA, complete basic government classes as well as 24 credit hours at UTEP. “The process of applying for the program is a lot of work, but manageable. You need to give your resume, two letters of recommendation, transcript, an essay on a policy and a personal statement,” Villegas said. Once Villegas completed all of these requirements he proceeded to a single interview. He had already begun training with UTEP Archer coordinator, Christian Corrales, who helps students who are selected to the program. “Much of what is discussed in the interview is the student’s knowledge on policy and politics,” Villegas said. “So for those who apply, they should be caught up on current events and some policy news.” said Villegas. Besides getting ahead of the competition, Villegas had to find funds for the program. “The program, along with UTEP, helped a lot with funding, but a student in my position would have to save a lot of money in order to live in Washington D.C. and pay for the housing and program fees,” Villegas said. “Once you get here, you also have to begin to budget your money efficiently, so that you don’t end up half way through the semester with no money in your pocket.” Villegas found out about this accomplishment while he was at the barber shop with his mother and his brother.
“I was checking my email on my phone and there it was. When I read I was accepted, I didn’t know how I felt. It was a mixture of relief, excitement, and overall happiness,” Villegas said. “It’s difficult to describe, but at that moment I felt like I was in the middle of a dream and was hoping that it never ended.” Villegas later realized the dream was about to begin. He admits being in a state of “culture shock” because of the people he has met and the places he gets to visit at his internship. “Right now, I’m still not believing the things that I see and experience as reality. Overall, I am very fortunate to have the opportunity I have to be here and I encourage everyone at UTEP to apply to this amazing program,” Villegas said. “The process to get here may be difficult, but in the end I guarantee that you will not regret the experience.” Villegas’s future plans are to attend law school somewhere in the Northeast, and one of his major career goals is to become a district attorney. “Along the way, I want to someday hold public office, and by being an Archer Fellow, I have been able to learn so much about our political system and how best to operate within it,” Villegas said. “It is amazing just how much one would learn from talking to a senator or a judge about all the good things you can do and the strategies used to achieve those ends.” Applications for Bill Archer Fellowship 2017 will open on Nov. 2 of this year. For more information about the program, contact Christian Corrales at Union East, room 302 E, or at ccorrales@utep.edu. Grecia Sanchez may be reached at theprospectordaily. news@gmail.com.
THEPROSPECTOR
NEWS | 5 |
September 27, 2016
question of the week
Are you registered to vote? Are you voting in this election? claudia hernandez, nina titovets, gaby velasquez / The Prospector
Alejandro Ortiz
Brigitte Fragoso
Freshman criminal justice major
Junior accounting major
“Yes I am. I want to vote for a good cause, because I want to benefit this country.”
“Yes I am, I registered so I can help make a change and I do plan to vote this year as well.”
Luis Rojas
Nancy Jiménez
Junior electrical engineering major
Junior computer science major
“No, I am not registered to vote because I am an international student from Mexico.”
Karla Solis
Luisa Lopez
“I think I am, but I’m not sure. I’m not sure if I’ll be voting, because I don’t like either candidate. It looks more like a popularity contest now than an actual election.”
“I am registered to vote and I want to vote, because I feel I can make a difference for my country. Even if it’s just one vote, I think it can make the difference.”
“I am registered to vote, and I am voting on this elections because I don’t want Trump to win.”
Nour Moraveg
Shane Hederson
Thomas George
“I’m not. I don’t think I should vote this election, because in this race I don’t have a certain candidate that I would want to vote for.”
“I am registered to vote. I feel that it’s my civic duty as a young American to vote. It’s better to do something for our country than just sitting around doing nothing.”
Freshman computer science major
Freshman mathematics major
Sophomore economics major
Senior history major
Junior computer science major “I am registered because both Trump and Hillary scare the hell out of me. I’m going to vote because I don’t want it to feel like it’s my fault when one of them gets elected.”
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B A
Freshman kinesiology major
K
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2016
“I am, because I want to make sure that my vote is heard and that my opinion counts, especially in this election.”
Cesar Padron
WA
REN
E
OPENING SESSION
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Union Building East, Room 308
3 – 5 pm
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Tomás Rivera Conference Center Oct.7
Union Building East, Room 308
12 - 4 : 3 0 p m
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THEPROSPECTOR
| 6 | NEWS
September 27, 2016
Coping with sexual assault through comedy though it was still an emotional tumult for him. “You’re going to have your moments, you’re going to have your triggers, you are going to have your tough times,” he said. One night in the midst of a post traumatic episode, Blake was watching the “Late Night with Steven Colbert” show and found himself laughing. The show became what Blake calls his muse—his purpose. That’s when he got the idea for “The Blake Show,” as a way to share his story and be able to make light of the situation.
michaela román / The Prospector Ron Blake is traveling to college campuses across the country to share his sexual assault story and have others share theirs.
by Michaela Román The Prospector According to the Rape, Abuse, Incest National Network, every 109 seconds an American is sexually assaulted. In 2014, a study done by the Bureau of Justice said 80 percent of rapes on campuses go unreported. Ron Blake made a stop at UTEP on Sept. 23 to share his story. One night in 2011, when Blake was living in downtown Phoenix, three men came into his loft while he was asleep, one of which was his life
partner. They held him down and sexually assaulted him. The trauma from that night is what caused Blake’s post traumatic stress disorder. “I was reading an article in Time magazine—sexual assault on campus—and when I read that article, it really triggered something in me, and I talked to my friend and said, you know I think I was raped,” said Blake. The police showed up that night, but Blake was unable to comprehend reality. “I knew something bad happened that night,” Blake said. “I just never processed it as rape.”
Blake sought help from a psychiatrist and therapist and that’s when they diagnosed him with PTSD. “The two symptoms I exhibited were anger and isolation because I started pulling away from people badly and I had a lot of anger,” said Blake. Years later, Blake attempted suicide after a week of nightmares and not being able to sleep. A week after his attempt, he went to social media to confront the assault head on by opening up to his friends and family about his experience. After positive feedback from his friends, things started to look up for Blake, al-
I’m controlling the story instead of it controlling me.
- Ron Blake, sexual assault survivor “I identified I was laughing. Some people would just sit there and let that go by and it wouldn’t be a big deal. For me, I was just numb,” Blake said. Blake has traveled to Arizona State University, University of Arizona, Northern Arizona University, NMSU, to 10 community colleges and a couple art insti-
tutes. He estimates he’s been to around 15 colleges and four universities. Blake carries around large white boards and asks people if they’d like to write a message after he shares his story. He’s collected over 200 boards with thousands of messages in multiple languages, and by sharing his stories Blake found that those who have been assaulted are comfortable about opening up. “Anybody that’s been raped, they just need to understand—they need to know it’s okay to talk about it,” Blake said “Once they start talking about it, there’s probably going to be a tendency to say, ‘if I am raped, I’m going to go file a police report.’” Although Blake’s goal is still to eventually make it onto Steven Colbert’s show, he’ll be happy if the boards can at least be turned into an art project and showcased somewhere and make an impact in the lives around him. “When these are out, it’s powerful, it helps people. They read them and it’s amazing because people will share stuff on here,” he said. Blake would like to continue reaching out to those who have been sexually assaulted, travel to more universities and maybe work with organizations if that’s a possibility. “I’m controlling the story instead of it controlling me,” Blake said. To support Ron Blake on his journey, you can search for his Facebook page, Blake Late Show. If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, contact STARS (Sexual Trauma and Assault Response Services) at 915-533-7700 or 915-779-1800 Michaela Román can be reached at theprospectordaily.news@ gmail.com.
STAIRS Student Annual Interdisciplinary Research Symposium
UTEP Students Changing Lives One Step at a Time. Learn More at S TAIRS.UTEP.EDU ATTEND this 1/2 day symposium to learn more about careers in health promoting fields,active community outreach projects and students who are changing lives.
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PAGE 7 September 27, 2016
entertainment
Editor
ERIC VAsQUEZ, 747-7477
The skater and pedestrian: tips for coexistence Advice for pedestrians
BY eric vasquez The Prospector
The era of campus construction is finally over, and more students have been able to use alternative methods for commuting between classes. While bikes have always been a popular choice and hover boards are finally going out of style, this semester more students have been riding longboards, skateboards and penny boards to get around. Here are a few tips for skaters of all types to keep injuries and fights resulting from an angered (and injured) pedestrian.
Wear earphones, but stay in a lane We get it, Drake can drown out your sorrows in the world, I’m sure, but it’ll also drown out a screaming skater warning you to get out of the way. Keep jamming, and while it’s best to not wear headphones at all, make sure keep from zigzagging all over the sidewalk to save yourself some wood to the backs of your heels.
Advice for boarders
Walk the gravel by Centennial Plaza
Avoid the packed hours The campus gets crowded after early classes let out at around 9:30 a.m. and at 11 a.m. when students head to lunch. You won’t be able to ride on the smooth sidewalk for more than a few feet before getting stuck behind a cluster of students, so it’s best to walk or take to the street and grind through the cracked pavement.
Who knows why the University thought putting dirt on one half of the walkway would be a good idea, but between wheels and feet, feet fare better in the dirt. It’s a gesture of good will, just as them not crashing into your heel is a gesture of good health.
Don’t panic
Call out which side you’re passing on
Skaters will usually weave around pedestrians, so don’t freak out and cause a collision. Trying to juke them out will scare them, forcing them to react by trying to cut a quick turn, probably in the wrong way. At best, just stand like a pole and make eye contact with them, a look that says “I’m not moving so you can. Watch my shins please.” More often than not, they’ll cruise by no problem. If you do freak out and a collision does happen, at worst you’ll end up with a bruise, at best you’ve just began a rom-com -styled first encounter with your future spouse. What? It can happen.
A quick “On your right!” call will leave you a lane to pass through and will prevent a collision when a student suddenly decides to cross the street. It may look uncool, but what’s also uncool is knocking down a pretty girl in a dress.
Don’t treat a pack of students like a bonus round These aren’t fallen branches or rocks to test your turn radius with —they are people too. As much as it sucks to lose your speed and jump off your board, moving around the pack is your best bet. With all the time you saved riding up to this point, picking the board up for a few seconds will not make you late to class. That, or for the more daring riders, screaming nonsense like “pizza!” while waving your arms wildly will clear the crowd.
Move on after a crash
It’s totally understandable: you are completely zoning out thinking about lunch or drumming up an excuse to skip class, maybe thinking about cats for some reason, when out of nowhere a guy flies shoulderfirst into the street and flops like a doll. Ask if they’re okay and make sure there isn’t any blood, but other than that carry on about your day as usual. They’ve crashed before and are completely aware that everyone, including Dr. Natalicio (probably), saw them eat it, so let them collect their dignity in peace. That and tell your friends about the weird little squeal they did when they hit the ground.
Know the routes Visitors to UTEP love how snug the campus fits within the mountains. These people have yet to run from the Union to Old Main to get to class on time. Campus is all hills, and a wellplanned route could save you minute—and sweat—from walking uphill with your board. Misjudging a hill on campus, however, could push you past the limit of a foot-brake and into a car.
See something cool? Let them know
Recover from a crash Skating makes you look cool, no doubt about that. Gliding down the sidewalk with your backpack says something like “I devour knowledge, but I also own fake Ray-Bans.” But what’s not cool is a wipe out. You’ll clip a curb, maybe turn too hard and land on your face or your board might slip out from underneath you like a banana peel. It happens, so the best thing to do is to get up and shake it off. Someone definitely saw you, so take a bow and chase down your board, it’s probably the most exciting thing anyone has seen all day.
gaby velasquez / The Prospector Skateboarders, longboarders and penny boarders often cruise between pedestrians on campus to get to class.
Standing on a board is hard. Standing on a moving board is harder, but standing on a moving board in public and looking like you belong on it? It takes a few long nights in the driveway practicing in order to pull off the look, and if one brave soul lands a trick while on his way to the Liberal Arts building, just give him a clap, a quick “woo-hoo” even. That kid sacrificed his pride and his jeans on a Wednesday, all just to give you something cool to look at, so thank him for it. Eric Vasquez may be reached at theprospectordaily.ent@ gmail.com.
THEPROSPECTOR
| 8 | ENTERTAINMENT
September 27, 2016
‘Mango Street’ flexes audience’s imagination
BY shericka lawrence The Prospector
UTEP’s Theater and Dance Department debuted “The House on Mango Street” on Sept. 22, bringing a mix of UTEP faculty, students, and children to experience the beloved novel in a new format. The play takes place in Chicago during the ‘60s, a young Latino girl named Esperanza finds out what life as an adolescent can be, the good and the bad, experiencing new friends and a strong sense of family while dealing with sexual abuse and poverty in her Latin neighborhood. Nancy Batres, a senior theater major who played the main character Esperanza, has performed in the Wise Family Theatre seven times and was completely thrilled when she found out that she had gotten the role of Esperanza. “I was watching a TV show and I received the email,” said Batres. “But then I got that feeling of, I definitely want to do it justice.” The stage was set to give the audience a similar description of what life for Esperanza was like. Telephone wires crisscross each other from the ceiling to the floor, slabs of broken pavement sit on each corner, and two broken houses look as if they were bombed while windows dangle above them, all the while a single telephone pole stands in the middle of it all. The minimal stage transformed the stage decorations into other ob-
jects. A chair turned into the steering wheel of a yellow Cadillac or the seat of a bicycle with a simple phrase. The lighting was the glue of the play, helping transition the scenes within and gave the audience a sense of being in the ‘60s. One scene in particular stands out: a cousin is chased by the police and as sirens go off, the lights make the scene look realistic and thrilling. The lights also set the mood for each scene to portray the feeling of each character. When Esperanza was comparing herself to the tiny trees on the sidewalk, the light was dim, a grayish blue that gave the feeling of sadness mixed with a sense of peace because Esperanza knows who she is. When domestic abuse takes place in Esperanza’s neighborhood, the stage was thrown into a deep red light, the color of a young girl’s bloodied face. In many ways I got caught in the ‘60s, with slicked-black hair, bandanas, platform boots and big hoop earrings. Each character played multiple roles to bring the performance together, but I wondered during the play if that was due to a lack of people wanting to audition or if it meant that Esperanza’s community was a tight-knit group. Unlike classic theater, “House on Mango Street” utilizes an active narrator, an older Esperanza speaking about the past and what she remembers about it. Throughout the play, younger Esperanza talks to the narra-
tor, showing the close connection between older Esperanza and her past. People seem to have forgotten how important theater can be. When viewing plays, one has to use their imagination, but in today’s society we have lost our use of imagination. Watching “The House on Mango Street” allowed not only myself but everyone in attendance to use their imagination. Day to day we lose the imaginary part of life, where dreams can actually become reality, but only if we still use our imagination along the way in the journey just as Esperanza imagines leaving Mango Street. Plays bring imagination back to life because growing up in the world today, we have technology to think for us instead of using our “creative juices” to produce great ideas. “The House on Mango Street” covers serious issues that may put life into perspective for the public, but for many young Latina girls in the El Paso community that they are not the only ones dealing with these issues. Performances for the rest of the month are on Sept. 29 through Oct. 1 at 7:30 p.m. and Oct. 2 at 2:30 p.m. Tickets range from $9-$14 and may be purchased an hour before the show at the Wise Family Theatre. Shericka Lawrence may be reached at theprospectordaily. ent@gmail.com.
claudia hernandez/ The Prospector The House on Mango street will run at the Wise Family Theatre Sept. 29 through Oct. 2.
Las Cruces Rollers vs El Paso Air Wheelers In a wheelchair basketball exhibition game Special halftime show performance by The Utep Golddiggers
Memorial Gym Oct.3 6 – 8 pm FREE ADMISSION
THEPROSPECTOR
ENTERTAINMENT | 9 |
September 27, 2016
our view
Surreal stage and costumes amplify ‘House on Mango’
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claudia hernandez / The Prospector The Department of Theater and Dance premiered their adaptation of Sandra Cisneros’ novel, “The House on Mango Street” with a surreal stage design and exaggerated costumes. The choices in stage design serve to communicate Esperanza’s feeling of entrapment of her economic situation in Mango Street. 1. Esperanza, played by Nancy Batres, points to her little house on Mango Street. 2. Esperanza meets her first friend on Mango Street, played by Cynthia Alvarez, as she points out the colorful characters who live in the neighborhood. 3. The Cordero children share their feelings about their new home while the narrator/ Older Esperanza, played by Talia Davila, looks on. 4. On stage as a variety of characters, theater performance majors Gabriel Franco Kull and Cristian Barrio are seen here as Esperanza’s childish younger brothers.
THEPROSPECTOR
| 10 | ENTERTAINMENT
September 27, 2016
University Police Safety Tips Be Aware •Don’t let your electronic devices distract you, always be aware of your surroundings •Never leave your items unattended or insecure •Know the location of campus emergency telephones on routes to and from campus destinations
Dorm Safety •Read the dorm rules •Lock your door •Check the guest policy •Immediately report suspicious activity or individuals to the University Police at 915-747-5611
Vehicle Safety •Don't leave your car unlocked •Never leave your car running, especially while it is unattended or unlocked •Never leave your windows open •Don't leave valuable personal property in plain sight
Bicycle Safety •Secure your bicycle to any of the bicycle racks found on campus •Invest in a U-Lock lock, as this lock is harder to defeat
Library Safety Tip
If you must leave your study area, please take your cell phones, backpacks, calculators, books, and laptop computers with you. Crimes of opportunity and theft of personal property can happen within minutes. The University of Texas at El Paso University Police Department • 3118 Sun Bowl Drive, El Paso, TX 79968 915-747-5611• Fax: 915-747-5636 • www.utep.edu/police
‘Blair Witch’ a cheap imitation BY andres gallegos The Prospector The American movie industry is in an era of recycled ideas. Hollywood is banking on American audiences’ willingness to pay to watch their favorite heroes of a bygone era or to know what ever became of them. Movies such as “Star Wars VII: The Force Awakens,” “Jurassic World,” “Zoolander 2” and “Mad Max: Fury Road” are few examples. One of the most successful indie horror films of the last century, “The Blair Witch Project,” was given an update, even with a new title: “Blair Witch.” The sequel connects to the 1999 film by a sparse thread, a soft excuse for a new movie in 2016. In this film, we return to the woods near Burkittsville to find that Heather, the protagonist of the original film, has not been seen since the events of the first movie. James, Heather’s brother, sets out to return to the woods in hope of finding a clue to his sister’s disappearance, only to encounter the same horrors of the woods. With the initial success of the first movie, “Blair Witch” had the potential to expand on it and to become something completely separate. It does not succeed. Unlike the original, the film relies too much on the look of the supernatural and jump scares. As one review on Rotten Tomatoes says about the 1999 film, “‘The Blair Witch Project’ keeps audiences in the dark about its titular villain– thus proving that imagination can be as scary as anything on screen.” Granted, 1999 was not known for its computer graphics, and these
days we can believably animate a banana to kill teenagers, but the original movie proved that even without top-of-the-line equipment, the unknown and unseen is the real horror. The nights in the original are far more disturbing with the sound of children laughing and branches snapping. The shaking camera when they are running disoriented audiences and pushed the limit between movie and discovered footage. All these devices were revolutionary in 1999. “The Blair Witch Project” is credited with popularizing the discovered-footage genre and proved that jump scares, when executed well, can get the audiences’ hearts beating. “Blair Witch,” with its cookie-cutter format of the original, proved that Hollywood can kill authentic, honest revolutions in film by cloning it until the most recent pales in comparison. The problem with “Blair Witch” is that it tries too hard. It instills horror as it has already been implemented for years. There are glimpses of monsters, there is rain and the voodoo dolls actually work. The film obviously used its budget, but the real problem here is that it should’ve never been done. If “Blair Witch” cannot be a game changer for the horror genre, if it cannot even be a scary movie for middle school kids, then the movie needs to serve as a reminder that there are some movies that do not need remakes. If that cannot be its reason for existing, then Hollywood is failing, not only in producing genuine ideas, but failing to bring a new shine to genuine ideas they already had. Andres Gallegos may be reached at theprospectordaily. ent@gmail.com.
PAGE 11 September 27, 2016
Sports
Editor
ADRIAN BROADDUS, 747-7477
UTEP seeks first C-UsA win over lA Tech
gaBy velasquez/ The ProsPecTor UTEP football squad will travel on saturday, oct. 1, to face la Tech for their second c-usa game of the season.
by adrian broaddus The Prospector
After back-to-back distressing losses to Army (66-14) and Southern Mississippi (34-7) at home, the Miners will travel on the road to face one of the top Conference USA West Division opponents, Louisiana Tech, on Saturday, Oct. 1. The Miners (1-3, 0-1 C-USA) are not in the ideal situation they would like going into Saturday’s league play matchup. They are in distress on offense, with a question mark surrounding the quarterback position. Although he is the heart of the offense, standout tailback Aaron Jones has been getting banged up left and right by other teams’ defenses. And, even though the defense delivers physicality and makes stops, there is no offensive production to put points on the board. In the past three games, the Miners have been outscored 141-28, and 21 of those points were scored by Jones. Head coach Sean Kugler believes that there needs to be a change with his offense, which currently reflects a one-dimensional outlook revolving around Jones. “We were inept on offense, minus one series,” Kugler said after the 34-7 loss to the Golden Eagles. “The defense wasn’t the issue. We’ve got a lot of things to fix. If that means trimming it down so we can execute and get people at the right spots.” The incompetency Kugler is referring to stems at the quarterback position—one that even after the fourth game is still up for question. Through the past three games, starting quarterback Zack Greeenlee and backups Kavika Johnson and Ryan Metz have completed only 40-of-72 passes combined. Also, the passes they actually
completed are usually short bubble passes that rack up the little to no yards on offense.
We’ll reevaluate every position on offense. We were not moving the ball effectively. Whether it’s greenlee or metz, we’ll make that determination. - Sean Kugler UTEP football head coach When Greenlee finished the game versus Southern Miss, throwing two crucial picks and only totaling 62 yards through three quarters, Kugler believed it was time to reconsider the gunslinger position. “We’ll reevaluate every position on offense,” Kugler said. “We were not moving the ball effectively. Whether it’s Zack Greenlee or Ryan Metz, we’ll make that determination. Both can move the ball, but one has to move the ball.” On paper, Louisiana Tech (1-3, 0-1 C-USA) shows a lot of similarities with UTEP. They both are coming off two or more losses in a row, and both lost their conference opener. The difference is head coach Skip Holtz and the Bulldogs have lost their three games in very close fashions.
The Bulldogs nearly upset SEC affiliates Arkansas in their season opener, 21-20. After demolishing South Carolina State, 53-24, the Bulldogs were neck-and-neck with Big 12 high-scoring threat Texas Tech. However, the air raid that the Red Raiders posed was too much for the Bulldogs as they fell 59-45. Against arguably the best team in the league, LA Tech lost in the final minutes to Middle Tennessee, 38-34. While they know how to put numbers on the board, LA Tech does struggle on defense. They allowed 356 total yards of offense to Middle Tennessee, with 210 of them on the ground. Even Holtz said after the loss to the Blue Raiders, “we have to get some things straight on defense without a doubt.” However, their offense does make up for their sub-par play on defense. Fronted by quarterback Ryan Higgins, the Bulldogs are an air-raid heavy offense. Higgins threw a whopping 504 yards against Middle Tennessee with three touchdowns. He already has 1,224 yards of passing this year, ranking him 14th on the national scale. His favorite target, wide receiver Trent Taylor, currently ranks third in the nation in reception yards, totaling 632 yards. Kickoff between the two teams in Ruston, Louisiana, is slated for 5 p.m. MST. adrian broaddus may be reached at theprospectordaily. sports@gmail.com.
It’s metz time, yet again by Mike Flores The Prospector
In football, the most important position is the quarterback; he is the leader and the one everyone looks to call the next play. There is no other position that demands the expectations or pressure on a nightly basis than the man under center. Quarterbacks are the first position people point to when their favorite team wins or loses; the blame or the glory all comes back to them. The Miners suffered their thirdconsecutive loss of the season to Southern Mississippi on Saturday, Sept. 24, and it looks like change is needed. Zack Greenlee, the starting quarterback, gave little to no hope while matching up with the high-flying Golden Eagles. During the second half, secondstring quarterback Ryan Metz replaced Greenlee and threw 7-for-14 for 51 yards. After the loss, head coach of the Miners, Sean Kugler, emphasized the idea of finally reevaluating the quarterback position. “Both (Greenlee and Metz) can move the ball, but it’s got to be the one that does move the ball,” Kugler said. “Zack didn’t move the team effectively tonight, and we’ll evaluate that.” While the Miners got their first taste of defeat in conference play, it is safe to say the quarterback position is up for grabs. Below are the top three reasons why Metz should win the starting job.
1. Zack Greenlee is not a passing threat for the Miners
With 9:44 left in the second quarter, Greenlee found himself with negative four passing yards, but the coaches still continued to keep him in the game. After Aaron Jones carried the load for the Miners’ offense, the Golden Eagles banged him up on a dirty hit. Then, all the pressure landed on Greenlee’s shoulders, but he ended the half with a poor showing of 21 passing yards, one interception, no touchdowns and a 24-7 deficit. When the second half came around, Greenlee received great field position after his defense recovered a fumble on the 50-yard line, down 24-7, with plenty of time left to spark a comeback. Instead of putting points on the board for his Miners, Greenlee threw a costly pick six in the red zone, which resulted in a 100-yard interception return for a touchdown. Greenlee easily could have made the score 24-14, or at least 24-10, but his turnover cost the Miners the game. Greenlee ended the game with 62 yards passing, no scores and two poor interceptions. Not to mention the resounding boos from the crowd and roar of applause when Metz stepped on the field.
2. Ryan Metz has the leadership qualities of a veteran quarterback
After the loss, Metz came into the post-game interview with much optimism—almost too much for a team that had just lost by 27 points. “You have to be that guy that sparks people up. I’m going to make sure we don’t have our heads down, and that we don’t throw in the towel,” Metz said. “I gathered the guys before the game was over and I told them, ‘We have a whole season in front of us. There’s a whole lot of football to be played.’” Great leaders do not dwell on the past, rather they rise up and get better from everything thrown their way. Metz had a motivating attitude toward the lopsided 34-7 loss for UTEP. He was tossed into a game that no quarterback could succeed in after being down 31-7 when his number was called. He truly made the most out of his opportunity and almost had more passing yards than Greenlee through a quarter and a half. Against their rival New Mexico State last year, Metz led a comefrom-behind victory while coming off the bench. He threw for three touchdowns that day, ran for one and his team rallied behind him for the game-winning toss to complete a magical moment in Las Cruces. Metz was a redshirt freshman, he was on the road without star tailback Aaron Jones, but he still managed to score 50 points. After the game, his teammates and coaches could not say enough about the young quarterback. Metz’s teammates have shown and expressed their belief in the young quarterback. He just needs a shot at the starting job. When wide receivers have that much respect for their quarterback, the possibilities are endless.
3. Metz is a hometown kid
El Paso is where Ryan Metz grew up and learned everything he knows about the gridiron. He played varsity football for Andress High School, and he decided to play in his own backyard when his decision to attend UTEP was made in 2014. The city has molded Metz into who he is today. A football team can represent their city and the people they play for every time they strap on their helmets. For Metz, playing for the Miners means a little more to him because he gets the opportunity to perform in front of the city that raised him. Not many athletes could play for the team they grew up watching, and it is a special honor that very few have. UTEP football has struggled with the crowd turnout, but more hometown talent could lure fans in. Miner fans were heard chanting “Metz” during the Southern Miss game. The fans wanted a sign of hope for their football team; something to look forward to, even if UTEP is on the losing end. The fans want what they want, and right now it’s the 6-foot-3 sophomore quarterback who wears the number 12. Mike Flores may be reached at theprospectordaily. sports@gmail.com.
THEPROSPECTOR
| 12 | SportS
September 27, 2016
soCCEr DroPs FIrsT C-UsA gAmE Vs. UAB
VollEyBAll ToPs BlAzErs on ThE roAD
WomEn’s TEnnIs FInIshEs AggIE InVITATIonAl
golF TAKEs 8Th AT TUCKEr InVITATIonAl
Sophomore Miners’ tennis player Raven Bennett took the Gold Singles Flight championship in Las Cruces and Daphne Visscher and Bennett placed third in the Crimson Flight Doubles bracket. Bennett was the only UTEP player to win in her respective tournament with a 7-6, 6-1 win over Marie Deleval from Grand Canyon. Next, the Miners will travel to the Arizona Wildcat Invitational in Tuscon, Arizona from Sept. 30 to Oct. 2.
Fronted by Andreas Sorenson and Frederik Dreier, the UTEP golf team finished eighth at the William H. Tucker Invitational in Albuquerque on Saturday, Sept. 24. Sorenson and Dreier both tied for 22nd by shooting six-over-par for 222. UTEP has a break before they travel to Notre Dame in South Bend, Ind, for the Fighting Irish Classic, which will span from Oct. 9-11.
After a late goal in the 108th minute, UAB defeated the Miners 1-0 in a double-overtime battle on Sunday, Sept. 25. Despite the loss, goalkeeper Alyssa Palacios recorded seven saves in the match. The Miners (7-2-2, 0-1-0 C-USA) will continue their road game stretch against Charlotte (Sept. 30) and Old Domininion (Oct. 2).
Despite an early deficit, the Miners’ volleyball team spurred a come-from-behind victory over the UAB Trailblazers for their first Conference USA victory of the season. UTEP stole wins in the second, third, and fifth sets to take the win (20-25, 25-16, 26-24, 17-25, 15-5). Next, the Miners will bring league-play home for their C-USA opener against UTSA on Sunday, Oct. 2.
Changes are necessary for miners to progress by Jason green The Prospector
Following yet another blowout loss last Saturday night at the Sun Bowl–this time to Southern Mississippi– UTEP football head coach Sean Kugler was adamant that something needed to change. “Offensively we’ve got a lot of things to fix and we’ve got to fix it quickly; whether that means we need to trim it down so we can execute and get the right people in the right spots,” Kugler said. “That’ll be my job to get that rectified.” One of the key issues that Kugler said he would be looking into in the week, prior to Saturday’s road meeting with the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs (1-3), would be who will be under center for the Miners. Starting quarterback Zack Greenlee looked utterly overwhelmed against the Golden Eagles on Saturday and was eventually relieved by Ryan Metz after throwing his second interception—this one a pick six that made the score 31-7. After the travesty of a football game, it was Metz who came to the postgame press conference and faced plenty of questions about the possibility of fighting for the starting job this week in practice. “It’s tough to be in that position, where maybe (Greenlee’s) not having that good of a game and maybe people are cheering for me. But, you know, it is nice to hear the crowd cheering my name—that’s something everybody would love,” Metz said. “It hurts me for Zack (Greenlee). He’s a great friend and I think he’s a great quarterback.” This begs the question, was it one bad game for Greenlee? Against New Mexico State, Greenlee looked like the quarterback that UTEP had been waiting for as he went 15-for-27 for 229 yards and three touchdowns. But, in the game he got injured and missed
the next game at Texas. Instead of Metz starting, it was Kavika Johnson and the passing game was an absolute joke. Greenlee came back against Army, and although the offense barely touched the ball due to the thorough beat-down handed out by the Black Knights, Greenlee still managed to go 9-for-17 for 144 yards and a touchdown. Perhaps Metz was right. It really does look like Greenlee had one bad game. That’s not to say that the offense itself is not in total shambles, because it is. When Kugler said that there are a lot of things to fix, I honestly do not think he means at quarterback—he meant the entire offense. But, will he be the one to do it? Brent Pease was brought in as offensive coordinator this season following the tenure of Patrick Higgins, which saw the Miners go to a bowl game under the leadership of Sean Kugler; so you cannot say that Higgins was all bad. Higgins was known for controlling the clock, pounding the ball up the middle, minimal passing and mainly just scoring enough points to win. Wait, that sounds a lot like Kugler. Maybe Higgins did not really have an identity. He (this is a little confusing—Higgins or Kugler?) has not actually had an offensive coordinator job since he left UTEP and had never had one before. The fan base got very excited when Pease came in. Word quickly got around that he once worked at Boise State with Chris Petersen, and visions of elaborate, high-flying offense began to dance in everyone’s heads. The truth is, Pease did work at Boise State and his team did go 12-1, but as far as scheme goes, there really was no Pease scheme. It was Petersen’s scheme. To tell the truth, anybody could have been the OC there. But Pease reaped the benefits and went to Florida the next year with a nice shiny new contract under head coach Will Muschamp. The first year, working somewhat under someone else’s scheme—a little more up-tempo, a little more high-powered like Boise State—Florida’s offense flourished and
the team went 11-2 and finished 10th in the nation. In 2013, Pease’s second year at Florida, Muschamp wanted to run the offense a little more his way and the team began to pound the ball up the middle and tried to control the clock. The offense sputtered and Florida had an abysmal season, going 4-8, and Pease was made the scapegoat and was fired at the end of the season. Much like with Higgins, we are left to question what exactly does a Brent Pease offense look like? So far this season, it has looked a lot like Patrick Higgins never left, or perhaps Kugler sat Pease down when he came in and said, “Okay, this I what we do here at UTEP and nothing else.” Maybe Pease has worked with the quarterbacks enough—as a former pro quarterback himself—to naturally increase their passing yards, but the play calling looks much the same. “When you’re struggling, you need to go back to basics, back to the bare minimum and give the kids a chance to execute,” Kugler said. “Maybe there’s a little too much on their plate right now.” As an observer of UTEP football and someone with some football knowledge, that is just plain scary. If this vanilla offense is too difficult for our team, then maybe we need to be out looking for some Harvard-level kids to bring in here. Aaron Jones’ talent is no secret; and I’ve sat in press conferences with Greenlee, Metz, Jaquan White and Cole Freytag. These guys understand the run the ball up the middle every other play and then throw the ball into the flat offense by now. There is no need for simplification here. Perhaps what is needed is a reevaluation of just what it is we are trying to accomplish on offense. Running down the clock is fine. But it is not working this season. The staff is literally killing Aaron Jones. Everybody in the entire stadium, including the other defense, knows that they are going to run the ball between the tackles. If Jones runs outside the tackles, they are going to throw it to him on a swing pass. They will only pass on third
and long. The other team will never have to worry about a trick play or anything close to a play that looks creative, despite the fact that we have had more speed than most of the teams we have played. If you keep pounding the ball up the middle with Aaron Jones and every team knows that he is your only weapon, pretty soon you will have no Aaron Jones. It’s as simple as that. On top of that fact, if he makes it through this year in one piece, he is going to leave for the NFL after this season because he cannot trust you to use him in a way that will A.) show off his ability to NFL scouts in a logical way and B.) keep him safe for another season. As far as “going back to basics” and “the bare minimum,” all I can say is god help the UTEP football team next week at Louisiana Tech. They are going to have three plays. First and second down will be Aaron Jones running through the A-gap, third downs will be Greenlee or Metz throwing the ball no more than five yards down field, and fourth down will be Alan Luna punting the ball rugby style,d even though we’ve all seen that if you just let him punt it normal he can kick it well over 60 yards. Expect the offense to score only seven points again this Saturday. Jason green may be reached at theprospectordaily. sports@gmail.com.
Prospy Pick ‘em
Each week for the UTEP football season, The Prospector staff will chime in on their picks for the upcoming football game. Think you can predict the win and scores? Email your picks on theprospectordaily.sports@gmail.com for your chance for your pick to be featured in the paper. n Mike Flores — contributor w LA Tech 52 - UTEP 6 — LA Tech’s offense will be too much for the Miners. If Aaron Jones is limited, their offense is in trouble. n Michaela Román — editor-in-chief w LA Tech 40 - UTEP 10 —Jones will get his touchdown, but won’t be enough for the Miners’ poor offensive game. n Javier Cortes — online editor w LA Tech 59 - UTEP 20 —Metz does slightly better in another UTEP blowout loss. Aaron Jones still gets his numbers. n Adrian Broaddus — sports editor w LA Tech 62 - UTEP 7 —Bulldogs will run up the score on the Miners as Ryan Higgins throws for 400-plus yards against the Miners.