Issuu

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 . 101, NO. 9

OctOber 20, 2015

‘WE HAVE A RIGHT TO A GUN-FREE CAMPUS!’ Students, faculty and staff protest campus carry

PhoTo By michaela Roman / The PRosPecToR

By maria esQuinCa The Prospector

Around 40 UTEP students, faculty and staff listened to Sarah Walker at an Anti-Campus Carry Rally on Monday, Oct. 19, at Leech Groove, as she read the names of 52 schools where shootings have occurred in the past year. Walker, a senior English and American literature major, organized the protest, along with four other friends, after she heard Texas Senate Bill 11, known as the Campus Carry Law, was passed. The law will allow concealed handgun license owners to carry a handgun on any public university beginning Aug. 1 2016.

“Just because it’s law doesn’t mean it can’t be repealed or be spoken out against,” Walker said. “This is civil disobedience, this is us saying ‘we are not okay with this.’” The rally stood as an act of solidarity with UT Austin’s gun-free UT campaign. Under the campaign, more than 770 UT professors have added their names to a list in opposition to the law, while a public petition has garnered over 7,000 signatures. Present at the event was David Smith-Soto, senior lecturer of multimedia journalism at UTEP, who made national headlines for posting a sign

outside his classroom that said no guns are allowed inside his classroom. At the rally, Smith-Soto criticized the UT System for not challenging the law in the court. “A classroom is not a room of four walls on a piece of real estate–it is a dialogue between teacher and student in an environment of trust, security and free expression,” SmithSoto said at the rally. “Put a gun in there and you destroy the classroom.” Also at the event was state Sen. Jose Rodriguez, D-El Paso, who voted against SB 11. At the rally, Rodriguez said he would continue to speak out against it. He also said it’s important

for students, faculty and staff to engage in the process of creating gunfree zones—zones where guns are not allowed on campus, which the law allows to be designated by universities. “The votes were not there to stop this legislation,” he said. “So the question is where do we want to limit guns on campus?” The university will conduct Concealed Carry Task Force Town Hall meetings on Oct. 20, 21 and 28, which will allow students, faculty and staff to comment on the issue. The first town hall meeting will occur at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 20 at the Union Cinema on

the first floor of Union East. The Oct. 21 meeting will be at noon at the Union Cinema and the Oct. 28 meeting will be held at 5:30 p.m. at the Tomas Rivera Conference Center on the third floor of Union East. In closing, Walker read an open letter to Texas Gov. Greg Abbott asking him to repeal SB 11. “To legally allow guns on campus would create an environment of fear and tension,” Walker said. “We are saying loud and clear that we have a right to a gun-free campus.” maria esquinca may be reached at theprospectordaily. ent@gmail.com.

NEXT TO UTEP! 3535 North Mesa St.

PAGE 2 October 20, 2015

perspectives

Editor-in-Chief

Luis Gonzalez, 747-7477

OPEN LETTERTOGOV. ABBOTT

michaela Roman / The Prospector Senior english American literature major Sarah Walker reads the open letter to Gov. Abbott.

The following is the open letter, which was read by senior Sarah Walker at the Anti-Campus Carry Rally held Oct. 19 at Leech Grove. Governor Abbott, We, students, faculty, and staff of The University of Texas at El Paso are speaking out on our concerns about Texas Senate Bill 11, also known as The Campus Carry Law. It is our belief that institutions of higher education, such as UTEP, are meant to be a space to safely engage in discourse, social interaction and to strive for academic excellence. To legally allow concealed handguns on campus would create an environment of fear and tension. This fear is founded on the increasing amount of gun violence and school shootings in the United States, two of which happened in the State of Texas this month. Governor Abbott, It is not just school shootings we are worried about. It is the risk of misuse and irresponsible use. In the State of Texas a citizen who wishes to obtain a Concealed Handgun License only needs to have eight hours of class time, split between actual classroom instruction and range time. It is the risk of accidents in the classroom and misfirings. It is the increased use of handguns as intimidation during moments of heated debate, as well as tools of self-harm. In a high paced university setting, stress and discourse during the exchange of different ideas takes a toll on attendees. Governor Abbott, This piece of legislation has not even gone into effect yet and professors have left their jobs, out of complete fear. Governor Abbott, There is no sense in passing a law that takes some of the best and brightest Texas has to offer and have them fear for their lives. To govern is to look out for the best interests of the people you govern, and this piece of legislation cannot be said to do that. The great tragic irony of The Campus Carry Law is that it will be enacted on August 1, 2016–the 50th anniversary of the UT Austin Clock Tower shooting. Repeal SB11, listen to the voices of Texas citizens and those who attend public schools in Texas because we are saying loud and clear: We have a right to a gun-free campus!

STAFF V O L . 1 0 1 , n o . 9 Editor-in-Chief: Luis Gonzalez Asst. Managing Editor : Maria Esquinca Layout Editor : Jacobo De La Rosa Copy Editor : Alonso Moreno Spor ts Editor : Javier Cor tez Enter tainment Editor : Jose Soto Photo Editor : Michaela Román Multimedia Editor : Christopher Zacherl Staff Photographers: Andres Mar tinez, Sergio Zamora Staff Repor ters: Julio-César Chávez, Julia Hettiger, Fernanda León, Juan Carlos Navarrete, Car toonist: Omar Hernandez Contributors: Adrian Broaddus, Juan Corral, Jonathon Duar te, Valerie Herrera, Valeria Terrazas, Angel Ulloa

Ad Executive: Valeria Delgado, Alexandra Martinez, Mariel Mora Ad Layout Manager: Edgar Hernandez Ad Designers: Jacobo De La Rosa, Vanesa Guevara Administrative Secretary: Marcela Luna Accounting Specialist: Isabel Castillo Asst. Director-Advertising: Veronica Gonzalez Student Publications Director: Kathleen Flores

Speak your mind

Submit a letter to the editor!

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 |

OctOber 20, 2015

TUE

WED

THU

FRI

SAT

SUN MON

High 81 Low 59

High 76 Low 56

High 76 Low 52

High 76 Low 54

High 77 Low 53

High 74 Low 52

High 75 Low 53

Cloudy

Partly Cloudy

Partly Sunny

Mostly Sunny

40% Chance for Rain

50% Chance for Rain

30% Chance for Rain

0% Chance for Rain

ut System board authorizes possible tuition increase

andRes maRTinez / The PRosPecToR Freshman philosophy major Jorge martinez poses as a student struggling from tuition increase.

By luis gonzalez The Prospector

A raise in what UTEP students pay each year for classes may be on the horizon. The UT System Board of Regents authorized all of its institutions to construct and present proposals for increasing tuition and fees for the 2017 and 2018 fiscal years. Tuition numbers did not change at UTEP from last year to this year, and only experienced a minimum increase in 2013. Operating costs, inflation and faculty retention are among the

main concerns UTEP and other UT institutions are concerned about. “Even with state funding, our institutions—which have done a tremendous job of increasing efficiency and holding the line on costs—have reached a breaking point,” said Chancellor William H. McRaven while addressing the board’s decision. “If we want UT institutions to continue to be nationally competitive against their peers and offer a topnotch education, we have to provide them with more financial flexibility.”

The university just learned of the Board of Regents’ decision and is in the first stages of addressing the possibility of an increase in tuition. According to Gary Edens, vice president of student affairs, the university has no concrete information on what it might mean to its students yet. A committee will be formed to analyze the school’s current situation and decide if in fact a proposal will be made. The committee will include staff, faculty and students and will look

at the school’s needs in deciding if a tuition increase is warranted. “We’ll look at what does a tuition increase mean for our students, on the one end, but then on the other end, what are the costs of keeping faculty here,” Edens said. ”With the growing research portfolio, students would like to see investments in advising, tutoring. We have to balance what it is we need with what the cost is.” UT institutions are among the lowest in the nation when it comes to tuition. UT Austin ranks last in the amount of revenue per student when compared to other top-tier nationally ranked research institutions. UTEP is nationally recognized for the low tuition costs it offers its students on a semester-by-semester basis. It has been a goal of the state and the system to maintain low tuition costs and the go-ahead to increase tuition in the near future was not well received by everybody on the Board of Regents. Regent Alex Cranberg was one of two board members to vote against the decision and believes tuition increases should be the last resort. “The framework expresses an expectation that we should see a tuition increase above inflation,” Cranberg told the Dallas Morning News. “Student tuition raise should be a last resort, not an expectation.” The board’s decision recommends that all proposals presented include a 2 percent increase to address inflation. According to Edens, a tuition increase would be made with the sole intention of increasing students’ experience at UTEP. Providing a quality education with the best teachers possible is the main concern of the university and that may have to include a higher cost. “Retention of faculty is really critically important, not only for UTEP, but the whole state of Texas,” Edens

said. “We want the very best faculty here teaching our students.” Raising tuition would allow UTEP to have more money to keep and add top-quality faculty members. Competing with other top universities around the country, with higher tuition rates, that can offer better salaries is a huge concern around the state. “If a campus over in Dallas can pay them a lot more money because their tuition is higher and we can’t because our tuition is lower, then I causes a real difficulty for us to keep and hire the very best faculty,” Edens said. “That’s the reality we’re in.” UTEP has made it a point to find ways of dealing with the costs of providing a quality education other than raising tuition. Fundraising, outsourcing and research grants have all played a role in UTEP’s low tuition numbers over the years. Funds coming into the university thanks to research grants has increased to over $88 million, according to Edens. The centennial fundraising campaign brought over $200 million to the university, which also helps cover costs and allow tuition to remain low. While analyzing the possibility of a tuition increase for the 2017 and 2018 fiscal years, Edens said the university will maintain its goal of keeping education affordable to those in its community. “You’ve got to provide the services to run a university,” Edens said. “I think and I hope students understand and realize that, yes tuition will have to go up sometimes, but we’re also at an institution that cares deeply about that cost.” luis gonzalez may be reached at theprospectordaily. news@gmail.com.

uteP concealed carry taskforce to hold town hall meetings By alonso moreno The Prospector With less than a year to go, The University of Texas System schools have begun to prepare for the impending concealed campus carry law to go into effect. As a result, the University of Texas at El Paso and other schools have begun to designate committees to address the law and make sure all campuses are on the same page when it comes to implementing the new law on Aug. 1, 2016. The UTEP Campus Concealed Carry Task Force, much in the same manner as other committees, was created as a way for the campus to recommend rules, policies and gun-free zones to the UT System Board of Regents. UTEP President Diana Natalicio appointed the task force, which consists of nine faculty representatives, seven staff representatives, five student representatives, three ex-officio representatives and one parent representa-

tive, and is led by chair Gary Edens, vice president of student affairs. The task force, which has been meeting to discuss the law and how it will impact UTEP, expects a response from the UT System board by February of next year. “The task force is meeting and it’s meeting to develop the policies and procedures that we will recommend the UT System board in December,” Edens said. “We will be writing a report, they will review it and make sure that we are in alignment with all the other UT System schools and we should get feedback on that by February of next year.” At this point there are questions than answers, but Edens said that is due to some of the broader issues such as designating gun-free zones on campus. “It does not have to be perfect, but you can’t have a situation on which UT Dallas allows concealed carry in the day care facility, but UTEP does not,” Edens said. “We just don’t want

TOWN hALL mEETiNGS

tuesday, oct. 20, 1:30 p.m.,union cinema, first floor, union east Wednesday, oct. 21, noon, union cinema, first floor, union east Wednesday, oct. 28, 5:30 p.m., tomas Rivera conference center, third floor, union east

a situation where people ask why one place does it and the other does not.” Although the task force is centered on how to implement the law in the best interest for UTEP, the committee is composed of members from both sides. “It’s a pretty broad representation and there is also people on the committee that want concealed carry on campus and those that don’t want concealed carry,” Edens said. Additionally, Edens said that the committee is not debating the law, and that conversations of whether or not the law is a good thing are not part of their discussions, they are centered on how to implement the law and make it fair and equal to everyone in the campus community. Student Government Association is part of the student representation within the committee, and Edens chose the members. According to Hector Soltero, executive assistant from SGA, the members on the committee are con-

cerned with the same tasks as all other members, but that they would still conduct hearings to receive continued feedback from students. “Right now (this week) we are doing SGA listens, and we are reaching out to the entire student body to let us know any concerns they may have, whether is be on the gun policy or any other concern,” Soltero said. Although it might be too soon for an official word regarding concealed carry and how it will fully affect UTEP, Edens said that everyone would work to make the transition as seamless as possible. “It’s not going to be a place where everyone is going to carry guns,” Edens said. “This has not been a problem in other places and we are going to make sure to the best of our abilities it’s not a problem here at UTEP.”

alonso moreno may be reached at theprospectordaily. ent@gmail.com.

THEPROSPECTOR

| 4 | NEWS

October 20, 2015

Students from Rio to Rio Grande By Julio Cesar Chavez The Prospector

andRes martinez / The Prospector Junior electrical engineering major Carlos Caetano sits between two students in class. He is a Brazillian student studying abroad at UTEP.

Being right next to Mexico, UTEP is no stranger to international students, but these past three years have seen an increase in students from Brazil at the borderland university. This year alone, UTEP is hosting 91 exchange students from the South American country. “We’ve always had students coming from different universities around the world, but since the spring of 2014, we have had larger numbers of students from Brazil,” said Ana Barbosa, adviser for study abroad at the Office of International Programs. The students are here as part of an exchange program, Ciencias sem Fronteiras (Science without Borders), that takes science students from Brazil and places them in universities around the world. UTEP, known for its engineering programs, has been selected as the American home for hundreds of students since it joined in 2014. “The program helps provide international students with a chance to study science and technology in other universities,” Barbosa said. When still in Brazil, Ciencias sem Fronteiras reaches out for students who would like to study abroad. Once the students apply, typically in the winter, the International Institute of Education selects the students and places them at their appropriate university. In the case of many engineering students, the selection ends up being UTEP.

“Out of the 91, about 83 are part of the College of Engineering,” Barbosa said. As for their life in the borderland, students have said it has been a fun transition. “I think the culture and spicy food were the greatest culture shock we’ve had,” said Adriano Mireiles, a senior civil engineering major. If they do end up facing any problems, the Office of International Programs is there to help them.

The program helps provide international students with a chance to study science and technology in other universities. - Ana Barbosa, adviser for study abroad, the Office of International Programs “There are always issues that come up, especially with the cultural transition, but we’re here to provide support,” Barbosa said. Issues that some study abroad students said have not surfaced.

“We haven’t had any problems, El Pasoans are very friendly,” said Carlos Caetano, a junior electrical engineering major. The students still faced differences between their hometowns and El Paso. One student said that a particularly difficult aspect that took some getting used to was the dry desert heat after spending his life in the lush and humid Brazilian environment. Weather and food, however, are not the only difficulties for the Brazilians studying in El Paso. “You guys have a lot of homework and we weren’t used to it,” Mireiles said. “We’re closer to the French system, where it’s mainly class work and tests.” Students who are part of the program stay in El Paso for an entire school year, but they may also end up extending their visit. Barbosa said that some students are offered internships in their field after completing the spring semester and they could end up taking positions in the Sun City for the summer. “If we decide to get an internship in the summer, we could find something in manufacturing,” said Caetano, acknowledging the borderland’s maquiladora industry and its need for engineers. Julio Cesar Chavez may be reached at theprospectordaily. ent@gmail.com.

THEPROSPECTOR

NEWS | 5 |

October 20, 2015

qotw

What do you think about the growing trend of cyboards? adrian broaddus, jonathon duarte, andres martinez, angel ulloa / The Prospector

Diana Ramirez

Daniel Reyes

Senior graphic design/drawing major

Senior accounting major

“I dont think people should be using them all the time because they dont exercise, but I also think its good to get you to class a little faster.”

“Cyboards are rad, because you don’t have to use your legs.”

“I think the fact that we have the technology to make cyboards is amazing and progressive, but I think they should be aimed at providing for people with disabilities.”

“They’re just an excuse for people not to walk. I think people are really lazy and they can’t really get you anywhere. I think they’re stupid and pointless.”

Justin Johnson

Shairy Bardeja

Omar Talamantes

Osvaldo Dominguez

“I don’t care for cyboards, they’re a menace to society, use your legs.”

“I think the boards are pretty cool, but here at UTEP, there’s too many hills and there’s too many stairs. It doesn’t really make sense to have them as a college student.”

Freshman civil engineering major

Brandon Walter

Sophomore computer science major “I honestly think it’s the best form of transportation that a student can have on campus. It has extremely good maneuverability.”

Freshman electrical engineering major “I honestly think they are highly entertaining. If I had the resources to buy one, I would.”

Freshman political science major

Senior education major “I think the trend is bad because people don’t exercise as often using them.”

Lea Tellez

Sophomore kinesiology major

Hector Quintero

Junior biology major

| 6 | NEWS

THEPROSPECTOR October 20, 2015

calendar of events maceo dailey memorial service Director of African-American Studies and Associate Professor of History Maceo C. Dailey passed away on Oct. 11 in his hometown of Baltimore, Maryland. He was 72. UTEP will hold a memorial service to commemorate Dailey that will be open to the public at 5:30 p.m. on Monday Oct. 26 at the Magoffin Auditorium.

panel discussion: “The use of force in policing” The University of Texas at El Paso will host a series of lectures, panels and discussions that will center on race, authority and violence in 21st Century America. The second event of the series, “Research by Scholars on the Use of Force in Policing,” will be from 10:30 a.m. to 11:50 a.m. on Thursday Oct. 22 at the Union Cinema.

the cleric’s craft: crossroads of spanish literature and modern critique “The Cleric’s Craft: Crossroads of Medieval Spanish Literature and Modern Critique,” an international conference, will be conducted on the University of Texas at El Paso from Oct. 21 to Oct. 25. There will be two events open to the pubic. Among them, a workshop for local teachers called “Engaging Students in Medieval Spanish Literature,” on Saturday, October 24. There will also be an introduction to the cultural context of thirteenth-century Spain and its literature that will include video and bilingual poetry readings titled, “Clerecía in Performance: An Introduction to Medieval Spain is also on the agenda,” on Thursday Oct. 22 from 6:15 to 7:15 p.m. at the Tomás Rivera Conference Center.

THEPROSPECTOR

| 8 | NEWS

October 20, 2015

The U.S. and immigration: Where are we now? With Boehner’s time in office lim-

BY amanda guillen SHFWire

prehensive

immigration

reform.

Rep. Beto O’Rourke, a Democrat from El Paso, Texas, knows the topic of immigration well. El Paso sits across the Rio Grande from Mexico and is known for its vast demographic of Latin American migrants. O’Rourke said that he does not expect to see an immigration bill in this Congress. If anything is to happen, it will be after the 2016 elections. “I would love it if in Speaker Boehner’s swan song we see a compromise immigration bill that is amenable to enough moderate Republicans and probably to every member of the Democratic caucus of the House, but I think that is a very tall order,” O’Rourke said. He said that, 50 years after the HartCeller Act, it is time for a significant change in U.S. immigration law that

Real ID Act Secure Fence Act

will better reflect today’s reality. Homeland Security Act

Indochina Migration Refugee Assistance Act Immigration & Nationality Amendments Act Refugee Act of 1980 Immigration Reform and Control Act Anti-Drug Abuse Act 1990 Immigration Act Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act Anti-terrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act Illigal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsability Act Nicaraguan Adjustment and Central America Relief Act Haitian Refugee Immigration Fairness Act U.S. Patriot Act Enhanced Border Security and Visa Entry Reform Act

Immigration Laws over the Years

Refugee Relief Act of 1953 Migration & Refugee Assistance Act Hart-Cellar Act

yoichi okamoto / wikimedia commons President Lyndon B. Johnson signs the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 on Oct. 3, 1965. This act abolished the national quota system and changed the demographic makeup of the United States.

What’s ahead When looking at the surge in population growth over the past 50 years it is important to ask what the country will look like in another 50 years.

2005 2006

1998 2001 2002 2002

1997

The Pew Research study projects 1952 1952 1962 1965 1975 1976 1980 1986 1988 1990 1994 1996 1996

President Lyndon Baines Johnson signed the Hart-Celler Act in 1965, which sought to correct the 1924 Johnson-Reed Act. That 41-year-old law established a quota system based on national origins. The system favored Northern Europeans, who accounted for 70 percent of the immigration slots. This left people from everywhere else with a slim chance to immigrate to the U.S. The 1965 law abolished the quota system and set a high pri-

him from some to bring up com-

The Naturalization Act of 1790 Alien and Sedation Acts Immigration Act 1862 Immigration Act 1864 Chinese Exclusion Act 1888 Scott Act Immigration Act of 1891 The Geary Act 1917 Immigration Act Emergency Quota Act National Origins Quota Act Bracero Agreement Magnuson Act War Brides Act Displaced Persons Act of 1948 Immigarion and Nationality Act

50 years and no quotas

ited, this brings added pressure on

1790 1798 1862 1864 1882 1888 1891 1892 1917 1921 1921 1942 1942 1945 1948

WASHINGTON – The United States has long thought of itself as a melting pot, mixing cultures and customs from countries around the world. But it has often resisted adding more ingredients to the stew. The history of immigration laws dates to the first in 1790 that allowed free white immigrants to become citizens after two years of living in the U.S. With comprehensive immigration reform still a matter of political and social debates, an important turning point in the history of how the United States arrived to its current deadlock can be found a half century ago. Oct. 3 marked the 50th anniversary of the Hart-Celler Immigration Act of 1965, the historic law that changed the cultural makeup of the United States. With the 2016 presidential campaign already underway, and House Speaker John Boehner leaving office once his replacement is chosen, advocates’ high hopes of a congressional vote on an immigration bill have dimmed in recent weeks. It is said that history often repeats itself. Here is how the U.S. got to this point in the debate.

that, if trends continue, by 2065 recent immigrants and their descen-

ority on family reunification and those with skills to contribute in the labor force. It allowed U.S. citizens to sponsor the immigration of their immediate family members. Most thought the bill wouldn’t affect the number of immigrants, but the so-called chain migration rules dramatically increased immigration.

The United States now A Pew Research Center study released in September found that 59 million immigrants have arrived in the U.S. since the Hart-Celler Act was signed. In 1965, 5 percent of the U.S. population was foreign born. Today it is nearly 14 percent. Jerry Kammer, a senior research fellow at the Center for Immigration Studies, said the 1965 law opened the immigration flood gates. “A U.S. green card is the world’s most coveted document. I think there are tens of millions of people in the world who would love a chance to come here with green cards that give them status of permanent residence and a path to citizenship, and it is the job of immigration policy to decide who gets those green cards,” Kammer said. The question that remains is that 50 years after Hart-Celler, will there be change to the current U.S. immigration policy? Congress hasn’t taken up comprehensive immigration reform since 2013. In 2013 the Senate passed the “Border Security, Economic Opportunity and Immigration Modernization Act” (S.744) which then was failed to be picked up by the House.

dants will account for 88 percent of the U.S. population increase, which will add 103 million people to the U.S. population of 322 million. Kammer said it’s risky to make assumptions. “As we look ahead to the next 50 years … it is important that we have a bit of modesty about our ability to project that far into the future. Projections that are dealing with current or recent circumstances and imagining that they will continue into the future,” he said. O’Rourke

said

impor-

tant to realize that there are issues They

that

must

include

fixed.

offering

immi-

grants a path to citizenship that they in turn would adhere to if immigration

reform

passed.

“There is a deliberate but fair path to ultimately apply for citizenship and recognize the fact that they in many cases have been contributing members of our communities for decades,” O’Rourke said. Reach reporter Amanda Guillen at amanda.guillen@ scripps.com or 202-408-1490. SHFWire stories are free to any news organization that gives the reporter a byline and credits the SHFWire. Like the Scripps Howard Foundation Wire interns on Facebook, Instagram and follow us on Twitter.

PAGE 9 October 20, 2015

entertainment

Editor

JOSE SOTO, 747-7477

Fiesta Juárez concluye con éxito en ciudad fronteriza

PHOTO courtesy of luis hernandez Este año Fiesta Juárez atrajó a residentes de ambas cuidades fronterizas al festejo.

BY FERNANDA LEON The Prospector

Con un conjunto de juegos mecánicos, antojitos típicos mexicanos, exposiciones, y mucha diversión, la feria de Ciudad Juárez, denominada como “Fiesta Juárez”, resulto ser todo un éxito para la comunidad fronteriza. Con la misión de mejorar y fomentar las actividades en la ciudad, Fiesta Juárez ha sido una de las formas con las que la ciudad a intentado minimizar la mala reputación por la cual es conocida la ciudad. Esta clase de eventos forman parte de otros eventos culturales que se han traído a la ciudad para volver a darle vida y reactivar el turismo. Con diferentes actividades que van desde un palenque para conciertos, una explanada con presentación de artistas, vendedores artesanales, juegos mecánicos para todas las edades, en-

tre otras cosas, Fiesta Juárez 2015 ha mejorado y fomentado la diversión en comparación con el año pasado. Entre las cosas más interesantes que se hicieron presentes para esta feria fue que se contó con tours que brindaron la oportunidad a la gente de El Paso para que conocieran este evento, ahora anual. “Ciudad Juárez es una ciudad tranquila, normal, como cualquier ciudad del mundo que tuvo una mala proyección a nivel mundial por circumstancias que pasaron hace cuatro años, nada que ver ahorita”, dijo Jose Antonio Ramos, director de la división de proyectos especiales de Ciudad Juárez. Ramos dijo que muchas personas de la ciudad de El Paso han tenido la oportunidad no solamente de haber visitado la feria, sino también lugares característicos de Ciudad Juárez.

“Hemos llevado comerciantes, banqueros, amas de casa de Ciudad Juárez, señoras de los clubs, etcetera”, dijo Ramos. “Hace tres meses llevamos 330 personas a un tour a Juárez en la que vinieron alcaldes de toda la región.” Para poder llevar a cabo eventos como la Fiesta Juárez, se lleva alrededor de un año de planeación. Este año, la fiesta se llevo a cabo con una gran y mayor calidad de juegos mecánicos y con artistas mexicanos que dieron vida musical a la feria. “Juárez es otro”, dijo el presidente municipal Enrique Serrano. “Ha cambiado, hemos avanzado muchísimo en el combate a la delincuencia, la sociedad ha tomado los espacios que le corresponden, tenemos ya este tipo de eventos, hemos tenido reuniones nacionales aquí en Ciudad Juárez de diferentes temas”.

Entre las celebridades que visitaron la ciudad y brindaron su presentación en la feria se encuentran El Tri, Río Roma, Marco Antonio Solís, Los Tigres del Norte, Ha*Ash, entre otros. Por otro lado, los juegos mecánicos adornaron el icónico monumento de la X en Cd. Juárez. Desde ruletas, el juego mecánico del péndulo, entre otros, la atracción más grande de este evento fue la llamada “Mega King Tower”, un juego mecánico de 88 metros de altura. “La feria me pareció muy divertida, creo que es un evento que se ha ido mejorando cada año a pesar de que estuvo algún tiempo detenida”, dijo Ricardo Castañeda, psicólogo y residente de Ciudad Juárez. “Creo que corresponde a la promoción que le han hecho a Fiesta Juárez”, dijo Castañeda. “Hay diversión y variedad para todos los gustos y edades

y creo que es un espacio donde se puede convivir sanamente y eso de alguna manera beneficia a la comunidad en general porque se da una impresión de seguridad y confianza”. Sin duda alguna, las autoridades y el gobierno municipal de Ciudad Juárez han hecho gran enfoque a la mejoría de esta comunidad fronteriza haciendo invitación, incluso, a la comunidad de la vecina ciudad de El Paso y el público en general a que visiten la ciudad y conozcan lugares significativos de la cuidad. Fernanda Leon may be reached at theprospectordaily. ent@gmail.com.

Indian Food Festival brings exotic cuisine to the borderland BY JULIA HETTIGER The Prospector Indian food is prepared in a very different manner than more traditional border cuisine such as Mexican food, so if you haven’t yet tried Indian food, an upcoming event will give you the opportunity to try different Indian traditions in El Paso including cuisine, dancing and vendors selling jewelry and clothes. The Indian Food Festival, which will take place Oct. 23 to Oct. 25 at Cleveland Square Park in downtown El Paso, will give the community an opportunity to step our of their food comfort zone and try the exotic flavors of Indian food. “Our event is a family event with some entertainment,” said Ruben Holguin, coordinator of the Indian Food Festival. “We have Bollywood dancers, belly dancers as well as a local dance studio doing some fusion dance.” The event will feature a variety of traditional Indian foods that will allow patrons to get a true taste of India. “The Indian food ranges from traditional chicken curry, Tandoori chick-

en, Tiki Masala, Chole, Sambar, Alo Gobi and some deserts,” Holguin said. Tandoori chicken is a dish where the chicken is marinated in yogurt and spices and is cooked at high temperatures in a clay oven called a tandoor, while tiki masala is a dish of chicken chunks smothered in a creamy, spicy sauce. Chole is a type of curry made from chickpeas and Sambar is a stew made from lentils and vegetables. Traditional Indian desserts are typically made with cashews, cheese or mung bean. “We will also have pagodas, naan and samosas to name a few,” Holguin said. The event will also feature other food options in addition to Indian cuisine. “There will be other food vendors as well just in case patrons choose otherwise, bacon-wrapped hot dogs, veggie paninis and snacks,” Holguin said. There will be other kinds of activities and vendors as well. “We’ll have vendors from clothing to jewelry and art as well as hookah, beer and drink specials,” Holguin said. Dancers from LAT Studio, a dance studio and modeling agency known for the television show “Model Material,” will be performing at the festival.

“We are dancing primarily a fusion of hip hop and an Indian dance style,” said Tony Aleman, director of LAT Studio.

It’s very difficult to find places here in El paso that serve authentic Indian food. - Pratick Gathe, Indian Student Association member The dancers at LAT Studio essentially learn dance techniques for hip hop and jazz dancing, so their performances at the festival will be something they are trying out.

“We have learned a lot of elements from Indian dance styles and have mixed them with hip-hop dancing,” Aleman said. “What we are doing is completely experimental, and what we have been working on is the first of its kind.” Holguin said he hopes putting on an event like this that involves food and dance from a different culture will bring a lot of new knowledge to the El Paso area. “The goal is to bring insight to this culture that has impacted the course of history,” Holguin said. “India has contributed to both commerce and culture, their country is hot, their food is hot, their women are hot and their men are lucky.” He also said combining Indian culture with El Paso can be beneficial to expanding the culture in the area. “We just want to celebrate and grow this amazing culture in the Southwest,” Holguin said. Holguin’s team at Holguin Productions was also responsible for bringing the Mariachi Loco Music Festival to the Sun City. “This is our second Indian food festival and our second event downtown,” Holguin said. “We brought

the Mariachi Loco Music Festival to San Jacinto even with the setbacks placed by construction.” Pratick Gathe, a member of the Indian Student Association, said it is a very good thing people can be exposed to the differences between life in the borderland and life in India. “We have very different systems in India and I hope people will be enlightened by it because it is very different,” Gathe said. Gathe said the event will give good exposure to traditional Indian food, which he said can be hard to find. “It’s very difficult to find places here in El Paso that serve authentic Indian food,” Gathe said. “It’s also difficult to get full from eating a burger, because we have a very heavy diet compared to food served here, so this will be a new experience for many.” For more information about the Indian Food Festival, call 915-408-6480. Julia Hettiger may be reached at theprospectordaily. ent@gmail.com.

THEPROSPECTOR

| 10 | ENTERTAINMENT

October 20, 2015

OUR VIEW

Editor

MICHAELA ROMaN, 747-7477

Over 1,000 attendees join cosplayers and celebrities at Sun City Scifi Expo

2

1

3

4

5

michaela Roman, christopher zacherl / The Prospector 1. Sun City Scifi attendee shows off his Spiderman costume. 2. Actor Clive Revill, known for his role in Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, signs autographs. 3. Senior theater major Christina Gonzalez poses with cosplayer NadyaSonika. 4. Atendees dress up in Star Wars costumes including Aayla Secura and Darth Revan. 5. Actor Verne Troer answers questions from fans at a panel discussion.

PAGE 11 October 20, 2015

Sports

Editor

Javier Cortez, 747-7477

Men’s basketball ready to excite in Orange and White Scrimmage

JAVIER CORTEZ / The Prospector UTEP men’s basketball head coach Tim Floyd instructs freshman guard Tedric Johnson during a Monday practice

By Javier Cortez The Prospector This Saturday, Oct. 24, the UTEP men’s basketball team will present itself to their El Paso fan base for the first time this season in their annual Orange and White scrimmage at the Don Haskins Center. With an offseason that has drawn plenty of headlines ranging from demoralizing injuries to key player transfers, the Miners come into the

Orange and White scrimmage with a lot of intriguing pieces. “This is something we got started five years ago as a team,” said Head Coach Tim Floyd. “I think it’s been a good thing that has allowed (our fans) to get to know some of our new players and it’s been very good for us because it gets our new players to get their out in front of the fans.” Nearly half of the roster is made up of freshman, redshirts and transfers. Of that group— Dominic Artist,

Lee Moore, Brodricks Jones and Paul Thomas are four of the highly coveted players who joined the Miners this season. The scrimmage itself is no more than a pick-up basketball game, with little to no structure, but the events prior to the scrimmage are great ways to showcase the talents of the players from an individual standpoint. Some of the key principles that coach Floyd has tried to instill in the past two weeks such as defense and

rebounding will more than likely take a back seat, while the players just go out and have fun. “You would like to see guys stay somewhat within what they have learned,” Floyd said. “You try to see if some guys can apply some of the defensive principles, which we are trying to make instinctive. Sometimes those things don’t really transfer (to the scrimmage), but all in all, it’s a fun day.” The day starts off with a 3-point shootout with four contestants, followed by a dunk contest with four other contestants. Two years ago, former miner Vince Hunter and current miner Omega Harris made a name for themselves by putting their athleticism on display in the dunk contest. The 3-point contest and dunk contest results might not be imperative to the Miners in game strategy, but Floyd believes those contests are two great outlets for the players to standout for the fans and coaching staff. “That’s why we do (these contests),” Floyd said. “We really want to find out who stands out. We really have no idea up to this point.” The participants in each event have not been selected yet, but transfer guard Dominic Artist said he will compete in both competitions and likes his chances of winning. “I’m very excited,” Artist said. “It’s my first time playing in front of these fans, who are real passionate fans, which should be a nice experience. I might be competing in both (contests)… (my chances) are really good, really good. The 3-point contest… I think I should win that.”

The scrimmage itself is two 20-minute halves with referees. Coach Floyd will not be coaching in the game, but assistant coaches Bob Cantu and Ken Deweese will fill in for coach on both sides, respectively. Last year, the white team, which featured Omega Harris, stormed back from a 20-point deficit in the second half to win the game in double overtime. The result of the game has no bearing on the season, but it does feature the competitive nature of the Miners. “It’s a great way to see our new guys come out and play in a game-like setting,” said senior center Hooper Vint. “We have refs and everything. It’s a good chance for our guys to get up and down, have fun and play ball.” Vint will be competing in the 3-point contest for the second consecutive year. Echoed by coach Floyd and the players, the most important element of the scrimmage are the fans. Every year brings in new players, and the scrimmage is a great way for the fans to put a face to a name. “I think these things are always exciting,” Floyd said. “Fans get into recruiting, new players and what’s going on. This (scrimmage) gives them a chance to put a face to the name that they’ve heard.” The Orange and White scrimmage starts at 1:30 p.m. at the Don Haskins Center. Admission is free. Javier Cortez may be reached at theprospectordaily. sports@gmail.com.

Miners look for first conference win after bye week

FILE PHOTO / The Prospector The UTEP football team is looking for their first win in three weeks after coming off a bye week.

By Juan Carlos Navarrete The Prospector The UTEP football team will look to get their first win in three weeks this Saturday when they face the Florida Atlantic Owls at home. The game against FAU will be the first game between these two programs in school history. “We are coming off a bye week, a productive bye week for us,” said head coach Sean Kugler. “The coaches did

self-evaluations on each individual group and collectively as an offense and defense to see where we can get better.” After failing to secure a win in their first two conference games, the Miners now sit at 2-4 for the year and have a 0-2 conference record. A humbling 52-12 loss to FIU two weeks ago put the Miners at the bottom of their conference in second to last place. The Miners have been a mystery on offense thus far, after

losing their pillar on offense, with the injury to running back Aaron Jones. Who will start at quarterback is a week-to-week question, while the offense has not managed to get anything going. To make matters worse, the 40-point loss to FIU was not even the worst loss of the season for a team that has struggled to get consistent play week after week.

In terms of records, FAU is not doing any better than the Miners; they are fifth in their conference with a 1-5 record through the first six games. Their conference record is at 1-2, something the Miners can definitely use to gather momentum toward the end of the season. “It is a team that I feel right now should be easily 3-3,” Kugler said. “They lost an overtime game to Tulsa. They played Miami extremely tough. It was 20-20 going into the fourth quarter. They lost a last-minute game versus Rice that was a tough loss for them at home.” The Miners need a statement win, and although a win against the second-to-last place team in the conference might not impress most, it could work as a confidence boost that the team desperately needs. Although the Miners have struggled, the team remains positive. The team is taking their losses, but not losing sight of the good things they have accomplished. “I want to make it a positive experience for this entire team because, as I have mentioned many times before, when you’re 2-4 in a lot of cases going to work is miserable,” Kugler said. “That hasn’t been the case with this group.” The Miners are number one in conference in sacks allowed, one of the few things the offense has done well, but FAU has a good defense that can make the day worse for whoever is under center for the Miners. “From the turnover standpoint, they’re in the negative category -2,” Ku-

gler said. “One thing that stands out to me is they have gained 10 interceptions on defense. Time of possession, they are 11th in Conference USA.” The Miners will look to rearrange their offense after Mack Leftwich was cleared to play after sustaining a concussion against NMSU. With him under center, it will be interesting to see if he picks up where he left off or if he will have a learning curve. The Miners have not been able to do anything on defense either this year. UTEP ranks at 106 for the year, and has not been able to stop opposing offenses at home or on the road consistently. The Miners will hope to force turnovers and get sacks as they have done in the past and get their first conference win of the season. While they have had their struggles early on, UTEP is a team that is favored to win against FAU, and a win at home could boost this team. Even though they have a losing record it is not all bad news for UTEP, a win against FAU would put them a game closer to an even record and would give them momentum toward the end of the year. Juan Carlos Navarrete can be reached at theprospectordaily.sports@gmail.com.

THEPROSPECTOR

| 12 | SPORTS

October 20, 2015

Palacios making an impact as a freshman I think it’s awesome what she’s doing right now.” Like Cross, Baine agrees on the growth that Palacios has experienced thus far and has confidence in the experience she will gain. “Being a keeper in general is a huge responsibility and I think for her to come in as a freshman, fill that role and do such a good job is an amazing thing for her,” Baine added. “She plays every game confident. She’s always saving our butts back there and always coming up big for us. I love having her behind me.” Besides maintaining her job as keeper, Palacios is determined to reach Sarah Dilling’s record for all-

time most clean-sheets in UTEP history. During her four years at UTEP, from 2010-2014, Dilling recorded 20 clean-sheets overall and also leads the single-season clean-sheet record with eight. In her first year, Palacios’ five clean-sheets places her tied at fourth all-time for the single-season shutout record. “I see Dill’s name for shutouts and I hope one day I can just get as many as her,” Palacios said. “I want to contribute as much as I can and continue to make an impact in games.” Adrian Broaddus may be reached at theprospectordaily. sports@gmail.com.

ENORMOUS ORMOU SANDWICHES !

SANDWICHES!

Delicious, Plentiful and

CLOSE TO UTEP! 2400 N. Oregon 79902 (915) 351-8005

OctoberSpecial: Philly Cheese Steak $6.99 10% off for Miners with ID

915-219-7468 3233 N. Mesa #203

$2.99 Crown $1.75 Lonestar

During all Cowboys games. $5 BBQ sandwiches every Wed, Thurs, and Fri. at noon while they last. Jose Barron Band live Fri. Oct 23rd @ 6 p.m. courtesy of utep athletics Freshman goal keeper Alyssa Palacios five clean-sheets this season places her fourth all-time for the single-season shutouts.

By Adrian Broaddus The Prospector Flashback to Aug. 21, freshman goalkeeper Alyssa Palacios prepares to start her first college game against Eastern Washington. Head coach Kevin Cross came to Palacios and gave her the starting job. Timidly and nervously, she jogged on the field and faced her first opponent. After 90 minutes, the score was 2-1 in favor of Eastern Washington. Flash-forward to present day, Palacios enters her 17th game as keeper. Determined, confident, she sprints onto the field and anticipates the conference game against Southern Mississippi. This time after a long double overtime battle, the Lady Miners came out on top against the Golden Eagles, 3-2. Palacios recorded eight saves in the win. After 17 games, Palacios has recorded 94 saves and holds five cleansheets for the Miners. Entering her last three games of the season, the freshman keeper feels more comfortable and self-assured than ever. “Now that I have more games under my belt, I’m more confident going into games by being more experienced from the games we’ve played so far,” Palacios said. “Our defense’s chemistry has gotten so much better too. I’m not as timid making decisions.” Coach Cross started Palacios the first game of the season after Keigh-

ton Allen was sidelined with an injury. Palacios has started every game ever since.

Now that I have more games under my belt, I’m more confident going into games by being more experienced from the games we’ve played so far. - Alyssa Palacios, Freshman Goal Keeper “She’s been phenomenal for us, shown a lot of maturity,” Cross said. “She had a real big opportunity, but it was also a difficult one being a freshman in that position. Her character is awesome. She wants to please her teammates, works really hard and just has an awesome attitude.” Prior to joining the Miners, Palacios experienced a soccer career that served as preparation for the division one play. The native of Carrollton, Texas, was a member of the club team Sting.

On two separate occasions, Palacios and her club team won the Elite Club National League National Championship – when she was in eighth grade and then as a junior in high school. One of the most positive experiences Palacios had on the club team was being on the same squad for most of her soccer career. “I was on one club team all my life, so it was hard when we all had to go to college,” Palacios said. “It was a great experience being with the same group of girls throughout middle school and high school.” Adjusting to a new team after joining the Miners was a challenge for Palacios at first, but now she has grown accustomed to her new teammates and coaches. “I was only on one club team all my life, so it was so different having to get to know a whole new set of girls,” Palacios said. “I think I’ve done a pretty good job. I do what I can and do my best to support my team. “ As a goalkeeper, one of the main jobs is working closely with the defenders to ensure better communication. Defender Alexa Baine stresses the importance of the role Palacios plays on the team. “I think it’s a huge accomplishment as a freshman to come onto the team and fill such a big role as keeper,” Baine said. “She’s progressed every game as far as being a leader – vocally on and off the field.

UTEP Tailgate party Saturday Bike Night every Tuesday Like us on Facebook:faceb00k.com/markscantina Available for private parties.