VOL . 102, no. 12
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
November 8, 2016
Union Plaza residents fight to save neighborhood The El Paso Historical Landmark Commision suggests the city reconsiders arena location
Michaela román / The Prospector Flor de Luna Gallery is located at the corner of Chihuahua street and Overland street. It is in the center of the city officials approved arena location. The gallery sits next to the last-standing former brothel in El Paso.
By michaela román The Prospector Editor’s note: This is the second part of a three-part series on the Save the Union Plaza efforts.
The El Paso Historic Landmark Commission met again on Tuesday, Nov. 7 to hear both city officials and residents from the Union Plaza neighborhood to arrive at a formal stance on the city’s proposed arena location. This followed a previous meeting on Monday, Oct. 24 where a few HLC commissioners felt they did not know enough about the history of the area and would postpone making any decision. Commissioner Charles Stapler made a motion to recommend to city council that they “reconsider this particular project” and Commissioner Joseph Longo seconded the deci-
sion. Commissioners William Helm, Edgar Lopez and Don Luciano recused themselves from the vote. The motion then passed with no opposition followed by cheers from supporters in the crowd. City Attorney Sylvia Borunda Firth and City Manager Tommy Gonzalez, along with Deputy City Attorney Theresa Cullen spoke and explained why they chose this specific location. After considering four different locations, each failed for reasons such as closures of major streets and exceeding the established budget. In the end, the El Paso City Council approved, in a 7-0 vote, on Oct. 18 that the $180 million downtown arena—supported by the Quality of Life Bond voters approved in 2012—would be built in the Union Plaza district. The decision to enact eminent domain has caused controver-
sy amongst El Pasoans because it will displace residents and business owners in the area.
There’s plenty of people in opposition in my neighborhood to actually say we’re not for sale
- Michael Patino, Owner of Rock House Café and Gallery In her presentation to the HLC, Borunda Firth discussed the 1998 Archaeological Technical Report for the
Sun Metro Transit Authority, where author John Peterson amongst others found 18 sites and structures in the Union Plaza that they claimed should be deemed historic. Seven of these can be found in the area approved for demolition. Borunda Firth is unsure why a survey was never conducted after this study came out. “For the record—I’m gonna say it again—I didn’t say there was nothing historical. I said there was nothing in there with a historic designation,” Borunda Firth said. Members against the demolition of the neighborhood murmured disapprovingly following Firths remarks. Owner of the Rock House Café and Gallery that sits on the 400 block of Overland Street, Michael Patino, was amongst those satisfied with the HLC’s decision. His busi-
ness and residence sits just outside the arena footprint. Patino spoke to both city council and the HLC to defend his neighborhood. “I’m glad we are recognized as a historic community,” Patino said. “We’ve shown that it’s a victory for people that do live in the area to give them some kind of calmness to their nerves.” Patino considers his neighbors he would lose from the arena as family. “They wouldn’t call the police. They would call me ‘Ay some creep is on the porch.’ That’s the unity we have in our neighborhood,” said Patino. Advocates against the arena got together Friday, Nov. 4 at the Rock House Café to listen to stories from residents as they fight to stay in their homes. The event was hosted by see plaza on page 3
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PAGE 2 November 8, 2016
OPINION
Editor-in-Chief
Michaela Román, 747-7477
Ending the stigma associated therapy and counseling By rene delgadillo The Prospector
I was lost and no one was there to understand what I was going through. No one knew about those nights when I cried alone in my car; nor did they know that my stress was destroying my physical and mental health. I was having the biggest mental breakdown of my entire life, and I was crying so much for so many days that I felt quitting was the best option. I was going through depression once again in my life, and I had no idea what to do. Everything that I was doing was wrong and bad stuff happened to me without a reason. I had no time to sleep or finish my homework, family fights were happening and my mom, who died 14 years ago, was always on my mind making me cry even more. I had to face the fact that I needed help. I needed to break the stigma that I had toward going to therapy. But it was not easy, when I was about to open the door to the counseling center at UTEP, I started crying. People were looking at me as if I was crazy. I had a stress attack, and I couldn’t open that door because I felt ashamed and weak. With tears running down my face, I left the building, but midway down the stairs I stopped. I decided to open the door and talk about my problems with someone who would be unbiased. It’s been two months since my first visit and I have to say it has been a life-changing experience. I have learned that I’m not a weak person, I’m capable of overcoming everything that I’m experiencing. I’ve learned that crying is perfectly fine and that I shouldn’t be ashamed by it. I got to know myself better, I finally understood who I was and who I could become in the future. Counseling allowed me to recognized my fears, goals, mistakes and skills. I was finally in contact with my emotions. But I want to end the stigma and the stereotypes that people have toward people like me. I’m not crazy dude, I’m not on medication, therapy does not consist of talking about my childhood, and yes my family does love me and my friends support me all the time. Is counseling for weak people? No it’s not. Is counseling just for people with depression? No. Why do people keep on believing the stereotypes that you see on television? Why see us as crazy lunatics who need medication to overcome our personal problems?
People who visit a therapist are not weak. Deciding to see a therapist is a courageous act and you shouldn’t judge anyone’s decision. People who go to therapy have a lot of courage because counseling means exposing yourself to a stranger and expressing your deepest problems, emotions and thoughts. Don’t treat us differently just because we’re seeing a therapist. I’m just a guy who is trying to do better in school and in life, and I’m sure that is the case in many other people around you. Don’t be afraid of having a conversation with us, don’t make us feel different, because if you do avoid us, you’re just contributing to the stigma that already exists. We’re not going to harm anyone. We can actually be very helpful because we understand how difficult life can be. Your counselor will never fix your problems. It will always be up to you to do better. He or she will respect your thoughts, decisions, mistakes and efforts. You don’t have to fake who you are while you’re in counseling. There is no necessity for masks during your visit. Being in counseling can help you be in contact with yourself, it can be a tool that helps you be aware of your feelings. It can teach you that what you feel is perfectly okay and that you shouldn’t be ashamed because of it. I accept that there are bad counselors out there, but if you have a bad experience, don’t be afraid of trying again. I know it can be difficult, but always remember to have this as an option that can help you out. I don’t intend to say that all people have to visit or need a counselor. But if you feel pinned down in a corner, you should look for healthy and positive ways in which you can benefit. I know how it feels to be alone. I understand your anger, sadness, frustration and fear, but please do not give up. I believe in you. I know you’re capable of doing great things with your life, I know it sucks to be in your shoes right now, but don’t be afraid of opening your emotions to a stranger. Don’t let yourself down, if counseling is not for you talk to people who you believe will help you. You’re not weak, you’re not crazy, you’re not awkward. You are just going through a difficult time. If you ever need someone to talk to or need to set an appointment visit the University Counseling Center at located at room 205 on Union West or at 747-5302.
Gaby Velasquez/ The PRospector
The Prospector is committed to accuracy. If you think we have made an error of fact, e-mail us at theprospectordaily.news@utep.edu.
Ac c u r ac y Watc h
Rene Delgadillo may be reached at rene10del@gmail.com.
STAFF VO L . 1 0 2 , n o . 1 2 Editor-in-Chief: Michaela Román Layout Editor : Rene Delgadillo Copy Editor : Christian Vasquez Spor ts/Web Editor : Adrian Broaddus Enter tainment Editor : Eric Vasquez Photo Editor : Gaby Velasquez Multimedia Editor : Andres Mar tinez Staff Repor ters: Grecia Sanchez Shericka Lawrence, Mike Flores, Vania Castillo Photographers: Agnipravo Banerjee, Claudia Hernandez, Nina Titovets Contributors: Gloria Heredia, Stephanie Hinojosa, Andres Gallegos, Jason Urrutia
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Letters will be edited for clarity and brevity. Letters over 250 words are subject to editing to fit available space. Please include full name, street address and telephone number and e-mail address, plus major, classification and/or title if applicable. Address and phone number will be used for verification only. Write to 105 E. Union, e-mail theprospectordaily.news@gmail.com, call 747-7477 or fax to 747-8031. The Prospector is published by the Student Publications Editorial Board, 105 Union East, 500 W. University Ave. El Paso, Texas, 79968. The Prospector appears in print once per week on Tuesdays during the fall, spring, and summer semesters. The newspaper is not printed during holidays and when classes are not in session. The Prospector does provide news online at www.theprospectordaily.com. The Prospector is provided to students through student fees. First copy is free. Any additional copies, if available, must be purchased for $1 through the Department of Student Publications. The Prospector is not responsible for claims made by advertisers. Additional policy information may be obtained by calling The Prospector at 915-747-5161. Opinions expressed in The Prospector are not necessarily those of the university.
THEPROSPECTOR
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gaby velasquez / The Prospector (Left) City Manager Tommy Gonzalez argues in defense of the arena’s location in front of the El Paso Historic Landmark Commission on Monday, Nov. 7. (Right) Michael Patino, owner of Rock House Café and Gallery speaks to the commission.
plaza from page 1 Paso Del Sur, which is a 10-yearold organization that works for the rights of residents and workers of El Paso’s barrios against displacement and demolition. Last Tuesday, Nov. 1, Mike Leibbrand showed up to City Council’s meeting where his neighborhood was on their agenda. “I would like is to have all the addresses of all the people that are here so that we can very quickly confirm to them whether they are within or without the footprint area,” Borunda Firth said. “We may be able to put some minds at ease.” Leibbrand wrote down his phone number to find out if his apartment was within the boundaries but never heard back from anyone.
“I never received a phone call. I haven’t heard anything. I’ve heard that my apartment complex is in the boundaries, and that it’s not, and that I don’t really have to move but then I hear that eminent domain and everything else is going to happen but I’m handicap and so is my roommate,” Leibbrand said. Another supporter for saving the neighborhood at the event was Max Grossman, vice chair of the El Paso County Historic Commission. He assured the group gathered at the Rock House Café that his commission would do everything they can to make city council change their mind. “There’s absolutely no compelling reason why it must be right here,” Grossman said. “There’s no compelling reason why 150 people have to be displaced and
why 27 historic buildings have to be demolished so that we can be entertained here instead of over there.” City representatives will hold their first community meeting to answer any questions or concerns from the community and address arena plans at 6 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 14 at the old fire station at the corner of Santa Fe Street and Paisano Street. Patino is planning to protest at the meeting. “We’re not negotiating, plain and simple. There’s plenty of people in opposition in my neighborhood to actually say we’re not for sale—and I’m one of those people,” said Patino. Michaela Román may be reached at michaelairoman@ gmail.com.
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THEPrOSPEcTOr
| 4 | NEWS
nOVember 8, 2016
Student doesn’t give up on goal of working for NASA
PhoTo courTesy oF Jesus Trillo Jesus Trillo at the Johnson space center in summer 2014.
By mariana rodriguez The Prospector After the Apollo moon landing in the 60s, space enthusiasts set their eyes on the next target: Mars. But four decades of unsuccessful human landings has pushed back the estimated landing date. For one UTEP student, the year 2030 could not come fast enough. Hired by NASA on his first day of graduate school, Jesus Trillo is ready to start his career as a mechanical engineer at Florida’s Kennedy Space Center. “I always knew I wanted to be an astronaut,” Trillo said. “That was always the end goal.” After a visit to NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, Trillo left starstruck by both the equipment and possibilities. Un-
like most children who abandoned the idea of becoming an astronaut as they grew older, Trillo remained passionate about space after visiting the center during a class trip. With a renewed inspiration to become an astronaut, Trillo wasted no time as a UTEP freshman and spent his first summer as an intern for General Motors in Arlington, Texas. From there on, there was not a summer he did not spend working on his goal of being contracted by NASA. He interned in Alabama, Mississippi and Houston, until he was admitted into NASA’s Pathway Intern Employment Program—a highly competitive program for recent graduates who wish to be considered for federal employment. But, he said, the journey was not easy.
Trillo’s first internship with NASA marked the summer he knew what he wanted to do with his career. He worked in the Propulsion Systems Department of the Marshall Center’s Engineering Directorate, where he helped engineers test the components of F1 engines. His participation with the department sparked an interest in him that steered him in the direction of mechanical engineering. “Propulsion is what I’m passionate about,” Trillo said. Trillo’s mentor at the Marshall Center and propulsion system engineer, Nick Case, agrees with him. “I expect to hear a lot more about him in the near future, and hopefully he’ll help lead us in accomplishing the bold goals NASA
ideology, they are explicitly anti-capitalist and focus on finding the root causes of problems in the world. Gabriel Solis, a UTEP student getting his master’s degree in history, is one of the organizers and also a co-founder. “One of the reasons we use radical is the main definition of radical, which is to get to the root of something,” Solis said. “So we want to look at the root causes, the material root causes of things. Why is there racism in this country, why is there sexism in this country, why is it this city is trying to dispossess a Mexican-American neighborhood right now?” The next gathering that Radical Soup will host will be about the building of a new arena near Union Plaza that will dispossess the residents of that community on Saturday, Nov 12. At Rock House Café & Gallery the organization will let Las Failias Y Madres de la Plaza Union, a group of women who live in the Union Plaza area, as well as Paso de Sur, an organization
that successfully fought against similar plans by the city, but in the Segundo Barrio in 2006, talk about what is going on and what people can do about it. “This event, ‘The Fight Against Dispossession in Union Plaza,’ is in direct response to City Council’s recent vote to demolish the Union Plaza neighborhood in order to spend $180 million to bring a boring arena to El Paso,” said Contreras. “It will bring together residents from the neighborhood set to be destroyed (which total over 150 residents) as well provide a brief history on displacement in El Paso.” The topics chosen are a mix of topical and educational, with keynote speakers at every gathering. One of the last events that Radical Soup presented was an educational introduction to socialism as well as an overview of a local democratic socialist party. The event was inspired by the rise of Bernie Sanders in the presidential election, and with his rise the increase in curiosity about socialism.
is pursuing,” Case stated in an interview with NASA in 2012. With two NASA internships under his belt, Trillo prepared himself to graduate with a bachelor’s in mechanical engineering and apply for a position at NASA. When NASA rejected his application, he decided to stay for his master’s at UTEP, a move he chose because NASA typically only hires students still enrolled in school. His decision to continue his studies was supported by the chair of the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Ahsan R. Choudhuri, whose work motivated and inspired Trillo to not become disheartened by the lack of response. Working alongside Choudhuri, Trillo was able to pay for graduate school and gain more experience with his field of study. He says his internships, research work and graduate school all pushed him to apply one last time.
i wanted to be as involved in the journey to Mars as i can be. i was to help make history.
-Jesus Trillo, graduate student engineering major After eight months of waiting, he received news of his employment the first day of graduate school.
Although time flew by after the first hard couple of months, he was thrilled when he received a position as a mechanical engineer in Florida. Stating he still has a long way to go, Trillo remains positive toward the work he will start this coming February with NASA. He graduates this December with a master’s degree in mechanical engineering, but he said his goal is still to become an astronaut and that he has quite a few years to go before he can fulfill his dream. Becoming an astronaut is even more difficult than being hired by NASA, he said, but he thinks that maintaining his work ethic and attitude he’s had since his first couple of years at UTEP will carry him through the application process one more time. “He’s a great leader,” said Jacklyn Mona, a close friend of Trillo and a graduate student in mechanical engineering. “He always helps other students so they won’t fall behind in school.” In the time between starting at NASA and becoming an astronaut, Trillo wants to help NASA with the big accomplishments Case predicted. “I want to be as involved in the journey to Mars as I can be,” he said. “I want to help make history.” After two summers of interning for NASA, Trillo is ready to become a permanent member of the NASA team. “It’s amazing,” he says. “I still can’t believe it.” With his perseverant attitude, Trillo might just make it all the way to Mars. mariana rodriguez may be reached at theprospectordaily. news@gmail.com.
radical Soup: a recipe for discussion By chrisTian vasquez The Prospector Radical Soup is a collection of leftists, who combine their love of community discussion and vegetarian soup. It’s a mashup of scholars, activists, students and professionals, who aim to stir up discussion about the problems of the world and how to solve them. Susana Contreras, one of the organizers and co-founder, said that Radical Soup started as a group of friends who wanted to create a safe space for discussion and turned into a gathering of roundtable discussions, soup lovers and keynote speakers about a variety of topics. “Personally, the reason I wanted Radical Soup to exist is because I felt that sometimes college campuses, where I participated in many leftist groups and discussions, are not accessible unless you are a student, or involved with the university in some way,” said Contreras. While the organization does not have any specific political
“We have a core collective group of five people, then we invite someone to present on that topic, and we open that to discussion and we have a round table talk afterwards,” Solis said. “We get somewhere between 25 to 50 people every month for our talks.” “We talk about various issues, we talk about black and Chicano solidarity, we talk about the border wall and the history of the border wall, we talked about the maquiladora issue,” Solis said. “Last winter, there were a lot of worker rebellions in the city of Juárez so we discussed what was going on there.” Radical Soup also promoted a student-led “Take a Knee” protest during the national anthem at UTEP’s homecoming game. The event was a protest against police brutality and violence that is directed against black, Latino and indigenous communities. “That all touched our hearts. We thought it was a great idea, so we decided to help promote it as much as we could.” said Solis.
After coming back from Vietnam, Solis grew to love the way soup can bring people together and made sure that when the collective was trying to get Radical Soup started that it included free soup at every event. Radical Soup makes sure that the soup is always vegetarian so anybody can eat, and Solis says the favorite so far seems to be vegetarian posole, which always seems to run out. “We believe that soup is revolutionary, and that the power to come together and share a meal can lead to revolutionary action,” Contreras said. “We do not call ourselves an activist group, but rather hope to serve as an open space for dialogue from which activism can occur.” Radical Soup meets every last Friday of the month at different locations. For more information, visit their Facebook page or at radicalsoup915.com. Follow christian vasquez on Twitter @chrismvasq
THEPROSPECTOR
| 6 | NEWS
November 8, 2016
Communication skills can stem from yoga, study finds By grecia sanchez The Prospector Patricia Flores, doctoral student in rhetoric and composition studies, recently defended her dissertation this past Monday, Oct. 31, in which she associates yoga to an increase in interpersonal communication. According to Flores, besides health benefits for mental illnesses that come with practicing yoga, it can also improve communication. She said this study will benefit the 55 million people in the U.S. currently practicing yoga. The study used qualitative research methods where 19 interviews were conducted throughout El Paso for data collection purposes. Those interviewed were required to have practiced yoga regularly for a minimum of three months. “Through the methodology and the analysis, I discovered that yoga has a posi-
tive impact on interpersonal communication or how we communicate with each other,” Flores said. “Once that data was collected and I was analyzing the response of the participants, I came up with five categories that correlate to a positive increase in interpersonal communication.” These five categories are mindfulness, the self, acceptance, personal growth and patience. Flores said these categories work together through yoga and help improve interpersonal communication. Sarah Upton, assistant professor in communication, was the advisor in charge of helping Flores with framing the study and the methodology used for a solid conclusion. “Mindfulness is this idea of being able to be present about what’s happening. If you can practice it, let’s say you are having a conversation with another person and they say something that bothers you, instead of reacting immediately and
getting frustrated, you might have a moment to think about it or pause,” Upton said. “When we are mindful, then we are more present in conversations with other people and we can really practice these other skills.” Upton also emphasized the category of acceptance by mentioning invitational theory: the idea of speaking to people with the purpose of trying to persuade them. She said by accepting ourselves and others, we can have more authentic conversations. “With the increase of technology we are losing our communication skills, meaning that individuals and the society have become exclusive and isolated and this is why I think it is really important to find new ways in which we can develop these skills in communicating with each other,” Flores said. Upton also described how this study is different from the rest of the literature in communication. “When people make the choice of practicing yoga, they can really find out the personal growth in which the literature focuses on heavily, but Patty’s study shows that while you are working on that, you are also strengthening your connection with people around you and increasing those positive interactions,” Upton said. Upton also stressed the importance of yoga on the border by recalling the teaching of Anton Mackey at El Paso’s most recent yoga festival in October. “He was saying the border is the place where we need yoga the most. Here, we get to decide if we are going to continue building connections, seeking community in El Paso and Juarez, or if we are going to listen to what we are hearing in the conversation around us about how borders
claudia hernandez/ The Prospector A student practices yoga in Centennial Plaza. need to be divided and militarized,” Upton said. Samantha Turley, junior communication studies major, has been practicing yoga for nine years and recently began teaching it around a year ago. She said yoga definitely improves communication. Turley sees yoga as therapy. She saidyoga has allowed her to get out of frustrations while working out as well as having a clear perspective of things and becom-
ing more open minded about the world that surrounds her. “When you are practicing yoga, you have to listen to the instructor and what happens in your body. The same way happens when we are communicating with another person, you have to listen to what the other person is saying to you,” said Turley. Follow Grecia Sanchez on Twitter @grecias068
PAGE 7 November 8, 2016
entertainment
Editor
ERIC VAsQUEZ, 747-7477
The state of men’s style: No-Shave November makeup for guys because it contours your face.” A little over a year ago, a Youtube channel called WatchCut released a video series called “100 years of Beauty.” In these videos, stylists took a model and styled her hair throughout the decades, usually beginning in the 1910s and ending in the 2010s. In November of 2015, WatchCut released a video on the changes in men’s popular hairstyles during the same time frame. Long and short hairstyles trade places every few years, but the length of facial hair follows its own pattern.
It’s crazy what just shaping your beard can do for your face...It’s like makeup for guys. Claudia Hernandez / The Prospector Junior criminal justice major Alonso Reta hardly ever shaves his beard, not just in November.
By eric vasquez The Prospector For men, the month of November has become a hall pass to experiment with their grooming patterns. Cancer awareness groups like Movember and No-Shave November even made the endeavour to grow facial hair a selfless one, a genuine excuse to forego the razor and let the inner barbarian—or lazy man—out for a while.
In the past few years, men’s fashion has bounced between sweeping long hair wrapped up into a bun and slick, skintight fades, but the constant in most hairdos is that these looks are complimented with facial hair. Corrin Matthews is a hair stylist at Sports Clips, a salon geared specifically toward men’s haircuts. As she sees most men asking for fades and comb overs— the kind of haircuts you would imagine seeing in the 50s—it is becoming rarer for guys to come in clean-shaven.
“We sell a lot of beard balms and oils,” Matthews said. “Bearded guys care more about what’s going in their beard than in their hair.” From the Justin Timberlake light shadow to the Dan Bilzerian full-on beard, Matthews says the common thread among good facial hair is tidiness. “Unruly beards are leaving,” Matthews said. “It’s crazy what just shaping your beard can do for your face. It takes you from someone who isn’t taking care of yourself to a classic-looking guy. It’s like
- Corrin Matthews, Hair stylist According to the video, full beards were popular in the 70s and 2010s, but for a few decades, namely the 50s and 2000s, being clean-shaven was the way to go. However, for several periods of time, including the first 30 years of the 20th century, mustaches were very popular. These days, however,
moustaches are seen as a joke, a parody of men’s grooming that is meant for selfeffacing humor. “I know a lot of girls who can’t stand a mustache,” Matthews said. “It just doesn’t look nice to have your face in it all, especially when it starts curling into the lip like little spider fingers.” According to Matthews, the reason why it is so hard to pull off a mustache is because the fullness of the hair is vital. It is hard for a man with sparse hair on his lip to not look like Kip Dynamite. Combine this with a man’s first experience with a mustache—the ghost of one that signals another victim of puberty—and to wear a mustache with confidence is a feat in and of itself. The paradox of a mustache is that the few men who have pulled them off had the style named after them. The style almost defined the man. The Shakespeare, the Tom Selleck, Groucho Marx and the Charlie Chapin all have become iconic mustaches. There’s an appeal to the style of facial hair, but a complicated code to find it. Facial hair is a fact of life. So much so that major world religions like Christianity and Islam have specific rules on beard care. The World Beard and Mustache Championships—which is a thing by the way—hold an annual competition for some of the world’s most talented facial hair growers and groomers. The truth of the matter is that men grow facial hair, whether in patches or by the yard and if an opportunity allows us a chance to get hairy, then why not experiment with your face and really see what it can do this November? Follow Eric Vasquez on Twitter @ericbaskets
question of the week
Are you participating in No-Shave November?
Agnipravo Banerjee, Claudia Hernandez, Gaby Velasquez, Nina Titovets/The Prospector
Onyx Gallegos
Eduardo Luna
Abdul Coronado
Ajay Pareek
Luis Renteria
“I will participate in No-Shave November because after all these years, I can finally grow a beard.”
“I can’t grow a beard so I won’t even try to do it.”
“No, I’m not participating in No-Shave November. It’s just that I have been in the U.S. Marines for eight years, and being back in school I want to let my beard grow.”
“Yes, I am taking No-Shave November as a challenge. This month I plan to make a difference in my small way by donating to a cancer foundation at the end of the month.”
“Actually no, because at my work we have to shave every day. We can’t have a beard.”
Alonzo Evans
Shantanu Rojatkar
Alfredo Liggins
Genesis Lopez
Omar Cordova
“Yes, because it’s very traditional between me and my friends. It’s fun to see the different kinds of beards people can grow.”
“I did not know about it and how it supports a social cause, but now I’m definitely going to keep my beard for the rest of the month.”
“Yes I do plan on doing it. I want to see how much I can grow out in a month.”
“I haven’t been shaving for many months now, so I guess you can say I’m taking part in No-Shave November too.”
“Yes I do plan on taking part. It’s for a good cause and it’s a nice way to relax and not worry about having to shave.”
Junior graphic design major
Sophomore electrical engineering major
Freshman business major
Graduate student in philosophy
Senior pre-nursing major
Senior mechanical engineering major
Graduate student in engineering
Senior education major
Sophomore mechanical engineering major
Junior music education major
THEPROSPECTOR
| 8 | ENTERTAINMENT
November 8, 2016
The best, worst and memorable tattoos from the artists themselves
gaby velasquez / The Prospector Tattoo artist Mitchell Dean details new ink for a patron, three television sets stacked on top of each other.
By Jason Green The Prospector The popularity of television shows such as “Miami Ink,” “Inked” and “Ink
Master” brought tattooing into the mainstream media. They have made tattoos less taboo and more recognized as a true art form. El Paso has seen a boom in tattoo studios in recent years,
but becoming a legitimate tattoo artist is still not something that is easy to do. Former UTEP student Brian Stephens is an artist at Dapper Ink Tattoo and a former contestant on “Ink Mas-
ter.” He says that becoming a tattoo artist is more than just having the ability to draw. “I started out cleaning and mopping, setting everybody up, bringing them food, taking them out, being their designated driver—everything. We did that for about a year and a couple of months,” Stephens said. After that period of time, Stephens said that he was allowed to start tattooing his friends who volunteered. “The dumbest friends I had,” said Stephens with a smile. Mitchell Dean, a tattoo artist at Golden Goose Tattoo, said that he paid his dues by sweeping floors and practicing on pigskin and even himself. “But, it’s really hard to cry and tattoo at the same time so, I couldn’t really finish those,” Dean said. The owner of West Texas Tattoo, Eric Ward, is a 25-year veteran of tattooing and said that the first few years of tattooing are a constant learning process. “I lost (the nerves) maybe a year or two into it,” said Ward. “Until I was comfortable, it was probably 15 years into it. But even now, I still feel like I need to learn. I’m still not comfortable with my stuff at all, there’s just so much
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to learn. You’ve got to keep growing and growing.” In some states, the apprenticeship in a tattoo studio is an actual certifiable necessity for a young tattoo artist. In Texas, it is more of a requirement demanded of want-to-be young tattoo artists by seasoned tattoo artists. There are, however, some requirements by the state in order to protect citizens who decide to get tattooed. “You have to get a bloodborne pathogens certificate, and that’s saying that you know all about pathogens and diseases and how to keep everything clean,” said Stephens. “Once you get that, then you have to pay an annual fee to the city and state to be licensed as a tattoo artist. At that point, they check your studio and everything.” For people who tattoo every day of their lives, one would think that these three have seen it all. Tattoos are often used as memorials for people to remember lost loved ones for the rest of their life. So, what tattoos have meant the most to these three cynical tattoo artists? “I’ve done hundreds of (memorial tattoos),” Ward said. “Anything memorial that’s dedicated to a family member I think is pretty deep.” Stephens remembers a tattoo he recently did of a silhouette of a man and a daughter fishing at a lake with a sunset. “That was pretty meaningful because her father had passed away and that was one thing that they had to relate to each other,” said Stephens. “Those sentimental tattoos. That’s rough.” For Dean, the most meaningful tattoos are memorial pieces. “Someone’s dead parent, son, dog, stuff like that has a lot more meaning,” Dean said. On the flip side are the tattoos that the artists see day after day that they may have gotten tired of doing at this point. These responses came a lot quicker than when thinking about their most memorable tattoos. “Dreamcatchers, infinity signs, feathers breaking off into birds, anchors, roman numerals,” said Dean with a grimace. “I can’t stand doing tribals. I’m ready for that one just to die out.” Stephens laughingly said he doesn’t hate doing anything because it pays his bills. “I love eating and (driving) my car, but the tribals and the armbands, it’s done,” said Stephens. Ward said his least favorite tattoos are the Pinterest trends. “The infinity symbols, all that good stuff, the birds flying away—that’s like super overdone,” said Ward. “But, if that’s what they really want, who am I to talk them out of it? As long as I know it’s going to hold up well and look good over time, then I’ll do it.” As tattoos—and tattoo television shows—become more popular, the corps of artists and customer base continues to grow. Apart from going with an original tattoo, Dean has one key piece of advice when picking out a tattoo artist for the first time. “You should already have a style in mind for how you want it to look. This way, when looking through an artist’s work, you can see if he does the style you’re looking for,” Dean said. “Always check out the shop in person. This way you can feel the overall vibe of the shop and meet the artist as well. Listen to the advice the artist gives you, they will tell you if your idea will work as a tattoo or not and will give you advice to help you get the best tattoo. Don’t worry about price, cheap doesn’t mean good. Tattoos are permanent. Thirty dollars shouldn’t be the difference between a good tattoo you’ll love and a crap tattoo you’ll later fix or cover-up.” Follow Jason Greenon Twitter @rgreenevansj
THEPROSPECTOR
ENTERTAINMENT | 9 |
November 8, 2016
Mac’s Place: Quality seafood for El Paso
File Photo/ The Prospector Mac’s Place is located East Mills Avenue, right next to San Jacinto Plaza.
By jason green The Prospector When a place says Fish-ShrimpChicken on their sign in El Paso, I’ve learned to automatically steer clear for the sake of my arteries. I grew up near the beach and developed a strong love for seafood and an even stronger dislike of the Long John Silver’s type of deepfried seafood. I had not actually heard of Mac’s Place until a friend suggested that I fill the seafood emptiness in my soul by visiting the tiny little café off East Mills Avenue, right next to San Jacinto Plaza. Of course, my heart dropped when I saw the sign out front, as I really did not
want any fried seafood—ever. My spirits were lifted, however, when I walked in and saw that the first table near the door had a giant plate of raw oysters on the half shell. I sat down at the bar next to the window with a great view of Mills Avenue for people watching and was quickly welcomed by an attentive waiter. I ordered a dozen oysters without hesitation. The restaurant is small, but at lunchtime on a Thursday the place was jumping. The customer base seems loyal, as there was often no need for the onepage menu—though one of the owners, Gelaine Apuan, was quick to offer the daily specials to each visitor. On this
day, there was an Ahi tuna steak with an Asian glaze served rare over a bed of rice with a side salad. Definitely not what one would expect from this tiny bistro in the desert. My aversion to fried fish does not mean that theirs is not necessarily tasty; I just did not try it. The restaurant also serves blackened fish, shrimp cocktails and, on some days, a great-tasting shrimp and fish ceviche. On this day, I also tried the very reasonably priced $4.50 clam chowder, as fall has finally begun to bring a nip to the air in El Paso. The chowder was hardy, with large chunks of potato and a very generous portion of clams. The flavor was sweet and milky, not overly fishy. When the oysters arrived I was in seafood heaven. The other co-owner, Greg Wayne, spends most of his time in the open kitchen in the middle of the restaurant and is an expert at shucking oysters. I have eaten oysters in El Paso before, and I can honestly say that this is the first time that no shell made its way into the oyster for me to swallow. Additionally, not many oyster shuckers outside of New Orleans bother to detach the foot of the oyster from the shell prior to serving, but Wayne did, which was something I appreciated. Upon inquiry, I found out that the oysters arrive fresh to the restaurant every Thursday from Louisiana so that they will be most fresh for weekend customers. For those who may not be as obsessed with bivalves as this reporter, I also might add that October to February is oyster season. Oysters store up glycogen for the winter, which makes them much sweeter
and taste less fishy. If you were ever going to try them for the first time, now is the time, and Greg Wayne is the shucker for you. Lastly, the Ahi tuna was absolutely amazing. The Asian-inspired sauce was sweet, salty and citrusy at the same time and was sprinkled on top of a massive Ahi steak, which was perfectly grilled to a crisp on each side. The steak was rare —but not cold—in the middle. I honestly could have eaten two more of the tuna steaks and at least two dozen more oysters, really the price was not that much
of an issue. The entire meal came out to less than $30. For most plates on the menu—most of which come with fries—the price is $7.50. The seafood is bought locally and only frozen when it comes to fried food. The fish on special—in this case the Ahi tuna—is bought and served fresh. El Paso can be a hard place to find good seafood, but if you are in the mood and have not found just the right place, give Mac’s Place a shot. Follow Jason Green on Twwitter @rgreenevansj
THEPROSPECTOR
| 10 | ENTERTAINMENT
November 8, 2016
Guide to the best/worst restrooms on campus By Mike Flores The Prospector
Worst Restrooms:
5
UGLC, first floor
Yes, the Undergraduate Learning Center is relatively new, but the number of students that go in and out of that building makes their bathrooms number five. Every UTEP student has had to attend classes in the UGLC, which pretty much means every student has probably used those bathrooms. There is never a time when those rooms are unoccupied. Since so many undergraduates are dealing with the loads of work that they were not used to in high school, these restrooms are used too much. This means there is a lot of maintenance that these restrooms need, and since the custodians are just doing their job, the rooms can be under maintenance at the worst times.
Best Restrooms:
4
Union East, first floor
Like the UGLC, these Union restrooms are in the middle of everyday life for college students. The Union consists of all the cool things on campus, vending machines and restaurants, places to relax and Jamba Juice. Considering all the items at hand for scholars, needing to go is bound to happen. There is constant in-andout flow in these restrooms, and to make matters worse, the Wi-Fi is not always working. The odors that are produced in the Union restrooms are unpleasant, and that’s putting it nicely. Overall, if you don’t mind waiting for a potty and can hold your breath for more than five minutes, then the Union might be for you.
5
Miners Hall
Miners Hall is one of the few buildings that is overlooked by the average student. I feel like many people do not know where it is if you ask them, so this is the perfect place to use the restroom in peace. The restroom is very easy to find once you enter the building, and there is no commotion like the rest of the busy college campus. One of the best aspects about this Miners Hall restroom is how spacious it is. There
3
Psychology building
There are three levels in the psychology building, so you would assume the architects would put more than one restroom in the whole thing, right? Wrong. There is only one place for students to relieve themselves. To top it off, the rooms are extremely crowded. With only a couple of stalls to use, waiting is mandatory most times. Waiting your turn is not ideal when you really need to go, and once you are fortunate enough to receive your very own stall there is some of UTEP’s best vandalism for your viewing pleasure. Students could miss a lot of valuable information in class, just because they couldn’t hold it any longer, and maybe they have to travel all the way downstairs from the third floor to the first to get there. Overall, only use the psychology restrooms if Mother Nature needs to be answered at that exact moment. is little to no crowding going on. The stalls have no vandalism done to its walls, and the cleanliness stands out, especially when you walk in. Some of the worst restrooms have overflowing trashcans, making the floors splattered with filthy paper towels, but not in Miners Hall—the trash can is bigger than most, and it seems like an impossible target to miss.
2
Liberal Arts
The College of Liberal Arts is the largest college on the UTEP campus. The building was opened up in 1961, so in other words, the building is old and their restrooms follow the same pattern. They are the most ancient restrooms that UTEP has to offer. When a student walks in, they are greeted with the smell of rotten eggs and sewage. People tend to not flush the toilets very often in there, but at least the students use toilet paper— even though most of it ends up on the floor.
4
second floor
This was the most obvious choice for number one; these restrooms are the worst on campus. Everyone loves to use Wi-Fi for their phones, but the Wi-Fi does not work in those restrooms, and during finals week, just forget about using the second-floor restrooms. Someone is always waiting for a stall to open up. Overall, it is a better idea to search the entire library for a better place to go more comfortably. You will feel pressured to fire-hose everything out as fast as you can.
Geology Building, except for the first floor
The college of Liberal Arts is the largest college on the UTEP campus. The building was opened up in 1961, so in other words, the building is old and their restrooms follow the same pattern. They are the most ancient restrooms that UTEP has to offer. When a student walks in, they are greeted with the
3
1
Library,
smell of the rotten eggs and sewage. People tend to not flush the toilets very often in there, but at least the students use the toilet paper—even though most of it ends up on the floor. In the corners of the stalls there is always a person’s gum from who knows how long ago. My advice? Hold it.
Prospect Hall
Prospect Hall is a hidden building, and people are usually too busy to notice it. The restrooms have great WiFi, so you could just get away from the demanding work that lies ahead of you. It is roomy, with a window view that lightens up the room; so
bright that it could liven anyone’s day. Maintenance seems to keep an eye on this restroom more than others, and the atmosphere in there is unbeaten, always clean. No bad odors roam in the Prospect Hall restrooms.
Administration Building, first floor Although the Administration Building is in the middle of the school and right across the Centennial Plaza, students tend not to walk through the doors. If there were a contest for the cleanest restroom on the UTEP campus, this would win 9 out of 10 times. When a student walks in, they are embraced by blue
walls and the scent of Febreeze. Since there are many faculty members who roam the Administration Building, they keep their restrooms looking nicer than some classrooms. Privacy is a huge key to these restrooms, especially on the first floor. There is no hurry to get done, and the Wi-Fi is top notch.
Health Sciences and Nursing Building
1
One word describes this creation– amazing! Eight years ago, this building was brought to life and it feels like no one has used it since. This is the closest thing to perfect as a restroom could get. The color schemes are brilliant and really bring joy to the room, a feeling I didn’t think existed in a restroom. They are one of the newest restrooms, so they have all the best-looking toilets, sinks, air dryers and stalls. It’s like a bathroom from a magazine. There are many stalls and urinals for use and they sparkle. Overall, this is as close to home as you can find at UTEP. Follow Mike Flores on Twitter @MikeyTheReal
PAGE 11 November 8, 2016
Sports
Editor
Adrian Broaddus, 747-7477
Men’s basketball seeks promising start to season By Mike Flores The Prospector
UTEP men’s basketball will tip their season off at the Don Haskins Center against the Louisiana College Wildcats on Saturday, Nov. 12. In the 2015-2016 season, the Miners went 19-14 and defended their home court strongly, going 14-4. UTEP opened on a six-game winning streak to start last year’s season, and this year the Miners look to do the same, starting with the Wildcats. On the other side, the Division III LCU battled their way to a 14-13 winning record last season, but they did not travel well—going 4-9 away from their home court. New and upcoming years are a time for teams to clean their slate and start off fresh—that’s what the Miners will do with six incoming freshmen on the roster and nine players not returning from the previous season. Nonetheless, some of the biggest downfalls last year for UTEP basketball were their ability to protect the paint and secure rebounds. Most of their struggles had to do with injuries in the front court, with the Miners’ starting center Matt Willms missing all but two games last season. That Miners’ unit was outside of the top 50 in rebounding last year, averaging 36 rebounds per game as a team, and found themselves ranked 160th in blocks per game, with only 3.5 per contest—all without the big man Willms. Floyd decided to recruit smaller for the new season and picked guards for five out of the six new recruits. True freshman Kelvin Jones is the lone center among the new faces. Willms and Jones have grown close during their short amount of time together and have helped one another out, something that may be a lethal weapon for the Miners’ long season ahead.
“When he’s (Jones) playing, I’m talking to him when he comes to the bench. Whatever he needs help on this year, I’m going to help him out,” Willms said. “And whatever he sees in me, he’s going to help me out too.” In the two exhibition games, the new-look Miners took to the hardwood with two things on their mind—improve defensively and limit turnovers. During their second pre-season matchup, UTEP welcomed in the Alaska Fairbanks Nanooks, on Nov. 5. The smaller Division II school gave the Miners a run for their money, and pushed UTEP to their limits more than some would have expected. After an overtime, the Miners pulled away with a close 87-85 victory. Willms made his highly anticipated debut and logged 14 minutes—his first action since 2014. He shot 100 percent on his field goal attempts, 4-4, added 10 points on the night and two rebounds, one coming on the offensive boards. Although Willms only played three minutes in the second half, he was thrilled to finally lace up again. “After being out for a year, it felt really, really good to be out there. I felt very confident,” Willms said. “I’m just trying to lead by example.” Floyd’s plans for the Canadian 7-footer are clear cut and precise. Willms is the tallest guy on UTEP’s roster. “Our goal as a whole, is to get Matt Willms healthy, where he can play about 30-35 minutes a game, and get some support from the other guys,” Floyd said. “That kid (Willms), has practiced with us a total of six days in the last two years, but we’re still better with him than without his presence.” Terry Winn was the head of the rebounding committee against the Nanooks and totaled nine in the match-
Michaela román / The Prospector UTEP men’s basketball will start their season on Saturday, Nov. 12, against Louisiana College. up. Jones helped out on the boards as well, with eight of his own. UTEP outrebounded the shorter Alaskans, 50-38, on the glass. Knowing that one of UTEP’s biggest areas of improvement should be taking care of the ball; the trend went downward from exhibition game one to game two. The offense for the Miners was careless, once again, with their possessions—UTEP turned it over 23 times, three more than the previous matchup. Dominic Artis had six mistakes, adding up to double digits in the turnover category. Winn had one of the most crucial turnovers from his side. He lost the ball when the Miners had a chance to ice the game, and close the game with a potential buzzer-beating shot. But instead of seeing his turnover as a bad thing, Floyd found the silver lining in it—something different from previous teams.
“The most important thing from Terry’s game was him only having one turnover. He had 12 in our orange and white scrimmage,” Floyd said. “He’s beating himself up on his turnovers, most guys beat themselves up on missed shots, but he’s doing it when he throws the ball away. He knows that it’s not good for our team.” Artis continued his unreal scoring with 25 points, and eight of his points coming in overtime. Winn chipped in with 19, and Omega Harris had 10— all coming in the second half. However, UTEP’s defense will need to add another item to the correct in the lab, and that is getting out on the 3-point line. UAF connected on 15 3-point buckets, and three of the downtown shots came in overtime, almost ending the comeback attempt for the Miners. Floyd’s team only attempted eight 3-pointers in the
whole 40 minutes of play, compared to UAF’s 41 attempts. “We shoot the 3-ball extremely well as a group, but we are focused on getting the ball in the paint, getting it inside, with our size on this team,” Artis said. “Matt changes the whole dynamic of the team.” Regardless, UTEP did win their second game with the unfamiliar look to these new players. Team chemistry and playing alongside each other is still in the works. Floyd also sees room for improvement, before the regular season commences. “We have to get better with our decision making, too many turnovers in the first two games,” Floyd said. “Come and watch us grow this season. We’re obviously going to be better in March than we are in October, November.”
crawled up to the elite eight of the WNIT and fell to Oregon in a tough 71-67 match. The page has now turned. The group is ready leave the past behind and start anew. With only one returning starter in guard Jenzel Nash, the squad is tasked to adjust quickly to the game and re-formulate. Also returning to the team from last year are guards Sparkle Taylor, Lulu McKinney, Najala Howell and forward Tamara Seda. Prior to the season, seniors Nash and Taylor were voted to the C-USA Preseason Team, which was selected by the head coaches in the conference. Nash, the returning leading scorer for the Miners (13.8 points per game), is expected to have another breakout season. Taylor, who proved her talents off the bench and contributed with stellar minutes, is hungry for her breakthrough season as a true starter for the Miners. Over the weekend, the Miners debuted their talents against another team for the first time. They rolled over St. Mary’s, Texas, 72-54, in their first and only exhibition game of the season. It was a chance for coach Adams to get a feel for her young talent while showcasing her players in their key roles.
“It was not a bad first outing,” Adams said after the game. “We have a lot of young players and lot to learn. We had some moments where we did some good things that we’ve been working on in practice and then we obviously have some areas that we really need to work on. A lot of our new, young players were a little bit nervous for their first big outing under the lights, but I like our kids. We just have to settle in, and as they get more comfortable we’ll be better.” The newcomers and bench players, as stated by Adams, had quite an outing during the game. Their bench outscored the Rattlers 36-8 in the win. Throughout the game, the Miners shot 39.1 percent from the floor and outrebounded the Rattlers 55-35. Seda led the force on the boards with 10 for the day. The Miners hope to shift their success they had during the exhibition game to their first regular season game against Northern Arizona. Tip off will begin at 7:05 p.m. on Friday at the Don Haskins Center.
Follow Mike Flores on Twitter @MikeyTheReal
Women’s basketball debuts season against Northern Arizona
ninatitovets / The Prospector The women’s basketball squad hope to find success through their season opener against Northern Arizona.
By adrian broaddus The Prospector The UTEP women’s basketball team anticipates their 43rd season in program history when they take on Northern Arizona on Friday, Nov. 11, at the Don Haskins Center.
Head coach Keitha Adams is embarking on her 15th season as head coach for the Miners and is coming off a co-Conference USA title. Last season, the Miners hit a high point. They cracked the top-25 last season with their 11-game win streak from December through late January.
They finished 29-5 and shared the conference title after their magical 94-91 victory over Charlotte. However, the Miners fell in the second round of the C-USA tournament to Old Dominion, which ruled them out of the women’s NCAA tournament. But, their season was not over. They
Follow Adrian Broaddus on Twitter @adrian_broaddus
THEPROSPECTOR
| 12 | SPORTS
November 8, 2016
Football hunts for second straight win against FAU By adrian broaddus The Prospector
“Only three more. Only three more games to go”—this phrase echoed through the Miners’ locker room after they rolled over the Houston Baptist Huskies 42-10. Head coach Sean Kugler and his troops are on a mission: to win the remainder of their games this year to have any hope at a bowl game. The Miners capped off their easiest win against Houston Baptist on Saturday, Nov. 5. Their three remaining games, away against Florida Atlantic (Nov. 12) and Rice (Nov. 19) and at home against North Texas (Nov. 26), are do-or-die for the group. But what is the recipe that Kugler needs to cook up to lift up his team and win the remainder of the games? According to him, it is all about swift translation week after week. “You always use the positives you take out in games and translate it next week,” Kugler said after the victory against the Huskies. “We will try and correct the things we didn’t do well. We’re very aware where we are. We’re 3-6, not 6-3. We have to win the rest to have the opportunity at a bowl game.” In a very patient tone, Kugler stressed the importance on focusing on simply the next game, against Florida Atlantic, rather than have a jumbled thought process on the rest of the season. “(The opportunity at a bowl game) starts against Florida Atlantic,” Kugler said. “We know our history and how UTEP has not been
the best going to the Eastern time zone. That’s something we need to change on our own. If history may be broken, we need to work hard and prepare for that.” Exactly like Kugler said, the program has struggled over time on the East Coast. They are 0-201 when traveling to the Eastern Time zone. Florida Atlantic (2-7, 1-4 CUSA) has had a stressed-out season. They have lost seven of their last eight games and have lost bowl eligibility already.
We know our history and how UTEP has not been the best going to the Eastern time zone. If history may be broken, we need to work hard and prepare for that. - Sean Kugler UTEP football head coach Last week, the Owls came off their first win since opening day against Rice, 45-25. In the win, they notched two notable records in program history—they broke their school record for total yards, 657, and their freshman tailback
Gaby velasquez / The Prospector UTEP football team will travel to Boca Raton to take on Florida Atlantic in hopes of keeping their post-season hopes alive. broke the team’s single-game rushing record with his 252 yards. Although they are out of postseason contention, the Owls have not stopped themselves from pursuing victories and continuing on. Their next mission is to ruin the season that the Miners are trying to patch up. “Honestly, I’m just proud of the resilience of our players,” said FAU head coach Charlie Partridge after their victory against Rice. “We’ve been through a lot this year. We’ve had our challenges. To see them finally get a chance to sing our fight
song after a win in the locker room is a special moment.” However, the Miners will bring that same resiliency that FAU promises on Saturday, Nov. 12, in the Sunshine state. “These kids are going to continue to salvage and fight,” Kugler said. “There’s still a whole lot of season left.”
Chasing the record books
With his monstrous 228-yard field day against Houston Baptist, standout running back Aaron Jones is on track to surpass John Harvey’s 3,576 career yards as the school’s leading rusher.
Currently, Jones has 3,509 yards to his name through his three seasons with the Miners; therefore, 67 is the magical number for Jones to notch his name as the program’s all-time leading rusher. Against Houston Baptist, Jones did not play past the first series of the third quarter, yet still racked up over 200 yards and two touchdowns. If Kugler had not decided to reserve him and shield him from possible injury, Jones might have broken numerous records during the evening. “That’s always in my head, but I still had fun,” Jones said. “The line did a great job opening holes for me all night.” Follow Adrian Broaddus on Twitter @adrian_broaddus