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UTEP recycling program falls by the wayside.
Diabetes: Do you know your status?
Gallery: Ricky Martin and Enrique Iglesias in concert
UTEP remains unbeaten:
VOL. 107, NO. 7 NOVEMBER 16, 2021
Assayer of Student Opinion
THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT EL PASO
theprospectordaily.com
UTEP Police Department addresses delayed security response in forum
New district lines impact communities of color
BY JULIA LUCERO The Prospector
BY ALBERTO SILVA FERNANDEZ The Prospector
The Student Government Association (SGA) held a Town Hall Thursday night with the UTEP police Chief Cliff Walsh and Assistant Chief Ray Rodriguez to speak about the incident that occurred Oct. 29 after two individuals who shot and killed a 22-year-year hid on campus. Rodriguez said the suspects were found inside The Union Cinema around 12 a.m. Despite frequent testing of the Miner Alert system, students were notified of the threat at 12:15 a.m. An “all-clear” message was sent at 12:33 a.m. “When we were working on the Miner Alert, we didn’t do it well. We didn’t do it fast enough; we needed to do it faster and my apologies to you and to SGA and the students that you represent for our slow response,” Walsh said. Walsh said the response was slow because they took too long to validate the situation. Walsh said the police department plans on releasing Miner Alerts to students in the case of an event that jeopardizes their safety even if they
Latin pop artists ignite crowd at the Don Haskins BY ITZEL GIRON AND VICTORIA RIVAS The Prospector
Echoing screams, long lines and bright lights filled UTEP’s Don Haskins Center, Wednesday, Nov. 10, as crowds made their way inside to enjoy the highly anticipated Ricky Martin and Enrique Iglesias first joint tour. After a year of waiting, since the
ALBERTO SILVA FERNANDEZ /THE PROSPECTOR
Initial Miner Alert notifying students of shooting suspects near campus on Oct. 29, 2021.
are unsure of the situation to err on the safe side. “That’s on me; I’m the one responsible for that,” Walsh said Students present at The Union building Thursday night shared their stories on what happened and concerns they have for the safety protocols on campus. SGA member Michael Gutierrez said other students present inside the SGA office joined together to barricade the office doors to prevent anyone from getting in. “It was a sobering feeling to ac-
knowledge the fact that, if they did break in, I potentially wasn’t going to go home and I would never see my family again,” Gutierrez said. “Whether we want to acknowledge the fact or not, this entire situation that happened was a failure.” Student Robyn Jordan says that a UTEP police officer made an inappropriate comment about the situation a day after it happened. “He jokingly stated that he had ‘missed the action’ of the day before,” Jordan said. “It was very insensitive. It felt very weird to hear
that and very damning because we had gone through this not even hours before this all happened.” Walsh asserted that the department is respectful and sympathetic of all students’ experiences on and off campus and seeks to take action against the officer that made the comment. “If you know the officer’s name or can describe him we’ll go back because that’s not acceptable. It’s inappropriate, it’s unprofessional, and I won’t condone it at all,”
tour was postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic, fans were excited and full of energy to sing and dance along to the most popular and electric songs of both artists. Enrique Iglesias, an internationally successful bilingual artist, kicked off the concert and rose from below the stage, causing the energy among fans to intensify. Iglesias was able to get the crowd on their feet from the moment he started singing. Opening with his 2014 hit “I’m a Freak,” the crowd could not control their excitement and sang along to every word. From the high energy of “Chasing the Sun” off his recent release
“Final Vol. 1,” to a heartfelt ballad on “Hero,” Iglesias was able to entertain the audience for a little over an hour and a half. Never missing a beat and having everyone join in, Iglesias certainly brought back concerts to the Don Haskins with a bang. Being the 20th performance of 26 tour dates, both Enrique Iglesias and Ricky Martin show no signs of slowing down. Iglesias played some of his biggest hits across his career, including “I Like How It Feels,” “Tonight” and “Duele El Corazon,” even putting on an encore performance of his most memorable songs.
Iglesias shared a smile throughout his performance as he ran and danced across the stage. He even stepped down to interact with fans as he asked them to sing along with him. As Iglesias began to sing his last encore song, ‘I Like It,’ confetti and balloons rained down onto the crowd, setting the bar high for Martin’s upcoming performance. The crowd took a quick intermission from Iglesias’ electric show, as staff quickly set up the stage for Martin’s performance. In the blink of an eye, flashes of gold and sequined backup dancers made their way to the stage. With his hit song “Livin’ La Vida
see SECURITY on page 6
The new congressional and legislative district boundaries were signed into law by Texas Gov. Greg Abbot in October with conflicting conclusions regarding its fairness and causing concern among state legislatures. Every 10 years, the United States sends out the census which “...helps our communities determine where to build everything from schools to supermarkets, and from homes to hospitals... [and] distribute funds and assistance to states and localities,” according to the United States Census Bureau. After the census has been collected, state legislatures gather to redraw the congressional district lines in their states. These lines determine what parts of the state members of Congress represent, and create equally populated districts. During the third special session in the Texas Legislature, Gov. Greg Abbott’s main focus was on redrawing the congressional lines that could potensee REDISTRICTING on page 4
Loca,” Martin started his set with high an energy to match that of Iglesias. Martin performed for over an hour, and fans enjoyed the bright colorful lights and dance performances displayed across several big screens. The crowd continued to sing along as Martin performed both in English and Spanish, and fans moved their phone flashlights to the rhythm of “Vuelve.” Martin’s show focused on celebrating the Latin culture as he performed with his background dancers with incredible lighting visuals. see LATIN POP on page 6
PAGE 2 · NOVEMBER 16, 2021· THE PROSPECTOR
Opinion
Julian Herrera, editor in chief
Challenges forge parental perseverance MANUEL A. HERNANDEZ ROMAN Guest Columnist
Being a parent has a different meaning for everyone. Being a parent has been one of the best things that I could experience in life, but at the same time it is one of the most stressful. It is stressful for me not because of my daughter but because I am attending UTEP at the same time. This is my last semester, and for the longest time I assumed I would go out smooth sailing. However, childcare is a big issue for me due to the pandemic. In 2020, my grandfather contracted the virus and spent the holidays in the ICU and shortly after, he passed away. We never played down the severity of the pandemic, but we also never understood that everyone could be affected by it. Something important to me was to make sure all my family was vaccinated. In 2021, we achieved vaccination across all relatives. Fall 2021 arrived sooner than I expected it
PHOTO COURTESY OF MANUEL A. HERNANDEZ ROMAN
to. In the summer I left my job to be able to care for my daughter full-time while I enrolled in online classes. I am sure that all students longed to return to campus, and I did too. Something I never took into consideration was that I would no longer be able to care for my daughter all the time. My girlfriend
and I discussed endlessly the idea of childcare since she works all day. It is not a bad idea, but the statistics speak for themselves. According to Dallas’ leading news channel, WFAA, hundreds of COVID-19 cases are being reported daily in childcare facilities as of Aug. 27. These statistics terrify
SECURITY from page 1
Walsh said. “We’re gonna do everything we can to make sure that we understand what you’re going through and how to support you in your academics, your research, your club activities, your organizational activities, all of that.” Students presented at the forum suggested ways improve protocol and education about safety on campus, such as improving the blue tower emergency system, educating registered student organizations on gun safety, and reviewing and revising how emergency safety information is relayed to students on campus. Student and building manager
COMIC BY ANA J. CALDERAS EMAIL: ajcalderas@miners.utep.edu
VOL. 107, No. 7 November 16, 2021 EDITORS & STAFF Julian Herrera, Editor in Chief Hugo Hinojosa, Designer Victoria Rivas, Arts & Culture Editor Maria Luisa Guerrero, Web Editor Alberto Silva Fernandez, Photo Editor Anahy Diaz, Multimedia Editor Emily Autumn Velasquez, Sports Editor Maria Salette Ontiveros, Audience & Engagement Editor Kristen Scheaffer, Staff Reporter
Itzel Giron, Staff Reporter Daniel A. Lopez, Staff Reporter Levi Carlos, Staff Reporter
PHOTOGRAPHERS
ADMINISTRATION
VIDEOGRAPHER
Veronica Gonzalez, Director Tracy Roy, Assistant Director Amy Bocanegra, Administrative Assitant Isabel Castillo, Accounting Specialist Vacant, Account Executive Victoria Almaguer, Advertising Coordinator
Monica Chavarria
Connor Martinez Annabella Mireles
CONTRIBUTORS Alyson Rodriguez Beatriz Velazquez Eduardo Flores Eli Nuñez Julia Lucero Katrina Villareal
me. I could not live with myself if my daughter fell sick. Though the numbers differ, these new cases in children are not exclusive to Dallas. Though many say otherwise, the pandemic in El Paso is not over yet. Some parents do not have a choice, childcare allows parents with young children to carry on with their lives. I was lucky enough to have a second option. My mother volunteered to help me. At first, I was reluctant since my young siblings live with her and they have returned to school. The fact that we are all vaccinated puts my mind at ease a little. Another factor is her location. I live next to Trans Mountain, and my mother lives in Horizon City. Beggars can’t be choosers, so I overlooked everything and began to take my daughter with her every day that I have class. Four times a week I make my way to her house and back to campus. Once I am done at peak traffic time, I do the same to
go back home. In total I commute about 3 hours every four days out of the week. At the end of the day, I scramble to make sure I am not falling behind with my course work. My worries do not come down while I am in class since I miss being with my daughter, but she also loves my mother, so I ease a little knowing they are having a great time. I never would have thought that my final semester would be this difficult. I know how lucky I am, and I also know that many other students are in the same or worse situation that I am in. If we all come together and do the right thing by getting vaccinated and practicing social distancing, then maybe childcare could become a better option for us studying or working, and knowing our children are safe.
Alfredo Torres was working in the Union building that night. Torres said he found out there were suspected shooters on campus through a friend who texted him. Torres said he locked himself in The Union Services office for two hours and didn’t leave the building until 1 a.m. when campus police said it was safe for him to leave. “I saw the lights on so I went to double check to the custodial hall, but when I went into the hall I listened to some noises,” Torres said. “I was not even sure if I heard something or if it was all in my mind, but I just decided to not be curious at all and just go back into the office.” Throughout the session there was
merely a solemn, silent acceptance amongst the audience. There was no outward display of emotion or confidence and an uncertain applause was all that came when SGA concluded the event. Rodriguez said El Paso Police Department, UTEP Security, and the FBI will have a roundtable discussion Dec. 17 to discuss the incident. “Your safety is everything and we need to redouble our efforts to make that happen,” Walsh said.
Manuel A. Hernandez Roman is a senior digital media production student and may be reached at mahernandez48@miners.utep.edu.
Julia Lucero is a contributor and may be reached jlucero13@miners.utep.edu
SP E A K YO U R M IND! …and submit a letter for publication. Please include your full name, street address, telephone number and e-mail address, as well as your student major, classification and/or titile if applicable. Write us to 105 E. Union, prospector@utep.edu, call us to 747-516, or send a fax to 747-8031. Personal information (phone numbers and address) will be used for identification only. Letters are subject to editing to fit available space, clarity and brevity. The Prospector is published by the Student Media and Publications 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 and spring 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 Media and 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 necessary those of the university.
THE PROSPECTOR · NOVEMBER 16, 2021
NEWS Page 3
UTEP recycling program falls by the wayside LEVI CARLOS The Prospector
Throughout the UTEP campus, students can find receptacles labeled aluminum cans, plastic bottles, trash, and paper – but what exactly happens to recycling after it gets put in these bins? The process is grueling and even costly, however it is something that UTEP has been doing for decades. According to the UTEP facilities waste management webpage and their section on waste management, UTEP began its recycling program in 1998. The website also states that UTEP currently collects and processes 40,000 pounds of paper products monthly. “Once it‘s collected, we have a special dumpster that a recycling company comes out and picks up,” said Louie Morales, the associate director of Facilities Services. “They actually charge us to take it away because our consumption of plastics and paper isn’t enough to be profitable.” UTEP pays the cost of recycling and students have supported this initiative with other projects. This can be seen with the creation of the Green Fund in 2011. It was voted on by the student body and a $3 increase was approved as a sustainability fee to students’ tuition. The Green Fund raises $200,000 annually for campus sustainability
projects. It also funds marketing and outreach to expand the exposure of Green Fund projects and initiatives. However, the Green Fund does not cover the cost of recycling; that is paid for by the university itself and additional costs are added in the form of sorting fees. This happens when non-recyclable materials contaminate these receptacles. “It’s a cultural thing,” said Morales. “We just can’t get UTEP on board because we don’t have the champions in the student body or faculty to say, ‘hey, let’s do it this way,’ because if we say it, it isn’t enough.” UTEP’s Faculty Senate nominated Sabhia Khan, Ph.D., associate professor of communication, as a representative of the Green Fund. However, the Faculty Senate does not have a representative that focuses on environmental issues. “I think we have a lot of faculty who care about the environment,” said Guillermina Gina NúñezMchiri, Ph.D., president of the Faculty Senate. “I think it’s inviting people to a dialogue to say we need to improve our recycling efforts and what can we do to work on them.” Although the Faculty Senate does not have a representative that focuses on environmentalism, they do create committees based on the concerns that students and faculty
ALBERTO SILVA FERNANDEZ /THE PROSPECTOR
An overflowing trash receptacle beside an empty recycling bin.
have. “As faculty or students bring up an issue or concern, we assign the task to a committee to work on it,” said Núñez-Mchiri. “If we don’t have a committee, we will create ad hoc committees to advise the faculty senate and make recommendations... I think if students consider this to be a priority that they need to bring this up to student government.” According to the UTEP waste management page, recycling is collected on a building-by-building schedule, with recycling bins placed next to trash cans around campus it makes it convenient for students to recycle. “I see that they have the recycle bins normally placed with trash cans and I think that’s a really good effort, but I don’t know, I haven’t
really paid much attention to it,” said Mia Solis, a senior at UTEP. This August, the Green Fund spent $5,000 on marketing supplies and outreach to expand their visibility. The Green Fund also spent $9,160 on marketing students to produce marketing materials and for outreach efforts. From January to August of this year, the Green Fund has spent 78% of its annual budget and so far, none of it has been spent on recycling. Some of the projects that it has done this year include changing the landscape equipment from gas-powered to electric-powered. Although the Green Fund does not contribute funds to help with the cost of recycling on campus, most of its funds go to sustainability projects such as the Green Roof expansion and revitalization. This
project expanded the availability of native plants and revitalized UTEP’s Green Roof. UTEP is doing its best to provide students with opportunities to recycle their waste by covering the cost, though it is ultimately up to the students to be stewards of their own environments. Students can do this by making sure their recyclable materials are going into the correct bins and fostering a culture of sustainability. The Student Government Association could not be reached for a comment. The Green Fund is open to the submission of “Geen Ideas” and proposals. They can be accessed at www.utep.edu/student-affairs/ greenfund/. Levi Carlos is a staff reporter and may be reached at lccarlos@miners.utep.edu
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THE PROSPECTOR · NOVEMBER 16, 2021
Page 4 NEWS
Diabetes: Do you know your status? KRISTEN SCHEAFFER The Prospector
November is American Diabetes Month, a time to remind people that they should be conscious of their blood sugar and their risk factor. “It was something I never imagined was going to enter into my life,” said Claudia Martinez Boyd, lecturer for the Department of Communication at UTEP and vice president of the El Paso Center for Diabetes. “I went to a doctor, and he did some blood work and he told me, ‘You know what, your sugar came back high, and you should test that.’” Diabetes is a disease that affects the pancreas and how it produces insulin; type 2 diabetes is the most common form, according to diabetes.org. Although diabetes can be maintained through a healthy diet and exercise for some people, this is not the case for everyone. Some people need medication or insulin to maintain their blood sugar. “El Paso is the sixth largest city in Texas with a diabetes prevalence of 13.9% among adults, which roughly translates to 94,000 people,” said REDISTRICTING from page 1
tially increase the prominence of Republican party influence. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick stated that the proposal was “legal and fair” in a statement published by the Texas Tribune, while many Democrats say that the maps were drawn with race in mind. Often referred to as gerrymandering, this practice is defined by UTEP lecturer of political science Richard Guttierez, Ph.D., as “a Legislator draw[ing] the lines in a way that will help them stay in power, so they create districts that will... minimize their losses.” The senate redistricting process was led by Houston Republican Sen. Joan Huffman, who insisted the lines were drawn without any
KRISTEN SCHEAFFER /THE PROSPECTOR
Children sing the U.S. national anthem at the Step-Out/Walk to Stop Diabetes event on Nov. 6, 2021.
Sandra Gonzalez, executive director of El Paso Center for Diabetes. “Diabetes is the fourth leading cause of death in adults over the age of 75 in El Paso with 32.2% of deaths occurring in El Paso caused by diabetes compared to 20.9% and 21.2% deaths in Texas and the United States, respectively.” How is El Paso raising awareness? On Saturday, Nov. 6, the El Paso
Center for Diabetes, a non-profit organization, hosted the Step-Out Awareness Walk at The Fountains at Farah. People living with diabetes and their families came out to support the cause. “Diabetes is something that I don’t want people to think when they’re diagnosed with diabetes that their whole life is over,” Gonzalez said.
Gonzalez explained that the El Paso Center for Diabetes offers Diabetes Self-Management (DSM) classes to help manage the disease and answers questions like how what you are eating affects you, why is your sugar high, what are the right things to eat, how to check your sugar and when to check your sugar. They also offer support groups for the community, cook-
acknowledgement of the racial identity of individuals that resided in each district, according to an article originally published by the Texas Tribune. “I’ve stated it, and I’ll state it again — we drew these maps race blind,” Huffman said at a public hearing. “We have not looked at any racial data as we drew these maps, and to this day I have not looked at any racial data.” The new district line could potentially impact multiple communities of color by decreasing the number of districts where they are essential to an election’s results, despite the U.S. Census information showing that 95% of the population growth in the state of Texas is people of
color. In El Paso, the new district lines will remove District 76 and combine it with District 77, and District 74 will take up part of District 75 and completely take Fort Bliss and the international airport area in District 79. “Fort Bliss is a part of the fabric of El Paso and shares the same concerns, needs, and goals as the rest of the community,” said U.S. Representative of the 16th Congressional District Veronica Escobar. “Between servicemembers and their families, 37,000 people on Fort Bliss are contributing to our community and enriching our culture; their children are educated at our schools, and they contribute to our local economy significantly.”
The proposed district map was originally drafted by chair of the Senate Special Committee on Redistricting Sen. Joan Huffman (R-Houston), who has garnered a large base of support from GOP members of congress for the redistricting plan. “The map of the Texas House today reduces El Paso’s representation in two ways: first by drawing two Latinas who represent border districts into one district and second by drawing El Paso’s fifth seat into South Texas,” said El Paso Rep. Lina Ortega. “El Paso could have retained five seats, but the map which passed the Texas State House gives this community only four. This means less representation in Austin for at least the next 10 years.”
ing classes for families, and even a week-long kids’ camp for children living with Type 1 diabetes. “If we could take care of our body the way we take care of our car, we could do a better thing,” Gonzalez said. “We’re very good at taking our car to get an oil change and doing a tune-up, but we’re not good at going to our annual visits.” Both Gonzalez and Boyd explained that with awareness and management, diabetes is manageable; the key is to stay ahead of disease. “What I do know is that diabetes is something that you absolutely can control, and it shouldn’t control you,” Boyd said. “We live in a community where 30% of us have diabetes. It’s a very high population of people living with diabetes that don’t even know they’re living with diabetes. Number 1, you must get tested and number 2, start making changes necessary to get control of it.” Kristen Scheaffer is a contributor and may be reached at kmscheaffer@miners.utep.edu.
Gutierrez said that if the current plan moves forward and is unsuccessfully challenged in the courts it can lead to mass underrepresentation of the majority of people living in Texas which are people of color. “This plan is clearly how do (sic) the Anglos increase their power when their percentage of their population has decreased,” said Gutierrez. “It can be very frustrating, but I always tell my friends we can’t give up. Whatever little we do, we try. I may not be as active as I may have been, but I still try.” Alberto Silva Fernandez is the photo editor and may be reached at asilva36@miners.utep.edu
GRAPHIC COURTESY OF TEXAS REDISTRICTING HOME WEBSITE
The current state congressional district lines for El Paso County.
THE PROSPECTOR · NOVEMBER 16, 2021 · PAGE 5
Arts & Culture
Victoria Rivas, editor
UTEP’s SELC celebrates First-Gen week EDUARDO A. FLORES The Prospector
For some students, coming to college every day and facing daily challenges is a journey that they have expected, but for others, they are making history within their families. Tears and laughter surged as students, faculty and staff joined UTEP’s Student Engagement & Leadership Center (SELC) during a celebration to show their pride for being part of first-generation college students. First-Gen week is a celebration that institutions across the nation observe each year from Nov. 8 to Nov. 11 for students who are the first in their families to attend college. SELC organized a special lunch that featured the attendance of panelists and special guests who shared their stories of success in support of first-generation students on the third floor of the Union Building East, Nov. 8. The panelists invited included Archie L. Holmes Jr., Ph.D., executive vice chancellor of academic affairs for the UT System, Andrea Cortinas, vice president and UTEP chief of staff, Marc Cox, Ph.D., chair of UTEP’s Pharmaceutical Sciences Department and Karol Brito, senior biological sciences major at UTEP. “I would advise first-gen students to surround themselves with people
who are as ambitious as they are. Who are just motivated, maybe not by the same reasons, but nevertheless motivated to get their education career done,” said Brito. UTEP President Heather Wilson was also present during the ceremony. She spoke about the significance of celebrating the determination of students, faculty and staff who are or were the first in their families to earn a four-year degree. “I was the first in my family to graduate from college, so I recognize the importance of developing the talent of first-gen students,” Wilson said. “At UTEP, 51% of graduating seniors in 2020-21 reported that they were first-gen. We join the nation today in celebrating them.” Students in attendance received exclusive swag, t-shirts, and pens. They also were able to take pictures of themselves and their friends to capture the moment while signing a thank you card and were given the opportunity to meet other firstgen students to speak about their aspirations. “I am proud because it is something that not everyone usually does, and I know all of the efforts we are putting in will help us in the future to achieve our goals,” said Manuel Morga, a UTEP mechanical engineering student. Saul Fontes, a 21-year-old Chicano studies major at UTEP, shared a similar sentiment.
ALBERTO SILVA FERNANDEZ/THE PROSPECTOR
UTEP celebrates First-Gen week with activities highlighting first generation students and their stories.
“It can be intimidating being in spaces and doing things no one in your family has done before because you do not have someone explain the process,” Fontes said. “I am very proud of being firstgen, and it has become a source of motivation whenever I’m struggling with something that’s school school-related.” First-gen students, faculty, staff and alumni were also invited to the UTEP Men’s basketball first home game against New Mexico at the
Don Haskins Center, Nov. 9. Author of “A Dream Called Home,” Reyna Grande, was also a keynote speaker as part of FirstGen week in collaboration with the Entering Student Experience Speaker Series on the third floor of Union Building East, Nov. 10. Lastly, on Nov. 11, a virtual parent panel hosted in Spanish was organized to hear from parents of first-gen students on how they support their students in navigating college life.
Graduating seniors can now purchase their first-gen cord to wear at the commencement ceremony at the UTEP Bookstore for $16 each. Those wishing to post to social media about the celebration are encouraged to use #CelebrateFirstGen. For additional information regarding UTEP First Generation students visit www.utep.edu/ student-affairs/first-generation/ events/. Eduardo A. Flores is a contributor and may be reached at eaflores17@miners.utep.edu.
Former UTEP professor’s book hits the big screen MARIA L. GUERRERO DURAN The Prospector
Former UTEP professor Benjamin Alire Sáenz recently announced his book, “Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe,” will soon hit the big screen and released the sequel “Aristotle and Dante Dive into the Waters of the World.” Born in New Mexico and raised in El Paso, Sáenz attended UTEP, where he received his master’s degree in creative writing and continued his professorship with the MFA Creative Writing department. The book was published in 2012 and hit the New York Times bestseller list, winning multiple awards such as the Stonewall award for best YA LBGT book in 2013, the Michael L. Printz honors for young adult literature in 2013 and the literary award Lambda for LGBT young adult literature in 2013. Based in 1987 El Paso, “Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe” tells the story of Aristotle Mendoza and Dante
Quintana, two teenagers who meet under ordinary circumstances but discover the realms of interpersonal relationships and the universe they hold within each other. Due to these two characters’ natural quest for identity and belonging, the audience can establish a connection with the story, especially in this day and age where teenagers and young adults are trying to be at peace with their sexual orientation and the outer world. Sáenz’s book empathizes with teenagers and young adults in the borderland who struggle to express themselves in Mexican American culture. After its enormous success in the publishing world, the story was slated to become a major film in 2017. On Nov. 3, it was announced that filming had been completed for the adaptation. “And that’s a wrap! Filming officially ended for #AriandDanteMovie and I couldn’t possibly be more proud of this hardworking and talented trio,” said Sáenz via In-
stagram, talking about Max Pelayo and Reese Gonzalez, who will bring Aristotle and Dante to life. The film will be led by the Mexican actor Eugenio Derbez and the Latin actress Eva Longoria, who worked closely with the Latinx debut director Aitch Alberto, a writer for the HBO Max show “Duster.” Among the list of producers are Eugenio Derbez, and the Grammy award-winning songwriter and composer Lin-Manuel Miranda. In addition to the film adaptation, the novel’s sequel “Aristotle and Dante Dive into the Waters of the World” hit bookstore shelves and online platforms Oct. 12. Just days after its publication, the sequel got selected for Barnes & Noble’s Best Books of 2021 list and reached number one on the New York Times best-selling YA list. You can also follow Benjamin Alire Sáenz on Instagram @benjamin.alire. saenz to keep up to date with the film adaptation and buy his books at bookstores. Maria L. Guerrero Duran is the web editor and may be reached at mlguerrerod@miners.utep.edu
MARIA L. GUERRERO DURAN/THE PROSPECTOR
Aristotle and Dante Dive Into the Waters of the World” by Benjamine Alire Sáenz former UTEP creative writing professor.
THE PROSPECTOR · NOVEMBER 16, 2021
Page 6 ENTERTAINMENT
Miners show talent at Open Mic Night
ALYSON RODRIGUEZ The Prospector
All sorts of talent filled the night at the second-floor lounge of the Union East building on Nov. 10 as UTEP’s Student Engagement & Leadership Center (SELC) hosted their first Coffee House Open Mic Night. Miners got to show off their talent in front of an audience of their peers. Some students performed original songs and covers while others made their fellow students fall out of their chairs with laughter while flexing their stand-up comedy skills. One student even demonstrated their slam poetry skills. Refreshments such as coffee and delicious hot chocolate were provided to audience members. Guests also got to enjoy sweet treats such as brownies and cookies. Attendees also got to write inspirational quotes with colorful markers on the dry erase board that was there. “We know that there’s a lot of talent here at UTEP, and we wanted to showcase that. This was a great way to welcome everyone back and it’s a good distress for everyone
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Martin changed outfits several times, while fans enjoyed singing his hit songs “La Mordidita,” “María” and “She Bangs.” Fans also enjoyed Martin singing two duets with Christina Aguilera in a pre-recorded clip for “Nobody Wants to be Lonely” and with Maluma in “Vente Pa’ Ca.” Although Iglesias and Martin did not perform together, fans still enjoyed an extraordinary Latin performance. Itzel Giron is a staff reporter and may be reached at iagiron@miners.utep.edu; @by.itzel.giron on Instagram and @itzel_anahi_16 on Twitter. Victoria Rivas is the Arts and Culture Editor and may be reached at vrivas7@miners. utep.edu; @VicRivas_18 on Twitter.
PHOTOS BY ALBERTO SILVA FERNANDEZ/THE PROSPECTOR
Enrique Iglesias (left, bottom right) and Ricky Martin (top right) perform at the Don Haskins Center Nov. 10, 2021.
ANNABELLA MIRELES/THE PROSPECTOR
UTEP’s SELC hosted the Coffee House Open Mic Night on the second floor of the Union Building Nov. 10.
before final’s week,” said Elizabeth Jakobsen, a sophomore in Neuroscience and intern for SELC. “We will host another Coffee House Open Mic in the spring semester as well.” Everyone who attended joined in on the fun, as many of the performers interacted with the audience and engaged them in
their performances. Even though performing in front of a live audience can be nerve-racking, none of the performers let that stop them from putting on a great show. One stand-up comedian left it all on the stage and was the highlight of the whole night. “I’ve been writing jokes for a while now, and I had always wanted to try
stand-up comedy. I saw that there was going to be an open mic, so I thought I’d come try it out,” said Brandon Joseph a junior majoring in psychology. “I think my performance went alright until I made a risky joke, but that’s comedy, it’s all about taking risks.” Other performances included one student who sang Frank Sinatra’s
“Fly Me To The Moon” to his partner and did an acapella version which included the whole audience clapping on beat. Another student almost brought the audience to tears when she showcased four of her personally written poems about her life. “I feel pretty good about my performance, it was nice to show off my poems to other people instead of just keeping them to myself,” said Elise Keniherndon a sophomore majoring in theatre performance. “I’ve never had an outlet for my poetry besides posting it on social media. I thought this would be a good way to let things go, have fun and meet new people. My poetry has always been a therapeutic outlet for me, it’s a way to express my emotions about my life.” To find out about more events being hosted by SELC, visit their website, www.utep.edu/studentaffairs/selc/ and follow them on Instagram @utepselc . Alyson Rodriguez is a contributor and may be reached at aerodriguez20@miners.utep.edu; @alyson_rod1127.
THE PROSPECTOR · NOVEMBER 16, 2021 · PAGE 7
Sports
Emily Autumn Velasquez, editor
UTEP beats UND to remain unbeaten
KATRINA VILLARREAL The Prospector
UTEP basketball (2-0, 0-0 CUSA) was victorious against the University of North Dakota (0-2, 0-0) on Saturday, Nov. 13 at the Don Haskins Center. The Miners were able to keep the momentum going that they built up from the very beginning, as they started with an 18-4 run in the first quarter. The Miners are 2-0 for the fourth straight season and have scored more than 80 points in back-toback games in the start of the season for the first time since 199495. This also marks the first time in four years that they have consecutive wins by at least 20 points to start off the season. Three Miners managed to put up big numbers during the game. Junior guard Destiny Thurman recorded a career-high of 23 points, freshman forward Elina Arike recorded a career-high of 19 points and a career-best of 15 rebounds, and sophomore guard Katia Gallegos recorded 13 points with eight assists. This marked the first career double-double for Arike. Sophomore guard Mahri Petree came off the bench to also reach double figures in scoring with 11 points. UND won the tip off and saw the pressure from UTEP on the court quickly. Although North Dakota scored the first basket of the
ANNABELLA MIRELES/THE PROSPECTOR
Freshman forward Elina Arike tries to grab the ball during the women’s home game against North Dakota on Nov. 13 at the Don Haskins Center.
quarter, the Miners went on a 10-0 run. With four minutes left on the clock, the Miners led by 14 points. UND was able to slow UTEP for a little, but the Miners showed no signs of stopping, pushing onward and finishing the first quarter leading by 18 points. In the second quarter, the Miners put up 3-pointers back-to-back, leading with 24 points in the first
minute of the second quarter. The Miners continued to dominate and finished the second quarter up by 23 points. At the half, the score was 53-30. The Miners had the advantage at the half, thanks to scoring the sixth-most points in the first half in program history. North Dakota would not go down without a fight, as senior guard
Claire Orth finished with 17 points and put up 14 of those points after halftime. Junior guard/forward Sammiyah Hoskin scored 8 points in the second half and ten in the game along with four rebounds. At the beginning of the half, North Dakota scored nine of the first 13 points of the third quarter and a 3-pointer from junior guard DJ Davis. That would be the final
3-pointer for North Dakota in the game. The Miners controlled the second half, never letting North Dakota back into the game. UTEP had 50.0 percent (34-68) from the floor and forced 21 turnovers that were converted into 22 points. The Miners beat the Fighting Hawks 89-69. For the most part I’m really pleased with how we played,” UTEP Head Coach Kevin Baker said in a postgame interview. “It’s really hard to keep your focus for 40 minutes when you build a big lead early... I couldn’t be happier. We’re getting better every time we touch the floor and hopefully that’ll remain the case.” The Miners face off against rival New Mexico State University in the Battle of I-10 at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 17 at NMSU. The game will also be available to listen live with Mando Medina on the call for 600 ESPN El Paso and the UTEP Miners App. All stats and quotes for University of North Dakota found on the University of North Dakota Athletics official website, fightinghawks.com. All stats and quotes for UTEP found on UTEP Athletics official website, utepminers.com.
Katrina Villarreal is a contributor and may be reached at kvillarreal1@miners.utep.edu.
Miners lose close game to Aggies in Battle of I-10
Miners fall short of comeback DANNY LOPEZ The Prospector
The Miners (1-1,0-0 C-USA) lost to New Mexico State University (NMSU) (2-0,0-0 WAC) on Nov. 13 at the Pan American Center in Las Cruces, New Mexico. The Miners had a brief lead in the first quarter but could not get that back. UTEP had a hard time scoring on offense, with one of their early struggles being 0 for 7 at the 3-point line in this 77-71 loss. In the start of first half, the Aggies got on the board with a rebound to go up 2-0. Then the Aggies went up 4-0 after a lay-up from senior forward Donnie Tillman. UTEP started cold on the offense, going ALBERTO SILVA FERNANDEZ/THE PROSPECTOR 0-for-3 on 3-pointers. Redshirt Junior point guard Christian Agnew goes up for a layup against NMSU for the Battle of I-10 Nov. 13 at the Pan junior guard Souley Boum got the American Center in Las Cruces, New Mexico. Miners on the board with a lay-up on the rebound to put the score at scoring run that started with junior 22-16 after another 3-pointer. to make the score 4-2. However, 7-6. Senior forward Alfred Hollins guard Jamal Bieniemy cutting the At the 5:41 mark the Aggies went NMSU quickly answered back with tied the game 10-10 after a layup. lead to 19-14 after a lay-up. Then up 26-16 after a free throw was a 3-pointer to go up 7-2. NMSU went up 15-12 after an redshirt junior forward Tydus made. Bieniemy cut the lead down Just moments later in this match impressive 3-pointer. The Aggies Verhoeven brought the lead down to 30-20. Bieniemy moments later up, Boum found himself at the added more to their lead after to 19-16 with hard-fought bucket. put the score at 33-25 after a lay-up. free throw line after getting fouled. making some free throws. Quickly, The Aggies nonetheless answered Then, sophomore guard Keonte Boum went on to make one free however, the Miners went on a that run and increased their lead to Kennedy made a 3-pointer to cut throw and would get the put-back
the Aggies’ lead to 33-28. Boum sank two free throws to bring the lead down further to 33-30. However, the Aggies got one more bucket to fall in and took a 35-30 lead at halftime. In the start of the second half, NMSU would come out to go up 38-30 after an explosive 3-pointer. The Miners quickly responded to cut the lead to 38-32 with a lay-up from Kennedy. At the 11:10 mark, Boum drained a three to cut the score to 56-47. NMSU then went on a scoring streak to go up 65-47. Bieniemy got a jumper to fall but the Aggies still led at 67-51. “New Mexico State is a really good team and has a coach that is one of the best in the country,” UTEP Head Coach Joe Golding said. “I loved the way our guys competed the last 5 minutes and got it to a two-possession game.” Kennedy at the 4:40 mark would get a tear drop to go in to put the score at 72-57. The Miners would get a couple of more buckets to fall, but they would not be enough to win this contest. The Miners would fall to the Aggies 77-71. The Miners return home at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 16, at the Don Haskins Center to face Northern New Mexico College.
Danny Lopez is a staff reporter and may be reached at dalopez23@miners.utep.edu.
THE PROSPECTOR · NOVEMBER 16, 2021
Page 8 SPORTS
UTEP Miners fall to North Texas
UTEP faces loss in final minute of the game EMILY AUTUMN VELASQUEZ The Prospector
The UTEP Miners (6-4, 3-3 Conference USA) traveled to North Texas (4-6, 3-3 C-USA) to face the Mean Green on Saturday, Nov. 13, where they faced a heartbreaking loss. UTEP is currently 2-3 on the road this season and is on a three-game losing streak after falling to UNT. The Miners are currently on a five-game losing streak against the Mean Green and are 2-11-2 when playing in Denton. This matchup proved to be a defensive game early on that resulted in a scoreless first quarter. While no points were scored, sophomore quarterback Gavin Hardison recorded a 27-yard rushing play, which is a career long. In the second quarter, the Miners were able to get on the board first after a 76-yard connection between Hardison and sophomore wide receiver Jacob Cowing to give the Miners a lead of 7-0. This is the longest pass play the Miners have recorded this season, and the second-longest connection between Hardison and Cowing. The 82-yard pass from the ULM game in 2020 is their longest connection. At halftime the Miners were up against the Mean Green 7-3. While the Miners held up defen-
sively in the first half, the Mean Green were able to score 17 straight points. The Miners were struggling to get a rhythm going offensively, but at the end were looking to make a comeback when down 17-7 with seven minutes left in the fourth quarter. Hardison was able to help bring the team down the field in a sevenplay, 98-yard scoring drive that led to a four-yard rushing touchdown by junior running back Ronald Awatt. After this scoring drive, the Miners had the momentum and the defense to force UNT to go three and out. This left the Miners with 2:47 left in the game to play. After a 12-yard rush from Awatt and a 32-yard connection between Hardison and senior wide receiver Justin Garett, the Miners were set up at the UNT 25-yard line. While the Miners couldn’t get much more than that, the drive is what set up the 37-yard field goal. Junior kicker Gavin Baechle was able to tie the game 17-17 by nailing that field goal with only 55 seconds remaining in the game. However, those 55 seconds were all UNT would need to win the game after a 27-yard field goal made by UNT junior kicker Ethan Mooney, making the final score 20-17. “This was a really tough loss,” fourth year UTEP head coach Dana Dimel said in an interview after the game. “We need to make more plays in all three segments of the ball to win a football game.” The Miners had a nice streak
P H O T O C O U R T E S Y O F I V A N P. A G U I R R E
Sophomore quarterback Gavin Hardison runs the ball against UNT on Nov. 13, 2021, at Apogee Stadium in Denton, Texas.
going in the beginning of the season, managing to record a lot of takeaways. However, during their three-game losing streak, they haven’t managed to record a single takeaway. They also failed to record a sack for the second straight game. They are looking to get back into the rhythm they found at the beginning of the season as they finish out their regular season. On a brighter note, with a 9-yard catch late in the third quarter, Cowing became the seventh UTEP player to reach 1,000 receiving yards in a season. Cowing has
recorded 1,097 yards in 2021, the fourth most in a season in school history. Cowing also managed to post his 12th 100-yard receiving game of his career with seven receptions for a career-high tying 174 yards. This 100-yard receiving game also means he is tied at second with Reggie Barrett (played from 1987-1990) and makes him one game shy of tying the school record of thirteen 100-yard games, set by Chuck Hughes (played from 1964-1966). The Miners are looking to bounce back and snap this losing streak in
their next game which is at 2 p.m. Nov. 20 at the Sun Bowl. They will face Rice in their last home game of the season and UTEP’s senior class will also be honored at this game. Students can qualify for a free ticket with the use of their Miner Gold Card. Stats acquired with the help of UTEP Athletics. Emily Autumn Velasquez is the sports editor and may be reached at eavelasquez@miners. utep.edu.
UTEP preps for final home game against Rice
Miners to take on Owls Nov. 20 DANNY LOPEZ The Prospector
The Miners (6-4, 3-3 Conference USA) face an aggressive University of Rice (2-4, 3-7 C-USA) Nov. 20 at the Sun Bowl Stadium. UTEP is trying to close out the season on a strong note and is looking forward to a bowl game after their successful regular season. The Owls come into this matchup with an offense that can average over 300 yards and are led by senior quarterback Jake Constantine and sophomore running back Ari Broussard. In their losses, however, Rice averages under 200 yards and struggle with third down conversions on offense. Rice’s defense this season has taken a pounding as the Owls are giving up more than 4.6 yards per game and get gashed regularly against teams they have lost to previously. The Miners defense can take advantage of Rice and their inability to convert on third downs. The Miners, in their recent loss against
FAU, would force the Owls to finish 2-for-15 on third down conversions. The Miners’ defense has been playing relatively well this year, being ranked ninth overall in the country and first in ConferenceUSA. But now, UTEP has fallen in that category due to the recent losses to Florida Atlantic University and the University of Texas at San Antonio. The Miners’ secondary needs to play tighter due to the fact that despite being able to keep teams under 200 yards, they are susceptible to giving up big plays, especially at crucial times. One example being against FAU, where just before the half there was a blown coverage by the Miners that enabled a touchdown to help FAU go on to win the game. On offense, the Miners must start off faster and get on the ground running. Their three losses have been because they have had slow starts and an offense that struggles to get into a rhythm. Their run game when playing a good defensive opponent usually means they average around 3.2 yards per game offensively. Overall, the Miners seem to have a decent chance at winning this game, but they must stick to the script if they want to come out
ALBERTO SILVA FERNANDEZ/THE PROSPECTOR
Freshman running back Deion Hankins runs the ball against UTSA Nov. 6, 2021, at the Sun Bowl.
victorious in this match up. UTEP still has a chance at qualifying for a good bowl if they are able to win out, but it will not be a walk-in-the-park for the Miners as they need to continue to put up a strong front. UTEP being bowl
eligible is something that has not been done since their last winning season in 2014. The Miners will host Rice at 7 p.m. Nov. 20 at the Sun Bowl for the Miners’ final home game of the 2021-2022 season. Students can get
free tickets using their Miner Gold Card by visiting studenttickets. utep.edu for more information. Danny Lopez is a staff reporter and may be reached at dalopez23@miners.utep.edu.