The Prospector 08 29 2017

VOL . 103, NO. 1

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

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OPINION

Editor-in-Chief

Adrian Broaddus , 747-7477

A summer in D.C.

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By Christian vasquez

My summer was spent in Washington D.C., in Congress, where I spent every day covering press conferences, committee meetings, protests, votes and anything else that I wanted. I was surrounded by journalists who, despite what some think, work long and hard hours, trying to constantly update the nation with fair and accurate reporting. I also saw how exhausted they were, and how much they were expected to get done in a short amount of time. When I first arrived, my editor told me that if a protest happened, he expected a story within the hour. That’s going down to wherever it’s being held, finding out what they want (they being anyone who was for the protest, against it or undecided), why they want it, who put it together and to take pictures. Then return and put it all together. It has to explain the situation accurately, provide the correct context, get all the sides of the story, the pros and cons of those stances and be as accurate as possible. It was daunting at first. But, honestly, that’s an easy story and one that they gave to the intern (me) because, for the most part, people go to protests to voice their concerns. The stories that drive the news cycle are much more complex and have to be done just as fast if not faster. When they weren’t writing or chasing down a source, they were tweeting small bits of news they heard at a conference, or catching up on the news from the past hour, or going on TV to talk about a story they broke, or trying to think of another angle to a story. Honestly, it was exhausting just watching them.

It was inspirational to me as an aspiring journalist, but it also made me realize how much pressure journalists face in a time when the nation is suspicious of a profession. Without their hard work, the nation would only know what politicians want you to know. Press conferences are largely a way politicians try to maneuver politically, or sell themselves. The important information the public needs to know doesn’t come from their prepared speech written by someone else that follows party guidelines and key phrases, but by the questions asked by journalists after the conference is over. Even then, it’s hard to get a senator to say something that does not benefit the individual’s own interests. I don’t want to paint all politicians as the same though. I talked to senators and representatives on both sides, who were passionate about health care or government transparency or a lot of different issues that don’t get the same limelight as President Trump’s latest tweet. Similarly, it’s silly to paint all journalist as “the media” as though thousands of journalist are all part of a single organism with one goal in mind, or are controlled by higher ups in high offices, who decide what latest outrage will distract from the “real” issues. It would be disheartening if I wasn’t so glad that the public is taking an interest. The public’s scrutiny toward journalist is not unlike the scrutiny we should have toward politicians, and it’s just as complex and important. I’m glad I was given the opportunity to go, and I wouldn’t have if it were not for my work at the Prospector as well as our professors. Follow Christian Vasquez on Twitter@chrismvasq

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The Prospector Daily

By Rene Delgadillo A new semester at school has started, and let’s be honest, the first couple of days are pointless. Many of us don’t pay attention to what professors have to say about internships and ways of getting involved at school. I bet many students are just hoping for the first week to be over with; and for two years, I was one of those students. That was my mentality as a freshman student, until one day I just realized I was not going to get anywhere with my laziness. If you’re a student, who comes to school and leaves back home as soon as your last class is over, you have a problem. My advice for you is either to drop out of college, or get your shit together and start applying yourself. I understand there might be some unique obstacles in the path of many students that don’t allow them to get involved with their careers outside of a classroom, but the trick comes in how hard you are willing to work to achieve the future and life you want. One of the best ways to start applying your knowledge to your career is through internships because you’ll learn what it actually takes to perform a job in the field you’ve chosen. Professors will teach you the basics of what your career requires and that’s it. I’m sure many of them will come up with motivational speeches, hoping you can feel confident about your skills, but they won’t help at all if you don’t start looking for an internship. I just finished a summer internship at an award-winning newspaper, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. This experience changed who I am, both at a personal and professional level. But I won’t lie, at first the internship wasn’t what I was expecting. I was not happy

and felt I wasn’t being challenged in what I wanted to learn. I was getting social media assignments—something I didn’t want to do. I needed to stop getting out of work and feeling I was doing something I didn’t like. So I bought a camera, a tripod and two microphones. I made an $800 investment hoping it could change the direction of my internship and it did. I showed up to work and showed my boss what I had bought, and he told he would give me two or three opportunities to go out and shoot some video. I took those opportunities as if they were the biggest and most important tests of my life. Of course, my work was not perfect, but my boss saw my talent and willingness to learn. After those three videos, he changed my internship and all I had to worry about was shooting and editing video. Again, this is where how hard you are willing to work can make a difference. I had to sacrifice money I didn’t have to start doing exactly what I wanted. In only a 12-week period, my boss was the most honest person I’ve ever met. He didn’t play games and just told me when he liked my work and when he didn’t. But he always had an explanation for the things he was telling me, and instead of taking his words and criticism in a personal way I got happy when he took time out of his schedule to help me. I wanted to learn and one of the best ways is by listening to people who have been doing the type of work you want to do longer than you’ve been alive. My internship took me out of my comfort zone. I went to a city where whites and blacks are a majority, and where Hispanics represent less than 5 percent of the city’s population. It was a cultural shock for me because I had spent my entire life in a city where the majority of people speak Spanish and share similar beliefs. For the first time in my life, I got to talk to with black people who have been victims of police brutality. One of them being Michael Brown Sr., who

lost his son after a police officer shot and killed him. During the anniversary of his son’s death, I saw him screaming and crying to the sky, asking why he had lost his son. It was a moment that changed who I was. For one of my videos, I had to talk with homeless people. So I sat down with a couple of them and started asking the why’s and how’s of being homeless. Every one of them had a different story, and they made me realize that every day we ignored them as if they weren’t people simply because they don’t have a home. They cried as they spoke to me, and on top of that, they would still tell me they would pray for me simply because I took the time to speak with them. These are the kind of things that can happen when you have an internship far from where you live. An internship is not only a place to place to learn about the career you want to obtain; it’s also the perfect time to have fun and grow as a person. So, take the risk of getting rejected by nine companies, and then finally getting accepted by the 10th company. My advice is to take the criticism, even if it makes you feel bad about your skills. Stop taking things in a personal manner because you won’t get better at what you to do and you will be closing future doors in your career. Doing good work in an internship can place important calls from your internship supervisors to the future job you want to obtain. Get an internship away from El Paso, get to know yourself, learn about the obstacles that people of different cultures and skin colors are going through. Learn, speak and ask questions about things you don’t understand. An internship is a perfect chance to learn, you will mess up and make big mistakes, your bosses will get mad at you, but this is how the real world is like. So don’t be afraid and just do the best you can. Follow Rene Delgadillo on Twitter @rdelgadillonews

Cartoon by Alexa Servin / The Prospector

STAFF V O L . 1 0 3 , n o . 1 Editor-in-Chief:Adrian Broaddus Web Editor : Rene Delgadillo Layout Manager : Alejandra Gonzalez Copy Editor : Leslie Sariñana Spor ts Editor : Jeremy Carranco Enter tainment Editor : Eddie Velazquez Photo Editor : Gaby Velasquez Multimedia Editor : Andres Mar tinez Staff Repor ters: Mike Flores, Grecia Sanchez Photographers: Claudia Hernandez, Nina Titovets Contributors: Claudia V. Flores, August Touris, Elanie Gonzalez, Brianna Chavez

Ad Account Executives: Aaron RamirezGuzman, Peter Carrillo Ad Layout Manager : Jacobo De La Rosa Ad Designers: Vanessa Guevara, Administrative Secretary: Marcela Luna Accounting Specialist: Isabel Castillo Asst. Director-Adver tising: Veronica Gonzalez Student Publications Director : Kathleen Flores

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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 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, 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 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 necessarily those of the university.

THEPROSPECTOR

NEWS | 3 |

August 29, 2017

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Douglass fellowship proves life changing for student

photo courtesy kahori vidana sanchez Junior education major Kahori Vidaña Sanchez, third from the right, became the first-ever UTEP recipient for the Frederick Douglass fellowship.

By adrian broaddus The Prospector

It was four in the morning and Mayra Kahori Vidaña Sanchez was wide awake in front of a dim computer screen at her parent’s home in Juarez, Mexico, scrambling to complete her objective for the night. Days before the application was due, she was scrambling to finish her video portion of the Frederick Douglass Global Fellowship, a program for minority students across the nation, where they take students abroad and develop their learning skills and their multicultural communication abilities. She was tasked to comprise a video detailing her life, an essay and a letter of recommendation from UTEP President Diana Natalicio, all in one week with no feedback from any of her mentors, something she had never done when applying for a job, position or internship. Vidaña Sanchez, a junior education major, was able to get a last-minute letter of recommendation from President Natalicio earlier that week and credits it to being a Miner Ambassador, a mentoring program at UTEP. But, to make matters more stressful, as she was uploading her finished video, all her work erased from her computer. It was now five in the morning. With tears streaming down her face, Vidaña Sanchez felt an overwhelming sense of defeat. However, her father, who had been woken up by her typing and clicking, offered his assistance and was able to recover the video. Without hesitation and a silent prayer, she turned in the video and got ready to cross the border for school. She had not slept at all that night, but what mattered for Vidaña Sanchez is that she completed the application that had troubled her so greatly. All she could do now was wait.

“Kahori is a bright, ambitious, and purposely dedicated to both outstanding performance and achievement in everything she sets herself to,” said Christian Corrales, director of community relations at UTEP and, as she describes him, her mentor.

The Call

All her life, Vidaña Sanchez loved school. She was legally born in the United States, but spent 12 years being raised in Juarez and going to school in Mexico. Then, she started coming to school in America at the age of 12, but knew little English. Alongside her brother, who also went to school in the United States, she struggled to learn the language and listened to pop music to help her learn. Even though she was very keen on going to school and studying, Vidaña Sanchez did not like science. That was until she joined Associate Professor David Carmichael’s anthropology class. “I fell in love with anthropology and social sciences,” she said. Professor Carmichael was the one who pushed Vidaña Sanchez to apply for the fellowship. After a lecture in early October, she received a call from an unfamiliar number. It turned out to be one of the directors of the Frederick Douglass Fellowship, who was calling to tell her she got accepted. “How about that; I got called in the class that made me want to apply in the first place,” she said with a smile. “I was so excited, but I couldn’t tell anyone yet because they were going to send out the press release in November.” She was the first UTEP student to be chosen for the program’s inaugural year of existence. After she received word she was accepted, Vidaña Sanchez gained a lot of self-confidence, which prompted her to apply for other different oppor-

tunities throughout the year. She also received word that the first-ever Frederick Douglass Fellowship would take the students to London and Northern Ireland in July to study. Vidaña Sanchez, along with her best friend, was accepted to study abroad in Spain during June. The ambitious student had quite the summer lined up. She had never been in another foreign country before, something that had initially scared Vidaña Sanchez. “I wanted to go, but I was scared,” Vidaña Sanchez said. “I worked at three jobs—McDonalds, which I’m always proud to say I started at McDonalds, taking pictures at quinceñeras and a front desk assistant with the UTEP international programs. I had been living by myself too.” In short, she had been used to her work-school-home routine and this new adventure was outside her comfort zone. She would be visiting four countries in the span of three months.

Life-changing plane ride

Frederick Douglass, an African American social reformer, orator, writer, statesman and early abolitionist, is known by many historians to be well ahead of his time. After he escaped slavery in the early 1800s, Douglass defied all odds by advocating heavily for abolitionist movements in Massachusetts and New York. A 12-hour flight seemed like a perfect opportunity for Vidaña Sanchez to review her itinerary for the fellowship, enjoy the scenery on the flight, watch a movie and anticipate what was to come when she landed in London. But what she didn’t expect was the book she was given right before boarding her plane. It was the autobiography of Frederick Douglass, “Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass,” given to her by the director of the program. She and the other fellowship recipients were tasked to

read the novel and reflect on Douglass’ life and accomplishments. A month prior, Vidaña Sanchez traveled with her best friend to Spain for the study abroad program, where she learned the true importance of understanding the wishes and desires of others she traveled with. However, this time around she would have to travel without the comfort of her best friend and colleagues from school. As she was fully engaged in the book, emotions flooded through the pages as she reflected on Douglass’ harsh upbringing and constant desire for educating himself. “I cried when I read it,” she said with a stern look. “Powerful story, powerful lingo to convey emotions, just the whole advocacy aspect of what he stood for and the civil rights. It’s the first ideas of civil rights for the slaves. It was an experience that I cherish in my heart that I experienced on my own. I took notes, highlighted sections and truly reflected on my own life.” It humbled her about how arduous the road Douglass had to endure to try and get his voice heard. “This certain part, I can’t quote it exactly, but he realized when he tried to get educated, he never gave up. When his master said ‘don’t let the nword get educated because he won’t be a proper slave,’ that idea of trying to maintain low income and people like him in that time and keep them ignorant and close minded, prohibiting access to education, touched me the most,” she said. “He didn’t stop. There were punishments along the way, getting whipped, hit, letting go of his friends.”

When asked if she could relate to the trials and tribulations Douglass endured, Vidaña Sanchez quickly shook her head and said in no way could she relate to the extent of pain he received. Despite some troubling points growing up in a violent Juarez atmosphere, Vidaña Sanchez cherished the fact that she, unlike Douglass, had both parents, all functioning body parts, never been beaten and had the right to education. As she landed, she wrapped up the book, which she said made her more ready than ever for what was to come.

A cultural experience unlike any other

The name Kahori, according to her mother, meant the goddess of love. Vidaña Sanchez tried to exercise her name’s meaning whenever she could. Her cohorts and mentors describe her as a very caring, mindful individual. This was a talent she was determined to sharpen and showcase during her experience. “Something that our professor highlighted since the first day of class is it was a live course,” she said. “All of us were leaders, but we were there to harvest the skills that we have. We developed those skills through different exercises of truly knowing who you are.” Through courses of intercultural competence, leadership seminars and other communication courses, Vidaña Sanchez not only learned an immense amount of knowledge but also developed herself as a person and learned to discover herself. “I have no idea why I was chosen,” she said. “Could have been my char-

see FELLOWSHIP on page 7

THEPROSPECTOR

| 4 | NEWS

August 29, 2017

New dean spotlight: Theresa Maldonado

Nina Titovets/ The Prospector Theresa Maldonado served as associate dean of engineering at Texas A&M prior to being hired by UTEP.

By leslie Sariñana The Prospector

UTEP’s College of Engineering will have a new dean this coming semester with Theresa Maldonado filling the role for more than 4,000 students in the college. She will also serve as a professor of electrical engineering. Maldonado

has a Ph.D. in electrical engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology. Before becoming a part of higher education she worked as an engineer at AT&T Bell Laboratories. Her experience in higher education includes being an associate dean of engineering at Texas A&M, founding senior vice president for re-

search, innovation and economic development at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley and director at the National Science Foundation. Although Maldonado is new to UTEP and El Paso, having only been twice, she is more than ready for her new position and everything El Paso has to offer.

WELCOME BACK MINERS! The University Police Department would like to provide the below Safety Tips: BE AWARE - Don’t let your electronic devices distract you, always be aware of your surroundings - Never leave your items unattended or unsecured - Familiarize yourself with campus emergency telephones on routes to and from campus destinations BICYCLE SAFETY - Secure your bicycle to any of the bicycle racks found on campus - Invest in a U-Lock lock as this type of lock are harder to defeat - For maximum protection use a lock for the bicycle frame and another lock for the wheels SCAMS - Never pay or send money to someone in anticipation of receiving something of greater value - such as a loan, personal check, or a gift - Never open suspicious e-mails from individuals whom you don’t know - If you receive a phone call from someone requesting personal information simply hang up - The IRS will never call you asking for personal information DORM SAFETY - Familiarize yourself with dorm rules - Always lock your door - Check dorm guest policy - Immediately report suspicious activity or individuals to The University Police at 915-747-5611 The University of Texas at El Paso University Police Department - 3118 Sun Bowl Drive, El Paso, TX 79968 Phone: 915- 747-5611 - Fax: 915-747-5636 - www.utep.edu/police

“In recent years, I had been to the campus twice. In the last two years, when I was at my previous university, there were meetings held here by the UT System and by the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas,” Maldonado said. “I went ‘oh god, look at this campus,’ so I had never really been on the campus. I saw it on the web and things like that, but it is a special university really.” She came across the position opening through word of mouth and it was President Natalicio’s work that had motivated her to apply. “I’ve known about UTEP since I started out in higher education in 1990, but I never have applied to UTEP. I’ve known about the president–she’s nationally known, I know people in engineering and people in science through my other work in Washington,” Maldonado said. Maldonado’s military upbringing required her to move a lot, so adjusting to different environments comes as second nature to her. She has made it a point to learn as much about the UTEP community as possible before diving in and changing things. “One of the first things a person should do when they move to a new environment is to really take the time to understand the local culture, the work environment of the community and not just come in and try to make changes without the context of where you’re at,” she said. “I’m talking to a lot of people around the campus, students, administrators, faculty, department heads of course, and then seeing how I can frame ideas I have about moving forward within this context, very important to do. You can’t come in and just change in any disruptive way because it impacts people.” Maldonado also said that despite being new to UTEP, her transition has been an easy experience. She has her previous work in academia to thank for that. “I’ve been in academia since 1990 and I’ve worked in the industry before that. So this has been one of my easiest transitions to be honest, but I have a lot to learn, I don’t take it for granted that I felt very comfortable here,” Maldonado said. She has no hesitation or worries about filling her role as dean. Previous experience has helped prepare her for anything she may have to face. It also comes easy for her transitioning from a large school to a smaller one. “That college of engineering (Texas A&M) has 12 departments, we (UTEP) have seven. The enrollment for engineering over there is approaching 13,000 just in the college of engineering and here it’s 3,500,” Maldonado said. “Those 12 years have prepared me for a lot of different opportunities. I feel like I can adapt to those departments, I’ve been in those roles before.” Her lengthy resume and positions in larger colleges serves as a great advantage to her at UTEP. Maldonado is also looking beyond the classroom when it comes to the College of Engineering, hoping to expand on more than just education. “The opportunity for one-on-one interaction is greater here because it is smaller. The demographic is different here. I’m comfortable because I’m Mexican-American Hispanic myself,” Maldonado said. “I read a lot and think about how students of today can become successful in this crazy, rapidly changing world. We need to prepare the students not only for their coursework, but also how to contribute to a dynamic so-

ciety out there that’s complicated. I think I’m prepared for that.” Maldonado has made time to meet with her department staff, often going beyond their scheduled meeting time when meeting with them individually. She has taken the time to personally meet with them to help them improve in their leadership roles and challenging the students.

Everything has been positive surprises. There’s a lot more capacity here as far as laboratories, students are eager to learn. - Theresa Maldonado Dean of the College of Engineering “Students education includes not only the coursework, but also engineering research opportunities and how students can understand how their coursework integrates into their daily activities. Engineering studies can go into different career trajectories. It’s actually a small percentage of engineer graduates that stay in engineering,” she said. “But we have the preparation to do a lot of different things, and so I’m going to stretch the department heads thinking about how we approach our research, education, interaction with the students, and how we place the students in industry or other jobs.” After getting familiar with UTEP, Maldonado is excited to call the school her new home. “Everything has been positive surprises,” she said. “There’s a lot more capacity here as far as laboratories, students are eager to learn. I’ve come across students more at Texas A&M that take it for granted there and I have not met a single student here that took it for granted. They want to be here and they want to work hard. That’s a competitive advantage, to have that mindset. We’re going to do good things for the students. You can go to the more affluent schools, but you’ll find a lot more students take it for granted and they don’t necessarily become successful in their lives with that mindset, but when there’s hunger in learning and achieving like I see here, we’re gonna do great things.” Maldonado is excited to be working at UTEP and to assume the role of dean for one of UTEP’s most successful colleges. “I finally get to work with Dr. Natalicio. I’ve heard about her for a long time. She’s globally known in higher education and there are lots of very important special moving parts here that we can put together for even more special important things that are happening right now,” Maldonado said. “I’m eager to roll up my sleeves, I’m really happy to be here.” Leslie Sarinana may be reached at theprospectordaily.ent@gmail.com.

THEPROSPECTOR

NEWS | 5 |

August 29, 2017

Chiecchi recognized in the NAHJ Hall of Fame By mike flores The Prospector

For the second consecutive year, UTEP will have another one of its professors inducted into the National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ) Hall of Fame with multimedia professor Eraldo “Dino” Chiecchi receiving the 2017 recognition. UTEP is the only institution of higher learning to have two faculty members inducted into the NAHJ Hall of Fame. Since NAHJ first began inducting people from all over the world to the Hall of Fame in 2000, most schools have not had one representative, but for UTEP to have two speaks volumes on the growth of Hispanic journalists in El Paso. The other five candidates to be selected to the 2017 Hall of Fame class alongside Chiecchi are Andres Cediel, a journalist and documentary producer; Jodi Hernandez, an NBC Bay Area reporter; Federico Subervi, a trailblazer of diversity; and Pulitzer Prize winner Nancy Rivera Brooks. “To be with the people that have been selected now and previously— we’re talking about some of the most elite journalists that are in the country. It is a very prestigious group and it’s amazing to me,” Chiecchi said. “This is hallowed ground. It’s really hard to get my arms around this.” The five will be inducted into the NAHJ Hall of Fame on Sept. 9 in Anaheim, California, during the annual NAHJ national convention. Chiecchi first joined NAHJ in 1987, and attended his first convention in 1988. Since then he has been very involved with the program, having been a former president of the NAHJ and a treasurer for them since 2012. Since attending his first convention in Dallas, Texas, Chiecchi still tries to attend every convention that the NAHJ has to offer. NAHJ has taught Chiecchi maturity, brought him many great contacts, taught him how to build important relationships, how to come out of his shell, taught him how to conquer public speaking and most importantly to him, to grow his career. The contacts and people Chiecchi has met helped him guide students to internships and a path to start their careers. The current President of NAHJ, Brandon Benavides, made his very first phone call to Chiecchi from the five Hall of Famers for 2017. “Brandon told me ‘your years of service, the things you have accomplished and continue to do—the board thought you were the perfect selection at the perfect time. I was

surprised and shocked; I was not expecting it. I’m extremely honored,” Chiecchi said. “This is an accomplishment I deeply appreciate.”

To be with the people that have been selected... some of the most elite journalists in the country. It is a very prestigious group and it’s amazing to me. - Eraldo “Dino” Chiecchi associate professor multimedia journalism Being a 30-year veteran in the newspaper industry, Chiecchi has built up his resume since he attended UTEP—where he graduated in 1985. His career began at The Prospector and the El Paso Herald-Post, and then he went on to work in reporting and management positions at the Associated Press, San Antonio ExpressNews, Austin American-Statesman and the South China Morning Post in Hong Kong—a place he said changed his entire life and career. Now looking back at his career, Chiecchi’s biggest advice to young journalists is to take every opportunity that comes your way and be willing to learn every day. “All the years of doing all that I’ve done, especially with Hispanic journalists’ organizations, it means a big deal to me that someone said, ‘we’ve been watching what you’re doing.’ But I realize this isn’t a situation of a job completed; it’s a job still in progress. There is still much work to be done.” Chiecchi said. “We still have to get more Hispanics in the newsroom, better pay, better working conditions and we need to reach parity in our newsrooms everywhere.” Chiecchi has put all his time and effort into advocating for minority groups such as the NAHJ. He is the founding member of the San Antonio Association of Hispanic Journalists. He served with the Austin Hispanic Journalists, worked with the Hispanic group here in El Paso and even served on the board of the Society of Professional Journalists when he was a student.

Adrian broaddus / The Prospector UTEP professor Eraldo Chiecchi will be inducted into the NAHJ Hall of Fame. Now as a professor—and putting aside his newspaper career—Chiecchi saw the opportunity to teach the younger generations of journalists once again. He was first a professor in San Antonio in the early 1990s at Incarnate Word. When he came back to El Paso to work for the El Paso Times, the communication department chair Stacey Sowers called Chiecchi and offered him a teaching position at UTEP.

Chiecchi is set to become the executive editor of Borderzine, UTEP’s bilingual student publication and capstone course for journalism majors. He is also UTEP’s NAHJ club advisor. The NAHJ is the largest organization of Latino journalists in the U.S and dedicated to the recognition and professional advancement of Hispanics in the news industry. “I believe in what journalists do, I believe in the cause. I consider it

my calling, and part of the calling includes covering the communities the way they should be,” Chiecchi said. “I’m not convinced that we can do it without having proper representation in the newsrooms. We have to cover the communities fairly and accurately.” Follow Mike Flores on Twitter @MikeyTheReal

THEPROSPECTOR

| 6 | NEWS

AuguSt 29, 2017

ouR vIEW

Students are welcomed back to class for the Fall 2017 semester

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gaby velaSquez/ the ProSPeCtor 1. Junior finance major eric barron and sophomore materials and metallurgy major daniel Morales play spike ball at Centennial Plaza in between classes on the first day back to school. 2. Paydirt Pete made an appearance at the first day of Miner Welcome Week. 3. Freshman civil engineering major kevin licon tries to grab some bills from the money machine set up for Miner Welcome Week. 4. Freshman biology major Frida Sosia Casda throws a ball at the basket. 5. the first day of Miner Welcome Week featured pancakes served by uteP alumni, a wheel spin by uteP edge, inflatables, free Coca Cola and dr. Pepper sampling and booths from utePs different organizations.

THEPROSPECTOR

NEWS | 7 |

August 29, 2017

fellowship from page 3 acter, my background, my video, my essay or something. I’m thankful I was chosen but I had no idea. The others asked each other why we got chosen, and we came to the conclusion that they saw something in us.” Then, Vidaña Sanchez and the rest of the fellowship traveled to Northern Ireland as part of an intercultural competence portion of the program. Before they left, however, the instructors prepared them for what they would experience. “It’s the division of Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland,” she said. “When we got there, the tour guide joked with us and said, ‘why do you guys even fight (in the US)?’ It was a type of oppression we had never seen.” She went on to narrate an example of the degree of division these individuals would experience, detailing how there were houses that were literally across the street from each other that would fly flags of England, while the other would broadcast flags of the Republic of Ireland. “Less than 6 percent of the schools over there are integrated,” she said. “People would go a lifetime without interacting with the other side. They differentiate with the religion (Protestant and Catholicism) and the dialect.” The group was then taken to the peace walls of Northern Ireland, which are a series of separation barriers in the country that separate Catholic and Protestant neighborhoods. “It gave me another definition of ‘peace,’ which was the absence of violence, not necessarily harmony or relationships,” she said. “There was writing on the wall, like ‘don’t give up.’ They told us, once you bring up a wall, it takes a lot to bring down.”

It made me think about the political changes I want to try to make for my family, who lives in Mexico.

- Mayra Kahori Vidana Sanchez sophomore education major

TAKE

Immediately, this horrific social scene she saw made her reflect on the happenings in the United States with the talks about a wall separating the Mexico-U.S. border. “Once that wall is up, it’s going to take a lot of time to take it down,” she said. “That was a huge deal for me because it also showed how much the U.S. affects other nations. The Good Friday Agreement, which was the peace treaty the two divisions made, was made by the United States. A political official told us, ‘you all might be confused with what is going to happen where you are, but we are even more confused because whatever you all do will affect us.’” She saw poverty, economic struggles and even said how the tour

CARE OF YOUR

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KEEP IT

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Do not dump waste, chemicals, paint, custodial waste, and general rubbish items (tires, old car parts, shopping carts, etc.) into storm drains, channels, or ditches. No tirar basura, aparatos electrodomésticos, muebles, llantas, y chatarra a canales y acequias del systema de drenaje pluvial.

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guides used dark humor to overshadow the harsh reality they live in. It was almost a glimpse into what could be the future of the U.S. for her. “It made me think about the political changes I want to try to make for my family, who lives in Mexico,” she said. “I want to try to bring my family over, as much as I love Mexico. The violence, the danger—I don’t want to be worried about them anymore. The fear of being separated from my family grew.”

Coming back home

From changing her major from engineering to education to inspiring her to continue to mentor young students, Vidaña Sanchez came back home with a whole new outlook on life. “It taught me that whatever love you have in anything in life, whether

Keep material out of the stormwater conveyance system (curbs, gutters, sidewalks, streets, drains, culverts, and arroyos). Dispose of grass, leaves, yard waste, and construction debris properly No tapar el flujo pluvial a canales, alcantarillas y arroyos con basura. Disponga correctamente de basura vegetal (césped, ramas, y hojas) así como basura de construción.

Report illegal dumping in storm drains, culverts, or arroyos to UTEP EH&S. Reporte el veritdo illegal de residuosen los drenajes o arroyos al departamento EH&S en UTEP

or not you like school, that’s fine. Do what you love,” she said. “A transformational experience overall.” Now she continues to engage with students through the Miner Ambassador program, where she recruited 10 new individuals to the program. She hopes to assist students who were once like her, scared and unsure about new beginnings, to truly find themselves and gain experiences like she did with the Frederick Douglass fellowship. “She is one of the very kindest people I have ever come across,” Marybeth Gasman, professor of education at the University of Pennsylvania, said. “She is thoughtful, a leader, and has a beautiful heart that she shares with others.” Follow Adrian Broaddus on Twitter @adrian_broaddus

Leave natural vegetation in place where possible to prevent erosion. Si es possible, deje crecer a vegetación en forma natural para evitar la erosion.

Properly dispose of hazardous wastes, pesticides, and fertilizers. Call UTEP EH&S to schedule waste pickups. Deseche correctamente los residuos peligrosos, pesticdas, y fertilizantes. Llama al departamento EH&S en UTEP y agendar fecha para recoger los desperdicios.

Recycle oil, antifreeze, and other vehicle fluids, or dispose of them properly to prevent the pollution of stormwater, groundwater and the Rio Grande. Recicle aceite, anti-congelate y lubricantes o disponga propiamente de ellos para prevenir contaminación de sistema de drenaje pluvial, mantos acuíferos y el Rio Bravo.

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PAGE 9 August 29, 2017

entertainment

Editor

Eddie Velazquez , 747-7477

Editors Picks: Top albums released during the summer of 2017 By leslie Sariñana

By adrian broaddus

The Prospector

Lorde - Melodrama

At the end of the summer, “Melodrama” is still one of the best releases we’ve had. Lorde truly delivers an album full of great songs that showcase her unique song writing ability. What the album achieves perfectly is translating the despairing loneliness that comes after a break up and the desperate attempts at escaping the sadness and reality that come with being left alone with heartbreak. This is all told through vibrant and fluorescent sounds, showing us melancholy under a different light. The production is great, not one song sounds like the previous one, but they all fit perfectly well to form one concept.

The War On Drugs - A Deeper Understanding This is the kind of album that transcends your soul. This is one of the most meticulous albums of the year by far. Front man Adam Granduciel does a tremendous job on the arrangements on this album and manages to weave it all together into one cohesive project. Most tracks on this album exceed the six-minute mark, but they never feel dragged out or elongated. Being able to create such lengthy tracks and not come off as tired is a great feat for “A Deeper Understanding.”

Kesha - Rainbow

After what seemed to be an endless court battle against her producer for sexual assault, Kesha was finally released from her recording contract with Sony and has returned to the music scene. “Rainbow” is truly her best work to date. This album shows a different, more ma-

By eddie velazquez

The Prospector

ture and stripped down Kesha. Her lead single “Prayer” is a powerful ballad that showcases her strong vocals. In this record she sheds herself of her old “Ke$ha” image as she truly comes off as a completely different artist.

Radiohead OK Computer OKNOTOK 1997 2017 For this review I will be looking at the rerelease of Radiohead’s “OK Computer.” The original tracks are not necessarily worth noting, but it’s interesting to see that even 20 years after its original release, the message behind the songs still resonate and fit into today’s environment. Although the new release only features three new songs, they really transform and enhance the album. This is one of Radiohead’s best works yet.

Fleet Foxes - Crack-Up It has been six years since Fleet Foxes’ last release and “Crack-Up” was certainly worth the wait. It’s easy to understand why the album took so long to complete. The layers and production was carefully thought out and put together. Fleet Foxes stretch beyond their folk genre and explore a variety of sounds in this record. It’s their instrumental versatility that makes this album stand out above other albums released this summer.

Tyler, the Creator Flower Boy

“Flower Boy” is one of the most compelling and earnest works of 26-year-old artist Tyler, the Creator, who wrote and produced these 14 tracks into a masterpiece in his discography. Contrary to the news about his being gay, this album is not a coming-out-ofthe-closet record. Rather, it is a musical journey that feels very defined and highlights Tyler’s talents as an artist. On “Flower Boy,” Tyler finds a balance between all his previous musical diversions and blends them into a wellarranged experience.

2 Chainz - Pretty Girls Like Trap Music

In the past, 2 Chainz has made some notable appearances in the hip-hop community, but none felt seriously sought after or truly exceptional. That is, until “Pretty Girls Like Trap Music.” This is 2 Chainz most serious album to date, contrary to the record’s tongue-in-cheek title. On this album, 2 Chainz is able to include verses containing more substance, utilizes powerful guest verses to highlight certain songs and sounds unlike any other 2 Chainz production.

SZA - Ctrl

Unapologetically honest; two words that perfectly describe SZA’s sophomore project, “Ctrl.” The album takes the listener into the mind of an insecure woman who is searching for love, talks about struggling with self-image, her former lover she still desires and more. The album is unfiltered and is unintentionally a young

The Prospector

adult female anthem for anyone in a relationship, who got out of a relationship or is seeking love.

Lil Uzi Vert - Luv Is Rage 2

On Aug. 25, Lil Uzi abruptly released “Luv Is Rage 2,” a sequel to his freshman album. And it might just be Uzi’s best work yet. The album, unlike his previous works, features more lyrics holding depth and truth about the artist. The first lyrics we hear from Uzi, “And I ain’t gon’ lie/I got money and the power,” but then switches to a darker tone, “Yeah, the famous life, it’ll eat you up alive/It’s a game and I put my feelings to the side.” He talks about fame, money, girls, being on top of the hip-hop game and a breakup theme around his exgirlfriend, Brittany Byrd.

Vince Staples - Big Fish Theory

Vince Staples has never been the type of artist to ever promote his album or go on record to talk about his music—at least until “Big Fish Theory,” his sophomore studio album. Leading up to the album, Staples talked highly about the album, saying it was something entirely different than anything he had done before and asked people to give it a shot. The album, unlike his past work, brings in early 1980s Egyptian electro funk west coast hip-hop influences and combines them with modern electronic production. With the list of producers featuring Flume, Bon Iver and GTA, the album has a unique twist unlike any rapper has done, and succeeded in.

Vince Staples - Big Fish Theory

While the instrumentation in some of these tracks can feel out of place and at times underwhelming, it is Staples’ ice-cold personality, brutal honesty, simplistic approach to music and smooth flow that push this album over the top. The album opener “Crabs in a Bucket” features an impressive machine gun-like flow from Staples, however, the spacey feel and the female vocals don’t do a lot to complement the themes of racial tension in the lyrics and Staples’ rapid-fire delivery.

Jay-Z - 4:44

After a four-year hiatus, rapper and entertainment tycoon Jay-Z is back with one of his most personal albums to date. “4:44” marries amazing performances from the Brooklyn native with cerebral songwriting and simplistic, yet funky production. “Kill Jay-Z,” “4:44” and “The Story of OJ” are some of the most well-written tracks in the genre in 2017. “4:44” strengthens one of the most fascinating subplots found in the album; the rapper’s troubled marriage with pop icon Beyonce.

Toro y Moi - Boo Boo

From the beginning of this record, producer, singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Chaz Bear opens with the premise of wanting “everybody to have a good time.” Citing Frank Ocean, Daft Punk and Travis Scott, this LP is a departure from Bear’s more indie rock sound featured in his previous full-length effort “What For?” However, that isn’t necessarily bad, as the

sticky, poppy melodies found in this album show a mature Bear coming into his own. This is also exemplified by the pragmatic songwriting that reveals more about Bear’s life than any of his previous releases.

Radiohead OK Computer OKNOTOK 1997 2017

Twenty years later and this is still a flagship record in the history of alternative rock, and most definitely the golden standard for art rock albums Perhaps one of the most important elements to this album is the timeless element to its tone and prophetic songwriting. “Paranoid Android” and “Subterranean Homesick Alien” are contemplative and introspective tracks that depict a nihilistic view of capitalism and the narcissistic qualities of modern society. The reissue features three new songs: “I Promise,” “Man of War” and “Lift.” “Man of War” and “Lift” manage to peel off the B-side label.

The War on Drugs - A Deeper Understanding

Perhaps the biggest surprise of the summer, Adam Granduciel’s indie rock project The War on Drugs has sneakily solidified as one of the most emotionally powerful proponents of the genre with this album. Throughout the course of the 10 lengthy tracks, Granduciel talks about a new love, holding on to painful feelings and the link between space and memories. All while delivering some beautiful sonic passages that feel spacey and melodic thanks to some great production and some powerful piano tunes.

THEPROSPECTOR

| 10 | ENTERTAINMENT

AuguSt 29, 2017

The best 6 apps to kill time in between classes By leslie sariñana The Prospector UTEP students are different than the typical college student. If you attend UTEP, chances are that you’re a commuter. Driving to school every day has its perks and its drawbacks, but one of the biggest drawbacks is having a lot of free time in between classes. Even if your breaks span for three or more

Overcast

hours, it seems pointless to drive back home and return for your next class so you just stay on campus. There are plenty of places to go spend your break, the library and Union East are among the most popular places to hang out in. Realistically you’ll spend your break glued to your phone. Instead of spending your time by checking all the social media platforms try using different apps. There are hundreds of thousands of apps available to keep you entertained. Here are some of the best ones to try out to pass the time.

Spendee

There’s no better way to pass the time than to listen to a podcast. The great thing about the Apple podcast app is the wide variety of podcasts it has. You can pick and choose what you want to listen to.

While you’re sitting around with nothing to do, download “Spendee” and get your finances in order. “Spendee” helps you budget and track all of your spending. Taking the time to use the app could save you money.

Paperama

Headspace

“Paperama” is not your typical mobile game. This is an app that takes you step by step in creating origami. As you move up in levels, the folds get harder. This is a great puzzle game to keep

you busy and focused.

This app provides meditation for about 10 minutes at a time. Take this time to unwind and clear your head. Classes can be stressful and meditation reduces stress and promotes subtle improvements in focus.

Watchup

Mindsnacks

While Apple News personalizes your news feed to an extent, “Watchup” is very specific to your liking. This is especially great for android users who don’t have a news app. The world can be a shitty place, so only read what you like.

“Mindsnacks” is a series of apps designed to make learning easy and fun through games. This is the funniest way you can learn another language. It simplifies vocabulary and grammar with interactive graphics and games. “Mindsnacks” is available for learning French, Spanish, Mandarin, German, Chinese and Japanese.

THEPROSPECTOR August 29, 2017

ENTERTAINMENT | 11 |

our view

Shaila Dúrcal rinde homenaje a Juan Gabriel en su primer aniversario funebre

gaby velasquez/ The Prospector Shaila Dúrcal, hija de la famosa cantante Rocío Dúrcal, se presento con la Sinfonica Juvenil Ciudad Juárez con mariachis el sábado agosto 26 en la Plaza Theatre. El evento fue un homenaje a Juan Gabriel, quien murió en agosto 28 del año pasado. Dúrcal empezó el evento con canciones de su mamá como “Ya te Olvidé” y “Como tu Mujer,” quien también cantaba con Juan Gabriel y canciones compuestas por el Divo de Juárez. La Sinfonica Juvenil Ciudad Juárez es formada por musicos locales y esta bajo la dirección de Guillermo Quezada, egresado de UTEP.

THEPROSPECTOR

| 12 | ENTERTAINMENT

August 29, 2017

Top 3 movies to watch about college By elaine gonzalez The Prospector

1 Animal House This iconic 1978 film starring notable names such as John Belushi, Kevin Bacon and Donald Sutherland is a classic, and has been paid homage to for years now. Like many students entering college and trying to find their place, a couple of friends decide to join a fraternity. Little did they know that they were in for a wild ride. Can they survive daily drinking binges while they try to keep up their grades? This film features the ultimate college frat party scene and the infamous toga party that is still imitated today.

2 Back to School Next on the list is a less popular, yet still funny ‘80s comedy starring Rodney Dangerfield as father and wealthy business man Melon. “Back to School” is a film about a father who is determined to help his struggling son Jason navigate through his college years. Melon decides to enroll in the same university to show his son that if he can survive college, Jason can too. As Melon becomes the big man on campus, Jason’s confidence begins to grow. Soon, events begin to escalate and Melon is almost kicked out, but with the help of his son he’s reminded about why he started this journey in the first place. One of the last scenes of this film is the most notable and amusing as Melon proves that he has more than just brains. Make sure to catch this flick and look out for the other famous face of a very young Robert Downey Jr.

3 Dead Man on Campus “Dead Man on Campus” is another mustsee college film. This dark comedy, starring Mark-Paul Gosselaar and Tom Everett Scott, is yet another film about two roommates, Cooper and Josh, choosing to live the party life instead of focusing on their academics. After realizing that they are failing their classes and are close to flunking out, they decide to take matters into their own hands. The duo manage to find an outrageous academic rule, which states that if your roommate dies by suicide, the other roommates will receive A’s for that semester. Cooper and Josh search for a roommate who is likely to commit this task. After a few failed attempts, the two decide to give up on their mission.

UTEP set to celebrate the 27th annual Minerpalooza without the football team By Brianna Chavez The Prospector

File photo/ The Prospector Minerpalooza is set to kick off the Fall 2017 semester on Sept. 1 in front of the Sun Bowl.

UTEP’s annual Minerpalooza will kick off the fall 2017 semester on Friday, Sept. 1 at 6 p.m. in the Glory Road parking lot 2 in front of the Sun Bowl. The event is marking its 27th year and will be filled with games, food, live music and a pep rally featuring the UTEP athletic teams, coaches, cheer and dance teams, and of course Paydirt Pete. This year, attendees can enjoy family friendly games and inflatables at Pete’s Playground, an area dedicated for children. The event will also feature a beer and wine garden for people in attendance to have a drink.

There will also be several food vendors and trucks for attendees to choose from, including chain restaurants such as Famous Dave’s BBQ, Papa John’s Pizza , as well as local eateries such as Off the Grill and the burgers and tacos joint Clasico Kitchen Bar. Minerpalooza will also feature live performances from pop rock band We the Kings, the multicultural folk group Jenny and the Mexicats and local band Prime 80’Z, who will kick off the performances and take the stage at 7:30 p.m. Jenny and the Mexicats infuse different types of music genres such as folk, rockabilly and cumbia into one. The band’s sound is closely related to artists such as Natalia Lafourcade, Xi-

mena Sariñana and Playa Limbo. Their performance is set to start at 8:45 p.m. Headliners We the Kings are best known for their hit single “Check Yes, Juliet,” which went platinum in 2007, and “Sad Song,” which has over 51 million plays on Spotify. They will round out the performances at 10 p.m. Admission is free and the event is open to the public. Free parking will also be available throughout campus. Follow Brianna Chavez on Twitter @bri_chavez

PAGE 13 AuguSt 29, 2017

Sports

EDIToR

JEREMY CARRANCO, 747-7477

UTEP prepares for #7 oklahoma Kaepernick remains unsigned, but why? By eDDie velazquez

least three passing touchdowns and

From his multiple political, civil and racial inequality demonstrations that caused major national media attention, to an up-and-down season as a starting quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers; current free agent quarterback Colin Kaepernick endured a heavily scrutinized second half of the year in 2016.

Potential Landing Spots

The Prospector

Contributions

gaby velaSquez / the ProSPeCtor Head football coach Sean kugler enters his fifth season at the helm of the Miners.

By aDrian BroaDDus The Prospector

Five years ago, the Miners were 30-point underdogs against the No. 4 Oklahoma Sooners, whom would host their season opener, and they were inexperienced, under head coach Mike Price, who was on the hot seat. Despite the early neck-and-neck start, the Miners did not have enough grit to stay with the Sooners and fell 24-7. This year the Sooners, who play host to the Miners for the opening game on Sept. 2, are coming in as a near 45-point favorite over UTEP. Similarly to 2012, the Miners are still searching for an identity on offense after losing standout running back Aaron Jones to the NFL. Added to that, the Miners will bring 26 newcomers to the team, who have not stepped on the field as a Miner. “I want to see my team compete and win the one-on-one battles,” head coach Sean Kugler said during his weekly press conference. “If we win one-onone battles, that can help us keep it close. We have to keep mistakes at a minimum. Miners can’t beat Miners.” Quarterback Ryan Metz has taken the reigns for the offense and this Saturday will be his first big test against a top team. He’s coming off a promising 2016 season, in which he earned the starting job after seven starts. Metz completed 64.7 percent of his passes and threw 14 touchdowns. Kugler is very hopeful about Metz as he has been the starter since spring ball. “Ryan is a product of the program,” Kugler said. “It was my fault; he shouldn’t have been out on the field so early. He shows maturity. Shows maturity in the pocket. The most important thing with Ryan is that he gained the trust of his teammates. You can’t help but like Ryan Metz.” Throughout the summer, Metz has found his favorite receivers and even new targets emerged throughout the summer. He was notorious for slinging to receivers such as Warren Redix, Eddie Sinegal and Terry Juniel. Metz has seen tight ends emerge through the summer, such as David Lucero, who saw a lot of action on the field this off-season, Josh Weeks, a transfer from BYU, and Sterling Napier. Emerging through the receiving core, up and coming players such as Alan Busey, a Chabot Junior College transfer, Kavika Johnson, who changed from quarterback to receiver in the off season, and Keynan Foster, an elusive slot receiver.

“This is the best receiving group I’ve been around,” Kugler said. “Warren Redix took a big jump in training camp. He was consistent at every aspect. He’s a quiet leader.” Converting from receiver to running back, sophomore Walter Dawn Jr. is listed as the No. 1 running back on the depth chart. Behind Dawn Jr. is six other running backs listed on the depth chart. Dawn Jr. will contribute with quick handoffs and will probably be tasked to catch out of the backfield. Other names on the running back chart include TK Powell, who is returning to the field after missing a year due to an injury all of last season. Kevin Dove, a hefty back who saw a lot of action last year, will also be taking carries for the offense. Newcomers Joshua Fields and Ronald Awatt will also likely see action on the field this season. Quadraiz Wadley, who was anticipated to fill the role of the starting running back, has been currently battling a lengthy injury. Although it was announced he would be out for the year, now Wadley might return to the gridiron as early as October.

i think defensively we’re going to see a big jump when this season is all said and done. - Sean Kugler UTEP football head coach “(The running backs playing) will be pretty balanced,” Kugler said. “You’re hoping one has a break out game, but you’ll see all (Dawn, Powell, Dove, Awatt and Fields) out there.” Defensively, Kugler has seen great strides made by the team. He believes that the team has gained the experience they needed, transitioning from a 3-5-3 to a 3-4 last year, and will truly rectify the scheme this year.

“I think defensively we’re going to see a big jump when this season is all said and done,” Kugler said. “(Defensive coordinator Tom) Mason is predicated on blitzing. We didn’t have the help to do that last year. I think we’ll have one of the better secondaries in the conference.” Some of the key returners to the defense include senior linebacker Alvin Jones, who leads the Miners with 241 career tackles and 10.5 sacks, linebacker Dante Lovilotte, who stormed onto the team with 89 tackles last season, defensive back Devin Cockrell, who ranked fourth on the team last year with 58 tackles.

Scouting Oklahoma

The seventh-ranked Sooners will debut newly named head coach Lincoln Riley, who took over the position of Bob Stoops, who retired during the off-season. At 33 years old, Riley is the youngest FBS head coach. He was the Sooners’ offensive coordinator last season and lifted the team to the No. 3 and No. 4 scoring offenses in 2016 and 2015, respectively. Currently, the Sooners are coming off the longest win streak in college football, having won 10 in a row. They are 3-0 all-time against the Miners. Unlike a fairly new UTEP team, Oklahoma returns 16 players, each whom has started at least six games last year. Leading the team is quarterback Baker Mayfield—a Heisman Trophy finalist hopeful. Mayfield threw for 3,965 passing yards last year and broke the record for passing efficiency (196.39). “They’re led by one of the best quarterbacks in the nation,” Kugler said. “I feel they have the best offensive line in the country. They’re a very experienced offensive line, which is a sign of success.” The other thing Kugler is concerned about is how humid and hot the game will be. The Weather Channel has the forecast temperature to be 85 degrees with 60 percent humidity. “We will have to rotate players in and out and keep them fresh,” Kugler said. Follow adrian Broaddus on twitter @adrian_broaddus.

Before a preseason game against the Green Bay Packers, Kaepernick started kneeling down during the national anthem because of the racial tension and inequalities he felt were still latent in country. Kaepernick did not stop there; he also wore a Fidel Castro t-shirt before the game at Miami celebrating the late Cuban dictator. Kaepernick also donated $700,000 to foundations and charities such as American Friends Service Committee, Assata’s Daughters, Grassroots Leadership, and Helping Oppressed Mothers Endure. As part of the Turkish Airlines Help Somalia movement, the quarterback donated 60 tons of food and water to the country that is experiencing a historic famine.

2016 season on the field

Kaepernick had the misfortune to be the captain of an already sinking ship in the 49ers offense. While then head coach Chip Kelly was supposed to be a great fit for Kaepernick’s dual-threat style of play, the supporting cast was a stillborn operation. For starters, Kaepernick’s top wide receiver and former Jets outcast Jeremy Kerley only recorded 667 yards and three touchdowns failing to get good separation in tight coverage. The offensive line was inept at best, ranking 28th on Pro Football Focus’ analysis of all 32 lines in the league. The line’s inability to keep a quarterback, who is known for his scrambling, skills resulted in 47 total sacks, which ranked third in the league for most allowed sacks according to ESPN. The defense did not help Kaepernick in any way either. The unit ranked 25th in the league in turnover differential with -5. They only had 20 takeaways, while turning the ball over 20 times. For context, the two teams ranked above the 49ers in turnover differential were the notoriously bad Indianapolis Colts’ defense and the historically bad New Orleans Saints’ defense. Despite playing with a team mostly comprised of ham-and-eggers, Kaepernick had a good touchdown to interception ratio, recording 16 passing touchdowns, two rushing and only four interceptions. His worst game came in the snow at Chicago, where he had a dreadful game and went No. 1-5 in pass attempts. He also joined Michael Vick, Cam Newton, Randall Cunningham and Marcus Mariota as the only quarterbacks in NFL history to record at

100 yards rushing in a game.

Jacksonville Jaguars:

In the last week, Jaguars owner Shahid Khan told a local radio show that he was open to signing the University of Nevada product as long as his coaching staff and personnel evaluators were satisfied with the move. Their quarterback room is underwhelming, with first-round bust Blake Bortles inheriting the starting gig basically because of his status as a high draft pick.

Indianapolis Colts:

The Colts are set at quarterback with promising QB Andrew Luck. However, Luck is coming off shoulder surgery, trying to fix an injury he had been dragging since 2015. Luck is not a guarantee to start the season and the guys behind him on the depth chart do not move the needle. Scott Tolzien, a former Packers castoff, would take the reigns of the offense if Luck were to miss any time during the season.

Baltimore Ravens:

Starting quarterback Joe Flacco suffered a back injury earlier in the summer rendering him unable to practice or play during the preseason. He still does not have a timetable to return and the other option for Baltimore is journeyman Ryan Mallett. Mallett has failed to stick with a team after bouncing around four different teams. Head coach John Harbaugh’s brother Jim coached Kaepernick during a Super Bowl run, where the 49ers lost to the Ravens in 2013. John has said he has talked to Kaepernick and would be open to signing him. However, it seems to be owner Steve Bisciotti who is not keen on signing him. Kaepernick’s daring actions have impacted the centuries-old uphill climb people of color have faced in the history of this country just to reach a level of parity. The effects of his actions are still causing ripples in zeitgeist. At Sunday’s Video Music Awards (VMA) rapper Cardi B said, “Colin Kaepernick, as long as you kneel with us, we’re gonna be standing for you,” in reference to the quarterback’s pre-game antics. On the field, safety Malcolm Jenkins, defensive ends Chris Long and Michael Bennet and a group of 12 Cleveland Browns players including tight end Seth DeValve all had specific demonstrations in support of civil liberties, following in the footsteps of Kaepernick. Sports analyst and former NFL player Shannon Sharpe has been at the forefront of advocating for Kaepernick and the movement that he seemingly started in the NFL. He has been emphasizing the importance of white athletes such as Long and DeValve speaking out and supporting the cause. In DeValve’s case, he has been open about his mixed race marriage, explaining that he wants his child—who is not going to look like him—to live in a peaceful world with equal opportunities for all. Follow eddie velazquez on twitter @ezvelazquez.

THEPROSPECTOR

| 14 | SPORTS

August 29, 2017

Top UTEP freshmen to watch this year And in UTEP’s first regular season game against Montana, Yost has the secondmost kills with nine, led the team in percentage (.615) and was second on the team with 10.5 points.

Smith is a member of the 1,000-point club in varsity ball, as he cashed in 1,003 career points. Smith will be a huge part in what the Miners hope to accomplish this season, and will give them a much-needed depth that UTEP did not have last year.

As a star of Buffalo High School outside of Dallas, Jordan Jenkins hopes to continue her winning streaks in El Paso. Jenkins has been on UTEP’s new women’s basketball coach Kevin Baker’s radar since she was in 7th grade. And it’s really no surprise either. Jenkins played all four years at the varsity level, making her mark with Buffalo High. During her time there, Jenkins was named the District MVP three years, won Defensive Player of the Year and was a two-time All-Star at TABC, All State and All Region. Her team was just two points away from being state champions. In high school, Jenkins scored more than 1,800 points, averaged 20 points per game, seven assists and six rebounds, as well as connecting on 60 percent from the floor.

Joshua Fields (Running back, football)

Jordan Jenkins (Guard, women’s basketball)

File Photos / The Prospector Three-star guard Evan Gilard (left) will make his freshman debut this fall. Mallory Yost (middle) will see action on the court for the women’s volleyball squad. Vic Bohdan (right) has already been making an impact for the soccer team at forward.

By Mike flores The Prospector With a new athletics season come new athletes. Here are a the six UTEP athletes people should keep an eye on:

Evan Gilyard (Guard, men’s basketball)

Floyd used his Chicago connections again to sign Evan Gilyard—who went to the legendary school of Simeon Career Academy. It appears that Gilyard is going to be a starter in his first year with the Miners since the team lost Dominic Artis last season. Gilyard is not afraid of any big moments and players bigger than his 5-foot-9 frame. His senior season, he averaged 17 points per game with six assists while leading his team to a 29-4 record. Throughout the course of Gilyard’s high school career, he led his team to a 125-11 record. Gilyard was named first team All-State and first team All-City, receiving a threestar rating out of high school. He won MVP of the Pontiac Holiday Christmas Tournament, as well as the Penny Hard-

away National Hoop Fest in Dallas and Memphis.

Vic Bohdan (Forward, soccer)

In her three years at St. Francis High School in Canada, Vic Bohdan was a perfect 3-for-3 in division crowns and was selected to the All-District All Star game. Bohdan’s resume speaks for itself. As a member of the Napoli women’s team and former player of the Calgary Blizzards’ soccer club, Bohdan scored the most goals in her division. She guided her team to the provincials and nationals too, where they won bronze. Bohdan made her way to being ranked fifth nationally with Calgary. She was a three-time all-star from 2011-14 on the provincial team. In four games played for the Miners, Bohdan is second on the team, with one goal scored on two shot attempts (tied for second)—given that the Miners have only scored four goals so far this season.

Ariana Valles (Infield, softball)

From Chapin High School, Ariana Valles played all four years on varsity. In that time, she was named to the 2017 El Paso Times All-District 1-5A first team her senior year. Hitting is what makes her

standout; Valles hit .530 (62-117) with 58 RBI, 50 runs scored, 24 doubles, seven triples and three homers. In 2016, she hit a remarkable .700 on the year. Overall, Valles knocked out 17 home runs, 20 triples, 56 doubles, 196 RBIs and scored 170 times. She led the Huskies to a 33-7 (14-0 in district) overall record and then continued in the playoffs as Chapin made it to the final four. She’s a big step in what the Miners need if they want to improve the softball program.

Mallory Yost (Middle blocker, volleyball)

The 6-foot-1 middle blocker lettered all four years at Gretna High School, where she totaled 816 kills at .377 hitting rate, added in 182 digs, 151 blocks and 11 assists. Yost was a two-sport athlete in high school, juggling between volleyball, basketball and academics. During her senior year, she helped lead her team to a 30-4 record (9-1 in district). Yost ranked as the eighth prospect in Nebraska. In her first action with the Miners, Yost has had 10 kills with 14 points in their 4-1 victory over Western New Mexico.

Tirus Smith (Forward, men’s basketball)

Miner fans will be thankful once they see the 6-foot-9, 250-pound forward step out and do his thing on the hardwood come October. Miner fans will also be grateful that Smith decided to ditch his first and hometown commitment to Ole Miss to come and join UTEP. In high school, Smith was undoubtedly one of the best prospects that Mississippi had to offer. He was named to “The Clarion-Ledger’s Dandy Dozen”—a list that recognizes the 12 best players in the state of Mississippi. During Smith’s senior outing, he recorded 10 double-doubles and showed that he could score in multiple ways, as he shot 51 percent from the field and 32 percent from beyond the three-point line. Smith received District 6A honors for pouring in 14.2 points, 9.5 rebounds and two blocks per contest.

After losing the all-time leading rusher in UTEP’s history, Aaron Jones, UTEP head coach Sean Kugler went local to try and fill the void with freshman sensation Joshua Fields. Kugler snatched Fields, who was recognized as District 1-6A AllDistrict football offensive MVP, as well as El Paso Times offensive MVP from Americas High school. Fields played three years on the varsity level in high school and rushed over 1,000 yards for each of those seasons. The freshman ranked second in El Paso and seventh in the state of Texas with 2,447 rushing yards on 329 carries (7.5 average) his senior season. He also scored an eyeopening 26 times, leading city wide. Fields finished his Trailblazer career with 5,151 rushing yards on 820 total carries (6.3 average) and scored 50 times. With the running back position up for grabs, Fields has the chance to win it with time. He would have a great line to run behind. Fields left behind offers from Air Force, Louisiana-Monroe and New Mexico. He has gotten a three-star prospect coming out of Americas and it’s no wonder Kugler called him an “Aaron Jonestype of talent” when he announced Fields made his decision to stay in the Sun City. Follow Mike Flores on Twitter @MikeyTheReal.

inbrief soccer loses four consecutive ot’s

hunt for 1st place and playoffs

volleyball opens play against tech

cross country set for new mexico

THEPROSPECTOR

SPORTS | 15 |

August 29, 2017

Volleyball opens home schedule against Texas Tech By jeremy carranco The Prospector

The UTEP volleyball team is set to open the home portion of their season against Texas Tech on Wednesday, Aug. 30. The Miners (0-2) will try to come back from their losses with sophomores Macey Austin and Briana Arellano and junior Kylie Baumgartner and senior Amanda King highlighting the rest of the roster. After their originally scheduled tournament was canceled in San Antonio due to Hurricane Harvey, UTEP athletics announced that the Miners would join the North Texas Invitational, featuring Montana, Tulsa and host North Texas in place of the I-10 Cardinals Classic. In the first game, the Miners battled with Montana. UTEP started the game strong, winning the first set, but could not fend off Montana’s rally in the second set that eventually led to a 3-1 Grizzlies win. Arellano hammered down 10 kills with six digs and a block. Freshman Mallory Yost compiled nine kills of her own out of 13 attempts, while King dished out 27 assists to go with four kills in the loss. In the second and final game of the tournament on Saturday morning, the Miners collided with former WAC and C-USA rival, Tulsa. The Golden Hurricane shut out the Miners 3-0. UTEP yet again slowed down their play after a close first set loss (25-23), and Tulsa cruised in both the second (25-15) and third (25-19) sets to earn the shutout.

Arellano hammered down three kills and King dished out 18 assists with five digs. Freshman Cheyenne Jones led the Miners’ offensive efforts with nine total kills and Austin added six of her own in the match. Austin earned a team-high 280 kills last season as a freshman and was named to the 2016 ConferenceUSA All-Freshman team. Arellano, who is a former Canutillo High School player, is both a strong outside hitter and defensive player. She recorded 220 digs last season. Baumgartner led the team in blocks with 111 and King led the team in assists with 371. King will be the Miners’ pulse this year as the lead setter and team captain. “Amanda is our team captain and senior setter, so she is going to be out there a lot,” said head coach Holly Watts. “Sahara Martinez is our other setter and that’s an option we can use, but Amanda is our go to right now as far as leading the team and taking charge on the court. She brings a ton of leadership, personality, drive and all those things you need from the leader.” While the Miners have a leader in King, freshmen Jones and Yost have added a refreshing feel to the team. In the Miners’ exhibition win against Western New Mexico (Aug. 19) and recent tournament in Denton, the two young players have filled the stat sheet. The two shined the last time the Miners played in Memorial Gym. Jones led the team in kills (13) and points (16). Yost followed Jones with

10 kills and 14 points in the exhibition win over Western New Mexico. “I’m really looking forward to getting to know all these girls better and getting to play with them,” Jones said. “I’m excited to maybe get UTEP to a higher ranking, to get into the conference tournament and win it because we have never done that before and I just have really high hopes for this year.” Looking at last season, UTEP struggled, going just 9-22 overall and 5-9 in Conference-USA play, while ending 2016 on a three-game skid. The Miners dropped their final regular season game in straight sets on the road to Marshall, lost to eventual champion Western Kentucky in the quarterfinals of the Conference-USA tournament in straight sets, and then dropped their final match of the year to Battle of I-10 rival New Mexico State in five sets. UTEP is using the pains of last year as motivation to improve their game in 2017. One positive note the Miners can take away from last season is winning three of their final four conferences matches to claim the last spot in the Conference-USA tournament. Only the top eight of 12 teams that compete every season make the conference tournament, and the Miners were the eighth team. “Last year was my first year with UTEP, and while we did make it to the conference, we placed last, so this year our goal is to place higher in the conference tournament,” King said. “It’s pushing me (referring to

Nina titovets / The Prospector The UTEP Volleyball team will play at home for the first time in 2017 against Texas Tech. last year) because I know we didn’t really have any support last year, no one thought we could do it, no one thought we could make it and we did (conference tournament). We didn’t really end the way we wanted to, but to see we did actually make it so it shows hope for this year.” Texas Tech (1-0) also had their opening tournament in Houston (Barcelona HBU Classic) canceled due to the hurricane. The Red Raiders were able to pit a matchup in Denton just like the Miners, but were not a part of the invitational. Tech played a single game Saturday, Aug. 26, against host North Texas.

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Emily Hill led the Red Raiders to a three-sets to one victory against the Mean Green with 17 kills, 11 digs and four blocks. Following the matchup with Texas Tech, UTEP will host the Glory Road Invitational on Sept. 1-2. The Invitational matchups for the Miners will be I-25 rival New Mexico on Friday, Sept. 1, then Youngstown State and North Dakota on Saturday, Sept. 2. The Miners open ConferenceUSA on Sept. 22 against Rice at Memorial Gym. Follow Jeremy Carranco on Twitter @J_Carranco22