V OL . 1 0 4 , n o . 1 0 October 30, 2018
th e u n iversit y o f te x as at el paso w w w.t h epros pec to rda i ly.co m
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OPINION
October 30, 2018 Web Editor ADRIAN BROADDUS, 747-7446
Blackface is absolutely wrong Voting numbers grow in El Paso might need to be addressed.
By Catherine ramirez
Plain and simple, do not darken or
The Prospector With Halloween coming up it is important to remember that dressing in blackface is never OK and that includes Halloween costumes; talk show host Megyn Kelly learned the hard way. The “Megyn Kelly Today” show was canceled after the host, Megyn Kelly, made some racist remarks defending blackface as “OK” for Halloween costumes. On Tuesday, Oct. 23, Kelly took place in a roundtable discussion about “how the costume police are cracking down on Halloween costumes”, and one of those “crackdowns” was dressing in blackface. “What is racist?” Kelly asked. “You do get in trouble if you are a white person who puts on blackface on Halloween, or a black person who puts on whiteface for Halloween. Back when I was a kid, that was O.K., as long as you were dressing up as a character.” Kelly was born in 1970 and looking back it doesn’t seem like blackface was ever recommended for costumes when she was a kid. Let’s just say it was fine to dress in blackface in the 70’s. That was then, but times are different now. Today racism is still a sensitive topic and society is done with racists, so Kelly’s justification for defending blackface today is irrelevant and makes for a foolish comment. The subject matter is necessary with Halloween a day away because many on social media are advising their followers to not dress in black or brown face, which many people would think is an obvious tip but following Kelly’s comments, the issue
change your skin to portray another race for a Halloween costume, you are asking for dirty looks and comments. People are also on the issue of dressing as someone whose race is different than yours for Halloween. Certain costumes have crossed the line by using someone’s culture for dress up and almost all are sexualized. Although it might not seem like a big deal to dress as a Gypsy or indigenous people, the costumes for sale represent false stereotypes of other lifestyles. If you think dressing as a stereotype isn’t offensive there are Mexican costumes for sale that depict Mexicans as alcoholics dressed in ponchos and sombreros; sounds offensive doesn’t it? Now, if a kid wants to dress as their favorite characters like Miguel from Coco, Mulan, Aladdin or even Moana and Maui, let them. They’re kids and all they want is to be their favorite character for a day—they’re not trying to be offensive. For the adults, you know the rules, so play by them, don’t be ignorant and do something that might affect your job status like Kelly. There are plenty of costumes out there that will not offend others so be creative. Catherine Ramirez may be reached at theprospector1@ gmail.com.
STAFF V O L . 1 0 4 , n o . 1 0 Web Editor: Adrian Broaddus Layout Editor: Christian Gutierrez Copy Editor: Javier Cor tez Sports Editor: Daniel “Curly” Mendez Entertainment Editor: Jake Deven Photo Editor: Gabriela Velasquez Multimedia Editor: Claudia “Gigi” Flores Staff Reporters: Brianna Chavez, Isaiah Ramirez, Andrea Valdez Photographers: Claudia Hernandez, Sergio Muñoz Contributors: Catherine Ramirez, Priscilla Gomez, Oscar Avila, Eddie Velazquez
Account Executive: Kenneth Bell Senior Designer: Itzel Lara Garcia Graphic Designer Salma Lozoya Videographer: Daniel “Curly” Mendez Advertising Coordinator: Malia Greene Administrative Secretary: Marcela Luna Accounting Specialist: Isabel Castillo Director: Veronica Gonzalez
By Adrian broaddus The Prospector On Saturday, El Paso County broke the entire 2014 voter turnout with 3,766 early votes cast, bringing the total past 82,650. With almost a week left of early voting and Election Day still to come, El Paso has shattered previous numbers for early voting and continues to rise in numbers of ballots cast. What a relief. Historically, El Paso struggles when it comes to registering voters and having voters actually come out and vote. Before this year, the city had just one day for early voting as a little over 7,000 people turned out for a midterm election. Last week for five straight days, El Paso had over 10,000 voters each day for early voting, according to EP County Elections. Out of the 457,151 registered voters in the county, 83,300 have cast a ballot as of Sunday, which is about 19 percent of registered voters. And with just a handful of days left in the early voting period, it’s important to revisit the idea to simply go out and vote. We can talk on and on about how it means something for us as Americans to vote. We can speak about the first amendment ad nauseum or reap about the benefits of our freedom, but the bottom line is that if you don’t vote, it actually hurts more than the idea of abstaining from voting. Take college students for example. Should the age group from 18-25 decide to vote, it could out-populate the voters in the 60 and up category, which always has the biggest turnouts. Is it too radical of an idea to think that college students or millennials
over 18 can literally change the scope of our country by voting? Not at all. Millennials always get jabbed on simply not voting. They wear stereotypes on their backs such as being lazy, giving off an indecisive approach and wanted everything handed to them. For millennials, this is the election to prove everyone wrong. For El Paso millennials specifically, it’s a chance for their voice to be heard. It could have been argued that by Thursday or Friday of last week, voters in El Paso would have ceased in numbers and the voter turnout would have hit a lull. Even at UTEP, where polls were set up in the Union East building, it could have been a lower voting turnout. But when the polls on campus opened its doors Thursday, it came as a huge surprise to some. There were hundreds of voters waiting in line at UTEP. Some said it took about an hour and a half to finally cast a vote. Most didn’t care about the wait, though, they just wanted their voice to be heard. We have just a handful of days left of the early voting period in Texas. It’s time to get up, spend some time out of your day and vote. No matter the party, no matter the views, voting is one of our most powerful rights given to us as citizens. For information on voting or polling locations, visit www.epcountyvotes.com. Adrian Broaddus may be reached at theprospector1@gmail.com.
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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 necessarily those of the university.
THEPROSPECTOR
October 30, 2018
NEWS | 3 |
UTEP professor highlights the struggles of being a student parent By brianna chavez The Prospector
It’s no secret that student parents are more likely disadvantaged when it comes to earning their degree on time, but for the first time ever, a research paper co-authored by a UTEP professor proves why they are at risk. Associate professor of early childhood education, Alyse Hachey, PhD., co-authored the study titled “No Time for College? An Investigation of Time Poverty and Parenthood” with two of her former colleagues at the Borough of Manhattan Community College at the City University of New York (CUNY). The study is part of a four-year research grant from the National Science Foundation. The study analyzed surveys, empirical and institutional research data from the CUNY system showing that student parents with children under the age of six have a lower quantity and quality of time for school than their classmates with older or no children. “It’s a given parents don’t have a lot of time to devote to their studies because they have kids, but it’s surprising that nobody actually crunched the numbers to say that before,” Dr. Hachey said. Hachey and her colleagues began investigating online retention rates for science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) courses but they began to notice the issue of
time poverty and parenthood. “Parenthood became a significant factor that we noticed, just in the raw data, that was impeding people from getting their degree on time,” Hachey said. The study analyzes the quantity of time student parents have, the time they have to study and the quality of time they have, the time they are able to dedicate into studying without being interrupted. Despite other possible factors that could play a role in a student parent being at risk such as race, gender, income, and age, the study found that the main issue is a lack of childcare. Parenthood, childcare and time poverty are topics that former UTEP student Cat Holguin understands. Holguin became a parent at the age of 18. Taking care of her son while maintaining a 3.7 G.P.A. at UTEP was not easy. “I think the biggest challenges I had were finding someone to take care of him while I was at school or studying,” Holguin said. “I really just had to have my priorities in line because (other students were) able to just come and go as they please, but I always had to put (my son) first before anything,” the mother of one added.
see early childhood on page 6
Special to The Prospector Cat Holguin is one of many parents that juggled classwork and their children.
| 4 | NEWS
THEPROSPECTOR
October 30, 2018
Milliken named new UT System chancellor By andrea valdez-rivas The Prospector
The University of Texas Board of Regents appointed James B. Milliken as the new chancellor of the UT System in late August, and on Oct. 25, Milliken paid a visit to UTEP. On Sept. 17, Milliken took charge of Texas’s most renowned public university system, which holds fourteen colleges and institutions and educates over 235,000 students. Milliken has an impressive record—thirty years of experience— working in public higher education following his appointment. As former senior administrator in the University of North Carolina, president of the University of Nebraska and chancellor of the City University of New York (CUNY), Milliken is optimistic that he can handle the University of Texas System and has ideas in place for the advancement of this system. “I saw a great deal of opportunity and optimism and competence in Texas,” the new chancellor said. “There’s no question that we need more higher education in this country. Especially public higher education, which educates 70 percent of the people
in the country with college degrees. We need to offer more opportunity to more people and I think people in Texas get this. This state is going to almost double in population over the next thirty years, and we’re going to need many more educated people in the state of Texas.” The distribution of opportunity is something that Milliken feels strongly about. To him, opportunities should not just be consistent with wealth. From his experience being at four different university systems, he’s taken away an important ideology. “Talent is distributed evenly without regard to demographic distinction, without regard to wealth, zip code, race, ethnicity, gender. But opportunity is not,” Milliken said. “Most opportunities to go to the best schools, to graduate on time, to launch great careers, are still correlated with wealth. And the difference maker is higher education. The way that we are able to capitalize on opportunity is with our public colleges and universities.” Milliken compares UTEP to CUNY, two great engines of social and economic mobility that have moved more students from the lowest quintile of wealth to the middle class
see chancellor on page 6
gaby velasquez / the prospector James B. Milliken was named the new UT System chancellor in late August. Milliken visited UTEP on Thursday, Oct. 25 and got a tour of campus from President Nataicio.
THEPROSPECTOR
October 30, 2018
NEWS | 5 |
QUESTION OF THE WEEK
What is the most important issue you vote on?
priscilla gomez, Sergio Muñoz/ The Prospector
Hira Ali
Reece Seeburg
Stephanie Morales
Andres Vasquez
Tama de la Fuente
“Health care has been one of the biggest topics in politics right now. When Obama Care came out it was the most successful accomplishments of that time and helped a lot of people and unfortunately, the top one percent did not see that.”
“A lot of issues are very important, but I would say the most important issue to vote on is probably criminal justice reform, LGBTQ support and the reproductive rights.”
“It’s important to vote for people who don’t take money from corporations. I do not want to feel like the people in power are bad so corporations are giving money to their campaign and the politicians are voting in favor of laws that benefit the corporation and not the people.”
“Currently gun control is a very important issue. Since the shootings seem to be escalating, there should be a regulation to be taken to account, even if people do not want to infringe upon the Second Amendment.”
“We have a lot of issues with the immigration thing. I think the children should be respected, not just the children but also the immigrants. These people need to be with their families and not be separated.”
Senior biology major
Sophomore theater major
Junior English major
Sophomore forensic science major
Senior history major
| 6 | NEWS
THEPROSPECTOR
October 30, 2018
EARLY CHILDHOOD from page 3
Holguin also said childcare for a student in college can get expensive. “It’s hard because you need someone to be able to take care of (your child) for long periods of time and late hours and not all childcare places are able to do that,” Holguin said. According to the U.S. Department of Education, more than 25 percent of college students in 2012 were parents; equalling 7.7 million students in total. While there were many challenges, Holguin was able to graduate in about three and a half years with a degree in Nursing and is now a registered nurse at Del Sol Medical Center here in El Paso. However, “No Time for College” proves that not all student parents are able to achieve the same outcome that Holguin did. On average, student parents typically have higher GPAs compared to their classmates with no children. Hachey said that while students who have high GPAs generally graduate on time and succeed in school, but their study shows that the notion of time poverty keeps student parents behind. According to the U.S. Department of Education, “52 percent of student parent’s
dropout within six years of enrolling, compared to 32 percent of non-parents.” Hachey believes that statistic is due to a lack of childcare student parents have. Many parents go to school or back to school to make more money for their family. Studies show a degree can increase one’s income by 68 percent. Parents also go to school to set a good example for the children, which is something Hachey finds a bit ironic. “Children are a big motivator in (parents) going back to school and yet it’s pretty much the main reason that because of a lack of good childcare that they have a lack of success.” As a mother of three-year-old twin boys, Hachey understands that taking care of children while working and going to school is difficult, which is why she hopes her study will help policymakers provide affordable childcare for student parents. “I’m an early childhood professor. If I can get student parents to graduate, I’m already helping their children,” Hachey said. Brianna may be reached at theprospector1@gmail.com.
chancellor from page 4 most other institutions in the country. Not only do institutions like these create individual opportunity, but they have an impact in the pursuit of higher education throughout generations. According to Milliken, once a firstgeneration college-goer graduate, it sets an expectation for future generations, who are encouraged to follow those strides. In this way, families are changed for generations as well as communities. This is what makes Milliken particularly excited about UTEP. But his vision for UTEP is not dissimilar to what he has in store for the rest of the UT System institutions. “Offer access on a broad scale,” Milliken said. “To provide an excellent education and to ensure that our students succeed. We have to do all of those things. Having broad affordable access is terrific, it’s essential and we also have to be doing everything we can to ensure that the students that we admit graduate.” During his time at CUNY, he helped increase graduation rates throughout the public university system through the development and implementation of a university-wide strategic plan known as Accelerated Study in Associate Programs (ASAP).
The program assisted CUNY students in earning associate degrees within three years by providing financial, academic, and personal supports such as career counseling, waivers for tuitions and fees, and even transportation passes for metro to facilitate their commutes. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, 53.6 percent of students who enter as freshmen earn a bachelor’s degree within six years in Texas. Milliken wants to ensure that students from all sides of the socioeconomic spectrum—who may, because of the circumstances, have different levels of preparation—are being offered opportunities. “The thing we can’t do as a public university that offers broad access is to say, ‘we’re only going to take students who are the best prepared’,” Milliken said. “What we can do at the university to help bridge that gap is to put in place the kinds of support structures that will ensure that our students succeed. The best private universities do this, they don’t allow their students to fail. And that’s one of the things we did at CUNY.” As Milliken began his first day on the job last month, the UT System looks to a brighter future ahead. Andrea Valdez-Rivas may be reached at theprospector1@gmail.com.
The Prospector is committed to accuracy. If you think we have made an error of fact, e-mail the editor at theprospector1@gmail.com w w w . t h e p r o s p e c t o r d a i ly . c o m
Promo ends 11/30
entertainment
October 30, 2018 Editor claudia flores, 747-7446
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Six spooky spots around the city to know that on ghost tours women who have had Csections feel something weird and uncomfortable on their scars.
DeSoto Hotel
The DeSoto Hotel is located in the heart of Downtown El Paso and has been standing for more than a century. Several tenants have heard little girls running around the hotel. The basement, which was once used for satanic rituals, is allegedly the most haunted area of the building. People believe its demonic in nature. It’s even been one of the sites shown on an episode of the popular Travel television show Ghost Adventures.
Old Main
Sergio MuÑoZ/ the prospector Concordia Cementary was founded in the mid 1800s, since then more than 60,000 people are buried in the cementary.
By brianna chavez The Prospector
Concordia Cemetery
Located in Central El Paso, Concordia Cemetery is one of El Paso’s oldest cemeteries. More than 60,000 people are buried in the
cemetery dating back to the late 1800s, but not everyone has made it to the great beyond. Visitors have reported seeing shadows and feeling a presence watching over them. Concordia has different sections including a “children’s section.” In 2012, Henry Flores with the Paso Del Norte Paranormal Society told NPR
Old Main, originally constructed in 1917, is now home to many of the Sociology and Anthropology department. In 2002, an investigative piece about Old Main was published. Five reporters spent the night in the building to figure out once and for all if the building was in fact haunted. The reporters heard footsteps and doors opening and closing. As they reviewed a tape recorder they left in one part of the building, they could hear voices of what appeared to sound like a lecture was being given.
Rubin Center (Seamon Hall)
The Rubin Center, formerly known as Seamon Hall, was built in 1927 and was named
after former UTEP Professor William Henry Seamon. Allegedly UTEP Police frequently respond to mysterious and unexplained calls at night near this building. Legend has it that a young girl who was pregnant was killed by the baby’s father. Witness have allegedly seen an old 1930’s car drive by and watch a girl get out of the car and walk towards the building.
Magoffin Home
Located near downtown El Paso, the Magoffin home dates back to the early days of El Paso’s history. The home was owned by businessman Joseph Magoffin and his family. It’s now owned by the Texas Historical Commission. Employees have allegedly seen what they believe to be Magoffin’s family members roam the halls of the home. Some employees have also seen the rocking chair one of Magoffin’s family members rock back and forth mysteriously.
Loretto Academy
Loretto Academy is a private Catholic school founded by the Sisters of Loretto in 1923. Rumor has it that a nun killed herself after finding out she was pregnant and jumped off the building’s bell tower. Students have allegedly seen a figure walking around the bell tower. Brianna Chavez may be reached at theprospector1@gmail.com.
El Paso High hosts annual Halloween tunnel tours
By Catherine Ramirez The Prospector
For the ninth year in a row, the El Paso High School alumni association hosted their annual Halloween Tunnel Tours that takes visitors on a trip through the basement of the 102-year-old school. On Saturday, Oct. 27, guests got an inside look to the tunnel that runs beneath the floors of the oldest high school in El Paso, while learning about the history and legends that haunt the halls of El Paso High School (EPHS). “People are always excited for the tours and most people have never been down there,” said Christina Favela, E.P.H.S. alumni association member and tour guide. “I like to point out spots where people have seen ghost and the history behind it.” EPHS was built in 1916 with two basements, which are now used for the tunnel tours and a sub-basement that is now closed to all.
There are rumors that the school was once used as a morgue and that’s true, it was.” - Linda Troncoso President of El Paso High alumni association Tour guides take visitors through the basement above the sub-basement that once
see EPHS on page 8
Priscilla Gomez / the prospector On Saturday, Oct. 27, El Paso High School hosted their ninth Halloween Tunnel Tours.
| 8 | ENTERTAINMENT
ephs from page 7
stored bodies because of its constant cool temperature. “Nobody has been allowed into the sub-basement except in the very beginning,” said Linda Troncoso, president of the El Paso High alumni association and tour guide. “There are rumors that the school was once used as a morgue and that’s true, it was.” During the tour, the guides address stories about an abandoned classroom and other ghosts hauntings. “The part that creeped me out the most was the story about the abandoned classroom that has backpacks and notebooks,” said Vianni Paquian, organizational and corporate communication student at UTEP. “They showed us a blocked off wall that seemed like it could have been a classroom at one point.” Although tours do not guarantee ghost sightings or supernatural encounters, many visitors have noted sightings of orbs, figures and faces, some even caught on camera. “The building is 102-years-old, of course there are ghosts,” Troncoso said. “We have never had a bad ghost story though.” All along the tour guests are not only taught the haunted legends of EPHS, but
October 30, 2018
they are also told the history of the school by those who love and know it best. “I enjoy sharing the history and love for my school,” Favela said. “It’s a storytelling time and basically EPHS history in a nutshell.” While guests waited for the tour to begin they had the opportunity to visit the EPHS Museum, located inside the building. The museum will soon be relocated to the old custodians’ house across from the high school next spring. After being elected president for the second time for the UTEP alumni association in 2009, Troncoso began the Halloween Tunnel Tours as a fundraising project. “I had to come up with a fundraiser and decided to do a history tour for former alumni and I started adding the tunnel stories and that’s when we started the tunnel tours,” Troncoso said. Proceeds made from this year’s Halloween Tunnel Tours will go to the construction of the new alumni museum that will continue to tell the history of EPHS. Catherine Ramirez may be reached at theprospector1@gmail.com.
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THEPROSPECTOR
Top Five Halloween No-Nos
By Javier Cortez The Prospector Halloween means a lot of different things for different people. As a child it’s arguably the most important day of the year—procuring as much candy as possible is the main and sometimes only goal—it’s the start of sugar dependency for most kids and the genesis of their impending type two diabetes. As a teenager, it’s an introduction to underage drinking. As a young adult, it’s a continuation of irresponsible drinking, compacted with even more poor decisions. As an actual adult, it’s about the joy you see on your child’s face as they experience the holiday for the first time. And as an even older adult, it’s about seeing the cute faces and adorable costumes as you open the door. Different meanings for different people. But as stated, this holiday is really for those in the 18-24 age range. The in-betweeners who are looking to find relevance in a less and less relevant holiday. For those in-betweeners, here are five things you should not do on Oct. 31. 1. Do not Trick-or-Treat The douchiest thing you could do as a young adult is actually dress up in a costume, go house to house, knock on doorbells, and ask strangers for candy. You’re an adult, buy some candy with the money from the job you hopefully have, and leave it to the kids to ask for free cavities. If your argument is based on not growing up too fast, the enjoyment of dressing up, and your predilection for candy, save it. Do something with people your age and leave the child’s play to the actual children. The only excuse you have to be out and about is if you have a child of your own or you are taking your younger siblings out in place of your parents. Other than that, it’s time to hang up the candy bag for good. 2. Put a pin in the inappropriate costumes Unless you are willing to put up with the public shame you will get with dressing in a culturally insensitive costume, it serves you best to take a lighter approach to your costume selection this Halloween. We live in a culturally sensitive society. Hal-
Special to the Prospector loween is not the day to push buttons and see “how far you can take it”. So stay away from costumes that alter your skin pigmentation or make reference to any type of ethnic stereotype. Dress up as a superhero or princess and save yourself the grief from adults that have to make a crisis out of everything. 3.Ditch that one bad friend you have Virtually everyone has that one friend. The one that always acts irresponsibly. The one that always ends up needing to be taken care of at the end of the night. The one that never seems to get it. Do yourself a favor and do not do Halloween with that person. Let them be someone else’s burden and party with people that can hold their liquor, don’t get into fights, or cry at the end of the night. If you are that person, do your responsible friends a favor and take Halloween off this year. 4. Drink Responsibly Everything in moderation, including moderation. Have a beer. Take a couple of shots. But what’s the point in blacking out, throwing up all over a car and putting yourself at risk for even more harm? Overindulging on your substances of choice is only going to end badly. The scattered memory, regretful decisions and brutal hangover are never worth it. Even if it makes for a good story. Have fun and let loose, but listen to Oscar Wilde. 5. Don’t drink and drive Assuming most will gleefully ignore number four, at the very least, don’t get behind the wheel after a night of getting hammered. Have a designated driver or get an Uber/Lyft. It’s one thing to put yourself in harm’s way, but it’s entirely different when you risk other lives as well. There is no excuse for drinking and driving. And if you drive “buzzed” just know that cops don’t care, a DUI is a DUI. You are running the risk of royally screwing yourself over if you get pulled over. Do not risk it. So don’t be a complete and total ass this Halloween and follow some of the tips. Javier Cortez may be reached at theprospector1@gmail.com.
Sports
October 30, 2018 Editor DANIEL MENDEZ, 747-7446
9
Miners head to Rice looking for first win of the season
Gaby Velasquez/ The Prospector UTEP football will look for its first road win since Oct. 26, 2016
By adrian broaddus The Prospector
The winless Miners (0-8) will put their 20-game losing streak on the line against Rice (1-8) on Saturday, Nov 3. The Miners are coming off a 19-0 shutout loss to UAB, which was their second shutout loss of the season (Tennessee, 24-0). The loss extended the Miners losing streak to 20 games in a row, tying the all-time Texas college football record low (TCU, 1974-75.) Against Rice though, the Miners feel like it can be their shot to snap the streak and win for the first time in nearly two years. However, the odds are not in their favor. UTEP has not won a road game since Oct. 26, 2016, when they beat out UTSA in a five-overtime thriller. And although Rice is 1-8, the Miners have dealt with massive injuries that will plague them for this upcoming week. According to first-year head coach Dana Dimel, UTEP has lost 25 of its players that hold some sort of role on the team. In the injury mix is senior quarterback Ryan Metz and junior quarterback Kai Locksley. Metz suffered a severe concussion against La Tech, while Locksley re-injured his ankle last week against UAB. “Going in with his ankle, we didn’t want to get him hurt running and he got hurt on a passing play,” Dimel said after the Miners
were shut out 19-0 to UAB. “He was not 100 percent coming in. We’ll see. Have to play it by ear.” Without the two, the Miners will need to look to junior Brandon Jones to lead the helm of the offense if neither Locksley nor Metz are cleared for Saturday’s game. Jones came into relieve quarterbacks in back-to-back outings. Against LA Tech, he completed 7-of-15 passes for 98 yards, and versus UAB he was 5-for-9 for 49 passing yards. “I felt the same as last week (against LA Tech),” Jones said. “You want to win so badly. But I never doubted it. I knew we had a chance to win this. We were down two scores most of the game. I have to be better, it’s all on me.” The Miners have been making constant moves up front as well. With injuries to freshman Zuri Henry and junior Darta Lee, they have been dipping into their bench and playing guys with limited experience on the offensive line. “Overall, you can’t win a ball game with the offensive performance we had (against UAB),” Dimel said. “We were overwhelmed up front.” Against the Owls, the Miners will need to find some way to formulate offense. They totaled just 121 yards of offense against the Blazers, who completely shut them out of contention. The run game for the Miners has been the main source of trouble as of late.
With only 20 rushing yards against UAB, the Miners are coming off back-to-back low rushing games, failing to produce anything on the ground. UTEP’s leading rusher, junior Quadraiz Wadley is not getting the number of carries he would like to, earning just four carries for 14 yards against UAB. If UTEP works Wadley on the ground, he could come up big for them against Rice. For the Owls, they have been off the rails on an eight-game losing streak. They rank among the worst in the nation for both offensive and defensive efficiency. Rice has been out-scored 139-37 in C-USA games thus far.
And for graduate transfer linebacker A.J. Hotchkins, who has 84 total tackles on the year (15 against UAB), this is an opportunity for the team to capture its first win in nearly two years. “I think next week is going to be crazy man,” Hotckins said. “We’re going to have a ton of fun. This team deserves a win. I think we play guys close every week and I think that we definitely deserve a win. I go into every game thinking we’re going to win.” Kickoff against Rice is set for 1:30 p.m. MT. Adrian Broaddus may be reached at theprospector1@gmail.com
FActs about the miners 20 game losing streak
703 days and counting since a UTEP win. Longest losing streak in UTEP football history Longest active losing streak in college football Last UTEP win: November 26, 2016, 52-24 win over North Texas. Longest losing streak in FBS: 1979-82 Northwestern Wildcats, 34 games. Tied the Longest losing streak in the state of Texas: with the1972-74 TCU Horned Frogs.
| 10 | SPORTS October 30, 2018 THEPROSPECTOR UTEP women’s basketball hopes for a strong season UTEP soccer concludes with the firing of Cross
Gaby Velasquez / The Prospector UTEP women’s basketball will play their last scrimage against St. Mary’s University on Nov. 4 at the Don Haskins Center
By Isaiah Ramirez The Prospector
The UTEP women’s basketball season opener is fast approaching as the team matches up against Alcorn State on Nov. 10, at the Don Haskins Center. With lots of newcomers and several key returners from last season’s 1714 campaign, the outlook for the 2018 season seems promising. Here are some key points to look at heading into this season for the Miners. Newcomers playing a major role. With six newcomers on this squad, experience at the Division I level may be slim but the talent is there. After a 64-45 win over Division II Western New Mexico this past Saturday several newcomers including junior transfer Jade Rochelle, redshirt junior Neidy Ocuane and redshirt junior Ariona Gill showed signs of promise on the court. Gill was the second leading scorer for the game with 14. Rochelle had six points and shot 60 percent from the field while logging 24 minutes. Ocuane didn’t get on the board but did provide pressure on the defensive end and 21 solid minutes without a turnover. Inserted into the rotation along with significant minutes, these newcomers will play a factor this season. Depending on returning starters. UTEP will lean on three of last season’s key pieces including junior forward Katarina Zec, junior forward Zuzanna Puc and senior forward Jordan Alexander. Last season, as a sophomore, Puc averaged nine points and four rebounds per game. Puc was second in Conference USA in shooting percentage, at 53 percent from the field. In her freshman campaign, Puc was top 20 in the conference with 25 blocks on the season. Puc chipped in nine points in the exhibition, match-
up against Western New Mexico. Katarina Zec will be another focal point for the Miners as the Siberian forward looks to add to her impressive sophomore season. Zec averaged nine points and three rebounds a game and two assists a game. The three-point specialist led the team with 39 total threes and tied a school record of seven threes in one game against New Mexico State. In the matchup against Western New Mexico, Jordan Alexander lead all scorers with 17 points shooting 100 percent from the free throw line and playing 28 minutes for the Miners. In 2017 Alexander was second on the team in free throws made with 66 and averaged eight points a game. The lone senior for UTEP registered 10 double-digit scoring games in 2017. Closing out the season strong In 2017, UTEP lost their last seven out of 11 conference games and finished the season 7-9 in C-USA. In order to capture a conference championship and a high seed in the conference tournament, closing out the season strong will be the main point of emphasis for the Miners. “For a large part of the season we were in the top four in our conference, and then towards the end of the season we didn’t finish as well as we would’ve liked to,” said head coach Kevin Baker. “So far this has been a very fun team to coach because they are so talented, and I don’t see any reason in the world why we can’t contend and be right where we want to be at the end of the year this year,” Baker added. UTEP will be in action this weekend in an exhibition matchup against St. Mary’s University Sunday, Nov. 4 at the Don Haskins Center. Tip-off is set for 1 p.m. Isaiah Ramirez may be reached at theprospector1@gmail.com
file photo / The Prospector UTEP athletics announced the firing of Kevin Cross on Monday afternoon.
By Daniel mendez The Prospector
Late Monday evening it was announcedby atheltic director Jim Senter that head coach Kevin Cross would not return for the 2019 season. “We’d like to thank Kevin for all his hard work during 20-plus years at UTEP,” Senter said. “He built a regionally competitive program. As we look to take the next step and contend for conference championships, we felt like it was best to move in a new direction. We wish Kevin well in his future endeavors.” Coach Cross finished his tenure as head coach of the Miners with an overall record of 212-127-27. The UTEP soccer team finished their season last week with a 0-0 draw against the UTSA Roadrunners (6-9-2, 2-6-2) on Friday, Oct. 26. UTEP finished the season with an overall record of 7-8-4, 2-5-3, record. The last two games of the season ended in consecutive draws. They concluded the season with 10 points and finished 12th place in Conference USA. UTEP needed to finish in the top eight of points accumulated to earn a spot in the C-USA tournament. “To end the season undefeated in the last four games shows how much we have grown as a team,” said head coach Kevin Cross. “I am very appreciative of our team’s effort to close out the season. We will carry over this momentum into the 2019 campaign.” Positives on the season Senior goalkeeper Alyssa Palacios finished her season atop the all-time record list in most career shutouts, 21, and finished second all-time in most career saves, 406.
The senior started 21 out of 25 games for the Miners and had a season-high of eight saves twice against Marshall on Sept. 20, and against Middle Tennessee on Sep. 30. The senior finished in the top 10 for saves as she had 64 saves on the season. Junior Lauren Crenshaw led all Miners in scoring, she finished the season with a career-high seven goals. Crenshaw finished the season ranked ninth in scoring for CUSA. Sophomore’s Vic Bohdan and Anna Jimmerson finished second and third in scoring with five and four goals respectively. Going forward UTEP’s soccer success on the pitch next season will be revolved around their three leading goal scorers. UTEP finished seventh in C-USA averaging six shots on goals, they also finished 11th in assists. UTEP also finished in fourth place in total saves, with 99 saves on the season. Going forward The Miners will need to figure out who will be the lead anchors on defense, with both senior defenders Payton Ross and Carleigh Simmons played their last game for the Miners. Ross played in all 19 games registering 1,823 minutes, breaking the alltime career minutes record, Ross played in 5,602 minutes for the Miners. Simmons served as the team’s captain and finished her UTEP career with three goals. UTEP was a young team this season, saying goodbye to five seniors, Palacios, Ross, Simmons, midfielder Jodie Enokson and forward Sheridan Smith. The team featured seven freshmen and sophomores, and four juniors. UTEP will begin it’s national wide search for Cross’ replacement immediately. Daniel Mendez may be reached at theprospector1@gmail.com