By Alejandra Martinez T P AAAA Danny Cardenas, 28, Senior Graphic Design Marcela Borrego, 19, Freshman Undecided “Salads and vegetable soups, fruit cups that are actually made at that mo- ment and not stored away.” Victor Longoria, 22, Sophomore Music “I would like some stir fry, with meat, vegetables and sauces, maybe some pasta. It’s just variety, you get tired of the same Subways and fruit cups.” Tammy Ayala / T HE P AN A MERICAN
12
Bye, bye Sodexo Campus dining services soon to change Starting this summer, e University of Texas-Pan American will get a new dinning service, putting an end to the 10-year-old partnership with Sodexo, food provider since July 2001. e crux of the matter is that the contract’s term has exhausted and there are no more renewal options available. A bid was posted March 25 calling out to all interested food service providers, said Norma Dryer, director of materials management, whose division is in charge of helping other departments with procurement of goods or services. is first step consists of the University posting a Request for Proposal (RFP) on its website to all interested bidders. e offer is also posted on the Electronic Business Daily, the state’s website for procurement opportunities, Dryer noted. “The RFP includes the University’s minimum requirements to hire a contractor to provide the services,” she explained. “The document includes all state, UT System and UTPA terms and conditions, and a description of the scope of the project.” According to the RFP’s minimum requirements each proposer must have at least five years in the business of providing university beverage services, and a minimum of three current accounts with public universities that have a student population comparable in size and enrollment to UTPA. After the document is posted, a University committee reviews proposals from interested bidders in order to select the most qualified according to the RFP’s guidelines. “If unable to reach an agreement with the first vendor,” Dryer said, “we end negotiations formally and proceed to the next vendor in the order of selection ranking until a contract is reached.” The deadline for bidders to submit their responses is April 28 at 11 a.m., however, replies will not be opened and names won’t be read aloud until that day, Dryer said. Sodexo’s contract with UTPA will officially expire July 15. e current contractor and general manager for food services declined to comment on this story. It is not known at this point how the transition will affect UTPA employees with the outgoing firm. According to documents related to the change, the proposal for local staffing “should include consideration of retention for existing Sodexo food service employees with positions, salary and benefits comparable to the positions, staff and salary benefits available to such employees at the university.” e University has had a good working relationship with Sodexo, said Leticia Benavides, director of auxiliary services, the department that serves as contract liaison. “e food service program has grown significantly over the past 10 years and we look forward to taking it to the next level.” Areas affected by the change will be the cafeteria, the food court, coffee cart and convenience store located on the first floor of the Student Union, the Café a la Carte kiosks situated in the library lobby, the NRG Zone kiosk on the first floor of the Wellness and Recreation Center, and the coffee lab on the first floor of the science building. Also included are catering services for University’s special events. Once the offer for a new vendor is extended, the bidders who respond to it will go through a confidential evaluation process, Dryer explained. Once a contract is awarded, the identity of the bidders will become public. The university hopes to award a contract for a minimum of 10 years to the new vendor July 16. WWW.PANAMERICANONLINE.COM Volume 67, No. 24 April 14, 2011 Tammy Ayala / THE PAN AMERICAN By Alejandra Martinez The Pan American “I would like some kind of bar where you can pick and choose things. Something like the sandwich bar that we have, but something more hands-on. Perhaps, a soup buffet.” Danny Cardenas, 28, Senior Graphic Design Marcela Borrego, 19, Freshman Undecided “Salads and vegetable soups, fruit cups that are actually made at that mo- ment and not stored away.” R.J. Gutierrez, 26, Junior Mechanical Engineering “McDonald’s, because they have the dollar menu, and since gas is very expensive right now, it’d be nice to save money.” Victor Longoria, 22, Sophomore Music “I would like some stir fry, with meat, vegetables and sauces, maybe some pasta. It’s just variety, you get tired of the same Subways and fruit cups.” Q&A MUNCHIN’ - Rene Guzman enjoys a turkey bacon wrap for lunch from one of the Sodexo eateries in the Student Union.
Transcript
Bye, bye SodexoCampus dining services soon to changeStarting this summer, � e
University of Texas-Pan American will get a new dinning service, putting an end to the 10-year-old partnership with Sodexo, food provider since July 2001. � e crux of the matter is that the contract’s term has exhausted and there are no more renewal options available.
A bid was posted March 25 calling out to all interested food service providers, said Norma Dryer, director of materials management, whose division is in charge of helping other departments with procurement of goods or services.
� is � rst step consists of the University posting a Request for Proposal (RFP) on its website to all interested bidders. � e o� er is also posted on the Electronic Business Daily, the state’s website for procurement opportunities, Dryer noted.
“The RFP includes the University’s minimum requirements to hire a contractor to provide the services,” she explained. “The document includes all state, UT System and UTPA terms and conditions, and a description of the scope of the project.”
According to the RFP’s minimum requirements each proposer must have at least � ve years in the business of providing university beverage services, and a minimum of three current accounts with public universities that have a student population comparable in size and enrollment to UTPA.
After the document is posted, a University committee reviews proposals from interested bidders in order to select the most quali� ed according to the RFP’s guidelines.
“If unable to reach an agreement with the first vendor,” Dryer said, “we end negotiations formally and proceed to the next vendor in the
order of selection ranking until a contract is reached.”
The deadline for bidders to submit their responses is April 28 at 11 a.m., however, replies will not be opened and names won’t be read aloud until that day, Dryer said.
Sodexo’s contract with UTPA will o� cially expire July 15. � e current contractor and general manager for food services declined to comment on this story. It is not known at this point how the transition will a� ect UTPA employees with the outgoing � rm.
According to documents related to the change, the proposal for local sta� ng “should include consideration of retention for existing Sodexo food service employees with positions, salary and bene� ts comparable to the positions, sta� and salary bene� ts available to such employees at the university.”
� e University has had a good working relationship with Sodexo, said Leticia Benavides, director of auxiliary
services, the department that serves as contract liaison. “� e food service program has grown signi� cantly over the past 10 years and we look forward to taking it to the next level.”
Areas a� ected by the change will be the cafeteria, the food court, co� ee cart and convenience store located on the � rst � oor of the Student Union, the Café a la Carte kiosks situated in the library lobby, the NRG Zone kiosk on the � rst � oor of the Wellness and Recreation Center, and the co� ee lab on the � rst � oor of the science building. Also included are catering services for University’s special events.
Once the offer for a new vendor is extended, the bidders who respond to it will go through a confidential evaluation process, Dryer explained. Once a contract is awarded, the identity of the bidders will become public. The university hopes to award a contract for a minimum of 10 years to the new vendor July 16.
WWW.PANAMERICANONLINE.COMVolume 67, No. 24 April 14, 2011
Tammy Ayala / THE PAN AMERICAN
By Alejandra MartinezThe Pan American
“I would like some kind of bar where you can pick and choose things. Something like the sandwich bar that we have, but something
more hands-on. Perhaps, a soup buffet.”
Danny Cardenas, 28, Senior Graphic Design
Marcela Borrego, 19, FreshmanUndecided
“Salads and vegetable soups, fruit cups that are actually made at that mo-
ment and not stored away.”
R.J. Gutierrez, 26, JuniorMechanical Engineering
“McDonald’s, because they have the dollar menu, and
since gas is very expensive right now, it’d be nice to
save money.”
Victor Longoria, 22, SophomoreMusic
“I would like some stir fry, with meat, vegetables and
sauces, maybe some pasta. It’s just variety, you get tired
of the same Subways and fruit cups.”
Q&A
MUNCHIN’ - Rene Guzman enjoys a turkey bacon wrap for lunch from one of the Sodexo eateries in the Student Union.
I watched “Real Time with Bill Maher” a few weeks ago and discovered that bees are vanishing at an alarming rate from a condition known as Colony Collapse Disorder. As a journalism major, I like to think I keep up with the news (at least more than the average student), so I was embarrassed and a bit shocked to be hearing this information for the � rst time. � e actress Ellen Page was a guest on the show to talk about a documentary, titled “Vanishing of the Bees,” which she narrates. It’s currently screening across the country with the closest one to the Valley in San Antonio.
So, let’s talk about the vanishing of the bees. The collapse of honeybee colonies is now a global phenomenon according
to a report published in March of this year by scientists working for the United Nations. It is estimated that in the United States the number of honeybee colonies has been cut in half in the last 40 years. They are at their lowest numbers since 1950.
� e sharp decline started in 2006 with 31 percent of colonies collapsing. � en 2007 saw a collapse increase to 32 percent, another increase in losses at 36 percent in 2008 and nearly 29 percent in 2009 according to scientists who surveyed commercial beekeepers and brokers.
Maybe you’re wondering why you should care or how this will personally a� ect you.
More than 100 agricultural crops in the United States are pollinated by bees, including 90 percent of the world’s commercial plants, from fruits and vegetables to co� ee and cotton. About one-third of the human diet comes from � owering crops, and honeybees are responsible for pollinating about 80 percent of these. According to Dennis Van Engelsdorp of Penn State University’s College of Agricultural Sciences, “One in every three bites of food you eat comes from a plant, or depends on a plant, that was pollinated by an insect, most likely a bee.”
Honey bees in the United States produce about $150 million in honey every year and more than $15 billion a year in U.S. crops are pollinated by bees.
Now that we know what why bees are so important, we must look at the causes of Colony Collapse Disorder. � e problem is we don’t know exactly why the bees are dying.
According to the Natural Resources Defense Council there are a number of factors at work.
Pesticides - Many pesticides banned in other countries because they harm bees are still available in the United States. Last December an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) internal memo was leaked which con� rms that the very agency charged with protecting the environment is ignoring the warnings of its own scientists about clothianidin, a pesticide made by Bayer. � e very � rst paragraph on Page 2 of the 70-page memo states, “Clothianidin’s major risk concern is to non-target insects (that is, honey bees). Clothianidin is a neonicotinoid insecticide that is both persistent and systemic. Acute toxicity studies to honey bees show that clothianidin is highly toxic on both a contact and an oral basis. Although EFED does not conduct RQ-based risk assessments on non-target insects, information
from standard tests and � eld studies, as well as incident reports involving other neonicotinoids insecticides (e.g., imidacloprid) suggest the potential for long-term toxic risk to honey bees and other bene� cial insects.”
Global warming - � is has caused � owers to bloom earlier or later than usual. When bees come out of hibernation they discover the � owers that provide their food have already bloomed.
Parasites - Such as mite infestations. � ese tiny bugs feast on live bee larvae or infest the trachea of adults bringing death to colonies that are not treated.
Habitat loss - � is is brought about by development, or farmers growing crops without leaving habitat for wildlife.
� is issue may seem huge, out of the hands of you and I. It is a big issue, our food supply hinges on bees pollinating crops. Luckily there are things the average person can do to make a di� erence. Talking will bring more awareness about the situation. Writing your senators and representatives in Congress on the state and federal levels, asking them to support funding for honeybee research. Asking the EPA to ban Bayer’s clothianidin. Buying pesticide-free foods.
April 14, 20112
Why are bees dropping like fl ies?
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squeeze in additional science courses to their already busy schedules in order to prepare for a revised Medical College Admissions Test.
� e MCAT is similar to the SAT in that it is a standardized,
multiple-choice test in physical science, verbal
reasoning, writing, and biological science. Pre-
med students must sit for their MCAT
to get into medical school as most require the scores.
T h e Association of American M e d i c a l C o l l e g e s
( A A M C ) , w h i c h
represents all accredited U.S. medical
schools, recently released preliminary recommendations
for a new version of the MCAT slated for 2015.
“� ese are the biggest proposed changes to the MCAT in 25 years, they
are signi� cant changes,” said Hassan Ahmad, who teaches biochemistry for an MCAT prep course and serves as the pre-med adviser for chemistry at the University. “Somewhere, I read, that this will even impact the high school curriculum. � ey will probably have to take calculus back at the high school level, rather than college level.”
NOT JUST MEDICAL SCIENCES� e AAMC’s proposed changes
include added sections on social and behavioral sciences, such as psychology and sociology, and an expanded verbal reasoning section to incorporate ethics, philosophy, cross-cultural studies, and population health.
“As far as behavioral sciences, we know that they want the student to learn more of the humanistic part like bioethics. � ere is apparently a disconnect in how we prepare students. � ey completely learn science [well], but they don’t know how to interact with their fellow human being,” said Ahmad, who is former Department of Chemistry chair. “One of our students, she decided to study psychiatry for one
reason; because she doesn’t want to touch the other human.”
� e proposed changes to the MCAT, if they come to pass, would require slight revisions to MCAT prep courses and a more coordinated e� ort between the science and social/behavioral science departments.
“I think science people and social behavioral science people have to sit down and talk to each other, which has not happened before now,” said Narayan G. Bhat, professor of biochemisty and Department of Chemistry chair. “With this, the pre-med students will come in close contact with the social behavioral sciences because they have an interest there; they need to do well in sociology and psychology.”
ADD 90 MINUTES� e AAMC also proposed the
elimination of the writing section of the MCAT since studies show that it is not very useful in evaluating applicants. With the addition and expansion of several sections, however, students taking the proposed version in 2015 are in for a 7-hour test instead of one lasting � ve and one-half hours.
April 14, 2011 3
Proposed changes invigorates MCAT By Karen AntonacciThe Pan American
Longer test does away with writing section, adds more sciences plus critical thinking section
� e University Police Department is currently recruiting volunteers and looking to hire students for the Citizen’s Police Academy and Community Service O� cers to serve the community within the next two weeks.
According to Melissa Sandoval, parking manager for the department, CPA o� ers volunteer positions and CSO paid student positions to assist the campus in many ways.
Every spring and fall semester the Academy holds 10 sessions for students, faculty and sta� interested in being active citizens who want to increase public safety and quality of life for the campus community.
CPA participants receive presentations on police training, criminal investigations, � rearms safety, alcohol and drugs, and other topics through lectures, demonstrations and hands-on experience.
� ere are no fees to participate in the program and anyone can enroll for the next sessions in the fall semester by emailing a registration form to the department’s training o� cer; the form can be found on
the department’s website at www.utpa.edu/police.
For those interested in the law enforcement � eld, or willing to be more involved in campus safety and parking regulations, there are Community Service O� cers positions to be � lled.
“CSO’s are paid student patrol employees of the Student Police Program for the University police department,” Sandoval said. “We currently have four openings for the CSO positions and we are still receiving applications.”
� e department’s target date for hiring is no later than mid April, she said.
� e requirements for those who apply are to be an enrolled student, have some experience in customer service, and to be familiar with the layout of the campus. � e hourly rate is minimum wage and they are required to work 16 hours a week.
Full-time UTPA sophomore and CSO Carlos Romero, 20, explained the ful� llment he gets from the job.
“It’s the feeling of knowing that you’re doing something right, something to help the school out,” he said. “When I’m out there, I have a lot of professors come up to me and tell me, ‘I’m glad you’re out here
Roxann Garcia/THE PAN AMERICAN
BUSTED! - Criminal justice major, Carlos Romero, sets down a parking ticket on a violator’s vehicle. “It’s common procedure to give a fi rst offender a warning but when it’s someone’s 3rd or 4th violation, c’mon now, “ he said.
Campus police seek volunteers, students for hire
By Nicole JanuaryThe Pan American
2015
MCAT
OLD NEW
Phy
sics
Biology
Verbal Reasoning
Writing
Sample
+ Re
sear
ch M
etho
ds an
d Sta
tistic
s
+ Ethics
No Writing Sample
Chem
istry
5.5 hrs
7 hrs
Physics
Chemistry
Verbal Reasoning+ Critical Thinking
Biology
+ Social Behavio
ral Sciences
+Cellular/Molecular Biology
+ Biochemistry
+ Cross-cultural Studies
+ Population Health
+ Philosophy
+ Psy
cholog
y+ Sociology
The new pro-posed MCAT nixes the writ-ing and adds dif-ferent science
SEE POLICE || PAGE 4
SEE MCAT || PAGE 4
NEWS April 14, 2011Page 4
MCATcontinued from Page 1
POLICEcontinued from Page 1
doing your job.’”Currently the department has 10
CSOs trained to conduct foot patrol escorts, work at an information booth, enforce parking violations, and assist when needed.
Sandoval also explained that in the future CSOs will have the capability of issuing temporary one-day visitor parking permits.
“We mainly enforce parking rules and regulations, that’s what we try to concentrate on,” Romero said. “But we also do other things, like perform jump-starts if someone’s vehicle breaks down.”
The criminal justice major from Mission explained his busy schedule
and the tasks of a daily routine in which he rotates indoor and outdoor work during afternoons and evenings.
“I work four days out of the week,” he informed. “Two days I’m out patrolling the parking lots and the other two days I’m working the information booth where visitors come by that need visitor’s permits or I direct people. It’s part time and my only job since I’m going to school full time.”
Romero, who aspires to work for U.S. Customs and Border Protection, had experience working at the Mission Police Department and then heard about the open CSO position.
For those that are looking to go into law enforcement, he recommended the position as a good place to start.
“If it’s someone that is going to go into law enforcement or is interested in learning about it, I would encourage them because you learn good communication skills and get to work side by side with the police o� cers at times and learn from them,” he said.
According to Sandoval, these individuals are put in this important role to assist, serve and improve parking compliance.
“� ey are the eyes and ears of our department,” she concluded.
Grandmaster Lee Former TaeKwondo trainer
“He is an athlete who
does not stop until he
accomplishes his goal.
I really do not think any
challenege has gone
too far. He challeneges
himself and conquers all
of them.”
Bhat, who also serves as organic chemistry instructor for the MCAT prep program, said that students going into the medical � eld should not balk at a 7-hour test.
“This is what I tell my students; If you want to be a doctor, you better have patience,” he explained. “If a student doesn’t have patience, I don’t think the student will become a doctor. ‘No pain, no gain’ is my principal and if they have not answered the test in seven hours, they are not fit to be doctors.”
This is not the only 7-hour test medical students face, Ahmad agreed, adding that once they
are in medical school, they must take three more exams varying in duration between seven and eight hours.
Both Bhat and Ahmad said that proposed changes might have a profound e� ect on the MCAT preparation for pre-med students.
“I think, maybe, if these changes are real, we have to sit as a department, the faculty,” Bhat said. “We may have to have separate courses for pre-med students. Right now we have everybody in a class: chem majors, chem minors, pre-med, pre-pharmacy. But if these changes are true, we may have to design a course for only pre-med students.”
While most students relaxed this Spring Break, Michael Perez, a pre-med major and computer support services lab attendant at the University for the last 18 months, spent his time in Moscow, Russia � ghting against intense competitors in the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) Taekwondo International Championships. He hopes to advance to the next phase of tryouts for the 2012 Olympics.
Perez, who has been training in Taekwondo since he was four and competing since age 10, is now a six-degree black belt and ‘master’ who participated in the 2008 Olympics.
“In 2008, I went to the Olympics in Beijing, China,” the senior said. “Unfortunately I couldn’t get a medal, but this year that is my goal, not just to get to the Olympics, but to get a medal.”
After winning 15 international events, Perez quali� ed for the 2008 Olympics, where he placed 10th in the Taekwondo division. � is year, he expects that the process of qualifying for the 2012 event in London will take equal dedication and skill.
“To go to the Olympics you have to qualify in a tournament,” the California native explained. “You have to win national,
state, international and also the Taekwondo World Championship.”
Now back in the Valley, Perez explains that his victory in the International Taekwondo Championships in Russia was far from easy.
“I won a gold medal. It was really dramatic because I was losing in the third round by two points and I tied the match,” Perez recalled. “� en we went to - we call it ‘dead point’ - which means whoever hits the � rst point that’s the one who wins. So I won by one point in Russia.”
According to Perez, this competition validates a � ghter’s performance by their demonstration of Korean � ghting techniques/forms called Poomsae. In Poomsae, a competitor can receive points by
striking the opponent in di� erent areas of the body such as the abdomen (one point) or the head (two).
A l r e a d y established as a Moscow gold medalist, Perez is now concentrating on the group of events comprising the WTF World Taekwondo Championships, to be in held this May in Gyeongiu, Korea. Should Perez capture this tournament he will
then be required to also gain victories in the following events: the WTF World Quali� cation Tournament in Baku, Azerbaijan, June 6; WTF World Taekwondo Poomsae Championships
in Vladivostok, Russia, July 16; the Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico, in October; WTF Pan American Quali� cation Tournament for London 2012 Olympic Games in Queretaro, Mexico in November; and the Taekwondo Test Event for London 2012 the UK in December.
“� ere are three tournaments right now, which are the World Taekwondo Championships that is in May. June, that will be in Russia and there will be one in Mexico,” he said. “By winning those tournaments most likely, I can probably, 80 percent/70 percent get a spot (to qualify for the 2012 Olympics). “� ere are thousands of athletes going for the same goal. It’s pretty tough.”
Grand master H.K. Lee, Perez’s former trainer, has been a teacher of Hap Ki Do and TaeKwondo for over 20 years at centers like the Kukkiwon-
World TaeKwonDo Headquarters in Seoul, Korea and USA. He says Perez is a very enthusiastic young man with an extremely positive mind, a real champion who will never give up.
“He is always improving,” Lee said. “Master Michael is always doing the best even when he cannot keep going. He is an athlete who does not stop until he accomplishes his goal. I really do not think any challenge has gone too far. He challenges himself all the time and conquers all of them. He is never afraid to fail or waste energy trying to cover up failure. He always learns from his mistakes to keep going to the next challenge. One time told me ‘If I don’t fall, I am not growing.’”
After winning the WTF events, competitors like Perez must then commence with competition against
other winners in the hopes of gaining a spot on the USA National Olympic Team.
“We have to compete a lot around the world and you have to be in the top five,” Perez said. “Then you have to be in the tryouts for the national team and from there they will choose the athletes who will be going on to the Olympics.”
As Perez continues to train for 10 hours a day and to compete for a spot in the 2012 Olympics, Grand Master Lee administers some sage advice for the upcoming competitions.
“Master Michael, expect trouble as an inevitable part of life and when it comes, hold your head high, look it squarely in eye and say, ‘I will be bigger than you. You cannot defeat me,’” he said. “My best of luck to you, Master Michael.”
By Belinda MunozThe Pan American
Alma E. Hernandez/THE PAN AMERICAN
MAESTRO - Micheal Perez, an Academic Services lab attendant is a 2012 Olympic hopeful in Taekwondo.
Local master contends for 2012 OlympicsPre-med lab attendant will travel to Korea for WTF internationalchampionship
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Anna Nicholson presents:The Journey of Textures
Nicholson’s exhibit in the Charles and Dorothy Clark Gallery in the COAS is part of Pan American Days.
It will be displayed until Friday.
For more photos go to panamericanonline.com
Photos by: Alma E. HernandezDesigned by: Erick Gonzalez
THE PAN AMERICANTHE PAN AMERICAN April 14, 2011 April 14, 2011 Page 7Page 6
AMERICANTHE PAN
follow us on:issuu.com
twitter.com
facebook.com
Anna Nicholson presents:The Journey of Textures
Nicholson’s exhibit in the Charles and Dorothy Clark Gallery in the COAS is part of Pan American Days.
It will be displayed until Friday.
For more photos go to panamericanonline.com
Photos by: Alma E. HernandezDesigned by: Erick Gonzalez
April 14, 20118
From lost cause to lost pounds
It’s been 10 years and the rules are different. At least in horror-movie world it is. “Scream 4” catches up with Sidney Prescott as she tours the country on a book tour only to fi nd another killer on the loose. The Wes Craven-directed fi lm will be released this Friday.
Panda Bear released his fourth album, “Tomboy,” Tuesday after a long period of rabid anticipation from his fans. The Animal Collective member strays away from the samples of his earlier work and replaces them with simple reverb-laden melodies.
There’s defi nitely a difference between ‘Reply’ and ‘Reply to All.’ Now all of UTPA will know that difference after receiving 50-plus emails stemming from a survey from the Registrar’s Offi ce. The fi fth response? “Nice … you just emailed all of campus.”
During an awkward appearance on “The View,” Katie Couric dodged questions regarding rumors about leaving her post at “CBS Evening News.” Despite her not answering the questions, the interview is being understood as an unoffi cial confi rmation.
Flor Cox was convinced her e� ort to lose weight had become a lost cause. � e 41-year-old state employee and mother of three had tried numerous regimens in the past, but nothing worked.
Last year during a doctor’s visit, Cox was referred to the producers of A&E’s new docudrama “Heavy” for yet another try at realizing her health goal. Only this time it would be portrayed on national television.
But as soon as she internalized the fact that she would be one of 22 individuals from across the nation to star in the � rst season - which tracks the experiences of participant’s journeys not in a competition but through the showing and telling of personal, physical struggle to overcome obesity - she wasn’t sure if the choice was wise.
“I was interviewed and they liked my story so I was o� ered to be on the show,” said Cox, a former UTPA student from 1988-1992 and currently a senior business management major at Texas A&M University-San Antonio. “When they � rst told me, I was excited but really scared of what I had gotten myself into.”
It was especially hard for Cox to overcome the publicity her struggle and outcome would get.
“I had to tell the world that I was addicted to food and that I had lost control of my life,” she said. “I had to tell my most darkest secrets and I wasn’t sure if how my family would handle it.”
A STRUGGLE FROM THE STARTBorn in Reynosa, Tamaulipas,
Mexico, Cox immigrated as a little girl with her mother to the Rio Grande Valley; it was here where they made their home. Since childhood, Cox had been ridiculed
for being “chubby.” And the daily pressures of adjusting to a new culture even caused Cox’s mom to call her names and refer to her as “the fat one.”
Cox said that once ridicule of any form toward an individual is exhausted, that person tends to resign herself/himself to the fate.
She was quoted on the “Heavy’” Website as saying, “You accept that you are and you just give in.”
� is attitude followed her throughout both of her marriages, but it was during her � rst one that she said she began to lose herself.
“I wanted to see Flor again. I lost myself in the middle of raising my kids and living to provide and support
them. I didn’t who I was,” she said. After her � rst marriage, which
lasted 13 years, and now over 100 pounds heavier, Cox remained focused on her job managing a labeling postal service in McAllen and raising her three kids. She thereafter found her current partner and continued life in a steady direction, moving to San Antonio in 2007 for better opportunities for herself and her maturing family.
“I was lonely, scared and tired of seeing myself in the mirror everyday and avoid looking at me. With my (current) husband’s support, I was able to claim some of my self-esteem back, but with me being overweight, it just did not help me believe in myself.”
OVERCOMING OBSTACLES
Undertaking the weight-loss endeavor wasn’t hard on Cox alone. Her husband of eight years, her two daughters and son also had to adjust to a new way of life for the six months mom was away.
“I had to commit to all types of help: mental, physical, and emotional. I had to move my focus back on me and not my family and as a Hispanic parent that is very hard to do,” she said. “My kids went to their dad’s for about a month and my husband was in a quiet house all by himself. I felt bad, but I knew this was my only option in order for me to get the help that I needed.”
And she did.As seen on the � fth episode of
“Heavy,” which aired on Feb. 14, Cox’s journey wasn’t easy. Her trainer Britney Fowler had Cox moving, engaging in
physical activity that she had never before.“Britney is awesome! Even after the
show she texts me several times a week and give me tips when I’m feeling down or disappointed in myself,” Cox said.
Weight loss was once unbearably daunting for Cox, but now she said she is committed to continuing it even as the show is set to end next month. And in a way, her doing the show has rubbed o� on the whole family.
“My family and I tend to be more active now,” she reported. “It’s still not where I’d like it to be but my husband
is already seeking to walk a 20-mile race.”
Exactly � ve-feet tall, Cox began the show weighing in at 308.6 pounds; her end weight on the � fth episode was 242.8 pounds. She has lost a total of 94 pounds since then and said she will remain on that trajectory.
T h e renewed sense of accomplishment is a great motivator for her as well as for others.
“From this experience I take the changes of being a hero and role model. People look up to me because of what I have accomplished and
I continue to lose weight now,” she said. “� is has been a lifestyle change for me and my family. Although it’s still hard to get up and go work out, it’s worth it. And it’s hard to make good food choices everyday when you are addicted to food, but I make them.”
� e � nal episode of “Heavy” will air April 4 on A&E at 9 p.m., Valley time. � e one-hour special titled “Where are they now?” will update the audience on Texas participants like Cox.
By Lupe A. FloresThe Pan American
Pan American alum finds weight-loss solution through the magic of reality television
Flor Cox“Heavy” contestant
“From this experience
I take the changes of
being a hero and role
model. People look up
to me because of what I
have accomplished and I
continue to lose weight
now. This has been a
lifestyle change for me and
my family.”SLIMMNG DOWN — Flor Cox is seen holding a pair of shorts she wore prior to her participation in “Heavy.”
Courtesy photo
Among Americans age 20 and older, the following are overweight or obese (BMI of 25.0 and higher):
STARTLING STATISTICSAmong Americans age 20 and older, the following are overweight or Among Americans age 20 and older, the following are overweight or
AdvertisementsApril 14, 2011 Page 9
Los sábados son los días que normalmente la gente utiliza para descansar, relajarse o salir a divertirse con la familia y amigos. Para aquellas personas que gustan de salir a apreciar las actividades al aire libre y la vida natural el Centro de Observación de Aves y
Humedales Escénicos de la ciudad de Edinburg, ofrece variadas atracciones que los acercarán a la naturaleza en el mismo corazón del condado.
Una de las actividades más interesantes tomó lugar el sábado 9 de este mes en la sala de conferencias de la recepción a la cual asistieron aproximadamente 20 personas entre entusiastas, padres e hijos. La actividad propuesta ésta vez por el
popularmente c o n o c i d o “ B i r d i n g Center” fue una clase l l a m a d a Pájaros en español 101, la cual pretendía educar a los a s i s t e n t e s sobre las clases de pájaros que habitan el Valle de
Texas , las
actividades del “pajareo” y el avistamiento de aves, además de los recursos con los que cuenta la comunidad del sur del valle de Texas para realizar estas actividades.
Entre las dos decenas de participantes que acudieron, la mitad eran niños y niñas de entre 7 y 12 años de edad que junto con sus papás aprendieron sobre las aves que emigran a visitarnos en los meses de marzo-abril y octubre-noviembre.
Belinda Aguilar, una ama de casa que llevó a sus dos hijos de nueve y siete años comentó sobre lo aprendido durante el curso express de hora y media. “Me atrajo la idea de enseñarle a mis chamacos sobre la naturaleza y como debemos de preservarla, espero que salgan de aquí con un mayor respeto y conciencia”. El retoño mas grande de Aguilar no pudo esconder la alegría que le producía interactuar con los diversos tipos de nidos que el ornitólogo, proveniente del “Estero llano grande state park”, llevó para incrementar la experiencia de aprendizaje. Después de convencerlo para que compartiera su punto de vista, el pequeño de 9 años cometo que le gustó mucho cuando saco los
pájaros disecados y cuando les dieron binoculares.
No solo padres e hijos fueron participes de éste singular curso sabatino, sino también jóvenes
estudiantes que gustan de los animales y las
actividades al aire
libre, tal es el caso de Raziel Flores, estudiante de terapia física que decidió acompañarse de su sobrino Iván para aprender sobre sus criaturas favoritas. “Siempre me han gustado las aves y desgraciadamente nunca pude tomar una clase sobre ellas en la escuela, pero me da gusto que el Birding Center ofrezca estos cursos para que los principiantes aprendamos lo básico sobre el pajareo”, comentó Flores. “Por ejemplo ahora ya conozco varios de los pájaros que viven en mi jardín y el siguiente paso será ir a los parques a buscar mas”. Flores también quiso en compartir esta experiencia con su sobrino, con el � n de dejar una enseñanza para las próximas generaciones.
Durante este verano el Centro de Observación de Aves y Humedales Escénicos de la ciudad de Edinburg localizado entre las calles Sprage y Raúl Longoria, ofrecerá más actividades educacionales para chicos y grandes que comprenderán cursos sobre avistamientos de libélulas y mariposas, clases sobre acampamiento, entre otras.
No hay que olvidar que la naturaleza nos ofrece las experiencias más sanas y plenas de las que podemos disfrutar durante nuestras vidas y justo en el corazón de la ciudad hay un lugar que resume este espíritu y nos invita a ser parte otra vez de la tierra en la que vivimos.
Éste martes 12 de abril a las 13:00 horas, la biblioteca tuvo el honor de recibir a Tiffany Ana López autora de la antología “Growing up Chicana/o”, y editora de “The Journal of Chicana and Latina Studies,” publicado por mujeres activas en letras y cambio social, en honor a la “Semana Nacional de la Biblioteca.”
Durante la semana, la biblioteca ha sido an� triona de varios autores con el propósito de que los estudiantes vean las oportunidades que las bibliotecas ofrecen. “Las bibliotecas siempre están ayudando a otras personas y están cantando ‘alabanzas’ de todos, entonces ésta semana es para dirigir la atención hacia nosotros”, dijo Virginia H. Gause, bibliotecaria de medios y mercadotecnia.
López es profesora de literatura y teatro en la Universidad de California Riverside. Ella llevó acabo una lectura de su antología “Grow-ing Up Chicana/o” publicada en 1993 este martes 12. És-tas series de historias fueron escritas por varios autores en la comunidad chicana como Sandra Cisne-ros quien estuvo en nuestra universidad en el 2008, Gary Soto quien estuvo en STC en el 2010, Ru-dolfo Anaya, Denise Chávez entre otros más. “En este libro he puesto mi visión como lectora en las his-
torias que yo encuentro poderosas, y las he coleccionado para compartirlas con
otros,” dijo López. López comenzó
leyendo la historia llamada “Eleven” escrita por Salinas Cisneros, después continuó con “� e Scholarship Jacket” de Marta Salinas y terminó con la lectu-ra y análisis literario de “Abuela” de Rosa Elena Yzquierdo. López había atendi-do a talleres de Cis-neros en el pasado y fue en la primera que pensó para in-cluir en su libro.
“Cuando Sandra Cisneros me dijo
que sí, abrió oportunidades para que otros autores quisieran que su trabajo estuviera en este li-bro,” dijo López.
El libro “Growing up Chicana/o” a sido prohibido en el estado de Virginia del oeste por el distrito escolar de secundaria. “Esa prohibición es una medalla que llevo conmigo a todas partes, porque signi� ca que estamos forzando los límites educacionales,” dijo López.
La opción de traducir el libro al español es una idea que comenzara a tomar las riendas en el XX aniversario del libro que es en el 2013. López ha sido un ejemplo para los estudiantes hispano-americanos en nuestra universidad. Su vida nos recuerda lo que López dice “si se puede, no es solo un dicho sino un tipo de mentalidad.”
Pajareando en EdinburgPor Sergio GironThe Pan American
Prestigiosa autora chicana visita UTPATiffany Ann Lopez da lectura en honor a la semana nacional de la biblioteca.
14 de abril del 201110
Virginia GauseBibliotecaria de medios
“Las bibliotecas
siempre están ayudando
a otras personas y están
cantando ʻalabanzasʼ
de todos, entonces
ésta semana es para
dirigir la atención hacia
nosotros”.
Por Zaira HerediaThe Pan American
Seminarios de Investigación de Salud Hispana en conjunto con la Universidad de Texas en Brownsville estarán presentando el próximo 15 de abril en las instalaciones de la Universidad de Texas- Pan Americana, la transmisión en vivo de la conferencia titulada “La función anormal pre sináptica de epilepsia experimental” ofrecida por Emilio R. Garrido-Sanabria, profesor asistente de Neurociencias de la facultad de Exportación de Subvención.
Garrido es conocido por diversas aportaciones en el campo de la ciencia, entre las que destacan dos publicaciones de estudios sobre la epilepsia como “Expresión anormal en las zonas de terminación perforante ruta de acceso y las fibras musgosas de las ratas crónicamente epilépticas”, fruto de estudios realizados en colaboración de otros investigadores que explica que la epilepsia se caracteriza por hiperexcitabilidad de las redes del hipocampo, la liberación excesiva de glutamato, y la neurodegeneración progresiva. Otra de las aportaciones de Garrido sobre la epilepsia, es “Redes septo-hipo campal en ratas con epilepsia crónica: los posibles efectos antiepilépticos de la generación del ritmo theta”, la cual ha sido también parte vital en el mundo de la neurociencia.
Para aprender más a cerca de la enfermedad que ha sido intrigante para muchos a través de la historia, debes asistir a la platica del multigalardonado Doctor Garrido, quien obtuvó el Premio de Investigación Promoción para desarrollar el proyecto titulado “Determinantes moleculares de canalopatías fibras musgosas presináptica en la epilepsia”, entre muchos otros.
Si deseas conocer más sobre esta enfermedad crónica caracterizada por trastornos neurológicos que llevan al cuerpo a sufrir convulsiones de corta duración, debes presentarte éste próximo viernes en las instalaciones del edi� cio de Servicios Académicos, (ACAS por sus siglas en inglés) en el salón 2. 132 en punto de las 11:00 horas y disfrutar de la enseñanzas del famoso académico.
Para acomodaciones especiales comunicarse al 665-5004 al menos con un día de anticipación.
Conferencia sobre epilepsia en el campusPor Karen VelazquezThe Pan American
sobre las clases de pájaros que habitan el Valle de
Texas , las
la alegría que le producía interactuar con los diversos tipos de nidos que el ornitólogo, proveniente del “Estero llano grande state park”, llevó para incrementar la experiencia de aprendizaje. Después de convencerlo para que compartiera su punto de vista, el pequeño de 9 años cometo que le gustó mucho cuando saco los
pájaros disecados y cuando les dieron binoculares.
No solo padres e hijos fueron participes de éste singular curso sabatino, sino también jóvenes
estudiantes que gustan de los animales y las
actividades al aire
•Pájaros es un grupo de aves muy modernos que tiene 50 millones de años de su
origen.
Da
tos
so
bre
lo
s p
ája
ros
•Tienen como características propias la estructura de la piel y
la del paladar.
• Tienen una alimentación muy variada y pueden comer insectos, arácnidos, entre otros invertebra-dos, además de semillas, frutos y hojas.
April 14, 2011 11
Goal back in sight for Broncs
When coach Manny Mantrana ar-rived a little over two years ago one could feel the excitement as he professed certainty about the baseball team’s even-tual upward direction under his reign.
The first two years failed to meet his prediction, but with their recent sweep of Great West Conference foe Chicago State University over the weekend, vic-tory over Corpus Christi Islanders on Tuesday and the start of a five-game win streak, the Broncs, along with their bold head coach, seem to be taking the strides they planned on at the start.
“A four-win weekend is tough,” Bronc outfielder Alex Carnall said. “It’s a good feeling to know that we set that goal for ourselves as a unit prior to the weekend, and by the end of Sunday we were able to say we fulfilled that.
Carnall, senior outfielder from On-tario, Canada, is one of six Broncs that have brought in at least 10 RBI so far this season, and he is part of the batting spree that has produced 58 runs in the last five games.
With so many letdowns in other Bronc sports these days, the true fan has to wonder if this winning attitude is here to stay, or if it may be a little too good to be true.
“We have a senior-led team this year with experience, which I believe is why we are having a lot of success this season,” said Angel Ibanez, sophomore infielder from Mission Sharyland. “It was a great feeling playing the way we played; we knew it was bound to happen with this team. We are fully confident, and the chemistry between us is great.”
The Broncs set the tone early versus Chicago State last Friday as they blew by them with a 14-4 victory; the taste of victory would not sour throughout the weekend. They followed that with a pair of victories 5-3 and 11-6 in Satur-day’s twinbill, and a 16-15 final in extra innings Sunday to complete the four-game weekend.
Adrian De La Rosa, junior outfielder
from El Paso, hit his first home run this season in the initial matchup, which helped eventually end the game on a 10-run mercy rule after seven innings.
The Broncs continued their impres-sive play with a dominant attitude on the diamond, an attitude they’ve ac-quired thanks to Mantrana.
“Winning is a habit, but unfortu-nately so is losing. In most places, if not all, it takes four or five years to really see some change in a program. We’ve been able to see change from the first year up until this point we are in now,” Mantra-na said. “There are three things we stress to the players: Do things the right way. Whether that is in the classroom, on the field or off, we have to show character. Winning teams do things the right way.
“The second thing stressed is desire. The desire to be a better baseball player, but most importantly the desire to be the best person they can be. The third thing is obviously commitment. Com-mitment to the baseball program and to your education.”
These three pillars are the foundation that Mantrana is building his program with, and the players are buying into his ideas. The proof is in the pudding as the ridiculously old cliché goes, and the pudding is looking pretty good right about now.
“This is the first group that he’s had at UTPA that’s been purely the recruit-ing work of this staff and it shows in the chemistry,” Carnall said. “He has done a good job of picking guys with person-
alities that blend well, and I think that is one of the biggest differences with coach. The attitude is helping us win but at the same time, it’s becoming an increasingly consistent feeling with us.”
The biggest difference of all is that team is producing wins. The Broncs were 22-32, 9-18 Great West Conference last season, and two years ago they finished their season at 14-41. They are 14-10, 4-0 GWC right now heading into anoth-er four-game weekend against the New Jersey Institute of Technology. They have been convincing wins that show poise and a competitive advantage over the other teams. The team ERA is 4.25, way better than the bloated marks of the past.
Even so, Mantrana knows that this is only the start, and that many more steps
are needed to fulfill the bold statements he made a little over two years ago.
“We’ve done nothing. Everyone goes into the beginning of the season saying ‘we want win,’ but talking the talk and walk-ing the walk are two completely different things,” he noted. “We have to continue working extremely hard and motivating each other to reach our goals as a team. Baseball season is very long, and to be a championship team we have to keep focus in order to continue this success.”
The Broncs host NJIT for another Great West Conference four-game weekend at Edinburg Baseball Stadium. Friday’s match-up is set for 6 p.m., while Saturday’s twinbill gets started at 1 p.m., and Sunday’s final game is scheduled to start at noon.
By Dionicio RodriguezThe Pan American
UTPA wins five, wants to make winning a habit
feet on the ground - Although senior outfielder Alex Carnall (pictured) said the team was satisfied after the weekend’s success, coach Manny Mantrana added that the players need to keep working hard to continue winning.
Reynaldo Leal/The Pan american
Men’s tennis edged out by UT-Arlington, A&M
Check out the story of this event at PanamericanOnline.cOm
UTPA hoMe evenTsFRIDAY 4/15Baseball vs nJIT edinburg Baseball stadium 6 pm
sATURDAY 4/16Men’s tennis vs UTsA UTPA’s orville Cox Tennis Center 10 amBaseball vs. nJIT edinburg Baseball stadium 1 pmWomen’s tennis vs. st. Mary’s UTPA’s orville Cox Tennis Center 3 pm
sUnDAY 4/17Men’s tennis vs. st. Mary’s UTPA’s orville Cox Tennis Center 10 amBaseball vs. nJIT edinburg Baseball stadium 12 pm
