Cherie Hodges believes in thepower of focusing attention on children,thinking that when given the rightamount of attention and care, childrenhave no limits to what they canaccomplish. That is why the self -described “community liaison” is tryingto bring the organization BigBrothers/Big Sisters, which pairs aneedy child with a “big brother” or “bigsister” as a mentor, down to the RioGrande Valley.

“There is an extreme need here inthe Valley. We have the highest rate ofteen pregnancy, drugs and alcohol abuseand this is one of the poorest areas in thecountry,” Hodges, a McAllen resident,said. “By helping this organization andbuilding it in the area, it is a way ofgiving back to the community”

Hodges came to the Valley fromMidland where she saw the success of thementoring group. After wondering whythe Valley didn’t have a local branch, sherealized that if she wanted something tobe done, she had to do it herself.

“When I came here, I found out thatthere was not an organization,” she said.“I’m trying to bring it here because Iknow it would help to improve the area.”

Big Brothers/Big Sisters has beenworking for more than 100 years. It isone of the Top 10 charities according to

Forbes magazine.The program is for kids 18 and

under who are in families with a singleparent, come from a low social-economic status, or need more focusedattention.

There are two formats to theprogram. One is school-based where thebig brother or sister visits the child’sschool for an hour a week. The other iscommunity-based.

“I personally prefer thecommunity-based, because you havemore opportunities with your child andmaybe have more fun,” Hodges said. “Itis not necessary to spend a lot of money.Just time to have fun.”

MOVING FORWARDA local organization has to receive

a lot of support from contributors. Thelargest concern is funding, and afinancial goal of $150,000 has beenestablished to get this project started.

Hodges and her border directorhave met on several occasions to discusssuch issues. During the summer, theywill hold “Jean Day,” where employeesof participating health systems areallowed to wear jeans on a designatedday as long as they contribute $2 to achosen charity like Big Brothers/BigSisters.

She believes that there are a lot ofresources out there to contribute to this

PAN AMERICANTHE

T h e S t u d e n t N e w s p a p e r o f T h e U n i v e r s i t y o f Te x a s - P a n A m e r i c a n J u n e 1 5 , 2 0 0 6

See BRANCH page 3

National organizationhopes for local branch

Conference addresses plight of uninsured population

THINK TANK - Raul Yzaguirre (left) leads a panel which included Dr. JohnLumpkin (center) and U.S. Rep. Silvestre Reyes (right) at UTPA May 22.

Luke Koong/The Pan American

By CAROLINA SANCHEZThe Pan American

HONORING - The Dignity Memorial Vietnam Wall arrives to the Valley at the end of this month for public viewing. Thewall is a smaller version of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C.

www.utm.edu/staf/leeb/Vietnam/wall.htm

For many people without healthinsurance, a simple ailment like the flucould spell death. At best, weeks ofdistress.

The plight of the uninsured in thenation is being felt, especially by theHispanic population. Of the 45.8million individuals without healthcoverage, nearly 14 million areHispanic.

Last month, experts who have longresearched the uninsured congregated atThe University of Texas-Pan Americanto host the National Uninsured LatinosConference and address the growingneed for healthcare reform.

“It’s time we’re no longer, in thiscountry, silent about the millions ofAmericans who are suffering because ofuninsurance,” Roland Arriola, vicepresident of External Affairs, said at theconference.

“We’re not going to acquiesce

anymore to the apathy that we seearound us on this issue,” he added.

MORE EQUALS LESSClose to 18,000 people are dying

each day due to a lack of healthcoverage.

In the United States, more moneyis spent on healthcare on a per capitabasis than any other country in theworld. However, spending all thatmoney has not yet produced equivalent

By LUKE KOONGThe Pan American

See UNINSURED page 4

Jorge Gonzalez remembers thenames of all his friends who lost theirlives in the Vietnam War. When theDignity Memorial Vietnam Wall opensfor public viewing on June 30, he doesnot know how he will react to seeingthose names again.

“I can not tell you that I’m lookingforward to seeing their names, but in away I’m looking forward to seeing theirnames,” Gonzalez, volunteercoordinator for the event, said. “I’m

apprehensive about how I’m going toreact.”

However, Gonzalez said he knowshe is not the only Veteran feelinganxious about the event, but insists itwill be a good experience.

“They are going to benefit fromthis. The entire community will benefitfrom this,” he said. “We need somethinglike this to happen to us here in theValley.”

Getting the wall to the Valley hasbeen no easy feat. The process startedabout two years ago, when DignityMemorial, a company who owns 1400

funeral homes and cemeteries across theU.S., first submitted an application onbehalf of the Valley.

According to Charlie Minjares,Dignity Memorial Vietnam Wall venueleader, though they were accepted thefirst time, certain events caused them tocancel the stop in the Valley. However,they applied again last year and wereonce again accepted.

“It had never been done herebefore so I figured what better way topay tribute than to post one here,”Minjares, who managed the wall when

By SANDRA GONZALEZThe Pan American

See WALL page 4

UTPA receives $46million for con-struction, expan-sion of facilities

Dodge Arena preparesfor Rob Thomas,Jewel June 25

SSeeee ppaaggee 88

Complete coverageof 2006 World Cupin Germany

SSeeee ppaaggee 55SSeeee ppaaggee 33

A&ENews Sports

1201 West University, CAS 170 Edinburg, Texas 78539

(956) 381-2541 Fax: (956) 316-7122

http://www.panam.edu/dept/panamerican

55th Year – No. 29

The PANAMERICAN isthe official studentnewspaper of TheUniversity ofTexas-PanAmerican. Views presentedare those of thewriters and do notnecessarily reflectthose of theuniversity.

The Pan Americangladly acceptsletters fromstudents, staff andfaculty regardingnewspaper contentor current issues.The Pan Americanreserves the rightto edit submissionsfor grammar andlength. Please limitsubmission lengthto 300 words. ThePan Americancannot publishanonymous letters,or submissionscontaining hatespeech orgratuitous personalattacks. Letters areprinted at thediscretion of theeditor and mustinclude the writer’sname, class/titleand phone number.

Letters policy

June 15 2006

PAGE 2

THE

PAN AMERICAN

News EditorSandra Gonzalezsandra_panamerican

@yahoo.com

A & E EditorMeredith LaGrone

meredith_lagrone@hotmail.com

Sports EditorDaryl Gonzales

daryl_gonzales2002@yahoo.com

Graphics EditorFranco CaballeroFranco.Caballero

@gmail.com

Photography EditorOnydia Garza

DesignersRoy Bazan

crazy_restless@yahoo.com

Laura C. Gomezlm.gomez@yahoo.com

Advertising Mgr.Rafael Villarrealspubs@panam.edu

Reporters

Frank Calvillo

Javier Cavazos

Roderick Dorsey

Adriana Garza

Luke Koong

Krystina Mancias

Fernando Martinez Pechs

Carolina Sanchez

Trey Serna

PhotographerJoey Cortez

AdviserDr. Greg Selber

SecretaryAnita Casares

DeliveryWilliam Watts

Thursday at Noon

IN THE NEXT ISSUE OF

THE PAN AMERICANWho will it be?Read coverage of the visits from candidates forprovost/vice president for academic affairs andcomments from the campus community.

Javeria Farooqi,junior advertising major

Destination: San Franscico

Statues grace the columns outside of theExploratorium, a science, art and human perceptionsmuseum located close to the Golden Gate Bridge andwithin the Palace of Fine Arts. The museum wasopened by Dr. Frank Oppenheimer in 1969.

Located to the right is a view from the Japanese TeaGarden located in Golden Gate Park. It was firstdeveloped in 1894 as part of the California MidwinterInternational Exposition and is the oldest publicJapanese garden in the United States.

Available June 29

SUMMER T h e P a n A m e r i c a n

R E A D E R F O R U M

Celebrity authorsFind out why big-name stars have tried their handat writing literary works and why results havebeen surprising.

Cartoon

Students, faculty and staff:Summertime is here and The Pan American wants to know what you are doing all

summer. Whether you’ve traveled to far-off destinations or stayed at home drawing, wewant to know all about it. Please e-mail any poem, short story, travel photos, art work, orcartoon to Summer.PanAmerican@gmail.com. Your submission could end up in the nextsummer edition of the paper.

-The Pan American summer staff

When Javier Rolando Garza first heard about

the mini-term being offered at The University of

Texas-Pan American, he saw an opportunity.

”I think it’s pretty good because, of course,

because of the hours; because you get that quick

hour,” said Garza, who took College Algebra during

the mini-term. “It’s not too bad if you take one class.

You just have to dedicate yourself to that one class

versus a few classes during the semester.”

Garza, a sophomore currently enrolled in the

cooperative pharmacy program, plans to attend the

University of Texas-Austin said that if he were still

here, he wouldn’t mind taking another mini-term

course to get ahead.

The UTPA mini-term, in existence for three

years, took place from May 15-June 2. Though it

unfolds in a condensed time, Dennis McMillan, asso-

ciate vice president for enrollment and student servic-

es, said these classes are no shortcut.

“It’s the same amount of instruction that you

receive in a fall semester and a spring

semester, but it’s all condensed down to 2 1/2 to 3

weeks,” McMillan said. “It’s pretty

intense so it takes a student that’s willing to put in a

lot of work in a short period of time

in order to earn credit for one class.”

The courses are so rigorous, in fact, that students

are only allowed to take one per term.

While the last enrollment report, taken on May

17, stated that 472 students were enrolled in the mini-

term, this number is a bit less than what was expect-

ed. This year, the mini-term originally offered 28

classes but eight were cancelled due to low enroll-

ment.

McMillan pointed out that the mini-term classes

were initiated to give students a unique

opportunity. With UTPA students graduating on aver-

age within five to seven years, he and other adminis-

trators want to improve these rates and help students

graduate more efficiently with the help of initiatives

like the mini-term.

“We wanted our students to have another oppor-

tunity to earn credit and make progress toward their

degree,” McMillan said.

However, mini-terms present a unique challenge

to professors who teach them. In regular length

semesters, teachers use weeks as timelines for the

next subject. In the mini-term, they’re forced to use

days. However, Fuat Firat, a professor of management

marketing and international business, said he has

some ways to compensate for the loss of time without

compromising his lesson.

Firat, who taught Principles of Marketing during

the mini-term, said that you have to choose projects

that are doable in the short time available.

“It’s very difficult to do, but you want them to

have the same learning experience that they would in

a regular semester,” he said.

Guo believes the mini-term is an interesting

concept and provides students with a chance to get

ahead.

For many music majors at The University of

Texas-Pan American the hardest part of completing

their homework is trying to find a place to practice.

Students in the music department often have to

search for any secluded area to hone their skills

because of a severe lack of facilities on campus.

“We have students practicing outside, battling

heat and bugs or in the lobby of the Fine Arts

Auditorium because there is such a shortage of prac-

tice rooms here on campus,” said Dahlia Guerra,

chair of the department.

However, finding a place to rehearse may not

be a problem for much longer. With the university

receiving $46 million for a new fine arts complex on

the main campus, and the expansion of UTPA’s Starr

County campus, the lack of space will be addressed.

The projects are part of nearly $2 billion secured for

state universities and colleges with Tuition Revenue

Bonds or TRBs.

“We are really excited about the new facilities

we’ll be getting and what it means for the campus

and the community too,” Guerra said.

Legislation passed by the Texas Senate in May

will give the university a fine arts center able to seat

anywhere from 4,500 to 7,000 people for a variety

of events from athletic competitions to concerts and

guest speakers. Importantly, the new complex will

also contain practice rooms and classrooms for the

growing campus.

“We really felt the need to push for these funds

because the university is growing, and this space is

needed to encourage growth as well as benefit the

community by attracting cultural events,” state Sen.

Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa, a member of the Senate

finance committee, said.

The science and business colleges had also

requested funding but were not included in the leg-

islation. According to Hinojosa, he had a difficult

time picking which requests were most vital to

lobby for.

“Since I was given the opportunity to make

sure UTPA would receive these funds - which we’ve

been wanting for years - I decided it was best to

secure the funding for the largest portion which was

for the events center,” explained Hinojosa.

Now that the money has been secured,

Hinojosa said the university will benefit from the

effort.

“If we want to compete with other first-class

universities in the state and nation and put UTPA on

the map, we need more facilities like this. Education

is the great equalizer and necessary for the success

of the region,” he said.

The senator added that while some legislators

feel TRBs are a bad idea because they borrow

money on state credit, they really are a misnomer

since the money isn’t repaid directly from tuition.

Tuition is simply used as security for repayment of

the loan.

“The idea of borrowing on credit is never

ideal, but these TRBs don’t raise tuition rates,” state

Rep. Veronica Gonzales said. “Anything that

lessens the burden on college students or encour-

ages new students to attend college is definitely

important and worthy of borrowing money for sup-

port.”

Along with funding UTPA’s fine arts complex,

the project will also benefit the Starr County campus

expansion with $6 million going toward the con-

struction of classrooms at the Rio Grande City site.

“Sen. Judith Zaffirini, who is in charge of the

TRB committee, was very committed to getting the

money for the Starr county campus,” Hinojosa said.

“The multi-purpose events center was the costliest

project at UTPA, so it was better to secure those

funds first. The other monies can be appropriated

during following sessions.”

Gonzales added that the expansion in Starr

County is critical in encouraging new students to

attend college since it provides facilities nearer to

those who would otherwise have to commute or find

housing closer to campus.

“Sen. Hinojosa did a great job on the finance

committee securing these funds and I believe the

TRBs are a good idea and would support future

projects for any monetary needs at UTPA,” said

Gonzales.

The nearly $40 million for the complex has

generated plenty of excitement throughout the

College of Arts and Humanities.

“We’ve needed these funds and the center for

a long time and are really glad to finally be receiv-

ing them,” Wallace Tucker, interim dean of the col-

lege, said. “This expansion will benefit UTPA and

the city of Edinburg.”

The multi-purpose events center could be used

to house not only university-sponsored events, but

private events like touring companies for dance and

theatre, and concerts as well. Over time the center

may even be able to attract big-name artists much

like the Dodge Arena in nearby Hidalgo.

The University of Texas-Brownsville campus

is also getting a piece of the funding $33.8 million

for a 136,000-square-foot Science and Technology

Learning Center classroom building.

By JAVIER CAVAZOSThe Pan American

Summer mini-term closes amid mixed reviews

UTPA granted funds for new construction

PLACE TO BELONG - Isabel Martinez, a soph-omore music major, plays her saxaphone out-side the practice rooms due to lack of space.

Onydia Garza/The Pan American

By ADRIANA GARZAThe Pan American

BRANCH kind of cause, but she needs help to find and obtain

them.

“It is very important to get help from all the

people we can,” she said. “I am looking for

influential people who want to participate with us,

so they can guide other people to help.”

Hodges would like to target The University of

Texas-Pan American to help get the program started.

“After we have enough money and we are

ready to go, I will start recruiting students and

faculty that would like to help,” Hodges said.

She is optimistic that this project will become

a reality.

“I’m very confident that we are going to bring

this organization to the Valley. People in the Valley

have big hearts and are always willing to help and

serve,” Hodges said. “It is just a matter of informing

them about this program so they can get involved.”

Anyone 19 years or older who has been a

Hidalgo County resident for more than a year can

help out. However, volunteers must undergo a strict

application process that includes a physical and

psychological test, criminal background check, and

a series of interviews, to ensure the safety of

children. Interested individuals can reach Hodges at

(956) 227-5929.

See MINI-TERM page 4

continued from page 1

N E W ST h e P a n A m e r i c a n

Mini-term Enrollment Figures 2004 - 2006

Source: Office of Institutional Research & Effectiveness

808

1077

472

Candidates for provost/vice presi-dent for academic affairs will bespeaking June 19-23 for a seriesof open forums from 1:30p.m.-3p.m in the Library Media Theater.

News in brief:

Page 4 NEWS June 15, 2006

UNINSURED continued from page 1 WALL continued from page 1

it made a stop in El Paso three years ago, said. “The

opportunities are limited as far as these types of

attractions coming down here.”

The only problem once accepted is getting the

manpower needed to handle an event of this

proportion. According to Minjares, it takes about

200 volunteers to make the 24-hour event happen.

Though they have secured approximately 60

volunteers, they are still far below what they will

need. Gonzalez said he hopes community members

will find it in their hearts to help by donating time

or money to the local Veterans of Foreign Wars care

of the Dignity Memorial Wall.

“I would really impress upon the community

to help out with it. It’s costing approximately

$30,000 to bring the wall down here,” he said.

While Gonzalez said the Rio Grande Valley

has been very supportive of wars and veterans, few

people other than the men and women who have

fought know the realities of war.

“The parents and friends and relatives of those

men and women who have volunteered need to

realize that there is a lot of danger in fighting these

wars. We as a society are very sheltered,” he said.

Gonzalez is all too familiar with the dangers of

war. Along with being a Vietnam veteran himself,

Gonzalez’s son Jorge J. Gonzalez, a 2005 graduate

of The University of Texas-Pan American, will be

shipping out for another tour in Iraq around the

same time the wall comes to the Valley. However,

Gonzalez said he has confidence in his son.

“I won’t think so much about it. He’s in very

good hands,” Gonzalez said.

Gonzalez added that he taught his son love of

country early on, but is not so sure every child has

that value instilled in them early on. He hopes the

wall will be a learning experience for them.

One experience Gonzalez hopes to on day

have is visiting the original Veterans Memorial Wall

in Washington D.C., but added that the Dignity

Memorial Wall is pretty close. However, he said he

will have to make sure his job doesn’t get in the way

of him truly appreciating the experience.

“Somewhere during the four days I’m going to

have to give myself some time and reflect on the

names on that wall,” he said.

Just as the names of the fallen are etched into

stone on the moving memorial forever, Gonzalez

said he hopes all visitors to wall eternally remember

this experience.

“We probably have a large number in the

Valley who will never be able to go to Washington

to see the real wall,” he said. “It is something that

you will never get any other place.”

Anyone interested in volunteering for the

event is asked to call Gonzalez at (956) 585-8160.

results. According to Raul Yzaguirre, former CEO

and president of the National Council of La Raza,

turning in profits may be a major reason health

insurance still isn’t universal.

“There’s more incentive to let something turn

into a disease rather than prevent it,” Yzaguirre said

to conference attendees. “It’s not only the efficiency

of it, but the justice of the system that bothers us.”

Yzaguirre pointed out that assistance programs

like Medicaid do little to ease the

burden.

“For singles and childless couples, in 42 states,

you literally can be penniless and you are ineligible

for public health coverage,” said Ron Pollock,

executive director of Families USA and one of the

conference’s speakers.

HARD WORK DOESN’T PAYA common misconception is that individuals

lacking health coverage are often illegal aliens or

unemployed. However, almost 82 percent of the

uninsured come from working families.

“It’s very clear, we’re talking about people

working everyday, working hard for a living,

working for their part of the American Dream, but

living sicker and dying younger,” Dr. John Lumpkin,

senior vice president and director of the Health Care

Group for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, said

during his address at the conference.

According to Pollock the uninsured population

will see no end to their struggle unless politically

speaking, things change.

He pointed out that interest groups play a major

factor in the impending issue, noting that 16 percent

of the nation’s economy is dedicated to healthcare

and should reform threaten them, lobbyists are

pressed into immediate action. Pharmaceutical

companies alone have 600 lobbyists working in

Washington, D.C.

In addition, they want their own proposals to

take center stage. If that doesn’t happen, they either

walk away or oppose others. In the end, no one wins.

John Edwards, former North Carolina senator

and vice presidential candidate, urged attendees of

the conference to take a stand against wrongdoings in

health care and to take an active role in reform.

“All of us have the responsibility to do

something about this,” Edwards said.

TRACING THE PAST - For the duration of thewall’s visit, paper and pencils will be available sovisitors can trace the names of loved ones.

www.mclib.org/vietnammemorial

MINI-TERM continued from page 3However, Ana Maria Rodriguez, interim

provost/vice president for Academic Affairs said that

along with a drop in mini-term enrollment, there are

many factors as to why the university is considering

not having another mini-term next year.

Rodriguez said budgetary constraints in higher

education may be making mini-terms cost ineffective.

“In addition to paying for salaries of instructors,

we also pay for utilities and maintenance,” she said.

Despite the issues currently facing the mini-

term’s fate, Rodriguez said she feels they are well

worth it.

“I believe the mini-term is a good idea. There

are, however, many variables that need to be taken

into consideration in order to make it successful,” she

concluded.

The late 1990s music scene was a post-grunge era

that began giving birth to major music forces. This sum-

mer, the Rio Grande Valley will welcome two of the

biggest artists of that decade who have managed to sus-

tain careers.

Rob Thomas and Jewel, both currently promoting

new albums, will perform at the Dodge Arena on June

25, making a perfect combination for some.

“I’ve been a fan of Jewel since I was in 5th grade

and Rob Thomas since 6th grade,” said Heather Cox, a

junior English major at Texas State University, a long-

time fan of both artists.

In 2005, Thomas released “...Something To Be.”

The album’s sound strayed a bit from what he had pre-

viously created with Matchbox Twenty, but his new

sound and image pleased many. His first single “Lonely

No More,” reached the top 10 on the pop singles chart,

and his album debuted at no. one. However, at the

height of Thomas’ career, he was already somewhat of

a music veteran.

Thomas gained success as the lead singer and

principal songwriter for the band Matchbox Twenty,

whose debut album, “Yourself Or Someone Like You”

was certified 12X platinum in the United States.

In a bit of foreshadowing of Thomas’ solo effort,

the singer co-wrote a song with Carlos Santana in 1999

entitled “Smooth,” which made Thomas a star in his

own right and gave a boost to Matchbox Twenty sales.

The band followed Thomas’ success in 2000 with the

album “Mad Season,” and in 2002 with “More Than

You Think You Are.”

Despite a well-established fan base, the band’s

third album didn’t do as well as the previous two. After

much touring and promotion, the group decided to take

a break, giving Thomas the opportunity to record his

first solo project.

Thomas’ appeal to fans like Cox is both obvious

and personal.

“I can relate to his personal background. He’s a

real person,” Cox said. “He has catchy melodies and his

voice is the sexiest male voice I’ve ever heard.”

Thomas and Jewel are just two in a series of big

names which have come to the Valley in recent months.

Dodge Arena Publicist Yahira Flores feels the

assortment of recent acts is one to be proud of.

“We’re actually considered small to mid-size but

we have an amazing market. We’re competing with

markets from NY and LA and still bringing down great

shows,” she said.

Caren Casas, a senior advertising/public relations

major from The University of Texas-Pan American,

received news of the show as a birthday surprise.

“I was really excited about getting the tickets,”

said Casas, a Jewel fan. “I’m more of a fan of her old

stuff, but I still do enjoy her very much.”

While Thomas was first introduced to success

with his band, his opening act, Jewel, is no stranger to

the solo scene. She became a hit with her unique folk-

pop sound and vocal range.

Her debut album, “Pieces of You,” was released in

1995. While the album didn’t see much success at first,

it eventually spawned the hit singles “You Were Meant

For Me” and “Foolish Games.” This year, Jewel has

made a return with the album “Goodbye Alice in

Wonderland,” a collection of songs that returns to her

earlier sound.

Cox strongly respects Jewel’s career, her ability to

create great music and her undeniable raw talent.

“Her skills are amazing. She completely avoids

cliche,” Cox said.

Thomas and Jewel will be here June 25 at the

Dodge Arena, located at 2600 N. 10th St. Tickets

range from $29.50-$79.50 plus convenience fees and

parking. Doors open at 6 p.m. and the show starts at

7 p.m. For more information, visit

http://www.dodgearena.com.

Music superstars visit Valley

The old adage that proclaims “a picture is worth

a thousand words” rings true this summer as The

University of Texas-Pan American’s art students

showcase their unique and diverse talents through an

exhibition of work from last semester.

The works, which will be on view throughout

the summer, are currently on display at various loca-

tions throughout campus including the Library Annex,

the Charles and Dorothy Clark Gallery (located inside

the fine arts complex) and the University Gallery.

However, this year’s exhibition proves different

as it is the first time that works of undergraduate pho-

tography students will be put on display.

Karen Sanders, an assistant professor at UTPA,

is responsible for putting the show together. In a recent

statement, Sanders explained the goals she wanted her

young students to achieve.

“It is important to me that students attain a level

of proficiency, vocabulary and conceptual understand-

ing of photography through traditional and digital pho-

tographic imaging processes,” she said.

Sanders, who holds a master’s degree in fine arts

from the University

of Michigan, teach-

es both Digital

Photography and

Photography as an

Art Form at UTPA.

According to

her, the exhibition

will feature both

significant tradi-

tional photography

and current cutting-

edge digital photo-

graphic projects.

“ S t u d e n t s

learn to engage

with a wide range

of issues that influence conventional and contempo-

rary visual discourses,” Sanders said in her statement.

Hector Perez, a graphic design major, opted to

use digital photography for his work as it relates close-

ly to his major.

“Digital photography will be an important part

of my life as a graphic designer because it will help me

be straightforward as I try to communicate through

print or other

media,” he said.

The work that

Perez is exhibiting

is indicative of the

hectic semester the

UTPA junior had

and, consequently,

has a feeling of

spontaneity to it.

“My work is a

silver print for the

Photography as an

Art Form class with

Karen Sanders,” he

said. “I didn’t feel

inspired at all dur-

ing the semester because of the stress of getting it

right. I guess that’s what most of my peers felt like.”

Perez, who has been into photography since ele-

mentary school, can still recall his initial interest in the

art form.

“Sometime in elementary school, for one of my

birthdays, I begged my parents for a point-and-shoot

camera as a present and I got it. It finally stopped

working last year,” he said.

While some may be hesitant to consider photog-

raphy a true art form, Perez believes otherwise.

“Just like a painting, a picture can have many

different interpretations or none at all,” he said.

However, Perez feels that unlike traditional art,

photographs have the ability to go much deeper.

“I like the sentiment of capturing a moment in

time that you’ll never get back again. It makes the

object that is captured somehow more appealing,” he

said.

Richard Hyslin, chair of UTPA’s Art

Department, describes the exhibit as an excellent way

to further expanding the area of photography.

“With the photography exhibit we are trying to

promote and develop the photography area so it goes

beyond a single course,” he said. “This is a way for us

to get more people interested.”

The works of UTPA’s photography students will

be on display throughout campus and are free and

open to the public during scheduled hours. Gallery

hours are Monday through Friday from 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

while the UTPA Library Annex is open during regular

library hours of operation. The works will be on dis-

play for the rest of June and the month of July.

By TREY SERNAThe Pan American

Student photos highlighted at UTPA galleries

Rob Thomas and Jewel scheduled to appear at Hidalgo’s Dodge Arena

By FRANK CALVILLOThe Pan American

Frank Calvillo/The Pan American

DRIP DRIP - Even objects as simple as outside water spoutscan become art in the realm of photography. This picture wastaken by UTPA art student Roland Simon Arriola II.

&ARTSE N T E R TA I N M E N T

T h e P a n A m e r i c a n

Editor’s Pick: Must-see movie“The Lake House”

starringSandra Bullock

& Keanu ReevesOpening Friday,

June 16

A scenic outdoor location,

authentic blues musicians and great

concessions come together for the ulti-

mate summer family event at

Harlingen’s annual Blues on the Hill

series, held at McKelvey Park.

The series, sponsored by the

Harlingen Parks and Recreation

Department, has been a hit for six

years and will continue this summer

with three performances. While the

purpose is to expose Valley residents to

a different style of music than they

may be used to, there is an underlying

cause driving the event.

“All the proceeds go to Harlingen

Parks and Recreation Athletic program

that takes the kids to track and field

competitions,” said Mike Jaramillo,

recreation superintendent for the city

of Harlingen. “It gives kids the oppor-

tunity to compete; they’re exposed to

competition and taught skills from the

early age of five.”

Jaramillo, a 1987 Pan American

University kinesiology graduate, noted

the department would like to take in

s o m e

college interns to help with the pro-

gram.

“It’s such a positive thing for the

kids,” he said.

Leslie Ross, secretary of the

Harlingen Volunteer Involvement

Council, sets up VIP tents for the musi-

cians at the event. She said the money

raised is allocated very carefully.

“Part of

the money

that we have

left over, after

putting on all

three shows for

the season, goes

back to start the next

season. However, what

we do is use the majority of

it to send kids from the

Harlingen area to a track compe-

tition that takes place during the

summer,” Ross said. “They

have to qualify locally, and

then they go on to state

competition. We pay for

their transportation,

hotel, meals and

everything neces-

sary for them to

go to the

competi-

tion.”

In keeping with the kid-friendly

cause, the event has proven itself to be

family-oriented.

Chris Maley, program director for

KHID-FM, public radio 88.1, said one

of the main reasons they hold the event

at McKelvey Park is to allow parents to

have a blues experience.

“We try to make it family-friend-

ly,” said Maley. “Parents with kids

don’t always get the opportunity to see

blues musicians in their regular ven-

ues, such as bars, when they have kids

to take care of.”

Maley added that one of his moti-

vators for keeping the event going is to

expose kids and adults alike in this

region to a different cultural element.

“It’s a perfect opportunity if

you’re into the roots type of music,

blues or jazz and want something total-

ly different from the norm of country

or Tejano,” he said. “Not that there’s

anything wrong with that, but there’s

more out there. Plus, if you have young

children, they get exposed to a totally

different culture. That’s one of my

biggest reasons for getting involved in

this: to

expose people to the blues genre.”

There are three shows every year

for Blues on the Hill: one the weekend

of Mother’s Day, one the weekend of

Father’s Day and one in August.

However, Maley said he hopes there

will be a fourth added in upcoming

years.

“There’s a possibility of maybe

adding a date some time toward the

fall, but that’s something in the

works,” he said. “So many people

would like to attend as we approach

winter.”

The second event for the series

will be Saturday from 6 p.m.-10 p.m.

and will feature headliner Tutu Jones,

the son of Dallas-based R&B guitarist

John Jones. Jones grew up among

some of the frontrunners in the blues

world and has been exposed to the

genre throughout his life. His solo

debut album, “I’m for Real,” was

released in 1994, and he has followed

it up with two more albums: “Blue

Texas Soul” and “Staying Power.”

For more information on the

Blues on the Hill series, visit

Harlingen.com or call Harlingen Parks

and Recreation at (956) 216-5950.

There is no cost for the concerts; the

Parks and Recreation Department sim-

ply asks attendees not to bring in any

outside food or drinks, as all the money

raised comes from concession stands.

Ross reiterated that the event is

great summer fun for the whole family.

“Even though it’s summer, we

always seem to have a great breeze

coming from the hill,” she said. “The

main thing is that it’s a really great

family event and free to the public.

There’s nothing excluding anyone

from being there.”

Page 6 A & E June 15, 2006

The blues fly south for summerHarlingen spices up McKelvey Park with jazz seriesBy MEREDITH LAGRONEThe Pan American Blues on the Hill

InformationJune 17

6 p.m.-10 p.m.

Featuring the music of Tutu Jones

August 196 p.m.-10 p.m.

Featuring the music of Jimmy Thackery

“That’s one of my mainreasons for gettinginvolved in this: toexpose people to theblues.”

-Chris Maley, KHID-FMprogram director

PLAYING HARD -Dallas-based gui-tarist Tutu Joneswill headlineSaturday’s install-ment of Blues onthe Hill. Seen atright, Jones playsat theEcaussinnes,Belgium “SpringBlues Festival.” David Baerst

El fútbol no es un simple juego de 22 jugadores,

dos porterías y un balón. El fútbol por difícil que

parezca, puede cambiar el entorno de todo un país. El

deporte mas popular del mundo puede enlazar países,

detener guerras, destruir fronteras, unir pobres y ricos,

el fútbol puede cambiar todo.

En años anteriores el fútbol ha demostrado ser un

extraordinario enlace de paz y unión entre países con

historial de guerra y conflicto. En la copa del mundo de

Francia 1998 los Estados Unidos disputo un partido de

primera fase ante Irán y el mundo nunca olvidara el

intercambio de regalos y buena vibra entre las dos

naciones que hasta ahora siguen en conflicto por culpa

de sus mandatarios desubicados. Otro encuentro entre

países hermanos en copas del mundo que desarrollo

gran expectación fue el partido de Alemania del Este en

contra de Alemania del Oeste en el mundial de 1974.

Este partido fue uno de los detonantes para la unión

definitiva del pueblo Alemán, quince años después se

vendría abajo el muro de Berlín. Este simple deporte

puede cambiarlo todo.

La décimo octava edición de la copa del mundo

Alemania 2006 comenzó el nueve de Julio con una gran

ceremonia de apertura, seguida del debut del equipo

anfitrión. La Alemania de Jurgen Klinsman jugando

con mucha actitud venció a Costa Rica con marcador

de 4-2 con dos tantos de Miroslav Klose, uno de Lahm,

y una espectacular anotación del medio de contención

Frings. Por el equipo “Tico,” Wanchope se destapo con

dos anotaciones.

El pasado 11 de Julio, el equipo tricolor

comandado por Ricardo Antonio Lavolpe sumo su

primera victoria del torneo al vencer por 3-1 al mejor

equipo asiático Irán. En la primera mitad del encuentro

el equipo Azteca salio al campo con mucha presión. El

equipo titubeaba por momentos y el juego colectivo no

generaba jugadas de peligro. El primer gol Mexicano se

dio en un tiro de esquina por medio de Omar Bravo

(Chivas). Para el segundo tiempo, Lavolpe le dio al

equipo mas variantes y llegada con la entrada de

Antonio Naelson “Zinha” (Toluca) y de Luis Perez

(Rayados de Monterrey). En el minuto 76 del encuentro

una gran pifia de la zaga Iraní produjo el segundo gol

de México, cuando Naelson filtro un pase a Bravo en el

borde del área. Tres minutos después, en jugada

individual “Zinha” gambeteo y mando un servicio por

derecha que Mario Méndez centro para que

nuevamente “Zinha” remata de cabeza

espectacularmente para firmar la victoria Mexicana en

la ciudad Alemana de Nuremberg. El próximo partido

del equipo Mexicano será el próximo Viernes en

Hannover ante su similar de Angola.

El equipo de Bruce Arena, no tuvo una gran

actuación como se esperaba. La Republica Checa le dio

a los Estados Unidos una gran lección de fútbol y juego

colectivo. Con anotaciones de Jan Koller y de Tomas

Rosicky el equipo de Europa del Este se impuso por 3-

0. El próximo encuentro de los Estados Unidos será el

siguiente Sábado ante la temida Italia de Francesco

Totti y Alessandro del Piero.

En la universidad de Texas-Pan American hay

una gran expectación por el mundial de fútbol y la

mayoría de los estudiantes no dejan de asistir a clases

por los partidos. Gran parte de los estudiantes y

profesores han podido ver muchos de los encuentros de

este emocionante torneo en las televisiones que se

encuentran en el edificio popularmente conocido como

“Student Union.”

Por otra parte, fiestas entre amigos se realizan día

con día para ver los 96 cotejos de la primera ronda de la

Copa del Mundial. Un grupo de estudiantes Chilenos

que realizan sus masters en administración invitan a

todos los estudiantes de la universidad que quieran ver

los partidos. José y Jaime González esperan a los

interesados en Bronc Village departamento 1119.

Por FERNANDO MARTINEZ PECHSThe Pan American

June 15, 2006 SSPPOORRTTSS Page 7

Men’s basketball coach eager to host camp for RGV youth

GOT TIPS? E-mail The Pan AmericanThePanAmerican@gmail.com

Comienza la fiesta del futbol Mundial

The hiring of University of Texas-Pan

American head men’s basketball coach Tom

Schuberth was an attempt to improve a program

lacking much recent achievement. Fortunately for

UTPA, Schuberth plans on planting his seeds of

success months before the season starts.

The former assistant head coach at the

University of Central Florida will be hosting two

summer basketball camps in June at the UTPA

Field House. The fee for each camp is $95 per

participant, with a $50 deposit required up front.

The first camp, titled Mini Bronc Camp, will

be held June 19-22 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Boys and

girls ranging from ages five to nine years old will

be eligible to join the festivities.

“It’s our first camp here at UTPA,” said

Schuberth. “It’s more for the younger kids,

involving basketball skills, games, and the little

things that they really enjoy getting into.”

The second event, the Future Bronc Camp,

will be exclusively for boys ages 8-17, June 26-29

at the same time frame as the first camp (9 a.m. to

2 p.m.). Schuberth explained that this particular

camp will be more skill-oriented, “focusing on

developing their individual skills as well as team

concepts.”

Schuberth, who spent 24 years as an assistant

coach at various collegiate programs, became the

13th head coach in men’s basketball history at

UTPA on April 21. One of his long-term goals is to

turn around a program that finished 7-24 last

season. But according to the coach, he wants to

begin his quest for success on a good note not only

with the university, but also with the fans and

community as well.

“It’s my first year here, and I want to get off

to a good start by providing it (the camp) for the

community,” he proclaimed. “I’m hoping we get a

good response. Right now it’s been a little slow

with the new staff jelled in place.”

Schuberth and his staff have made strides to

inform the public about the upcoming summer

camps, including sending out brochures and

contacting area middle and high schools. But

Schuberth insists that getting off to a late start

advertising the camp might hinder the number of

participants in this year’s summer sessions.

“Next summer, with the privilege of having

more time to work with, we’re really going to

promote the summer camps and try to get a great

turnout,” he added.

Schuberth is certainly no stranger to summer

camp involvement. He has been either a host or

participant of them for over 30 years. “I attended

camps in grade school, while being an active

facilitator during my coaching years,” he replied.

He went on to express how the summer

programs received a great response from the

Orlando community during his coaching tenure at

Central Florida.

“Orlando is a metropolitan area where we had

a lot of eager young people to choose from,”

Schuberth explained.

He continued to elaborate on the impact

camps will have on youth, explaining how young

people have the opportunity to not only learn

basketball, but ultimately develop lifetime

friendships.

“I still stay in touch with people that I met

through the camp circuits that I’ve known for over

25 years,” Schuberth boasted.

Recruiting for the future is another

underlying purpose of the camps, according to the

Bronc basketball coach. “We hope to bring young

people in here that would have such a positive

experience, that they would consider attending

UTPA,” he said.

“I think that’s one of the goals (of the camp),

not just making the kids better basketball players

and having a fun time for the 3-4 days they’re here,

but maybe this will influence their college decision

reflecting long-term goals far beyond just a four-

year plan; more like a 40-50 year decision.”

He added that the camp’s goal is focused on

portraying value in the basketball program and,

more importantly, the university as a whole.

Current men’s basketball players will take

part in the camps, but according to Schuberth,

“there will only be a couple of guys involved,

probably two or three of them to be exact, because

they are the only ones who attend summer school.”

Schuberth believes that involving the student-

athletes is essential because of the positive

influence they can instill into youth.

“The most important aspect of the program is

the players,” he continued. “They are the ones who

make up the livelihood of the camp. I want the

young people to get to know the student-athletes

and interact with them. It develops good

camaraderie between them, and it shows a sense of

responsibility among the student-athletes.”

By RODERICK DORSEYThe Pan American

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Los ojos del mundo en Alemania 2006

Soccer is not just a sport that consists of 22

players, two goals and one ball. It is the most

popular sport in the world, one that can bring

countries together, stop wars, destroy borders

and join the poor and rich. Its power is endless.

In past years, soccer was an extraordinary

banner of peace and union between countries

with war and conflicting histories. In the 1998

World Cup the United States participated with

Iran in a first-round match, after two decades of

trouble. The world will never forget the

exchange of gifts and fine ambiance that these

two conflicting nations showed one another

before their match-up as they set their

differences aside.

Another match between brotherly nations

that brought great expectation in 1974 was the

encounter of East and West Germany. This

match was one the first steps in bringing unity to

the German people. Fifteen years later, the

Berlin Wall came down and Germany was one

nation once again.

The 18th edition of the FIFA World Cup

began last Friday with an amazing opening

ceremony followed by the debut of the host

nation. The Germans of head coach Jurgen

K l i n s m a n

competed with a

lot of

determination in

defeating Costa

Rica by a score

of 4-2. Klose,

Lahm and

Frings scored

for Germany,

w h i l e

W a n c h o p e

representing the

C e n t r a l

A m e r i c a n

nation scored

twice.

T h e

M e x i c a n

national team

under the

guidance of

R i c a r d o

A n t o n i o

Lavolpe gained

its first victory

in Germany, over Iran last Sunday. Mexico

defeated the Persians by a score of 3-1. Antonio

Naelson “Zinha”

(of Toluca) and

Luis Perez

(Rayados de

Monterrey) gave

the Aztec squad

better possession

of the ball, and

attacking ability.

In the 76th

minute of play,

after a dreadful

error by the

I r a n i a n

d e f e n d e r s ,

Naelson was able

to filter a pass to

Omar Bravo that

led to Mexico’s

second goal.

Three minutes

after Bravo’s

goal, Naelson

gave another

electrifying pass

to Mario

Mendez, who crossed again to Naelson, who

headed it back in the net for the third goal for

Mexico. Mexico’s next match will be tomorrow

against Angola.

The United States on the other hand did not

fare so well in its World Cup debut. The Czech

Republic gave the stars and stripes team an

amazing lecture of first-class soccer and

collective play. Jan Koller and Tomas Rosicky

were important factors in the 3-0 victory for the

Eastern Europe nation. The next United States

encounter will take place Saturday against

dominant Italy of Francesco Totti and

Alessandro del Piero.

Local InterestThere has been enormous expectation for

the event at The University of Texas-Pan

American. Many students and faculty gathered

at the Student Union to watch the thrilling action

of the FIFA World Cup.

Others gather with groups of friends on a

daily basis watching the first round’s 96

matches. A group of Chileans graduate students

working on their administration master’s

degrees invite all students of the university who

want to see the games. Jose and Jaime Gonzalez

await all interested parties in their Bronc Village

apartment 1119.

A newly formed baseball team has arrived to the

Rio Grande Valley, and after court controversy and

newspaper headlines is playing ball this summer. For

five seasons, Edinburg Baseball Stadium was home to

the Central League’s Edinburg Roadrunners but after

months of legal battles the Roadrunners were forced

out overe the winter and the Edinburg Coyotes of the

United League Baseball moved in.

The Coyote season kicked off against Valley rival

Rio Grande Valley Whitewings on May 17 and were

able to pick up their first win of the season, 6-2 in front

of 3,500 fans. Former Roadrunners field manager

Vince Moore signed on with the Coyotes and was

determined to make the best of the situation.

“It’s been a change because I’ve been part of the

Roadrunner family since 2001 and now that the family

has moved on its kind of hard to swallow, but I knew I

had to think about my career," said Moore, who was a

successful player for the team before becoming

manager. "It was difficult but it turned out good in the

end."

The Coyotes are 21-4 on the season. On June 5

the Coyotes dropped their first game of the season to

the San Angelo Colts, ending a 17-game winning

streak. In the Coyotes inaugural season the streak came

as a surprise to all, including Moore.

"To be honest with you yes, I was shocked,” he

said. “That’s something real tough to do in baseball.

Baseball is a strange game, it’s a game of inches and to

have 17 games where all those inches are in your favor

is hard, its tough. It was real strange to be in that

situation."

The ULB has six teams, including the Coyotes. A

17-game winning streak can only mean two things,

that the Coyotes are extremely good or that the other

teams in the ULB are not that good.

"Well we started off hot. We have a great pitching

staff, which helps us a lot. We’ve played some teams

that have good hitting but are lacking in pitching," said

Moore. "I feel that we have the whole package and

maybe some of the other teams have some work to do

as far as pitching, but the potential is there for all the

teams."

After the first loss the Coyotes seemed to be back

on track with two wins but the Alexandria Aces had

different plans as they pulled out a 9-2 victory over the

Coyotes on June 8.

If some Coyotes look familiar that’s because

several are former Roadrunners, like outfielder Eric

Gonzalez of La Feria and pitchers Julio Ruiz and Eric

Montoya. This has been a huge factor in the success to

ball club this season.

"Having these former players is definitely

beneficial because I managed them last year and I got

a chance to know what type of guys I was dealing

with,” Moore said. “And I just put a few other guys

around and they knew what it took for me as a manager

and I knew what they were going to give me every

night on the baseball field."

The Coyotes are currently on a six-game road

that started Tuesday at Alexandria for a three-game

series. So far the Coyotes have proved successful

despite the problems that surrounded them early in the

season.

With a little more than two months remaining in

the 90-game inaugural season there’s sure to be much

for excitement from the Coyotes.

Inaugural season off to amazing start for the Coyotes By KRYSTINA MANCIASThe Pan American

FIFA World Cup living up to expectationsBy FERNANDO MARTINEZ PECHS The Pan American

Onydia Garza/The Pan American

TURNING TWO - Edinburg Coyote shortstop Jermy Acey in process of turning a double play against theAlexandria Aces last week at the Edinburg Baseball Field.

S P O R T SEditor’s Pick - Game to watchT h e P a n A m e r i c a n

Marquez Atwa

Mexico vs. AngolaFriday at 2 p.m.

Can be viewed on ESPN

Mexico gets off to great start while the U.S. struggles to find first win of the tournament