Students recognized at annual Business Awards Ceremony

...Award-winning newspaper for The University of Texas of the Permian Basin...
Wednesday, July 20, 2005
Volume 23 · Issue 16
Students recognized at annual Business Awards Ceremony
New members inducted into Sigma Beta Delta
by Dr. Geralyn Franklin
Contributor &
Dean of the School of Business
The School of Business of
UT Permian Basin recently
conducted its Fourth Annual
Honors and Awards Ceremony at
the Library/Lecture Center on the
university campus. Exceptional
students, faculty and citizens were
inducted into the Sigma Beta Delta
International Honor Society, and
outstanding faculty members and
scholarship recipients were
honored.
Membership in Sigma Beta
Delta is the highest national
recognition a business student at
UT Permian Basin may receive. To
be eligible for membership a
student must rank in the upper 20
percent of the junior, senior or
graduate classes and be invited to
join by the faculty.
Junior inductees were:
Linda R. Armendariz, Jearon C.
Cambron, Olga N. Chavez, Sarah A.
Copeland, Mecca L. Dedmon,
Nicholasa R. Dominguez, Sonya R.
Galindo, Jennifer M. Garrihan,
Amanda G. Gibson, Cortney M.
Harston, Crystal E. Johnson,
Graciela Lindsey, Casey D.
Littlefield, Beatriz A. Merino,
Christopher A. Montez, Doris A.
Rivera, Isaiah M. Rodriguez, Janette
M. Rodriguez, Chris D. Scott, Ryan
B. Smith, Dusty J. Wright and Kayla
S. Wright.
Senior inductees were:
Jacee J. Means, Toni Morin, Sithan
Nam, Sarah E. Scott, Jeffrey Richard
Stewart, Jacob T. Stiles, Israel Trejo
and Iris Valles.
Graduate inductees were:
Randall Brian Bell, Jerome V.
Gegelman, Jeffrey L. Huston, Nad’a
V. McMahan, Rebecca Murphy,
Michael A. Rutter and Ata Sagnak.
The Chapter also inducted
two honorary members and several
new faculty members. This year’s
honorary members were D. Kirk
Edwards and Jack R. Felts. The new
faculty members inducted include:
José Castillo, R. Wayne Counts, Raj
Desai, Wei He and Jack D. Ladd.
Sigma Beta Delta is an
international honor society that
was established in 1994. It has more
than 160 chapters with over 20,000
members around the world. The UT
Permian Basin Chapter of Sigma
Beta Delta was chartered in May
2000. Sigma Beta Delta honors
students in business, management
and administration.
The 2004-2005 School of
See Business Awards, p. 4a
Courtesy Photo
Spring 2005 Sigma Beta Delta Honorary Members: From Left to Right: Dr. Geralyn McClure Franklin,
Dean, School of Business; D. Kirk Edwards, Honorary Member; Jack R. Felts, Honorary Member; and Dr. W.
David Watts, UT Permian Basin President.
UTPB High Rollers feeling lucky in the fight against cancer
by Isidro Gonzales
Assistant Editor
Photo by Paul Juarez
Wearing their lime green UT Permian Basin T-shirts, the members of the “UTPB High Rollers” cheer
for the participants during the Tenth Annual Relay for Life.
The UT Permian Basin Volunteer Center formed a team for the
Tenth Annual Relay for Life. Each
team picks a theme for the event to
spotlight their tent site. This year’s
volunteer team chose “UTPB High
Rollers,” a Las Vegas theme with
Lime Green UT Permian Basin Tshirts. The event, sponsored by the
American Cancer Society Odessa
chapter, was conducted to spotlight
the need for a cure for cancer. This
year’s event was held on June 10
and continued throughout the
night.
“The UTPB High Rollers
contributed over $1000,” said Lisa
Galvan, UT Permian Basin Volunteer Center Coordinator. The total
amount raised was $1,046.75.
“This is the second year
that the UTPB Volunteer Center has
had a Relay for Life team,” said Gloria
Galvan, UTPB High Rollers Team
Captain.
According to Gloria
Galvan, the name “High Rollers”
came from the popularity of “Texas
Hold’em” tournaments and poker in
general. “The High Rollers” formed
in memorial to Mike Machuca and
in honor of Michael Horton, a cancer survivor . . . two cherished Falcons.
UIDs decrease likelihood of identity theft
University IDs replace Social Security Numbers
How to obtain a UID
1. Wait for letter. All current UT
Permian Basin Student will receive
letters with the UID
2. Log on to Campus Connect with
your old student ID number and
then click the Student Information
Button
3. Contact the Registrar’s Office in
MB 1231 or call (432) 552-2635
by Isidro Gonzales
Assistant Editor
In order to provide more
security for student records and
private information, UT Permian
Basin has instituted a university ID
number system. No longer will any
student be required to give their
Social Security Number (SSN) to
obtain student records. Instead, a
randomly generated nine-digit
number will be used to gain access
to many of UT Permian Basin’s services, including Library services
and Campus Connect, which can be
found on the University’s website
at www.utpb.edu.
Students admitted into UT
Permian Basin during the 2004 Fall
Semester were issued a student ID
card with the new UID number on
it.
The UID was created in response to the Social Security
Remediation Project, which called
for minimizing the usage of students’ SSNs.
According
to
Keith
Yarbrough, Assistant Vice-President for the Information Resources
Division, the UID will be used with
almost every service.
“The UID will become the
student’s primary identifier for everything,” said Yarbrough.
The UID will not entirely
do away with the university’s necessity for SSNs.
“It was [UT Permian
Basin’s] goal in moving to the UID
to reduce the . . . reliance on Social
Security Numbers as a local identifier so that the students’ SSNs can
be treated more confidentially,”
stated Yarbrough.
Certain Federal and State
statutes do extend UT Permian Basin the power to collect SSNs for
various reports sent to Austin and
Washington D.C.
According to the American
Cancer Society (ACS) website,
www.cancer.org, Relay for Life began in
Tacoma, Wash., as the City of Destiny Classic 24-Hour Run Against Cancer. In the mid-80s, Dr. Gordy Klatt,
a Tacoma surgeon, wanted to enhance the income of his local
American Cancer Society office. He
decided to personally raise money
for the fight by doing something he
enjoyed—running marathons. In
May 1985, Dr. Klatt spent a grueling 24 hours circling the track covering more than 83 miles at Baker
Stadium at the University of Puget
Sound in Tacoma. Throughout the
night, friends paid $25 to run or
walk 30 minutes with him. He
raised $27,000 to fight cancer. Dr.
Klatt envisioned a 24-hour team
relay event that could raise more
money to fight cancer. Months later
he pulled together a small committee to plan the first team relay event
known as the City of Destiny Classic
24-Hour Run Against Cancer. The following year, 19 teams took part in
the first team relay event on the
track and raised $33,000.
Each year the Relay for Life
committee sets forth a fundraising
goal. This year’s goal was to raise
$60,000.
“This was met and exceeded,” stated Joy Carthel, ACS
Relay for Life Director.
See Relay, p. 4a
Inside
The MJ
Students remark on
the new UIDs...
page 2a
Fantastic Four battles
both Dr. Doom and the
Box Office...
page 3a
Falcon Sports
2004-2005
standings...
page 4a
Orientation Special...
pages 1b-2b
Page 2a, The Mesa Journal
Opinion/Editorial
Wednesday, July 20, 2005
Into the Wilderness Gorania ponders columnist/reader relationship
Fighting terror with terror?
Jason
Navarette
Editor-in-Chief
Four explosions devastated the British city of London
during the end of the morning
rush hour on Thursday, July 7.
The attacks were carried out
during the G8 Summit in Scotland. BBC News indicated that
four British-born men are suspected to be behind the attacks
on the London public transport
system, though this connection
has not been confirmed. It had
been reported by BBC News
that more than 50 lives were lost
in the explosions and about 700
people were injured.
The numbers keep rising.
My heart and prayers go out to those devastated by the London bombings, and I wish the very
best for America’s ally and mother nation.
Throughout its short history, the United States
has had its teeth cut on the devastations caused by terrorism (including but not limited to the acts of terror
delivered upon New York City on Sept. 11, 2001).
As a nation, we are not alone in our vulnerability and exposure to terrorist acts. For many years, Israel has been in a state of perpetual terrorism, which
has led to the ultra-tight security of their transport systems.
The United States is currently fighting a “War
on Terror.” One question must be begged, though:
“How can an abstract idea such as ‘terror’ be fought
and battled?” It is more difficult to clearly picture an
agent of terror, as no one group of people can be rightfully labeled “terrorist.” Terror, as we have slowly come
to discover, transcends race, gender and nationality.
Terror is ever-adapting, ever-changing and
ever-persisting. It cannot be defeated by soldiers, guns
and bombs. Terror is the fire that devours all in its path,
laying waste to all that we hold dear.
It can only be combated with Hope, Faith, Compassion, Understanding and Perseverance. Terror cannot survive under the onslaught of these powerful
weapons. To use terror (in the form of military attacks)
to fight terror only creates more terror.
Nowadays it seems as if terror is all around us,
lurking around every corner like a fetid, cancerous
shade. It scorches the world around us with its fiery
touch, leaving death and destruction in its wake.
However, within the ashes of despair and desolation lies a glittering gemstone, the foundation of all
faith—Hope. Hope remains. Hope always remains.
C
C
ampus
onnection
with Jay Gorania
What do you think of the new
UID’s (University id’s)?
“I think it’s a good idea because your social security
number . . . could cause an
identity theft. I like it better.”
- Ashlee Rutledge
Child and Family Studies
Junior
“I think it’s a good idea. It
protects people from stealing
other people’s identities.”
- Merissa Davis
History
Senior
“They protect against identity
theft, but I don’t want to
memorize the number.”
- Heather Anderson
Psychology/Criminology
Junior
[email protected]
by Jay Gorania
Columnist
limited with. But does a
columnist need to have a
Ph.D. in order to discuss
a given subject?
During the spring
semester I was pondering
to write a column that
criticized West Texas’ obsession with high school
football, but I suppose I
dealt with it by addressing
it briefly in another article.
When I told a couple of
people about this, they
were instantly infuriated.
“You’re not even from
here. You didn’t grow up
with it, so how can you
criticize it. You just don’t
understand.”
There are some
Americans who are critical of fundamentalist
Muslim cultures, the radical fringes and even those
that are not, so are these
people criticizing unfairly? When Friday
Night Lights was released,
some folks said that H.G.
Bissinger had no business
Columnists
oftentimes have something to gripe about.
Yours truly certainly falls
into this category. And I
proudly discard the traditional convention of
avoiding so-called “ranting” in favor of capturing my sentiment in its
purest form, for better or
worse—depending on
your vantage point (note:
Bill O’Reilly is making a
killing, financially speaking, by ranting).When a
columnist is griping—or
praising, for that matter—do they need to be
experts on the given subject they are remarking
upon? Obviously, they
need to educate themselves as much as possible within the assignment deadline they are
discussing an element of
this area. But had he written something that was
more positive from their
perspective, it’s likely that
those people would have
praised Bissinger for his
work and his abilities.
At a conference I
had the privilege of speaking with Bill Evans, a retired managing editor of
the Dallas Morning News
and retired ethics professor. He said there’s a common phenomenon in journalism in which people
implicated in stories will
react to things according
to the way they perceive
they were depicted. Intuitive and obvious enough.
But he elaborated to say
that all people, including
mayors and police chiefs
to the homeless and convicted criminals, tend to
react accordingly.
If people don’t like
the way the light shines
on them, they’ll cry, “Yel-
low Journalism! These
writers are misrepresenting what really happened. They just want to
make names for themselves by stirring up controversy.” And as you
can expect, Evans said
that stories apparently
casting people in a favorable light lead them
to give those journalists
unmerited
praise.
“Wow! That was a great
story. It really covered
everything. You are a
great writer!”
What I’m trying
to convey is that
whether a print journalist or a news or feature
writer, you should read
their work with a critical
eye. And as much as you
may feel they need to
keep their passions and
emotions tempered by
their reasoning, so, perhaps, should you when
reading and interacting
with their work.
Correction: In the June 30 issue of The Mesa Journal (Volume 23, Issue
15), the article headlined “UT Permian Basin hosts presentations on
Communications” with the subheadline “Lecturer discusses race in
sports journalism” was incorrectly attributed to Jason Navarette. The
article was written by Jay Gorania.
Do you love to write?
Do you love to take pictures?
If so, then come join The Mesa Journal,
the award-winning student newspaper of
The University of Texas of the Permian Basin!
For more information, feel free to call
(432)552-2659,
email [email protected]
or drop by the office in
room MB2138 of the Student Union.
The Mesa Journal
e-mail: [email protected]
STAFF
4901 E. University Blvd.
Odessa, TX 79762
Phone: (432) 552-2659
Fax: (432) 552-2660
Editor-in-Chief: Jason Navarette
Assistant Editor: Isidro Gonzales
Business Manager: Tony Testerment
Advisor: Becki Murphy
Staffwriters: Ben Campbell, Alex Carpenter, Martin Chabarria, Luke
Garrett, Isidro Gonzales, Jay Gorania, Malissa Greenwood, Lauren Johnson,
Deandra Martinez, Monica Murguia, Marcella Pettus, Alex Smith, Joshua
Smith, Jhared Thomas, Veronica Villarreal
Layout and Design: Jason Navarette
Photographers: Jay Gorania
General Information
The Mesa Journal is a student publication that provides information, commentary and entertainment for The University
of Texas of the Permian Basin community. Editorial statements and advertisements do not necessarily reflect the
opinion of the UT Permian Basin administration.
Letter Policy
All contributions, in good taste, will be edited for grammar, spelling, length (250 minimum), libel, profanity and
personal attacks. All letters must contain the author’s name, major, academic classification and contact information.
This information can be withheld upon request. Electronic copies of articles and letters are preferred.
Mission Statement
The Mesa Journal is designed to inform, entertain, educate and heighten awareness of students, faculty and administrators at The University of Texas of the Permian Basin. Staff members will be responsible journalists by maintaining
high ethical standards with fairness, accuracy and balance.
Inside the Orientation Special...
Letter from the President
Dear Prospective Student,
Welcome to The University of Texas of the Permian Basin. All of us who teach, work and learn at U.T.
Permian Basin are excited that you are here. As a part
of The University of Texas System, UT Permian Basin
has earned a great reputation for quality and for supporting its students. With our small faculty-student ratio, you are assured the opportunity to work with faculty on a personal basis. To help you excel at the highest possible level, we offer the Writing Center, Math
and Science Center and Supplemental Instruction,
where your success is their job.
Falcon Athletics are becoming even more exciting with the addition of cross country, basketball, swimming and baseball. These sports are joining a very competitive athletic roster at UT Permian Basin. There are
lots of activities for students in Housing, the Student
Union and with our Program Board events. And there
are plenty of clubs for students to join.
UT Permian Basin has some real advantages to offer students:
· We give personal attention to our students.
· Our faculty is excellent and cares about students.
· We have new housing with more on the way.
· We provide a quality education experience.
Housing at U.T. Permian Basin is even more exciting. The six new apartment buildings opened last year
and the Clubhouse promise students a really great home
away from home. Every student will have a private
bedroom in an apartment with living room, full kitchen
facilities, free utilities and internet. Each building has
laundry facilities. The Clubhouse has a workout room,
a video theater, study rooms and computers for students. At UT Permian Basin Housing, you get your privacy, while living with other students in an environment with lots of things to do.
Six more apartment buildings with one and two
bedroom units are under construction now. We have
housing for families as well as single students.
We want you to come and be a part of UT Permian
Basin. It’s a great university in a great place to live.
Sincerely,
W. David Watts
President
Letter from the
Director of Student Life
Year in Review, page 2b
Fall 2005 Schedule
Registration Begins ------------------------------------------Extended Registration Hours
(9 a.m. - 7 p.m.) -------------------------------------Classes Begin --------------------------------------------------First Day of Late Registration -----------------------------First Day of Adds/Drops ------------------------------------Last Day of Late Registration -----------------------------Last Day to Add a Course ----------------------------------Labor Day Holiday
(classes dismissed/offices closed) ----------------Last Day to Drop a Course with 100% Refund -------Last Day to Drop
(without creating an academic record) -------Last Day to File for Graduation --------------------------Last Day to Withdraw or Drop* -------------------------Last Day to Submit Master’s Thesis
or Projects to Committee -------------------------Last Day to Add Self-Paced Courses --------------------Last Day to Take Oral Exams
(graduate students) ---------------------------------Thanksgiving Holiday Begins at 10 p.m. --------------Thanksgiving Holiday --------------------------------------Last Regular Class Day -------------------------------------Last Day to Submit Final Master’s Thesis
or Project to Graduate Studies Office -------------------Final Examinations ------------------------------------------End of Fall Semester -----------------------------------------Commencement -----------------------------------------------
September 5
September 7
September 7
September 30
October 24
November 4
November 4
November 22
November 22
November 22 - 25
December 2
December
December
December
December
2
5-8
9
10
(Part Two of Three)
Students in Philanthropy (SIP)
Baptist Student Ministries
The purpose of SIP is to positively affect our
community, to learn about the importance of
philanthropy and the role of non-profit agencies and
to gain leadership and stewardship training through
a structured program designed to educate, support
and promote philanthropic leadership in our
community. Email club President Crystal Barrios at
[email protected] or call (432)363-8166
Biology Club
The Biology Club promotes learning and fellowship
for those interested in the Biological Sciences and takes
frequent field trips. Contact club advisor Dr. Spence
at [email protected].
The main goal of the BSM is to promote a positive
Christian witness to the students. There are monthly
mission opportunities, lunches and weekly men’s and
women’s Bible studies. Contact club President Russell
Cowen at [email protected].
Gamer’s Club
The Gamer’s Club seeks to introduce new games to
new gamers and provide a great gaming atmosphere.
Call club President James Shelton at (432)362-3850
or email [email protected].
Sociology Club
Club de Literatura
The aim of Club de Literatura is to gather students
who have an interest in Hispanic literature, culture
and language. Call club President Maria Muñiz at
(432)770-6245.
The Sociology Club promotes commitment to public
service by creating mutually beneficial partnerships
between the campus and the community. Email club
President
Robyn
Hernandez
at
[email protected] or call (432)661-3017.
Note: Club Information contributed by Rolando J. Diaz, Director of Student Life
Freshman Falcon Checklist
Apply at UT Permian Basin
Register for Classes
Meet with Academic Advisor
Get a Student UID
Register for THEA Test
Get Parking Permit
Apply for Financal Aid
Get to Know the Campus
Sincerely,
Rolando J. Diaz, M.A.
Director
UTPB Student Life
August 17 & 18
August 22
August 22
August 22
August 30
August 30
UT Permian Basin Clubs/Organizations
Dear UT Permian Basin students:
Welcome to The University of Texas of the Permian Basin! Each year the Office of Student Life works
hard to put together a full schedule of events and activities to help you get involved on the UT Permian Basin
campus. From the Fall Festival to the Friday Night
Karaoke Nights to the Homecoming Activities of the
spring semester, we make sure that all of our programs
offer something for everybody.
This office is here to help you round out your
education. There are over 40 student organizations on
campus to help you network with other UT Permian
Basin students. If you would like to serve as an officer
to a student group or if you want to serve as an active
member or volunteer, I am sure there is an organization that will suit your interests. If you would like to
start an organization, please let us know so that we can
help you get the process going.
Organizations like the Student Senate, the Student Program Board, the Orientation Leaders Association and the Volunteer Center will help you develop
your skills as a leader. Other opportunities will involve
a first hand understanding of Roberts Rules of Order
and experiences which will enhance your communication and people skills.
As you progress through your higher education,
I want to encourage you to take advantage of the opportunities that are here for you on our campus and to
take ownership of the traditions that are even now being established for future generations.
If you have an idea for any program or initiative
please come by to see us in the Student Union. I look
forward to your visit.
April 1
Have Fun!
Year In Review
Page 2b, The Mesa Journal
Summer 2005
UT Permian Basin sets sights on da Vinci bridge
$40,000 grant offered for Leonardo Bridge Project
by Isidro Gonzales
Staff Writer
In an attempt to
demonstrate a commitment
to the arts and sciences, the
UT Permian Basin will construct a bridge that was the
brainchild of Leonardo da
Vinci, the painter of the Mona
Lisa. This bridge was to be
built in present day Istanbul,
Turkey, spanning the Golden
Horn inlet on the Bosporus
River in 1502 to honor Sultan Bejazet II, but due to the
fact that this bridge would
take about 500 years to complete, the plan was scrapped.
The Leonardo Bridge
Project, the organization responsible for bringing the
bridge to fruition, along with
its main architect VebjØrn
Sand, has undertaken the
task to have the bridge built
on every continent. Europe
already has one; the “Golden
Horn” stands in Oslo, Norway. UT Permian Basin will
be the site for the North
American version of the
bridge.
Prior to Sand coming
to UT Permian Basin on Jan.
25, a university press release
noted Sand’s immense interest in Leonardo da Vinci’s
bridge. Sand was captivated
by the simplicity and eloquence of the design. The
Leonardo Bridge Project melds
art through its symmetry
and poetic power, and science
through its innovative engineering and mathematical
principles.
According to Rick
Dempsey, Assistant Vice
President for Facilities Management Physical Plant, the
genesis of this project was a
desire to add a spur on to the
existing Hike and Bike Trail.
Dempsey said, “This would
access the pond behind the
Fire
Station
on
University…The intent was
to provide a short walk for
children and those who are
less mobile.”
Dempsey said that
Dr. W. David Watts, UT Permian Basin’s President, received a suggestion from local community members
that UT Permian Basin
should investigate the build-
ing of the bridge.
“This proposal was
added… for a grant from the
Texas Department of Parks
and
Wildlife,”
stated
Dempsey. The university received a $40,000 grant for the
project.
Student Senator Ami
Magallenez said, “I think it is
a wonderful opportunity to
show not only Odessa, but
the world, how committed
UTPB is to art and science …
[I]t will be amazing to be able
to say that we were the second. I think that along with
our Stonehenge replica,
Odessa will have the ability
to attract tourists from all
over the United States.”
Iris Fierro, also a Student Senator, said she thinks
it would be something ben-
eficial for the university.
“I think it is something that will add a positive
appearance,” said Fierro.
Dempsey stated that
presently there are two sites
under consideration.
“The original site [is]
near the Fire Station and a
second [is] across the Main
Avenue entrance near the
Ellen Noel Art Museum,”
Dempsey said.
“I think that the
bridge should be built on the
entrance to the university,
only because if it is behind the
fire department it will not be
as visible,” Magallenez said.
“This is something Odessa
should be proud of, and I
think that if the bridge is built
at the entrance, it will have
the opportunity to be the
Student Volunteer Center opens,
a dream becomes reality
Summer Graduation Ceremony 2004
by Isidro Gonzales
Staff Writer
Courtesy Photo
Gymnasium packed for Commencement: Faculty and families look on as graduates cross the stage during
the 2004 Summer Graduation ceremony.
Students gather at CEED building for The Debate
by Deandra Martinez
Staff Writer
In front of a crowd that exceeded the capacity of UT Permian
Basin’s CEED building, the Presidential Museum sponsored student
debate, simply entitled The Debate:
Presidential Election 2004, was held
between 7-9 p.m. on Thursday, Oct.
21.
CBS-7’s Tatum Hubbard
moderated the debate between the
“Bush” and “Kerry” teams that
were selected by the Republican
and Democratic parties of Midland
and Odessa.
The Bush team included
Kenneth L. Burgess of UT Permian
Basin; Joshua Nino of Odessa College, and Nicholas Crumrine, Francisco Villa, Gloriana Hernandez,
Marihya Rackley and James Snelson
of Midland College.
In addition to Midland
College’s Richard Lopez, the Kerry
team members included UT Permian Basin’s Alexis Milmine,
Michelle Pfalzgraf, Laura Phillips,
Tracie Dulin and Robert Nnake.
Nnake, a sophomore majoring in Pre-Medicine and Biology,
commended Crystal Barrios, the
coordinator of The Debate: Presidential Election 2004, for her organization of the event.
“More people came that I
thought would, so kudos to [Crystal Barrios],” Nnake said.
“When I got home [after
the debate] I thought we could have
prepared for things differently, but
you can never really prepare fully
for something like that,” Nnake
added. “And for all of us, except for
one [of us], it was our first debate.
So for at least half the debate, I was
trying to get over seeing all of the
Bush-Cheney [supporters].”
According to Barrios, who
is also the Vice President of UT Permian Basin’s Student Senate, the
debate met the high expectations
first impression of the university that some people get.
What if we could have our
stadium modeled after the
Coliseum? Very unlikely, but
it would be a good way to
continue our ‘European
Flair.’”
According
to
Dempsey, the start date is
unclear. “The start date is
very uncertain as major
funding from the community
and cooperate sponsors is
needed before a final site and
design can be selected,” stated
Dempsey.
Construction time
will be based on the final design.
Dempsey stated that anyone
interested in contributing to
the project should contact
Kay Bivens at (432) 552-2802.
she had when she had initially generated the event’s concept.
Amanda Stark, an attendee
who is a freshman majoring in
Mathematics, stated that “the two
sides were well prepared. However,
rather than attacking the issues,
they attacked the candidate. The
Kerry-Edwards side focused on
Bush’s ‘lie’ to go to war. The BushCheney side focused on Kerry’s ‘flipflop.’”
The Bush team was
coached by former Midland Mayor
J.D. Faircloth, City of Midland Attorney Chad Weaver, and Midland
College Professor Todd Hoack. The
Kerry team was coached by UT Permian Basin Professor Gary
McCullough, Midland College Professor Joseph Willis, and the President of Midland’s Democratic
Women organization, Gloria Grier.
Barrios hopes that area colleges will
start a tradition by holding a similar debate in time for the next presidential election.
The Student Volunteer Center was a dream that
was made a reality in April.
Patterned after the UT Austin Volunteer Center, the UT
Permian Basin Volunteer
Center opened its doors due
in part to the tireless efforts
of Lisa and Gloria Galvan,
two members of the Sociology Club. After much fact
finding, several students and
faculty members—including
Lisa and Gloria and Dr. Carol
Traut and Dr. Michael
Osterburh—formed a Board
of Directors to put the plan of
establishing a Volunteer Center on campus into action.
The mission of the
Student Volunteer Center
(SVC) is to assist, encourage,
and facilitate students and
student organizations/clubs
to volunteer, strengthen ties
with community agencies
and expand service learning
on campus. The SVC encourages all UT Permian Basin
professors to promote
volunteerism by placing
some sort of community service aspect into their sylla-
bus.
Due to the SVC’s unforeseen resignation of
Danielle Pepper, the newly
named coordinator, the
Board quickly met to discuss
contingency plans for a replacement. The board decided that a temporary replacement would be chosen
from the board members,
and they unanimously
elected Lisa Galvan as coordinator. A permanent replacement will be hired prior
to the beginning of Spring
semester.
The board also hired
Brittany Nimmons as the
SVC’s Assistant Coordinator.
Additionally, Nerissa Brooks
and Gloria Galvan will be
acting as Permanent Volunteers.
In related news, the
SVC held its Volunteer Signup Day in conjunction with
the Program Board’s Club
Day. Area non-profit organizations constituted 54 of the
86 tables at the event.
If you are interested
in volunteering or fulfilling
community service hours for
the freshmen seminar course,
See SVC, p. 4a
Religious Rites
Student Senate votes to support tuition increase
by Tony Prather
Staff Writer
Tuition at UT Permian Basin will be rising this fall due to the
deregulation of tuition by the Texas
Legislature and, according to UT
Permian Basin President Dr. W.
David Watts, the fact that our “educational quality is at stake.” In a 161 vote the Student Senate passed a
resolution in support of Watts’ proposal for a tuition increase.
He stated that the state legislature believes that students
should pay more as a college education is now viewed more for private good than for public good.
“I don’t advocate for it,” Dr.
Watts said of the legislature’s view
while addressing students at the
senate meeting on March 4.
The UT system has three
grades from which they categorize
the financial state of each system
component. These grades are satis-
factory (which eight out of the nine
UT schools are currently ranked as),
watch, and unsatisfactory. UT Permian Basin is currently ranked at
the watch status.
Dr. Watts said the increase
could mean improvements in our
faculty retention and recruitment,
student advising, class availability,
quality of life for students and faculty, and it would help ensure program accreditation.
The recommended increase
supported by the Student Senate
will consist of an additional $9 per
credit hour.
According to the paperwork that was provided to students
in attendance at the Student Senate
meeting, all UT system schools are
increasing tuition for the fall.
“The UTPB increase is the
third lowest increase in the UT system,” said Dr. Watts.
Some students weren’t impressed by the information distributed at the Student Senate meeting.
“[On the flyer] at the bottom, it had a section on how much
tuition is for each school in the UT
system.” English major Nora
Triepke explained. “But it doesn’t
state the per capita income of each
community, and it’s much, much
lower for Odessa than Lubbock or
Austin or Dallas... or even San
Angelo... might be a little bit more
than Odessa is. If they are going to
be perfectly fair...they should provide all of the pros and cons including that information, because it’s
really important.”
Students like Robin
Hernandez are optimistic about the
increase.
“They’re saying if they get
more money then they can hire
more teachers and offer more
classes,” Hernandez said.
Junior Senator Keimon Hall
supports and voted in favor of the
See Tuition, p. 4a
Photo by Martin Gonzales
Luis Tijerina performs authentic Comanche Tarahumara
tribal ceremony.
Texas Intercollegiate Press Association
Convention 2005
The Mesa Journal Award Winners
Kristi Condry
First Place
“Special Edition or
Section”
Jason Navarette
Jay Gorania
Honorable Mention
“Page One Design”
Honorable Mention
“Page One Design”
Arts & Entertainment
Wednesday, July 20, 2005
Fantastic Four . . . Fantastic
The Mesa Journal, Page 3a
Theory of a Deadman proven false
Entertainment Review
by Jay Gorania
by Isidro Gonzales
Entertainment Reviewer
Fantastic Four (minus
the “The”) is the latest Marvel movie to be released.
Others include X-men, X-men
2, Spider-Man and Spider-Man 2.
In true fashion this movie
lives up to all its hype. This
movie does not follow the
foursome’s storyline to a “T’
but those already versed on
“The Fantastic Four” mythos
will not be left wanting, as
all of the original characters
are present . . . those new to
the group will be able to
catch-on without needing to
know any of the back story
as well.
The movie begins
prior to the foursome gaining
their powers. Unlike the
original story where the four
are in a spaceship when the
event happens, they are instead aboard a space station
owned by none other than Dr.
Victor von Doom. Yeah, you
guessed it—he’s none other
than old Doc Doom himself.
He is enamored with Sue
Storm, who is his assistant,
and decides to propose to her.
During this proposal, a catastrophic event
happens in which each is
given their extraordinary
powers. From Reed Richards’
(“Mr. Fantastic”) constant
search for a cure to Ben
Grimm’s (“The Thing”) realization that he is very different from the other members
of the group, we find each reacting to their new-found
power.
Fantastic Four barrels
on to its explosive conclusion
See Fantastic, p. 4a
Photo Courtesy of 20th Century Fox
Release Date: July 08, 2005
Directed by: Tim Story
Distributed by: 20th Century Fox
Total U.S. Gross: $62.2 Million
MPAA Rating: PG-13
(for sequences of intense action
and some suggestive content)
Campus Spotlight
UT Permian Basin
Student Services at a Glance...
PASS (Programs Assisting Student Study)
Services include academic and career counseling,
career placement, study skills support and special
testing services. Call (432)552-2630.
Financial Aid
Offers grants, scholarships, college work-study, work
assistance, veterans education benefits, agency assistance, and a variety of loans. Call (432)552-2620.
Student Activities
A wide range of campus cultural and entertainment
events, such as campus entertainment, lectures, fine
arts exhibits, and folk culture events are offered to
students. Students, through the Student Senate, are
represented on the Program Board. Call (432)5522650.
Writing Center
Whether a student needs help with punctuation and
grammar for an essay, or just brainstorming ideas,
the Writing Center provides a large number of services. Call (432)552-2302.
Academic Advisors
Students should meet their faculty advisors once
during each semester. When a student selects a
major upon admission to the College of Arts and
Sciences, a faculty advisor in the major field is assigned to the student by the Arts and Sciences Academic Advising Office.
Supplemental Instruction
This is a free tutoring service that targets historically difficult courses such as Mathematics, Biology,
Chemistry and History. Call (432)552-2630.
The University Math Center (UMC)
Assists students in overcoming the difficulties they
are having with mathematics at all skill levels. Call
(432)552-3350.
Perhaps it’s because The Tragically Hip’s music focuses on the Canadian
experience too greatly—with numerous songs about the good ‘ol prairies—that
the critically acclaimed rock band never took off on U.S. soil. But much like
Rush, Bachman Turner Overdrive, Neil Young and The Guess Who, Canuck bands
like Nickelback and Default have been making a dent in the U.S. market for the
last couple of years, probably because of the universal themes in their music.
The latest batch of northerners recently receiving a healthy amount of
time on the airwaves is Theory of a Deadman. The band—hailing from Vancouver,
British Columbia—came to Odessa’s Dos Amigos on June 13. Breaking Point
and Submersed opened the show.
The turnout was sparse. Maybe there were two hundred people.
Unfortunately, I arrived after Breaking Point’s performance, and from
all accounts that I had heard, I apparently missed an entertaining band.
But upon the first strum of the guitar, I knew I was in for a complete
waste of time when Submersed took the stage. With a vocalist with a weak voice
and no stage presence, forgettable-as-soon-as-you’ve-heard-them songs and a
lack of cohesiveness as a unit, I think this is perhaps the worst band I’ve seen
come through the Permian Basin. Honestly, if you can tell me how this band
got signed, I’ll co-write a book with you entitled “How to get your run-of-themill garage band signed to a major record label.”
Upon taking stage, the small crowd crammed forward to take in Theory
of a Deadman’s mainstream-friendly hum-alongs. The musicianship is far from
virtuosity, but they are definitely a talented, young band.
The focal point of the band is clearly front man Tyler Connolly, whose
deep, sometimes raspy vocal abilities are better than the majority of what you’re
hearing on the radio. Though he doesn’t possess the lengthy range of Chris
Cornell (ex-Soundgarden, Audioslave), Connolly has unquestionably been
heavily influenced by Cornell. And there we have our two-edged sword in that
his vocals are great but they sound like someone else.
Similarly, this band doesn’t have its own identity. I hate to say that especially since their guitarist Dave Brenner proved to be such a nice, laid back guy
unlike most pompous, arrogant rock star interviewees (granted, being a Western Canadian, I had a lot in common with him). But, alas, Theory of a Deadman
is essentially a blend of every multi-platinum hard rock band north of the Mason-Dixon Line.
Falcon Arcade
Fable: From fairy tale to dream come true
Entertainment Review
by Jason Navarette
Okay. I realize that the video game Fable was released nearly a
year ago, but this title must be reviewed—after all, I (and no doubt many
of the gamers on campus) had waited with baited breath for about four
years since word of this elusive game first came out.
From the revolutionary mind of Peter Molyneux, Fable, which
was originally entitled Project Ego and oftentimes referred to as Heroes,
was first proclaimed as “the greatest role-playing game of all time.” Although the game does not quite live up to the ambitions of Lionhead
Studios (whose other titles include Black & White and Populous), it does
prove to be one of my favorite role playing games (RPGs).
Like most of Molyneux’s games, Fable focuses on the struggle between good and evil. The game begins with the protagonist (or antagonist, depending on how you play him) performing deeds around his home
village to get enough money to buy his sister a birthday present. After
bandits attack the village, the young boy is soon taken to live at the fabled
“Heroes Guild.” Once the boy grows into a young man, he soon finds
himself on a quest for revenge and discovery—a quest that will unlock
the greatest good in our intrepid hero or transform him into the vilest of
villains.
The gameplay is smooth and entertaining. Although not as freeroaming as the game was originally publicized to be, most of Albion (the
world in which Fable takes place) is open for exploration at the very beginning of the game. Being an action RPG, Fable combines the overall feel
of a RPG with real-time strategy.
The combat system is remarkable, though the targeting can be a
pain at times. Experience is earned by battling creatures and taking quests,
allowing the player to give new powers and abilities to their character.
There is only slight lagging at times and the loading times between scenes are mercifully short. There are many ways develop your
character (both through experience and through good/evil actions), which
adds to the replay value of Fable.
The graphics in Fable are beautifully rendered and detailed. The
game’s scenery can be breathtaking at times, especially with added effects such as wildlife and environmental effects. Each creature, villager
and guard in the game is quite detailed, allowing for facial expressions,
tattoos and scars.
Speaking of scars, the hero of Fable can develop scars during the
course of the game. He can also enhance his appearance by getting various haircuts, tattoos and styles of clothing and armor. As an added plus,
players will notice that, depending on how they spend the experience
gained throughout the game, a character with more physical skills (such
as “Health” and “Toughness”) will become tanned and muscular or, conversely, a wizard spending Experience on magic spells will become pale
and thin. The hero’s tendency towards good or evil, his age and how
much fatty food he eats also affects the character’s appearance. One (and
possibly the only) drawback to the appearance of a character is the enhanced speed in which he ages (of course, there are ways to reverse the
sands of time in Albion’s Chapel of Skorn...).
Adding to the excellent graphics of Fable is the outstanding audio
of the game. The music is superb and the voices and ambient sounds
Falcon Arcade continued on page 4a
Photo Courtesy of Microsoft Game Studios
Platform:
Xbox
Publisher:
Microsoft Game Studios
Developer:
Big Blue Box Studios /
Lionhead Studios
Genre:
Action RPG
Release Date:
09/14/04
ESRB Rating:
Mature
Gameplay
Graphics
Audio
Replay Value
- 9.5
- 9.5
- 10.0
- 9.0
Average Score -
The Mesa Journal Online...
...the award-winning student newspaper of
UT Permian Basin is now just a keystroke away.
www.utpb.edu/mj/index.htm
9.5
Student Life
Page 4a, The Mesa Journal
Wednesday, July 20, 2005
Campus News...
Art Exhibits on display in the Nancy Fyfe Cardozier Gallery
The Nancy Fyfe Cardozier Gallery will be home to art exhibits throughout the summer and part of the fall. The
Derrick Conway and Mike Richardson Graduating Exhibition will be presented July 22 through Aug. 19. The
reception will be at 7 to 9 p.m. on July 22. The Texas Society of Sculptors Showcase will be held Aug. 22 through Sept.
30. The closing reception and party will be at 7 to 9 p.m. on Sept. 30. All exhibits and receptions are open to the public
and free of charge.
Falcon Althetics
Fall 2004 - Spring 2005
RRAC Volleyball Final Standings
Team West
1. Texas Wesleyan
2. College of the SW
3. UT Permian Basin
4. Bacone
5. SW Assemblies of God
6. Paul Quinn
RRAC Women’s Soccer
Final Standings
RRAC Men’s Soccer Final Standings
Conference
Season
Team
Conference
Season
14-2
14-2
10-6
6-10
4-10
1-12
27-3
22-9
17-17
10-28
8-21
1-12
1. Northwood
2. Texas A&M
International
3. College of the SW
4. Texas Wesleyan
5. UT Permian Basin
6. Huston-Tillotson
7. Wiley
8. SW Assemblies of God
9. Bacone
7-1
10-4
6-1
6-2
6-2
2-3-1
2-3
2-5
2-7
1-5-1
11-4
11-5
7-8-1
6-7-1
2-7-2
4-11
7-11
2-12-1
Team
1. Northwood
2. College of the SW
3. Texas Wesleyan
4. Texas A&M
International
5. Bacone
6. UT Permian Basin
Conference
Season
4-1
4-1
2-2-1
6-5-1
10-7
7-7-2
2-3
1-3-1
1-4
3-14
5-9-3
3-13
Falcon
Sports
RRAC Men’s Cross Country
Final Standings
Team
Score
1. Northwood
2. Texas A&M
International
3. UT Permian Basin
Team
32
1. Northwood
2. Texas A&M
International
3. UT Permian Basin
4. Langston
5. Huston-Tillotson
40
48
1. Texas Wesleyan
2. College of the SW
3. Northwood
4. UT Permian Basin
5. Paul Quinn
6. SW Assemblies of God
Fantastic,
Continued from p. 3a
where the foursome battles
with Dr. Doom. The ending
leaves
you
wanting
more...just suffice it to say
Falcon Arcade,
Continued from p. 3a
grant the title a total gaming
experience. The only fault in
the audio of the game is the
presence of some crossed and
missing voice scripts.
Business Awards,
Continued from p. 1a
Business
Outstanding
Faculty Awards were
presented to Paul E. Hodges
for Outstanding Teaching
Award; Paul J. Haensly for
Outstanding
Research
Award; Corbett F. Gaulden,
Jr. for Outstanding Service
Award; and William T.
Jackson for Outstanding
Faculty Award.
The ceremony also
honored the 2003-2004
Outstanding School of
Conference
Season
13-2
10-5
9-6
6-9
4-8
2-13
33-25
16-29
27-29
12-22
18-27-1
13-26-1
that you shouldn’t leave
when the words “THE END”
shows up on the screen.
This movie looks like
it will be the Number 1 movie
for the weekend of July 7-10.
I give Fantastic Four a
fantastic thumbs up.
Team
1. Langston
2. Paul Quinn
3. Huston-Tillotson
4. UT Permian Basin
5. Northwood
6. College of the SW
7. Wiley
8. Bacone
9. Texas College
Relay,
Continued from p. 3a
I love Fable. I
wouldn’t label it as “the
greatest role-playing game of
all time,” but it’s pretty close.
Overall, it was well worth
the long wait.
Fable earns a heroic
average score of 9.5 out of 10.
“We also had 38
teams this year,” said Carthel,
which was an increase of 18
teams from the previous
year.
Throughout
the
night various mini events
were held including the Miss
Relay Contest. This contest
consisted of men dressed up
as women; each sponsored
by a Relay team. Former Mesa
Journal Editor Jay Gorania
Business Graduates. They
included: Becky Rodriguez,
BBA in Accountancy; Paul N.
Herring, BA in Economics;
Rachel Cox, BBA in Finance;
Anahi Chavez, BBA in
Management; Jacee Means
and Daphanie Toro, BBA in
Marketing; Michael Rutter,
MBA; and Lorri Liles, MPA.
The ceremony ended
by recognizing the scholarship recipients for April 2005.
The scholarships were donated by local businesses,
alumni of UT Permian Basin
and several UT Permian Basin affiliates and associa-
tions. Scholarship recipients
included: Joni Grady and
Connie Sebolt, Permian Basin
Chapter of CPAs; Nad’a
McMahan, Institute of Management Accountants; Crystal Johnson, Petroleum Accountants Society; Stacy
Ruckman, Rachel Carr and
Casey Price, Marathon Oil
Company; Janette Worcester
and Christy Flores, KPMG/
Accounting Faculty Outstanding Jr in Accounting;
Ana Eliza Gonzalez, Sproles
Woodard, CPAs; Jeffrey Williams, David Boring, CPA;
Elena Hinojos, Marc Garcia;
Softball 2005 Standings
Score
33
40
83
84
105
Men’s Outdoor Track & Field
2005 Results
Baseball 2005 Standings
Team North
RRAC Women’s Cross Country
Final Standings
Team
1. Houston Baptist
2. Bacone
3. Texas Wesleyan
4. Northwood
5. UT Permian Basin
6. College of the SW
7. Texas College
was picked to represent the
UTPB High Rollers in this
event.
“I’ve always known
that my good looks cannot be
held down, and the point
couldn’t be made any clearer
due to the fact that I looked
just as good in makeup and
heels than without . . . seriously. But on a more serious
note, I’m proud to have participated with other students
and friends in an event that
supports the fight against
cancer,” Gorania said, a Public Administration graduate
Teresa D. Ramirez and
Jacquelyn Traeger, Opportunity Awards; Jamie Alcocer
and Tina Mobley, Accounting Alumni Endowment;
Dusty Wright, Jacob Stiles,
Faith Alessi and Jenny
Waggoner, School of Business
Faculty; Ric Broughton, The
Bryson-Devenport Group, at
Merrill Lynch, Midland;
Beatriz Merino, The Odessa
American; Kelly Cowart and
Kayla Wright, Sigma Beta
Delta; and Colby Welch, Accounting & Business Association.
Overall
20-0
17-5
12-12
11-11
7-11
6-16
1-11
40-2
33-13
26-21
22-27
13-15
8-22
6-25
Women’s Outdoor Track & Field
2005 Results
Score
136
105
84
74
67
42
40
16
8
Conference
Team
1. Langston
2. Northwood
3. Huston-Tillotson
4. Texas College
5. UT Permian Basin
6. Wiley
7. Bacone
Paul Quinn
College of the SW
Score
179
115
102
49
9
7
0
0
0
student.
Miss “‘Jay’ lie” garnered first runner-up.
Other mini-events
included an egg toss, dizzy
bat race, Best Relay Hair contest and a rousing session of
Twister, which the UTPB
High Rollers sponsored.
The UTPB High Rollers were privileged to win
the most mini-events with
five victories. Some winners
were Gilbert Zapata, Egg
Toss; Paul Juarez, Twister;
and Rueben Bueno, Best Relay Pajamas contest.
Several other highlights of
the event were the Luminary
Celebration and the Survivor
Walk. Some of the participating teams included: Ervin’s
Plumbing, Marcy’s Motorcycle Mamas, Medical Center
Hospital, Odessa Fire Department, Odessa Police Department, Tukong Martial
Arts and Walgreen’s. Relays
take place in more than 170
Texas communities, and
more than 3,000 communities across the United States.
Tuition,
Continued from p. 2b
SVC,
Continued from p. 2b
increase.
“With the increase
we will have less complaining about the school
and how we don’t have
teachers and things to
do,” Hall said. “So this will
help us and also help the
different departments that
are short on things like
professors. I just think that
this will make this school
better.”
call the SVC at (432)552-2690
or reach them via email at
[email protected].
Falcon Update: Lisa
Galvan has since been hired
as the Coordinator for the
Student Volunteer Center.
The
Mesa
Journal