SO CLOSE YET SO FAR Islanders fall 1 point short of CIT title
by KRISTEN VEIT & MELISSA RODRIGUEZ • Page 14
Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi
IslandWavesNews.com
News Four students honored at Islander Tribute Page 5
Also
April 13, 2017 Volume 28, Issue 11
Opinions Page 2 Entertainment Page 9 Sports Page 14
2 Opinion STUDENT PUBLICATION OF TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY-CORPUS CHRISTI
04.13.2017
Festival sparks controversy AMERICA SEGURA @americabatel
The long-lived legend, Tejano super star and “Queen of ISLAND WAVES STI | ISLANDWAVESNEWS.COM | Corpus VOLUMEChristi”, 26 ISSUE 20 | 08.27.15 Selena QuintaIslandWavesNews.com nilla, has sparked up quite a bit of controversy despite the fact Editor-in-chief that she has been deceased for KACI ALVAREZ over two decades. Recently, after the Third AnWeb nual Fiesta de la Flor event MIKAYLA OELSCHLEGEL, editor held in Corpus Christi, Texas, JEFFREY THOMAS, on-air talent fans came out to speak on SeleMITCHELL JACKSON, vid. editor na’s behalf- or so they think. ERIN NASH, podcast host A certain part of the public has claimed that although it is Copy Editor amazing that people continue KATIE MEZA to want to celebrate Selena’s life, perhaps it’s time to let her Visuals “rest in peace”. IZZY SNEED, editor The most prominent arguZACH ALDRIDGE, photographer ment was the fact that many think hosting events such as Layout this festival is a disguised deed KARA HERRERA, editor in order to continue making VINCENT VERDUZCO, assistant money off of her name. With millions of dollars being earned Reporters from Fiesta de la Flor, it is hard GERI LEMMONS, features to put those rumors to rest. JONATHAN FORNEY, sports Not to mention, that earMELISSA RODRIGUEZ, news lier this year a massive event SARAH REEVES, news for the Selena MAC make-up AMERICA SEGURA, sports launch was also held in Corpus Christi. An event which Graduate Assistant ultimately also made large revBRADY BURNS, advertising Faculty Adviser WENDY MOORE
Any student or University employee may submit material and opinions for publication consideration. To become a contributor, e-mail or call the Island Waves editor. CONTACT US 6300 Ocean Drive Unit 5783 Corpus Christi, TX 78412 (361) 825-5862 editor@tamucc.edu ads@tamucc.edu
How should Selena Quintanilla be remembered? CHRISTINA RODRIQUEZ
junior communication studies major
Selena should forever be remembered for her charisma, her creative mind, her music and her short wonderful life. Revamping everything she did just to make money off of her name is completely disrespectful. LISA CONDE
junior nursing major
Photo courtesy of GOOGLE.COM
Selena waves to fans before her concert in Houston at the Astrodome in 1995.
goods. While of course, everyone wishes to be remembered in such a vibrant way, I believe it isn’t fair to her name to keep exposing her in such a way for revenue. The city of Corpus Christi already brings in a large amount of tourism thanks to being Selena’s hometown and the various momentums that are for Selena
Well I feel like she will always be remembered just as all the other famous stars who passed on. As for the events like Fiesta De La Flor, I feel like its too much and it’s been so long but then again you have to consider the people. Anyone can try and keep an event going but it takes the fans to be the ones that will either make an event a success or a failure.
including the museum and Selena Statue on Ocean Drive. It seems to me they are just pulling out newer and innovative products in order to get public engagement and more profit.
Bed rest and responsibilities don't mix
ABOUT ISLAND WAVES Island Waves is a student-produced publication at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. The newspaper is printed weekly, except during summer sessions.
enue and moreover attracted a great deal of attention from Selena Fans everywhere. As a young Hispanic woman, I remember being a little girl and watching the Selena movie and looking up to her as an individual, despite the fact that I knew she was no longer physically here. You can say she served as an inspiration to me and to young Latina girls everywhere to follow their dreams despite the obstacles of where you come from or despite certain inabilities. As much as Selena’s legacy continues to inspire generations to come, I also believe it is time to put her to rest. Before large events like Fiesta de la Flor and the Selena Mac Launch aspired, I was curious as to who was benefiting from all the profits being made with her name. It all seemed wrong to be paying for merchandise for such an iconic character even after almost two decades. Especially when it appeared not be a genuine tribute and more like a way to continue banking in money from her name. It seemed as if the marketing of Selena’s name has only come to benefit the companies that are manufacturing those
WORD on the STREET
KACI ALVAREZ @earthtokace
Most college students would love to have the opportunity to lay in bed all day. It gives them the perfect excuse to binge watch their favorite show on Netflix and stay in their pajamas. But the truth is, it sucks. Especially when you’re doped up on pain medication while trying to pass a kidney stone. That’s right, I’m 21 years old and this is my third case of kidney stones. I know what you’re probably thinking. “You’re too
young to have kidney stones.” Nope, in fact they’re hereditary. I found that out the hard way when I was 13. The thing is, kidney stones are painful. Imagine a knife constantly stabbing your insides without giving you the break to breathe. Screaming and crying is inevitable. You feel nauseous and there’s nothing you can do about it, except for the constant loopy feeling in between sleep, thanks to the white pills the doctor gave you. Do you know what’s almost worse than that? Feeling useless. The fact that I have so much school work and have to run a student newspaper, but not being able to do anything
is a horrible feeling. Being wrapped up in my bed, while I should be helping layout THIS issue of the paper is not ideal. I had put the production of Island Waves through a hiccup because my body decided to be a real peach and make a literal stone pass through me. Didn’t it know that I have responsibilities? Not only to finish my own job, but people relied on me for there’s as well. Situations like this seem to always happen, no matter who you are. Things seem to be going smoothly, then all of the sudden, BAM something terrible happens. I'm about to graduate. I'm currently looking for a job,
and school work is starting to pile up, so it's no wonder I got kidney stones. The universe said it was time to throw me off guard. So, to all the students who occasionally wish they got sick so they could stay home or take a mental health day, don't. Because if you aren't careful, it could eventually mess with the work flow of everything you have going on and make you fall behind. Now, to the students who think a sore throat is bad, you simply have no idea. And to answer the question everyone is thinking: yes, I am on my pain meds while writing this.
News 3
04.13.2017
Film depicts global climate change SARAH REEVES @SreevesR
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n April 3, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi hosted a viewing of “Between Earth and Sky: Climate Change on the Last Frontier” directed by Paul Hunton. The event featured executive producer Dr. David Weindorf, with his specialty in soil science, from Texas Tech University as a guest speaker. The newfound documentary focused on the impacts of climate change to Alaska and its residents. Its overall message was the fact that these impacts may soon also affect the world. “By the end of the century we’re looking at fully 20 percent of the carbon on the planet going from the terrestrial system into the atmosphere,” said Mark Clark, soil scientist from the Natural Resources Conservation Service. The biggest concern is Alaska’s abundance of permafrost thawing due to rising tempera-
tures. Permafrost makes up 40 percent of the world’s carbon. once thawed, all of it will be reOeased into the atmosphere. Weindorf said the documentary traces the much-valued research of Dr. Chien-Lu Ping, a professor of soil science at the University of Alaska-Fairbanks. For well over 15 years, Ping taught a class that took place in the wilderness of Alaska that led students on an arctic soil tour from Fairbanks to Prudhoe Bay. “On this field tour, we spend two weeks in the woods,” Weindorf said. “We camp out. We go out each day, go deep in the mud, look at permafrost, we look at erosional features. Every year when I get back from this, my students say that they will never look at the world the same again.” Weindorf said hearing about these news stories on the impacts of global warming is one thing, but to see land that was once untouched by man now being drilled and losing its hab-
itats puts things into perspective. “Human activities have really started making an impact since the Industrial Revolution, with the burning of oil and gas releasing carbon dioxide into the air,” said Jennifer Smith-Engle, professor of environmental science and geology. “As a biproduct of leaking oil wells, for instance, methane along with carbon is also being let out into the atmosphere.” Smith-Engle said there are several ways humans are unknowingly producing and releasing many harmful gases into the air. The documentary featured an island in Alaska called Shishmaref and its native people, the Inupiaq. It showed the dangers they are facing in the home in which their ancestors have lived for thousands of years. With ice melting due to warmer temperatures, the Inupiaq’s island is quickly disappearing and they are in
danger of having to relocate. Relocation would cost well over $1 million. “If this kind of thing was happening here in Corpus Christi, or Miami or San Diego, it would be a lead story on the news,” Weindorf said. “But since it’s happening in northern Alaska, nobody seems to care about it, except for the people having to live there.” Smith-Engle said the concern is not necessarily the high carbon dioxide levels but rather the scale to time ratio in which they are changing. “Changes in the past have happened over thousands of millions of years, which are now happening in decades,” Smith-Engle said. We won’t be having as much as a gradual accommodation...I’m not sure if we’re ready to face these changes.” For more information about the project or any upcoming viewings, visit the official webpage at http://betweenearthandskymovie.com/.
Upperclassmen partake in ring ceremony AMBER CASTILLO Contributing Writer
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any upcoming Islander graduates became one step closer to snagging that degree at the Spring Islander Ring Ceremony. The ceremony took place at the Performing Arts Center at Texas A&M UniversityCorpus Christi at 4 p.m. on April 1. The ceremony started off with an introduction and welcome speech presented by Russel Wagner, executive director of the TAMUCC National Alumni Association. Then the ceremony topic shifted to the legacy of the importance of the rings. Around 400 upcoming graduating students attended. “Attending the ring ceremony was such a great experience,” senior biology major Karen Alvarado said. “I would definitely recommend future graduates to attend the ring ceremony because it is a symbol of all of your accomplishments and it’s just a great feeling knowing your hard work is paying off.” Elizabeth Chapa, senior business administration major, said she felt like a huge weight was lifted from her shoulders once
AMBER CASTILLO/Island Waves
The stage is set up before TAMUCC seniors begin crossing it, receiving their class rings.
the ceremony was concluded. “College is so stressful, and sometimes you feel like you’re not moving forward, but when I got my ring I felt like everything was all worth it,” Chapa said. “The ceremony
was sort of a huge glimpse of a reminder that graduation is literally around the corner. It made everything so surreal.” Once all of the rings were presented to the students, Wagner discussed the symbolism of the ring. Christine Cantrell, senior business management major, said learning the history was the best part of the ceremony. “Knowing the history and symbolism was so important to me because it all had a very specific meaning and knowing that I am now part of that is really something special,” Cantrell said. “This is a very huge accomplishment for me and I’m glad that I will have this ring to be a representation of that.” The ceremony lasted about an hour. When it concluded, family and friends of the upcoming graduates were welcomed to refreshments by the fountain. The students then gathered around the fountain one by one to make a wish with their Sand Dollar. “Even though I completely missed the fountain the first time, I threw the Sand Dollar that was the most memorable moment for me,” Karen Alvarado said. “It resembled my mark left here on campus once I graduate which is something I’ll cherish.”
O N L I N E
Island Waves News .com
Children’s Advocacy Center looks for supporters The Children’s Advocacy Center of the Coastal Bend is looking for supporters for their fourth annual Roast Celebration on April 26. In honor of April being National Child Abuse Prevention month, this year’s celebration will honor Joe Benavides, president of the CCACB Board of directors and local Justice of the Peace. The fundraiser will run from 6-9 p.m. at the Omni Corpus Christi Hotel. It will start with a silent auction beginning at 5:30 p.m. and dinner will follow right after at :30 p.m. The roast is set to start at 7:15 p.m. Continue reading at islandwavesnews.com.
Crime scene demo acts as building block Professor Wendi Pollock, assistant professor of criminal justice created a staged crime scene for her students to investigate. Digital journalism students were able to participate and cover the breaking news story. The demo allowed these students to work together and get experience. Watch the video and photo slideshow on Island Waves’ Youtube channel.
ON THE COVER: Photo by KRISTEN VEIT
4 News
04.13.2017
House GOP fails to reach health care deal SARAH REEVES @SreevesR
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Photo courtesy of FLICKR
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epublicans in the House of Representatives dropped the American Health Care Act (AHCA) Bill, which would have revised parts of the Affordable Care Act on March 25. One notable revision that was included in the AHCA was the repeal on the individual and employer mandates. According to CNN, this would have revoked the requirement for employers with at least 50 employees to provide health insurance to their workers. These employers were also required to provide affordable insurance to staffers who work more than 30 hours per week. If these criteria was not met, the companies would face penalties. “I think it’s fantastic that employers provide insurance benefits for people that work there,” said William Swinny, a recent graduate student from Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. “It’s one way to help ensure that more people have health insurance.” Swinny said another option is what other countries such as England use that mandate “free” healthcare to its citizens, which comes from citizens’ general taxes, but with the current political climate in our country, Swinny said health insurance should be federally provided. “I think it would help eliminate a lot of the health problems we have as a country,” Swinny said. “Instead of paying what could be literally hundreds of
thousands of dollars, you may only be responsible for only a portion of that. Health insurance may at first seem like an extra expense to most people, but when you need to use it, it’s a lifesaver.” With valuable experience in making business deals, President Trump has advocated his deal-making skills and said during his election he would incorporate that into his administration, but people are not convinced. “In my life, I have never seen an administration as incompetent as the one occupying the White House today,” said Chuck Schumer, Senate Minority Leader, during a statement on CNN. “Today we’ve learned they can’t count votes and they can’t close a deal. So much for the art of the deal.” Cecilia Maldonado, sophomore finance major, said she thinks health insurance is a problem in the United States. “I know of some people who worked for a company primarily so they could have health insurance because private companies wouldn’t accept them,” she said. Maldonado said that she couldn’t understand why the Trump administration chose these portions of the Affordable Care Act to repeal. “Why can’t we tell those large businesses that they have to provide healthcare to their hard-working employees?” Maldonado said. “I think it all just goes back to favoring those big businesses rather than the employees.”
Photo courtesy of WIKIPEDIA.ORG
News 5
04.13.2017
Four students honored at Islander Tribute JONATHAN FORNEY @jb4nay
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he Islander community gathered to honor the students who are no longer with us in the 14th Annual Islander Tribute Ceremony. This year’s ceremony commemorated four students who passed away during the 2016-2017 year. Those honored included Natalie Kucera, Neil Mukoro, James Odom and Monica Rose Perez. Faculty, staff, students and loved ones of these students were in attendance. “This is an annual tradition that is very near and dear to our hearts,” said Garret Ransom, president of Student Government Association. “As Islanders, they will never be forgotten and their legacy will forever live in these students and faculty.” The service was put on by SGA and the Division of Student Engagement and Success. Event staff wore symbolic blue and green ribbons.
JONATHAN FORNEY/Island Waves
The names of those who will forever be remembered in the Islander community.
The proceedings began in the University Center with presentations and remarks by Islander faculty and students. Once the Islander Battalion presented the colors and the national anthem was sung, Vice President of SEAS, Dr. Don D. Albrecht, welcomed attendees to the annual event. In the 14 years since Islander Tribute began, more than 60 Islanders have been honored by the ceremony. The theme of this years was “We Will Remember” and the program echoed this sentiment. After the welcome, Ransom offered the opening remarks.
The first commemorative activity came as associate dean of students Angela Walker delivered the tribute for each student including a brief anecdote about their lives and extracurricular activities. The students’ families were acknowledged and ceremonial figures were placed by SGA senators for each student. “Whether they were in the classroom, on the court, or in the community, they were Islanders,” Walker said. Vice President of SGA, Andrea Gilson, recited a poem from which the theme was selected, “We Will Remember.”
The event’s ceremony added four more bricks to the Lee Plaza. “Let us not forget our fellow Islanders” the sign reads.
“In the dreams they once nurtured, they will still shape our future,” Gilson said reading the poem. “We will remember them.” Following a moment of silent reflection, the procession was transported to the Lee Plaza for the remainder of the ceremony. For every Islander Tribute, a brick with the name of those who passed is commemorated in the plaza in front of a stone arch that reads “Islander Tribute. Let us not forget our fellow Islanders.” SGA presented the commemoration and recited the poem “Always an Islander” by Ed Gorecki, 2004 SGA president. A musical tribute was performed as, student, Janell Stallard sang “Over the Rainbow.” Flowers and the commemorative figures were presented to loved ones of those honored. These students may no longer be with us, but they will not be forgotten in the hearts and minds of their fellow Islanders.
Photos by JONATHAN FORNEY
6 News
04.13.2017
Islanders Let Loose at Barbecue ILLI-ANNA SKY MARTINEZ Contributing Writer
Islanders were able to share some laughs and eat some food at the University Center patio, where they celebrated March Madness, an event hosted by the Breakers game room and Recreational Sports at the Island University. More than 250 students showed up to the March 29 event. Students were able to enjoy some barbecue, snow cones, games, raffles for prizes and even a pinata. As long as they had their Sand Dollar, they were able to come in and enjoy the festivities. John Reed, Breakers game room coordinator, was one of the people who helped out at the event. “I’m actually really happy we had such a good turnout,” Reed said. “Last semester had a good turnout but I think this semester was a lot better planned.” Reed said another event similar to this took place last semester. However, this year it was geared more toward basketball season at the university. “It’s the kind of event for sports fans to look forward to every semester,”
Reed said. Sophomore history major Eloy Zamora is a frequent visitor at Breakers who decided to attend the event. He said he liked the fact Breakers decided to host their own event because the game room is a place where he enjoys spending time. “Breakers is a place for me to go and unwind and hang out with my friends after a day or even a week of schoolwork,” Zamora said. “It’s helped me take a huge load off my shoulders at the end of the day without me having to worry myself about things like when my next paper is due or a quiz I have to take.” Zamora said he found out about March Madness through his friend that works at the gameroom. He participated in the raffle and some board games with friends at the event. He said he most enjoyed the food and music. “I came because I wanted to actually experience a college function,” Zamora said. “I wanted to get to know more Islanders and have a great time with friends.”
Based from comments like Zamora’s and the amount of people that showed up, Reed said it can be safe to say the event was a success. He said it may be due to the fact there was more marketing and programming involved with this semester’s event and they were able to provide much more food. Reed said he encourages students to come by for the next barbecue if they want want to have a good time. “There’s always food, there’s always games, and always time for people to get together,” Reed said. For news on upcoming events hosted by Breakers, visit http://studentactivities.tamucc.edu/breakers/responsivebasic-leftnav.html
Izzy the Islander makes an appearance at the March Madness Barbecue on March 29.
Photos by ILLI-ANNA SKY MARTINEZ/Island Waves
Members of Islander Cultural Alliance serve snow cones to attendees of the March Madness Barbecue on March 29. The event took place inside Breakers and food was provided just outside of the University Center.
News 7
04.13.2017
I-ADAPT promotes alcohol safety AMERICA SEGURA @americabatel
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n April 4-5, I-ADAPT hosted an event for National Alcohol Screening Day at the Texas A&M UniversityCorpus Christi Dugan Wellness Center. The event was a screening and prevention presentation that concerns students and their alcohol consumption habits. Free pizza and T-shirts were given out to participants. “It’s a great event for our students and their wellbeing that helps raise awareness to a very important subject and potentially can be extremely beneficial to the students life,” said Marissa Scalone, TAMUCC faculty member working with the event. I-Adapt is an organization which advocates for safe and responsible drinking and also to help raise awareness of alcoholism and drug-abuse. Initially, the event was set to conduct screenings and brief interventions on campus. “We want to have contact with as many students as possible, what we are doing is basically having conversations with students and taking their
AMERICA SEGURA/Island Waves
Student wears a T-shirt given out at SBI.
feedback and determining where they are in the cycle of change,” said Dr. Amanda Drum, the executive director for strategic engagement initiatives. “If they are ready or willing to change
their drinking habits.” About six years ago, a grant was given out by Texas Standing Tall, and since the Island University was a pioneer campus they were fortunate enough to be the recipients. “We are trying to engage more students which is why we have these fun little treats for students to take after they have one through the process being offered,” Scalene said. Students who attended the event were able to speak to professionals who initially helped the students identify their drinking habits and their “atrisk” habits that have to do with the consumption of alcohol. Statistics show that every year 1,700 college students die from alcoholrelated injuries which include motor vehicle crashes and some even dying as a result of alcohol poisoning. This is where I-ADAPT comes in to help raise awareness to a very common cause within the teen community and especially among college students. The screening process was first composed of a survey which asked questions about your habits as far as the consumption of alcohol, their feelings
after drinking and the reason behind your drinking. A score is determined from the survey answers, and an advisor helps evaluate the score and its meaning. The advisors begin engaging in conversation about your drinking habits, your likes and dislikes, how it affects you and unwanted consequences due to alcohol consumption. Some of the feedback can range anywhere from being at a very moderate level of alcohol consumption to high-risk, which is evaluated as an alcohol dependency level. Despite their efforts to bring awareness to the Island University, they are very professional about their job and strictly enforce and help protect the privacy of the students who choose to disclose that information about their lives to the advisors. “This is all about what the student wants to do and where the student is. This is not the time to tell students what to do, it’s more about ‘how do you feel about drinking?’” Drum said. “What do you like and if you want to change, and if show prepared are you to make that change.”
8 News
04.13.2017
English department adds new track JONATHAN FORNEY @jb4nay
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he English department unveiled its new Writing Studies track that will be available for the Fall 2017 semester. The new addition was the collaborative result of the English faculty. The program has been designed to address the changing needs of the current job market. “Most people think of English as meaning specifically literature, but there’s also the explosion of different kinds of media,” said Dr. Chuck Etheridge, associate professor of English. “[This program] is to help our graduates be more responsive to the way the worlds changed.” Planning the logistics of this track officially began three-to-four years ago, but it has been a goal of the English faculty for much longer. It is important to note that English students who choose this track will still get a substantial amount of literature-based instruction. The inverse holds true for more literature -based English majors. “Writing and literature aren’t mutually exclusive,” Etheridge said. “The mixture of creative and technical skills
is going to be unique and really valuable for our students.” The collective thinking is that strengthening students’ writing skills and creative skills can help them stand out once they graduate. The English department recently split into two distinct, but collaborative sections. This division was done to ensure students had the opportunity to build their skills in all aspects as opposed to the previous, generic English degree. “We created the two tracks to make sure students had the opportunity to do both sides,” said Dr. Kevin Conconnon, associate professor in the College of Liberal Arts. “It was important to be adept at technical and grant writing, as well as creative writing.” Students will practice a multitude of writing styles and formats in pursuit of their degrees. They will study technical writing to learn professional techniques that are immediately applicable to their desired fields. There’s a multitude of creative writing courses offered including studying poetry, fiction, nonfiction and other genres of writing. From a fundamental perspective, students will have the opportunity to study grammar and linguistics to better under-
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Writing Studies will be a new track for English majors with heavy emphasis on literarure.
stand just how effective it can be as well as how language affects culture itself. With the Writing Studies track now available for registration, students can begin their new path toward an Eng-
lish degree as soon as Fall 2017. More information on the program, including its degree plan can be found through the English department’s home page on tamucc.edu.
Entertainment 9
04.13.2017
Disney to transform classic cartoons to live action GERI LEMMONS @GeriLemmons
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eginning in 2010 with “Alice in Wonder Land” to the recently released “Beauty and the Beast,” Disney is taking steps to recreate another 19 classic films into live action movies. According to thehollywoodreporter. com, Disney plans to recreate classics such as “Mulan,” “The Lion King,” “Dumbo,” “The Little Mermaid” and several others. They are looking for actors and scripts right now to find the best ones to start the creating process for the big screen. “I guess I kind of like it because it is taking those cartoons we grew up on and making them for new kids to see,” said Cassandra Guardilla, junior communication major. They also have plans to give certain characters from classic films their own origin story, just like they did for “Maleficent” with Sleeping Beauty. These characters include Cruella from the “101 Dalmatians,” Tinker Bell from “Peter Pan,” Genies based on “Aladdin” and many others. Some of the films are in the works while others are in talks of being remade in the future with just a screen writers name being attached to the project so far. “Getting to see the live action ones is like fresh and like starting over again for the new generation,” Guardilla said. “It is also like revisiting for us. We get to go back to our childhood, but this time it is in a theater with live action real people.” According to the Hollywoodrepoter. com, Mulan has recently got a release date in December 2018. They have had some setbacks in the past with the con-
Beauty and the Beast, Disney’s latest live action production of a cartoon classic.
troversy of them not having a casting call for a Chinese actress to play the lead role. But, people involved in the film say that they will cast the right people in order to play the roles in the film and they will stay culturally appropriate. “I think that it is nice that they are bringing it back because it was such a
long time ago when those movies came out but at the same time I am afraid they will not meet my expectations,” said Celina Villasana, senior nursing major Also according to the Hollywoodreporter.com, some of Disney’s new live action films will not follow the exact layout of their animated counterparts. Some will explore origin stories, and
Valid through 12/31/17.
photo courtesy of DISNEY
others will make some good characters bad. One of the controversial talks with Mulan is the rumor they will not have any musical numbers involved in the film. “There is like some leeway where you can change it,” Villasana said. “But like overall it needs to be the same story plot. It has to be somewhat similar.”
10 Entertainment
04.13.2017
Summer cinemas heading our way
MIKAYLA OELSHLEGEL @mikaylaMOG
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ith summer just around the corner, the list of movies getting ready to hit the big screen has grown since the beginning of the year. Kicking off the list as soon college begins to close is the second installment of “Guardians of the Galaxy.” It will be released on May 5. The sequel to the 2014 film once again has the fan favorites, Peter Quill (Chris Pratt), Gamora (Zoe Saldana), Drax (Dave Bautista), Groot (Vin Diesel) and Rocket (Bradley Cooper), on an adventure to save the galaxy. The movie gets an added bonus of also learning more about Quill’s past and where he came from. The end of May 2017 also has the audiences ready for the next installment of “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales,” which will be out in theatre on May 26, featuring Johnny Depp, Kaya Scodelario, Brenton Thwaites and Geoffrey Rush. The “remake” of “Baywatch” also hits theaters May 26, starring
Dwayne Johnson, Alexandra Daddario and Zac Efron. June opens the doors to the Sci-Fi movie, “Wonder Woman,” coming out June 2, which has a lot of people waiting, alongside “Cars 3” (June 16), “Rough Night” (June 16), “Resident Evil: Vendetta” (June 19) and “Transformers: The Last Knight” (June 23). The remake of “The Mummy” is also highly anticipated with Tom Cruise (Mission Impossible) and Sofia Boutella (Star Trek Beyond) manning the helm. It will be released on June 9. The film follows along as an Egyptian princess is awakened from her tomb and decides to wreak havoc on the present-day society. July does not have quite the list of the upcoming movies to watch for, but there are several that fans are anticipating. The new adaption of “Spider-Man”, with Tom Holland, from Captain America: Civil War, reprising his role as Spider-Man is set to hit theatres July 7. The film picks up where the audiences last saw Spider-Man in Civil War and now as Peter Parker returns home to live out his life
as Spider-Man. While being mentored by Tony Stark, a new villain comes onto the scene and threatens everyone and everything he loves. Alongside “Spider-Man: Homecoming” is: “War for the Planet of the Apes” (July 14), “Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets” (July 21), “Girls Trip” (July 21) and “The Emoji Movie” (July 28) all get
their time on the big screen in July. The summer of 2017 is sure to be packed full of other movies, so before you head to the beach or go on a family vacation, check out the list of movies playing at the theatre near you. For more movie release dates and to see a full list of movies, go to http:// www.movieinsider.com/movies/-/2017.
Photo courtesy of WIKIPEDIA.ORG
Tom Holland, Laura Harrier, Tony Revolori, Jacob Batalon, Zendaya and Jon Watts speaking at the 2016 San Diego Comic Con about their new movie ‘Spiderman Homecoming.’
‘Gardians of the Galaxy’ will be released on May 5.
Photo courtesy of STATICFLICKR.COM
Entertainment 11
04.13.2017
Q&A with blues singing student
ERIN NASH
contributing wtiter
Island Waves’ Erin Nash: I’m here with Hilda Lamas. Ms. Lamas, I recently heard that you are in the entertainment industry, can you tell us a little about that? Lamas: Well first and foremost, I’m a blues singer, I’ve been singing since I was 4 years old. Music has always been a part of my life. I have my own record label that we just launched about six months ago, so that takes most of my time. I have a business partner in Brownsville. We’re working with a lot of new artists in jazz, R&B and some Neo-Soul. While we’re doing that, I’m also working on a brand new record. Nash: What’s the name of your record label? Lamas: It’s called CHR Records and what it started out as was my little itty bitty company Latina Soul Records. We had a few artists on there just for digital distribution purposes. I would put their music on iTunes and other social media outlets. It’s exploding now. We’re actu-
ally in artist development, we can e-mail the artists from the get go. I didn’t have anyone to help me with the process. I had to learn the bumps on my own and this is my way of sort of giving back.
Nash: Do you have any local artist on the radio? Lamas: As of right now, there’s no local artist on it, well at least any from Corpus Christi. As far as the local music scene here, I do a lot of music industry consulting for a lot of my friends, one being Clarissa Serna. So she’s a really good friend of mine and she’s at the point in her career where she can handle it on the independent scene. I am very fortunate because I get to manage her website and it’s so rare to be in a music community where you get to be around your friends and sometimes it’s like crabs in a bucket, no one wants you to succeed. Nash: What made you say ‘Oh my goodness let me get into music’ while majoring in communication? Lamas: Yes my major is communication with [media] studies emphasis with a minor in public relations. When I moved
to Corpus from Aransas Pass in 2001, to come here to Texas A&M [UniversityCorpus Christi], that was just in my head, that I just wanted to sing. So I finished that semester and then I took a long hiatus and just focused on music. I went from being bounced around as a cover band to transforming into an actual artist and getting signed onto Hacienda. Nash: How do you balance that, being a student, running a company, being a wife whose husband is also a part of the business? Lamas: You know I don’t know, I’m still working all of this out. My husband and I are like two ships passing in the night. There are sometimes where I have to travel out of town and usually he comes with me and sometimes he stays at home or he has to go to the studio. So the whole married part, we make it work. With the school, I decided to come back school in 2012 right before I released my last record. My goal was to go to Del Mar, get my liberal arts, that way I have it and then I’m done. I got my associates [degree] in August, I graduated in August and I forgot to put my transfer
in to TAMU-CC. So I was like well, let me stay another semester at Del Mar that’s when I decided to take music industry, a music industry class there. I was like... where do I go from here? This is the first time in my whole life school actually clicked for me.
Nash: You’ve mentioned that you work at a radio station, which radio station here in Corpus Lamas: I DJ at Majic 104.9. I started two years ago now and every Sunday from noon to 1. I host my Sunday Blues radio show and I’ll bring some friends of mine from the industry and talk... listen to music and stuff like that I love it. I still do it every single Sunday. I don’t really stick to Blues, I’ll break away and play some Motown when people call it in.
Nash: What is your goal? Lamas: My goal is if I can help someone achieve what they want in the music business, then that’s what I was put here to do. That’s probably the most exciting thing for me right now is being able to help somebody else get to where they want to be.
Courtesy photo
Hilda Lamas is a Communication and Media major at the Island University who also sings the blues and has her own record label, CHR Records.
12 Entertainment
04.13.2017
Graduate students show off MFA exhibitions MIKAYLA OELSHLEGEL @mikaylaMOG
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raduating students are displaying their art work in galleries throughout the Center for the Arts over the month of April. These students are Master of Fine Art candidates. The art they are displaying is part of their thesis of exhibition. Eight artists were chosen to have their works displayed in one of the galleries for a week. All together, exhibits will display from April 3-28. “At the end of the MFA program each MFA candidate, graduate student in fine arts, is afforded the opportunity of an exhibition at one of the university galleries, either on campus or off,” said Laura Petican, assistant professor and director of university galleries. Petican said the process of being chosen to be a part of the program is a very competitive application process. Their applications are evaluated by the entire faculty for the Department of Art.
“They are evaluated on the criteria related to the quality of their portfolio,” Petican said. “They look at past grades in undergraduate programs, their capacity to articulate aesthetic, conceptual and logistical ideals about entering with this program.” Petican said the MFA program has been around Texas A&M UniversityCorpus Christi since the graduate program in the Department of Art. Their goal was to give students professional opportunities outside the class room. “It has been an interest on the part of the faculty to support student success,” Petican said. “I think it is an unparalleled opportunity for an emerging artist.” Petican said the program is a way for students to bridge their journey from an educational institution into the realm of a professional artist. It is also a way to show off the work that they have been working on to their peers and the community. One of the first artists to present his
A student admires the art from one of the MFA Art Thesis Exhibitions by Javier Flores.
work was Javier Flores, who is a visual artist. Flores said it took him six months from start to finish, from printing, carving and all other aspects added. Flores said he hopes he hits it off on the right note at the Weil gallery. “I hope I represent them well in the way that I know the talent is indicative of,” Flores said. “I feel that our graduat-
ing class is a really strong one and the shows coming up are really good.” Flores said the inspiration behind his work is personal to him. “It shows different points in my life from where I was when I got shot and paralyzed to the moment of finishing my degree here, so, it has been a long road, and this is like a metaphoric narrative of all that,” Flores said.
Photos by GERI LEMMONS/Island Waves
14 Sports
04.13.2017
Islanders fall 1 point short of CIT title KRISTEN VEIT & MELISSA RODRIGUEZ Contributing Writer
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ne second and one free throw is all it took to prevent the Islanders Men’s Basketball team from winning a title game and their last game of the season. The Dugan Wellness Center filled up on March 31, as fans awaited the collegeinsider.com postseason tournament championship between Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi and Saint Peter’s University. The game tipped off at 8 p.m. where Islanders set off in their final game of the season against a then 22-13 university. By
halftime, Islanders found themselves in the lead with a score of 28-26. “These guys worked incredibly hard putting a lot on the line just to be here and we lost to an excellent basketball team in an exciting basketball game,” head coach Willis Wilson said. “I couldn’t be more proud.” The Islanders were strong throughout the first quarter with 26-28 at the break but lost their stride in the second quarter with the Peacocks breaking free with 36-33. In the third quarter, Redshirt senior Cole Martinez was fouled during a 3-point attempt with three seconds left and tied the game with three solid free-throws. A defensive foul by redshirt senior guard Jake Kocher against guard Trevis
Wyche with only .9 seconds left on the clock gave the Saint Peter’s Peacocks a chance to turn the tied game into a win after one free-throw. After losing the 2017 Southland Tournament to the New Orleans Privateers in overtime with a score of 6865, the Islanders made a come back. With a four-game winning streak the Islanders made it to the CIT Championship, the last win being against the University of Baltimore, Maryland County Retrievers with a leading score of 79-61. “You know, for us to come back and play the way we played after what happened up in Katy, you know, says a lot about the guys, says a lot about us,” said red shirt senior guard Cole Mar-
tinez. “It was special to finish out my career at home in a big crowd, tonight was unbelievable.” This loss leaves the Islander saying goodbye to three of its star senior players. This was the final game for Martinez, redshirt senior guard Jake Kocher and senior forward Rashawn Thomas. Thomas finished the game out with 20 points and 13 rebounds, while Kocher ended with three assists. “We’ll definitely miss them, but for Manny and Ehab and all the others, I mean next year’s the year,” junior interdisciplinary studies major Madeleine Doud said. “I’m very excited to watch you guys work-out and just hit hard in practice and especially watch you guys in the games.”
704.13.2017
Sports 15
Photos by KRISTEN VEIT/Island Waves
(Above) Final score on scoreboard at the end of the CollegerInsider.com Tournament Championship. (Bottom Left) Fans hold a sign supporting the Islanders mens basketball team. (Bottom Center) #25 Rashawn Thomas makes free-throw during the game against St. Peter’s University on March 31. (Botom Right) #3 Joseph Kilgore makes 3-pointer against the Peacocks during the championship game.
16 Sports
04.13.2017
Coach Malone leads Islander baseball team MELISSA RODRIGUEZ @_melisssaaaa
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eading the Islanders Baseball team this season is head coach Scott Malone who is on his 19th season coaching Division I college baseball. This year’s season marks Malone’s 10th season with Islanders Baseball. Throughout his career at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, he has led the team to set new school records and to five conference tournaments. “It’s great,” Malone said. “Every day is a totally different challenge in a good and hard way, but the growth of the program over the last ten years and its perception has made a 180 turn.” Malone was introduced to baseball at a very young age. His father was a high school baseball coach, which introduced Malone to the sport. He played baseball for as long as he was allowed, and he made it all the way to the minor leagues landing then a spot on the Texas Rangers in 1992. Once he served five years with the Rangers, Malone switched from playing the game to coaching it and has been coaching ever since. “You turn into a coach and start teaching the game, and obviously, I’ve learned a ton from a lot of the guys I’ve worked for and I’ve still got a long way to keep learning,” Malone said. Prior to coaching at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, Malone served for three seasons at University of Nevada-Las Vegas, two seasons at University of TexasArlington, two season at University of
Texas-San Antonio and one season at Texas Christian University. In the 2017 season, Malone has led the team through several tournaments, the Kleberg Bank College Classic and against many tough opponents. “He’s definitely a player’s coach,” said Dawson Yates, senior general business major. “If we ever have a problem, he’s the guy we go to and he’s here to work with us and guide us on our four-year journey.” Although winning games and playing good baseball are important to Malone, he said he cares about how his players do in academics and how good it is when teachers stop him to speak highly of his players, which is reminder of how there’s more than just the game. “He’s taught me to not feel sorry for myself because baseball is such an up and down game, so you just have to do what you have to do to improve yourself,” Yates said. Malone’s said his goal is to shape players on and off the field, and play good baseball while having fun. He is described as a great coach who is easy to talk to and a joy to play for. “[Something not known] is that he loves to jam to Kings of Leon on the bus after a good win and his beverage of choice on a hot day would be a cold Diet Mountain Dew,” Yates said. Up next for Islanders Baseball are games against Southeastern Louisiana, Houston Baptist, and Lamar University. For more info about Islanders Baseball and game day reminders, follow the news at @IslanderWavesToGo.