The Bridge - October 2014

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Autmus Fest

ROCK AND ROLL ALL NIGHT

October 2014

on Campus

New solutions for student safety

By Judith Mae Aguilar @TheBridgeTAMIU

Louis San Miguel | The Bridge Staff

The Kumbia Kings All Stars close AutMus Fest night out with a performance on a stage constructed on the Killam Library Greens. A.B. Quintanilla’s group was just one of the many musical acts that performed at the Festival

For More on AutMus Fest head to Page 5 and 6 Gubernatorial Debate

Governor hopefuls debate

By Tina Gomez cristina.gomez@ dusty.tamiu.edu The first gubernatorial debate between candidates State Senator Wendy Davis and Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott, was held on September 19th in Edinburg, Texas. The debate held at the Edinburg Conference Center at Renaissance, made history as being the first gubernatorial debate held in the Rio Grande Valley The Texas state senator went up against Texas state attorney general for their first live debate. This has been the first governors debate, sans current governor Rick Perry, since he

Abbott

DAVIS

was elected to office in 2002.

Both Davis and Abbott answered questions that included topics such as border security, education, and the like.

The debate was broadcasted on television, online, and

radio. The debate ran for an hour and each candidate had a chance to answer questions posed by the panel of moderators.

The first topic on the nights debate was about the plans for

balance between border security and economic growth.

Davis lead the debate with the topic of border security in which she was quoted saying that she supported the surge of “boots on the ground”, enforced by current Texas governor Rick Perry.

“The surge that the governor supported was one that I supported as well because if the federal government will not act to protect our borders, Texas must and will,” Davis said.

The senators plans are to ensure that our Texas borders have heightened security so that she can, “work with this community through our tour-

debate page 2

Student Organizations

TAMIU offers more groups

By Louie Canela luiscanela@dusty. tamiu.edu Fall Semester has officially started! The 2014-2015 academic year has a lot to offer Texas A&M International University students.

Are you new on campus or a returning Dustdevil? Well you might be interested to know that there are plenty of student organizations to keep you busy this year. According to Miguel Trevino, Director of Student Orientation, Leadership and En-

gagement, there are over 72 active student organizations on campus.

Each club is operated by students at TAMIU. Each organization is responsible for their budget and fundraising. All money is handled by the bursar’s office at TAMIU where each club has an account to deposit their money. 18 out of 72 student organizations were started this school year. A&M International University Podcast Radio, ARSSB Student Advisory Council, Bone Collector’s Wrestling Organization, Global Citizens, Global

ALAMO DRAFTHOUSE LAREDO PAGE 8

Medical Brigades, Health Occupations Students of America, Indian Student Association, Innovative Business Administration, Latinas, National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML), Oak Tree, Rotaract Club, South Texas LULAC, Students for Global Communication, TAMIU Association of School Counseling, TAMIU Lights, Camera, Action, Translogistics and Wellness Education Leaders are the new clubs students can join.

Maybe none of the new or existing student organiza-

SPORTS PAGE 7

tions caught your attention or they are probably not what you’re looking for. If this is the case, one can start their own organization on campus! Trevino explained that as long as there are ten members that wish to create a club they can do so by obtaining the proper forms need to start the organization. These forms are located at the Student Orientation, Leadership and Engagement office located in the Student Center

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In the past several years, there have been reports of violence in schools or universities. Some that come to mind include Columbine, Virginia Tech, Sandy Hook, and, recently earlier in the year, University of California at Santa Barbara that resulted in 7 deaths and 13 injuries.

What could be on the mind of most that attend Texas A&M International University, may be the question: ‘Am I safe?’

In a special interview with Juan Castillo, Vice-President of Finance and Administration, and Gabriel Dominguez, Safety Risk Manager, this was the main topic of conversation. The general response to the earlier questions was positive for TAMIU.

safety page 8

Summer Graduation

Judith Mae Aguilar | The Bridge Staff

Denise Montano celebrates getting her degree during the first summer diploma ceremony in 12 years.

TAMIU hosts first summer ceremony in 12 years

By Judith Mae Aguilar friends of the graduates.

The procession came in @TheBridgeTAMIU After a 12 year hiatus Texas A&M International University held a summer commencement ceremony.

Although held on a warm August evening, TAMIU’s Kinesiology and Convocation Building packed quickly with the family and

amidst the loud applause and shouting as over 160 candidates filed into their seats−an increase from previous summer graduates. It seemed the main reason for the return of TAMIU’s Summer Com-

ALFONSO-GOMEZ REJON PAGE 8

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October 2014

On Campus

TAMIU celebrates Constitution Day

By Judith Mae Aguilar @TheBridgeTAMIU When the panel invited by Dr. Peter Haruna for a special lecture in honor of Constitution Day, was presented a question about the relevancy of the Constitution of the United States in the 21st Century, the question was met with a resounding “yes”.

Dr. Haruna, an associate professor of American National Government, hosted a special Constitution Day lecture on September 17th in the Senator Judith Zaffirini Success Center and was joined by Dr. Mark Menaldo, Director of Political Science, Dr. James Norris, associate professor of Political Science, and key speaker, Mr. Douglas Ferrier, Director of the Sue and Radcliffe Killam Library.

Mr. Ferrier gave a concise speech and highlighted the history of the Constitution and how it came to be. He held the attention of the audience as he described how the representatives from the original 13 states came together to revise the Articles of Confederation, but moved to begin anew with a Constitution. He went further on to describe the trials and obstacles that our founding members went through in order to get the Constitution approved.

After Mr. Ferrier’s lecture, Dr. Menaldo was asked to provide his thoughts. With a firm voice he said, “We take everything for granted today, but one thing we take for granted is that we are individu-

safety

Judith Mae Aguilar| The Bridge Staff

Dr. Haruna, associate professor of American National Government, speaks at the Constitution Day lecture. als…[it is] as natural to us as breathing air.”

He went on to comment, “The concept of the idea of being an individual took a revolution of the highest proportions…which was an outgrowth of the way constitutions were [previously written].” This statement seemed to entrance the audience as a unique view of how revolutionary the Constitution actually was at the time.

Dr. Haruna then provided his perception of the Constitution. “The way I view the constitution…may be very simplistic…but it helps me get a handle of what the Constitution was intended [to do]. [The Constitution] is a commonly founded document that helps us to, at least frame our ideas, at least frame our arguments

all of these [cases], we have something that we can hold on to. And I thank, whether it is relevant now, helps me understand that at least there is something that we can hold on to.”

After questions, Dr. Haruna then questioned the audience’s knowledge of the Constitution. If answered correctly, the participants received a special gift that included a pocket book of the Constitution of the United States of America that Dr. Haruna commented that he never is without.

All in all, the Constitution Day event was an educational highlight of the nationally recognized day to celebrate and honor the document that made our country what it is, and that continues to develop our country.

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The most recent emergency plan, the 2012-2013 version, is available through UConnent for employees. “The emergency plan tries to cover hypotheticals; you try to think and make it as general as possible,” said VP Castillo when asked if the plan covers situations similar to the recent school shootings, “[But] the reality is, until you are in a situation you do not know exactly what is going to happen.”

A more recent update TAMIU has invested in is with a mass notification system. Over the course of one and a half years, and recently completed the summer of 2012, the campus upgraded the fire alarms system and added voice notifications with pre-recorded messages for several types emergencies like fire, bomb threat, or active shooter. This included adding two large speaker arrays—one on top of the Fine and Performing Arts and the other on top of the Lamar Bruni Vergara—that people who are outside of the building and may not be able to hear the notifications inside the buildings, are able hear.

During the spring 2014 semester, specifically in February, TAMIU held drills in every building and included students, so that students could learn what is needed to be done during a fire drill, a typical evacuation. “In the years to come, we will do a shelter-in-place [and] a lock-down; we will do different drills so that people can become familiar with it,” VP Castillo

debate

and use this founded document to persuade each other rather than baseball bats and [beating] each other to death.”

At the end of the lecture, the audience was offered to ask questions to the panel, which included the one about the Constitutions relevancy in today’s world. Mr. Ferrier explained further, “I believe it is still relevant. It does not always work the way we would like it to, but it still works.”

Dr. Haruna added to that statement citing some landmark cases like Dred Scott v. Sandford, Plessy v. Ferguson, and Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas, “One of the accomplishments of the US is the fact that the Constitution has endured…In spite of

mentioned of potential plans.

During orientation, incoming students will go through active shooter training, which is similar to the yearly training that university employees go through every year. However, what was noticed of the drills that happened in February and pointed out to VP Castillo and Manager Dominguez, was that because the drills happen at similar times but in different buildings it could potentially limit which students learn about the emergency plans since the campus operates from early morning to evening.

A good practice, is that TAMIU police department maintains relationships with surrounding agencies, mostly with Laredo and Laredo I.S.D. police departments. “We do have memorandums of understanding with other law enforcement that basically we say ‘Hey, if something happens, will you help us?’” said VP Castillo. This is clearly a good way to be able to potentially handle diverse situations that can occur on campus. “Several years ago, we changed our [TAMIU PD] radios, so that the radios our officers have now have interoperability—which, since 9/11 has been a big thing.”

“By changing the channel, we can communicate with LPD, US Border Patrol, Laredo Fire Department and some of the Feds.” The university PD also has the ability to the Dusty Alert—which can

also activated by TAMIU’s Public Relations department. The upgrades that TAMIU recently went through, also updated the Dusty Alert that activates digital signage, a crawl on the university computer screens, and social media.

What most may not know, is that recently the university police department has or will receive assault rifles and have already received assault rifle certification.

“Obviously, when you do have an active shooter, you don’t you know what kind of weaponry they’ll have but to approach with a handgun is not as effective.”

“This is something that we take our cues from what chief thinks is best, and he requested that and we have moved forward with [getting them].” There was reassurance that they are secured and not on display but that if we have a need for them, if the situation required the use of the assault rifles, they would be available.

The university should feel confident that they do know and understand what is happening around the United States in other campus. However, there may be some concern as to how far they will take it. The new PA system with voice notification is a great solution; but, is arming the police department with assault rifles when there is constant communication with local enforcement that has access to such measures a correct measure? This is a decision that students and the community will have to decide on.

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ism fund to help repair the tarnished image that has occurred as consequence [from border violence].”

Abbott rebuttled by saying that secure communities will support economic growth.

He also touched on SpaceX’s plans to develop a base here in the Rio Grande Valley.

SpaceX is one of the privately owned space transportation companies which mission has been to reduce the costs of space transport. The Attorney General stated that, “It is important to point out that after those law enforcement officials came here, --that SpaceX announced it was opening operations for an entire new world for business and space exploration right here in the Rio Grande Valley.”

Another hot topic on that night’s agenda was the edu-

cation system and its future under the new Texas Governor. A recent judgement by Texas District Court Judge John K. Dietz, ruled that the Texas School Funding system was unconstitutional. In this 383 page settlement, the court agreed that the funding structure of the current Texas School system is not properly funded which results in an improper “diffusion” of knowledge in relation to each student. Both the attorney general and the Texas senator had similar plans to rebuild the foundations of education for children. In his supporting answer Abbott stated, “What I want to do is to reinvent educations and school in the state. My goal is to ensure that Texas has the number one-ranked high

school[s]...and we do that by focusing on the fundamental building blocks of education.”

Both candidates agreed that the Texas education system needs to be re-built from the ground up. In rebuttal, Davis called out on Abbott’s proposed plans on budget cuts for Texas state schools. She said, “As governor, I will make the education of our children a priority and I will fight to make sure that our schools have more resources, not less.”

As for who won the debate that night, it is questionable.

The debate continued with both candidates making their arguments for their plans to change the way Texas Government is being run. Each Candidate made their points on topics that have been on the minds of many Texans.

However, a recent polling conducted by Real Clear Politics stated that Abbott is the favorable candidate for the governorship. The poll, conducted from May 30th through September 2nd, and shows Abbott with a 49.3% of votes which gives him a 12% advantage over State Senator Davis.

This is the first debate between both Davis and Abbott. The second debate will take place in Dallas on September 30th. Both debates are considered crucial in this years November 4th elections for the next Texas state governor.

For more information, questions, or comments on this article, Tina Gomez can be reached at cristina.gomez@dusty.tamiu.edu

Students interested in a writing, editing, photography or graphic design position with the bridge are welcome to contact editor in chief Louis San Miguel at louis.sm@gmail.com

STAFF LIST Editor-in-chief............................Louis San Miguel Assoc. editor-in-chief...............Judith Mae Aguilar Asst. editor-in-chief.......................Leo Hernandez Online Editor.....................................Louie Canela Social Media Editor...........................Louie Canela Head Copy Editor..............................Anna Esteves Copy Editors...............................George Gonzalez Khloe Torres Spanish Editor....................................Karen Alanis Design Editor.............................Louis San Miguel Reporters.............................................Tina Gomez

Contact Info The Bridge staff can be reached through a multiple number of avenues. As journalists we always strive to be factual and unbaised. You can contact us with any comments or concerns through the following locations: Twitter: twitter.com/TheBridgeTAMIU Facebook: facebook.com/TheBridgeTAMIU Website: thebridgenewspaper.com

Additionally, reporters can be reached at their individual emails and Twitter pages which are detailed in the bylines of the various stories contained within our pages.

summer

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mencement ceremony. The group included undergraduates and graduates from the College of Arts and Sciences, A.R. Sanchez, Jr. School of Business, College of Education, and the College of Nursing and Health Sciences. The last commencement held, after the spring semester, happened over the course of one day in three separate ceremonies for each of the colleges.

As Dr. Ray Keck, TAMIU President, began his Commencement address, he held the crowd’s attention. It was the end of a point in their lives but a beginning of another—fitting as the 2014 Academic year came to a close.

After Dr. Keck’s speech, the presentation of the diplomas began with those earning their bachelor’s degrees. Soon after, those earning their master’s degrees earned their master’s hoods and diplomas—a departure from the norm when the hooding ceremonies are held before the commencement ceremonies.

Even considering the large group of graduates, the ceremony was over relatively quickly after about an hour after it began. As

group

it started later in the evening, this left time for the family and friends of the graduates to celebrate the success. Those celebrations and congratulations begin outside of the KCB building while the newly graduated were joined by their loved ones as they took photos with them and their fellow alumni. The crowd stayed for some time—even considering the sweltering Laredo heat.

Allowing students finishing their degrees in the summer an opportunity to walk, instead of waiting until the winter commencement, seemed to have been an excellent move by TAMIU. The graduates and their families appeared excited and happy in the chance to walk and presented with their degrees directly after earning them.

Usually shorter, the summer session would not usually be considered ideal as some persons may feel rushed. It can be said, though, that this can be considered a successful move for TAMIU. In view of this, could this possibly mean further ceremonies for the summer graduates?

It is a definite possibility as TAMIU’s graduating population continues to rise in all semesters.

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Room 226. This will be the last year forms will be filled out manually. Trevino ecstatically noted that next year everything will be done online.

To start a student group on campus students must do the following: 1.

Schedule a meeting with the Director of Student Orientation, Leadership and Engagement (SOLE) to discuss the proposed organization and secure the appropriate forms.

2.

Become familiar with The Leader and TAMIU rules/regulations concerning student organizations.

3.

Secure at least one (1) advisor for the organization. At least one advisor must be a full-time staff or faculty member at TAMIU. 4.

Complete the necessary paperwork and submit to SOLE. The necessary paperwork is: o Student Organization

Registration Form (for new organizations only). o A constitution and by-laws that describes your organization. Every constitution and/or by-laws must be voted and approved by the majority of your members and will serve as your guide of how your organization will run. A sample one can be found in The Leader.

5.

Have your President (or equivalent), Risk Manager/Service Coordinator (or equivalent), and Advisor attend a state mandated Risk Management Training.

This information was obtained on SOLE TAMIU website.

For more information please contact Mr. Miguel Trevino at 956-326-2283 or stop by at the SOLE office located in the Student Center Room 226.

(Louie Canela can be reached at luiscanela@dusty. tamiu.edu)

3 october 2014

PINK TO DO WALK

TAMIU PROFESSOR PROFILE

Gonzalez sheds light on workers who migrate

By Tina Gomez cristina.gomez@ dusty.tamiu.edu

Judith Mae Aguilar | The Bridge Staff

Citizens of Laredo, including members of TAMIU’s own Kappa Delta Chi turned out in great numbers to support Breast Cancer Awareness at the Pink to Do Walk held on Laredo Community College’s South Campus.

TAMIU SPEAKER SERIES

Dead Man Walking Author speaks to TAMIU students

By Khloe Torres @TheBridgeTAMIU

St. Thomas Housing Project she learned the reality of poverty.

“African Americans in the projects became my teachers, because I had grown up privileged,” Sister Helen said.

She learned so much from her experience there she claimed that the poor people were the most privileged ones, deserving our love and our care. She would later receive an invitation from somebody from the coalition prison office asking if she would like to be a pen pal for an inmate, Pat, on death row.

The letters went back and forth, they discussed things they would do throughout the day, and Sister Helen realized Pat was alone.

The pair grew a connection and eventually Pat asked Helen to be his spiritual advisor. Sister Helen filled out the forms without hesitation, not knowing he would be

“Jesus is sneaky, you got to watch out” were the first couple of words Sister Helen Prejean started off with in her seminar on October 7th at Texas A&M International University. Sister Helen is not only a member of the Congregation of St. Joseph, but also an author. She has two novels, Dead Man Walking and Death of Innocents: An Eyewitness Account of Wrongful Executions, currently on available in book stores nationwide. Dead Man Walking was later adapted into a movie in 1995 It all started when she moved into the St. Thomas Housing Project in New Orleans and worked at Hope House in 1984. She was raised in a well brought up family. During Sister Helen’s time in

executed only two year later.

No lawyers nor any friends and family could be present during the execution, with one exclusion — Sister Helen.

“I m going to be with him and he’s going to look at my face while he dies, that moment changed my life forever.”

When hearing brutal stories about innocent people being victimized, it’s only natural to feel outrage. That’s only human nature, its ethical to want or seek revenge.

Sister Helen has learned through her journey that two wrongs don’t make a right. There are other ways of dealing with punishment, and death is not the right one.

Whether or not you are for or against the death penalty, listen to the words of Sister Helen. See it not as right or wrong but the beauty of someone’s faith.

We pass them on our way to work, school, and home but can we identify what they are? We see them from the comfort of our vehicles and pay no mind to where they go or where they come from. What are these fixtures? --these bodies that stand at bus stops, under trees, and can sometimes be seen standing in bunches. If you are a resident of Laredo or have called Laredo your home at one point, you know who I am referring to.

These women who conviene under the unforgiving sun, are fixtures seen around the most affluent neighborhoods of our town. These “Transnational Workers”, International women who migrate to the United States for “Domestic Work”, can collectively be found in these locations.

Ariadne Gonzalez is a professor of Communications at Texas A&M International University, and a PHD hopeful studying at Texas A&M University. Professor Gonzalez, soon to be Dr. Gonzalez, is working on her dissertation that shed’s light on these “transnational workers”. Her dissertation work focuses on the ethnography of local and international Mexican women who have made their career out of “domestic work”.

When asked what her main focus was, Gonzalez stated that, “The study [focuses] on these women and how they construct their identity”. The catalyst for her research was posed from her curiosity, “I came across these [multitudes] of women [at the bus stop]. Twenty women, thirty women, and i’m thinking, who in the world are these [women]? Where are they going?” Her background in organizational communications triggered her to get answers to these questions. Gonzalez has since then made it part of her research to find out how these women shape their identity in a country known for it’s freedoms.

In order to perform her research Gonzalez knew that she was going to have a difficult time interviewing and

getting to know these women.

Professor Gonzalez’s first challenge, was finding the amount of subjects that she needed for her study and the basic requirements. For her study, the requirements were to interview women eighteen years old, a Mexican citizen or Mexican in origin, and currently employed as a “domestic worker”.

Her second challenge was, getting to know these women and having them feel comfortable enough to participate in her study. When asked how she was able to land these interviews with these women she said she first had to gain their trust. The PHD hopeful rode El Metro Bus lines from all over town to the end of the line, the main bus station downtown, in order to observe her potential participants. Gonzalez said, “It took a long, long time to get these women to talk to me -- to even acknowledge my presence.” However, once she found her subjects her study took flight.

Gonzalez is currently mapping out her dissertation and hopes that her qualitative research helps other scholars in their work. She said hopefully, “What I want out of all of this is for us to focus on the workers. The workers are not just part of an organization. People should consider the worker for who they are and not because they represent the organization.”

The transnational worker is a subject for many ethnographers. These domestic workers, whether they realize it or not, are part of a bigger organization that is being studied by researchers like professor Ariadne Gonzalez. With her efforts in conjunction with other professionals in her field these women will no longer be seen as fixtures. The work that scholars, like Gonzalez, are performing will be important for other women in this field who are hoping to shape their identity in the United States.

For more information, comments, or questions regarding this article, Tina Gomez can be reached at cristina.gomez@dusty.tamiu.edu

TAMIU PROFESSOR PROFILE

Garcia shares artificial intelligence research

By George Gonzalez jorge.gonzalez@dusty. tamiu.edu

We are living in an era of intelligent technology. Our phones recommend us the best places to dine, our computers crunch through algorithms such as, Apple’s Genius to predict music and playlists recommendations based on what we listen to. Even some wristwatches don’t just tell the time, but also reminds the user to exercise. However, these consumer-level examples of artificial intelligent (AI) are only the surface of larger business-level advancements in the field of AI. Businesses are finding new ways to share their information internally.

Texas A&M International University (TAMIU) Management Information Systems (MIS) instructor, Hugo Luis Garcia states, “aside from the human resources, what is really valuable in an organization is the information and the knowledge that the organization has.” But what happens when that knowledge is lost? Graduating from TAMIU in 2003 with a Masters in

Science and a concentration in MIS, Garcia proposes the unfortunate scenario of an institution losing that information and experience. If businesses are able to recover from a minor loss of intel, how quickly can they come back from a larger setback? The professor raises the questions, “what can we do to enhance that process? What can we do to make it more quickly or with more efficiency?”

With the guidance of his International Business & Technology Studies colleagues, doctors Jacqueline and Milton Mayfield, Hugo Luis Garcia’s work has taken to exploring complex concepts in the field of “knowledge sharing” for the international journal, Development and Learning in Organizations. Mr. Garcia elaborates that, “in an organization you have many different people; all these ‘human’ resources” of which are the most precious in an organization due to the idea that human beings are “creative.” Explaining, “people can solve problems, people can recognize patterns” however, it is the “right people with the right

knowledge that are the most crucial to an organization,” states the instructor. “One of the things that hurts an organization is when an employee leaves and they take that knowledge that they have with them,” insisting, “it’s kind of a huge loss to have an employee leave an organization, especially one who is a veteran and didn’t record their solutions.”

Instead of re-inventing the wheel, the 38-year-old professor explains, “you want to share the knowledge and make it the responsibility of every employee, that when they encounter a problem they solved creatively, well for goodness sake, document and record what you did.”

As far as methods go, Mr. Garcia is using data analytics, statistical methods, and artificial intelligence studies to reach a cohesive perspective on his research. In using data analytics, Hugo instructs that he is, “looking for different strategies, different information, and different forms of processing information that we can use to analyze and understand our busi-

ness.” Citing the advancements of inventor and computer scientist, Ray Kurzweil as an influence in his own research, Garcia ties in the learning process with AI; a topic he has dabbled with before in his previous paper for the Decision Sciences Institute, “Business Applications of Artificial Neural Networks,” in-which the instructor extends earlier classification efforts and maps the deployment of artificial neural networks into new system frameworks.

Using the idea of bio-mimicry, Hugo explains if the test subject is intelligent, then that subject’s responses are to be recorded and programed into the computer in-order to have that computer regurgitate those responses at the appropriate time and we could imitate intelligence. “This is the basis for expert systems that are trying to present you the right information at the right time,” says Garcia, “but in the discipline we wanted to go beyond that, we wanted to go and create something a little more genuine.”

By using these concepts, Mr. Garcia’s research hopes to minimize information losses for organizations.

One of those businesses will be in San Antonio, however Garcia informs that he does not yet have the clearance to reveal the name of the institution at the time of publication. Nevertheless, even though the instructors’ work isn’t yet complete, Hugo plans to have a solid draft finished for his mentors and colleagues to read by the beginning of next year before submitting his work into the Emerald Group Publishing’s journal.

So as the age of intelligent technology advances, the ability for an organization to recuperate from a heavy loss of information in a quick and effective manner by using AI foundations and documents with actionable conclusions seems to be one-step closer. Perhaps those same algorithms in-which calculated our personal preferences may just be able to save, document, and adapt to an institutional-sized level of knowledge sharing. Only time will tell.

(George Gonzalez may be reached at jorge.gonzalez@dusty.tamiu.edu)

LOCAL CALENDAR oct 24-nov 2

Carnival @ Lea

nov 4

judas priest @ Lea

oct 30

oct 30 - nov 2

halloween fest @ TAMIU

Feria de la hispanidad @ LEA

nov 8

Nov 26-29

The bazaar @ french quarter

Thanksgiving break

4 October 2014

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Louis San Miguel | The Bridge Staff

AUTMUS FEST STORY BY GEORGE GONZALEZ

It was a hot Saturday night as 3BallMTY, Hysteria, Stitched Up Heart, and local favorites Two Lions took over two stages at this year’s AutMus Fest.

Held behind the Texas A&M International University’s Sue & Radcliffe Killam Library and put together by the TAMIU Alumni Association, this marked the festivals 10th year. Despite the diverse set of musicians and bands, it was colossal headliners A.B. Quintanilla’s Kumbia Kings All-Starz that really brought the crowd to it’s feet.

For TAMIU student Cristina Yancey, this was the second time she had been to an AutMus Fest. The art major proclaims, “The band line up is really interesting. I am looking forward to seeing Hysteria.”

For students Caleb Sanez and Bianca Cantu, this was their first time ever at the festival. Sanez said, “I was encouraged to come and I thought it would be a great idea. I love music, fests, and to come here with friends.” When asked about which band she was looking forward to seeing, Ms. Cantu stated, “the Kumbia Kings.”

The festival also had a lot of non-musical related activities for attendees to participate in. Various different booths and food available were made available.

From craft vendors selling jewelry, to The Artisans doing face painting, to

paintball shoot-outs, and to the Laredo Wrestling Alliance (LWA) showcasing local wrestling talent, there was something for everyone at the music festival.

Commenting on the various activities, Caleb Sanez highlighted that shooting paintballs with friends was, “very exhilarating!”

Local Laredo bands DB3 and Two Lions opened the Budweiser Stage to a handful of applause. The two local groups have gained lots of notoriety around town and they both even won this years AutMus Got Talent: Battle of the Bands event this past Summer.

However, as the sunlight decreased the more people arrived to the festival. TAMIU alumni Erika de la Torre looked forward to seeing Stitched Up Heart and Immortal Guardian. “I had heard of them because of AutMus Fest.

They were pretty good” claimed the Biology graduate when talking about Immortal Guardian.

By the time Hysteria took the stage it felt like a party had only just begun.

If the heavy metal stylings of Immortal Guardian made you stand up off your feet and start head banging, then it was Def Leppard tribute band, Hysteria that made you groove. Doing classic renditions of hits such as, “Pour Some Sugar On Me” and “Rock of Ages,” most of the crowd was dancing and

singing along.

Still, it was the goth rock anthems of Stitched Up Heart that elevated the energy from nostalgia to pure hard rock angst. Having performed in Laredo a few times before, the Los Angeles-based band assaulted the masses with their intense songs and screeching vocals. Part of their “Heart-On Tour” the female-fronted band were a perfect balance for many of the nights diverse groups.

3BallMTY brought the noise with their brand of eclectic mixes of samples and music. The DJ Collective turned what had seemed like a rock concert into an all-out dance party. Their infectious hooks, thumping beats, bright LED screens, and erratic light show was a sight to behold. It was difficult not to get into it.

Nevertheless, it was A.B. Quintanilla’s Kumbia Kings All-Starz which closed out the night toa packed crowd.

With their Latin flair and hit songs, the Latin Grammy award winning group turned up the crowd for one last party. It was an excellent way to end a day full of exciting music and fun. Laredoans and Dust Devils can expect the next AutMus Fest to be next year on Saturday, October 5th 2015.

(George Gonzalez may be reached at jorge.gonzalez@dusty.tamiu.edu)

3 Judith Mae Aguilar | The Bridge Staff

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Louis San Miguel | The Bridge Staff

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8 Judith Mae Aguilar | The Bridge Staff

1. 3Ball MTY 2. A.B. Quintanilla’s Kumbia Kings All Stars 3. Sergio Zavala of 3Ball MTY 4. The Autmus Fest Crowd sings along to Hysteria

5. A member from TAMIU student group, the Artistans, paints the arm of a crowd member 6. The lead singer of local band, Two Lions 7. A young member of the AutMus Fest crowd enjoys the

Louis San Miguel | The Bridge Staff

sounds of 3Ball MTY 8.Erick Rincon of 3Ball MTY

5 october 2014

9 Louis San Miguel | The Bridge Staff

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11 Judith Mae Aguilar | The Bridge Staff

Louis San Miguel | The Bridge Staff

12 Louis San Miguel | The Bridge Staff

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13 Judith Mae Aguilar | The Bridge Staff

Louis San Miguel | The Bridge Staff

9. The Kumbia Kings All Stars 10. The lead singer of Stitched Up Heart 11. A member of Hysteria 12. A crowd member struggles to capture the perfect video of 3Ball MTY 13. TAMIU volunteers play with Hula Hoops during the festival’s early hours.

14. The lead singer of Two Lions.

15. One of the Laredo Wrestling Alliance’s many matches in the shadow of the Killam Library.

16. Members of Immortal Guardian.

17. The many booths offering various goods and food for the public to enjoy.

18. The TAMIU crowd enjoys the sounds of the Kumbia Kings All Stars

17 Louis San Miguel | The Bridge Staff

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16 Louis San Miguel | The Bridge Staff

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Judith Mae Aguilar | The Bridge Staff

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october 2014

Student Profile

Swiss exchange student shares his tale

By Anna Esteves @TheBridgeTAMIU

Among all the remarkable programs Texas A&M International University (TAMIU) has to offer, the International Student Exchange Program (ISEP) is one that every student should be knowledgeable about. TAMIU is one of the many universities worldwide that offers this program to their students, allowing them to study outside of the country and learn in a completely new environment. It is also the home of numerous exchange students that have chosen TAMIU to help them achieve their desired careers.

Danny Parchao is an exchange student from Switzerland who is in his first semester at TAMIU. He is double majoring in History and English with the hopes of going back to his

native land and becoming an English professor. Moving to the US has had a tremendous impact on Danny’s life.

He has had to adapt to a whole new culture, to different food, and to a new school system. But he is slowly learning and he is grateful for all the new things he is experiencing.

One of the things Danny misses most about home is the weather.

He is not used to such a dry and hot climate, since in Switzerland they have up to 8 months of snow. But he is hopeful that with time he’ll grow accustomed to Laredo weather. He is still having a hard time adjusting to the new food he is receiving, but he is slowly adjusting. A major difference he is still getting used to is the use of public transportation. “If you don’t have a car, it is hard to get around.

I’ve been using the bus to get around, and everything is so far! Back in my hometown, everything is close. It

would only take me 10 minutes to get to my university.”

Something that Danny has really enjoyed since his stay here in TAMIU, is the opportunity to interact with people from all over the world.

ISEP often holds events for all the exchange students, allowing them to participate in all sorts of activities.

They have taken the students to the mall, to local convenient stores, and even to Laredo’s downtown. They will soon be traveling to San Antonio to visit Six Flags. ISEP students have formed a tight bond, and together they are excited to continue learning about everything TAMIU and Laredo have to offer.

When asked about his classes and professors, Danny is confident that he is doing well but he says that the schooling system is very different from the one back at his university.

“The classes are way easier here, but

some things are different. Like I don’t like the multiple choice quizzes and tests because I am used to only having to write essays.” It’s been a surprise to him how much homework and assignments he’s been receiving, “In Switzerland, we only have one final exam at the end of each semester.

We don’t have assignments or anything like that. We only have readings for each class.” Danny is taking 5 classes this semester, and he is still amazed that one of his classes ends at 8 at night, “I am not used to classes being so late!”

In his free time, Danny likes to play his guitar and hang out with the other exchange students. He is looking forward to his trip to San Antonio and to someday visiting the movie theatre. ISEP provides cultural lessons for the exchange students. The exchange students are able to attend these lessons and learn all about dif-

ferent cultures. “The next culture we are studying is French, so my friends will be able to learn about my native tongue.”

Danny Parchao has been exposed to a whole new environment here in TAMIU, but he is grateful for everything that he has learned and his is hopeful for everything that he will soon experience. When asked what he would say to students who were interested in study abroad Danny advised: “Just try it. Travel! You can get to some wonderful universities, and see beautiful places from all around the world.” So with that said, we should all give some thought about traveling abroad!

For any further questions about study abroad or exchange programs, you can contact the Student Affairs office at (956) 326-2280 or (956) 326-2281 or email them at studentaffairs@tamiu.edu

Concert Review

Linkin Park, 30 Seconds stop by Dallas

By George Gonzalez jorge.gonzalez@dusty. tamiu.edu

DALLAS, TX - It was a rainy and stormy Saturday night as the Carnivores Tour featuring alt-rocker’s Linkin Park and Thirty Seconds to Mars made its stop at the Gexa Energy Pavillion in Dallas, Texas on September 6th.

Despite the heavy rainfall, the crowd never showed any signs of slowing down, nor did the bands. Performing before headliners Linkin Park, Thirty Seconds to Mars smashed opened their set with their energetic hit single, “Up in the Air.” Consisting of lead singer Jared Leto, drummer Shannon Leto, and multi-instrumentalist Tomo Miličević, the band blasted through power-pop ballads such as, “Do or Die,” “City of Angels,” and “Kings & Queens.”

Thirty Seconds to Mars frontman, Jared Leto applauded fans for still making it out to the concert regardless of the pouring rain. In fact, it was that transparency and engagement with the crowd that painted both Mars and Linkin Park as classy, professional showmen, as opposed to the angsty rock-

ers that they are often depicted as. In fact, Leto was so engaging, the actor-turned-singer would repeatedly jump off the stage to run and sing alongside with both the crowd in the mosh pit area, as well as those seated further up in the amphitheater.

The majority of their 12song set list was made up of tracks from the trio’s latest two albums, 2013’s “Love, Lust, Faith + Dreams” and 2009’s “This Is War;” with five songs played from each of album. Strangely enough, the only song performed off their breakthrough album “A Beautiful Lie” was an acoustic rendition of the 2006 radio smash, “The Kill.”

However, it was the groups instrumental rendition of the heavy-metal classic, “Enter Sandman” by Metallica that was both unique and surprising. By that point there was so many fans on stage that it looked more like a party, rather than a rock show. Lastly, the LA-based band ended with, “Closer to the Edge” making way for the headliners Linkin Park to take the stage.

At around 9:20p.m. the six-member hard-rock outfit took the Texas stage with sounds of thunderous applause. Consisting of lead

David Orozco | Courtesy Photo

Chester Bennington on stage performing at the Gexa Pavillion in Dallas singer Chester Bennignton, drummer Rob Bourdon, guitarist Brad Delson, DJ Joseph Hahn, bassist Phoenix Farrell, and multi-instrumentalist Mike Shinoda, Linkin Park kept the raw and heavy theme of their latest album, “The

Hunting Party” as a template for the evening. The California-based rockers started their set with an all-out assault of heavy guitar-driven songs. Beginning with “Guilty All The Same,” the band followed it up with their most aggressive

single, “Given Up” and then the classics “Points of Authority” and “One Step Closer.”

Notably, despite the heavy nature of their set, the band didn’t let go of the DJ scratching elements that had been more apparent during their first two albums “Hybrid Theory” and “Meteora.” In fact, turntablist Joseph Hahn had an entire solo in which he mixed and twisted several different Linkin Park songs with synchronizing, EDM-like lights.

It was very intense and created a great balance of electronica and D-tuned guitar samples.

Even the bands electronic, dubstep, rendition of “Castle of Glass” was unique and a lot of fun because of how much it had been changed from their original 2012 recording.

The vastly different and very danceable song was an incredible surprise, creating a perfect break from their heavier songs.

For a moment, it really felt like being at a concert headlined by Deadmau5 or Skrillex.

Interestingly enough, however, was also Linkin Park’s choice of shortening many of their songs by eliminating the second verses. Songs such as, “Papercut,” “Runaway,” “Lost in the Echo,” “New Divide,” and “Crawling” all got trimmed down renditions

during the show.

Nevertheless, it is the bands innovative mixing and matching of instrumentals and melodies that showed how versatile and flexible they can be with their music. For instance, rapper Mike Shinoda did the first verse of “Wretches and Kings” as well as “Remember The Name” (from his 2005 solo album) over the instrumentation of “Skin to Bone.”

Another example of this was a piano melody section in their set that combined “Leave Out All The Rest,” “Shadow of the Day,” and “Iridescent” as one big, longer song.

Towards the end of the night, Linkin Park closed their set with a five-song encore, ending with an extended rendition of their hit single, “Bleed It Out.” Overall, the band really encompassed everything that makes them who they are, while also putting more of an emphasis toward their raw and heavier side. Though admittedly the band hasn’t had much of a mainstream influence these past few years as they had in the mid-2000’s, that hasn’t compromised the energy and velocity of their live show whatsoever.

(George Gonzalez may be reached at jorge.gonzalez@ dusty.tamiu.edu)

Literature

Book Review: Paulo Coelho’s Adultery

By Leonardo Hernandez @TheBridgeTAMIU

Adultery released April 10, 2014 is the Paulo Coelho’s new novel and his sixteenth book to be published.

Although in the United States the released date was on April 19, 2014 in English and Spanish and is published by Knopf. The book has become a best seller in Amazon, Coelho is best known for his book The Alchemist. The book was first published in 1988, recieving reaching international acclaim and became a world’s best seller., with 65 million copies sold worldwide. The Alchemist was translated into 56 different

Gomez-rEjon started, I had a resume (or “Curriculum Vitae” as I would obnoxiously call it back then) and I just kept working.

TB: Do you have any notable experiences in Hollywood that’d you like to share?

AGR: I wouldn’t know where to start. I’ve been blessed with developing relationships with so many of my heroes: Martin Scorsese, his editor Thelma Schoonmaker, Nora Ephron, Nicholas Pileggi, Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu -- plus every actor I’ve ever been lucky to direct.

So there’s a story for every minute that I’m been in their company. What’s important is the trait that the good ones all share: humility.

TB: Speaking of Scorsese, I know you worked with him on the set of Casino. Could you tell me a bit more about him?

AGR: People are often nervous about meeting their heroes because you build them up in your head to be something larger than life and you’re just setting

languages making the Brazilian born author an instant hit, breaking Guinness’ World Record for books translated into 56 languages by a living author.

I have to be honest with the readers, the first time I saw the book I was reluctant to read it because of the title. But as I saw people reading the book, everywhere I went and seeing my friends post pictures and comments of the book on social media, I got intrigued. I decided to read it, and see what all the fuss was about.

I decided to write an article about the book and I promised myself I would be completely honest about my thoughts. After reading the first few pages I was hooked.

Adultery is a must read, the book is so well written that you feel an instant connection to the character of the story. The book is not about passion and love; it is more about adrenaline and the desire to change. Psychologically speaking, the book takes you into the mind of a woman who has it all. She has the perfect life, the life most people dream of achieving in their life time. Her life is so perfect that Linda’s (the main character) life has lost its thrill. Linda is a top Swiss Journalist who is happily married to a rich Swiss investor who loves her very much.

They have two wonderful kids, the perfect home and every luxury

money can buy. During one of her interviews with a famous author, a simple response changes her life forever.

“I haven’t the slightest interest in being happy. I prefer to live life passionately, which is dangerous because you never know what might happen next.”

This answer turns Linda’s world upside down and she starts feeling the urge to question her life. Battling with depression, boredom, and envy, Linda’s perfect world is threatened when she has to interview one of her old boyfriends who is now a top politician. The urge to glance at her past threatens her present and future, but will she give in or resist her urges?Will these urges threaten

to become an addiction from which there is no coming back from?

After reading the book, several questions come to mind. We aspire to become someone, we attend a university and engage in a carrer we love. We set up goals for ourselves and imagine pretty much how we want our life to be. But what happens after all your goals have been accomplished? When your life is exactly the way you envision it? When nothing holds excitement, nothing is new anymore and your life becomes ordinary and lacks excitement. What are we supposed to do then? This book takes you exactly to that moment in life and we live vicariously through Linda’s life.

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yourself up for deep disappointment. But not Scorsese. He’s an even bigger hero after knowing him. He taught me – and continues to teach me – not how to make movies (because “the voice that sparks you is your voice”), but why to make them. I admire his obsession with teaching film history and preserving films from the past masters, and I’ll always do my part to continue that tradition.

TB: As a kid in Laredo, did you ever think you’d get as far as getting an Emmy nomination?

What was your reaction?

AGR: Anyone in this business who hasn’t dreamed of this moment is a liar. But because there are so many channels and shows on television now, the odds are simply against you. There are literally hundreds of channels now, and with the internet, maybe more. Throughout my entire childhood and most of my adulthood, we only had the big three networks. So I was shocked and thrilled when I started to receive texts congratulating me. Then I

Courtesy Photo

read about it online. And was instantly nervous.

TB: What was it like to step on the red carpet?

AGR: Surreal. Chaotic. And great, great fun.

TB: I heard you were planning on taking your mom with you. How did she react?

AGR: First of all, if you don’t know my mother, you should.

Everyone should meet her. She is the funniest, the most loving and genuine human being I know. I was honored and excited to share

this extraordinary moment with her. She handled the red carpet with total grace.

When Telemundo asked to interview her, you would’ve thought she had walked the red carpet for years. It was weird how calm she was about the whole thing. It was only until the following morning that we both looked at each other over and said, “Did that really happen?”

TB: How’d you feel not getting the win?

AGR: I was certain that Ryan

Murphy would take home the prize, and deservedly so. So I was surprised when he didn’t.

But you feel absolute relief when it’s all over. I hope to continue to do work that is recognized because it’s a collaborative art.

When I get recognized so do the hundreds of people on the crew that make it happen.

TB: Any thoughts on Laredo?

AGR: Well, I’m proud of my hometowns, Laredo and Nuevo Laredo. They will always be home to me. And I want to do good work that hopefully inspires young artists on both sides of the border and encourages them to take risks. There are no limits. You can’t be afraid of anybody or anything.

Filmmaking aside, and most importantly, I’d like to give back by reminding Laredo of my father’s legacy, Dr. Julio C. Gomez Rejon. He was my best friend and his passion for life, his approach to the service of medicine, and the generations he affected positively shouldn’t go

unnoticed or worst, forgotten.

I’m creating a scholarship in his name to encourage a career in the arts (whether it be the fine arts or the healing arts).

TB: Any words for young Laredoans that aspire to act/ write/direct in Hollywood?

AGR: Stop talking about it and do it. Put yourself out there.

Don’t be afraid of failure because it’s part of being an artist. As Scorsese always says, “If you’re scared it’s because you’re growing and growing is always good.”

TB: Any upcoming projects you’d like to mention?

AGR: I just wrapped the second episode of the new season of American Horror Story. It’s called “Freak Show” and it’s going to be another wild experience. But what I’m most excited about is my new feature, “Me & Earl & The Dying Girl” starring Connie Britton, Molly Shannon, Nick Offerman, Olivia Cooke and Thomas Mann. It’s a cancer comedy, and the experience changed me. I can’t wait to share it with the world.

7 october 2014

pho

alamo

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Judith Mae Aguilar | The Bridge Staff

restaurant, you are hit with two immediate conclusions, the aroma of good food and the heat. The restaurant is small and quaint with only seven booths and six tables usually kept in pairs. There is an industrial look to the ceiling with the open duct ceiling.

The menu is varied though with traditional Vietnamese cuisine, including the restaurants namesake phð, a rice noodle soup. Some of the type of meats that can be ordered in the

metal

phð include chicken, shrimp, and beef. They also have traditional “Chinese” cuisine that can usually be found in Chinese buffet restaurants like General Tso’s chicken and fried rice.

The difference in the restaurant’s food, though, is that it is all made to order instead of food that has been sitting under a hot lamp. That does not take away from the expediency in which that they bring the food out—the service is quick and they apply great at-

tention to their clients.

In my opinion, the restaurant is not entirely enticing and the continued high temperature inside does not induce a person to stay long, however, the food has good flavor, is served in large portions for a very reasonable price for those portions. The recommendation for this restaurant would be more for takeout rather than dine in but it does provide an option to the usual food in Laredo.

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jectors and promises to also have “amazing Dolby Digital sound.” In addition to the superior AV equipment, the layout of each screening room will eliminate the traditional front row, ensuring every seat in the house allows for a great viewing experience.

Alamo Drafthouse Laredo will also feature a lounge offering an extensive menu of draft and bottled beers, wine and food. The lounge will be called Glass Half Full and will offer patrons a chilled out atmosphere to socialize before a movie or to just to hangout with friends.

The establishment’s menu consists of burgers, pizzas, wraps, sandwiches, chips and dips, fried pickles, hot wings, and milkshakes (including adult milkshakes!) Guests can

STCE

also expect weekend brunch, salads, and foods that cater to meat lovers, the veggie lovers, and even the gluten free lovers.

Other great events Laredoans can look forward from the franchise are special events such as cult-classic screenings, musical singa-longs, and even movie quote-a-longs.

Texas A&M International University (TAMIU) student, Itzamara Flores welcomes the project and enjoys the fact that it will be close to home since the nearest location was, “always so far away.”

The young english major also adds that, “it gives the city some sort of popularity. I like it!” Marina Elida Benavides, a student at TAMIU, is also delighted by the news stating, “now people have something

else to do besides going to the mall or bowling.”

Laredo Community College freshman, Leslie Michelle Gallegos is also excited for the cinema but hopes that, “there are age restrictions because I want to enjoy the movie without having any babies crying,” referencing the theaters PSA’s about their low tolerance for individuals who talk and text during a movie.

Nevertheless, the news is a welcome surprise to our vastly growing city. For more information on the Drafthouse visit their website at: www.drafthouse.com The Bridge will have further features upon its opening.

(George Gonzalez may be reached at jorge.gonzalez@ dusty.tamiu.edu)

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Originally from Brazil, Zema says the metal group has been based in Austin, Texas for 2 ½ years now. Despite that, the rest of the band members are from all over the United States. Described by their fans as “Super Metal”, Zema dives into their sound by elaborating, “we come from all the schools of hard rock, heavy metal, and basically flirt with the styles between them.

We can be very melodic, but also very energetic.”

Working with legendary metal producer Roy Z, the band was able to refine their sound for their latest release.

The Brazilian singer states, “we have been produced by the producer that produced Judas Priest, Sebastian Bach, Bruce Dickinson, and Rob Halford’s solo career. In fact, he was also the guitar players for their solo careers. So we are in that kind of genre and we basically explore that part of the music that is very virtuous.”

Since joining the group in 2012, Zema says that past two years have been very busy for the

band. “We did a South American tour and right after that we went to Hollywood [California] to finish mixing the new album,” says the frontman. “I also just came back from Brazil and I am going back later in October for national tv interviews for the Brazilian release.”

Upon returning to the United States, Immortal will be taking the stage at this year’s FunFunFunFest this November in Austin. The “Super Metal” band will be opening up for Amon Amarth, King Diamond, and Judas Priest at the festival.

“As for the rest of the year, [we] just plan to play all the tours that we have right now,” Zema states, but also informs fans to expect a new album next year. The vocalist announces, “we are going to start producing it probably at the beginning of next year and have it released by the second semester.”

Amongst producing and mixing the album, Immortal Guardian also has plan to tour Japan next year considering

how successful their latest album had been received in the land of the rising sun.

After sending,“two huge boxes” of their CD’s to Japan, a proud Zema was excited by how they had sold out of all their albums in just a matter of two days. Needless to say, the band plans to, “be hitting up Japan soon, hopefully.”

Nevertheless, Carlos Zema and the rest of Immortal Guardian invite new fans to listen to their special brand of hard rock. The frontman states, “if you are interested in knowing about this revolutionary new music that our fans are calling Super Metal, our website is www.ImmortalGuardian.net.” There fans can find links to listen to their music, news, their online store and the group’s official social media websites. Zema closes, “There you can also ‘Like’ us on Facebook and add us on all those other good things!”

(George Gonzalez may be reached at jorge.gonzalez@ dusty.tamiu.edu)

Judith Mae Aguilar | The Bridge Staff

for cosplaying which is a form of costuming role playing of different genre of fantasy and science fiction movies, games, and animation. The cosplay contest, judged by visiting professional cosplayers, including Lyndsey Elaine and Spencer Doe. When asked what they looked for when judging the local contest, they both mentioned they looked for persons who put a lot of passion and effort into their costumes. “I do love just seeing the creations that people do—the heart and soul the people puts into things— in that regard, I do feel bad trying to pick somebody because you see a lot of good [costumes],” Spencer said of judging, “I am not a huge fan but I am honored when people ask me to do it.”

TAMIU will once again host the South Texas Collec-

tors Expo on its grounds for the second time. “We had a really good reception at TAMIU, so we will be going back there in January,” Mr. Saucedo stated. As the Fall convention progressed, some of the artists that will be coming to the January 24th and 25th include Sam Jones who portrayed Flash Gordon in the hit Sci-Fi show, Peter Mayhew actor who portrayed Chewbacca in Star Wars, and Austin St. John, the original Red Power Ranger and other actors. Joining them will also be Nicole Marie John and Leanna Vamp who are professional cosplayers.

For further information concerning the upcoming convention along with any updated information, visit the South Texas Collectors Facebook page or the STCE webpage http://stcecomiccon.southtexascollectorsexpo.com/

SPORTS

Kiara Riojas | TAMIU Sports Information

ALMUnUS PROFILE

TAMIU alumnus shines as bodybuilder

By Louie Canela luiscanela@dusty.tamiu.edu The Mr. Laredo Classic 2014 competition was held on Saturday September 13 at the Laredo Civic Center. The intense, sold out bodybuilding competition consisted of eight categories: Beginner, Novice, Master, Middle Weight, Light Weight, Men’s Physique, Figure Contest and Bikini Contest.

The grand prize of the absolute category was $1,500.

Many would think it would be nearly impossible to be a single mother, full-time educator and bodybuilding competitor.

However, Gabriela Cadena, 27, single parent to son Kaleb, a first grade teacher for a local school district proves by all odds that it is possible. Cadena is a graduate of Texas A&M International University. She obtained her Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education.

“I prepared myself to compete five weeks before the actual competition. I’ve always been the fitness girl always working out and eating healthy meals. I try to stay away from junk food, but it is very different when you are going to compete,” Cadena stated. “I incorporated a rigorous training schedule and diet. I doubled my workouts by working out at 5 a.m. and then again in the evening Monday thru Sunday,”Cadena stated when asked how she prepared for the competition.

Courtesy Photo

Cadena Posing with her trophy at the Mr. Laredo Classic 2014

The supermom would wake up daily at 4:30 a.m. to prepare her breakfast which consisted of egg whites and oatmeal. She would take off to the gym for a 45-50 minute cardio session, and then she would head back home to get her son and herself ready for school so she could be at work by 7:30 a.m.

After work she would continue her motherly duties by attending to her son, and head off to the gym once more in the evening. She would work out her entire body from legs to arms to abs and ending her evening workout with another cardio session. She ate six meals throughout the day which consisted of protein, chicken, tilapia, ground turkey with brown rice or sweet potatoes.

Cadena competed in the Bikini Category of the competition along with fifteen other women. After years of being asked to participate in the competition by Dave Gutierrez speaker of the Mr. Laredo Classic competition, she finally agreed to compete.

Most women had been preparing for the competition for over fourteen weeks. Cadena prepared herself in five weeks with the guidance of her coach, Vital Nutrition owner Oscar Saucedo.

“On a weekly basis, he would check my body fat and my weight which would keep decreasing every week. The best part about it is that I kept my all my muscle!” Cadena noted ecstatically.

Cadena placed second in her first competition. She will be competing in Houston, Texas on October 18 at the Formulation1 Competition. Cadena possesses determination and commitment. Without a doubt, her drive will help her excel once more in bringing the first prize to Laredo making her entire community proud.

SPORTS BRIEFLY TAMIU ATHLETICS GETs NEW LOCALly DESIGNED LOGO

TAMIU Athletics annouced the adoption of a new logo designed by a local artist in August. The new logo introduces gold as a accent color to the traditonal maroon and silver the dustdevils usually sport. The new logo features a profile view of a cowboy complete with a bandana.

Basketball kicks off season

The Heartland Conference Champion TAMIU Men’s and Women’s Basketball team kicked off their season with a Maroon Madness event on campus this October.

The event had a variety of contests including a Slam Drunk and shooting competiton for athletes and even let students compete in their skills test.

LEMURS BOUGHT OUT

The Laredo Lemurs will have a new owner in the upcoming season. As first reported by the Laredo Morning Times, Benito Torres and his family bought out the team owned by Mark Schuster in October, appointing Arianna Torres, Benito’s daughter, as primary owner.

She will become the first Mexican and first female owner in the history of the American association. The Lemurs also annouced a home-and-away series to be contested between the Lemurs and the Tecolotes of Nuevo Laredo. The exhibition will take place on November 6 at Uni-Trade Stadium and November 7 at Nuevo Laredo’’s Parque la Junta Field.

Men’s Soccer comes back against utpb

The TAMIU men’s soccer team manged a 6-4 victory against the University of Texas Premian Basin on Oct 13. The Dustdevils trailed until finally taking the lead with their fifth goal. Senior midfielder Jovany Macias scored a hat trick for the Dustdevils.

LIFE & ARTS The bridge

8

Autmus Fest

Immortal Guardian brings metal to TAMIU

By George Gonzalez jorge.gonzalez@ dusty.tamiu.edu With a stage shared by headliners A.B. Quintanilla’s Kumbia Kings AllStarz, 3BALLMTY, and Def Leppard tribute band, Hysteria, there was plenty to expect at the 10th annual AutMus Fest. However, it was the heavy metal stylings of Immortal Guardian that won a lot of praise among attendees.

A relatively unknown band to many Laredoans, the Texas-based rockers consist of guitarist Jyro Alejo, drummer Cody Gilliand, guitarist/keyboardist Gabriel Guardian, bassist Thad Stevens, and vocalist Carlos Zema. Coupled with shredding guitar sounds over melodic vocal stylings and their enigmatic stage presence, Immortal Guardian quickly won over

new fans.

Blanca Cantu, an art major at Texas A&M International University (TAMIU) proclaimed, “It was my first time seeing them and I fell in love automatically!” The young freshman also jokingly admits, “I wanted to buy everything from their booth, like t-shirts, posters.. I want everything!”

Nevertheless, Cantu did purchase the group’s latest album, “Revolution Pt. 1.”

Communication Disorders major Caleb Saenz was also very impressed by the band stating, “they were pretty sick! They have the best vocalist, honestly. He is very good.”

Performing for the first time in Laredo, Immortal Guardian’s lead singer Carlos Zema took some time after their set to speak with the Bridge about the bands influences and plans for the future.

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Louis San Miguel | The Bridge Staff

Immortal Guardian takes the AutMus fest stage with their own brand of metal.

october 2014

Artist Profile

Photographer | The Bridge Staff

Alfonso Gomez-Rejon acting as the director of an episode of American Horror Story: Coven. The director, born and raised in Laredo, recently earned two Emmy nominations, one as a director and another as a co-executive producer.

ALFONSO GOMEZ-REJON

The Bridge talks with the Emmy-nominated director who was born and raised in Laredo

By Louis San Miguel @louis_sm American Horror Story has quickly become one of the most seen and talked about TV series on the air today. 6.17 million viewers tuned in alone to watch the premiere of the fourth season on October 8th. However, few know that one of the men that’s behind the camera and responsible for the scenes that both terrorize and excite audiences was actually born and raised in Laredo.

Alfonso Gomez-Rejon serves not only as a co-executive producer for the series, but also as a director, whose vision brings to life the scenes and creatures that have made the series so popular.

The Bridge got a chance to talk with Gomez-Rejon about his past in Laredo and his experiences at the Emmys. The interview, which was conducted through email is below.

The Bridge: Tell me about

Notable work from gomez-rejon

Argo

American Horror Story

your background in Laredo.

Was there anything here that spurred your interest in the film industry?

Alfonso Gomez-Rejon:I was always more of a fine artist, mainly drawing. It suited my personality because I was incredibly shy. I’ve also always been a bit of an insomniac so I’d stay up late, watching HBO and Late Night with David Letterman. When one of my best friend’s brother (Shannon Jordan) lent me his VHS copy of Apocalypse Now, it changed

Comics

South Texas Collector’s Expo returns to Laredo

By Judith Mae Aguilar @TheBridgeTAMIU “Everyone here has been so friendly; the fans have been great. It’s a smaller convention, which is actually kind of nice, because you can take some more time with the fans,” said Jason Faunt of the South Texas Collectors Expo held at the Laredo Energy Arena on September 13th and 14th.

Jason Faunt, an actor who has portrayed the Red Ranger on Power Rangers Time Force, was also joined in the convention by Erin Cahill, the Pink Ranger also from Power Rangers Time Force, Verne Troyer from Austin Powers and Harry Potter, and Kylie Szymanski, from AMC’s The Walking Dead.

The STCE is held twice a year, once in the Spring and one in the Fall. The last one was held at Texas A&M International University at the

Judith Mae Aguilar | The Bridge Staff

Cruz Pizano III poses at the South Texas Collectors’ Expo cosplay contest.

University Student Center in January. This was the first time that the STCE was held at the Laredo Energy Arena and, based on the crowd, it was successful.

“It’s going better than we expected…we are getting beyond what we [were] expecting,” said Juan Ricardo Saucedo, one of the organizers of the convention, “Conservatively, we put the number at about 3,000 but those numbers are growing.”

“In many ways, this is where we needed to be because every year, we noticed that it continued to grow. More venders wanted to come down and [more] artists wanted to come down as well. Because of that, we felt that the [Laredo] Civic Center was not going to hold us forever.”

During the convention, there was a range of venders— from visiting and local artists of comics and other media, special guests, and suppliers of

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Restuarant Review

Pho 1 gives different option

By Judith Mae Aguilar @TheBridgeTAMIU Situated on the border with Mexico, it would not be a surprise to know that Laredo has a strong Mexican food culture and specialization. If you

search “Mexican restaurant” at YellowPages.com, you would get a result of 134 listings.

There are surprising restaurants in Laredo, though, that the general population may not be aware of. One of these restaurants is Phð 1 which, recently, I took the time to

sample.

The restaurant is located 7511 McPherson Rd, south of the H.E.B. located at the intersection or McPherson and Del Mar Blvd. Located in a small shopping center next to a nail salon, this family run Vietnamese restaurant

and has been open for around the last 4 years. Only a short bus ride from the Texas A&M International University campus to a bus stop on Del Mar Blvd and then a short 5 minute walk.

When you walk into the

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Glee

the way I watched movies. The sheer scope of it. Luckily, the first pre-Blockbusters had started to open around this time (Video Huts) and I finally had access to all the movies I had missed (we only had one and a half theaters back then) -- and that’s when I discovered Martin Scorsese. My world changed after that. Mean Streets spoke directly to me. It was deeply personal. I could relate to it… and I’m as far from being an Italian-American kid from 1970s Greenwich Village. I think that’s when I realized that,

as a filmmaker, not only could I continue painting pretty pictures, but I could also say something.

When I realized that directing was a legitimate career, I pretty much decided that that’s what I was going to do with my life.

TB: How did you get your start?

AGR: I got my first job my very first morning in New York City (where I went to undergrad). The dining hall in my dorm wasn’t open yet (it was still orientation week) so I had to cross Washington Square Park to a different dorm to eat. They happened to be shooting Sesame Street in the park and I’d never seen a set that big before (in retrospect, it was tiny). I just stood there, in awe, for hours and I never made it to the dorm. I was there so long that a producer noticed me and put me to work stopping traffic. The next day, she hired me on a music video.

Later that week, another music video. So before school officially

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coming to laredo

Courtesy Photo

Patrons enjoy a film at the Alamo Drafthouse in Austin, Texas.

Alamo Drafthouse coming to Laredo

By George Gonzalez jorge.gonzalez@ dusty.tamiu.edu After years of rumors and speculation, it seems as that the dream of having an Alamo Drafthouse in Laredo is now officially going to become reality.

Alamo Drafthouse Cinemas, in association with franchise partner BACH Holdings announced earlier this Summer that they will be opening the popular movie-dinner venue this coming Spring 2015. According to the official Alamo Drafthouse Cinemas website, the Laredo venue

has been in construction since mid-July and will be will be located at the San Isidro development, near International Boulevard and Bob Bullock Loop.

Dubbing the name Alamo Drafthouse - San Isidro, the building will be a 32,000 square foot space and will be, “a state of the art venue with eight screens” making this the only dinner theatre in Laredo. Each of the auditoriums will also be equipped with Sony 4K digital pro-

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