The Bridge Newspaper - March 2015

PHOTO ESSAY

TASTE OF LAREDO

Check out photos from all the WBCA events, including the Parade and Jalapeno Fest, on PAGE 4 and 5

Hundreds of hungry Laredoans came out to the Laredo Energy Arena to sample tastes from local restaurants. More on PAGE 8

2015 OSCARS

Birdman took home the award for Best Picture, Best Director and Best Screenplay at the Oscars.

Read More on PAGE 8

TEXAS A&M INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY STUDENT NEWSPAPER @TAMIUBRIDGE

NEWS BRIEFLY DR. BRONCANO NAMED REGENTS PROFESSOR

FACEBOOK.COM/THEBRIDGETAMIU

THEBRIDGENEWSPAPER.COM

MARCH 2015

WASHINGTON’S BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION

CELEBRATING GEORGE

Dr. Manuel Broncano-Rod r i g u e z , Professor and director of English-Spanish Programs at TAMIU was honored with the title of Regents Professor by the Texas A&M University Sytem. The award recognizes outstanding faculty or professors who contribute in an examplary fashion to the A&M System. To read more Broncano’s reaction to the honor read PAGE 6

TAMIU HOSTS INTERNATIONAL VISTORS TAMIU played host to notable dignitaries both from afar a bit closer to home in the month of February.

Ambassador of Azerbaija, Elin Suleymano, visted Business students on Feb 21 to discuss the history of his country and the economic opportunities it held.

A joint agreement brought the governor of Tamaulipas, Mexico to TAMIU soon after on Feb 27.

Under the agreement signed between the governor and TAMIU, TAMIU will start plans to teach students who will eventually enter jobs created in Tamaulipas by the state’s energy plan.

ART EXHIBIT NOW OPEN “A Spatial Continuum in Black” by Christina Coleman is now open in the Center for Performing Arts Gallery. The exhibit consits of Coleman’s “drawings, sculptures and works on paper exploring subjects related to the body and finding new possibilities for common everyday materials.”

Gallery hours 9 a.m. 5p.m., Monday to Friday.

The exhibit will run until April 7.

LEONARD NEMOY DIES Leonard Nemoy, the man who came to national prominence playing the part of Spock in Star Trek, died at the age of 83 on Feb 27. The cause of death was end-stage chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

MEXICAN FORCES CATCH LEADER OF ZETAS CARTEL Omar Trevino, also know as “Z-42,” was catured

by Mexian authorities on March 3.

Trevino came into contol of the Zetas after his brother, Miguel Angel Trevino was captured by Marines in 2013.

JUDITH MAE AGUILAR & LOUIS SAN MIGUEL | THE BRIDGE STAFF

Top Left: Andrea Gabriela Gloria, Princess Pocahontas, waves to sepctators at the WBCA Parade. Top Right: Curtis Roush of Bright Light Social Hour performs at the Jalapeño Fest Bottom Left: Ueta Jamboozie Dancers lead the a procession of dancers down San Augustine Ave. Bottom Right: Children representing Mexico and the US share a hug on the bridge.

Jalapeño Fest draws Abrazo held on International Bridge hundreds of Laredoans brings two border towns together of-towners to the border city to test their metttle in a Jalapeño eating contest.

This year the champion, Jose Antonio Machan, chomped his way to victory, consuming 76 Jalapeños in the span of 15 minutes.

For festival-goers who didn’t quite have Machan’s champion stomach, a variety of booths provided snacks ranging from gorditas to

BY LOUIS SAN MIGUEL @LOUIS_SM

H

undreds of spectators gathered under Friday night floodlights not to cheer in support of of the Mustangs, Tigers or Longhorns, but instead to celebrate the spicy little pepper that plays an integral part of any Laredoan’s diet.

The 37th JalapeñoFestival is one of the main attractions that brings out-

JALAPEÑO PAGE 3

BY JUDITH MAE AGUILAR @TAMIUBRIDGE

A

fter a month long celebration, the 118th Washington’s Birthday C e l e bration came to a close with the premiere event that unites

Laredo with its sister city in Mexico, Nuevo Laredo. The International Bridge Ceremony, held Febr uar y 21, 2015 on an e a r ly and c r i s p Saturday morning, brings delegates from a local, state, n a -

tional and even international level who come together in a ceremonial abrazo, or hug, that unites the two nations. Presiding over the ceremony this year was Texas A&M International University’s President Dr. Ray M. Keck III. Before the event commenced, the invited guests gathered at the San Agustin Church near Lincoln-Juarez International Bridge. Once all were present, they marched to the cadence of the United States Custom and Border Protection Honor Guard Drum and Bag-

WBCA PAGE 6

PROFESSOR PROFILE

Social change a priority for Stuart Davis computer and modem.

Without our social connection to other human beDAVIS ings, our daily struggle would be too immense to imagine. Hence, the ability

BY TINA GOMEZ @TAMIUBRIDGE

As the human race progresses through the age of information and technology, we become more aware of the tools in our armory. We have come a long way from the twig and flint, and now rely on the necessity of the

STUDENT PROFILES

Daily commute creates difficulty

BY KHLOE TORRES @TAMIUBRIDGE

College can get rough at times, from long sleepless nights due to endless studying and the never ending struggle of trying to juggle reading endless chapters in textbooks according to the syllabus and having a social life.

Still, there are other students who work in their off time and yet others who have to struggle with early mornings due to a relentless commute that can range

for more than an hour.

Texas A&M International University (TAMIU) is located in Laredo, which for some students is only a 15 minute drive from their home. Some students can even walk in from housing located nearby campus still clad in their pajamas should they choose to. However, Chelsea Garcia and Joey Gomez live in the little country town north of Laredo called Cotulla — an

COMMUTE PAGE 2

to socialize and assemble has become much easier, due in part to the Internet. Consequently, along with the ease of assembly comes the rise of activism.

Assistant Professor of Communications at Texas A&M International University, Dr. Stuart Davis, gave The Bridge a deeper understanding behind the movement known as “com-

munity media” and his dutiful commitment to it. Dr. Davis recently received his Ph.D in Media Studies from the University of Texas at Austin, with concentrations in international communication and global media, development communication, and community-based media production.

“My research deals with

community media, community journalism programs in informal/generalized communities” Davis informed us. “Which is to say that I looked at community journalism programs in favelas in Rio De Janeiro, [Brazil].”

You may feel like you are late

DAVIS PAGE 2

APERTURE:FEATURED PHOTO

DAGO CARMONA | THE BRIDGE STAFF

Italian men stop and watch a carosuel spin in the Piazza Della Repubblica in Florence, Italy. This photo was taken during a Study Abroad semester in the summer held by Marcela Moran.

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THE BRIDGE

Students interested writing, editing, photographing or designing with The Bridge are welcome to contact Editor-in-Chief Louis San Miguel at louis.sm@ gmail.com for more information. The Bridge will also accept submissions of potential stories, photos, poems, cartoons, and other pieces of literature at the same email address. Included in this issue is “Catatonic Generation” submitted

by Mariana P. Gonzalez and “Invincible Summer” by Rebekah Rodriguez STUDENT SUBMISSION Catatonic Generation Unresponsive to external stimuli Apathetic, the catatonic generation Who are both afraid and frightening Breathing but unconscious Who stare into space Suspended like puppets in cages A false confinement they set up in their own heads Whose bodies are alive but whose souls are dead The catatonic generation Who pray to a god they don’t believe in Because the dreams they dream are better than reality Who are blinded by their own individual pain Who are so focused on being heartless to avoid heartbreak Only to become indifferent cold and distant The catatonic generation Who flirts with madness with loneliness who slumbers in misery who takes a pill to try and step out of the shadows only to find there was never sunlight who dresses up on weekends only to look good in the dark who drinks to drown demons we all know can swim who lets alcohol say all the things they can’t say sober the catatonic generation who are restless and agitated who need to start a new trend of being awakened from this state of unconsciousness from this state of insensibility to do, to become the Golden Generation the time is now but it’s not now or never, it’s now for forever - MARIANA P. GONZALEZ

COMMUTE a hour and 15 minute drive away.

Cotulla is anything but big; it is a small town in the midst an oil boom.

Garcia and Gomez graduated from a class of 60 students, both longing for big dreams despite coming from the small town.

With their dreams in mind, they decided to attend TAMIU in August of 2011.

Garcia and Gomez decided to that commuting was the better option for them because it saved them money and the option allowed them to be apart of the lives of their growing families. For both, family is everything.

“I decided to commute because it is really important for me to be home.” Garcia said. “I like to make sure my mom is okay. Ever since we lost my dad, things haven’t been the same. It is my responsi-

DAVIS

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

bility to make sure all is well.”

Garcia lost her father recently and now has to take care of her family while attending school. She does so to attain her most wanted desire — a college degree. Garcia also believes that commuting saves her money. Gomez, like Garcia also has his education at the forefront of his mind.

“I don’t struggle in driving back and forth.” Gomez Said. “I don’t like driving in a lot of traffic or in the bad weather, but my education is really important to me! I won’t stop or let anything get in my way of getting my degree.”

Gomez attends TAMIU with a full schedule, commutes and works a part-time job. He started a photography business which comsumes most of his free time when he is not in school.

Gomez’s weekends are either booked with homework assign-

ments or photography appointments, which he sometimes has to travel far to do. Gomez said he enjoys the revenue the business brings in.

Garcia graduates this spring with a BA in Criminal Justice with a minor in Psychology and plans to enter graduate school shorty thereafter.

Gomez will be graduating this year with a BA in Biology and a minor in Criminal Justice. He hopes to become a forensic chemist and continue his passion of photography, eventually earning a Masters.

Gomez is the first of his family of three to recieve a degree from a University. Garcia is the first of her family of eight. Hard work and dedication is all Gomez and Garcia recommend to those struggling with both work, school and even commuting.

see all these social movements that had developed kind-of-sortof alongside each other in ongoing conversations since the 1970’s; some [movements] like the women’s movement, … or even different international movements, or social movements.”

This is what drove activists to form non-governmental organizations (NGO’s). “One of the outcomes of these protests were that you had these new networks where people were coming together --working with each other and that turned into something called the World Social Forum [an NGO];” stated Davis. Ultimately, this had led Davis to set foot and begin his research surrounding favelas (the Brazilian equivalent to slums) in Rio de Janeiro.

When asked why he decided to make his origin point in the Latin American country of Brazil he explained, “I had been interested in media activism and social movements in Brazil for a long time — since the early 2000’s.” He continued, “I became interested in

TEXAS A&M INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY STUDENT NEWSPAPER

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...............................George Gonzalez Copy Editors............................................Khloe Torres Tina Gomez Dago Carmona Allison Ramirez Rebekah Rodriguez Spanish Editor..........................................Karen Alanis Design Editor....................................Louis San Miguel Contributor...................................Mariana P. Gonzalez

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/TAMIUBridge Facebook: facebook.com/TheBridgeTAMIU

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

to the conversation if this is your first time hearing the term “community media.” Davis understands the dynamic history and movement behind the term and gave a better explanation.

According to him, “Community media is grassroots journalism based in marginalized communities.” The power of reporting being shifted to the citizen, or any other community member, provides an untouched view of how news develops firsthand.

A fact unknown to many is that the foundations behind media journalism began with the ability to protest and the many movements behind social-economic world issues.

Davis explained that, “In that moment [the late 1990’s], you see a lot of activists from all over the world engaged in — or participating in organizations for things like labor rights, indigenous activism, [and] environmentalism; all these different activists from different sectors coming together, talking.”

Davis continued, “They called it a ‘movement-of-movements’. You

MARCH 2015

that because I was already doing activist work with a labor union for immigrant farmers in North Carolina, and that kind of got me interested in Brazil.”

Davis’ journey continues here at TAMIU, with hopes that he can continue his research surrounding the frontiers of community media with support from other TAMIU faculty.

He stated, “The reason I chose to come here was because of the potential to do work on things like media monitoring, and watchdog type activities about the way the media covers issues on the border; [emphasis on] the way media mainstream depicts images such as illegal immigration, drug trafficking, etc.”

Fortunately, Dr. Stuart Davis has decided to call Laredo home, where he will continue to work on the issues Laredoans face in their own backyards. The Bridge welcomes forward thinkers such as Dr. Davis, and we support his ongoing crusade for change within marginalized communities.

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.

MARCH 2015

THE BRIDGE

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WASHINGTON’S BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION

Taking on a jalapeño challenge

BY JUDITH MAE AGUILAR @BRIDGETAMIU

I had a plan when I decided to compete in the Washington’s Birthday Celebration Media/Celebrity Jalapeño Eating contest. The plan was simple, abstain from spicy foods, especially salsas and chilies. Then beginning the day before and up to the time of the contest, eat and drink calming foods, like dairy. However, like most of life, it did not go according to plan.

For one, being a person that loves all the meals I eat to have some semblance of spice and heat, I could not get myself to eat bland foods — without the spice everything tasted flavorless. Then on the morning of the contest, I just never got around to drinking that glass of milk I was planning to; matter of fact, I ended up going into the contest with an empty stomach.

Coming on 11 a.m., I arrived to the Stripes which would play host to the competition. I was nervous, not because I was about to do what would consider crazy, but because I would be competing amongst other media personalities from around the Laredo area.

The competitors gathered on a long table 30 minutes later and the ceremony was ready to begin. First came the announcement of those 17 brave persons willing to try eating as many jalapeños they could in five minutes.

I was situated between reigning Miss Laredo Latina Nancy Gomez and the radio personality Debbie Jo from Big Buck 98.1. Last year’s winner, Albert “Big Al” Martinez of Big Buck 98.1, also had a prominent place on the table, having won the previous contest with 16 jalapeños I became confident that I could at least match that. The most I had eaten was 18 — albeit not in 5 minutes.

COURTESY PHOTO

Media Jalapeño eating champion Judith Mae Aguilar poses with Miss Laredo Latina and her trophy.

Before too long, a judge counted us down and the competition began.

I reached into my cup of jalapeños with both hands and took a bite out of each jalapeño to let the juice out of the pickled treat in succession. Then I would attempt to eat the rest of the jalapeños in only one more bite — all the way to the stem.

I listened carefully as the minutes were counted out. One minute, I had a small pile of stems, only about 5 or so, but that was more than any of my competition.

As minute two passed, I was making

good progress.

Looking around some of the other competitors had already begun reaching for their bottled waters, but I had yet to reach for mine — I was yet to experience the fire.

As minute three passed, I was moving along and the crowd — and the competitors that surrounded me — began to notice.

I even received a “You Go Girl!” from DJ Debbie Jo. As minute four passed, I took my time to turn my head towards my biggest rival, Big Al. I could see he also had a pile on his tray so I turned back to my cup — the second cup by then as I finished the first — and went at it. That last minute was a stretch, trying to get as many jalapeños down but being stunted by the larger ones.

Finally the countdown to the end of the five minutes with me biting the last one in the last second.

The judge told us to stop and I had to make a quick break to my drinking water while the counting began. In the last minute of the contest I finally started feeling the heat of the jalapeños. The counting was done and I found that I had eaten 25 jalapeños! Hopefully, it would be enough to win. My win was confirmed when the top three were announced: Sergio Verastegui (R Communications) downed 15, Albert “Big Al” Martinez managed to stuff 23 peppers, but I topped the contest participants with 25.

At the end of the challenge, a local non-profit group, Girl Scouts of the Greater South Texas, Stripes made a donation for every jalapeño eaten and presented at check for $500 to assist girls of lower income families with scout fees.

The challenge was a one-of-a-kind event that I enjoyed participating in as a representative from The Bridge Newspaper and as a TAMIU student. I would also do this again in a heartbeat given the chance, even considering needing to stay home for the rest of the afternoon.

George Washington reenacted

BY GEORGE GONZALEZ

STCE

Plenty of fun at LEA carnival

BY LOUIE CANELA

LUISCANELA@DUSTY.TAMIU.EDU

Flashing lights, vendors screaming for your attention, people’s laughter, and the aromas of different foods will welcome you as you walk into the Washington’s Birthday Celebration Association Carnival.

During the month of February, Laredo is filled with much joy and plenty to do.

From the grand parade to the Jamboozie sponsored by UETA, but a true favorite first etablished in 1966 is the WBCA Carnival. People of all ages can enjoy themselves at the event.

There are plenty of rides for any age! The traditional rides, such as the Zipper, Thunder Boats, Tornado, Fun House, to the thrilling Ring of Fire, Zyklon Roller Coaster and The Su-

GOMEZ-REJON “This is an absolute dream.

This week has been incredibly cathartic for so many reasons.

This movie means so much to me. I want to thank you on behalf of all the artists that work on this film and I want to dedicate this award to all the young artists and filmmakers in Laredo, Texas, my hometown.”

The film is schelduled to be

released in limited theathers on June 12 , with a wide release following soon after.

Horror enthusiasts who enjoyed Gomez-Rejon’s directing on “American Horror Story” will also be happy to learn that the director’s work in the genre will continue, wih “The Town That Dreaded Sundown” scheduled for release on October 16.

JALAPEÑO GEORGE GONZALEZ | THE BRIDGE STAFF

Actors John Lopes and Damon Bonetti portraying George Washington and Juan De Miralles, a spanish agent, during their reenactment of “George Washington and the Spanish Agent” cember 1778. George Washington is in Philadelphia to meet with the Continental Congress,” Castillon expalined. “The mood is one of optimism in light of the recent evacuation of the British from Philadelphia and the friendship with the French alliance.

General Washington, however, is not impressed by the numerous celebrations which are taking place throughout the city. He is concerned and realizes that the colonists are still waging across a war, and this war is one that could still be lost.”

Soon after, acclaimed actor John Lopes took to the stage as George Washington and Philadelphia-based actor/director Damon Bonetti entered playing the role of Juan De Miralles, a Spanish agent.

Taking on a more educational angle, the performance had the attention of those in attendance with Lopes’ 6-foot-tall stature, the actor portrayed Washington as a thoughtful, impressive, man of action. Bonetti’s charismatic and graceful portrayal of Miralles also demanded attention and conveyed a key Spanish influence during the American Revolution-era play.

After the performance was over, both Lopes and Bonetti took questions from the audience. Still in character, the actors answered over half a dozen inquiries about the research and methods in discovering this particular story.

It seemed almost unanimous that the audience was not aware that such a meeting

took place or that the Spanish empire helped out Washington.

“The victory in Yorktown would not have been possible without the Spanish fleet and Spanish finances,” Lopes stated. “I certainly hope that this evening’s performance has shed some light on this very, very, very much overlooked aspect of the American Revolution.”

Overall, the show was brilliantly acted and the chemistry between both actors carried the narrative of the short half-hour play. On top of that, the Castanet Ensemble at the beginning was also delightful. Nevertheless, the WBCA event could be described as a success with audience members from all ages applauding at the end of the show.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 funnel cakes and even fried desserts such as oreos and whole snickers bars.

Of course, the cusine wasn’t the only thing to enjoy at the Jalapeño Festival.

Two stages of music hosted acts from as far as Nashville, Tenn. One stage hosted rock acts — including Bright

LOUIS SAN MIGUEL | THE BRIDGE STAFF

JUDITH MAE AGUILAR | THE BRIDGE STAFF

Left: A group of cosplayers dressed as Tingle, Link and Skull Kid from the Legend of Zelda games pose for the camera at the TAMIU ballroom. Middle: A female cosplayer dressed as The Punisher. Right: Texas Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles also made an apperance at the event.

Though ecstatic, Grossman revealed to the audience that she didn’t have too much time to prepare, having only read the script about fourteen hours before shooting began.

Still, it was an insightful experience for American Horror Story fans and those

who are interested in working into both acting or “creature creations.”

As comic cons and geek culture have become increasingly mainstream over the past several years, there has been a rise of popularity in “cosplaying”.

Cosplaying refers to individuals dressing up as pop culture,

comic book, video game, and Japanese animation characters to these events. The STCE is no exception to the trend, as a cosplay contest usually marks the end of the each convention.

In preparation for the contest and phenomenon, the Cosplay Panel took place. The Cosplay

Light Social Hour and Tyler & The Northern Lights — while the other was mostly comprised of Tejano artists — including Zapata’s own Norteño legends Intocable — giving both music lovers of different tastes a thrilling soundtrack to accompany their memorable night.

Jack O’Brien of Bright Light Social Hour plays the bass during the band’s performance at the Jalapeño Festival

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admits the experience was very unconventional than other television shows. Rather than a follow-up audition or interview, the actress was instead invited back to take various images of different views of what her character might look like.

Naomi admitted, “I had no idea what we were doing” adding that, “they started asking me all of these really odd questions like: ‘Are you claustrophobic? Have you worn prosthetics? Would you shave your head?” Despite feeling confused, the actress says she must have answered correctly, “because I got the part a couple of days later” further adding, “even then, nobody really sat down and said: this is the character.”

Nevertheless, the actress proclaimed that she has enjoyed playing Pepper for two years, and was especially excited to have an entire episode devoted to her character.

per Shot, were all brought back. Along for the ride this year was a surprise for Laredo adrenaline junkies.

The WBCA brought for the Speed 136’ high Extreme Thrill Ride to the carnival for the first time ever. The ride goes 136 feet in the air at 60 miles per hour.

Not into rides? Well, there’s plenty that will keep you busy! There are novelty shops, games and food booths that offer funnel cakes, corn dogs, hot dogs, pizza, cheese fries, cotton candy and delicious turkey legs that will keep you satisfied! The WBCA Carnival opened in Laredo from February 12-23, 2015 and had operated Monday through Friday 5 p.m. to midnight and Saturday-Sunday noon to midnight. The fun was located at Laredo Energy Arena parking lot.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8

JORGE.GONZALEZ@DUSTY. TAMIU.EDU

Free and opened to the public, the American Historical Theatre presented “George Washington and the Spanish Agent” on the evening of Wednesday, February 11th at the Center for Fine Performing Arts Theater at Texas A&M International University. Written by Ian Rose, the one-act play captured a historical and often overlooked meeting between General Washington and Spanish agent Juan De Miralles that took place in late 1778.

The performance began with the Castanet Ensemble under the direction of Altagracia Azios Garcia. The seven all-female castanet players elegantly represented not just the culture, but the love of the art of playing the castanets. With each member of the ensemble capturing the joy, artistic value, and different sounds of the instrument, the performers eternally furthered their craft.

Following the Castanet Ensemble was Washington’s Birthday Celebration Association’s President, Veronica Castillon, who welcomed the audience to the event. Castillon thanked the sponsors Castellano and Carpenter Dental Associates for their support, as well as Dr. Keck and the TAMIU faculty for hosting the event at the University.

The WBCA President helped set the stage by giving those in attendance some background to the setting of the play.

“Let’s go back to late De-

COURTESY PHOTO

Festival goers enjoy one of the many rides to be found at the Carnival.

Panel consisted of the professional cosplaying artists, Ani Mai, Nicole Marie Jean, Leena Vamp, and Lord Vishus. Moderated by Peter Mares and Trin Soliz, each guest offered their own expertise and advice for people who are into creating their own costumes.

When a fan asked if there was

any costumes they wish they had made, Lord Vishus replied, “It all comes down too is how badly you want it. If you’re passionate about it, you’re going to get it done. It doesn’t matter how much it’s going to cost, or skill level, you’re going to make it happen.”

“Professional cosplayers or not, we are all cosplayers and I think a big thing about that is that we follow what we love. We weren’t out there looking for this. We were just going out there, going to conventions and dressing up. I was just doing it for fun,” said Ani Mai, discussing the recognition she has received over the years for her work.

The event drew massive amounts of fans to the bi-annual convention, and was an excellent way to open the 2015 WBCA festivities. The next STCE will be held at the Laredo Energy Arena later this year on September 26th and 27th.

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THE BRIDGE - PHOTO ESSAY

MARCH 2015

WASHINGTON’S BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION

WASHINGTON’S BIRTHDAY PARADE

JALAPEÑO FESTIVAL

PHOTOS BY JUDITH MAE AGUILAR

PHOTOS BY LOUIS SAN MIGUEL

MARCH 2015

THE BRIDGE - PHOTO ESSAY

WASHINGTON’S BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION PHOTOS BY JUDITH MAE AGUILAR

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THE BRIDGE

MARCH 2015

VALENTINE’S DAY

All you need for Valentine’s

CAMPUS NEWS

BY LOUIE CANELA

LUISCANELA@DUSTY.TAMIU.EDU

Valentine’s Day is here once again. The day to celebrate love in all it’s glory has lost its true meaning to many. Valentine’s Day for many usually consists of roses, chocolates, and gifts.

However, people usually don’t think of what the actual meaning is. This day is the one day out of the year where we celebrate one of the best human capabilities: to love and be loved.

The day of love has turned into a competition where many show off or compete as to who got the biggest floral arrangement or the best gift.

I went around Texas A&M International University and asked students what this holiday meant to them and how they celebrate.

Priscilla Lineros, a senior at TAMIU, stated, “Valentine’s to me is a special day to show your significant other and loved ones that you care for them. This day isn’t about receiving gifts, its about demonstrating your affection for your partner.

The day is about spreading the love to the most important people by giving them treats or making them feel special with kind words or love letters. My boyfriend and I go out for a nice dinner and give each other gifts which are always a plus but not necessary.”

Graduate student Daniela Gonzalez noted, “Valentine’s Day is a day in which for those new to love to make

COURTESY PHOTO | STEVE HARMON

The Bridge congratulates Dr. Manuel Broncano-Rodríguez on being named a Regents Professor by the Texas A&M University System. The award goes to outstanding professors and researchers in the A&M System. Below is a statement from Dr. Bronacano given to The Bridge.

GEORGE GONZALEZ | THE BRIDGE STAFF

memories and get lost in love and for the veterans in love to dig deep and recall the reason why they fell in love with their significant other and relive that memory. Of course, even though Valentine’s Day should not be the only day you celebrate love

with your loved one, it should be a special day in which we set aside time and energy and invest in love. This Valentine’s Day I will be playing a round of Mini Golf followed by some food and games at the local Carnival with my handsome date.”

No matter what your Valentine’s Day consists of, whether you celebrate it with your significant other or your family and friends, it is the day in which we show our love and devotion to those we love through our simple acts of love.

Long-distance relationships: Can they be right for you?

BY TINA GOMEZ @TAMIUBRIDGE

A college student’s life can sometimes get messy, but there is no reason why relationships should not thrive -- even long distance ones.

Long distance relationships, or LDR’s for short, are not for everyone. However, if you find yourself in one, know that they can be satisfying. As someone who has been in a LDR since 2013, I have some words of wisdom and tips to make the most of your relationship.

According to a study at The (former) Center for the Study of Long Distance Relationships, “Overall, there are just over 7 million couples (14-15 million individuals) in the US who consider themselves in a long distance relationship.” Statistics show that lasting LDR’s are more common than you think.

The overwhelming numbers don’t just stop there, statistics from www.statisticbrains.com show that up to 32.5% of college students claim to be in a committed LDR. So knowing that they are more common than you think, how do you survive knowing your partner is only a trip away? It’s not always easy, but with enough com-

munication and creativity you can make this work.

First things first, communication is key. Make the effort to be the first person your partner speaks to in the morning. It could be as simple as a text message or as visual as a Google Hangout video call.

My mornings usually start in a hurry as I scramble to make it to class on time, so a video call isn’t always ideal. However, nothing will make my morning quite like a text that reads, “Good morning! I hope you slept well. Have a good day in class!”

An article titled “Why We’re All Addicted to Texts, Twitter and Google,” Susan Weinschenk Ph. D, states that dopamine is not only the cause for the “feel good” sensations in our brain, but it also propels us to search for more information; therefore, we find ourselves looking to our phones for satisfaction.

A simple text message in the morning can help keep you motivated through the day. The article continues to say that, “The dopamine seeking system keeps you motivated to move through your world, learn, and survive. It’s not just about physical needs such as food, or sex, but also about abstract concepts.” So it’s clearer now that simple text messages

such as a winking-emoticon can satisfy these small repetitious sparks of motivation.

Sometimes the school, work, and life balancing act becomes overwhelming and a simple visit from your partner could alleviate some stress. Before making the commitment to spend the gas or the frequent flyer miles, make sure you plan the stay way in advance.

Choose a time that is both right for you! There might be local events happening in town, or it just might be the perfect weather to get out and enjoy your time together -whatever the case, make sure that it’s the time you both can agree on.

Statistics show that on average couples meet up about 1.5% a month, and if you can make the time, I would recommend that you do.

Since time is an important factor in a satisfactory relationship, make sure you can host your partner for a week or so. There’s nothing worse than 3 days together only to find out that you both need to get back to the “daily grind”. Now, would be the perfect time to take some vacation time off from work or have some really great “excuses” for missing class.

Also, be sure to let friends and family know your partner will be in town so that they

know why you’re ditching their calls. Maybe you want to introduce your significant other to your friends and family? Let them know a week in advance so that they can make plans to hang out with the both of you. Introducing your partner to your inner circle could strengthen your relationship and give you both more things to talk about when they get back home.

And once the distance becomes a factor again, make sure you utilize the most of the applications on your phone.

Apps like Snapchat, Google Hangouts, Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, Skype and even Twitter can help alleviate some of the communication woes you both may face. It can be satisfying to know that your significant other is only a megabyte away.

LDR’s aren’t for everyone and that’s ok! If you’re testing the waters with a long-distance spark or running out of ways to keep the relationship alive, know that there are ways to get satisfaction from your love interest. There is some leg work that goes into long distance relationships, but that is the rule for most healthy relationships. As the saying goes, “Age ain’t nothing but a number” and the same principle applies to distance --go get ‘em tiger!

I am greatly honored by this distinction and feel humbled by those scholars and scientists from the system who also received the award this year. The United States is a great country, and I feel blessed by the opportunity it has given me to culminate my academic career at a great university in a great state and in a unique region. I owe this award to TAMIU, its students, staff and faculty. I also owe it to my late parents, Eugenio and Consuelo, who were school teachers during a tough period of Spanish history, and who instilled in me and my siblings love and respect for the academic profession.

I am fortunate to have a job that fulfils my vocation. The

award means for me a valuable recognition of the many sacrifices that this career requires and which go mostly unseen for the general eye. My daughter Lucia and my son Manuel well know of the many hours I have deprived them of my company because of professional duties. This is also their award.

I would like to conclude with a piece of advice for our students: knowledge is the only possession that does not require a suitcase or a backpack to travel with you, the best key to open the doors of the world and the best tool to make sense of the often chaotic reality we inhabit.

In culture we become humans. Invest the best of you in learning, invest in yourselves.

WBCA

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 pipe Corps. Upon reaching the bridge, the crowd waited patiently as the American delegates matched with their Mexican counterpart standng on the opposite end of the bridge. At the firing of a flare gun, both sides began to come together at the center of the bridge.

Dr. Keck began with an explanation of the significance of the ceremony as a symbol of friendship, appreciation, and mutual respect shared by the two nations. After the singing of the two respective national anthems, the speakers — including guest speaker Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, R. Gil Kerlikowske — stepped up to the podium in mutual agreement to the honor the highly significant rite.

After the speeches, four specially-selected children, two from Laredo and two from Nuevo Laredo, met in the middle of the bridge exchanging the flags of the U.S. and Mexico and hugs, the celebrated “Abrazo”. Afterwards, the delegates representing parallel offices also met at the

middle of the bridge to exchange flags and mutual esteem.

At the end of the ceremony, delegates from Mexico joined their U.S. counterparts to another of the ultimate observances of the WBCA festival, the Anheuser-Busch Washington’s Birthday Parade. It was here that floats and marchers from local and surrounding areas came together to celebrate the end of the Washington’s Birthday Celebration. A perennial favorite of the many elegantly decorated floats was the Society of Martha Washington’s debutantes in their elaborate dresses, who, at the request of the crowd, showed the wild footwear they hid under their dress.

TAMIU was represented by the Dance Club dancing ahead of a float that signifying the diversity found at our university. Students, some in their national dress, waved from atop the float along with the recently crowned Mr. and Ms. TAMIU, Miguel San Miguel and Yadira Ramirez.

LOCAL CALENDAR March 21

march 28

March 28

DISCOVER TAMIU @ TAMIU

Date night under the stars @ TAMIU PLANETaRIUM

the Big Event @ South texas food Bank

march 29

April 1-2

April 21

REO SPEED WAGON @ LEA

LBV CONFERENCE

REVEREND HORTON HEAT @ Old No. 2

MARCH 2015

THE BRIDGE

SPORTS LAREDO GETS ABA DIVISION CHAMPION While Will Ferrel’s turn as Jackie Moon in “Semi-Pro” might have you thinking that the ABA was left in the past along with bellbottom jeans and the tie-dye t-shirt, the newly-founded Laredo Swarm will have to disagree with the sentiment.

The team, formerly known as the Am-Mex Swarm, moved to the town in early March and began play with a bang entering into the playoffs the day after it was announced the team would move to the Laredo Energy

Arena. The team made its mark quickly, picking up the Southwest Division Championship over the Austin Boom.

MEN’S RECAP

The TAMIU Men’s Basketball team ended the season with a 74-67 loss against Lubbock Christian at the TAMIU KCB. The team ended the season 12-16 (7-13 Heartland) Vadal Faniel was

7

STUDENT POETRY INVINCIBLE SUMMER

BY REBEKAH RODRIGUEZ Every summer starts off the same. I lie awake just past midnight. I throw my T shirt to the floor, desperate to stay cool. My bra still not filled to capacity, my belly spilling over my shorts. “This is the summer,” I say.

“This is the summer where I will finally be: Thin.

Contoured.

Beautiful.”

Every summer starts off the same. I inspect my face and my entire flesh, listing the marks and bumps that need to go. I long for my original complexion, the one untouched by the sun and the havoc of hormones. “This is the summer,” I say.

“This is the summer where I will finally be:

named an honorable mention on the All-Heartland team.

WOMEN’S RECAP

The TAMIU Women’s Basketball team’s season ended in an odd manner. Vague tiebreaker policies meant the season ended with muliple teams having a claim to a playoff spot. The league ruled, however ruled the TAMIU women’s team out despite a win against LCU.

PHOTOS BY KIARA RIOJAS | TAMIU SPORTS INFORMATION

Clear.

Spotless.

Perfect.”

Every summer starts off the same, but not every summer ends the same way. Some summers end in frustration and regret. Some end in subtle changes: the new hairstyles learned, smoother skin, a subtly smaller abdomen. One began and ended in adventure and revelation. But what connects each summer to each other is the desire for validation, never from within, but from all around me.

Every summer starts off the same, except for this summer and every one after. “This is the summer,” I say now.

“This is the summer where I will finally be:

Okay.

Patient.

Crazy (in all the right ways).

Brave Infinite Everything.”

Here begins the days spent taking the long way home, just to smile at strangers; days spent singing on the sidewalk oblivious to triple digit heat. Here begins nights spent looking for others, rather than waiting to be found; nights where dreams happen while I am awake. Here begins a wild hope for a season that lasts more than three months, but a lifetime.

Straight from a winter of doubt, here begins an invincible summer.

EVENT REVIEW BORDER SLAM POETRY

Parking meters and poetry in downtown Laredo

BY DAGO CARMONA DAGOALBERTOCARMONA@ DUSTY.TAMIU.EDU

On Thursday, February 26th, Laredo summoned its collection of strobe lights to once again illuminate the three dimensions which make up downtown: the length of someone’s boot tips; the width of custom-made belt buckles; and the height of a woman who can no longer balance herself on high heels.

But if one decides to walk far enough to no longer feel

the Tejano bass under the soles of their feet, the Christmas lights of Gallery 201 will surely to introduce you to a tranquil setting. However, the gallery goes beyond the role of a landmark, and the collection of extroverted and welcoming people give verbal content to this picturesque setting.

Verbal content becomes an understatement though, when following the creaking wooden floor leading to a microphone stand.

There are no reservations needed, paperwork to be shown, or credentials to be validated. The mi-

OSCARS

FLASH

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8 role in “Twelve Years a Slave”, the breakout star went on to grace the covers of Vogue and Lucky Magazine.

Several films managed to steal the show, being nominated in nearly every category. “Birdman or The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance”, “Selma”, “The Grand Budapest Hotel”, “American Sniper”, “Wild”, “Still Alice”, “The Imitation Game”, “The Theory of Everything”, “Boyhood”, and “Whiplash” were among the night’s most celebrated films. After exhilarating performances and captivating speeches, the winners of the 87th annual Academy Awards were revealed.

Birdman won the Oscar for best picture; Eddie Redmayne took home the Oscar for best actor for his role as Steven Hawking in “The Theory of Everything”. Julianne Moore won the Oscar for best actress for her honest portrayal of Alice in “Still Alice”. As for supporting roles, J.K. Simmons won the award for best actor, and Patricia Arquette for best actress.

While the talent of the nominees is definitely one of the cornerstones of the event, the fashion they choose to wear holds a great significance as well. Supporting actress nominee Emma Stone made it to the top of the best-dressed list by wearing a beaded chartreuse

TASTE

crophone is there with a purpose directly paralleled to its function: It is there to let you be heard.

“We needed a creative outlet.” Laredo Border Slam Poetry cofounder Julia Orduña couldn’t have put the motive any more clearer. Julia and her brother Chibbi were driven to give the world’s biggest small town an alternative recreation that didn’t come with a tab.

Of course, these poetry nights have experienced some dramatic road barriers.

“There were times when only six people would show up...it

Haute Couture gown by Elie Saab. Fellow nominee Reese Witherspoon, wore a simplistic but striking white and black drop-shoulder dress by Tom Ford. Although she wasn’t nominated this year, last year’s winner for best supporting actress, Lupita Nyong’o stole the show with her pearl-encrusted Calvin Klein gown. The backless pearl dress has a reported value of $150,000.

The ceremony came to a close with quite a groundbreaking moment as Alejandro G. Iñárritu, director of Birdman and a Mexican immigrant, won the Oscar for best director. He changed the pace of the event by leaving the audience members with a call to action: “I want to dedicate this award for my fellow Mexicans, the ones who live in Mexico. I pray that we can find and build the government that we deserve.

And the ones living in this country who are part of the latest generation of immigrants in this country, I just pray that they can be treated with the same dignity and respect as the ones who came before and built this incredible immigrant nation.”

Beneath the glamour of this year’s high-profile Hollywood event lies one important message that will continue to empower individuals across the globe.

was hard...but we kept going.”

With the energy one needs to socialize with these easily approachable people, the time to put progress into numbers is not presented. Progress showed itself in the form of countless scraping shoulders, all belonging to people who were just as anticipated to go on stage, or make small talk with a stranger.

And that’s what makes the experience, really. People who’ve just spilled their souls out are far from commenting on the weather when opening their mouths; and when they do, the

Smoothie King both remarked that getting the opportunity to share their delicacies with the citizens of Laredo is by far what motivates them to participate.

Andrea Villarreal, marketing director of Smoothie King, also added, “Our favorite part about participating in this event is spreading the word about our mission. A lot of people don’t know that we serve healthy smoothies. This event helps us share all the amazing vegan, Paleo, and high-protein options with the health conscious people out there.” As the amount of Laredoans exploring the Paleo diet, which is based upon the lean meats, berries, and nuts our ancient ancestors

comedy Ted 2. However, the actor made-up for his absence, at this year’s event in Texas A&M International University Student Center.

Moderated by Legacy Comics Podcaster, Rick Sauceda, the two actors gathered in the Student Center auditorium to a very crowded audience. Melody Anderson played Dale Arden, and Sam Jones portrayed the titular hero. The Flash Gordon stars reminisced about joining the movie, as well as their own experiences while filming the 1980 cult classic.

Jones and Anderson both possess unique personalities, and their constant sibling-like bickering was both hilariously stingy and playful. There was great chemistry in the way they recounted their experiences working together and answering questions from the audience.

Yet the films’ production was not as pleasant as their chemistry would suggest.

Sam Jones revealed he was never properly given the Flash Gordon role at the beginning of production.

The film’s producers had him trying out costumes and different looks; however, unknown to Jones, there were several other actors competing for the same role at the same time.

most likely ate, and vegan lifestyles are increasing, Smoothie King has followed suit as well.

In addition to satisfying their palates, those who attended the event were able to enjoy the musical stylings of Kimberly Dunn, a rising country singer based in Austin. Sticking to the central theme of the night, the LEA invited Buffalo Wild Wings to host their annual Blazing Wing eating contest.

A staggering amount of attendees and local media celebrities participated in the fierce competition. Ryan Bailey, KGNS sports reporter, proved to be the victor by eating the most wings in two minutes.

The event was brought to a close with the an-

When the last sip of backwash has been swung back, and the cute girl in the Arcade Fire shirt is nice enough to give you her number after the Gallery’s Christmas lights go dim, that’s when you realize that an assembly line approach has been the problem. Yet no matter how fast that conveyor belt moves, the microphone will stay in place.

And it will be there waiting.

Border Slam poetry is held every other Thursday from 9pm-12:30am at Gallery 201, located at 513 San Bernardo, in downtown Laredo

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8 Jones expressed his frustration stating, “Dying the hair was a long process back then.

It was seven hours the first day with tinfoil. The whole works. It was orange one day, yellow the next, then white after that, and it went on for 30 days. So I was getting frustrated with that,” adding, “why can’t they make up their mind? Do they either want Sam Jones or do they want somebody else?”

After much negotiation between the filmmakers and Jones, the actor eventually sealed the lead role. However, “it was sort of non-celebratory when I found I had gotten the role,” admitted Jones, emphasising that he had been upset with the way everything had was conducted.

When Sauceda asked the actors about how it was like to arrive at the film’s extraordinary sets, Anderson replied how larger-than-life they were. However, the actress also humorously confessed, “If you look at the sets in Flash Gordon, go watch the movie Dune [1984]. They’re exactly the same sets! Am I right?” causing the audience to laugh out loud. “So if you do watch Dune, you can see that they were the same red walls and actually some of the same costumes,”

Anderson added.

Anderson also revealed that a few scripted scenes didn’t make it into the final cut.

“At one point they fitted me in a spider costume. I was going to be painted all-green, put on fake teeth, and all this different stuff. I remember I sat around all day, green and cold but they never used the scene,” she said.

Disappointed, Anderson explained that the sequence had huge set with lots of spiderwebs and all different kinds of lights, adding, “The set was fabulous.”

Sauceda also asked the actors if they knew of the Flash Gordon mythology prior to joining the film. Jones explained he had read some of the original comics, and even watched the original black and white serials starring Buster Crabbe.

“I thought that was cool,” he said. “They were kind of funky, that whole spaceship with the sparkler in the back of it, and you can see the wire [it hung from],” laughed Jones when referring to the old serials.

Nevertheless, during the Q&A portion of the panel, Anderson revealed to fans that there were initial plans for a second chapter to the cult-classic. “There was supposed to be a sequel,” the ac-

SABOR

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8

festivities, the Taste of Laredo invites both Laredo’s legendary and up-and-coming culinary spots to share samples from their menus. From homemade fajita tacos to a tantalizing cup of lobster bisque, this year’s event offered up an interesting array of culinary delights. With restaurants like the La Posada Zaragoza Grill and El Quinto Sol in attendance, the event was a perfect representation of Laredo’s signature culinary flare.

While delicious food is the cornerstone of the event, the Taste of Laredo holds a much greater significance for the restaurants given the opportunity to participate. Representatives from Krispy Kreme and

guessing game of what is to come is just as intoxicating as the Pabst Blue Ribbon that seasons the wooden floor.

“We’ve had poop poems, we’ve had Whataburger poems, we’ve had depression poems, we’ve had bullying poems” Julia listed, running out of fingers.

“There’s just so much that people want to say. So we’re giving that outlet.”

That’s what the Border Slam is at the end of night: an outlet. It’s not claiming to be an assembly line of solutions for our problems, and that’s okay.

nouncement of the restaurants which dazzled all those in attendance. Fonda Don Martin took home the ultimate prize of “Judge’s Best Taste,” and La Posada took home the honor of “Best Decorated Booth.” As for the people’s choice awards, Sushi Madre took home the award for “Best Asian Cuisine,” Dickey’s BBQ won “Best Americana Cuisine,” and Chocolateka earned the title of “Best Dessert.”

While this event may appear to be solely about food, the Taste of Laredo is an experience in its own right, as it is the one night a year that Laredoans can truly interact with the masterminds behind their favorite dishes.

y Chocolateca fueron algunos donde las filas no cesaban durante la noche.

Aunque la comida más destacada fueron los tacos de bistec de Fonda Don Martin la cual ganó las votaciones como favorito restaurante de la noche, muchos restaurantes del otro lado de la frontera fueron igual de populares.

The Bridge tuvo la oportunidad de platicar con el manager del restaurante de El Quinto Sol de Nuevo Laredo Tamaulipas. Este restaurante de comida vegetariana se especializa en jugos de vegetales y frutas, y es destacado en su yogurt como también en comida de bajas calorías. Aunque este sea un restaurante diferente a los demás, El Quinto Sol a crecido en popularidad en estos úl-

tress revealed.

“You know, sometimes corporations and producers don’t get get along,” Anderson admitted. Clarifying, “We never knew what happened, but the fact is they didn’t make a sequel. But it was designed to create a sequel.”

While on the subject of sequels, Jones also discussed his involvement in Seth MacFarlane’s critically acclaimed comedy, Ted and the upcoming Ted 2. In the film, Sam Jones played an out-of-work, drug addicted version of himself.

Interestingly enough, many of younger attendees were introduced to Jones through the success of Ted, and its constant references to the Flash Gordon film.

When asked by fans how it was like working alongside stars Mark Wahlberg and Seth MacFarlane, Jones enthusiastically replied, “It was great.” He added, “Wahlberg was humble, very quiet, very giving. Seth MacFarlane, [who was directing his first live action movie] was very prepared.” Ted 2 is set to hit theaters June 26th.

Toward the end of the panel, Jones revealed his screentime in the upcoming sequel is about the same as that of the first film. He states fans of the first film will love the second movie even more.

CONTINUADO DE PÁGINA 8 timos meses ganándose así la preferencia de sus clientes de ambos Laredos. “Anteriormente no veíamos un restaurante que ofreciera jugos recién hechos o alimentos sin carne y afortunadamente nuestra publicidad es la boca de los que nos visitan” comentó Arnulfo Vázquez.

Otro restaurante que sobresalió en dicho evento fue Delicia’s Bakery, el cual estuvo deleitando a los comensales con sus riquísimos y variados postres y quien ademas ofreció una excelente presentacion de su local.

La especialidad de esta panadería es el rollo de mango, según nos comentaron sus propietarias Lili y Linda de La Garza.

Cuando les preguntamos si les gustaría regresar a

este evento el otro ano nos contesto Lili, “Claro que si lo super recomiendo para los demás negocios y para las personas que quieren probar un poquito de todo.” Este evento es una excelente oportunidad para que los restaurantes den a conocer sus platillos de comida que ofrecen diariamente en nuestra ciudad.

Muchos Laredenses aprovecharon la oportunidad para ir a cenar en este evento que llegó a su fin alrededor de las once de la noche. A esta hora dieron a conocer el favorito restaurante del evento gracias a los que participaron en las votaciones. La gente se miraba contenta de haber asistido un evento en donde lo mejor de la noche fue probar la más comida que se podía.

LIFE & ARTS

8

THE BRIDGE

MARCH 2015

ENTERTAINMENT

WBCA

Birdman earns best picture, director

BY ALLISON RAMIREZ AND KAREN ALANIS On February 22, 2015, Neil Patrick Harris hosted the 87th annual Academy Awards ceremony at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, California.

As the ceremony is known for its glitz and glamour, countless talented actors donned their best attire and headed to the theatre in hopes of winning one of the coveted Oscar awards.

As the dazzling actors and celebrities made their way into the theatre, everyone was on the edge of their seats. Despite the countless so-called celebrities that are constanly making headlines, the Academy Awards is a monumental opportunity in the world of acting that rewards true stars with talent.

Winning an Oscar is an unparalleled achievement. Once actors have received such a distinguished honor, a vast window of possibilities opens up for them and their careers are forever changed. This was seen in last year’s best actress winner, Lupita N’yongo. After her captivating

ALLISON RAMIREZ | THE BRIDGE STAFF

The Taste of Laredo Festival brought various local restaurants to compete for the Judge’s Best Taste award.

Restaurantes famosos en Taste of Laredo

Culinary spots share samples with Laredo

BY ALLISON RAMIREZ @TAMIUBRIDGE

O

n Thursday, February 5, 2015 at 7 p.m., the Laredo Energy Arena (LEA) opened its doors to the public for the annual Washington’s Birthday Celebration Association (WBCA) Taste of Laredo event. A dozen local restaurants and vendors flocked to the area to

share their signature delicacies with the public in hopes of winning the coveted title of “Judge’s Best Taste.”

While this is an exciting night for the attendees, this event serves as more of a competition for local restaurateurs as they attempt to win over the appetites of Laredoans, since they are responsible for electing the night’s winners.

A central part of the WBCA

TASTE PAGE 7

BY KAREN ALANIS

KARENALANIS@DUSTY.TAMIU.EDU

E

l pasado jueves, 5 de febrero se llevó a cabo uno de los eventos más populares de Laredo Tx que forman parte de la celebracion del natalicio de George Washington . The Taste of Laredo, donde el principal objetivo es que los restaurantes de ambos lados de la frontera den a conocer la especialidad de cada uno de sus platillos.

OSCAR PAGE 7

El evento estuvo lleno de gente y con mucho ambiente, gracias a la música tex mex, y country que sonaba durante este festival de comida.

Esto ayudó a mantener un poco de ritmo mientras la gente esperaba en largas filas para poder probar de deliciosos platillos de algunos restaurantes del evento como.

Los restaurantes que participaron en este gran evento eran abundantes. Restaurantes famosos de Laredo Tx. como Sushi Madre,

I want to dedicate this award for my fellow Mexicans ... the ones living in this county who are part of the latest generation of immigrants in this country, I just pray that they can be treated with the same dignity and respect of the ones who came before and built this incredible immigration nation.

SABOR PAGE 7

ALEJANDRO GONZALEZ IÑARRITU DIRECTOR, BIRDMAN

ENTERTAINMENT

Laredoan’s film earns highest prize at Sundance

BY LOUIS SAN MIGUEL @LOUIS_SM

COURTESY PHOTO | ANNA MARIE FOX

Alfonso Gomez-Rejon on the set of the film “Me and Earl and the Dying Girl.”

Laredo now has another claim to fame, having bred a Sudance-winning film director in Alfonso Gomez-Rejon. He was awarded the top grand jury awards from not only the judging panel, but also the audience’s top prize at the film festival.

The Hispanic filmmaker, who learned his craft first as an assistant to Martin Scorsese (“Casino”) and went on to work with noted figures such as Norah Ephron (“Julie and Julia”) and Grammy-winner Alejandro Gonzalez Iñarritu (“Babel” and “21 Grams”) won the award on the

strength of his most recent work, “Me and Earl and the Dying Girl”.

The film, based on the book of the same name, stars Thomas Mann as Greg, a high school filmmaker who loves making eccentric, eclectic films with Earl, his only friend.

His mother, played by Connie Briton, wants her boy to be exposed to the world and forces Greg to befriend a girl who has recently been diagnosed with leukemia.

Gomez-Rejon stated in his acceptance speech that the work was a tribute in the memory of his father.

“This movie was about processing loss, and to celebrate the beautiful life

of a beautiful man, which is my amazing father. This was in his memory and to celebrate him with humor.” Gomez Rejon said.

His father ­— Dr. Julio Cesar Gomez Rejon — made great strides in improving the availability of mental healthcare in Laredo during his life before his death. He co-founded the Laredo State Center, which exists today as the Border Region Behavioral Health Center.

In the speech, the director also made sure to give tribute to young filmmakers in Laredo.

GOMEZ-REJON PAGE 3

SOUTH TEXAS COLLECTOR’S EXPO

Expo brings Sci-Fi celebs to TAMIU

BY GEORGE GONZALEZ

JORGE.GONZALEZ@DUSTY.TAMIU.EDU

Kicking off the Washington Birthday Celebration Association festivities, the South Texas Collectors Expo brought together an array of individuals and personalities to the Texas A&M International University’s Student Center on January 24th and 25th.

Marking its second time at the university, this years comic convention brought nearly a dozen celebrities such as the stars of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, Austin St. John, Karan Ashley, David J. Fielding, American Horror Story’s Naomi Grossman, The Raid’s Peter Shinkoda, and Flash Gordon’s Sam Jones and Melody Anderson.

Returning favorites such as the the Star Wars 501st Legion, Texas Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, cosplayer Nicole Marie Jean, and the Alien Warrior Comedian were also in attendance. Vendors such as Legacy Comics, That Anime Store, and over a dozen more were also present at the STCE. Star Wars actor Peter Mayhew was scheduled to attend the comic

JUDITH MAE AGUILAR | THE BRIDGE STAFF

Melody Anderson and Sam Jones pose for a photo in front of their booth at the South Texas Collector’s Expo held at TAMIU.

JUDITH MAE AGUILAR | THE BRIDGE STAFF

The South Texas Collector’s Expo brings a multitude of celebrities, including American Horror Story’s Naomi Grossman and Mighty Morphin Power Rangers’ Austin St. John and Karan Ashley. convention, but unfortunately had to cancel his appearance after being hospitalized with pneumonia.

Aside from photo-ops, vendors, and artists, the event also had a great deal of one-hour panels featuring the conventions’ guests, that took place throughout Saturday

and Sunday afternoon.

During Naomi Grossman’s panel, the charismatic actress discussed her experience on the FX hit series American Horror Story.

She also discussed the process of how she gets into character and the different kind of prosthetics

used to portray the character of Pepper.

When discussing her first audition to the show and getting the call to do a follow up, Grossman

STCE PAGE 3

Flash Gordon visits Laredo

BY GEORGE GONZALEZ JORGE.GONZALEZ@DUSTY. TAMIU.EDU

Amongst the various colorful costumes, eclectic ensemble of celebrity guests and artists, one of the major highlights of the South Texas Collectors Expo was the re-

union of Flash Gordon actors Melody Anderson and Sam Jones. Originally scheduled to have taken part in the STCE this past September, Jones had to cancel his appearance due to reshoots for the upcoming

FLASH PAGE 7