The Bridge Independent Student Newspaper September 2022 Issue

The

English professor receives fellowship

TAMIU offers new theater course

ridge

Women’s soccer ready for comeback

Possible health sciences building in works

BY LAURIE RENICK BRIDGE CONTRIBUTING WRITER

If it receives final approval, TAMIU plans to construct a new building to support the College of Nursing and Health Sciences. No official date or blueprints are currently available for the pro posed facility.

“The project is still pending authorization by The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents, and no designs or schematics have been created at this time,” Texas A&M Interna tional University Director of Public Relations, Marketing and Information Services Steve Harmon wrote in an email to The Bridge. “We would expect to have a more complete assessment with possible building details and forecasts by late Spring …”

Despite a lack of details, many on campus are speculating as to what the new building will offer. Expectations include newer and more advanced equipment, as well as additional academic resources.

Clinical Associate Professor Sumalai Maroonroge said this proposed building would be beneficial for her and her students in the College of Nursing and Health Sciences.

“The plan is to make the building three floors and to house all of the nursing and health sciences courses there,” Maroonroge said. Maroonroge explained that it will be a nice change of scenery as well.

“It will be nice to have a new building to be able to teach in,” Maroonroge said. “I know the students will also be excited about the new changes.”

Currently, students pursuing nursing and health sciences de grees do not have a designated building for their major. These students, much like many other majors, require special equip ment and resources which cannot be found or easily added to the University’s existing buildings.

“We should have more new buildings on campus,” nursing

major Sofia Cadena said. “I can definitely see how it can make going from class to class so much easier for me. I can also meet new people just from being in the building.”

The proposed infrastructure could positively impact student learning by allowing them to practice what they learn in the class room, so they can apply it toward real-world scenarios in their

field after graduation.

It may make meeting other students with the same or similar majors easier due to housing them in the same building. Students could have more opportunities to network and meet others with

Fresh Start wipes out $1.3 million in student debt

BY GABRIEL RODRIGUEZ BRIDGE WRITER

One barrier, which pre vents some students from con tinuing their education, keeps getting the ax at TAMIU. The Fresh Start 2.0 program cut additional student debt this past summer at $352,437.

First implemented in the summer of 2021 and again in the summer of 2022, as Fresh Start 2.0, the Fresh Start pro gram has wiped about $1.3 million total in institutional student debt for students at Texas A&M International University, according to the University’s press releases.

According to the Nation al Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago, 75% of Americans see the cost of college as a major barrier for attendance. TAMIU, a univer sity where 90% of its students receive need-based financial aid, according to U.S. News & World Report, attempts to

mitigate this—a 2021 report by the company Student Loan Hero ranked the University as one of the least expensive pub lic universities in Texas.

However, as the pandem ic loomed over the world in 2020, a new obstacle pre sented a new opportunity to address a recurring financial barrier students face.

“Because of the pandemic, there was a lot of relief that was provided through the University for students,” In terim Associate Vice President for Student Success Scheiby Gonzalez Fisher said.

“This was an issue that we have seen students have for many years. A past-due bal ance is definitely a barrier for them to continue their educa tion. Because these funds were to help COVID relief efforts, the institution decided [to] eliminate that barrier that is preventing the students from coming back.”

Part of ongoing initia tives encouraging students

to return and continue their education, the program used funds primarily provided by the CARES Act, along with funds from CRRSA and ARP, to erase institutional debt for both current and for mer students accrued between the periods of Spring 2020 and Spring 2021, with no need for effort or applications required from those who ben efitted from the program. Ac cording to the institution, it has led to an increase in re-en rollments, and more than 50% of re-enrolled students were able to graduate thanks to the contributions of both Fresh Start and the Come Back pro gram implemented in 2018. Due to the downsizing of pandemic relief provided by the federal government, there are no current plans to contin ue the Fresh Start program.

"With no business hold, these students can continue their degree pursuit," TAMIU President Pablo Arenaz said in a press release..

Welcome Day opens doors

BY DAVID GOMEZ JR. EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Each year, TAMIU holds a Welcome Day to introduce new students and welcome back existing students to kick off the new school year.

On Saturday, Aug. 20, new and returning students took ad vantage of late registration with the Unfinished Business: A TA MIU Open House and Welcome Day event at the Sen. Judith Zaffirini Student Success Center.

Office of Recruitment Director Jessica Treviño worked there on and off since 2010 in different positions before earning the director title.

“It’s like a three-in-one, and ideally, takes place the Saturday before class day because we want to make sure everybody who is ready to come back to school or new to the University has every thing ready and good to go,” Treviño said. “This is why all our offices are fully operational.”

Treviño goes on to consider the building as a one-stop shop for new and returning students as it offers open doors to admis sions, advising, registration and bursars all under one roof— ready to assist.

A refreshment table with tacos, popcorn, water and an assort ment of cookies was available for anyone looking to catch a break going from office to office.

“The food is provided to any student, or staff, [who] wants

Students walk in the foreground of Dr. F. M. Canseco Hall on Sept.

MARCO

MARCO

Students get assistance from Assistant Director of Recruitment Juan Vazquez, center, during the Welcome Week event on Aug. 19.

TAMIU student Marielise Rodriguez Sosa shows her excitement over having her debt to the University paid off due to the Fresh Start 2.0 program during this staged photograph taken recently on campus.

MARCO VILLARREAL | BRIDGE PHOTO ILLUSTRATION

to grab a quick snack,” student success mentor Jose Alvarez said.

“Also, because we’re up and down all day, anybody’s welcome to grab anything on the table.”

recruits at local high schools. He also mentors firsttime freshmen, transfer and international students who want to pursue higher education at the University.

“Again, it’s the Saturday before the first class day, with the idea that we do it in conjunction with our housing facilities because people are already moving into housing and we want to make sure we’re available to assist should they need anything,” Treviño said of the event.

similar career goals.

Another advantage would be how students engage with professors. By grouping all of nursing and health sciences into one building, students would no longer have to walk across campus to ask a profes sor a question outside of class. Cadena said this new building should bring her relief, “I'm so glad that I won’t have to stress about being late to one class, if I stay after class to talk to a professor.”

One proposed location for the building is possibly near the Academic Innova tion Center and sports fields, though no official location has yet been announced.

Political science major Marcos Villagran expressed a positive reaction to hearing the possibility of the building.

“I’m actually so surprised about the erection of this new building, but I’m excited to see the process of it being built,” Villagran said. “I personally

feel that we kind of need some thing new for the nursing and health sciences. After seeing how well the AIC is doing for students, I could see how a

new building would make TA MIU an even better campus.”

Villagran said he views the new building as another step ping stone in the expansion

of the campus and ultimately Laredo as a whole.

For more information on related new, students or staff may visit the student news

website at https://www.theb ridgestudentnews.com for events such as news, educa tion, arts, and sports for the latest articles at TAMIU.

Mathematics major wins state writing award

BY MIREILLY GONZALEZ ASSISTANT EDITOR

A third-person perspective work led to a first-place award for one TAMIU creative writing student.

Over the summer, Texas A&M International University se nior mathematics major and creative writing minor Daniel Tovar Jr. won a Texas state creative writing award for his story, “The End?” in the Texas Association of Creative Writing Teachers’ competition in the undergraduate nonfiction category.

Tovar is the type of guy who would excitedly rant to anyone in a writing group about comics, like Spider-Man or The Fan tastic Four. He’s one of the few people who actually reads aloud with emotion, getting so into his stories that he voices out every character he has with amazing voice-actor-like quality. While some might call him adorable, he would counter that he’s annoy ing.

He sat down, airplanes flying overhead with huge roars every once in a while, as he reflected on his goals and ambitions.

“What I enjoy the most about [writing] is like, it’s basically a conduit of expressing myself,” Tovar said. “Like, expressing not only the bizarre imaginative ideas I have … but also my emotions and my experiences.”

Among his creative writing courses, he studied under In structor Suzette Bishop, a member of the Texas Institute of Letters and a published poetry author. Tovar first learned of the

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Treviño adds that this is an event they hope to see annual ly.

“This has been some thing we’ve been trying to do for sev eral years,” Treviño said.

“Obviously because of the pandem ic, it was a bit on and off, but we did have it last year and we’re having it again this year and we hope it con tinues to be an annual thing.”

Most of the time, the office of recruitment hosts Saturday

events throughout the sum mer and tries to host a month ly Unfinished Business event.

Due to housing si multaneous ly holding Move In Day, they bundled it together with Wel come Day.

Office of Admissions Associate Director Ar ianna Perez has been in that office for more than 20 years.

“We love all these events and I think it’s a good turnout,” Perez said. “It’s also two of the last events we host

competition in Bishop’s course.

Throughout his creative writing class with Instructor Mario Martinez, Tovar wrote on a variety of wild topics including zom

bie-killing rock bands, a strange limbo heaven and a multi-uni verse romance between super-powered characters.

“I’ve always had an active imagination,” Tovar says. This is obvious to those who know him.

He wrote throughout his childhood, but started writing se riously in his freshman year of high school. That year, he discov ered his passion for filming and now wants to pursue graduate education at UT Austin’s screenwriting program.

Martinez, comic book writer Mark Waid and film director Wes Anderson paved the way for his dreams and ambitions.

“I like how Waid characterizes [The Fantastic Four],” To var said. “The Fantastic Four have always been very distinct in their personalities, and the way he writes them you could tell the bonds and how the dialogue bounces off of them. And then Wes Anderson is also a pretty good screenwriter, with The French Dispatch and The Grand Budapest Hotel.”

Tovar’s main character, a speedster with an artistic perspec tive and tragic background, deals with delusions and haunting images of his late best friend.

“I grew up with superheroes of Marvel and DC, and I like the superhero stuff, but I really like how at the end, they’re just chilling or going through human emotions,” he said. “It makes them step out of their godly image into something very human. And that’s the type of stories I like writing. But if it ends up being dark, it sometimes ends up dark. But I feel like there’s also some type of lightheartedness that could come out of it.”

Join the writing staff

DAVID GOMEZ JR. | BRIDGE

MARCO VILLARREAL | BRIDGE

Assistant Director of Recruitment Juan Vazquez, left, assists students during the Welcome Week event on Aug. 19. at the TAMIU Student Center

ROLANDO SANTOS | TAMIU PUBLIC RELATIONS

Medical mannequins, or lifelike patient simulators, line a classroom on Sept. 23 in one of the newest labs in Dr. F. M. Canseco Hall. If constructed, a new building could allow the College of Nursing and Health Sciences to expand and upgrade its offerings.

to prepare students for the start of the semester.” Perez says her office is a first step to everything at TAMIU. “They must make sure

they apply, submit their tran scripts, test scores and once they’re admitted, they meet the catalog’s University re quirements, and then they can

try for registration," she said. Juan Gilberto Garcia serves as the interim vice presi dent for student success.

"This also helps students

secure a preferred class sched ule and avoid a last-minute rush to resolve matters before registration ends.," Garcia said in a press release.

Daniel Tovar Jr. poses for a photo near the TAMIU fountain. Tovar won a creative nonfiction writing state contest in summer 2022.

“This has been something we’ve been trying to do for several years ... ”

—Jessica Treviño Office of Recruitment Director

ALEJANDRO CARBAJAL | BRIDGE ILLUSTRATION

“I believe that, young or old, we have as much to look forward to with confidence and hope as we have to look back on with pride,” said Queen Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor of the United Kingdom. Officially Elizabeth II, her full title included the following: by the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of her other realms and territories Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith, (born April 21, 1926, in London, England, and died Sept. 8, 2022, at Balmoral Castle, Aberdeenshire, Scotland). She served as queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from Feb. 6, 1952, to Sept. 8, 2022. In 2015, she surpassed Queen Victoria to become the longest-reigning monarch in British history.

We were pushed, so I’m pushing back

BY DAVID GOMEZ JR. EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Our office was moved to a study room. A study room!

I’m certain they did not mean for it to be a joke, but it sure felt like one. Going from a first-floor, private room shared with psychology graduate students, with a couch I could nap on in between classes when I lacked sleep–it was perfect. The cherry on top was the absolute privacy due to the card reader at the door. A hidden oasis on campus.

This may sound like an escape from college life, but it was quite the opposite as much homework, newspaper design and editing was done from there. It felt like a hidden hole in the wall of the first floor of Pellegrino.

My adviser, myself and others would sometimes stay to the edge of the morning to finish said new edition on the week end. Fridays and Saturdays were our design days. Now, they

The academic chapters in my life have been about persever ance for the better of something. I passed the fifth grade in porta ble buildings. A new school was constructed once I left. When I left middle school, the basketball practices I had were held in an older wing of the school where it was demolished when I transi tioned to high school.

Then came high school, as part of the first class of Early Col lege graduates at Texas A&M International University, I gradu ated from another set of portable buildings where the Academic Innovation Center now stands. I lost a dollar coin that fell be tween the cracks of the patio area where I would have lunch be cause I pretended to be Harvey “Two Face” Dent after watching The Dark Knight that summer. I always felt I needed to push myself as far as I possibly could so the people who come after me can have a better, smoother ex perience than the treacherous terrain I’ve had to tread so lightly

on. Then again, that’s just always been life, no?

This time, it feels a little different. This is for The Bridge. I don’t want to leave this paper in shambles, or anything, but I know I have to prepare it for the next editor-in-chief. I don’t want it to fail. I can’t have it fail.

For someone who took the position they’re currently in for the title, I have no regrets in doing so because it helped mold me from an introverted piece of clay to the walking, talking Night mare Before Christmas-esque character I’ve become.

I expressed my frustration at the beginning of this piece, but it has honestly fueled me to write more. I don’t feel I can turn a blind eye this semester. There are stories that have fallen apart due to lack of sources. Well I want to find those sources and make some noise at this University because I feel we, the newspaper, have been overlooked and kicked to the curb.

This is a volunteer student-run paper, ya know? We do not have to be here. The best praise we attain here is by not having any from students or faculty. We only know we’ve done some thing wrong when complaints are brought to our attention. Someone else’s mistakes are automatically mine, as the editor.

As I’ve said before, I plan on making some noise this semester, but letting it fall apart? Not on my watch.

Also, to the UNIV faculty above us, I promise: it’s not us making the noise in the library.

‘Pro-life’ not in favor of all life

Movement forgets about livelihood of mothers, children

short, this gave more power to the state, allowing them to “regulate abortion as long as it does not place an undue bur den on women trying to seek abortion services,” according to the PubMed.gov website.

BY MIREILLY GONZALEZ ASSISTANT EDITOR

Roe v. Wade was passed but it was then overruled after almost 50 years in a 6-3 ruling in the Dobbs v. Jackson deci sion.

In 1969, Norma McCor vey brought up the case of abortion to her local govern ment official, Wade. In 1973, the Supreme Court ruled abortion to be a broad right conferred by the U.S. Consti tution.

Roe v. Wade was con troversial at the time, and remained so. Some criticized the Supreme Court’s decision to consider abortion a “civil right” instead of a “human right.” Others criticized the ruling as a form of judicial activism–which meant the ruling was made with bias, or very dependent on the judges’ views. The ruling also deter mined the states had some leeway to modify their own abortion laws, but any modifi cations would be made under strict scrutiny. This would lat er change, however.

In 1992, in Planned Par enthood v. Stacey, abortion was still upheld as a civil right; however, its strict scrutiny was changed to undue burden. In

Last May, Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Texas, won the 28th District runoff. Chal lenger Jessica Cisneros lost by less than 300 votes. Cuellar won national attention for the FBI raid on his house, as well as being the only Democrat to protest against abortion.

“Cisneros criticized his op position to abortion in light of a draft majority opinion by the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade,” according to a May 25 article by Sandra Sanchez on abc27. com.

In regard to the criticism, Cuellar reportedly responded, “Let me be.” I feel very strongly because I know it’s a human life. I’m pro-choice. Nonetheless, I do understand where many of the pro-life arguments come from. To explain myself, I think I might direct you to a quote: “This is not pro-life. This is pro-birth.” This quote is one of the stances frequent ly referred to by those who are pro-choice. Another, “It is a great kindness to keep the child. But it is not required …” is cited in a pro-choice move ment paper.

Many restrictive pro-lifers think of abortion as taking a life. Nonetheless, they fail to consider anything else about the fetus’s future livelihood— their education, their health, their home.

For instance, California has the most homeless people and is the sixth state with the highest abortion rates. Flor

ida is the third state with the most homeless people and is the fifth state with the highest abortion rates.

California and Texas are the top states with the low est education rates: 83.92% and 84.36% respectively. And yet in California and Florida, abortion remains legal.

In Texas, women have to arrange traveling outside of the state—if they can at all. So what happens with those who may not be able to?

There was a story about a young woman who was forced into motherhood by Texas’ new anti-abortion laws. She was misguided by organiza tions posing as “Planned Par enthood,” but who actually meant ill toward her, wanting to dissuade her from getting an abortion. They kept her misinformed for so long, the time for legal abortion lapsed for her, and she had her baby.

I think we need to be more compassionate about these women’s lives. No matter who they are, or what your own beliefs are, you cannot force people to make decisions about their own bodies. Like the scholar said, you aren’t pro-life, but rather pro-birth, if you insist on just protect ing fetus’s lives, but turn away from adult women who are in no condition to have a baby at that point in their lives.

I will close with another remark I heard that stuck with me: “It would be a great kind ness to keep the baby, but it is not required.”

Welcome Week offers more than fireworks

BY DAVID GOMEZ JR. EDITOR-IN-CHIEF PHOTOS BY MARCO VILLARREAL AND GOMEZ

Welcome Week returns to TAMIU, immersing new and re turning students into the many campus-held events.

Literacy Volunteers of Laredo and Laredo Crime Stoppers attended Wednesday’s Volunteer and Service Fair at the Student Center patio on Aug. 24.

Both organizations collaborated with the Texas A&M Inter national University Student Government Association. Another 10 organizations from across the city set up a table to recruit stu dents in exchange for volunteer hours.

One of the organizations, Literacy Volunteers of Laredo, of

fered community service hours in exchange for tutoring people in the English language at local churches and libraries through out the community.

“We ask our volunteers to donate three hours a week of their time and work with their schedule so people may learn the En glish vocabulary,” work-study student intern Michelle Canales said.

As for Laredo Crime Stoppers, the organization seeks volun teers as well, but also hopes to expand its program onto campus.

“We currently are at [United Independent School District], and in the near future, hope to be at both districts and the Uni versity … so we’re excited to move forward and keep the commu nity and campus safe,” Laredo Crime Stoppers Executive Direc tor Colleen Rodriguez said.

By the end of Welcome Week, students began to unwind by

6 p.m. Friday, Aug. 26, as the CABchella (local bands who per form for the student body) event started on the grass between the Academic Innovation Center parking lot and Dustdevil Softball Field.

Meal tickets and free shirts, which read “TAMIU Welcome Week 2022,” were handed out to students who provided their A number at the entrance of the event.

Business administration in transportation and international logistics major Kayla Solis and architecture major Steven Esquiv el and students swayed while eating their free dinner Friday eve ning, the last day of Welcome Week, as the Justin Lorencez band played in the background.

CABchella was only a transition into a grand finale as an array of fireworks lit up half the campus and put a close to the fall se mester’s Welcome Week.

Keyboardist Saul Perez, for Justin Lorencez band, plays for a crowd of TAMIU students during Welcome Week, just before the Fireworks Extravaganza on Aug. 26.

Derly Rojo, left, Diego Collazo, above, and Daniella Delgado throw Dusty signs in front of students between dispensing meal tickets and shirts at CABchella during Welcome Week, just before the Fireworks Extravaganza on Aug. 26.

Steven Esquivel and Kayla Solis pose in the foreground of an inflatable slide at CABchella during Welcome Week, just before the Fireworks Extravaganza on Aug. 26.

DAVID GOMEZ JR. | BRIDGE

Business administration major Tyrese Davis and an unidentified student watch the Welcome Week Fireworks Extravaganza on Aug. 26 near the sports fields.

An unidentified performer entertains a crowd of TAMIU students during the Welcome Week CABchella, just before the Fireworks Extravaganza on Aug. 26, near the sports fields on campus.

Unidentified individuals watch the Welcome Week Fireworks Extravaganza.

18th century studies society offers fellowship to TAMIU professor

BY DAVID GOMEZ JR. EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

One English professor adds another achievement to his early academic career, which only solidifies his pas sion for British literature.

Assistant Professor of En glish Adam Kozaczka recently received a fellowship award for the further expansion of 18th century studies—an award he had forgotten about while ap plying for others.

“It was sort of a weird moment when I found out,” Kozaczka said. “It was a mo ment where I had been de clined from other things I had applied for and I forgot about this one, so I was like ‘Oh.’ It was a consolation prize.”

That “consolation prize” was a fellowship only offered to five U.S. research faculty members, where Texas A&M International University is represented among a group of prestigious universities.

The fellowship is award ed jointly by an organization called American Society for 18th Century Studies and Gale Research, which runs most of the databases for the University. Access to Gale’s 18th Century Collections Online, the Gale Digital Scholar Lab, and $2,500 are awarded to the researchers.

The monetary prize is to jump start his research.

“The way this [competi tion] worked is that anyone who applied for this had to put forward a project that

they were working on, or planned to be working on, and they then had to vet those projects and choose the ones they wanted to work with most,” he explained.

He completed his under graduate at Fordham Univer sity in New York with a focus in French literature, but as a graduate student at Syracuse University, and spending time amongst British literature professors he admired, he be came much more receptive to the subject matter.

“TAMIU students are re ceptive to Brit lit,” Kozaczka said about British literature courses he lectures.

A former student of his, TAMIU alumna Gabrielle Prather praised his methods.

“When I first took his class

I was very impressed [with] how he held himself and how he spoke,” Prather said. “He is very knowledgeable in his field and he makes it so interesting to dive into.”

“He is very passionate about his work and he seems to be the type of person [who] encourages English, reading the history behind it, so pas sionate about social views from what I understood and how things evolved through out historical time frames.

“Professor Kozaczka is a passionate professor,” Prather added.

His research is primarily focused on the dueling trials in Britain in the 18th century.

For the rest of this article, visit https://www.thebridge studentnews.com

Professor continues to expand art program

BY ELIZABETH KENNEDY BRIDGE STAFF INTERN

In a department that fo cuses on creativity, one profes sor pushes his students to ex plore new avenues in working with inks.

This semester is Assistant Professor of art Jesse Shaw’s eighth one at Texas A&M International University. Though he hasn’t been at TA MIU long, he works toward accomplishing as much as possible. Shaw says he enjoys working at TAMIU because, “The University is really supportive of the arts depart ment,” which allowed him to do as much as he has, such as field trips to Print Austin and art museums.

Additionally, the support has made it possible to have so many visiting artists like Keri Miki-Lani Schroeder and Cynthia Marsh, to name a couple, come to the Univer sity to speak and collaborate with the students. These trips and collaborations are expe

riences for students to learn more about professional art outside of a purely academic environment. Shaw expressed that diversifying students’ ex posure to art and all the pro cesses included in the creation of it are important. Some stu dents can take this a step fur ther.

“I come from a back ground in professional fine art print publishing,” Shaw said. “I wanted to bring that experience here to TAMIU so students [who] want to learn beyond the classroom have an opportunity to do that through our ACT on IDEAs program.”

ACT on IDEAs is a pro gram which allows select students to work as research assistants to further study in a particular subject. Originally exclusive to STEM-oriented courses, the program spread to the Department of Fine and Performing Arts, starting with printmaking and now includes other classes, such as painting and ceramics.

Regarding his classes, Shaw

currently has his Printmaking I students working on a largescale collaborative print. In a bit of a throwback to the proj ect he had his class do back in his first semester, Fall 2018, the students carve linoleum blocks to fit together, creating one big tessellated print. The pattern made by the blocks in this iteration is more compli cated than the first time Shaw led this project. Once finished, he expects to put it on display in the window outside of the Sports Rec game room at the Student Center.

For information on oth er art displays or upcoming events, such as Artist Talks or workshops, check out @ tamiuprintmaking on Insta gram. Shaw encourages peo ple to attend these events to get first-hand experiences of printmaking.

“What’s nice about the medium is it’s accessible to everybody,” he said, also em phasizing that he is open to talking to anyone about it and answering questions regard ing how to get started.

DAVID GOMEZ JR. | BRIDGE Assistant Professor of English Adam Kozaczka poses for a photo in his office on Sept. 23.

Assistant Professor of art Jesse Shaw works with Alexia Zapata in the printmaking program to create an image.

MARCO VILLARREAL | BRIDGE

Assistant Professor of art Jesse Shaw works with Alexia Zapata, left, and an unidentified student to create images on Sept. 5.

MARCO VILLARREAL | BRIDGE

LFS brings credentials to student club

BY DAVID GOMEZ JR. EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

[Editor’s Note: Please see

The Bridge’s May 15 article about this club for additional information.]

Dusty Visions, a film club, merged into the LFS TAMIU Branch, bringing street cred from the Laredo Film Society and rebooting itself for a new generation of curious film connoisseurs.

The Laredo Film Society

Texas A&M International University Branch is ran by President Lissette Montemay or Tristan and Vice President Tyler Dey Ortiz, who work alongside Treasurer Melissa Garza Rodriguez and Secre tary Mireilly Gonzalez—all under the advisement of Asso ciate Professor of filmmaking Angela Marcela Moran.

“I was an intern for the Laredo Film Society last se mester and I was given the chance to revamp the film club and I took it,” commu

nication major Montemayor Tristan said.

She was the acting presi dent of the Film Club during the Spring semester but was given the opportunity to re main president under LFS TAMIU this Fall.

“I had joined Dusty Visions when I first came to TAMIU, but because of COVID-19, it was basically dead,” nursing major Ortiz said. “Then, last spring, Liss contacted the few of us to go to the last meeting of the semester and discuss the future.”

Montemayor Tristan, Ortiz and two remaining members discussed what they wanted for the club. A few months into the summer, and due to the president serving as an intern the semester before, she told them they would re vamp the club to become a chapter for the Laredo Film Society.

“I had already planned on making films by myself, but then I thought about how I could help other people make

their own films at least get their ideas out there,” Ortiz said. “That’s why I became a part of the [new] club.”

Currently, the higher-ups in the organization are all women but are open to men applying for higher posi tions—which could soon be the case due to the over whelming number of men who showed up to their first meeting on Sept. 1.

“I did get intimidated by the large amount of male au dience we had,” Montemayor Tristan said. “Now I’m a little more comfortable and able to speak and I couldn’t have done that without the people around.

“It was a little scary at first, but after a few meetings, we’ve figured it out.”

According to TAMIU Trailblazers, they currently hold more than 50 members. A vast difference from Spring 2022’s four participants.

Someone who wasn’t sur prised by the number of stu dents was the vice president.

“No,” Ortiz answered with a straight face of the influx of members. “I knew there would be people that enjoy films. “Whether that’d be watching, or making them. I’m not surprised, but very proud that we managed to get a decent amount of people in here [who] are excited to make

films with us.”

Being in the nursing pro gram and having little to no distractions, to Ortiz, the organization is her time to relax and enjoy what she does most—succumbing to any thing related to movies.

“This past summer, I gath ered a bunch of my friends

from different educational backgrounds and created short films that were based around a student having trou ble during college,” Ortiz said. “The series is a progression of his insanity.”

The LFS TAMIU Branch hold its meetings at 5:30 p.m. Thursdays in STC Room120.

New theater course launches

BY VIVIANA TELLEZ BRIDGE CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Although COVID-19 temporarily closed the cur tains for theater performanc es, TAMIU launched a new course to get the show back on the road.

Academic Cooperative, the new course, began this Fall for anyone who wants to work on a theater production.

Instructional Associate Professor of theater and com munication Gilberto Marti nez Jr. held auditions for the

TEXAS A&M INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER

The B ridge

upcoming show in early Sep tember. Martinez expects the performances to occur Nov. 3 to 5.

“The first day of class, I kind of gauge who is in the class, who wants to do what and then I choose a play off of that,” Martinez said.

Martinez’s techniques stray from the norm as he takes a student-centered ap proach to theater.

“I like to give students the opportunity … if they want to act—they act, if they want to do costumes—they do cos tumes and if they want to di rect—there are opportunities for that,” Martinez said.

Texas A&M International University alumnus Jorge Sa linas took most of the theater classes TAMIU offered.

“[Theater class] is not just a regular course where you sit down, take notes and take a test at the end of every couple of weeks,” Salinas said. “You’re actually learning and doing things yourself. The ater courses in general are a lot more fun because they’re hands-on.”

Martinez selects plays to specifically fulfill the theat rical mission for students at TAMIU: to learn through ex periential learning.

“The main goal of theater

isn’t to make a student want to work in that business per say,” Martinez said.

“But it really is to help them become a better team communicator.”

Martinez believes putting on a play teaches people to de pend on each other for team work.

“As an actor, it really helped me develop my love for theater,” Salinas said.

“As a student, it helped me figure out different ways of learning things. It’s given me more opportunities to learn how to communicate with people a lot clearer and be more open.”

Graduate School to host open house

BY TOMAS SOLIS BRIDGE CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Open houses and new online programs are some of the big items coming up for the TAMIU Graduate School.

“[This] semester is go ing to be busy,” Director of Graduate Admissions and Recruitment Guillermo F. Gonzalez Jr. said. “We are going to be having our open house face-to-face again.” The first open house is planned for 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 13, at the Sen. Judith Zaffirini Student Success Center. The event includes informa tion on admission require ments, financial assistance, career opportunities, refresh ments and a scholarship give away.

“We’re working on hav ing all of the advisers in this [Graduate School] building

with tables set up, so people can come in and ask questions about the kinds of programs that we have,” Gonzalez said.

“So, we are planning to be

ate School web page at tamiu. edu.

In addition to the open house, the Graduate School makes plans for improve ments to its program offer ings.

“We also gained [a] way to launch new programs online in the Spring semes ter in an accelerated for mat,” Gonzalez said. “That means that three programs will go fully online.”

These new online pro grams are expected for Spring 2023; interested students may sign up. Both Gonzalez and Assistant Director of Graduate Ad missions and Recruitment

opening not only to TAMIU students but to other students from around Laredo, Eagle Pass, Zapata and the valley.”

For those attending the open house, the Graduate School offers to waive the application fees received that day, according to the Gradu

Anna Buentello encourage students to inquire with them for additional infor mation on these new offer ings.

They also plan to offer another open house in March of 2023. For further informa tion, interested persons may contact Gonzalez and Buen tello at the Graduate School, ZSC Room 223.

DAVID GOMEZ JR. | BRIDGE PHOTO ILLUSTRATION

Spanish major in all-level certification Jesus Ivan Arellano Guzman looks on Sept. 27 at graduation materials he could splurge for at the Sen. Judith Zaffarini Success Center. Beyond graduation, some students look toward graduate school.

Laredo Film Society TAMIU Branch President Lissette Montemayor Tristan interacts with several new members at the end of the student club’s second meeting in Student Center Room 120.

DAVID GOMEZ JR. | BRIDGE Instructional Associate Professor of theater Gilberto Martinez acts out a monologue during one of his theater courses in Academic Innovation Center. Room 221 on Sept. 14.

DAVID GOMEZ JR. | BRIDGE

“...we are going to be having our open house face-to-face again ... ”

Recruitment

Greeks, CAB host karaoke events

BY ELIZABETH KENNEDY BRIDGE STAFF INTERN

Overcoming one’s fears is one way to break out of a shell. Karaoke can be one way to do just that—and one campus fraternity and the Campus Activities Board helped make this happen.

Alpha Psi Lambda, a na tional co-ed Latino-oriented fraternity, held its free karaoke event Aug. 30 in the Student Center as part of its Recruit ment Week. The event last ed from 5 to 7 p.m. Bags of chips were set out along with QR-codes linking to more information about the frater nity. APSI members were on standby to answer questions between songs.

Audience members and bystanders were strongly en couraged to participate in the karaoke themselves. Members of the organization filled the gaps in between volunteers

with their own performances, keeping the momentum of the event throughout the eve ning.

One of the volunteer sing ers, Cynthia Sanchez, spoke about her experience as a freshman attending the event, calling it a “good way to help people express themselves and help get people used to the en vironment of TAMIU.” She said the karaoke encouraged her to step out of her comfort zone.

CAB also offered kara oke events on campus. One took place Thursday evening, Sept. 6, and another Tuesday evening, Sept. 27 as part of National Hispanic Heritage Month under the title Noche de Baile with Cumbia, Bach ata and Merengue musical styles. Both were held in the Student Center, offering free food and aguas frescas.

According to Trailblazers, Phi Epsilon Chapter of Sigma Lambda Gamma National Sorority held a karaoke event

on Tuesday, Sept. 13. Delta Xi Nu Multicultural Sorority held its Camp Rock Karaoke Night on Wednesday, Sept. 1. Both were held in the Student Center. Student Government Association held a Karaoke Night on Thursday, Sept. 23 on the Zaffirini Student Suc cess Center Green.

Music and communi cation double major Danny Perez attended the Sept. 27 Noche de Baile sponsored by CAB.

“So I really love this event, not only because it’s led by the biggest organization on cam pus, but also, it gets to focus a lot on our heritage and where we come from,” Perez said. “[It’s] our culture, singing songs from our background and all that. So I really, really enjoy events like these.”

Another student that at tended the Aug. 30 event, Ju lissa Cantu, said it helped her overcome some of her insecu rities.

“It makes me feel confi

dent about myself,” Cantu said.

She also said the event cre ated a special environment.

“I see the vibe of the fra ternity and I feel like it’s very homey,” Cantu said.

While still undecided about which fraternity or sorority she might eventual ly join, she made it clear that

APSI left a good impression.

Both Sanchez and Cantu expressed an interest in at tending future similar events put on by the organization.

Alpha Psi Lambda’s Omicron Chapter President Cordero “Cord” Hernandez leads at TAMIU. The Omi cron Chapter formed at TA MIU in 2003. He said events

like these are a collaborative effort between the members and the chapter is a tight-knit group.

“Making our members better students—better lead ers—in the end that’s like our ultimate goal,” Hernandez said, adding that it was also important “for them to have a place of belonging.”

FPA presents Music on the Menu

BY MIREILLY GONZALEZ ASSISTANT EDITOR

Four TAMIU faculty jazzed up the place to demon strate and inspire students with a love for an improvisa tional genre of music—and all that jazz.

The Department of Fine and Performing Arts present

ed Music on the Menu with a jazz ensemble including Se nior Lecturer Jerry Quintero on the piano, Department Chair and Associate Professor James Moyer on the drums, Professor Gilberto Soto on the bass, and Assistant Pro fessor Nicole Gillotti on the trumpet.

The front rows of the Re cital Hall in the Center for

the Fine and Performing Arts filled up quickly with students on Aug. 31 and a soft applause welcomed the four musicians as they took the stage. Soon, the students embarked on a journey of jazz’s many shapes and forms—among them an upbeat walk in New York with “Take the A-train,” a hopeful tune with a crisp piano-led timbre with “What a Wonder

ful World,” and the Latin hit “Black Orpheus.” Like dishes in a multi-cultural restaurant, each one represented a differ ent flavor of jazz.

Though the music seemed to flow seamlessly to the untrained observer, it takes much effort for an ensemble to collaborate, as ensemble members Quintero and Gil lotti confirmed after the event.

“It takes time to develop an ear,” Quintero said. “To say, ‘You know what? Let’s play as a group, let’s hear each oth er.’”

In Quintero’s case, his passion for group ensembles began in high school, after an introduction to music as a 6-year-old. His parents gave him a piano; he was able to quickly pick up the notes by ear and play it.

After some years of 50cent piano lessons in a school of nuns, Quintero picked up

the saxophone and practiced playing with other musicians. That is when he realized his passion for group ensembles.

“First, find the music that you like,” Quintero recom mends. “If you’re going into a group, make sure that ev eryone has the same mental idea of what you’re gonna do. Because you don’t wanna have someone [who] wants to play jazz and another one wants rap … No, everyone has to be locked into the same [thing].”

Gillotti started playing piano at age 6 and the trumpet at 12. Although she long preferred play ing in groups, her prefer ence solidified when the COVID-19 pandemic happened.

KARLA DE LEON | BRIDGE

“There’s a certain sat isfaction to playing with other people and being on the same wavelength,” Gil lotti said. “Figuratively and literally.”The main advice Gillotti offers for ensem bles is to do as much of it as they can. And, when opin ions do not align, “work together to create a sort of compromise.”

Abandoned art finds its way around campus

BY HERON CARRAMAN BRIDGE CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Most people would never want to abandon their art works, but some students would beg to differ.

The students in Instructor of art Sandra Martinez’s class left their art behind all over Texas A&M International University for others to find. People can expect to find a va riety of pieces all around cam pus, waiting to be discovered by passersby.

“The abandoned artwork can be anything they wish to create–jewelry, drawing, painting, etc.,” Martinez said. A long with choosing what to create, the students also chose where to leave their art work.

“The students can leave their artwork creations any where they choose,” Martinez said. “Mostly where people gather or frequent.”

If someone were to find the abandoned art, Martinez believes it could have a posi tive effect on them.

“Abandoning artwork is a way to brighten someone’s day, a form of paying forward and making someone’s day better and, hopefully, getting the person who discovered the art to do the same,” Martinez said of the practice.

She hopes her students will use what they learned in this activity and apply it to their daily lives.

“Art can be found any where, it can be shared any where and most importantly it is always a good feeling to give and see happiness on someone’s face to make some one’s day brighter/happier by finding the artwork along with the words of inspiration,” she said.

One of the students par ticipating in the art abandon ment activity was junior Leslie Davila.

“The art I am abandoning on campus is meaningful art,” Davila said. “The art I aban doned is on rocks, paper or just handmade crafts.”

While some of the stu dents made the art for person al enjoyment, Davila decided on giving meaning behind her artwork she abandoned.

“The art I make is fun and relaxing to me; however, there is meaning behind the art,” she said. “How I decided to make up for the art abandonment was the way I see people–es pecially college students. Be ing a college student myself, I always want words or quotes of encouragement, strength or any other emotion that will help me push through my days. To me, those words are signs that I am on the right path, even though it is hard to stay on.”

Davila hopes her artwork will help whoever is fortunate to come across it on campus.

“The purpose of aban doning my art on campus is to reach one college student who might be wanting to give up on college, or another situ ation in their life,” Davila said. “The reason is because we do not know what they [went] through or what they are go ing through, so I hope my art helps them to keep going and to know there are better days coming.”

Aside from leaving her art on campus, Davila planned to also abandon her art in other places, hoping her positive message will help those going through a tough time.

“I am abandoning my art on campus, but also in areas where someone needs to read what I have written, based on my art I have made,” Davila said.

“For example, at grocery stores, funerals, [tractor trail er transportation] companies and more.”

Abandoning art in those places is not just for the sake of convenience for Davila. Just like her artworks, the location where the art is left has mean ing as well.

“The reason for abandon ing my art in these locations is because so many people are working extremely hard, feel sadness or have a day that they do not have that much money

to buy as much food for their families,” Davila said.

“They are places where many people come and need a sign to know it’s okay to feel the way they do, but to go to places or people to find joy again, and to keep doing what you’re doing.”

Whoever comes across the abandoned art on campus can take it home with them and display it if they wish. Hope fully, it will inspire them to pay it forward setting off a chain reaction of positivity.

Several pieces can be seen in the Student Center near the west entrance.

JOY DAVIS | BRIDGE

Student Francisco Jose Cortes sings a Mexican song during Camp Rock Karaoke Night, sponsored by Delta Xi Nu Multicultural Sorority on Thursday Sept. 1 at the Student Center Rotunda as other students cheer him on.

“It takes time to develop an ear... Let’s play as a group, let’s hear each other ... ”

— Jerry Quintero Senior Lecturer

These ceramic sculptures, including one by artist Eddy Rosas (above) and by artists Vanessa Rodriguez and Travis Gonzalez (left), all from the Spring 2021 Ceramics I class, sit in a couple glass display cases at the Student Center in September 2022.

From left, Senior Lecturer Jerry Quintero on piano, Assistant Professor Nicole Gillotti on trumpet, Department Chair and Associate Professor James Moyer on drums and Associate Professor Gilberto Soto on bass play a cover of “Rise” for the Music on the Menu jazz ensemble event on Aug. 31 in the Center for the Fine and Performing Arts Recital Hall.

Women’s soccer hopes to dominate

BY GLENYS MALDONADO SPORTS EDITOR

On the soccer field, the TAMIU women utilize their team chemistry for cohesive gameplay.

“Personally, I think our chemistry within the team could not be better,” mid fielder Andrea Castellanos said. “We all get along pretty well and support each other on and off the field. I think we bond the most when we are in the locker room before or after games since we are all together focused or reflecting about our games.”

As she noted, that chemis try is also highlighted off the Texas A&M International University field as well.

“We support each other in good times and bad times, and we like to hang out in some one’s apartment and talk,” goalkeeper Fabiana Solano

said of their off-field times.

With focused skill training, the Dustdevils have been re ceiving the preparation need ed for high performance.

“Every day we go over dif ferent kinds of drills during practice,” Castellanos said. “I think every drill is important and contributes to our style and rhythm of play.”

The Dustdevils hold high team expectations in order to go that extra mile every game.

“This season we want to win a ring and give our best,” So lano said.

With the powerful com bination of team chemistry, hard work, goals and pride the Dustdevils hope for a success ful season.

“We want to do big things as a group this year,” Castella nos said. “That is why we are working very hard each day to make our program better. I’m very excited for this season and I think I can speak for the

Dustdevils keep tunnel vision in course, classroom

BY GLENYS MALDONADO SPORTS EDITOR

Women’s cross country team members represent the Dustdevils on the course, in the classrooms, as they hone in on the Fall 2022 season.

Faith Kiprotich ran for Texas A&M International University for the past couple years.

“For us, our team is so competitive,” Kiprotich said. “Today, you will see one girl be No. 1, the next day you’ll be seeing another girl finish first. It is really competitive, which makes us really strong. It is not competitive in an ugly way, but in a good way that will push each other. I love that about my team; you never know who’s going to get No.

1. Everyone is responsible for being No. 1.”

Coach Benny Rodriguez’s athletes practice focused mindsets in order to keep ev eryone united and to aid them in performing successfully.

“Our coach always tells us, ‘Look up to your teammate. Wherever she is, focus on your teammate. Don’t even focus on anyone else; focus on your

teammate.’ So, we always fo cus on each other, that helps us be close to each other,” Kiprotich said. “The closer you are to each other, the more points you get. That’s how we got third in confer ence. Since we all finished 16th, 17th,18th and so on, the points fell into place and helped us win. We were able to get third [place] because of

Two players help lead TAMIU volleyball team

BY PAULINA PEREZ BRIDGE CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Two TAMIU volleyball players continue to lead the team with their continuous successful contributions.

Graduate student and out side hitter Mackenzie Catalina was born in Cedar Park, Texas; she continues to play on the volleyball team after her four undergraduate years. Catalina reached a milestone in her vol leyball career by making 1,000 kills.

“I broke multiple records including most kills in a fiveset match, most kills in one ca reer game for me and I broke the all-time kill record here [at] TAMIU,” Catalina said.

Catalina set a University record and led the team in kills. She made the All-Con ference team and received the Academic Team award for the 2021 season.

“I received [the] All-Con ference Team award, All-Ac ademic Team award, Athlete of the Year and Director’s Award,” Catalina said.

For the 2020 season, Catalina received various awards for her major contributions to the team during games. She excels in areas and does not go unnoticed.

After a rough season, Cata lina enjoys playing volleyball and expects the team to prove themselves for the next season.

“A major challenge we faced this past season with the num ber of losses we had and trying to find ways to play as a team, we still have a lot to prove,” Catalina said.

Catalina and her team

mate both relate to the ded ication and contributions to the team. Being from anoth er town helped them build a stronger friendship on the court.

Junior right-side middle blocker Hanna Thompson was born and raised in Salt Lake City. Thompson moved to Laredo in order to play on the team and pursue her ca reer.

“I don’t mind being far from home and I am extreme ly adventurous so living some where as unique as Laredo has

been fun for me,” the middle blocker said.

In 2019 and 2020, Thomp son won Academic All-Amer ican and in 2022, she won Most Improved athlete.

Catalina and Thompson said they are excited about the new season and team.

“I am excited for [this] year because we are working on building our program and we have some great players returning and great players coming in that will push the starters to be as good as they can be,” Thompson said.

the teamwork.”

Not only does Rodriguez encourage driven dedication in the course, but also in the athletes’ studies.

“My coach can be tough, especially when it comes to business, practice and is even more tough in academics,” she said. “He is always pushing in academics; he really knows what’s good for you as a stu dent (academically and ath letically) and I love that about him. He always cares a lot.”

Rodriguez ran for four years at Texas A&M Kings ville and ran professionally for Mizuno. He coached United South Middle School then moved to Memorial Middle School. He began coaching the Dustdevils cross country team in May 2005.

“My favorite thing about

coaching is seeing my athletes be successful on the course and in the classroom,” he said.

He says he is a proud Lard edoan and wants to give back to his community in any way he can. He would also like to be able to relay the knowledge he learned throughout high school and college to his ath letes.

“If you care for [the ath letes] individually—lead them the right way—they will re ward you somehow,” Rodri guez said. “You never know how you might’ve impacted that individual during that time.”

While it appears they have big goals in the classroom, they also remain ambitious for this season.

“We are hoping to shoot for top-three this … season,”

Rodriguez said.

With a tight net and studi ous team, they expect things to fall into place this season.

Newcomer Alexandria Fisher recently switched over from the Dustdevils volleyball team.

“I am very grateful for the opportunity to be able to run for the cross-country team at TAMIU,” Fisher said. “It was definitely a big transition being that the two sports are drastically different. I’ve had to run more and lift different ly in order to better fit a run ner.”

She had no trouble feeling at home and part of the fam ily as her new team gave her a warm welcome.

After joining the team, Fisher ended up not attending TAMIU this semester.

MEN’S

WOMEN’S

DAVID GOMEZ JR. | BRIDGE FILE Volleyball outside hitter Mackenzie Catalina serves against University of Texas-Permian Basin in this file photo taken on Oct. 22, 2021, in the TAMIU gymnasium. Opposite hitters Sammantha Herrera (13) also wears a pink jersey as she looks on.

TAMIU graduate student Blanca Osorio (8) drives the ball down the field against Texas Woman’s University forward Keely Chapman (19) at TWU’s field on Sept. 17.

AUDRINA ROSALES-STREETER | SPECIAL TO THE BRIDGE

COURTESY COACH BENNY RODRIGUEZ

Members of the women cross country team pose for a photo at the Metropolitan State invite in Denver on Sept. 17, the women took 11th place in the event.

rest of the team. I’m ready to give my best and defend our colors against anyone.”

Lone Star Conference rival

ry games fans might anticipate are scheduled for October against Saint Mary’s Universi ty on Oct. 5 and Dallas Baptist

University on Oct. 22.

“Please come support [us],” Solano said. “It is important for us [to feel] that the TA

MIU students and faculty have our back [at the game] and we’ll do our best to have yours on the field.”