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Students gather to hunt ghosts, spirits
By LUKE KOONG The Pan American The world of the paranormal is a topic most people try to avoid. Thoughts of ghosts, spirits and the supernatural have frightened the minds of children and adults alike for centuries. However, just as there are individuals who chase tornadoes, there are also those who look for the signs beyond the norm. The University of Texas-Pan American is home to a one-month-old ghost hunting organization. Although the group has no official name yet, members of the organization have been quite active. For Becky Reyes, a senior anthropology major, her curiosity has carried over from her time living in Ohio. “I lived out in the middle of nowhere where we were surrounded by ghost stories and certain sites where you could see things,” Reyes, now an Edinburg resident, said.
Reyes and fellow ghost chaser Margaret Rivera, a junior art major, came together to form the new organization as a result of one of Rivera’s classes and their shared interests in the paranormal. Reyes’ and Rivera’s interests have developed into a curiosity to investigate local ghost stories. Reyes said the appeal stems lies in coming in contact with the unknown. “You get to see something that is totally out of this world and beyond reality,” she said. “Actually looking for something like that is fun.” Rivera, an Edinburg resident, enjoys the spontaneity of the subject. “It’s something you don’t see every day, something out of your hands, out of the mundane. It’s a force that exists without you,” she said. “You live your life and you have control over the environment. Every now and then, something weird happens, but this is totally
See GHOSTS page 12
Margaret Rivera HAUNTED - The Alton bus crash site where 21 children were killed in 1989 is one of the places Margaret Rivera, a junior art major, says there has been paranormal activity. Rivera is co-founder of a new campus group of ghost hunters.
Program provides study help By CELINA A. GILPATRICK The Pan American Students no longer have to suffer alone over confusing notes or worry about cramming the night before an exam. The Supplemental Instruction
Program (SIP) provides study help and guidance to any student needing clarification or a new perspective. The SIP, offered by the Learning Assistance Center, is in its first semester at The University of Texas-Pan
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American and offers weekly review sessions for students taking notoriously challenging classes. Nancy Salinas, a senior psychology major from McAllen, leads two psychology study groups in the SIP, and does not want students to feel that she will be reteaching the class. “I help the students study better by answering questions and giving them tips,” said Salinas. “I’ve had students tell me that they score an average of 10 points higher on tests, and have a better general understanding because of my help.” Although Salinas excels in psychology, she appreciates the program’s help in chemistry. “I don’t know that I would have gotten through chemistry without the program,” said Salinas. “I find myself not understanding the material in class, and this helped me survive.” Juan Ovalle, SIP coordinator, feels that the program differs from the typical idea of tutoring, in that students help fellow students. “It is more like a study session with someone who not only is in the same class as the students but has also taken and passed the course previously,” said Ovalle. “A Supplemental Instruction
See TUTORING page 12
Kids need outdoor play for development By LEZETTE VILLARREAL The Pan American The grass and air at the playground may be a better learning experience than any educational video game can ever provide. According to a study done by the American Academy of Pediatrics, children need unorganized spontaneous free play just as much as they need in-class learning. According to Alejo Salinas, a lecturer in the College of Education at The University of Texas-Pan American, to a child every experience is a learning experience, whether it be playing outside or playing video games. “Children learn a lot from their senses. Playing outside is a concrete learning experience and everything outdoors can be a lesson of some sort,” said Salinas. “Actually seeing and feeling real things are a more valuable experience than just watching it on TV.” The more advanced we get in technology, the less likely parents are to let children have outdoor unscheduled free time. Parents sometimes think that the
new get-smart video game, ballet classes or karate classes they send their kids to will help them be more successful. But in reality, these things are not factors in helping a person become successful, the AAP study indicated. It also suggested that children who were free to play outside devel-
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“Children learn a lot from their senses. Actually seeing and feeling real things are more valuable experiences than just watching it on TV.” - Alejo Salinas lecturer in College of Education oped healthier lifestyles compared to kids who played mostly get-smart video games, or had lots of enrichment activities or classes to help them excel. “The development of healthy kids doesn’t only depend on the activities they do but on whether they’re truly interested in the activity,” said Nancy
See CHILDREN page 12