TheSouthTexan!"#$
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A new reign for TAMUK McClendon crowned Miss TAMUK 2022 ,-*./'0.*1.$ |&,-#%*+&.-/*+)-+
The curtains drew as the contestants walked The lights shined down as Cassandra Gomez and Jacqueline McClendon
The crowd cheered as she stepped forward to accept hosted its annual Miss Business Marketing major McClendon was crowned sino themed pageant was hosted by Student Engagement and Campus -
hands waiting for the to be heard and the job
only to represent yourself but to represent the full student body, and it’s important that whenever you talk or whenever you handle certain issues that you understand you represent more than yourself,” Mcportant that the students have someone to look up to so that they can have a leader and someone to show them an example on how to be a good student included: second runza, who was awarded a runner up Cassandra Gomez, who was awarded a scholarship of $1,200 and who was awarded a $2,000 eant is a tradition hosted This year a group of nine ladies competed for the
McClendon being crowed by former Miss TAMUK Hannah Sorenson.
Ronni Reyna
“I encourage you to do the other candidates and the candidates who come through every single year it’s just a learning experi-
Ronni Reyna Cassandra Gomez and McClendon hold hands as they await the final results.
of it as a scholarship opportunity and I was like you know what I’m just gonna go for it, and obviously I didn’t win, but like
Coordinator Julianne Gonities for you to grow as a person and then also to
get those communication and leadership skills and just meeting other women on campus who are also wanting to go through those challenges you know and those things Pageant rankings are
determined by a rubric including panel interview, public speaking (a memotant must also hold and !""#/&))+01/23*+,-++.
SGA elections postponed, new elections April 18 to 19
Larraga, Payne seek president position
Student body voting was scheduled to take
shifts from one semester to the next, so does the
however due to technolog y issues via election platforms, the voting dates were post-
-
Elections have been moved and will
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Tyler Larraga
Online Beat Do you not subscribe to !"#$%&!"!#'()*+%,? Catch up on exclusive stories about our campus and community when you sign up for our newsletter. Here’s a sneak peak of what you missed online.
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enhance the quality of student life and focused on a l low i ng st udent s to engage T h e purpose of Student GovernTrent Payne ment is to serve as the voice of the student body in the af-
fairs of the university by taking into consideration what other students have raised concern over and being that representation Candidates running for
Senator at Large, Secretary and Special Projects “I am running for Student Body President because I care about both
the best representative for
“I will always listen and build relationships
subjected to an increase interdisciplinary studies major Tyler Larraga and junior marketing major didates hold positions
rience internally by knowing the processes of the organization to work with the team of all branches to move forward and grow,”
Prior to holding his curLarraga’s primary goal
all of the student body, champion for more student emergency funds and ity around campus to be a resource for students and !""#!"#$%&'()*+,-+.
Candlemaker, student, business woman Salazar turns pandemic into fragrant endeavor
plains she got the idea of making candles when the ing as she could not really go anywhere at that time, Salazar channeled her en-
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The smell of melted wax and arrays of fraassemblage of materials and ingredients spread around the island counter in preparation of a new
demic were taking a toll on me, so I decided to watch videos to distract myself from what was going on “I came across a video of someone making candles and that sparked my in-
as a businesswoman is like for junior Sam SalaSalazar, known on Instagram as @mystical.candlez, creates and sells her own eco-friendly candles and wax melts online and to the Kingsville commuquarantine project soon turned into a full-time -
Salazar admits that it did not go so well for her when She soon found out that a
Mystical Candlez are made with soy wax, an “I know she truly thinks about her candles and how she wants the customer to Not to forget how much time she spends researching what she puts in the candles,” Brianna BrietzBrietzke is a roommate She added that she was not aware of how toxic parafused in other candles, was until Salazar showed her the research she comSalazar explained that making candles can get stressful at times, but it is nothing she cannot han-
Courtesy of Mystical Candlez Salazar’s colorful mug candle display
puts so much creativity and vision when making
later, Salazar mastered the skill of candle mak-
“I always feel so good -
er and loyal friend, Mia Hess, expresses just how dedicated Salazar is to her
a learning experience and assures that she will only
accomplishment knowing that a piece of me is in that candle, the reward is al-
“I 100 percent know Sam is dedicated to Mystical Candlez, because she
“Sam is an extremely amazing businesswoman and I believe Mystical
Building a business has !""#45(6"#)*+,-++.
2
Campus The end is only the beginning Spring Commencement is May 13 !"#"$%"&'(&")*+'|!"#$#%&$%!'(&)*+ !"#"$%#$&'(%)*+,)-'.*/)-)'0"#&1*!
As the weather starts to warm up and students start applying for graduate schools and jobs, the clock starts ticking. This only means one thing: graduation is right around the corner for Texas A&M University-Kingsville’s (TAMUK) 2022 spring graduates. The Spring Commencement is scheduled to take place at the Javelina Stadium on Friday, May 13. The event for attendees will serve basis for both the 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. ceremonies. There are 820 students scheduled to graduate this spring, earning degrees from 24 academic departments. The Computer Science, Communication Sciences and Disorders, Interdisciplinary Studies and Civil Engineering departments hold the largest number of graduates this upcoming commencement. Senior social work major Dominique Ybanez shares her thoughts on why graduation is important. “It’s a great accomplishment because all the hard work that you ing to be put to use and
tion on the number of guests a student can invite,” Provost and Vice President for Academic said. “The outdoor ceremony is less conducive to the spread of any illness. Another advantage of having the ceremony in Javelina Stadium is that the Jumbotron can be used to broadcast students as they cross the stage.” The commencement may only last a few hours, but there are months of preparation and many faculty and cess in advance. “From the team in the provost’s and make sure all the graduates are ready to graduate, the adviseos who help graduates prepare to walk the stage, to the teams that set up the stage and chairs and the team that oversees the livestream, there is a lot that has to happen to see the ceremony through,” Director of Marketing and Communication Adriana Garza-Flores said. TAMUK’s 16-1 student to faculty ratio and employment of research recognized faculty puts the university among the top 25 in the nation. These factors aid students in their academic
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journey towards graduation. “Each graduate from Texas A&M University-Kingsville joins with our many Javelina alumni who have not only changed their lives, but many who have changed said. Upcoming graduates plan to use their degrees to continue to build on the university’s reputation. “My plan is to become a licensed social worksocial worker. I hope to represent TAMUK with pride,” Ybanez said. Garza said the education students have received at TAMUK should leave graduates prepared for success in the next chapter of their lives. Garza leaves stupiece of advice before graduating students decide on the next step of their journey. “I hope that they are able to look back fondly at their time at TAMUK—the mentors they worked with, the friendships they made, the classes that challenged them most,” Garza said. “Begin the next part of your journey knowing you are ready for what comes next and never stop learning.”
for others,” she said. the spread of COVID, the university is encouraging use of face masks, social distancing and hosting the commencement outside. “There is no restric-
April 18 , 2022
Rae Martinez
Chris Tijerina holding a student made sign during Walk A Mile.
Stepping forward in awareness Event held to bring awareness to sexual assault, gender violence ,"*'!"-./0*+ |!'$),+)#&$-,$)!'(&)*+ '#)'+)"%#!'#)&'(%)*+,)-'.*/)-)'0"#&1*!
The sound of heels hitting the ground echoed as a group of students walked around University Boulevard. An array of colorful signs and a big, red banner decorated students as they walked around Javelina nation, all in support of women. Walk A Mile in Her Shoes is an annual event that focuses on bringing awareness to stop sexual assault and gender violence against women. It was a collaboration between Student Health and Wellness, The Purple Door, Pep-Talk and WIMENS club. “This event helps create a new perspective that allows students to understand what it is like to be in someone else’s shoes and get a sense of certain things they can-
not relate to,” Director of Student Health and Wellness Jo Elda Castillo-Alaniz said. The event took place on April 6, just outside of College Hall. Male students who showed up got to pick their choice of heels and sign. Two students held the main banner that was displayed in the front and everyone else was escorted by campus police. “Sometimes people do not really understand until they are literally in someone else’s shoes,” Castillo-Alaniz said. Walking in heels can be challenging for some, that is why it is always the go-to shoe choice when this event is held, because it symbolizes culties women face, such as harassment, gender violence, sexual violence and even the healing process that comes after the assault. “I chose to participate because I am a huge advocate for spreading awareness for standing up for what is right, which in this case is to stand up for anyone who
has gone through something like this,” senior Alejandro Garza said. By hosting this event, it lets women on campus know that they are not alone; they are being heard, understood and supported. “This event allows us to stand up for the women and survivors that are not able to,” President of WIMENS club Natalia Flores said. “It also allows us to start a conversation around the issue and act on it, because so many times there is too much conversation and not enough action.” Shortly after the stu-
Castillo-Alaniz and a member from The Purple Door gave speeches
importance of this event and the resources available to university students. For more information on the resources available, visit the Student Health and Wellness Center or contact The Purple Door at (361)-8818888 or call the 24-hour crisis hotline at 11-800580-4878.
Do or do not sink the ship, there is no try Ronni Reyna
Javelina graduates at the Spring 2021 Commencement.
Play written by Faherty, Machuca is May 2-4 ,"*'!"-./0*+
|
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Watch the student become the master in an upcoming play at the university. What do you get when you mix Star Wars and The Titanic? A melodramatic play titled, May the Titanic Force Be with You, written by Associate Professor Patrick Faherty ing, the stress of trying to get perfect grades builds up. If anyone is looking for something to help them unwind, stop by at 7:30 p.m., Monday through Wednesday, Theatre to watch this play. of Star Wars, that seems to be where it is going, though we hint something else is going to happen. Then, mid show, we all end up on The Ti-
tanic,” Faherty said. The student then became the master. Although Professor Faherty came up with the idea of the play, he credits the work to Machuca. “I give the director and the ensemble the script and they have a fair amount of leeway to mix it up, shake it up, comes more of a collaborative script by the time it opens,” Faherty said. Machuca has had a lot of leeway with this play. Faherty started writing the play over the summer and fall of last year and gave what he had to Machuca, who continued adding to it until it This is the third play he has directed since being at TAMUK. He has been involved in numerous productions as an actor and backstage. Some of his work has been entered into various competitions, some of which were recognized. “We like doing these melodramas; it is a service to the students. Come and have a good time for an hour,” Ma-
chuca said. Another individual responsible for making this play happen is senior Edgar Vazquez. Aside from being a stage manager, Vazquez will also have a role in this play. “Since I came to the university, I always try to audition for a show that is here. This is what I love to do, so any time there’s auditions I always come in to help,” Vazquez said. Vazquez explains that his cast mates have been doing a great job by giving it their all during practices and feels con-
will present a good play. “There is this stress that one has when getting a play together, especially for the director or stage manager,” Vazquez said. “However, presenting your show and seeing all the pieces
into place and seeing the audience laugh and reacting the way that you want them to, it is very ally does do well.”
Rae Martinez
Theatre students rehearsing for their upcoming play at The Little Theatre after class.
EntErtainmEnt 3 Review: Turning Red is turning into everyone’s favorite movie
April 18, 2022
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A coming-of-age movie like no other +&(,$+-'&"."$|,'-'#&.)!*'#+% )&1&#%2(!)&#*$+#,!-*.#,#!/%"(0*'
At the beginning of every Disney/Pixar movie there is a little boy or girl inside each of us, they are sitting in front of the screen, wide eyed and excited to see what is about to happen. Well, that is exactly how I felt getting ready to see what Disney/Pixar had in store next. I had just gotten “We don’t talk about Bruno,” out of my head and wanted to see what other amazing stories were being brought to life on Disney+. I was once again
not disappointed, Turning Red is by far one of
validation from her mother to be happy. It
this year. Comparatively, it is one of the most mature, diverse, and funny
within minority households where there is the pressure to be a perfect and successful child. This pressure leads to unnecessary stress, trauma and anxiety. She eventually overcomes this challenge and discovers who she really is. The story resonates to many of us that have gone through that same experience and gives us validation that we are not alone. Aside from the story, the diversity seen
made. It is a coming-ofage story about Mei Lee, a Chinese-Canadian girl going through middle school, who constantly please her family, when suddenly she looks into the mirror and sees a giant red panda in the reThrough her journey of trying to get rid of the giant red panda, Mei runs into a few problems and learns some lessons along the way. One of the most important things she learns is that she does not need
groundbreaking and something never seen in Disney. We get to see the main characters who are Chinese, someone
who is Sikh who wears a turban, a lady with a hijab, plus Priya and Abby, Mei’s Indian and Korean best friends. It is about time that more diversity is shown within Disney/Pixar and that the content they create better represents the audience they serve. great music, made me laugh, the animation was phenomenal, and it even made me shed a tear. I believe Disney/ Pixar has been doing a fantastic job recently but really set ambitious standards with Turning Red. I highly recommend this resolved trauma caused by their parents but also anyone who just wants
Screenshot from @pixarturningred on Instagram.
Review: Flower Shops hits the ground running Debut album by ERNEST is perfect for the summer !"#$%"&'()#*$|!"#$%#&'"($"#)!*'#+% !"#!$#%&"'!"#(!)&#*$+#,!-*.#,#!/%"(0*'
I am no avid country music fan, but after listening to this album, I just might become one. Released on March 11, Flower Shops has quickly become one of my favorite country albums. This album makes you want to cruise around for hours with the volume on MAX and the windows down. The
called “Sucker For Small song you hear was a wise choice as it leaves a great impression. Upon listening to it, you know the rest of the album is going to be just as good. I will not be surprised if I hear this song playing on the radio. This album explores themes of love, gratitude and heartbreak. Half of the songs have a catchy, upbeat feel to them while the others have a slower feel. This album resonates with whatever feeling you are in. All of the songs in this
album are good, but the song that hooked and reeled me in was “Flower Shops” (feat. Morgan Wallen). Listening to this song like reliving the best experiences you have had time you tried ice cream, you found love. It makes you want to scream the lyrics at the top of your lungs. I do not think I will get over this song anytime soon. Just when I thought things could not get betERNEST has an acous-
tic version of “Flower Shops.” This version is heaven-sent. It allows us to pay more attention to their voices which sound so well together. Considering ERNEST has written songs for other country artists like Florida Georgia Line and Wallen, it is no surprise that this album is good. ERNEST is quickly making his way to the top of the charts. This is not your typical country album. Most of the songs have a pop feel to it, which is not necessarily a bad thing as it makes this album more refreshing.
Screenshot from @ERNEST on Instagram.
It is a good album for people who want to get into country music to lis-
ten to. Overall, I give this album a 9/10. I highly recommend.
How to Adult: perfecting your resumé
Leaving a long-lasting impression !"#$%"&'()#*$|!"#$%#&'"($"#)!*'#+% !"#!$#%&"'!"#(!)&#*$+#,!-*.#,#!/%"(0*'
A few weeks back, I wrote a segment on building your resumé. Now, I am writing a second part where I help you perfect your resumé. We are going to start style. As I mentioned in the previous segment, the standard font size for the body of your resumé should be 12. It should never be smaller than 10, otherwise individuals will have trouble reading it. The font style is your choice, but it is recommended that you use regular fonts like Arial, Calibri and Times New Roman. Next, list the most imThe information you want to add is completely up to you. Be consistent. Everything from
dates to abbreviations and formatting should stay the same throughout your resumé. Use reverse chronological order, in other words, list your recent work, degree, honors work backwards in time. Make sure you lead with titles or company names when typing out your work experience. You want for the name of companies and your positions to be one of the er sees when looking at your resumé. Dates can right side of the page. periences and honors that tie as close as possible to the job you are applying for. Do not mention experiences, skills or honors that are not relevant. Use brief statements. Most of the time, employers look for brief, direct sentences. If your sentences are too long,
it may cause them to skip it. Use past tense when listing old jobs or internships and present tense if you are currently working there. When describing the things you did in your old jobs or internships, make sure to use three to Make sure they are strong sentences. It is recommended that you start with an action verb and quantify the results of your work whenever possible. Make sure your resumé meets the needs of your employers. You want to let your employers know that you meet the requirements they are seeking. Lastly, proofread! This is a crucial step for obvious reasons. Misspelling could be frowned upon by employers. Remember, you are trying to impress them. Follow these tips and your resumé is guaranteed to stand out.
Amado Moreno Signature burger from Mariachis Burger House.
4
News
April 18, 2022
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Texas A&M University-Kingsville®
Stress-Free Zone Monday, April 25, 2022
10 am - 1 pm | MSUB Pavilion Stress Management, Free Event Shirt, Giveaways, and muh more!
SPONSORED BY: Student Health and Wellness & PEP Talk FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL: 361-593-3991
SPORTS
April 18, 2022
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5
Weekly LSC awards go to Castillo and Giesey Stellar week of play for two Javelinas '01$#%2$#34"+| !"#$%&'*+,%#$ !"#$%!&'()%#$*%+'!#,%+%'-./&0#1
Saidi Castillo and Jennifer Giesey both earned LSC honors last week for their play on the softball “I think the play of Saidi and Jennifer speaks volumes to the talent on
this team,” Head Coach “They both had really good weeks against really good competition, and I think they were very deserving of the Castillo, a native of earned her fourth LSC pitcher of the week award in her career as a Javelina in her junior LSC Freshman of the
mulated a strong week of competition against
she pitched seven strike-
in the conference to catch the eyes of the LSC, and pitched three total victo-
for the week, Castillo
“It feels good to be able to receive that
me knows I don’t really care about accolades and my own stats,” Castillo
work hard during the games so being able to receive that shows and proves to myself that I’m doing good and helping my team out to the best
to win and do whatever I can to help the team Senior Giesey earned Hitter of the Week while Castillo was pitching the
for three scoreless innings in her time on the her next start on Friday
“It’s an amazing feeling to have won an award considering I’ve worked so hard to get to where I am today,” Gieit for myself, I always do
Castillo allowed just three earned runs in the
The second baseman/ shortstop from Crystal LSC award week with an
Jennifer Giesey going through the team line.
doubleheader against
Leo Garcia
Saidi Castillio on the mound.
Leo Garcia
tonio and just like Castillio, turned up the heat
sey up to bat saw a victo-
The conference match-
“I work hard for every one of my teammates,”
some impressive hitting from Giesey, sending a third-inning pitch out the park, while also adding a three-run triple in sey went on to dominate Commerce in the douShe picked up three hits, and a game-tying two run double in the
me to do my best vice versa so we compete at a high el and go all the
and can levway
The two individuals have made major contributions to the team this year, helping the Javeliconference with a shot at the LSC Championship
-
Javelinas face each other in Spring scrimmage Gearing up for spring game April 23 !"#$%&%'"()*+$,-")./"| !"#$%&'
against Defense for a competitive matchup beThe Javelinas have been working very diligently during the
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for their Spring season, Javelina football team Javelina The
Stadium Javelinas
“Practice the day before was a good day as far
for took
guys were getting a little bored with the mundane of practice, you could
tell that they were eager to have a scrimmage,” Defensive Coordinator it was a little bit of a day where they needed to have a little bit more focus on what we were doing but a lot of that had to do with us going on practice number nine… at that point the guys are getting really ready to get into a scrimmage type scenario so they can have a real game
intense practice so that we could come out and have a great scrimmage The scrimmage gave fans and families a chance to come out and get a glimpse of what the Javelinas have been up some injuries and some players getting sick before the scrimmage a lot of guys had to step up
position…so everyone felt good, and everyone Michael Salinas would say, ‘It isn’t as good as it seems, and it isn’t as bad cups here and there but overall, everything on sive side of the ball as far as execution was great,
Center and quarterback practice snaps for RPA College scimmage 2021.
Dylan Sanchez
“The energy on both sides of the ball was positive…to say the least
Javelinas take down the Lions Wollenzien takes the tennis team on the road '01$#%2$#34"+| !"#$%&'*+,%#$ !"#$%!&'()%#$*%+'!#,%+%'-./&0#1
The Lady Hogs on the tennis court went on a long road trip this past week which took them through Oklahoma in versity and ending in a matchup between the Javelinas and the Lions of son, the team ended with ons on Saturday which now puts the conference record for Head Coach
her women’s team at 3-3 with an overall record
tough loss versus Cameron,” Coach Wollenzien said, “but what was important for the ladies was to be able to move
sure we got enough rest and that we were ready the singles matches came from Morsche who has won her eighth match
with Maier have comThe Javelinas took two of the three doubles
Manny Martinez said the players were ener-
to this point in the season, the highest recorded
from Hechingen, Germany, and Manuela Turolo from Cividale del Friuli, Italy, took the second match of the day with a
-
won a team-high nine matches together and followed by that was a
were also brought home by Turolo and Viktoriia Grigoreva from Tver,
Morsche of Goor, Neatherlands, and Noemi Sante from Dusseldorf,
“It was a tough 6-3, was happy to come back
“The match against the Lions felt good despite the long road trip,”
The last three matchups will be at home starting with a match against
think both sides are willing to work, they know that these practices must be taken advantage
Javelina Spring Scrimmage 2022
get out and show what they’ve learned, espe-
eager and of course the defense is always going to respond…it was great The Javelinas are prepped and eager for their last Spring scrimmage and to show the fans what to expect for “Moving forward we more opportunities to go and get better, we’ll have a couple for insulations that we’ll put in both and as well as special
Zena Desouza-George
teams to kind of prepare for the last scrimmage,” “For the most part we’ll just clean up on some of the mistakes we made from a schematical standpoint and effort standpoint, and just sharpen up the guys’ conditioning so we can the Spring game is great for us and a great opportunity for our fans to see us play and get an early look at what we’ll look The Spring game bewhen the Javelinas face -
Forum
6
April 18, 2022
thesouthtexan.com
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for redress of grievances.” Our Opinion
An arrest worth Recently, a woman in Rio Grande City, Texas, was arrested on murder charges for “self-aborting” or terminating her pregnancy. Although her murder charges were dropped, access to safe abortions is becoming scarce around the state. The new Heartbeat Bill in Texas makes it an illegal and punishable crime to have an abortion after six weeks of pregnancy. Due to being illegal, if a woman proceeds with her abortion after this set time, they will be charged. However, it does
We have all seen it once before. A TV Show, in an attempt to talk about beauty standards, creates a pageant to credit women the image of “beauty” or, in this case, w h i c h woman
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society’s beauty standards. This concept has left many young, impressionable minds to believe that women who participate in pageants only care
about their vanity rather than their intelligence. However, after competing for a pageant title recently, I can assure you that this concept is completely false. Growing up, I was convinced by the media that pageants were su-
other become the best version of themselves. It was not all about how good your appearance was, it was how you treated others, your opinions on world ideas, and your ambition to succeed.
and public speaking are
surrounded by a supportive community of women who helped each
is something many individuals are not aware of. After all, interviews
people think of when someone mentions pageants, but they matter. Scholarship pageants do not ridicule women, but give them the opportunity to become leaders of the future. In other words, pageants do not stead they bring out the side of yourself. So, if you are a woman who believes they are not cut out for pageantry, give it a shot! Show the media that you, women and pageants are more than the stereotype.
a vastly more enjoyable experience for me than streaming would have been. I was never much of a movie goer, even less so due to the pandemic, but this year I’m planning on going somewhat frequently. There’s something about the theater-going experience that’s far more satisfying and exciting to me than sitting comfortably at home. It’s less convenient and more expensive for sure, but the time I get to spend with friends talking before
that feeling to something like a rollercoaster. There’s a special sense ing your seat, knowing you’re locked in for the ride with little to no outside distractions. Alongside that sense of anticipation, the theater also provides a more premium experience for the movie with the high-quality screen, darkness of the room and comfortable seats. I can’t imagine replicating that feeling well enough for my own home, despite having a decent set up. Overall, I think it’s a better idea to go out and watch something with
some friends than it is to stay at home. Part of that is because not every new movie will be available on streaming services the day they come out in theaters. The pandemic has also heavily altered the experience. In my recent visits, showings had only been full a couple of times so other than that it’s felt like a comfortable and safely distanced showing. It’s not as scary going to the movies as it used to be and being vaccinated helps. Thanks to the vaccine, I get to enjoy and prefer the theater going experience over streaming.
ing that a young girl or woman has to change their pad multiple times a day, and a standard period lasts between four and seven days, a box runs out fast (especially with more women in a household). Therefore, there needs to be a light shed on period poverty because right now it is not public information. Always, a menstrual hygiene brand, partnered with actress Sophia Bush in 2019 and since then, have contin-
follow in their footsteps, the conversation on unequal access to sanitary products would be elevated. The Javelina CARE Pantry, located in Rm. 220 at the MSUB, is available to aid students in the event of a short-term food/ hygiene shortage. Related to this global crisis, the pantry provides hygiene products, such as pads and tampons for free. If you or anyone you know is struggling with
operated, but they are not. Scholarship pageants, like Miss TAMUK, have granted women across the globe the chance to educate, lead and inspire others. Via my experience running
through this experience, I not only learned how to see myself in a more convaluable information that will help me in my academic and professional career alike. However, due to the
not stop there. Texas is also trying to make reporting women for these actions legal, too, pushing this issue beyond the conception debate it used to be. Therefore, this argument goes further than just abor-
Which do you prefer, using a streaming service to see the latest
tion. It includes the restriction of health care and accessible birth control across the state. If the government considered women’s healthcare a priority, there would be a higher chance for women to be given the healthcare they deserve. However, if you want to limit the number of abortions women have, the state should provide proper sex education within school institutions as compensation. Texas schools are not required to teach satisfactory sex education. And, even if a school decides to move forward with sex education, abstinence is their main lesson plan, leaving the majority of our youth uneducated and prone
Personally, I prefer streaming. It’s the safest and cheapest option during 2&"$this end34//"&&*"/ -%$()#./(#$, less pan0)#(1) demic and it’s not a bad idea if you’ve got a good set up for your TV. However, I’ve gone to the movies a couple times with friends recently and I’d say it was
(sometimes during if you’re quiet) adds to the experience. I’d equate
to learn the wrong information without guidance. Texas is too worried about political morals to teach teens safe sex and pregnancy prevention. Instead, their response is to restrict access to abortion with no improvements in the educational system to attack the root problem. This issue is not just about the moral implications of abortion. Although everyone possesses the right to their opinion, should women be
In other words, if this is a topic about life, why tions and open its perspective to other answers,
want to overcome.
It’s unfortunate knowing that in the year 2022, as times have supposedly evolved, young girls are still being stripped from their education. The reason for that may ,"-"./"0 surprise !0"1*+ you. *+$+,#$, Period &'#(%) poverty is a form of gender inequality because women don’t have reliable access to products for something in their bodies that they cannot control to begin with. In the year 2019, near-
United States, including 143,000 girls in the NYC area and 88,000 girls in the Los Angeles area, have missed school due to the lack of access to sanitary products. It’s ridiculous that basic necessities for women, such as tampons and pads are an expense and are still, what seems to be, a taboo subject. The average age for a girl to get her period is around 12, meaning that until menopause, this expense for menstrual nancial burden. The average cost of a box of 36 pads is around $7. With the understand-
by donating more than 20 million period products to school aged girls in the U.S. If more brands were to
Makaylah Chavez Managing Editor
Sarah Reyna
items that should be free to begin with, visit https://www.tamuk.edu/ dean/javelinaemergencyaid/JavelinaCAREpantry. html.
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Aside from the Miss TAMUK court, there are three other awards given. Miss Photogenic, awarded to Kristen Almendarez whose photo is voted on by the panel of judges; Miss Congeniality, Mariah Mercado, who was most approachable and voted on by the contestants themselves; and Miss Lantana, McClendon, who stood out during the evening gown portion of the pageant “As a senior I gained a lot of things. I gained more friendships people that I want to pursue a career with. We have met many goals throughout !"#$%-./01"23#)$*+$$,
ensure their fees are spent wisely,” Larraga said. SGA is a group of like-minded students who have a primary focus: to improve the university experience. When concerns are raised on campus, SGA representatives the situation, brainstorm solutions and draft legisPayne is currently the sitting as the Public Relations Chair for SGA. His responsibilities include managing social media accounts and creating content for each respective channel for the association. “I am running for SGA President because I want to lead the student body at Texas A&M University-Kingsville to its full potential,” Payne said. Payne would like his peers to know that he
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Rae Martinez
Pagent contestents and commite members pictured on stage at the Jones Auditorium from left to right, Cassandra Gomez, Juana Villanueva, Kristen Almendarez, Faith Escamilla, Daniela Urbano , Miss TAMUK 2021 Hannah Sorenson, Miss TAMUK 2022 Jacqueline McClendon, Emily Rivas, Amberly Zaragoza, Mariah Mercado and Campus Activities Coordinator Julianne Gomez.
this beautiful pageant and these are friendships that they’re never gonna die,”
Miss TAMUK contestant senior Agriculture Education major Daniela Ur-
bano said. Miss TAMUK 2021-2022 senior Biology major Han-
nal walk and crowned McClendon.
takes pride in being a Javelina very seriously. He is a native South Texan from Woodsboro, Texas. Payne states that South Texas has always been a forever home to him and expresses his gratefulness in TAMUK since becoming a Javelina has given him everything he could have wanted in a college experience. “My three goals for SGA are to provide a better service for our students through SGA, build campus morale, and enrich the Javelina experience,” Payne said. Criminology graduate student and Student Organization Advisory Liaison Alberto Oliviera shares his thoughts on the candidates running for President this election. “My hope is that either candidate understands the commitment and dedication the position involves,”
Oliviera said. Student Government
of Marketing and Communications for which he collaborates with the social media director to produce content for the university’s TikTok channel. He is also the Director of Public Relations for Javelina Camp, for which his duties include producing social media content. Payne believes these expe-
ed to voice concerns for lack of student breaks. Previously, he also found himself working with The South Texan as a contributing writer. Larraga believes that being involved in all these organizations has helped him better understand the interests and struggles of students around campus. That way he can do what’s best for the student body and make students feel more comfortable at their home away from home. “I am a student before anything else and I think it’s important to never
student body at TAMUK. SGA is funded by student fees and directly works with students for a better tomorrow. The association is set up to have at least one representative from each college and class at the university. “We work for the students. Our students are important because without them we have no university. I think through our model we ensure our students are represented and directly play a role in each decision or initiative SGA gets behind,” Larraga said. Each candidate is also heavily involved in other organizations on campus, as well. Not only is Payne the Public Relations Chair for SGA, he is also a stu-
networking and critical thinking skills to be used further in his professional career as he would like to become a brand ambassador for a major company or corporate-level management. Besides earning his Chief of Staff position with SGA, Larraga is also Executive Director for the Class Giving Society, involved with the Student Athletic Training program and indulges himself with the Calendar Committee on which he was appoint-
through my experience having served in various positions. I know the ins and outs and have the mentors of former members who have endorsed me to be able to get back to how we used to be - active and visible on campus with true representation
its perks. Salazar said that this business has helped cially. She uses the money she makes to buy more inventory and buy anything else she may need like groceries or dog food. Additionally, when times get rough, making candles helps her unwind. Salazar also sells her candles at markets held in Kingsville and hopes to grow her business in the future. Salazar can be found on Instagram @mystical. candlez or on Etsy at https:// www.etsy.com/shop/MysticalCandlez.
for our student body,” Larraga said. Both Payne and Larraga have stepped up as leaders on campus and will continue to do just that as they continue to campaign for their presidential election run.
student body and to TAMUK’s soon to be elected with this. “My hope is for a committed group of SGA rep-
group that takes pride in their positions,” he said. “A dedicated group that inquires about the issues being faced by our student body and that they address them. There’s a lot of potential to make necessary changes on our campus. This is your time to bring about that change.” Check your student email for updates regarding election voting.
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April 18, 2022
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