4/25/2019 Issue

INSIDE

PRIDEfest highlights campus LGBTQ+ community... Page 2 Texas A&M University-Kingsville

The South Texan

Volume 93, Issue 25

thesouthtexan.com

Riley departs after 12 years

Thursday, April 25, 2019

DARCY RAMIEREZ Editor-in-Chief LITTLE ROCK — Dr. Terisa Riley, who is currently senior vice president for student affairs and university administration at Texas A&M University – Kingsville (TAMUK), is expected to begin her new role as chancellor of the University of Arkansas Fort Smith July 1, leaving TAMUK after 12 years of service.

University of Arkansas System President Dr. Donald R. Bobbitt will recommend Dr. Terisa Riley as the next chancellor at the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith (UAFS).

“While the pool of finalists was extremely strong with all of the candidates being highly qualified and making a great impression during their on-campus visits and interviews, Dr. Riley rose to the top with the clear vision and palpable energy needed to help continue the strategic growth and upward trajectory of UAFS,” Bobbitt said. “I couldn’t be any more confident in the work that our search committee, search firm and all of the various other constituents contributed during this process to help identify the next chancellor at UAFS. I am extremely excited about Dr. Riley’s arrival and the future of the university.”

Riley has served in a variety of student affairs and administrative roles at TAMUK since 2007. The Chronicle of Higher Ed named TAMUK the fastest-growing four-year doctoral university in the country the past two years.

“I am thrilled and humbled to be recommended as the next chancellor for the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith,” Riley said. “My interactions with faculty, staff, students and members of the Fort Smith communi-

Photo By C.R. Neal

Some participants of Walk a Mile in Her Shoes gather once the heels come off.

Photo Courtesy tamuk.edu

Terisa Riley. ty reinforced my belief that UAFS is preparing students to work and compete globally, and that empowering students to reach their academic goals continues to be the focus of campus decision-making. UAFS has a rich and unique history as an economic advancement engine for the Fort Smith region, and I look forward to playing my part to help shape the success of the institution, the community and our students, faculty and staff for years to come,” Riley said.

“I would like to thank President Bobbitt for entrusting me with this amazing opportunity, and I’m grateful to the members of the search committee and the Board of Trustees for their participation in this process. I look forward to being back on campus very soon, and I am incredibly excited about joining the Fort Smith community as a resident and community

Riley continued on Page 9

Photo Courtesy tamuk.edu

College hall has housed Terisa Riley’s office for 12 years.

‘We’re all in this together’ Walking a mile in her shoes C.R. NEAL Editorial Editor Men in high heels flooded the road on Wednesday, April 17, in front of College Hall to show their support for women and raise awareness to gender violence, sexual assault and rape.

Texas A&M University – Kingsville (TAMUK) hosted the annual event Walk a Mile in Her Shoes, which had TAMUK’s male students don high heels and march a mile to gain an understanding of the struggles women face.

One of the organizers of the event and Social Work major Alexander Soliz has participated in the event since he was a freshman, and loves it so much he bought his own pair of heels for this year’s event. He spoke on how walking a mile in heels changed his life. “[Walk a Mile in Her Shoes] got me into wanting to peer educate,” Soliz said. “I changed my major from engineering to social work because of it.”

Soliz got to the heart of what he wanted the men who participated in the event to take away from it.

“Rape affects all of us,” Soliz said.

“Walk a mile in her shoes, and see

what that feels like.”

Kinesiology major Amanda Ortega also helped organize the event, and echoed Soliz’s sentiment.

“We’re all in this together. We’re getting these men to realize how hard it is, the little things in a woman’s life. Wearing the heels and walking a mile,” Ortega said. “This is just one struggle that most women go through daily, and it’s like what else is there?”

Ortega got a laugh out of seeing all those men attempting to walk in high heels with shaky legs, although she’s happy that no one fell this year.

Communications major Frank Russell attended the event with TAMUK’s Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) organization and shared his experience walking in heels.

“I do not like heels,” Russell said with a laugh before getting serious.

“It’s important to not shame someone for what they wear, and be respectful for people’s decisions no matter what gender or race they are. Just be a decent human being.”

The attendance was much higher than last year’s eight participants.

Soliz accredits the rise to mandatory Greek Life involvement, and a prize of $100 donated to a charity chosen by the organization with the most members in attendance.

Page 2 - Campus

thesouthtexan.com

Thursday, April 25, 2019

LGBTQ+ community showcases their pride Annual PRIDEfest is night of fun, unity ILIANA FLORES Managing Editor Rainbow flags, music, food, prizes and drag queens were all part of the third annual PRIDEfest at Texas A&M University-Kingsville (TAMUK) on April 17 in the Ben Bailey Art Gallery.

This year’s PRIDEfest was a funfilled event.

During the three-and-a-half-hour event, attendees got to listen to guest speakers, dance to the mixes of DJ Brainwash, meet and talk to new people and friends, see performances from the #HauseDeLoca Drag Queens and win prizes.

To kick off the event, students and community members gathered at the pavilion outside of the Memorial Student Union Building and were given rainbow face paintings, flags and other LGBTQ+ paraphernalia.

From there, the crowd, led by members of the TAMUK drumline, marched to the Ben Bailey Art Gallery.

The first guest speaker of the night was TAMUK alumnus Bailey Killian.

As someone who is part of the transgender community, Killian spoke on his journey to becoming comfortable with his true self.

Killian was also one of the founding members of Unity as he helped make the organization an official club on campus.

Killian was proud to see the amount

of people who showed up to the event.

“When we started Unity, we weren’t doing it really for the community.

That’s what you say because it’s good to put in words, but it was really more for us. For us to have a place to be. And, we weren’t thinking about the longterm effects of that, and to see the longterm effects be so much more than we could have imagined, that can’t help but trigger an emotion of pride in all of y’all and your willingness to be here,” Killian said.

Will Stridde was another guest speaker.

Stridde hosted an interactive lecture during which people could ask him about any parts of LGBTQ+ history about which they were curious.

Students Pedro Andrade and Aaron Martinez are a couple that attended the event. They believe participating in events such as PRIDEfest is important because it shows their support in their community.

“As a gay couple, I feel like we should be involved in what’s going on with our community and just to support one another and be here for each other because that’s what we need right now. The moments we’re living right now, not a lot of people are accepting so it’s good to just be yourself in a group of people that are themselves,” Andrade said.

Many people who attended the event were excited to see the San Antonio drag queens #HauseDeLoca.

The group consisted of four drag queens who entertained the crowd with their funny commentary, fierce attitudes and impressive dance moves.

The drag performance was Dis-

Club of the week-TAMUK Theatre Students gain an opportunity to develop skills and a appreciation for theatre arts LETI TORRES Reporter The TAMUK Theatre, an organization at Texas A&M University – Kingsville, is open to students who want to join and test their skills in theatre arts.

This organization is set to help the students in the theatre department further their skills and find a new respect for theatre arts.

“What I’ve learned from being in this organization is how hard it is to help run and support a theatre,” said Robin Machuca, a senior history major.

TAMUK Theatre holds auditions for all their shows and anyone is welcome to come to their auditions.

One can participate in many of the parts that are in theatre, whether on stage or behind the scenes.

“They had auditions and I tried out but even if I didn’t get a part, I still wanted to help in any way,” said Edgar Manuel Vazquez Jr., a freshman communications major with a minor in theatre.

The club helps students receive much-needed experience in learning how to read a script, work with others and be a part of the crew.

Many of the students have found a long-felt love for theatre arts.

They have also made life-long friends and some who become family.

Not only do they receive those connections needed to move further up

the successful ladder, but they also gain skills.

“Personally, I have grown not only as an actress, but as a person with the theatre here at TAMUK,” said Anna Celeste Vela, a junior communications major with a minor in theatre.

TAMUK Theatre holds many shows at the campus in the Little Theatre.

Not only do they hold shows on campus, but they have also participated in many other theatre festivals.

TAMUK Theater was invited to the KCACT Festival (Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival) for their work on the performance of June Bugs.

“I have worked in and appreciated every aspect of the theatrical process.

From being center stage to sweeping the stage between performances,” said club President Laurie Guajardo-Hoefelmeyer, a senior communications major.

Anyone interested in expanding their love for theatre arts is welcome to join and participate in TAMUK Theatre, of course, with the acceptation of an audition. Their meetings are held in the Little Theatre located in the Speech Building. Rehearsals can span from two or more hours, depending on the need of practice. One can also look for their Facebook page - TAMUK Theatre Program.

ney-themed and had students clapping and cheering along. PRIDEfest is an event hosted by the TAMUK student organization Unity.

Unity Secretary Alberto Oliveira helped organized the event and was proud of how the event turned out.

“Seeing the overall crowd for this year’s PRIDEfest definitely made me feel proud to know that we did it. To see the support of TAMUK LGBTQ+ students, allies, faculty and proud parents was a heartwarming moment,” Oliveira said.

Photos by Amanda DeFrees

Students during PRIDEfest event celebrate unity.

Thursday, April 25, 2019

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Page 3 - Campus

Don’t miss the Merry Widow performance

Secrets, gossip, forbidden love ARYSSA ENRIQUEZ Campus Editor

A tale about a wealthy widow on the verge of bankruptcy dealing with forbidden love will be brought to life by TAMUK’s Opera and Orchestra group.

With two performances on April 27 and 28, audience members have an opportunity to watch an opera on campus for $5, or for free with a student ID. Merry Widow will be performed at 7:30 p.m. April 27 and 3 p.m. April 28 in Jones Auditorium.

Students can expect a fun and energetic show full of singing, dancing and sparkling orchestral music.

Sudden plot twists, evening gowns and tuxedos will all set the mood for the fictional country of Marsovia.

“I was scared to take on the role because it’s my first year, I’ve never done a big role like this. However, as time passed by and Dr. Brou worked with me, I was able to get comfortable with my character a little more. The show will be extremely engaging, it’s really funny, it’s something different we don’t always see here in Kingsville,” said Victoria Corona, a music education major in the opera.

The actors of Merry Widow will embody the people of Marsovia and persuade Sonia, the protagonist, to marry one of her old Marsovian boyfriends in order to prevent her riches from ending up in the rival country of France.

“Adapting to changes, new people and new roles and stepping up as leaders getting and encouraging others to do their best. I’m not a widow, but it has been fun stepping up and exploring the character. I’m really excited to see it all come together,” said Irma Reyes, musical vocal performance major who is playing the role of Sonia.

The tale will have you on the edge of your seat, taking the audience on an adventure through the love life of Sonia, who is looking to marry for love only.

“It is my goal as a director to make the best possible product for both the students in the production, but also for the audience. I often tell the student singers that the production we are working might be the only experience that someone in the audience has ever had with opera — it is our job to make the show as entertaining as possible so that they leave the theater wanting more,” said Dr. Melinda Brou, director of Merry Widow.

Although, Merry Widow presented many challenges, the cast has prepared for a semester and is prepared to put on a show.

Photos by Aryssa Enriquez

Students during Merry Widow in rehearsal in Jones Auditorium.

Page 4 - Opinion

thesouthtexan.com

Thursday, April 25, 2019

Militias in South Texas

The South Texan The First Amendment “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.”

The South Texan is a student publication produced by Texas A&M University- Kingsville students. The views, opinions and commentary do not necessarily reflect the views of the Texas A&M University system. The South Texan uses student fees in part to publish. The South Texan is part of the Art, Communications, and Theatre Department (ACT), The Javelina Broadcast Network (JBN), and the Texas Intercollegiate Press Association (TIPA).

STAFF Darcy Ramirez Editor-in-Chief Iliana Flores Managing Editor Aryssa Enriquez Campus Editor C.R. Neal Editorial Editor Colby Sims Sports Editor Jaylin Morales Advertising Manager Reporters Josue Villarreal Aaron Monreal Kelby Sprinkles Hector Landin Adam Pena Zachariah Wilson Dylan Dozier Rachel Tapps Leti Torres

C.R. NEAL Editorial Editor A new wave of nationalism has crashed over South Texas, as groups of armed citizens intrude on our lands in the name of keeping their country safe.

The FBI in New Mexico arrested Larry Mitchel Hopkins, also known as Johnny Horton Jr., on charges of being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition.

Hopkins leads the United Constitutional Patriots (UCP), one of several militias that have flocked to the border acting on President Trump’s assertion that the recent surge in Central American migrants is an “invasion.”

In a Facebook livestream hosted on April 16 by Debbie Farnsworth, a large group of migrants, including several children, whom the UCP rounded up, can be seen sitting on the ground.

“This is crazy, everybody, totally crazy. I don’t know what to say about this, other than the fact it’s got to stop,” a female voice that appears to be Farnsworth narrates.

A few minutes into the video, Border Patrol officers appear in the video.

After establishing order they guide the migrants into the darkness.

The UCP maintains that their actions are legal, but Sunland Park Police Chief Javier Guerra states that he had explicitly informed them that they are not.

In response to this event, Governor of New Mexico Michelle Grisham stated that, “Menacing or threatening migrant families and asylum-seekers is absolutely unacceptable and must

Nicole Morris Adviser Advertising For advertising inquiries, e-mail The South Texan at or call (361) 593-4370.

Letters to the Editor Letters must be typed, signed and include a phone number. Letters considered for publication must be 300 words or fewer. Letters may be emailed to thesouthtexan@tamuk.edu The South Texan, Manning Hall 165, Texas A&M University-Kingsville Kingsville, Texas 78363

cease.”

These problems are by no means isolated to New Mexico.

These militias roam the border in the Rio Grande Valley, and citizens in Kingsville and Mission are wary of that fact.

Heir to the King Ranch Stephen J. “Tio” Kleberg believes that militias could cause a threat of their own. Kleberg said he will allow federal and state law onto his property, but he won’t let private militia beyond the gates.

“I don’t think [private militias] have a governing body,” Kleberg said.

“They are independent and not authorized by anybody. It could lead to individuals taking action without someone in authority supervising. I think that could be dangerous.”

Joe Metz who lives in Mission also refuses to let these militias on his property.

“The Militia just needs to stay where they are. We don’t need fanatical people. We don’t need anybody here with guns. Why do they have guns? I have dealt with illegals for 30 years, and all of them have been scared asking for help,” Metz said.

“The militias need to stay up north where they belong. We have no use for them here. They might shoot someone or hurt someone.”

What these militias need to realize is that their presence is doing the exact opposite of what they claim to intend.

The people who live here do not feel safer with them around, they are anxious. A bunch of unregulated strangers walking around their property with guns should frighten anyone in their right mind.

The issue here is not free speech, gun regulation or even illegal immigration. It’s people who think that this country is theirs, that they are its rightful owners. They want “their” country back. There’s only one problem with that.

THIS COUNTRY ISN’T YOURS. YOU DON’T OWN IT. It isn’t anybody’s rightful property. There is no “REAL” America, and that is what makes this country beautiful. It’s a place where anyone should be able to be themselves without fear of persecution. It’s a place where even orphaned immigrants can make a difference.

Take your nationalism, bigotry and hate, and shove it where the sun don’t shine, because we the people will not stand for it.

In New York Harbor, there lies a monument to what we stand for.

“Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”

If we don’t stand for that anymore, then what the hell do we stand for?

Growing up in the technological age

Photographer Amanda DeFrees

thesouthtexan@tamuk.edu

Photo Courtesy of https://www.telesurenglish.net

FBI arrest leader of militia, Larry Mitchel Hopkins.

BRENDA RIOJAS Reporter Do you remember being a kid going outside when it rained to play with your neighbors? I remember, and those were the best times. I also remember jumping on my trampoline with all the neighborhood kids, even running around to play hide and seek until the late night.

Now, children have the option to stay inside and spend their time on technology. Is this really even good for children?

This means that they could lack communication skills with other children, and even develop negative effects like strained eyes and headaches.

Children can now use cell phones to simply text their friend just down the street.

I can vividly remember calling my friends from our house phone, and hoping my mom didn’t need to use the phone, so I could talk to my friends longer. We used to discuss what time we were all going to meet at the playground, and not what time we were going to all play Fortnite.

Children can now FaceTime and Skype their friends who are just around the corner.

I also can remember using the house phone, especially the speed dial feature to call all of my friends to ask what time their parents got out of work, so they could come over and play at my house.

Looking back, it was so much more enjoyable to see my friends show up at my front door instead of seeing them behind a screen.

Although technology is great, and extremely useful in the world today, it also prevents children from

Photo Courtesy of http://time.com

Young adults browsing through apps and games on phones.

growing up in a social environment.

Although it was difficult to remember all of my friends’ phone numbers and not be able to communicate with them throughout the day by texting, it was so much more enjoyable to run around each other’s backyards and show off our collection of CDs to put in the radio.

I’m very glad to have grown up in the early 2000s and see how it’s evolved over time. How will growing up in generations from now even differ from today’s generation?

Thursday, April 25, 2019

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Page 5 - Opinion

Change the mental health conversation The use of words dissuades people from seeking help

Kelby Sprinkles Reporter Crazy. Unstable. Irrational. Helpless. Our society often uses these along with many other adjectives to describe an individual who struggles with mental illness.

Not only do I find these words personally triggering, but also believe they are weapons used to perpetuate the negative stigma surrounding mental health.

Throughout my life, I have battled with what I recognized as severe

depression and anxiety. However, I did not receive an official diagnoses or treatment until about three-and-a-half years ago when I started college.

From an early age, I became part of the mental health discussion. Both my mother’s and father’s sides of the family are plagued by mental health related conditions.

Whether it be Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Anorexia or various anxiety centered disorders, I grew up knowing a family member suffering from it. I grew up hearing graphic stories about what these illnesses had caused them to do or say.

One would think that this degree of visibility of mental health would have encouraged a positive discussion on the topic in our family, but it did not.

Instead, I grew up in fear that I would suffer like the rest of my family. That fear was not so far reaching thanks to the reality of genetics. Even as a child, I believed that these were dark family secrets that should remain in the dark and not be shown to the

rest of the world. I began to associate mental health struggles with shame, because that is how it was discussed by my family. Each of them knew they needed help, but they were too embarrassed to seek. If they sought it, they would be admitting a weakness, and vulnerability is not necessarily an asset my family maintains.

Despite struggling my entire life with the same mental illnesses that surrounded me, I did not feel comfortable seeking help until I was much older.

Moving away, being separated from my family and beginning college allowed me to realize that maybe it was okay to ask for some help. It wasn’t until I was away from my support system and out of my comfort zone that I realized that I can’t do this on my own. I needed help.

I began having a positive conversation about mental health with myself. Eventually, I felt compelled to bring these issues to my parents in an effort to change the historical perceptions of mental illness in our family. It was time to talk about these issues in a

constructive way.

Recently, I realized I was not alone in fearing mental illness as a child. One of my siblings has also been struggling with varying mental disorders, and never felt they could be open about it.

They felt that the rest of the family would view them as having weaknesses, or that they were not able to be independent any longer.

They too were impacted by the negative viewpoint that my family had always had on mental health. This took me by surprise. I thought I was the only one effected by the shroud of secrecy that had loomed over us our entire lives.

These negative words, even when spoken by loved ones, have a major impact. They make the sufferer feel invalid and incorrect. They greatly dissuade people who need help from seeking help. Perhaps the easiest thing we can do to avoid further damaging the mental health discussion is to simply change our diction.

Man on the Street This Week’s Question: What did you do for Easter?

Name: Diego Alonso Major: Business Information “On Easter I was with my family. We got everyone together, and we had a barbeque. We had an Easter egg hunt for both kids and adults. The adult one had money instead of candy. There was a Piñata as well. I don’t go home very often, so it was nice that we were able to.”

Compiled by: Josue Villarreal

Name: Kendrah DeLeon Major: Animal Science “My Easter was great. I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to go home. I hadn’t been home since my research project started, but since it was a holy holiday, I was glad to be able to go. We rented a water slide for kids, and just had a big celebration in my house.”

Name: Gene Conklin Major: Agricultural Science “Easter was a lot of fun. I got to spend time with family. We got to barbeque like we do every year. My father’s a pastor, so we also indulge ourselves in the more religious aspects of Easter as well.”

Name: Mykaela Gorom Major: Education “I flew back home where I got to see the new house that my family bought.

There was also a new grill, so we made all kinds of food like steaks and beef ribs. When not grilling, we were having spaghetti for dinner inside, or going to church.”

Page 6 - Sports

thesouthtexan.com

Thursday, April 25, 2019

No. 31 Javelinas stomp out No. 35 Rattlers

TAMUK tennis team continues winning ways DYLAN DOZIER Sports Reporter The No. 31 Texas A&M Kingsville tennis team defeated the No. 35 St. Mary’s on Wednesday in Kingsville.

“It was a program first [beating St. Mary’s], so the win shows our improvement and capability for this year,” said junior Valerie Ruiz, who was named IBC Bank Player of the Week last week for going 3-0 against Lone Star Conference opponents Cameron and Midwestern State.

Wednesday’s victory was preceded by a loss to Midwestern State, who at the time, was ranked No. 35.

“We had to bounce back from a loss to Midwestern. We saw an opportunity to do just that against St. Mary’s.

The ladies knew that although we played hard against MSU, there was work that could be done, and we needed a confidence booster,” coach Autumn Williams said. “It was a tough match, but we showed a lot of resilience. Many of the ladies pushed themselves mentally to overcome tough opponents.”

Senior Lisa Caravajal and freshman Maya Donkor kicked Wednesday’s match off strong for the Javelinas with a 6-1 victory over Alex Corder and Hannah Petersen.

The doubles point was secured for the Javelina ladies by Ruiz and freshman Loren Tristan with their 6-2 win

over Ashley Penshorn and Rani Goodland.

“With the new rule changes, doubles has become truly a team sport.

The further we go in to the season, the more we gel, the better doubles we play.

“As a coach, it has been fun watching that transformation in our doubles teams,” Williams said.

The six singles-points were split, 3 and 3, between the Javelinas and Rattlers.

Julia Rauer began the singles winning for TAMUK with a 6-1, 6-2 victory over Alice Thane.

After losing the first set 6-4, Caravajal won two straight sets to secure a three-set victory over Petersen.

And once again, junior Victoria Romanovskaia put her skills on display, securing the fourth point and a team victory with a 7-6,7-5 victory over Isabelle Bergman.

“In singles, our girls are tough. They show grit and compete hard. That’s all I can ask for,” Williams said.

The Javelinas have the week off before heading to Waco for the Lone Star Conference tournament on May 2 to 4.

Since three of the participating universities are ranked in the ITA’s top50, LSC tournament play will feature high-powered, quality competition.

“I’m excited about the wins we’ve had so far as a team,” Ruiz said. “I think we have great potential going into the conference tournament, and we’re all ready to fight our hardest.”

Photos by Javelina Athletics

Junior Victoria Romanovskaia.

Photos by Javelina Athletics

Junior Julia Rauer.

Javelinas play their final tournament of the season

TAMUK finishes runner-up for the national title COLBY SIMS Sports Editor The Javelina beach volleyball team traveled to Tavares, Fla., to compete in the AVCA small college National tournament this past weekend. They returned to Tavares as the number one seed to defend the title from last year.

The girls won their first six games of the tournament but lost their final match in the National Championship with a final score of 4-1.

Senior Haley Hutchinson talked about their tournament run.

“We all had really good attitudes all weekend and played hard and showed a lot of fight in the last match.

Coming up short is hard but we’re all still proud of what we accomplished this season,” she said.

Day one, the Javelinas had three

matches scheduled but were forced to only play two because of weather conditions. They faced Stevenson and Eckerd and made short work of their opponents, winning both matches in a sweep, 5-0.

Day two, the Javelinas finished up pool play early in the morning against Saint Leo. They won that match by a score of 4-1 and finished pool play with a perfect record.

They then turned around to start challenge pool play. They faced Tusculum and came up with another clean sweep, 5-0. Madison Brabham and Kylexus Block put the Javelinas on the board first with a two-set win, with scores of 21-15 and 21-10. Walker and Housler also made short work of their opponents by scores of 21-15 and 21-15. The other teams followed suit with a big sweep in the first game of the challenge pool.

Later in the afternoon the Javelinas faced Florida Southern and won this match 4-1. The second, third and fourth flights won their matches and kept their tournament record flawless to push the Javelinas past Florida Southern. Macy Berg and Hutchinson got on the board first for the Javelinas by scores of 21-14 and 21-14. This win put the team to 2-0 in the challenge pool, earning a spot in the gold bracket and a chance to repeat for the National title.

On the final day of the tournament the Javelinas matched up against Colorado Mesa in the semifinals. The semifinals ended up being a nail biter as the Javelinas won the match with an overall score of 3-2. The three wins came courtesy of the top three duos for the Javelinas with a big win coming from the two spot where Brabham and Block won 21-8 and 21-9. The

three spot of Hutchinson and Berg also crushed the competition with scores of 21-12 and 21-11. The duo of Tenley Housler and Whitney Walker dominated as well, also winning in two sets with scores of 21-12 and 2114, which clinched a semifinal win.

The Javelinas faced Tampa in the final match of the season for the National title. The Tampa Spartans started the game off well capturing wins in the first set from the ones, threes, fours and fives flights. This hole proved to be too deep to dig out and the Javelinas lost 0-3 in the final.

After the conclusion of the tournament Brabham said, “We had a great run this season, and we are proud of our fight in the championship.”

The Javelinas had a successful year finishing the season with an overall record of 19-13, beating multiple Division 1 teams throughout the season.

Photos by Javelina Athletics

Nicole Murff and Christina Gragasin.

Page 7 - Entertainment

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Thursday, April 25, 2019

Netflix Review: Homecoming Documentary showcases Beyonce’s journey to Coachella BRENDA RIOJAS Reporter Last Wednesday, Beyoncé released her documentary, Homecoming, which captures two weekends that she headlined at an annual festival, Coachella.

Beyoncé was the first Black woman to headline the festival. Coachella is attended by a predominantly white audience, but her headlining performance journeyed a Historically Black College or University (HBCU) homecoming performance.

In her film, Beyoncé says, “I always dreamed of going to a HBCU.” The title of the film is also a tribute in itself, homecoming, which is a huge tradition at HBCUs. Beyoncé said, “My college was Destiny’s Child. My college was traveling around the world, and life was

my teacher.” Beyoncé’s father was an HBCU graduate and it was ultimately her dream to follow in his footsteps.

The Coachella performance was an eight-month process that ultimately gave her the experience of attending an HBCU. She handpicked each dancer, singer, musician and crew helper.

They all came together for an entire two-hour performance for two weekends in a row. From the marching band to the steppers and dancers, it gave the live audience and Netflix viewer the homecoming experience.

Seeing the flawless performance from every angle would still make you think she didn’t face a single hardship in the process, but she did.

It was her first time returning back to the stage after giving birth to her twins, Rumi and Sir Carter. In order to get her body ready, she followed a strict diet that did not include bread, carbs, sug-

Photo courtesy of Parkwood Entertainment

ar, dairy, meat, fish or alcohol.

Beyoncé took her diet just as seriously as the theme of her performance. It was important to Beyoncé to target the major theme of HBCUs homecomings to the entire world.

Seeing Beyoncé return to the stage was a homecoming in itself. The pregnancy of her twins was extremely tough, as she weighed more than 200 pounds. Recovering her body for such a demanding performance was going to be tough, but following the regimen of her diet made her ready for her homecoming back to the stage.

All in all, in my opinion, I was excited and absolutely honored to see her pay tribute to HBCUs. She didn’t just influence but she also transformed the level of culture and diversity in her Coachella performance. I cannot wait to watch her rumored three-part deal with Netflix coming soon.

SCORE RATINGS

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Photo courtesy of Larry Busacca/ Getty Images

Thursday, April 25, 2019

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Page 8 - Entertainment

TV Review: The Promised Neverland

An interesting horror anime to watch at night

JENNIFER GARCIA Reporter

Anyone looking for a thrilling new anime to watch? If you haven’t yet heard, I would suggest watching The Promised Neverland.

The Promised Neverland is a rising anime that came out in America just a few months ago. The anime has also been confirmed to have a second season in the works for the year 2020.

The anime, however, is just an adaption of the manga version that came out a good few years before and is completed.

The Promised Neverland plot is about an orphanage of 38 young children ranging from babies to age 12 as the oldest.

They all live together in peaceful harmony with the head of the house whom they call “mom.”

Little do they know that the so-called orphanage is actually a farm meant to produce humans so that they can be eaten by demons.

The three main characters Emma, Norman and Ray become aware of their fate and begin making plans to escape their gory demise along with the other children as per Emma’s request.

Each character has their own unique strengths and weaknesses making for an interesting story to see how each person reacts to different situations.

The most amazing part of the show, though, is the many twists and turns that are present within it that keep you begging for more.

Emma is the most kind-hearted and charismatic character of the small group. She is also the most athletic.

Norman, on the other hand, is known to be less physically fit, but makes up for it greatly with his superior smarts.

Lastly, there’s Ray, an intellect and the only orphan who can match Norman’s intelligence.

Though he acts distant and aloof, he truly does care for Emma, Norman and the other children.

The anime is adventurous, thrilling and overall pretty amazing to see them through their struggle to outwit the adults and get out before any more of their friends are taken.

SCORE RATINGS

100% of 100%

7.5 out of 10

Photo courtesy of Opus

Thursday, April 25, 2019

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Page 9 - News

Alumni bestow advice to current students ARYSSA ENRIQUEZ Campus Editor Hands shook, smiles were met and scholarships were awarded during the Second Annual Javelina Alumni Meet and Greet event hosted by the Language and Literature department on April 17.

The event welcomed intellect and creativity as students were able to showcase some of their work in creative reading and writing and hear the work and experiences of others in the arts.

A total of eight alumni shared their experience at TAMUK and talked about the relevance in being able to articulate and express themselves through language and the written word.

The alumni group invited were all diversified, having majored in English, French and Spanish. They all spoke about the importance of language and how their experience at TAMUK impacted their life professionally.

“I learned not only how to do things like close-reading and writing and being an academic, but I learned how to find passion for art outside of just what English is…and that was not just in the arts but in the community

that it gave me. Thank you for giving us a place to become a community ‘cause that’s what this department did for me,” said Katherine Orozco, TAMUK alumnus.

Alumni expressed how knowing more than one language, or simply exploring one language in depth, can be extremely rewarding.

The Language and Literature Department encouraged students to discover art and the expressiveness found within different languages.

During the event Ty Dietz, a local Corpus Christi songwriter and performer, was a featured. Premature Punchline, a group of students on campus, also made an appearance by performing improv comedy.

Both groups showcased artistry and allowed for the power of words to be presented in a distinct manner.

“Sometimes things you can’t communicate well, you can say it better in another language…knowing multiple languages is a valuable asset to have.

It is important to encourage students about expressiveness, liberal education and the value of study,” said Cindy Schwing, TAMUK alumni.

The creativity, academic excellence and the motivation to pursue a degree in the field of language and literature was acknowledged by the Language and Literature Department

Blazing Sun Film Festival Coming Soon TAMUK Film Society Presents its first local short-film festival JOSUE VILLARREAL Reporter Coming to the Rio 7-Kingsville on Oct. 9 and 10 is the Blazing Suns Independent Short Film Festival.

The event is presented by Texas A&M University-Kingsville’s Film Society, in association with the College of Arts and Sciences, The Art, Communication and Theater Department and the Radio, Television and Film Program.

The mission, as stated on the official website of the festival, “is to discover and celebrate independent films, and, in doing so, promote excellence and innovation in film storytelling.”

Accepting any and all types of films of any genre, as well as documentaries about any topic, the deadline for submissions is June 15 with a $25 entrance fee for students and $35 for independents.

The latest you can submit the film is the extended deadline of Aug. 5 with a $45 entry fee for students and $55 for independents.

Filmmakers, not just in Kingsville, but around the world are submitting films and making efforts to participate in this first-time event.

“We have one entry from New Zealand, one from Canada, one from Iran, from New York, and we haven’t

even promoted it yet,” said Festival Director Armando Ibanez.

There is nothing but excitement from the organizing committee, which includes Film Society President Laurie Guajardo and TAMUK Film Society Treasurer Jesse Ochoa.

“The organizing committee is thrilled to be part of TAMUK History.

Hopefully this event will start a new yearly tradition for the Javelina Nation,” Ochoa said.

Films can range between three and 20 minutes, and judges will be selecting films to win a variety of awards such as an Award of Excellence, an Award of Merit, and the highest honor, The Poetic Pearl Award.

While awards will be given, the festival director and the website make it clear this event is not a competition.

“They’re not competing with one another, if we had 100 films and they all had an excellent poetic moment, they would all get the Pearl Award, but it’s also possible none of them will get it,” Ibanez said.

Still accepting films via submission at FilmFreeway.com, the organizing committee hopes to open people’s minds, and bring people together through the power of film.

“Film is a beautiful way to connect with others and create dimensions of your own. Make connections, take risks, and learn to unlearn,” Ochoa said.

The director claims the next step of action is to begin truly promoting the event, making sure that people know that there is a film scene in Kingsville and that anyone can create something if they want.

“Most importantly, I hope people fully embrace that filmmaking is ours, and is a powerful means of storytelling,” Ibanez said. “I hope the students step up; we have the talent, all that’s left is to provide the venue.”

Submitted Photo

Alumnus, Cindy Schwing gives an inspirational speech to current students in the Department of Language and Literature. and Javelina alumnus.

Rafael Coutin, an alumni, was able to award five students with the Lourdes F. Coutin Scholarship in honor of his mother. Several other scholarships such as the David and Sue Sabrio English Scholarship and Francis Alexander Scholarship were awarded, all recognizing the talent and passion of the 11 scholarship recipients.

“Looking at the next generation of language and literature students…

The written word is so important, because no matter what you do as a job if you are sending a memo or you are sending an email, whoever is reading that, your words, they are going to decide how serious to take you… I think the written word is in danger of extinction with all the technology that we have, and all of us who are students of language and literature, we are conservationists of a medium,” said Nathan Fugate, TAMUK alumnus.

Riley continued from Page 1

Photo courtesy of checksta.com

Dr. Terisa Riley taking a picture during a visit to the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith. leader.”

The search committee was chaired

by Dr. Margaret Tanner, associate provost at UAFS, and included representatives from the UAFS faculty, staff and alumni, as well as business and community leaders from the Fort Smith area, and representatives from the UA System and the Board of Trustees of the University of Arkansas.

“I’m very grateful to all the members of our committee for their participation and dedication to this process,” Dr. Tanner said. “The strength of our pool of finalists demonstrated the quality institution we have at UAFS, and I am excited for Dr. Riley to lead us to even more growth and development in the years ahead.”

Former UAFS Chancellor Paul Beran, Ph.D., announced he was leaving UAFS Aug. 31 after leading the campus for more than 12 years to become the executive director and CEO of the South Dakota Higher Education Board of Regents. Bobbitt named Edward Serna, Ed.D., then chief of staff and vice chancellor for strategic initiatives at UAFS, as interim chancellor as a national search for Beran’s replacement got underway.

“Dr. Serna is well-respected on campus and in the UAFS community, and I’d like to thank him for leading the campus during this time of transi-

tion,” Bobbitt said.

“He did an exceptional job keeping things moving forward, and I know Dr. Riley’s transition into her new role will benefit from the great job Dr. Serna did as interim chancellor.”

The recommendation is subject to approval by the Board of Trustees of the University of Arkansas at a future meeting. Trustees participated in interviews with all four finalists in late March-early April.

“This feels bittersweet. I have been in Kingsville for 12 years and raised my children here. I have amazing colleagues both on and off campus, and I hate to leave everyone here. On the other hand, I feel like we are on a great path at the University and I accomplished the goals I set for myself here, so I am excited to have the opportunity to take what I have learned and apply it elsewhere.

“My twelve years as a Javelina have been the best years of my life.

Each person—faculty, staff, students, community members, and TAMU System employees—has made my journey an amazing one where I have been able to learn so much and surround myself with remarkable people.

I will miss each person, but I still plan to stalk them on Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, and Facebook,” Riley said.

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Thursday, April 25, 2019

Texas A&M University-Kingsville University Housing & Residence Life

Current Residents Amenities:

Barbecue and Picnic area Exterior card access system Game tables Ice machines & Vending Machines Intramural teams Lounges with living rooms and TVs Planned residence hall activities Professional staff members Resident/Community Advisor staff Smoke-free building Student leadership opportunities

Don’t Forget to Sign your Housing Agreement with us to lock in your rate freeze for the 2019-2020 academic year.

The priority sign up period begins March 21st. Don’t forget to attend your Wing Meeting.

TURNER/BISHOP/MARTIN HALL $2,096 PER SEMESTER LYNCH HALL $2,311 PER SEMESTER LUCIO HALL & MESQUITE VILLAGE WEST $3,394 or $3,604 PER SEMESTER

Email: residencelife@tamuk.edu Phone: 361-593-3419

Lucio Hall, Office 119, Kingsville, TX 78363-8202