The South Texan Vol. 96 Issue 12 by The South Texan

TheSouthTexan!"#$ Texas A &M University-Kingsville Award-Winning Student Publication Monday, April 4, 2022

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@thesouthtexan

Vol. 96, Issue 12

The boulevard TAMUK Spring Fling since 2019 ,-'*.%/*'0*1 |!"#$%&'!(#)&'*#'

The smell of popcorn, turkey legs and fried Oreos was in the air once again this spring. The Annual Spring Fling is back. Texas A&M University- Kingsville (TAMUK)

hosted its first Spring Fling since 2019. More than 65 student organizations came out with the hopes to showcase themselves and fundraise for their organization selling a wide variety of items. Spring Fling was hosted Activities (OSA) Wednesday, March 30, on University Boulevard. “Spring Fling and Fall Carnival are two of our [largest] events on campus and they bring that sense of community that

Javelina Nation has and it also invites the Kingsville community to come out and experience and re-experience some of the things that we’ve done in the past so it just brings that sense of community and you know, that live music, the food, the games, activities, the drinks and everything that we host,” OSA Campus Activities Coordinator Julianne Gomez said. Spring Fling is hosted with the hopes to allow student organizations to

promote, educate and inform fellow students and the public about their organizations. The students also use this time as a fundraiser as they sell a variety of items such as food, drinks, crafts and games. “We plan on using it to help ourselves in the studio, bringing in artists and trombone players from other places, going on trips or competitions, all of these are plans that can help out the students !""#./01'$%&'%%(

Staff Photo

The South Texan staff back row, from left, Erik Estrada, Nicole Perez Morris, Aryssa Enriquez and Dylan Sanchez and front row, from left, Rae Martinez, Makaylah Chavez and Ronni Reyna, with their awards after the Awards Brunch

The South Texan brings home 22 awards Studentjournalists attend state convention !"#$%&'()*"+ |!

The South Texan (TST)

Ronni Reyna

Students from the Print Making Club prep ink for t-shirt printing.

Texas Intercollegiate Press Association (TIPA) convention with 22 awards. The convention was held from March 24 to 26 in Fort Worth, Texas. This was the

Ronni Reyna

Corrina Hernandez and her dog Cane enjoing time on the Boulevard.

person since 2019. tal of 22 awards, including

Rae Martinez Students Activities watches over the Spring Fling event.

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.

Javelina Preview Day Javelina Preview Day at Texas AM University-Kingsville (TAMUK) allowed potential students to experience being a Javelina and see what TAMUK has to

Calista Reyes reads fortunes for Alpha Psi Omega.

Rae Martinez

at this year’s convention, competing in both a live and pre-published contest. “In the pre-published category, we compete against schools of similar size (though our program is relatively small) while the live events place all schools together. Winning a live contest means our students beat contestants from Division I schools. I would place my students against any other school’s students any day,” Student Media Adviser for

TST, KTAI and the Javelina Broadcast Network Nicole Morris said. Five students participated in this year’s live event contests and brought home four awards. The remaining 18 awards were won in the pre-published contests. “To win just one statewide award is an accomplishment, but to win 22 is overwhelming and awesome,” Morris said Digital Editor for TST in the Live News Video contest. lot to me,” he said. “I’ve never really felt as if I excelled at anything and felt as if I was losing my grip of things when it came to and beating some of the biggest schools in Texas really made me feel like I was doing something right and that I could be successful if I just kept working towards my goals.” This is Estrada’s second the TIPA convention. “It was also nice to prove that you don’t need !""#!)*+,-$%&'%%(

Campus clubs assist with animal overpopulation Help community program ARK ,-'*.%/*'0*1 |!"#$%&'!(#)&'*#'

Overpopulation of animals in Kingsville and Kleberg County is an issue one local organization and two university clubs are trying to remedy. “There are a few reasons that overpopulation is such a big issue in our area,” Animal Rescue Kleberg (ARK) Board President Joy Aynsley said. “For one, our climate allows year-round breeding and survival. Other areas have harsh winters where any pets on the streets don’t survive. Another reason is lack of resources and education for getting

pets sterilized and proper care. Our community needs to recognize that the problem belongs to all of us and needs all of us to solve it. We can all start by ensuring any pets in our care are sterilized and then start helping our neighbors.” On campus, many students are involved in helping solve this issue including Texas A&M University Kingsville’s Veterinary Technology Program (VTP), which also founded the Vet Tech Club (VTC). The club’s mission started in 2017 with the goal to educate and support students who want to pursue a career as a Veterinary Technologist to help educate students and public on basic animal care. “The VTP helps control overpopulation by performing spay and neuter on a certain number of shelter dogs during the semester. This keeps

dogs from breeding which keeps the population down,” junior Animal Science major with a concentration in Veterinary Technology and VTC member Caitlin Rose said. Another program at TAMUK that aids in fostering and adoption is the Pre-Vet Club. The club was founded in 2014 with the mission to come together to prepare for each student’s pathway to vet school and to form a social structure for individual career success. The PVC participates in helping get the dogs ready for adoption by bathing them. The club does many outreach events to help the community. “To help in lowering the overpopulation of animals in the animal shelter, the Pre-Vet program has a PVC that is all about giving back to the community. The club is always partnering with the ARK

Courtesy City of Kingsville Health Department Animal Control & Care Center King is one of the many dogs who has been in the shelter for 20-60 days with zero interest. Contact the shelter at 361-592-3324 if you are interested in meeting him.

in various ways. The club and students are always willing to lend a helping hand wherever they can. The club puts on various events such as donation drives or adoption events

at Petsense,” senior PreVet major and PVC member Andrea Garcia said. ARK offers low cost spay and neuter clinics !""#!"#$%&'%%(

Campus

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Treat every woman like a queen 10th annual Student Health and Wellness women’s retreat !"#"$%&'()"|!"#$%&'!()*+,!"#$%&'()*+,-.+/(&,%+/+(0"1'!,#

To wrap up International Women’s Month at Texas A&M University-Kingsville, the Student Health and Wellness (SHW) department hosted its 10th annual Women’s Retreat on March 28 in the Memorial Student Union Ballrooms. This annual retreat started in 2010 after SHW received an HIV grant, which required the department to host a women’s retreat that would have educational sessions to educate students on sexual health, responsibility and other health topics deemed necessary. The SHW department was also able to include activities they thought students would

enjoy, which included massages, nail care, beauty care and other activities. However, because of the pandemic, SHW had to halt its annual retreat. So, this year, the department celebrated its 10year anniversary of hosting a Women’s Retreat, which was in 2020. “[We host the retreat] to educate the students on topics that would help them not only learn something new on health and wellness, but also topics that would help them grow, connect with others and give them resources,” Director of SHW Jo-Elda Castillo Alaniz said. This year’s retreat started with a power lounge, which had food and refreshments for students, educational booths with representatives from student services on campus, Coastal Bend Wellness and Women’s and Men’s Health-which provided students information on health-DIY projects and

licensed massage therapists. Students were also able to attend optional sessions during which speakers presented information on topics ranging from “Knowing your Worth,” “Eating on a Budget” and “Situational Awareness.” While speakers were present during the retreat, there was a panel eas of the university who answered questions. The theme of the questions the panel responded to were “A Women’s Journey to Leadership.” “I think what was great about our panel was that we were a diverse group backgrounds of life that could connect with different students,” Assistant Director of Student Engagement and Campus Life Jessica Montenegro said. “At the same time, the core of what helped drive our success was that we all have a strong foundation of what was

Women on panel speaking to students who attended the event.

important to our values and that guides leadership, and I believe the women at the retreat heard that and resonated with it.” By hosting events such as the Women’s Retreat, it gives a better understanding of barriers women must overcome, whether it be in leadership, mental health, careers or just life.

“Not only are we giving information to help students with their careers, but we’re also giving information that pertains to women,” Women’s Retreat Student Coordinator Gina Merzbacher said. “[The retreat] is just ways to help women in their lives and know how to get through their hardships.”

Annalisa Perales

For students who were not able to attend this year’s retreat, no need to worry. The SHW department hosts this event evport and guidance for students year-round. If you would like to get in contact with the department, call (361) 593-2383, cated at 1210 N. Retama St.

54th annual jazz fest, Dr.Hagaeman’s last The end of an era is left with a clef hanger *"++"),#"%-./'0 |!.%*/*,/!()*+,,$*1*,1'()*+,-.+/(&,%+/+(0"1'!,#

Texas A&M University-Kingsville’s (TAMUK) School of Music tival since the start of the pandemic. This year, the 54th Annual Jazz Festival featured competitions, an educational clinic and a live jazz concert featuring Grammy-award winner Bob Reynolds and TAMUK’s jazz band. The event took place March 25 and 26 in Jones Auditorium. The clinic was an opportunity for Reynolds to speak with students and up and coming improvisors who are in high school jazz bands. He explained how important it is to pass on things he learned from his mentors to these students who are at an impressionable age. “If I have the opportunity to come to an event like this and speak to a bunch of young people, sharing the various things that I have learned and synthesized along the way, I just feel like I need to do that,”

Multimedia

TAMUK jazz band performing.

Reynolds said. “It’s just paying that forward.” Students from across Texas also participated in the festival’s competition. Benjamin Jaso, a Harlingen High School senior, won the “Most Outstanding Jazz Musician” award and his overall contest. “COVID-19 was a struggle that has impacted all of us as a whole but with taking be safe, we didn’t stop working,” Jaso said. Like many students, Jaso saw the Jazz Festival as a culmination of friendly competition and educational opportunity. “One thing I learned

from the Kingsville Jazz Fest is how inspiring it is to listen to many groups from across Texas, how amazing jazz and how much passion myself and many others are bringing to the bandstand while performing,” Jaso said. Through the Jazz Festival, TAMUK School of Music wished for all students to have the opportunity to experience live jazz music because of its modern scarcity. “Improvisation is the heart of jazz music, so the fact that they get to hear other students and professionals like Bob Reynolds improvise and perform, they learn, they grow and they imitate

Cassandra Gomez

Bob Reynolds playing the saxophone while Dr. Hageman directs.

Cassandra Gomez

as they develop as jazz musicians,” Director of School of Music Dr. Paul Hageman said. Although this is the beginning of renewing an age-old tradition, it is the end of an era for Dr. Hageman, as this was

his last time being the Jazz Festival host before his retirement. “I was just trying to enjoy the evening because I have done this so many times and as the director of the festival, there are so many

hundreds of details,” he said. “So, the whole time, I was just enjoying it thinking, ‘This is wonderful. I love this music and I love these students.’ It was really a special feeling from that standpoint.”

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TEXAS A&M-KINGSVILLE™ CENTER OF STUDENT SUCCESS

FEST APRIL 11 11 AM - 2 PM PAVILION Meet with Academic Advisors, members of the Business Of , Representatives from Admissions and Financial Aid. We can assist you in your Summer & Fall 2022 class enrollment! Any student who has enrolled in classes for Summer & Fall 2022 can show us their schedule to receive a fr to show up, with proof that they are registered for Summer & Fall 2022 will receive a voucher for a free Bray’s Smokehouse meal at the rally.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT VERONICA SALAS: 361-593-4931 | VERONICA.SALAS@TAMUK.EDU

SPORTS

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Coach Gonzales gets his 400th Win Javelinas push hard for the postseason !"#$%&'($)*#+,|Sports Reporter

Last week, the Javelina Baseball Head Coach Jason Gonzales got his 400th win. “It’s a very special and proud moment because I am able to share it with a lot of people,” Gonzales said. “The bottom line is it comes down to all the players who have played for me and all the en me and have given to this program over the past 13 and a half years. from all the hard work

and preparation that has gotten us here. The good Lord has blessed me with the opportunity to be here and because of this it brings recognition to our program, and I would be foolish to take all the credit.” Coach Gonzales also said a lot of the credit he received for reaching this milestone should go to his coaching assistants and other members the men on the Javelina baseball team, who admire him. “He’s a great coach and a great man. Without him we wouldn’t be where we are now, and I’m sure I speak for the team when I say we’re lucky to have him here

with us not only to better ourselves as players but as men,” Javelina Pitcher Coach Gonzales, who has been a part of the baseball program since 2008, has brought many successes with him. Between 2010 and 2021, he the baseball team to 11 LSC championship appearances, one LSC tournament championship, and one NCAA South Central Regional Championship, according to Javelina Athletics. Along with helping the baseball team become better players of the game of baseball, he also looks to help them become the best men they can possibly be and

Javelina Athletics

Javelinas celebrate the 400th win for Head Coach Jason Gonzales.

eventually good fathers and role models as time goes on, he said. In their current season

HARPER WINS AGAIN Men’s Indoor Field Athlete of the Year Harper crowned NCAA Champion

The Phoenix Suns have the best shot at the NBA title this season. The team is on course to cord in the NBA and currently sits at 62-14.

John Harper is the National Men’s Field Athlete of the Year following his dominance in the heptathlon throughout the 2021-22 season. Harper recently was crowned the NCAA Division II Indoor Track and Field Heptathlon Champion following a 5,751-point performance that marked the third best performance in tory. Along with being named the Male Athlete of the Year, Harper has integrated himself as the most decorated athlete in TAMUK track and

2018 NCAA title. Taking home this award makes him just the second Javelina in program history to ever receive the honor since Jeron Robinson in 2016. This season, Harper started the year with a performance at the Boo Rogers Invitational in December and then a 5,282-point performance at the Washburn open in January. Harper consistently tathlon throughout the whole season and put up impressive individual numbers as the specialist on the team.

Phoenix Suns to finish with the best record in the NBA

Column

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western conference is comprised of a healthy dose of young talent led by the veteran presence of others. Chris Paul is on his appearance and looks to make his second conwith Devin Booker and company. This roster is similar compared to the previ-

Javelina Athletics

John Harper, The Male Athlete of the Year.

door season, the NCAA Division II saw Harper ty-meter hurdles and the pole vault in the heptathlon. Added to his array of nal meet of the indoor season, he was included on the NCAA qualifying 4x400 meter relay team along with runners Sterling Riles, Michael Samihamba and Joseph Swierc. Harper has been a major contributor to the success of Javelina Track and Field and Head Coach Ryan Dall has had the pleasure of being his coach all these years. Riles, being a younger competitor for TAMUK has run alongside Harper for the past year and has made use of the experience and leadership of the veteran champion, “John is a very inspiring person to be around he trains extremely hard and sets the tone for our track meet,” Riles said. “With him winning the heptathlon before we ran motivated the rest of

Leo Garcia

John Harper breaks a school record

us on the 4x4 to try and win our heat and possi-

campus, it will not be without a proper send-

trophy home.” With this being his last year of eligibility for the Javelinas, this is without a doubt the last season of competition for the long productive college career of John Harper. Although the engineer must prepare for his exit as one of the most individually successful Javelinas to walk this

This year during the outdoor season, the LSC (Lone Star Conference) championships run through Kingsville in 2022 and winning the step for Harper and the Hogs to capture the second NCAA Division II title for Texas A&M University Kingsville in the past four years.

and with four opponents left in the season they note.

Best shot at the Larry O’Brien Championship

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“I was surprised, there were several great athletes that were also nominated for this award,” said John Harper. “It’s been an honor to represent TAMUK on a higher platform and I’m blessed to receive this award.” The Lorana, Texas, native came to Texas A&M Kingsville in 2016 and since then has earned six All-American awards, eight all-conference honors, three Lone Star Conference Championships, a regional athlete of the year award, and assisted the men’s outdoor track

Gonzales has the Javelinas sitting at a 19-11 record for the year now as of this publication date

Suns. Paul, despite going down with a wrist injury after the all-star break, has managed the backcourt with Booker, and wing player Mikal Bridges has been essential with his 15-points-agame season. What will prove to be an advantage to the Suns though is the usage of the 23-year-old center Deandre Ayton who is averaging a quiet but extremely productive double-double in the stat sheet. Looking at the plays and the possibilities of who will come out of the play-in, the Suns will be faced with either the Lakers who are hoping to have Lebron James, Anthony Davis and Russell Westbrook on the get past the New Orleans Pelicans in the ninth seed. The possibilities also hold facing Karl Anthony Towns and the Timberwolves or the Paul George-led Clippers who just recently led a 25-point comeback against the Utah Jazz. Either of these teams can the Suns but success of the team will be based on the usage of their

young 6’11” center, and the length provided also by JaVale McGee in the post. The Suns have more than enough size to dominate the inside of all the teams in contention to be

even beyond as the cards hold a meeting between Steph Curry or Nikola Jokic. That is when the real test will begin for Phoenix.

imagining the Suns not completely dominating a play-in tournament team anyway, so looking forward would seem the step to take when viewing these teams in the post season in the west. Phoenix has no true competition until the play-in tourney teams make their quick exits. In reality, no one’s defense can slow down the Suns’ back court and really, no one has. Booker is averaging over 25 points for the season and Paul is averaging double-double in the points and assist column for the sixth time in his career. It would be impossible to fathom the disappointment that would be felt if this team did not win a championship or With that being said, the biggest test in the west for the Suns, if they can both get to the confer-

Utah Jazz. On paper, this matchup is side by side, shockingly similar. Point guard Mike Conley and Shooting Guard Donovan Mitchell are an explosive, quick duo in the back court and you add that to scoring ability of Jordan Clarkson and shooting of Boban Bogdanovic give the Jazz the best matchup against the Suns this season on paper. The Jazz also have a good big man themselves in three-time Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert who is having himself a fourtime campaign. The road through the west is not an easy one but depending on who beats who in the brack-

Suns plan to be during the postseason, this could be an unstoppable team all the way to the

Forum

April 4, 2022

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“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

Sexual Assault Awareness Month sheds light on campus concern Last month, more than one “Your Right to Know”

TAMUK. One is one too many, nevermind two, at a campus that some students call home. The subject of inent issue amongst college students at our university. Reporting an assault is not easy. Coming forward to claim the reality lived is a big step in helping raise en and men who are brave enough to do so. The task is daunting, but possible. Telling a woman her skirt is too short and blaming

It’s about time for better representation Within the 233 years that the Supreme Court has been established there have been 114 Sup r e m e Court Justices, of those, 108 have been w h i t e men. The United !"#$ States has !%&"'(' always !"#"$%& faced the '("$)* challenge of diverand continues to face it because of the ignorance of those in power. history, a black woman is being nominated

dividuals should have full autonomy over themselves

someone dresses is not an open invitation for anything else. Society needs to stop pushing people to change their ways and start pushing others to change their behavior. Consent is a must. If you do not have permission, do not touch someone because that is considered assault. If there is not a said yes, it is a no. However, just because someone says yes once does not mean that it should be assumed it will always be a yes. According

position. She attended Harvard as an undergraduate and Harvard Law, is the Former Vice Chair of the United States Sentencing Commission, and has rience as a judge. It is a very important moment black woman gets appointed to the Supreme Court. mation hearings about other subject matters like ality rather than focusing on Jackson’s actual

someone has been more Jackson faces a lot of criticism because people think President Joe Biden nominated her solely based on her being a black woman and “This nomination is ta. It’s about time. It’s about time that we have ly accomplished black woman on the Supreme Court,” Hawaii Senator

in our government but were not chosen because they were a woman or a person of color. Coincidentally, most of the people making this argument happen to be white men, the same people that hold the majority of the power in this country already. I think that Ketanji Brown Jackson should Court justice. She is

The argument that her nomination is based on her gender and race is completely biased. Peothere have been many times in history when

you were to compare her to current justices but more importantly, she is a better representation of the people of the United States.

A man’s best friend - A long overdue bill Dogs are a man’s best friend which is why a

her for it is unacceptable. Society needs to stop telling women and men what they can and cannot wear. In-

to the Supreme Court. Ketanji Brown Jackson is

people who leave their dogs outside in unsafe conditions. S e n ate Bill 5, which w a s !1/"# signed in 2"/3"* late 2021 Governor Greg Abbott, went

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shelters and potable water to their pets. The only acceptable way to leave a dog outside unattended by use of proper restraint is if the dog owner provides adequate shelter, an waste, shade from direct sunlight and drinking water. As for the restraint device, it cannot be a chain, have weights attached, be attached to a loose collar or harness or be shorter in length

base of the tail. Those who knowingly violate the law will receive a Class C misdeeach restrained dog in violation. Not only is this law long overdue, having a dog outside for multiple consecutive hours at a sane. As a frequent traveler around the state, I have seen many animals being chained up without adequate necessities. I am glad to see state

prohibiting improper reand making it a crime to fail to provide adequate

the length of the dog, as measured from the tip of the dog’s nose to the

help stop animal abuse across our 254 counties

I hope bills such as this to ensure animals are treated correctly. If you have witnessed animal cruelty, please contact the Kingsville Police Department at 361-592-4311 or the KleYou can also call the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) at 214742-7722 or submit an anonymous report online at spca.org. For those who do not have a voice, do your part to protect and keep animals in your community out of harm’s way.

to Rainn in the U.S. , “among undergraduate students, 26.4 per-

or incapacitation.” Assault is not and will never be the victim’s fault. If you blame the victim for what occurred, you are only contributing to the problem. A university email issued after the fact is not going

dorms. That is not enough. This month, we urge all

active in events and participate in raising awareness

Hotline at 1(800) 656-4673 or contact The Purple Door

Pothole patrol- Local infrastructure needs a push Nobody likes the feeling of their gut sinking into the pit of their stomach when their car makes an abrupt bump in the middle of the road, leaving their tire possibly p u n c tured or )'$'*+', cracked. -,'./0 Unfor+%,%#",# t u n a t e l y, '("$)* that is the day-today reality of hundreds of drivers in Kleberg County who have no other option or way to avoid certain streets to get to where they need to go. In rural and residen-

tial areas, such as Ricardo and smaller neighborhoods surrounding TAMUK, upkeep of local infrastructure continues to disappoint residents and damage vehicles. Even the most minor breaks in the pavement can cause a massive inconvenience. Failure to repair these potholes properly will only result in more work for the city’s Public Works Department and cost the county or city more the issue by only putting a band-aid on it time and time again. Potholes are typically (blacktop

material), tensive process. Urgen-

cy is out the window at this point. There comes a time when change is so necessary that the time that it takes to actually solve the issue is the least of the people’s concern. Kingsville city commissioners are constantly discussing how they want to beautify the city to make it more appealing and more valued by current residents and travelers, yet they continue to neglect less populated areas. It’s obvious that the City of Kingsville and its Street Improvement Program and Kleberg County only focus on other areas in town andthe county, which only furthers the stigma

Makaylah Chavez Managing Editor

Sarah Reyna

that smaller and more rural areas hold, which is that compared to busier streets, they are insigRicardo and surrounding areas are not just back roads that people can take when they These places are people’s homes. People should feel safe and comfortable in their home and that starts by For more information and ways to report potholes in your Kingsville neighborhood, contact www.cityofkingsville.com and click on the “I want to” tab, followed by the Request and Pothole Repair buttons.

Zena Desouza Sports Reporter

Chris Olivarez Sports Reporter

Campus Editor

Dylan Sanchez

Nicole Perez Morris Adviser

Sports Editor The South Texan is a student publication produced by Texas A&M University- Kingsville students. The views, opinions and commentary do Texas A&M University system. The

Rae Martinez Entertainment Editor

Erik Estrada Digital Editor

the Art, Communications, and Theatre Department (ACT) and the Texas Intercollegiate Press Association (TIPA).

STAFF Ronni Reyna

Cassandra Gomez Opinion Editor

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

Letters to the Editor Letters must be typed, signed and include a phone number. Letters

Aryssa Enriquez Marketing Manager

emailed to

Emeri Drewry

The South Texan, Manning Hall 165, Texas A&M University-Kingsville Kingsville, Texas 78363

Senior Reporter

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April 4, 2022 thesouthtexan.com

!"#$%!"#$%&'(%'')

of our organization,” TAMUK Trombone Association sophomore Music Education major Alf Olvera said. Organizations hosted many activities as well, including a mechanical bull, jail and bail, paintball and water pong to name a few. Spring Fling is a promotional event that helps get the student body back out on campus, which has been absent in recent years due to COVID and the procedures in place. “I don’t think the student body knew what it [Spring Fling] entailed. I personally didn’t until I started seeing all the were posting. With that, tending Spring Fling and it was nice to see everyone out and being social supporting all the clubs,” junior Agribusiness major Mollie Goetzel said. With more than 1,000 individuals in attendance at Fall Carnival last semester, OSA hoped to see a similar turnout. For more information !"#$%*01&'(%'')

to the residents of Kingsville and surrounding cities throughout the year. When funding is available ARK will completely sponsor a spay and neuter clinic for the residents of Kleberg County, to help lower the overpopulation of pets on city and county streets. ARK hosts information sessions to the public during which animal owners can be ad-

on upcoming events, contact student.activities@ tamuk.edu, call (361) 5932760, visit in person 1119 W. Santa Gertrudis Ave-

nue or follow the organization on social media @ tamuk_osa on Instagram and @tamuk_osa on Twitter.

Entertainmant Editor Rae Martinez makes a friend.

Mia Hess fires paintballs at members of Kappa Sigma.

vised on how to properly care for their pets, receive needed supplies and help with guidance to solve any issue that may cause an individual to surrender their animal. ARK currently has 14 dogs and 34 cats at their facility waiting to be adopted. To aid in the overpopulation crisis and to adopt local animals, contact the ARK at 361-516-1456. To

Ronni Reyna

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to attend a fancy school to be successful in what you do, all it takes is hard work, passion and friends that cheer you on every step of the way,” Estrada said. The convention included several workshops with guest speakers and a roundtable for students to meet and discuss freely. An election was also held by student participants to student executive committee. Editor-in-Chief Ronni Reyna was elected secretary of the committee. “I want to be able to make an impact to better this convention for students,” Reyna said, “and I am honored to serve.” The convention concluded Saturday morning with an awards ceremony brunch at which students and advisers gathered to see and collect awards from the pre-published and live contest. “This is something we’ve done well with over the years and Ms. Morris has done a wonderful job of really putting [students] forward and pushing [students] so that [they] do have this high-quality work and then other

schools see that, especially when they show up and compete,” Department Chair for Art, Communication & Theatre Todd Lucas said Morris gives much credit to her students, who she says work hard every day. “As they always do, my student journalists made me extremely proud at this year’s convention. I am proud of them every day, win or lose, but winning these awards provides them validation that they are on the right paths,” Morris said. The awards received included: First Place: Overall Design Newspaper – The South Texan Breaking News – Aryssa Enriquez Feature Story – Ronni Reyna General News Multimedia Story – Rae Martinez, Susan Cortez, Luis Briseno, Emeri Drewry & Ronni Reyna General News Video Story – Susan Cortez & Ronni Reyna Multimedia Slide Show – Ronni Reyna & Rae Martinez General News Audio

Story – Rae Martinez

Second Place: In-Depth Reporting Makaylah Chavez

Hinojosa Breaking News – Aryssa Enriquez General News Audio Story – Amanda DeFrees

Third Place: Special Edition (print) – Ronni Reyna & Gabriella Mastroianni General News Video Story – Rae Martinez, Joshua Mendez, Susan Cortez & Erik Estrada General News Story – Aryssa Enriquez Critical Review - Gabriella Mastroianni Sports Column – Dylan Sanchez

Honorable Mention Overall Excellence Website – The South Texan Overall Design Website – The South Texan

Live Contest Winners: Live Video News – Erik

Spanish News Writing – Rae Martinez, Honorable Mention

view available animals up for adoption, search City of Kingsville Health Department Animal Control and Care Center or Animal Rescue Kingsville on Facebook. If you are interested in fostering an animal, contact Kingsville Animal Advocates on Facebook or search for @Kingsvilleanimaladvocates and @ kingsvilleanimaladvocates on Instagram.

TST staff posed with their awards from the TIPA convention.

TST staff in Sundance Square, Fort Worth, Texas.

Staff Photo

News

April 4, 2022

thesouthtexan.com

TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY-KINGSVILLE®

Current Students:

We look forward to welcoming everyone back to campus for Fall . We still have availability if you want to live on campus for . Scan code to see our online brochure:

FALL 202 - SPRING 202 PRICES: MARTIN HALL

LYNCH HALL

$2,300 per semester

$2,500 per semester

LUCIO HALL & MESQUITE VILLAGE WEST $3,200 or $3,400 per semester

AMENITIES: • • • • • •

Barbecue and Picnic areas Exterior card access system Game tables Ice machines & Vending Machines Intramural teams Lounges with living rooms and TVs

• • • • • •

Planned residence hall activities Live On Professional staff members Resident/Community Advisor staff Smoke-free buildings Student leadership opportunities

Email: residencelife@tamuk.edu | Phone: 361-593-3419 Lucio Hall, Office 119, Kingsville, TX 78363-8202