TheSouthTexan!"#$ Texas A &M University-Kingsville Award-Winning Student Publication
Monday, July 25, 2022
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Vol. 96, Issue 18
Whapö, a hard-working artist TAMUK Student takes on the music !"##$%!&'#( |!"#$%&'($)(*+$,!"#$%&$'#()*+("$,)-("($./0&!)1
The house was always guitar and the voice of his father while Jose Ramirez was growing up. From sitting in on his father’s band practice to being in the recording studio himself, music has always been a big part of Ramirez’s life. The Texas A&M University-Kingsville student has turned a hobby he once picked up for fun with his friends into several albums and song releases, gaining support from the Kingsville community. Ramirez, or more commonly known as Whapö to his to fraternity brother, friends, family and fans, is from San Antonio and is
currently studying art. He recently released a 10-track album titled DöYöuFeelMyPain. The album begins with Whapö in warped voices having a conversation about the album and why he made it in a track titled Hear Me Öut. “When I make music, I think of like just escaping something. You’re listening and you just go to another place. I want you to put your mind somewhere else, somewhere that’s either better or somewhere that you like, something like that… when the hook comes in like I want you to just feel it,” he said. Ramirez first started making music in 2020 during the pandemic. “I think it was about a month but it took me about maybe two to three to kind of get everything together cause when you put an album together, not a lot of people know, but like it’s a lot of work. I’m not big either so I do everything like promoting videos. I do some cover arts but when it’s a big album, I’ll go to my friend. I have to worry about the beats. I have to worry about the
lease on YouTube. I have to pay for them, so that also takes time.” Ramirez’s favorite tracks from the album include Shööt me, End me, F E E L and Dash. “A lot of reasons it takes time is because I have to make the money for my album to drop it so that took me a minute, but once I got it out, it felt so good,” he said. Apart from making music, Ramirez has several jobs including working as a bartender at the Texas Ranch Club where he’s worked under owner Leo Saenz for almost a year. Saenz opened Texas Ranch Club in 1999 after working for three other night clubs in Kingsville. “I’ve been around music my whole life,” Saenz said. “I’ve been deejaying… [and] playing music since ’85. I started in high school so I’m always just talking to him about music and sound and lights and production and maybe that’s why you know he enjoys talking to me, I guess cause we can relate with Saenz will often play music made by Ramirez in the club and describes
Submitted Photo
Album cover art of DöYöuFeelMyPain
Ramirez’s reaction to a kid in a candy store when he hears his music, and describes how his fraternity brothers will jump around and sing in support of his music. “[His music is] really making him try a little harder. You know he’s always telling me ‘hey
I’m going to drop a new song’… it just gives him more motivation, more drive to keep going,” Saenz said. Sae n z de s c r i b e s Ramirez as bubbly and funny, saying he’s never seen him in a bad mood. “I wish him the best and that you know, I think for
his age, he knows quite a bit…if he keeps it up he can really achieve more goals. He’s just a young kid with talent which you don’t see that too often,” he said. Ramirez is involved in several areas on campus, as a pack leader for Jave!""#*+,-.&!'(!!)
Campus sees less students than previous summers
TAMUK )(*('+(,%-,(.&/ |! ./)/0$)0!"#$%&' 1/0/2#02&$'#()*+("$,)-("($./0&!)1
Numbers obtained from the university comparing both summer 2022 terms with those of summer 2021 show that sum-
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Want to see more content? Check out our web site for more stories, pictures and videos.
mer enrollment at Texas A&M University-Kingsville (TAMUK) has declined amongst students. Some 1,702 students registered for summer I in 2021, compared to the 1,603 that registered for the same term in 2022, a total enrollment difference of 99 students. The number of undergraduates decreased by 79, those seeking master’s degrees decreased by 10 and those attaining a PhD also decreased by 10. As for summer II,
there was a 123-student enrollment decrease between the 1,424 students registered for 2021 and the 1,311 registered for 2022. Undergraduates decreased by 136 students, those in graduate school increased by 16 students and doctoral students decreased by three. “We do not focus a lot on summer enrollment because it is dependent on individual student circumstances. We don’t put a lot of weight into changes in summer enrollment
and so we do not have a plan of action to increase summer enrollment. However, if our enrollment is up for Fall 2022 (which we are currently trending up), then we will most likely see an increase in summer enrollment next summer,” Assistant Vice President for Enrollment Management Dr. Darin Hoskisson said. Hoskisson explains that many students take advantage of summer semesters to complete their degree in a shorter
amount of time. Senior criminology major Katelynn Dominguez explained her decision to enroll in only one summer session this school year and not both. “I took summer I since I was still in a school state the switch yet,” Dominguez said. Dominguez was ahead in her degree plan and felt it was best to take some to enjoy what was left of it. She plans on spend-
ing time with herself, family and friends and getting prepared for the fall semester. Dominguez intends to graduate in spring of 2023 and states her anticipation for the few semesters she has left. “I’m looking forward to seeing what opportunities and success I will bring for myself and my peers, completing my last year
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Mold mediation completed by university Students, faculty move back !"##$%!&'#( |!"#$%&'($)(*+$,!"#$%&$'#()*+("$,)-("($./0&!)1
Last year, the Arts, Communication and Theatre (ACT) department was affected by widespread mold in the Drama Arts building. The issue caused classes and faulty to be relocated at the beginning of the Fall 2021 semester. The mold was caused by an equipment failure in the building that left an environment for mold to grow. The university has completed the mold renovation with an updated and new HVAC system that is able to control the humidity of the building to prevent the issue from
said. “After a campus-wide equipment failure last summer, the Drama-Arts (DA) building experienced mold issues that were exacerbated by an older HVAC system that was not able to properly remove humidity from the building after the campus wide equipment failure was resolved,” Director of Marketing and Communication Adriana Flores-Garza said. “DA was the only building with mold issues after that equipment failure. It is important to note that the HVAC system in DA was already scheduled to be replaced when this central equipment failure occurred. The mold in DA was addressed prior to the installation of the new HVAC System last fall.” With the new HVAC system in place, the university doesn’t foresee dealing with mold in the building again. Faculty
first time they’ve dealt with mold in the building. “Because of the mold issues last summer and out of an abundance of caution, the DA students/ faculty were relocated while the HVAC system was updated. Now that the HVAC system is in place and humidity levels in the building are within the normal range for our area, occupants can return to the building,” Flores-Garza said. Students, faculty and staff were relocated to classrooms outside of the DA building, including in Sam Fore, Manning Hall and the Bellamah Music Building. Fulden Wissinger, associate professor of art, had classes relocated during this time. “Moving in the middle of the semester, it was difWissinger helped move
Art supplies pile up in the Ben Bailey Art Gallery.
equipment out of Bellamah during the summer after they were given permission to move back into the DA building. “They just moved [us] to the old music buildings. It was a large room and we had to share with two other faculty members. It wasn’t an easy situation for us but that’s what they did for us, that’s what was possible, because these are not a lecture class. We have to have a studio and
Ronni Reyna
they have to be close to the main building. This was the only option I believe,” Wissinger said. Air quality samples were taken to test mold levels before the building was cleared. “I’m aware that the air quality sampling that was done has come back
it previously was. In fact it’s lower than the outside, !""!"#$%&!'(!!)
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July 25 , 2022
thesouthtexan.com
Recital ready: the countdown begins Performance Hall to be ready by August -
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What was once an empty hall will soon be -
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Rae Martinez
Perfomance Hall under construction, which will be ready Aug. 1.
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mance hall] means a step
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A Javelina 2022 summer recap in pictures -
Rae Martinez
Pride flags displayed on University Blvd.
Ronni Reyna
Porky posing and celebrating 97 years of classes outside Conner Museum.
Ronni Reyna
New university President Robert Vela signing important documents.
Incoming students holding J’s up at New Student Orientation.
Rae Martinez
EntErtainmEnt
July 25, 2022 thesouthtexan.com
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Review: New Tempers, new music, New Meaning More sonic sounds from New York City duo, Tempers ,-".',"/0.'102*%%0'| ,*#)+%-.)%#$& /+%)0+
New York Indie duo Tempers’ fourth studio album New Meaning, released on April 1, begins as if it is a continuation of their previous releases, Private Life (2019), Junkspace (2018) and Services (2015) rather than a departure. This does not mean that it is bad, but rather a testament to the duos consistency when it comes to conjuring up mesmerizing songs for their listeners to enjoy. Despite their dedication to the consistency
of their sound, they have not been afraid to venture into the experimental side of things, such as melding together guitars and bass with electronic production, and a unique vocal style. With New Meaning, members Jasmine Golestaneh and Eddie Cooper have continued to fully embrace their electronto bring about dreamy tracks layered with guitars and synths, reverb heavy vocals, and a minimalistic drum machine approach that explores topics such as choice, individuality, and change through its lyrical content. Vocalist Golestaneh
balances loud and triumphant choruses with whispered vocals throughout the album’s 39-minute runtime, which creates an interesting contrast. The lead single “Unfamiliar” synth lead in, followed by the infectious rhythm of the drum machine soon after. “Multitudes” is another song that stands out to my ears. With its syncopated bass line and droning beat, the track creates an atmosphere that is sure to hypnotize the listener. “Secrets and Lies” is another standout, ballad-like track laced with sweet synths and electronic sounds, which juxtaposes itself with
Screenshot from @tempersmusic on Instagram.
the use of electric guitars and bass heard on the opening track and second single, “Nightwalking.” Overall, New Meaning is a great album that is sure to please fans of the alternative/indie scene and is perfect for a mo-
ment of relaxation. The most exciting thing about Tempers for me personally is that they are a relatively new and young group which can only mean that more great music is sure to follow in the coming years
from duo Golestaneh and Cooper. New Meaning is available on all major streaming platforms, as are their previous releases, and the band can be found on social media as @tempersmusic.
Review: A consistently monstrous battle New video game, MonsteriHunter is worth playing 5/".#'64%%"/*"%'| 203*+)0+
Review: Priceless, praiseworthy program pushes performance Trying the viral four-week TikTok workout program !"#"$%"&'(&")*+| !"#"$%#$&'(%)*+ !"#"$%#$&'(%)*+,)-'.*/)-)'0"#&1*!
I never liked going to the gym. It always felt so repetitive and frankly, got boring. I had zero accountability to go and no set routine to follow. Even when I would go with my gym partner, I would come up with all kinds of elaborate excuses to skip a day. That all changed, however, when my gym partner came in one day with a program at hand. The “X Rated” wom, that we heard about from TikTok, is a four-week training program that is help women gain muscle mass in their glutes and hamstrings. Program workouts are scheduled for Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and machines each day. Results were claimed to be proven if the workouts were kept up with while also balancing a good diet and calorie surplus. Weeks one and two consisted of the same workout with week two adding extra weight and an extra set per exercise. Weeks three and four chines and exercises than followed the same concept as weeks one and two. What I liked about the exercises were that they weren’t all the same number of sets and reps. Some were pyramids,
some increased weight per set and others were as many reps as possible (AMRAP). I’ve always had a fast metabolism, so even when I eat a lot, I burn it faster than most, making it hard for me to gain weight. Even taking a weight gainer protein powder, I have to stay consistent with a workout that is meant to achieve my goals. This workout was extremely tiring and I practically dreaded going to the gym from just looking at what was to come for that day, but the after soreness was something that was incomparable. I could both feel and see it working and that motivated me to keep pushMost good things come at a cost, but with cost comes reward. The program cost $15 and too pricey to not take a chance. After the four weeks, both my gym partner and I were able to see ences. Looking back at our before and after pictures, we both have more look leaner all around. I recommend this program to anyone who wants to gain weight, fuller look. However, it will not work unless you push yourself to stick to a and every day, no matter how hard it gets. For a starting point in a workout journey, it works wonders, even if it’s just for a month. If you can get through this program, any other program you choose after will be a breeze.
Monster Hunter is a series in which the gameplay loop and main premise is explained aptly by the title yet it still engages players by presenting them with a satisfying grind to get new equipment. Monster Hunter Rise (MHR) is the newest installment in this series and it maintains the series traditions while shaking up the system by introducing unique mechanics. MHR has a simple story that sees the player protecting the village of Kamura from a continuous onslaught of monsters via regular hunts and a new gameplay mode known as Rampages. Players will need to accept quests in order to go on hunts. Quests will range from slaying one or multiple monsters
in one hunt to simply gathering supplies in the open map. Rampages are a game mode exclusive to Rise and they see the player battle waves of monsters with light tower defense mechanics (completing certain objectives upgrades available artillery). While charming initially, it can feel tedious if you’re not playing with other people. You can choose any of 14 weapon types with each one having unique movesets. Alongside the standard attacks, Rise introduces a new mechanic known as Silkbind Attacks. These are special attacks that give the player more mobility options, stat boosts, or counter attacks at the cost of wirebugs. The Silkbinds will often cost one to two wirebugs since that is lowest amount of wirebugs a player can hold with three being the maximum (the third is only for a limited time). Aside from an additional wirebug, players
Screenshot from video game, Monster Hunter Rise.
can grab endemic life like frogs, birds or beetles to help in the hunt. Wirebugs are the main gimmick for Rise and they act as a movement tool within hunts. You can aim the wirebug and launch yourself in any direction or to quickly dodge away from danger. To accommodate for the player’s new mobility, monsters are more aggressive and they have attacks that can prevent you from using the wirebugs properly. Some attacks also cover a wider area to account for a four-player hunt. Up to four people can join a hunt and unlike
the older games, players can bring their Palico (a cat with support moves) or Palamute (a dog introduced for MHR and acts like a mount for the player). With this in mind, the hunts can feel too read with the constant player count. Rise is an action-packed title that I thoroughly enjoyed playing with friends. With the series growing in popularity since Monster Hunter World, I think I can comfortably recommend Rise to anyone who wants a challenge that can be tackled with a group.
How to Adult: Dealing with the summer heat Ways to protect yourselfiifrom the sun 3"*'!"/24.*+'| '#)0+)"%#10#)&'(%)*+& '#)'+)"%#!'#)&'(%)*+,)-'.*/)-)'0"#&1*!
If you are in the Kingsville area for the summer, you are aware of the violent heatwaves that have been ungracefully burning our entire body since the beginning of June. Whether you have been living in Texas all your life, or you just recently moved here, you will never get used to the heat. The least you can do is protect yourself from it. One of the most obvious ways to do that is by staying indoors. Check the forecast before you leave your home to see how hot the day will be. The sun is at its highest point in the sky at noon, and around 3 p.m., the heat will be intolerable. It is best that you stay
inside as much as possible until after these times. The sun usually so try to go out after that if you want to enjoy the cool summer breeze. Try to avoid doing strenuous activities if you are planning on spending most of you day outside unless you absolutely need to. If that is the case, pack something to drink for after. This brings me to the next topic on my list, staying hydrated. I have said it once and I will say it again, stay hydrated! This is one of the most important things you can do to prevent heat-related illnesses. Healthline.com suggests that individuals drink about seven to eight, eight-ounce glasses of water per day. If you are not able to drink all eight, it is okay if you are consuming some water. If you need to be outside, protect yourself from the heat by wearing sunscreen. Any kind of SPF 40 or 50 sunscreen
it on your face 30 minutes before you step outside. If you are spending most of your day outside, reapply sunscreen every two hours. If you are spending most of your day indoors, you layer. Take action by keeping your home cool. Cover your windows by closing your blinds, curtains or drapes. This is an effective method, and it will make your home less hot. Turn on any kind of fan you have and turn the air conditioning down. Not only will you
feel good. Wear appropriate clothing according to the temperature. Obviously, you can wear anything you like. However, lightweight, light-colored ommended during this heat. It allows your skin to get more air, which can help you sweat less. Wearing jeans and long sleeves will make you sweat profusely; wear only if you absolutely need to. If there is any other tactic you can do to keep yourself safe, use it. This summer heat can be violent for some, take time to prioritize and protect yourself as much as you can from it.
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lina Camp, during which he gets to invite freshmen to campus, and as a member of Delta Chi, an organization he credits with changing him into a
“He’s always been pretty good with his word play [and] the way he tells his story with the music he produces has just grown
News
5
day I met him until now, and it’s still growing to
TAMUK and Delta Chi alumnus Pablo Rubio has witnessed Ramirez’s mu-
Rubio has known Ramirez for almost three years and says he is glad to have met Ramirez, calling
and can remember the
J-minu$, an audio engiby Ramirez to work on the
“I remember he showed
and we were in his car and I remember I asked him ‘how did you record this?’
mic of the apple earbuds’
thought it was pretty funny; you could tell that the quality of his mic wasn’t
As Ramirez was able to save up he started recording in a studio with Audio Engineer J-minu$, and Rubio says the quality in his
“He came in and knew exactly what he wanted to Submitted Photo
Art from the artist Whapö
really need that guidance cause I could tell already that he excelled in that area of music,” J-minu$ J-minu$ also works with local artists in the Corpus Christi, Portland and even don’t expect him to be the same artist that you see on
really going to care about what people think,” he Ramirez takes his work “I want people to know that I’m really taking it serious even though I’m
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previously there was a spike in one of the molds outside so it’s something but since then that does Lucas called the move stressful, but says arts faculty handled the situation “Well, we’ve got some great faculty that’s on the arts side that actually just rallied the kids and pulled through really well, so I mean I’m actually really
They did a good job,” LuClasses are scheduled to resume in the DA building at the start of fall as faculty start to move back into ofThough the university has assured the issue is resolved and they don’t foresee any reoccurrence, those who dealt with the situation hands-on have a “If I look at historical occurrences of this, there is a possibility because it has previously occurred two other times that I am aware of before this last
there but it gets better for sure and if you put in the
helps me get better and it
I want them to see that I’m working and I kind of want to motivate them,
I know my brothers know I’m working hard for
Ramirez looks forward to releasing an EP in the
know I’m working hard
For the full interview tune into KTAI-FM 91.1 on load the KTAI-FM app in the Apple App Store or on
Thoug h Ra m i rez doesn’t know what the future will bring, he’s ex“I know it’s tough out
so far with the community I’m in and I want to thank everyone for listening to my music, for supporting
experienced about a 7 percent decline in summer 2022 enrollment
tegic Enrollment Plan,” Vice President of Student -
Fall 2021 decline was also about 7 percent,” Hoskis-
ing this year visiting with University leaders and focusing on areas such
like that I am really taking
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which is a normal result for mold,” ACT Department Chair Todd Lucas
three jobs, school, I have a position in the fraterni-
look forward to starting my PhD program in Lonship for it, I had to jump Though Hoskisson doesn’t have control over class cancellation due to low enrollment, he doesn’t doubt that some classes may have been cut aldents this summer than last, Hoskisson states that no one department was
TAMUK has general enrollment goals, included but not limited to summer terms, as they plan to pursue them next school year as well as those to
“We are not predicting
in enrollment management consulting and services to assist with the development of a Stra-
mirror an increase or
“In December 2021, the University contracted
aid, student life and marketing and communica-
Makaylah Chavez
Nathan Puentes studies on a library computer.
Silva states that by December 2022, TAMUK will have a carefully curated Strategic Enrollment
end of their summer terms, the fall semester nears close, Hoskisson recommends that stu-
the university’s enrollment, recruitment and
study habits as they transition from a fast-paced summer schedule to a longer and more spread
As students reach the
6
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