The South Texan Vol. 96 Issue 8

TheSouthTexan.com

Texas A&M University-Kingsville Award-Winning Student Publication

Relighting the way for students

Program offers graduation opportunities

On Nov. 29 during his inauguration speech, Texas A&M University-Kingsville(TAMUK)

President Dr. Robert Vela announced the Javelina Relight Program, and 21 students have applied to take advantage of this opportunity.

The program gives

those who in the last five years have completed more than 90 credit hours a $2,500 scholarship and a chance at graduation.

“You never know what’s going on in [students’] lives right now and we

wanted to give them the opportunity. If they’re wanting to come back, we want to leave the doors open for them,” Vice President Enrollment Services

Events started with kickoff

Students of Texas A&M University Kingsville (TAMUK) gathered at the Memorial Student Union Building to show gratitude towards Black heritage. TAMUKs’ own Student Engagement and Campus Life (SECL) hosted Black Heritage Kick Off last Wednesday as a way to celebrate the first day of Black Heritage Month. The first 100 students who came out to the event received a t-shirt and a ticket for a free meal from AAA BBQ or Chick- Fil- A. This kickoff also included music and activities.

Omar Chavarria, TAMUK senior, explained why he believes it is important to host events honoring Black culture.

“We’re a lot of Hispanics down here [in Kingsville] but we’re diverse in

Online

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New year new faces

The start of a new year brings many changes, including to the student media organizations on campus. The South Texan and KTAI welcome new and returning faces to the student and administrative staff.

culture… it’s really good that we’re raising awareness for Black heritage. I think just so we could learn about each other… it just creates more friendships, more bonds together instead of having more segregation,” Chavarria said.

Further explaining just

Peck visits campus

The teenager who once graced the screens of many in the early 2000s made his way to Texas A&M University-Kingsville (TAMUK) on Tuesday, Jan. 24, as a part of this year’s Lectureship Series hosted by Student Engagement and Campus Life (SECL).

Josh Peck, known for his role as Josh Nichols on the hit Nickelodeon series “Drake and Josh,” spoke to students in the Jones Auditorium in a Q&A fashion with Alumni Engagement Coordinator Monica Hysquierdo and student Ferny Garcia emceeing the event. Students lined up for hours to guarantee their

how important Black Heritage is, senior and Black Student Union member Christopher Graveley-Rosado said it is important TAMUK holds such events.

“It’s important for Black Heritage Month to be acknowledged by the university, to show the

history of the Black people in the university, because black history is American history,” Graveley-Rosado said. “Although it is a primarily Hispanic serving institution there’s still some black students that go here.”

SECL will be holding more Black heritage

spot in the auditorium to see Peck speak.

“I think it’s important to understand what people in college are thinking about and passionate about to keep you relevant and understand what’s important,” Peck said.

Peck, who recently reprised his role in the second season of “How I Met Your Father,” spoke to students about a range of topics, from rock bottom to new beginnings, life changes and career highlights.

“I feel like college students, I think high school is probably where it starts… we put so much pressure on ourselves to deliver and achieve and what we do now is gonna pay dividends for the next 20 years of my life, when in reality I think it’s important that we just kind of take it easy on ourselves and be nice to ourselves,” he said.

Before the lecture event, a meet and great was held for students who won tickets by entering into SECL’s challenge of answering questions about Peck correctly.

The meet and greet took place in the Ben Bailey Art Gallery at which a handful of students had the oppor-

events throughout February, for students to gain even more knowledge and diversity for Black culture.

Events for Black Heritage Month include, Heritage Heroes on Feb. 9, an Academic Lecture Feb. 22, and an Academic

Since students, faculty and staff have sprung into the spring semester at Texas A&M University-Kingsville (TAMUK) they have been without a Provost. With the previous retirement of former interim Provost Dr. Jaya Goswami, TAMUK has been in search of a new Provost to take her place.

In the meantime, filling in for this position is Dr. Darin Hoskisson, Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs, and Martin Brittain, Assistant Provost, alongside Dr. Robert Vela, TAMUK President, who have begun sharing these administrative duties together.

See Provost, Pg 6

TAMUK celebrates Black Heritage Month University welcomes another childhood star

tunity to meet Peck, take a picture with him and get his autograph.

“He was like one of my biggest inspirations growing up; I watched him all the time, it’s like a very bonded thing, even though I’ve never actually met him, which is so weird but like yeah, it’s just cra-

zy. I’m very excited to meet him,” Alexis Cantu, who attended the meet and greet, said.

Cantu often got in fights with her siblings over watching “Drake and Josh” and contemplated saying his famous catch phrase “hug me brother”

Ronni Reyna | Editor-in-Chief chief.editor@thesouthtexan.com

Melissa Mata | Managing Editor managing.editor@thesouthtexan.com

Melissa Mata | Managing Editor managing.editor@thesouthtexan.com

Photo by Jessica Tijerina

President Vela speaks during his inauguration last November announcing the Relight program. See Relight, Pg 6

Ronni Reyna | Editor-in-Chief chief.editor@thesouthtexan.com

Photo by Dominic Valdez

Students get free shirts at the kickoff event.

Photo by Dominic Valdez

Josh Peck signs an autograph in his book “Happy People Are Annoying.”

See BHM Kickoff, Pg 6

Texas’ TikTok threat

TAMUK bans TikTok following state-wide order

McClure new Assistant Dean of Campus Life

McClure shares new goals for Campus Life and Recreation

Former Director of Stu-

dent Engagement and Campus Life (SECL), Erin McClure has been promoted to the new Assistant Dean of Campus Life, following the restructuring of the recreational facilities on campus.

After it was decided the University Recreation Center, along with the bowling alley and swimming pool, would be overseen by SECL, it was decided McClure would be in charge of overseeing most aspects of student life on campus.

“Our new president

wants our students’ campus life to be more vibrant and inclusive, [by] transitioning everything into one umbrella under student afairs, to create a better campus life for students,” McClure said.

One goal McClure has in this new position is to be able to provide a more organized way for students to learn about opportunities hosted on campus.

Dean of Students Kirsten Compary said McClure was chosen because of her background in campus recreation.

“[McClure] is a natural ft for absorbing that area into her oversight,” Compary said.

Director of Campus Recreation Marcus Wirth also discussed how restructuring the Univer-

sity Recreation Center into Student Engagement was to deliver a positive college experience for students.

“I think the main goal of moving Recreational Sports under SECL was the mission and values of both departments are aligned very closely and both departments are committed to working toward the same goal of engaging the Texas A&MKingsville students,” Wirth said.

McClure said she is ready for the transition of new responsibilities as part of her role to form a more vibrant and engaging campus life for students.

For more information and to stay updated on campus events follow @ tamuksecl on Instagram.

TAMUK Organization Fair

On Dec. 7, 2022, Texas Governor Greg Abbott sent a letter to Texas state agency leaders announcing security threats posed by the Chinese through the popular social media app TikTok.

In the letter, Abbott announced the immediate ban to use or download the app TikTok on government-issued devices.

This includes Texas A&M University-Kingsville students and faculty who received an email on Jan. 18 stating the restriction of access to the app on the university’s network.

“This means students, faculty, staf and visitors will no longer be able to download or access TikTok while connected to the TAMUK network,” the TAMUK email stated.

Although the app was banned because of security concerns, it is a top platform students use during downtime as well as a platform used as a marketing technique for the university.

Krystal Emery, assistant director of marketing, the university has used the social media platform since June 2021 to help showcase the “Javelina student experience.”

But the ban will not stop Marketing and Communi-

cation from creating content that will showcase to students and visitors what the university is about and what goes on at Javelina Nation.

It will just no longer include TikTok.

“We are continuing those efforts through our new Content Creator team, compromised of students who will continue to produce videos that refect student life and academic spotlight videos for Instagram Reels, Facebook Video and YouTube to include YouTube Shorts,” Emery said.

To some students, the ban doesn’t seem to make a diference with security concerns as many can still access TikTok without the wireless network.

“At the end of the day, it didn’t really do anything, because you just turn of your wi-f and you can still use it. But I think it

is kinda dumb that they banned it for security reasons when yes it could perhaps pose a threat, but that’s just the internet. I feel like there are better things to focus on than TikTok for that,” Andrea Esqueda, TAMUK freshman, said.

Some students are using data to still use the app on campus.

“It’s an inconvenience to my mental, physical and social state. I just want to be on TikTok for the fun of it especially when I’m bored and just want to be on my phone. It takes up my data making it an inconvenience to my parents who pay for my phone,” Araceli Mireles, TAMUK senior, said. “For me, since I’m part of the LGBTQ community, I want to know what is going on in my community and the platform is an essential place for that.”

Multimedia

To see video check out the Javelina Media Experience on Youtube

Students came from all across campus to see what TAMUK and its organizations have to o er towards improving student life and interaction on campus. An organization fair was held Jan. 31.

Photo by Melissa Mata

New Assistant Dean of Campus Life Erin McClure.

Photo by Erik Estrada

TikTok ban has been put into place at TAMUK.

Photo by Dominic Valdez

Photo by Dominic Valdez

Review: Ohms, Ninth Studio Album from Deftones

Album feels like a love letter to the band’s sound

Upon the release of the Deftones’ ninth studio album “Ohms,” I couldn’t help but feel a slight tinge of disappointment during my first listen.

Sure, I had enjoyed the first and self-titled single “Ohms” as the track fits perfectly within the boundaries of Deftones’ core sound with its overdriven guitar tone, blistering drums, and groovy bass rhythms topped by singer Chino Moreno’s signature vocal tone.

The rest of the album,

however, struck me as a jumbled mess of sound and recycled ideas from the iconic group.

It has been almost three years since the release of Ohms, and I have found myself pleasantly surprised with realizing what I was missing out on in that span of time.

“Ohms” is an album that gathers some of the best qualities of Deftones and brings them together into a wonderful package. The album is sequenced perfectly, with the 10 tracks complementing each other as it continues.

It dawned on me that the “jumbled mess” I had described earlier was most likely a product of my own reservations and opinion of what Deftones should

be, rather than what they actually are as shown through the content they provide for us.

Some highlights of the album include the tracks “Error,” “The Spell of Mathematics” and “Radiant City.”

“Error” begins with a clashing guitar chord and a drum groove from co-founder and drummer Abe Cunningham, which is then followed by the satisfying crunch of Stephen Carpenter’s guitar tone thanks to his use of extended range instruments such as the eight- and nine-string guitar that allows for further sonic exploration, which has been a recurring theme with Carpenter throughout their 34-year career.

“The Spell of Math-

Review: Native Body Wash

A clean feeling for everyday living

From the minimalistic packaging to the wide variety of scents being offered, Native Cosmetics has received a lot of attention over the past year and has recently found its way into my daily routine. I decided to take advantage of these past few weeks to document my experience of this “all natural” product so I can let the people know if it’s worth a try. While roaming the aisles of Walmart I stumbled upon products from the viral TikTok brand, Native. This brand has been talked about on the social media platform for months now and is marketed as a natural product that is sulfate, paraben, dye and phthalate free. The first bottle I looked at was coconut and vanilla. This scent smelled almost edible.

The coconut was exceptionally smooth and refreshing and its pairing with vanilla brings a type of warmth to the scent that reminds me of freshly baked cookies. Although this scent was not initially bought that day, I can say it has found its way into my daily routine. The scent I decided to begin my testing with was cucumber and mint.

This body wash smells extremely fresh and clean; the cucumber brings a very fruity yet subtle aroma while the mint creates a refreshing scent that I believe activated some type of neurotransmitters because I felt extremely joyous and excited to use this later that day. After setting the water temperature to my liking and preparing myself for the unknown, I grabbed my loofah to begin my journey. I first started by applying the soap to my scrubber, I noticed that the soap is thin and poured out the bottle very easily so I was sure to be careful and not pour too much.

ematics” follows “Error” perfectly, with two simple stick clicks from Cunningham bridging the two tracks with each other.

The track is filled with the usual Deftones trappings one might expect, which is always a plus. The last two minutes of this track is where it shines thanks to some cleverly placed snaps courtesy of Death Grips drummer, Zach Hill.

“Radiant City” kicks off with a bouncy, overdriven bass tone that is filled in when the rest of the band kicks in after the intro of the song. With a catchy, triumphant chorus, this song is sure to catch the ear of Deftones’ dedicated fanbase.

Overall, I was very im-

I then began to lather the soap in the scrubber and paid close attention to how foamy it got. It was perfect, the bubbles the soap created didn’t feel too thick or thin and held that consistency when applied to my skin.

After showering I felt like I had just stepped out of the spa. I smelled fresh and my skin felt rejuvenated. I saw no signs of irritation and didn’t feel like I was covered in chemicals. This was a game changer.

It’s been five weeks since I first began using Native products and I can admit I have become obsessed. I now own seven different scents of body wash and have each one dedicated to a different mood. I also own three Native shampoo and conditioner sets and two Native deodorants that I rotate in and out.

I highly recommend Native body wash to anyone who wants to smell good, feel good and wants to know the products they use are good.

How to Adult: Shopping for your Sweetheart

Sometimes a gift can say what words can’t

Valentine’s Day is right around the corner and more than likely, you’ve got someone special that you’d like to treat to a nice gift or date. That’s all well and good but it can be difficult to pin down the perfect gift to show that you care. It’s easy for someone to figure out what they want for themselves but it can be just as simple to figure out what someone else would like. It all boils down to understanding who you’re buying for.

For Valentine’s Day, odds are you’re buying for someone important to you. With that in mind, you already have many good ideas for gifts but haven’t realized it. That or you’re unsure about them.

If someone is special to you then you already know a lot about them. You know their interests,

their hobbies and even their curiosities.

If you need more information, you can just ask them some questions about the things they enjoy. Sometimes people like to talk about their interests when prompted so it should be easy to learn more by doing that.

A good and subtle question to ask is if there’s anything new happening within their interests. They might even tell you about a specific thing that they want but can’t justify getting for themselves. You can never go wrong with buying a gift related to someone’s favorite things in life.

However, if you want to majorly surprise someone, you can give a gift based on a hobby or series that they’ve never gotten into but had shown genuine interest for. If you know the person well enough to see that they’d enjoy something they passed on, then that’d make for a well thought out gift. Receiving something based on your interests is nice but there’s a real

charm to getting something completely unexpected that can show how much the gift giver understands you.

If you’re hopelessly desperate to find a gift, you can just ask someone directly to see what they want. It’s not the best way to find out what to buy and it ruins the mystery that comes with a present. You could also check to see if they have a viewable wish list online. Just be sure you’re not spending more than you reasonably should for a gift.

Love is in the air but be sure to spare some of it for your wallet. It’s nice to give someone a gift they’ll adore but it’s not good to do it in a way that puts you in an uncomfortable spot. Set a limit for yourself when looking around.

Make it flexible though because sometimes you find that one genuinely perfect gift and it’s only a little bit more than what you anticipated spending. Keep all this in mind and you should be able to find that perfect gift for your partner.

pressed with “Ohms.”

As I said earlier, the album is sequenced perfectly and the tracks flow and complement each other very well but are also able to stand on

their own at any given time. Deftones have done it yet again with this piece of work, and I find it very regrettable that I did not see it this way three years ago.

Review: “She Said,” the Weinstein Scandal

All it takes is one voice

Based on the book, the film “She Said” tells the story of two journalists and their fight to uncover the Harvey Weinstein scandal. The Weinstein scandal comes from the numerous sexual assault accusations and charges that had been provided by multiple women against Harvey Weinstein.

The film opens to a scene of a young woman in Ireland who stumbles upon a film crew that seems to kindly take her in but soon after it shifts to her running down the street enveloped in panic and fear.

Fast forward 24 years, the world is in a frenzy as sexual assault accusations are aimed at Donald J. Trump. As the media begins to zero in on workplace assaults, journalist Jody Kantor stumbles upon multiple actresses who have claimed to have been assaulted while working with a director. Getting word from these actresses was easier said than done as many of them feared what a powerful man could do in retaliation. With the help of a fellow journalist, Megan Twohey, they work together in order to investigate what has really taken place under the film company.

While the movie is depicted as drama or biography, it can be said that it is a powerful thriller. The saying of “a picture is worth a thousand words” has never related to a film more as this film gives voice to multiple stories and countless brave women. “She Said” not only follows the journalists throughout their journey at work but it shows how much effort and heart they put into the story as it begins to affect their home life. It dives into their multiple statuses of not only being a journalist but a mother and women as well.

Zoe Kazan and Carey Mulligan both took the cake when it came to acting as they were able to express their frustration of wanting to get an-

swers for the story. It felt as if you were right there with them waiting in anticipation for someone to stand up and speak the truth.

It could also be said that many supporting actors gave the same effect such as Samantha Morton and Jennifer Ehle as they portrayed survivors of Weinstein. It was captivating to see them reveal their experiences not just through voice but through body language as it depicted the trauma that was endured.

If you are one who likes riveting films that are based on truth, I recommend “She Said” as it will capture that inner journalist in you as well as your heart. “She said” can be streamed on Peacock now.

Protect the people and your children

As the new year starts, we see the repeat of mass shootings across America, a theme that feels everlasting and slow to change. The horrifying events across the country this past year and going into this new year shows that gun violence and eforts for change have not progressed.

The constant talk of gun safety and control in America has been a debate for far too long. In other countries around the world, you do not see these kinds of acts taking place as much as you do here. In recent years, the amount of gun-related violence has risen to extreme heights and has put thousands of lives, especially children’s lives, in danger.

More than 150 children have been killed in 2023 from gun violence, along with more than 50 mass shootings as of this month. The children must be a priority in our society, and they are dying in the streets. Science.org stated in 2020, frearm-related injuries surpassed motor vehicle crashes as the leading cause of death among children and adolescents ages 1 to 19.

Seven mass shootings have occurred in California since the beginning of 2023, leaving 31 people dead and dozens more injured.

Just last month in Monterey Park, a neighborhood east of downtown Los Angeles, a 72-year-old man opened fre, killing 11 people, and injuring nine others on Jan. 22 at a Lunar New Year celebration.

On Jan. 25, farmworker Chunli Zhao was accused of killing seven people in back-to-back shootings at two Northern California mushroom farms, and he was charged Wednesday with seven counts of murder and one of attempted murder.

Gun laws in America must be better. Families across the country have had their worst fears come to life every day. Unfortunately, there are people in the world who commit atrocities leaving victims in their wake.

It is disturbing to see the almost nonexistent changes made in gun control amid daily news of shootings. Something needs to be done soon so that people do not have to fear becoming the next victim of a shooting. There are enough other worries in the world.

The streets have always been dangerous, but there was a time when parents could trust that sending their children out to play all day was safe. The world is no longer safe. The dangers of guns are real, and the entire country knows. The time for gun control is now.

How to apply to graduate school

Are you stuck asking yourself, what university is the best ft for me?

Do I have an array of graduate programs to choose from? Do I meet the requirements for admission?

What is needed to complete my application? Continue reading for a guide.

Choosing a university for graduate school is going to be the toughest decision.

To make it easier, consider three things on your checklist: location, student to staf ratio and programs ofered in your chosen career feld.

Do you want to go to a small city or tightknit community?

Tarleton State University or Sam Houston State University are in small homelike commu-

nities. Are you seeking to relocate to a metropolitan area?

Rice University, Texas Tech University or Texas Christian University are just a few on the list.

Student faculty ratio is another item on your checklist that should be researched. Larger universities have higher student faculty ratios.

For example, Texas A&M University’s student to staf ratio is 21:1 and The University of Texas’s student staf ratio is 18:1.

On the contrary, Rice University’s student to staf faculty is 6:1 and the University of Dallas’s student to faculty ratio is 10:1.

Your fnal item on your top three reasons for choosing a university is graduate programs offered. UT ofers over 100 graduate degree options and A&M ofers more than 260 graduate and professional programs.

Admission require-

ments for many Texas universities is a grade point average of at least a 3.0 in your last 60 undergraduate hours completed and a detailed resume.

Make sure you form connections with your professors, to complete your two to three letters of recommendation.

Certain programs require an academic writing sample from an undergraduate course or honor’s research project and a written statement of purpose (usually 750 words).

Fall applications close usually between Dec. 1 and March 30.

Spring admission is usually not accepted for most graduate programs.

If you are seeking fnancial or teaching assistantships (priority application deadlines) usually close 30 to 60 days before the fnal deadline. Graduate programs are ofered online and in person and have thesis and non-thesis options, so give it a try and pick which best suits you.

Why is it important to always move forward?

Sometimes, life gives you obstacles that are inevitable and cannot be avoided.

For some who are fortunate, these obstacles are just bumps in the road on the way to a bigger goal yet to come.

For those who aren’t so fortunate, it can bring a world of hurt and spiral so out of control that you will always feel like you are spinning.

The world is not kind to those who are not ready, and, in a way, it feeds of the fear of those who can’t overcome.

Everyone knows someone who has been consumed by what they

could not overcome.

They foat to a coping mechanism that destroys them, more than they will ever know and it’s bad enough that you hurt seeing someone hurt, but let it be known that the person who is hurt is in shambles deep down and they know it.

Life will not compromise for anyone, but pain whether physical or mental is not easy to deal with, let alone overcome. There will be times when life throws something at you for no reason whatsoever, or something or someone gets taken from you leaving a piece of you adrift.

It makes you sometimes not want to deal with the world at all.

You cannot do that though, we all know. If everyone in the history of humanity gave into hiding from the world,

society would be nothing.

The most important thing for a person to remember, if the world ever threatens to make you forget, is that you are the only you.

That failure only leads to eventual success. That you are stronger than you know.

At the end of it all though, it’s not like you have the choice to take a break.

Even though it seems like a retreat to a locked room is hiding from the world, day still turns to night, and night creeps back into daylight again and again until you realize the clothes are still not clean, you have not grown less hungry, and your hair has grown three inches in all places.

If you do not stand tall and move yourself, the world will do it for you

anyway.

Besides, you have dreams, remember? Do not let the pressure of obstacles send you of the path of your dreams. Be stout in your life like something set in stone and continue to chip away at the slab until you realize that what had hurt you before has now motivated you to where you need to be. Keep moving forward in the direction of the present leading into the future.

Obstacles will come and pin you in a tight situation. For very few has life ever been perfect and you will not be one of those few.

So be aware, be mentally sound, and always have support.

Giving up should not be an option.

“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.”

Men’s basketball off to a great start

Javelinas maintain competitiveness against adversity

ChrisOlivarez| Co-Sports Editor

After almost making it all the way a year prior and starting off the new season slow, the men’s basketball team has found a way to revitalize its season.

Scott setting records on the track

Invitational in Houston, Scott knew this was his opportunity.

After a long journey of watching the time pass but waiting eagerly for his chance to shine, Texas A&M University-Kingsville hurdler Jaqualon Scott finally got his oportunity after sitting out the first two track seasons of his collegiate track career.

Although Scott had to sit out the first two seasons of his college career, he took that time to focus on getting his grades together.

Scott came in this season with records to break and dreams to achieve. He has worked day in and day out to perfect his craft.

“I can honestly say it was a process because it took a pretty long time to get here, so now that I’m here I’m taking full advantage of it and going full speed ahead right now,” Scott said.

During the season opener indoor meet, the Houston Leonard Hilton

“Everyone around me is pretty hard working so it’s kind of a no brainer to work just as hard as I see everyone else working, so me getting to this point has really just been my teammates pushing me every single day at practice,” Scott said.

The Houston meet gave Scott the opportunity to show off his skills and the hard work he has been doing in the off-season.

“It’s definitely given me some confidence… it’s helped me want to continue to do better… being the best that I can be is always my ultimate goal for me,” Scott said. Scott set a new best in the 60m hurdles, coming in at 7.89 seconds collecting first place.

With the pressure and competition only getting tougher from here on out as the Javelinas transition into the outdoor season, Scott has his eyes set on the prize and will continue to be the best athlete he can be.

“My aspirations are just to stay consistent… to keep producing the best times that I can and

to make it as far as I can,” Scott said.

The Javelinas are just as eager for the remainder of the season transitioning into outdoor as they move on to their next upcoming competition.

“I just hope we can keep improving each week. I think we’ve started off very well, but we’re still not where we want to be overall. We have to just keep working hard in practice and pushing ourselves every day and competing hard at the meets,” Coach Ryan Dall said.

The Javelinas and coaches’ staff are excited for what’s to come moving forward for the team.

“We’re really attacking this indoor season and that really is going to set us up.

“We’ve had some really good performances throughout indoor so far and that’s going to build our confidence going

into outdoor and we’re going to keep rolling through indoor and keep those performances coming,” Coach Ryan Petrocchi said.

After starting the year with a 5-5 record through the first 10 games, things seemed bleak for the Javelinas but hope was not lost and they were able to bring new life back into their season by winning nine straight games, seven of those came against fellow Lone Star Conference (LSC) teams.

After a close loss to Eastern New Mexico ended their win streak, the Javelinas looked to rebound from it and get back to their winning ways against Saint Edwards University at their Pack the House game.

“We try to focus on what’s in front of us and not behind us and we look to better ourselves every week and continue to find success,” Coach Johnny Estelle said.

In the first half of the game, the Javelinas fought hard to maintain the same mentality they had up until this point, standing their ground and fighting until the end.

At halftime the Jave-

linas found themselves down by two points. But they didn’t stay down long.

“It was huge to be able to show out in front of our Javelina fans,” player Marcus Jones-Green said. “The support and energy from the crowd really helped us big time to be able to come back and win and it definitely was a great feeling.”

The Javelinas scored 34 points while only allowing Saint Edwards to score 32 in the second half.

This then brought the game into overtime. This was the first time the Javelinas went into overtime this season and for many teams this is where they make the crucial mistakes, but not the Javelinas.

In front of a thunderous home crowd, the Javelinas scored 10 points in the overtime period and only allowed Saint Edwards to score six points bringing the final score to 77-73 ending in a victory for the Javelinas.

Despite losing to St. Mary’s a few days later, it has not shaken up the Javelinas in any way.

“You definitely see a lot of change through the years but as well as a lot of adaptability when it comes to the new guys and that’s what you want on a team,” player William Chayer said.

The Javelinas next hit the road as they take on the University of Texas at Tyler on Feb. 9.

Photo by Dominic Valdez

Jaqualon Scott practicing for the 2023 Bearcat Invite in Maryville, Missouri.

ZenaDesouza-George| Co-Sports Editor

Photo by Dominic Valdez Scott showing off his form.

Photo by Dominic Valdez

Scott focused on getting gold at Invitational meet.

& Student Affairs Dr. Rito Silva said.

The program is the first of its kind to be offered at TAMUK.

“Javelina Relight evolved from discussions about how we can best help our students who have had to pause their educational journeys over

American Heritage Night Javelina Basketball game

on Feb. 23.

“Just as we celebrate Hispanic heritage and every other holiday, it’s important that we feel that our students are recognized and that our diversity is included, because we are an inclusive community and a campus,” senior Student Body Vice President Jacquelyn Estelle said. “It’s important that everyone sees that all athletes, African American students are seen, and they feel as though this school cares for them,” she said.

As the month has just begun and events are just kicking off, students are encouraged to attend

The role of a provost, also known as Chief Academic Officer, works closely amongst all deans and all academic programs to provide support for a successful campus.

Since Goswami retired the process is different.

“Deans are meeting with the president. The deans already have a lot of academic leadership over the colleges, they do a very good job of that.

the last few years return to earn their degrees,” Vela said.

The program that targeted almost 200 students launched last November with the university trying to connect to individuals meeting the criteria.

“Our students and their families have faced many challenges over the last few years. I also have

heard personally from individuals who began their educational journeys at A&M-Kingsville but were unable to complete their education for any number of reasons and who struggle with the regret of not having graduated,” Vela said.

The program offers paths for students, even those with 120 credit

hours, who were unable to graduate during their time at the university.

“In the course of identifying students for the Relight Program, we discovered several individuals with more than 120 credit hours who had not yet earned their degree because they’ve switched majors or changed programs during their educa-

when she met him.

Like Cantu, several students grew up watching Peck on TV.

Martin De Los Santos, a TAMUK student who lined up early for the lecture, said he has watched Peck his whole life.

“That was the thing that shaped me, who I am today,” he said of Peck’s work on screen.

Peck first started his acting career in early 2000 with the movie “Snow Day.”

tional journey,” Vela said.

“These individuals can return to TAMUK, leverage the credit hours they have already earned, and may immediately qualify for a general studies degree without having to complete additional coursework. We want these students to know that our commitment to them has not changed—

we want to do everything we can to support them in earning a credential from our amazing university,” Vela continued. The program as of Jan. 31 has 21 applicants, and two students who returned this spring. Those eligible or seeking more information can visit https://www.tamuk. edu/relight/ to apply.

more events to further learn about Black heritage and to show appreciation for black culture.

“I think that there is a lot to learn from other cultures and the diversity

Typically, they would work with the provost if they had concerns or issues to address, so when that comes up, they will talk to the president,” Hoskisson said.

Although there is no provost, Dr. Natalya Delcoure, dean of College of Business Administration, said there is more open communication to express their opinions to the president.

“It is really exciting because it gives us an op-

that we have on campus. So just taking the chance to sit back and learn something new about the person next to you is a great opportunity for everyone,” Estelle said.

portunity to get to know Dr. Vela closer and understand his leadership style,” she said.

Delcoure believes that the bond between the president and the deans is stronger than before.

While Vela oversees the deans, Hoskisson and Brittain are responsible for other academic programs.

“In terms of overseeing the budget out of academic affairs that is largely done by Mr. Brittain. There are

“I like getting out of the bubble of L.A. I like getting to go to the parts of the U.S. that normally I wouldn’t get to go, meeting beautiful people that are smart can give you also a different perspective on life. I feel lucky that I get to do that,” he said.

a few other divisions that belong to academic affairs besides the colleges, things like the library, our distance education area, which work with me, graduate studies and research that would typically report to the provost but in this interim, they are working with me,” Hoskisson said. Hoskisson further said Vela, Brittain and he all meet regularly to discuss any concerns that may arise.

“We communicate that way when things come up, we meet and discuss if there’s issues that need to be resolved then we will discuss that then,” Hoskisson said.

While the role of a provost is being handled by Vela, Hoskisson and Brittain, TAMUK expects the role to be filled this coming summer. The candidate must have a passion for TAMUK’s mission as a public research university and a

commitment to its role as a pioneering Hispanic-Serving Institution, Vela said.

The role of provost first became vacant when Dr. Lou Reinisch’s was replaced by Goswami in early fall of last year. Reinisch served in the positions for two years.

“The next provost should be a strategic, collaborative leader who utilizes data to make decisions and help plan the future for TAMUK,” Vela said.

From BHM Kickoff, Pg 1

From Peck Pg 1

Photo by Dominic Valdez Josh Peck speaking on stage in the Jones Auditorium during his lecture.

Photo by Dominic Valdez Kingsville’s first black school teacher Jessie Meade McDow who’s picture was displayed during the kickoff event.

From Provost, Pg 1