The Prospector 03 05 2024

Fun facts with Paydirt Pete

The Union Building West once had a bowling alley in the basement and a barber shop on the main floor.

A freshman’s guide to social success in college

As the tassel shi s from right to le on graduation day, signaling the end of high school, a wave of challenges, excitements and uncertainties await incoming college freshmen, bridging the gap between the familiar halls of adolescence to the uncharted territories of early adulthood.

ere are many things a freshman must learn how to do on their own, such as creating their own class schedule, navigating Blackboard, guring out where to buy textbooks, buying a parking pass, and balancing school, work and personal lives.

I became a college freshman in fall 2020 during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. I struggled a little during this transition, but I was relieved when everything I needed to know and do was all on my computer. My orientation and classes were con ned to a computer screen with them being online, so it was easy for me to keep track and focus.

at all changed my sophomore year in 2021, when school was back in person, and I had to adjust to all the in-person challenges college had. Eventually, like everyone else, I gured it out and will now be graduating in May 2024.

From a UTEP senior I would like to pass down some knowledge and tips I have learned from my four years at UTEP. e rst bit of advice I would give is the importance of communication in college. Even though my major falls under the communication umbrella, I have struggled at times with communicating. Good communication in college means communicating with friends, professors, colleagues, classmates and family. It is important to keep in touch with these people because you never know how they can help you in the future or how you can help them. It is also an important aspect to be able to stay at top deadlines and possible mishaps that may arise.

Another important piece of advice is to sit in front of the class and talk, of course not while your professor is teaching, but when your professor asks a question and all that can be heard is crickets. Even if you don’t know the answer or are embarrassed to get it wrong. Your professor will appreciate the e ort and take note of it in the future.

Talk and get to know your professors because they are a treasure chest of knowledge and networking. I personally have gotten most of my internships

through the help of my professors and their contacts. Simply talking to your professor garners possible research opportunities, jobs and internships. Even though UTEP is a commuter school, join organizations and make new friends. UTEP has over a hundred di erent organizations that anyone can be a part of and enjoy. It can be easy to nd yourself in a vicious cycle of going to class and leaving right a er, instead, go to the Union or another UTEP building and eat lunch and socialize. Make an e ort to put yourself out there.

you never know if the person sitting next to you in college will be your future boss, colleague, spouse or friend.

Alyson Rodriguez is a contributor may be reached at prospector@utep.edu; @alyson_rod1127 on X.

Capricorn

Achievement comes through success and stability, staying determined and disciplined.

Aquarius

Use your vision as it creates positive change through collaboration.

Pisces

Surrender to the ow of love and creativity by being intuitive and compassionate.

Aries

Positive energy surrounds you, use it! Be courageous and be unstoppable.

I know most of this advice has to do with being social and it can be nerve-wracking to socialize with other freshman in di erent majors or upperclassmen, but remember, everyone is in the same boat or was once there before.

Taurus

Attract abundance, ground yourself securely in prosperity and stability.

Gemini

Socializing in college will help you network in the real world, especially when you are looking for a job. It’s not just about who you know, but more importantly who knows you. So be courageous and talk to people because

COMIC BY: MAYA ALVARADO

Communicate with con dence and clarity and embrace the change that follows it.

Cancer

Trust your intuition as you are surrounded by love and compassion.

Leo

Manifest joy and success through being radiant and con dent.

Virgo

Be e cient and organized, trust the process which leads to perfection.

Libra

Attract upli ing relationships by being harmonious and staying balanced.

Scorpio

e transformation will be worth it, be resilient and powerful.

Sagittarius

Be optimistic and adventurous and embrace growth and expansion.

Life between two countries

Bienvenidos a los Estados Unidos Welcome to the United States

disadvantages to living a cross-country life. Ayala says that at times, her identity can look blurry.

Itzel Ayala crosses the bridge to Ciudad Juárez, Mexico every Friday to visit family. She says traveling by car can take anywhere from 30 minutes to three hours. To Ayala, crossing can sometimes be exhausting because of how travel times uctuate. is is a reality for many

UTEP students. Located close to the border, some UTEP students either moved to study here, but still visit family, or live in Ciudad Juárez and commute every day.

While crossing the border every day is a norm for some, some students say there are

“I think a lot of us can relate to this, there comes a point when you’re too Mexican to be American, but you’re too American to be considered Mexican,” Ayala said. “Even your family notices that and you’re like an outcast I guess, you

“I don’t think I’m going to move back, I lived most of my life in Juárez, I lived there until I was nine, so I was raised there,” Ayala said. “My roots are Mexican everything’s Mexican about me, but the (United States) has brought me a lot of opportunities that I know I wouldn’t get in Mexico, and as sad that sounds, it’s a reality.”

UTEP student Camila ome also

walking,” ome said. “ e lines could get like up to an hour and then going back to your house, it’s really boring.”

Students who go between the two countries say they notice both the good and bad di erences. ome feels that the El Paso and UTEP communities are welcoming.

children selling stu at the (trafc) lights but also everything just seems much happier in Juárez. Even though there is much more poverty, there’s a lot of people and there’s a lot of kindness and we don’t have that culture over here.”

don’t know where to t, you’re just stuck in the middle between these two places.”

Although she has a disconnect from her identity, Ayala says that UTEP provides opportunities that she wouldn’t nd in Ciudad Juárez.

crosses the bridge to Ciudad Juárez every day to attend classes, and while she mainly crosses by car, walking is a mode of transportation that has its pitfalls for her.

“You get tired sometimes, especially when I used to cross

“ ere are all kinds of people out there, people are nice in both places, and I feel like especially here, people are more understanding that there’s people from di erent places here in El Paso, so they don’t make you feel di erent,” ome said.

Ayala, on the other hand, notices the in ux in poverty in Ciudad Juárez, but at the same time, feels the mood is happier across the border.

“You do see a lot of homeless people here, but it’s mainly based on the central part of El Paso, in Juárez it’s everywhere,” Ayala said. “You have

UTEP

Ayala and ome are just a couple of examples of a UTEP students’ experience when it comes to crossing the border and being a student.

Although many agree that crossing times are sometimes inconvenient, being able to experience life within two countries is something special. Being in the midst of a border town, students say UTEP helps harbor a rich culture within the student population, welcoming students from all over.

Sofia Sierra is the web and copy editor and may be reached at sdsierra2@miners.utep.edu

The Office of Student Fellowships and Awards supports UTEP students who are applying for nationally competitive scholarships and fellowships to fund graduate school and overseas experiential learning (research, teaching assistantships, etc.).

What is an external fellowship?

Nationally competitive funding opportunities that are:

• Based on academic merit as opposed to financial need

• Open to students from a variety of majors

• Eligibility, application materials, and deadlines vary depending on the award

• Involve a substantial amount of time commitment and careful planning

What do these awards provide?

Depends on the award, includes but is not limited to:

• Funding for overseas experiential learning: research, intensive language study, teaching assistantships, etc., both during undergrad and beyond Funding for graduate school either domestically or abroad

Why should I apply?

The application process is a form of professional development in and of itself:

• Become a more confident writer

• Sharpen interviewing skills

• Think critically about future goals

Is my first or second year too early to start thinking about these opportunities?

Absolutely not! Most applications are due junior or senior year, but joining our Undergraduate Fellows Program as a first-year student or sophomore will help you prepare.

view upcoming

747-5648

Residents of El Paso and Juárez cross through the Stanton-Lerdo Bridge. Photo by Jose G. Saldana/The Prospector

UTEP study abroad program o ers new cultural mindset

From the sun-kissed white beaches of Kenya to the highland paradise of Panama that lingers with a vibrant city and pure nature, is an adventure unique for travelers and the UTEP study abroad program o ers that once in a lifetime college experience for UTEP students.

UTEP’s study abroad program o ers students the opportunity to travel and study in various locations, from exploring the Italian peninsula to learning about ancient culture in Peru. is experience goes beyond traveling, but also broadens cultural knowledge while granting the opportunity to study outside of America.

Graduate student Mikaela Reyes studied abroad last summer in a faculty-led program in Spain for her speech-language pathology program. Reyes says she had the amazing opportunity to indulge in her learning while also exploring the stone castles the vibrant country o ered.

“It was a great experience aside from learning, we also got to learn

about a whole di erent culture and country that also intertwines with our own culture,” Reyes said. “You immerse yourself in a whole di erent culture, which is cool, and I think this (is) something students should try.”

Some students can be discouraged from studying abroad due to the high cost, but that was not an issue for Reyes. She says she credits nancial aid and funding she received from the UTEP study abroad program to be able to make this trip a reality.

“ ere is a lot of assistance at UTEP, the study abroad program helps a lot. I would look into scholarships, it can help you; some students did get much of their trip paid by UTEP and scholarships,” Reyes said. “I would not let the cost hinder or scare you because it‘s doable.”

Associate Director in the O ce of International Programs and Study Abroad, Judy Moore, also discusses the importance of studying overseas and how it can help students stand out more.

“It is not only helping you work towards graduation, but it is also

Fun facts with Paydirt Pete

helping you stand out when it comes to graduate school or job applications, it boosts your resume with that international experience,” Moore said. “When you get ready to leave UTEP it shows you went above and beyond, you took that extra step and initiative, it’s the whole UTEP Edge philosophy.”

e O ce of International Programs

At rst, a study abroad trip to Spain seemed unlikely to graduate student Mikaela Reyes as she was diagnosed with Lupus at 16-years-old. Lupus is a disease where her immune system attacks organs and tissue causing in ammation. Because of this, Reyes sometimes

needs a wheelchair to travel and must have frequent IV infusions of medicine. She says the infusions, wheelchair and medication all seemed to stand in her way of studying abroad. However, with a great support system at UTEP, and her husband’s help, Reyes was able to defy the odds.

or dealing with any other disability that people may not know of, students with disabilities at UTEP say they can overcome their challenges with support from their families and UTEP.

Reyes says she was hesitant to join graduate school because of how daunting the workload is. She says with understanding

live normal, healthy lives, there is also a percentage of students who live every single day with a disabili-

scholarships to stu-

o ers a variety of nancial opportunities and scholarships to students and will provide guidance and support throughout the entire process.

ey help students by communicating with their advisors, obtaining passports from UTEP, and helping them choose the best travel options based on their degree plan.

“Our o ce has scholarships, almost every student who goes abroad gets at least some nancial funding, and students can use nancial aid, some things students may not always know,” Moore said. “We have programs that are short, a week or two and we have programs that are for a whole school year, we want students to do what they’re ready for.”

Traveling abroad and leaving the

Students with disabilities continue to defy the odds

professors and her determination to nish school, she is graduating this spring with a masters in speech language pathology.

bird’s nest for the rst time might seem scary for some students, but Moore emphasizes the importance of traveling abroad as it helps students prepare and learn to adapt to the real world when they graduate.

“If you get a job in Phoenix and it’s the rst time you ever le El Paso you’re going to have to adapt and if you study abroad, you know how to adapt,” Moore said. “It’s dif-

ferent but it’s giving you the tools and skills to be more successful.” Students and incoming students interested in traveling and immersing themselves in a new culture while pursuing their academic studies can visit e O ce of International Programs and Study Abroad website or their o ce in Union East for more information.

Erik Acosta is the editor-in-chief and may be reached at emacosta6@miners.utep.edu

“I’ve had shoulder replacements, hip replacements and a knee replacement all during both my undergraduate and graduate school, luckily the CASS program has been very helpful during those experiences services include note-takers, testing scribes and reformatting textbooks and documents if needed.

that I’ve had, especially my professors (have been understanding),” Reyes said. “I was kind of scared to join the graduate school because it is very challenging and taxing on the body, but I’ve had some pretty understanding professors, so much so that I was actually able to go to Spain.”

UTEP’s Center for Accommodation and Support Services (CASS) program is aimed to help students with disabilities and anyone throughout their academic career. eir

Jonathan Vasquez, another UTEP student who wants to remind people that the word “disability” does not mean impossible. Vasquez has been visually impaired since he was in elementary school. roughout his education, he says he was regarded as a bright student. He says when entering college, the work became challenging at times and his determination to pass made him feel like he was a hard-working student.

“I have not failed a single class, no matter how hard it was, no matter how low the odds are of me passing, I always nd a way to pass my classes,” Vasquez said. “Sometimes A’s B’s C’s, but I always pass no lower than a C.”

One of the things that helped Vasquez when coming in and out of hospitals was reading.

“ e only reason why I was able to do well in school was because I read a lot,” Vasquez said. “Since I was seven going on eight, I was always sick and for over ten years, I was always in the hospital or in di erent research or clinical institutes. Because of my isolation there, my family and

friends, would bring me nothing but books, and I devoured every single book you can imagine.”

Vasquez is currently in his junior year of college, and a er graduation he hopes to become a ction writer or therapist.

UTEP is here to emphasize that students with disabilities are not alone. Whether through the CASS program, or with professor support, students with disabilities can have a successful experience in college. Reyes wants to remind incoming students with disabilities that they should not fear their disability.

“(Do not) be afraid you have a disability, do not let that hold you back from venturing out and trying di erent organizations,” Reyes said. “Because although it is kind of scary to disclose you have a disability, a lot of the times UTEP sta will accommodate you, I would de antly reach out to the CASS o ce because they will help you get through your academic journey.”

For incoming students with disabilities or anyone, the UTEP CASS department can be reached out to at cass@utep.edu

Sofia Sierra is the web and copy editor and may be reached at sdsierra2@miners.utep.edu

Judy Moore, associate director of the Office of International Programs and Study Abroad, believes the international ex- perience can help students stand out in graduate programs and future jobs. Photo by Joel Molina/The Prospector

The Undergraduate Learning Center used to be a swimming pool, leaving behind a scent of chlorine to this day.

ty. Whether visually impaired, deaf,

WEB & COPY EDITOR THE PROSPECTOR

SOFIA SIERRA B Y

Jonathan Vasquez is a student at UTEP who has been visually impaired since he was in elementary school.

Photo by Iziah Moreno/The Prospector

Mikaela Reyes is a graduate student at UTEP who was diagnosed with Lupus at 16. Photo by Iziah Moreno/The Prospector

Arts & Culture

ere is undeniable fear in the hearts of those entering a college campus for the rst time. Making friends and joining organizations can seem overwhelming, however, college is about making connections and growing as an individual and professional.

One of the best ways to make that kind of connection is by getting involved in Greek life on campus.

Fraternity and sorority memberships help young adults cultivate leadership skills, gain a better sense of social identity and participate in traditions that give back to the community while also being a part of a sisterhood or brotherhood.

UTEP student and president of Sigma Lambda Gamma, Brianna Reyes, shares a viewpoint that incoming freshmen should take if they are feeling skeptical about joining a sorority or fraternity.

“Sororities to me are a home away from home,” Reyes said. “I think if you are looking to get outside of

your comfort zone, (sororities) are a structured leadership organization that improves not only your personal skills but also your leadership (and) mental health. You get involved on campus, (and) network a lot so it’s a really good thing to get out there. (Also) it looks good on your resume.”

Not only do sororities and fraternities focus on building internal skills, but they also help students develop claimed skills for future internships and job opportunities.

UTEP is home to many wonderful chapters that promote campus involvement and Reyes shares why this form of community

could be bene cial to new students.

“It’s good to be in the community as such because not only do you get to network and meet a lot of people, but you also have a good support system you can lie on,” Rey- es said.

Reyes shares how joining her sorority Sigma Lambda Gamma, has helped her grow and connect with her community.

“Gaining my own community, being able to have leadership roles and being able to network and travel around the United States to meet other members and the opportunities that sororities o er you,” Reyes said. “I’ve gotten outside of my comfort zone and been able to really be myself around these members, so I think it means being able to nd people who accept you for who you are.”

Members who have gotten out of their comfort zones to join the world of Greek life say they have created a bond

that cannot be broken while also gaining a family away from home. UTEP student and vice president of the Alpha Sigma Phi fraternity, Hilario Carreon, shares how joining his fraternity gave him the blessing of a new family he can rely on.

“It is a great way to meet new people and nd a family that’s here for you. Being that I was a transfer student, it was a great opportunity to nd people that I could just connect with,” Carreon said. UTEP students joining a sorority or fraternity can help build those last long friendships that make the college experience memorable.

Marco Hinojosa is a Audience and Engagement Editor and may be reached at mhinojosa4@miners.utep.edu

Avery Escamilla-Wendell, editor

Perez believes joining a sorority can be your home away from home and a way to get out of your comfort zone. Photo by Eduardo Ibarra/The Prospector

Hilario Carreon, vice president of Alpha Sigma Phi, says he has found a family with his fraternity. Photo by Joel Molina/The Prospector

The unexplainable tales of UTEP spirits

Founded in 1913, UTEP started as the State School of Mines and Metallurgy at El Paso with the rst campus located in modern day Fort Bliss. However, the campus ended on a grim note, as a year a er the school’s opening, it was destroyed in a re. A er the relocation, a couple more name changes and 110 years’ worth of history, UTEP acquired many di erent creepy and unexplainable stories of souls that may haunt the grounds to this day.

Cotton Memorial is one of the buildings said to be haunted by the spirit of a worker. According to KTEP, whose o ces are in Cotton Memorial, the story goes that the building used to have a stage area with ropes to control the stage curtains. e worker got their foot caught in between the ropes and was li ed upside down for a long period of time before they were found dead. It is said that students and sta see a ghostly gure and shadow roaming the halls and peering through windows.

e Psychology building was built in 1949 originally for biological science. In their haunted campus tours, UTEP Student Alumni Association (SAA) say that several experiments happened in the building, including experiments on animals like monkeys and on volunteer students.

While there is no speci c reason for the spirits and shadows that appear and cause noises around the staircases on the third oor, some say it may have been because of the experiments that were conducted.

In addition to the Psychology building, is a haunted artifact: a radio that turns on by itself during nighttime and is heard switching channels. In an interview conducted by the UTEP SAA in 2020 for their Haunted Campus podcast, a janitor recounts hearing the radio turn on and followed the sound only to nd that the radio was broken with no parts inside.

UTEP student Max Stewart shared their thoughts on the ghost stories at UTEP, and the creepy feeling they get when entering the Psychology building.

“I don’t doubt that because of how old UTEP is that there are plenty of ghost stories, and wouldn’t doubt that the majority are true,” Stewart said. “I’ve de nitely gotten an eerie (feeling) in the Psychology building just because of how old it looks. e stairs give you a very antique, ghost kind of look.”

e oldest building on campus built in 1917, Old Main, also hosts strange activity captured by ve reporters from e Prospector in 2002 who stayed overnight in the

building. According to the reports, footsteps and voices were heard from the staircase and upstairs oors. Reports also include lights turning o and on and doors opening and closing by themselves. e reporters even said that they heard a lecture going on in an empty classroom, and the main entrance door shook as if someone was trying to get in.

Seamon Hall, now known as the Rubin Center, is another building

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Student Media and Publications ser ves as a public forum for the Universit y and a communit y that enables students to be informed and active par ticipants in college life

Student Media and Publications houses The Prospector and Minero Magazine which are proudly produced in their entiret y by UTEP students!

with an eerie history. and According to the UTEP Student Alumni Association shares the building’s story, as it was once a Geology building, a student was conducting an experiment when he mixed two chemicals wrong causing an

explosion, which injured him and produced poisonous gas preventing him to get help. Once help arrived it was too late as he was found dead, and it is now said his spirit roams

Fun facts with Paydirt Pete

UTEP was once called State School of Mines and Metallurgy, it was located in Fort Bliss but was destroyed in a fire.

Past and current students at UTEP have had “paranormal” encounters. Photo illustration by Iziah Moreno/The Prospector Read MORE at theprospectordaily.com

Sports

Nicholas Maes, editor

Fun facts with Paydirt Pete

Did you know that former UTEP basketball coach Don Haskins was an assistant coach for the 1972 U.S. Olympic basketball team.

Climbing to new heights at UTEP’s Recreation Center

e UTEP recreation center is the recommended place for UTEP students to work out, especially with the busy lives that come along with being a college student. With the rec center being included in student fees, freshmen have free resources to stay t all semester long. Located at 3450 Sun Bowl Drive, UTEP’s rec serves as a welcoming place for those looking to maintain an active lifestyle.

e rec center has seen signi cant improvements a er a fee increase approved by the UTEP student body in 2006. e renovations were completed in 2011 and included a rockclimbing wall, new basketball courts, and a multi-story tness area, all added onto the original facility that was built in 1996. Walking into the rec, the rst thing students will notice is the rock wall and the open space. Students must scan their UTEP identi cation card to get into the recreation center, and if they forget their ID, a sta member can get their ID number.

e entrance to the rec puts students on the second oor of the building. Going downstairs, students can check out basketballs, volleyballs and other equipment for use.

e rst oor is where students

can nd the rock-climbing wall and the basketball courts. Locker rooms are also available on this oor for students to lock up personal items for the day.

Returning to the second oor, students can nd free weights. is 6,500-square-foot area contains high-quality equipment to cater to student workout needs.

Dumbbells and plates of a variety of weights make this area a welcome space for beginners who want to get started li ing or those who want to continue their physical health journey.

e pools, both competitive and recreational, are down a long corridor to the other side of the building.

e competitive pool has a 13-foot depth, which is a recommended depth for diving. e recreational pool is shallower with a maximum depth of four feet. e recreational pool also features an area for basketball and volleyball. However, students who want to use the rec pool must bring their own towels as the rec does not o er towels for students.

Returning to the main area and going to the third oor, students will nd more gym equipment. Weight machines, stationary bicycles, treadmills and steppers are all provided on this oor. Some rec-goers say the most important aspect of the third oor is the indoor track, that measures in at an eighth of a mile.

Although the extensive facilities available in the rec are important, they only portray one part of what

UTEP sports: Building on a legacy

For 55 years, UTEP has stood as the only Texas school to win a men’s basketball national championship. In 1966, legendary coach, Don Haskins, broke down basketball’s color barrier while simultaneously breaking down the University of Kentucky’s fellow legendary coach Adolph Rupp’s squad to win the NCAA Championship title. Haskins never inched under pressure and was once quoted saying, “I played for the best coach who ever lived, Henry Iba, I wasn’t intimidated by Adolf Rupp.”

e history of sports at UTEP is full of moments that have inspired future generations of athletes and coaches, from the legendary Texas Western 1966 men’s basketball national championship game, to the accomplishments of UTEP Olympic track and eld athletes. UTEP’s sports history continues to inspire and shape the world

of college athletics. However, to several fans, basketball is UTEP’s calling card. UTEP has had many players who went on to play in the NBA and have long, winning and distinctive careers. Players like Tiny Archibald, Greg Foster, Antonio Davis, Stefon Jackson, Randy Culpepper, and Tim Hardaway, who’s iconic “UTEP two-step” crossover gave defenders ts. Apart from basketball, UTEP has also seen success in other sports, including football, who has had its share of ups and downs over the years. Even still, some notable greats have been produced, like three time Super Bowl champion Andy Reid, coach of the reigning Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs. Reid spent two years in 1987 to 1988 as the o ensive line coach at UTEP before moving on to the NFL. e Miners won 17 games and took seven losses during Reids’ time at the Sun Bowl.

Another famous UTEP football

alumnus is former NFL referee Ed Hochuli who played linebacker for four years, earning All-Western Athletic Conference academic honors in 1972 while pursuing his bachelor of arts degree.

Lastly Aaron Jones, another UTEP star who set records during his three years at UTEP and now carves NFL defenses up regularly. UTEP has also had success in track and eld, producing several Olympic athletes. Athletes like Bob Beamon, Ria Stalman and Blessing Okagbare. Beamon set a world record in the long jump at the 1968 Olympics, Stalman won the gold medal in discus in the 1984 Olympics, and Okagbare became the most decorated student athlete in UTEP’s history.

In 2010, during her senior year, she earned four NCAA titles. She was also a nalist for the renowned Bowerman Award, which is given to the country’s most outstanding track and eld student-athlete.

Looking towards the future, alumni like Ray Raya, says he has hope for more UTEP sports success stories.

“I feel like the city needs a boost. I hope coach Walden and the football team can really ignite something here at UTEP and the community,” Raya said. “We have great talent already. We need to take that next step. It’s time the university grow athletically.” e Bear or Coach Haskins, once said, “It’s not about talent, it’s about heart. It’s about who can go out there and play the hardest. ey’re not going to give us anything, so you’ve got to go out there, and

the rec has to o er. ere are numerous classes to take throughout the semester, including dance, jujitsu, bachata, and Zumba.

Not only is the rec a great place to work out and have fun, but it can also open doors to di erent opportunities, as it did for student employee Aaron Castro.

“Since I majored in kinesiology, I wanted a job that had sports involved in it,” Castro said.

Castro was inspired by PE teachers to take both his major and his position at the rec. “It’s really what inspired me to be here (the rec), it’s a really fun and friendly environment where I can surround myself with what I want to become, a person around sports,” Castro said.

For students who may be considering another gym to work out, Castro says that an important factor to consider is the rec’s facilities and trips.

“It’s honestly way more worth it than for me to go to an EP Fitness or an Elev8 Gym and all those gyms because there’s a lot more than just working out, it’s a place for leisure time and just to chill out,” Castro said.

Although the trips do require a separate fee from what is included in tuition, it is still worth it compared to going somewhere else, as the facilities speak for themselves, and the rec continues to play an important role in the physical health of the UTEP community.

you’ve got to take it.”

Only time will tell what the future holds, but as long as UTEP holds to the Bear’s word, the university may seize the glory it has sought.

is a staff reporter and

Jorge

Banner in the Don Haskins Center commemorating the 1966 NCAA men’s basketball national championship.

Photo by SalmaPaola Baca/The Prospector

UTEP Recreation center is free to all students with opportunities to work out or play sports. Photo courtesy of UTEP

STAFF REPORTER THE PROSPECTOR

JORGE GUAJARDO B Y

IS AT YOUR FINGERTIPS WITH

CASS ONLINE PORTAL

AIM allows students to access or request services online and from the comfort of their home 24/7.

Use your UTEP logins to request accommodations, check your status or apply to be a notetaker.

AIM is for faculty as well!

cassportal.utep.edu

Glean is an app offered by CASS that helps students record and transcribe class lectures, take notes and more to guarantee students a successful learning experience.

Students interested in using Glean must be registered with and approved by CASS for this accommodation.

utep.edu/cass

cass@utep.edu

(915) 747-5148