July 25, 2025
Digital Summer Edition Digital Summer Edition Digital Summer Edition
All in it together
Through art, messages can be conveyed in various ways. Tim Z. Hernandez explores his form of art by writing books and now a film to tell a story about deportees dying in a plane crash, conveying the message that we all have the same fate no matter our race.
Hernandez is a creative writing professor at The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) and an author, publishing eight books and notably writing “They Call You Back.” He is now a director of a documentary based off his latest book “All They Will Call You.”
The story r evolves 15 years of research behind this plane crash that killed 28 Mexicans and four Americans in 1948. Hernandez became the voice of many families who were affected by this unknown tragedy.
Originally from San Joaquín Valley, Hernandez grew up in a community built by farm workers, including his family, spending his early years surrounded by campesinos. Through his upbringing, it inspired him to create the film that reminded him of his own identity.
“I grew up in the field as a kid
and saw injustices that were happening,” Hernandez said.
“When we come from families whose parents are working class, humble people, we also see the times they’re silenced, they don’t feel they have the power to speak up.”
Deportations are not a brandnew concept, especially in the uprising of current political events. Hernandez traces deportations from the 1930s during the “Mexican Repatriation Act” which deported 600,000 to two million people.
“What’s happening today is exactly what was happening then, which is racial profiling. They’re not even looking if you’re a U.S. citizen or not,” Hernandez said.
“They’re just checking if you’re brown, then they will take you away. I remember thinking, that can never happen, that was back then it couldn’t happen again.”
This subject came to Hernandez in 2010 while reading a newspaper while doing research.
Learning that this tragedy happened close to home when living in California, Hernandez found a mass number of graves of Mexicans without names.
“It didn’t sit well with me,
Director Tim Hernandez inspects the set while he is in production for “All They Will Call You: The Documentary”. Photo courtesy of Tim Hernandez.
Interviewing the individuals, Hernandez films two family members whom recall how they remembered their late loved ones. Photo courtesy of Tim Hernandez.
Photo from The Prospector Archive
Opinion
Evelyn Palma, editor-in-chief
Nurturing a flame through storytelling
I grew up with a large and close extended family. I was the second youngest of many cousins which I spent almost every weekend with up until the first one left for college. Those weekends were spent with my parents taking us to exhibit openings, jazz concerts, author panels and new exciting restaurants.
I’ve been involved in the community for as long as I can remember. Although the culturally immersive experiences my parents planned for us seemed a bit boring as a child, I am now immensely grateful for the education and experience of the border they provided us as I am now grateful to be The Prospector’s summer arts and culture editor. My relationship with writing has always been complex. Writing and storytelling used to feel like drinking water—it’s just something we do. Sometimes water gets boring, but we need it to live. Aside from that, growing up with Spanish as my first language made learning how to write in English even more complex. Language became such an intricate concept for me because the two
languages and the bicultural communities I knew were so different, but they eventually married together into something even more beautiful.
Being one of the youngest cousins, while all my cousins found their places in life through science, music and design, I felt lost. I wanted to be just as cool as them. Because writing was so second-nature to me, it was easily overlooked as I searched far and wide for career paths in STEM, marketing, health, etc. Then, as I continued with my K-12 education and I began to win academic awards for my writing, the praise from my English teachers seemed overwhelming, and I got to participate in The School of The New York Times at 14-years-old, I knew writing was a fire I had to learn to nurture and something I could do for the rest of my life. As I continued into higher education, I have had moments of struggle that had me convinced that maybe college was not for me. However, while managing grief and all sorts of
Photo by Iziah Moreno/The Prospector
heartache, going back to storytelling kept me afloat. There were many times that I felt I didn’t nurture my writing, but it nurtured me instead.
I want to thank my parents once more for the days spent at museums, concerts and festivals, and for never letting me forget that every walk of life is what makes life beautiful. I love you both so much. Thank you to my little sister Emilia Garcia who has shown me what true unconditional love and support is throughout this...
Jesie Garcia is the Arts and Culture editor and may be reached at jlgarcia36@miners.utep.edu or on Instagram @ empanadaslens. read MORE at theprospectordaily.com
A path that was never linear
B Y
KRISTIAN HERNANDEZ
SPORTS EDITOR THE PROSPECTOR
I still remember sitting in the auditorium of the Center for Career & Technology Education – a place where high school juniors and seniors within the El Paso Independant School District (EPISD) spent half the school day exploring different career paths. I chose diesel mechanics. I learned how to work on cars with my father, so it seemed like a straightforward choice. I continued that career path after graduating high school and at El Paso Community College (EPCC).
Right before the summer 2022 semester at EPCC, I decided to change my major to advertising and public relations as I’ve always
wanted to be in a creative field. I learned about the industry during my time at a dealership where I would photograph cars and upload pictures to their website. Watching graphic designer Carlos Sanchez and
director of marketing Chris MacDonald come up with commercial ideas gave me insight into a whole new world.
I’d share some of my own ideas with Chris and he would be interested in them and spoke highly of me to another high-ranking employee. That was the moment I knew I could become great in the field. Making that life altering decision at 19 was nerve-wracking, but I never regretted it for a second. I left the dealership and continued my college education full time. Taking night classes, enrolling during summers and taking up to six classes at time...
Hernandez is the sports editor for The Prospector and may be reached at kahernandez16@miners.utep.edu and on social media @northeastvideography. read MORE at theprospectordaily.com
Gen Z uses dark humor as a defense against the fear of war
that the disconnect between generations was not about caring less but about reacting differently.
After the U.S. military attacked three key nuclear sites in Iran, tensions rose globally, and threats of a potential World War III filled online timelines.
Gen Z began sharing memes using dark humor on social media platforms such as TikTok, Instagram and X, responding in a way that older generations may have seen as strange and at times, insensitive.
For many young people, it was more than just a joke, but a coping mechanism. Sophia Hernandez, a 20-year-old biochemistry student, saw more meaning to the war memes than just simple laughs.
“I think they’re pretty funny for the most part, and to a degree, kind of educational. It helps me understand what’s going on with the world right now, since I really don’t watch the news,” Hernandez said. “We’re barely stepping into this world, and all of this is happening. We need a way to kind of cope together in a way, since these are the times when we feel divided amongst each other.”
Gen Z’s response to war discourse was wildly different from those of their parents and grandparents. While the jokes may be interpreted as dismissive or immature, Hernandez argued
“Older generations have partially lived through this already, so they understand how serious it is and how we should be taking action. But when it comes to Gen Z even though we do take it seriously, I feel like they expect us to react much stronger than the way we are, than the way we’re coping,” Hernandez said.
Claudia Rivera, 45, noted that the disconnect between generations’ reactions may be rooted in the different media environments they were brought up in.
“Growing up in the 90s, we had the Gulf War, so, we didn’t even understand what anxiety really was with these events,” Rivera said. “We didn’t get alerts every five minutes of something happening. We only got alerted when we came home and watched the nightly news. We just lived our daily lives. We didn’t have [mobile] phones back then, so we didn’t get the news as fast.” Rivera, though, doesn’t fault Gen Z for how they processed this global event.
“The young people are just coping with what is going on right now and they need to have...
XIMENA CORDERO B
Following conflicts with Iran, Gen Z has created different dark humorous memes poking fun at the potential of a World War III. Photo by Iziah Moreno/The Prospector
JESIE GARCIA B Y
Kristian
Photo by Iziah Moreno/The Prospector
News
Evelyn Palma, editor-in-chief
Blasting off with success at the IREC
The Sun City Summit Rocket Team recently launched their rocket named Sandstorm in Midland, Texas competing against 144 other colleges such as Rice, Texas Tech and Clemson in the International Rocket Engineering Competition (IREC).
Project Manager and international graduate student majoring in aerospace engineering Pedro Ferriera da Silva described the feeling of seeing their rocket launch.
“[It was] a little bit of relief once you see it go up, but then you have to remind yourself it’s not just going up, it also has to come down,” Silva said.
Silva says not only does the rocket have to reach a certain altitude, but it must come back down with minimal to no damage via parachute.
“You can see at least with the other 13 students that are around me, during the launch, their sense of relief, the years of work. Even though I was dying with anxiety and stress inside,” Silva said.
The team placed second out
of 21 teams in the 30,000-foot commercial off-the-shelf category (30,000’ COTS) and seventh overall out of 145 teams with
How we are getting to infinity and beyond?: The rise of private space exploration
On July 20, 1969, the sky was no longer the limit for humanity when Neil Armstrong became the first man to step on the moon. A moment that ignited the desire to know more about the galaxy surrounding Earth.
Fifty-six years later human space travel is no longer unusual, but the motivation to
explore it has expanded from solely research to commercialization opportunities that can possibly send willing bidders into orbit.
In June, private company Axiom space sent four astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS) in collaboration with Elon Musk’s SpaceX corporation, who designed the Falcon 9 block five rocket for the mission.
their rocket returning fully intact.
“Coming in second place, coming first place, I guess it didn’t matter at that point. It just proved that our hard work, our late nights here at UTEP, it all paid off,” Silva said.
Victor Calderon, an aerospace technician for the Sun City Rocket Team, described how they were able to make the rocket from scratch.
“[The students] go to the machine shop; they fabricate from scratch. They use CNC (Computer Numerical Control) machines [and] lathes,” Calderon said. “The students build their own rocket so they can have the understanding how to build the main rocket for the competition.”
Silva explained that the bottom of the rocket where the fuel leaves was originally an aluminum cube that was machined
The trip is a result of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) $140 million grant awarded to Axiom space in 2020, aiding in the firm’s goal to commercialize space travel for humans and build a space station of their own after the ISS is decommissioned in 2030.
“Through our station, we will open lower orbit to the world. To explore, to travel, to complete science in space and beyond,” Executive Vice President of Axiom Space, Mark Greely said in a video published on the company’s website.
NASA plans to deorbit the ISS in 2031, citing that the station’s technical lifetime is limited by
down and then tapered into its final form. The only part of the rocket that was not built by the students was the solid fuel propulsion tube.
Although the team, along with hundreds of other colleges, worked hard to win the IREC, many of them socialized with each other to provide help, learn and understand how each team can improve their designs.
Assistant Professor in Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering and the Faculty Advisor for the Sun City Summit Rocket Team, Jaeyoung Cho, emphasized that the placement of the team in the IREC is not the main priority.
Cho’s main goal is to give the students an understanding of safety and the physics of the project. He feels his role is to keep students inspired and motivated.
“I’m not leading them. They’re
its primary structure, which is affected by the spacecrafts that are docked and undocked in the station, putting more pressure on the ISS’s infrastructure. Instead of continuing to fund the ISS, NASA plans to focus on private space corporations, writing that the deorbiting of the station “will allow NASA to buy the services it needs from commercial companies for research and technology.”
NASA’s future plan marks a distinction in space exploration between the U.S and foreign governments.
Dejena Cucak, Ph.D., is an assistant professor in the Electrical Engineering Department at the University of Texas at El
leading themselves,” Cho said. “I believe it is all up to the students.”
The team is already planning and designing a new rocket for competition. They hope to compete in other categories such as the 45,000-foot competition, although that will be a few years down the line. Ultimately, acquiring sponsorships and money is the main factor driving these projects.
“I’m fairly confident to say that they have the capabilities to win it all next year,” Silva said.
With passion and determination the Sun City Summit Rocket Team is reaching for the stars in hopes to continue their world renowned legacy.
Kristian
Paso (UTEP). Cucak is originally from Serbia and earned her Ph.D. in Spain. She worked at The European Space Station before moving to the USA to continue her career in the world of academia.
“What I like about the U.S. is the fact that you have public space exploration and private space exploration. I think research is on a completely different level and that’s why I’m here,” Cucak said. “You cannot get easily funded (in Europe). It’s not easy to get grants or $1 million dollars or euros.” Between 2020 and 2023, NASA awarded over $15...
With a team driven by passion and determination, the Sun City Summit Rocket Team strives for goals for the team that have never been reached before.
Photo by Iziah Moreno/The Prospector
Competing against 144 colleges, The Sun City Rocket Team launched their rocket, Sandstorm. Photo by Iziah Moreno/The Prospector
Texas introduces Senate Bill 12, a law aimed against DEI initiatives in public schools
IZIAH MORENO B Y
PHOTO EDITOR THE PROSPECTOR
In early June, the Texas legislature passed Senate Bill 12, a new law that will force LGBTQ+ student clubs in K-12 schools across Texas to disband. This means clubs like the Gender and Sexuality Alliance (GSA), which have been a safe space for queer students to find support for years, will not be allowed anymore in Texas schools come September.
This bill comes after Senate Bill 17 which banned Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives at public higher education institutions in 2023.
Republicans argue that this bill might just be a way to give parents a little bit more control over what their kids are exposed to, but in the eyes of LGBTQ+ youth, this could be a way to take away the only space that some students feel welcomed in.
Jared Lutu, a recent high school graduate, has witnessed the impact of LGBTQ+ student clubs during his time in school and believes its presence is more important now than ever.
“As a member of the LGBTQ+ community, I am a strong advocate of clubs for younger generations to explore and discover new exciting things about themselves, I believe that such sensitive topics should be introduced to young minds in order for them to understand them better as they mature,” Lutu said. “Our world is and will forever be a hateful place. The only thing we can do as a community is continuing to advocate for ourselves and for
SPACE from PAGE 3
billion in grants and contracts to private space companies. In 2024, the US government spent a total of $79.7 billion on space programs both private and public, making it the global leader in space expenditure.
“I think the approach that exists here where any idea can get funded is huge,” Cucak said. “If you have a really good idea, you can easily back it up, you can get the funding you need and you can really make it work.”
Former NASA interns Brandon Lara and Diego Natividad have been witnesses to the ever-changing landscape of US aerospace research.
“NASA is really over research in getting us to a place,” Lara said. “I feel like we’re going to lose the fundamental idea behind this, which is research and getting us somewhere.” Lara is an alumnus of the NASA High School Aerospace (HAS) program. The program is offered to exclusively high school juniors in Texas and
each other, and that starts with our youth.”
Graduating in the class of 2025, Lutu and many other graduates completed K-12 school before these restrictions will take effect and left their LGBTQ+ underclassmen peers without the support that they
ignore these changes.
While transitioning is already hard for students, the bill adds another barrier for transgender students to be accepted for who they are.
The timing of this bill has also sparked criticism by advocates, as it came at the start of
support; they help build an understanding of peace.
“These clubs being implemented in our youth should not be seen as a threat, but as a means of creating peace,” Lutu said. “We cannot move on to a better future without the ability to repair and release the wounds
once had.
Senate Bill 12 will also prohibit a school’s faculty and staff from using pronouns or names for student that have a preference that differs from what they were assigned at birth. Even if a student has permission from their parents, school districts will now have the authority to
provides its scholars with a lens into the life of an aerospace engineer.
“I feel like private agencies, as much as it is for research, is also about money,” Lara said.
At the end of 2024, the global space economy was valued at $596 billion and is estimated to be worth $944 billion by 2033.
Individual profit numbers have not been made public by the major space corporations.
Texas Tech sophomore, Diego Natividad, a two-time NASA intern who conducted research in collaboration with the Airforce regarding Mars rover prototypes and housing components designed for drones powered by Artificial Intelligence, believes private companies serve to advance aerospace research.
“I believe them (private companies) doing their research being funded by NASA is a really good thing because they don’t have to go through as many loopholes,” Natividad said. “There’s more room for growth with those companies
they’ve been there for 70 years, and nobody had even asked who they were and that’s what began the search and the journey of these books,” Hernandez said. “The entire time I was recording with my cell phone, I wasn’t thinking of it as a documentary or a film, I just thought to keep recordings of this. Until one day I sat down and took a look at the recordings I have of families and realized this is powerful.”
Throughout his years of endless researching, Hernandez has had opportunities to connect with families of the victims including the pilots’ families, working non-stop with them to protect their stories and be the voice to tell them. Hernandez even raised money to put headstones on their late loved ones’ graves.
“I want the stories to come from the families themselves,” Hernandez said “My job isn’t to say, here’s how the story should be told. My job is to say, ‘Here’s the microphone, here’s the camera, and tell me your story. Tell us your personal point of view, tell us how your family was affected’, ask these questions not just to the Mexicano’s but the pilots’ families, the families’ stories become testimonies.
of our past.”
Pride Month, a time of empowerment meant to celebrate LGBTQ+ community’s identity and progress. Critics say the move overshadows the month’s message and contributes to a broader sense of hate directed toward the community. Like many others, Lutu also believes that these clubs offer more than Iziah Moreno is the photo editor and may be reached iamorenogavald@miners.utep.edu.
compared to NASA.”
The mentality over the positive features of private companies can be felt through different generations of researchers.
“It’s a lot more competitive,” Cucak said over contrasting public and private sector research. “You’re always focused on getting things done in the most efficient way, in the most cost-efficient way, you have to work maybe more compared to (the) public sector. But as a researcher and scientist, that’s how you make huge progress and milestones.”
Yet, progress made by private corporations still need to be surveyed morally and legally.
“No, of course it’s not ethical,” Cucak said in regard to private companies withholding information for profit. “But here in the States, private space sectors need to follow Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations.”
As private sector research continues to grow, the possibility of sending humans to space becomes more of a reality.
Since receiving Governor Greg Abbott’s signature on June 20, the bill will take effect on Sept. 1, and carry out for the 20252026 school year, and clubs some Texas students once relied on will no longer exist.
Hernandez’s biggest advice is to start from where you know, your home. Bringing voices from El Paso as the city is a borderland mixed with a plethora of Mexican culture, it’s important for city natives to acknowledge this story too.
“We have amazing journalists, intellectuals and people who care about activists and our community. We know the bicultural, bilingual, fronterizo experiences well so I’m bringing in locals because we are the experts,” Hernandez said. “We are the voices of these issues; it is also an El Paso story.”
“I definitely think that these private companies can go all in,” Natividad said.
But in order to put all the chips in one basket, researchers believe that the main priority to the public, has to be safety.
“The most important thing if we talk about touristic and commercial space flight is that it’s safe for the people who travel,” Cucak said.
The space sector is close to openeing up space travel to willing tourists, marking a feat only comparable to when Neil Armstrong first stepped on the moon he infamously said, “One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.” Funding for contemporary research has shown that the next giant leap into space exploration may not come from a government agency but a private company.
Hernandez wants viewers to watch this film with a lasting impression of restoring human dignity. The film is about fighting against recent systems that make the world separated and sharing the story of families who are affected.
“They all had hopes and dreams, and it was shattered by one deportation,” Hernandez said. “How can we look at one another as people in this country and say maybe we are a little different but recognize you are a human being and I’ll always have that respect for one another, that is the most important thing.”
Hernandez’s documentary “All they will call you” is now in its final stages of production and will be pushing for a release by the end of this year. Follow Tim Hernandez @t.z.hernandez on Instagram to follow along with his journey and support his upcoming projects.
Texas Senate Bill 12 will force LGBTQ+ student clubs in K-12 schools to disband at the start of the 2025-2026 school year. This law will also stop the use of different pronouns or names for students as well. Photo by Iziah Moreno/The Prospector
Arts & Culture
Jesie Garcia, editor
Keeping culture alive through the love of creation
particular passion for cumbia.
With El Paso sitting right on the Southern Border, many say it makes for an interesting blend of cultures. While the Bordertown produces unique art, food and music, El Paso’s nightlife is lit up by DJs whose passion for music creates a connection with the binational culture.
Whether they’ve been mixing for years or are up and coming in the nightlife scene, these DJs all share a connection to the border culture which they express in their art during unprecedented times or simply to get people to have fun.
DJ Topo Chica, 34, has been mixing for seven years with a
She started with playing small sets at her old place of employment as an opportunity to attract a crowd.
Music has always been a part of Topo Chica’s upbringing.
She says cumbia was heard on the streets, in clubs and vinyl records that spun in her grandparents’ living room. She feels El Paso’s creative community has embraced her and her music, which resonates with many because it feels so close to home for them.
“I’ve been so community based in my life. I just always felt like everyone was always supportive of each other and support is not something that’s been lacking in my life,” Topo Chica said.
Topo Chica says there’s a responsibility she feels when it comes to keeping her roots alive through her craft and even taking them outside the El Paso city limits, as she recently expanded her talent to New Mexico.
“When we play Latin music, we are taking it outside our walls. It’s
travelling to other people and they’re having this understanding of being like ‘Oh wow. This is soulful.’” Topo Chica said. “We don’t want [culture] to die. We want the next generation to understand this is the roots of now.”
Mixed mediums of art during DJs’ sets also allow for El Paso’s nightlife to light up with layered intricate aspects of their culture.
DJ of five years AC Rudo, 38, presents himself with a black and red luchador mask and prides himself on his mix of fashion and music through his art. The mask is a representation of his roots as his grandfather was a luchador himself.
“The whole point is I want to align culture with music and fashion. That’s my main objective that’s what I’m bringing with the mask,” AC Rudo said.
Rudo says he is the son of immigrants, which alters the perspective of his art. This has led to making political stances during sets which he feels come from a place of love, experience and empathy.
“I took a chance, and I made a shirt that said [political phrases] and I wore it on stage,” Rudo said. “I thought I’d get backlash, but I was playing in front of the raza. Everyone has the same feeling of wanting to say something and stand up for family.”
Diversity is a key aspect of life for AC Rudo as he feels the mere act of existing within one’s culture is an act of activism.
“You can be political with showing your culture—any
culture. I think now people should put that out there more. Put your culture on your clothes, accessories, and anything that identifies you and your family, wherever you come from,” AC Rudo said.
With the adversities that Latino-Americans face, from subtle microaggressions to tragic acts of hate, some feel that the arts and music is a true healer. Beja, 29, has been in El Paso’s DJ scene since 2016. Beja says he’s experienced first-hand the way music heals a community. He experienced the energy in the room as his DJ duo, The Swell Kids, opened for Kahlid at the El Paso Walmart shooting benefit show on Sept. 1, 2019.
hustle, true artists produce what they love because of passion and not because of who’s watching. However, he says one of the truest rewards is healing interactions.
“I remember, after playing, walking into the crowd and there was an older gentleman that pulled me aside. He was like, ‘I wanted to say I think what you did was amazing. I lost my son at the Walmart shooting. He would’ve loved to see you guys perform. I had a good time seeing you guys up there because you remind me of him.’ That’s something I didn’t even realize I was doing for someone,” Beja said.
Beja says that although making it as an artist involves a lot of
BWOMS has the ‘write’ stuff
As rain trickled outside, a large fan fought the humidity inside of the Old Sheepdog Brewery, jazz music hummed throughout the room, and poets, musicians and supporters flowed in waiting for an evening of spoken word to begin.
On June 26, Barbed Wire Open Mic Series (BWOMS) hosted an open mic night for musicians and writers of all ages. They host open mics at Old Sheepdog every last Thursday of the month.
Established in 2007, as part of The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) Master of Fine Arts creative writing department, BWOMS acted as an opportunity for students and professors to share their craft. Since its founding 18 years ago, the open mic series has become a platform for El Paso’s creative voices. Now part of the nonprof-
it organization BorderSenses, it has evolved to resonate with new generations of artists.
According to BWOMS project director Richie David Marrufo, the series has transitioned from hosting a monthly event to hosting multiple a week, offering many professional development opportunities for performing artists to get stage time, practice their craft and network.
“Part of our mission along with BorderSenses, is to promote literary arts, as well as literacy projects in the region,” Marrufo said. “We just want to encourage people to produce their own original work, produce culture, tell their own stories, share their voices [and] embolden others.”
Marrufo shared that the open mic isn’t only for writers and performers, it is also a place for anyone curious about production, lighting, music equipment and even photography, to learn and contribute.
“I’m also encouraging people who want to learn more professional skills like sound engineering, how we do live audio, how to set up and tear down equipment,” Marrufo said. “I’ve invested a lot in equipment so people who want to volunteer to take photos of the open mic performers can share and post it on social media.”
As a UTEP alumnus, Marrufo first got involved with BWOMS performing poetry and playing his saxophone. The freedom to express himself and be surrounded by other creatives made the open mic a home for him. After his friend and co-founder of BWOMS Roberto Santos began preparing to be less hands on with the open mic, he helped prepare Marrufo to become more involved.
“I became friends with Roberto and over time he started taking more of a step back and I would practice hosting, and he would kind of watch and give
feedback,” Marrufo said.
Since then, there has been no looking back for Maruffo, and he has continued to take initiatives to expand BWOMS while never losing sight of its original mission.
“There are so many memorable moments,” Maruffo said. “You see people on stage find
“That’s what I truly feel what art is,” Beja said. “It’s the human connection that you get with people. Whether it’s a photo, music, a body of work—if you can connect with just one person and it can make them resonate, that’s why you do what you do.”
The speakers continue to bump every weekend as El Paso’s DJs keep filling rooms with love and noise. A personal need for the continuance of culture and healing from the prejudice El Paso has experienced keeps many artists going even in the most unprecedented times.
Garcia is the arts and culture editor of The Prospector and can be contacted at jlgarcia36@miners. utep.edu or on Instagram @empanadaslens.
themselves and maybe they are shy or awkward or anxious or nervous, but then you see their muscles loosen up and they get relaxed and in their flow. They are expressing themselves.”
Joshua Cabrales, 20-year-old UTEP student, sees the open...
Instagram @evelynp.media. read MORE at theprospectordaily.com
Jesie
There are a variety of ways to spin, but Topo Chica has a love for vinyl where she gets a nostalgic feel for her cumbias. Photo by Jesie Garcia/The Prospector
DJs can be found all over town over the weekends, connecting with their audiences. Photo by Jesie Garcia/The Prospector
Everyone has a role at BWOMS open mics whether it’s host, performer or attentive audience member. Photo by Jesie Garcia/The Prospector
Reconnecting with indigenous culture and identity through reviving an ancient tongue
At the Alamito Cultural Center in El Paso’s Segundo Barrio, a diverse group of people, ranging from a fifth graders, college graduates and retired educators, gather with a single commonality: to learn the Mexica language of Nahuatl.
The class, taught entirely out of the will of author, historian, musician and cultural activist, David Romo, Ph.D. It takes place every Tuesday with the mission to create a supportive community where culture, language and ancestral knowledge can be celebrated.
“I think right now is a time where a lot of people are in need of emotional support –spiritual support. There are a lot of people that want to reconnect to their indigenous ancestral knowledge as Mexican Americans,” Romo said.
The class began with every student declaring “Notoca ...” (Nahuatl for “my name is”) and sharing why they decided to attend. Common themes rang true such as finding a place for emotional healing, reclaiming the indigeneity that has been denied to them, and a desire to create community.
“We’re just here creating
communities, supporting each other and reconnecting to our spirituality,” Romo said.
Following introductions was a prayer led by Abuela Bea, a respected elder, whose gentle authority moved the class from instruction into ceremony, reconnecting them with the North, East, South and West directions of the land each representing something different.
Nahuatl is the language of the Mexica who have been misnamed as the “Aztecs” and has existed for over 6,000 years, Romo explained.
“It’s a part of our ancestral language and a lot of us feel that we should know about it because it has a different worldview when you enter the worldview of indigenous people,” Romo said.
The class on July 15 was accompanied by guest speaker Yolanda Leyva, Ph.D., a Chicana/fronteriza historian, wr iter and associate professor of history at The University of Texas at El Paso. Leyva emphasized throughout her portion of the lecture that what you get from surrounding yourself with community you can’t get from books alone.
This sentiment resonated with Jazmine Cuevas, an Afro-Chica-
na and El Paso native home for the summer from studying at Cornell University. After hearing about the classes during the spring semester, she was finally able to attend her first session.
“I wasn’t expecting a lecture like this, but it was a beautiful lecture. Knowing the conceptual of Mexicas is important,” Cuevas said.
Cuevas, who also traces her roots to the West African Yoruba people, appreciates the cultural teachings she can find in her hometown.
“To live in a place that’s very alone and isolating and doesn’t have access to this kind of knowledge. I heard about it [the classes] during the spring semester and was super sad I couldn’t make it,” Cuevas said.
Romo began hosting the classes at the Film Café in Downtown El Paso, assuming only ten people would show up. Instead, nearly 40 attended. Five months later, he continues to be pleasantly surprised with the growing turnout of new and dedicated students who come with a purpose.
“You could see that it is heartfelt. It means something for people to reconnect to their
Traveling through El Paso’s coffee scene
With the scorching El Paso heat and summer break in full swing, the city is becoming less interested in sitting down at a café for a hot cup of coffee. A solution to combat this situation may be found in a little treasure through a business alliance of El Paso coffee shops. In a collaborative effort, seven local coffee shops launched the El Paso Coffee Passport, a new campaign to attract caffeine lovers despite the summer conditions.
This idea involves a passport-style booklet containing
blank pages for stamps to be placed to help ramp up sales from the participating coffee shops: Savage Goods, Synaxis Coffee Co., Café Con Leche, Unbound Café, Mas y Menos, Casa Cafetzin Coffee Roasters and Viejo Coffee. The passport offers 25 percent off purchases at these locations. Once all the stamps are collected, participants will receive a tote bag from the location where they initially purchased the passport.
Experienced barista Tori Hernandez emphasizes how wonderful she believes this idea is and expresses appreciation for the collaboration.
“I thought this idea was super cool. I think coffee culture in El Paso has grown and is still growing for the past five years,” Tori said. “They are all doing amazing work. It’s all collaborative. We all want El Paso to experience coffee and that is what the passport is doing.”
Anabel Martinez, a local barista and one of the main organizers of this group effort, shared her thought process and how the project took about a year to execute.
“We structured it to generate excitement for coffee in El Paso.
indignity, to their ancestral knowledge,” Romo said. “This government is trying to erase brown people and it (learning Nahuatl) is a way to decolonize ourselves and not forget our ancestral roots. Relearning our languages is a way to open a door to the people that were already here and reconnect ourselves to those ancestral groups.”
After the lecture, attendees gathered to share some food from a potluck-style table and shared stories with one another. Shakers and drums were then passed around as the drum circle was preparing to commence.
Songs such as “Venadito Azul” and “Huey Tonantzin” filled the room, with the rhythms of drums and rattles echoing loudly as the students raised their
voices together to sing in Nahuatl with the new words they learned in that night’s lecture.
The Nahuatl classes are structured in two sections; the first at 6 p.m. being for an intermediate group that focuses on grammar and different parts of the language followed by a larger group at 6:30 p.m. who gather to learn history, for support, and to participate in the drumming.
Classes are held every Tuesday at the Alamito Cultural Center on 508 S. Vieginia St, El Paso Texas 77901. Visit @david.d.romo on Instagram for more details.
Evelyn Palma is the editor-in-chief of The Prospector and can be contacted at epalma@miners.utep.edu or on Instagram @evelynp.media.
We wanted this to be full-blown El Paso, from the making of the passport and tote bag to the cafés that we chose,” Martinez said. “Everyone has their own style, their own specialties. So, I did want to put in that variety.”
The Coffee Passport is not only said to be an innovative and fun experience but holds greater meaning. The passport is generating excitement among coffee connoisseurs to go and support their local coffee shops
“That was the main goal, to be able to create community, to be able to check out these different selections in these different locations,” Martinez said.
By encouraging the consumer to explore multiple local spots, it helps generate more movement and interaction across the different cafés in El Paso while also boosting support for local coffee shops and creating a stronger stronger sense of community. The coffee passport carries the potential to grow into an annual tradition that celebrates connection and collaboration for years to come. Kahri
Words through culture, Writing en Caliente
The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) offers the only bilingual MFA creative writing program in the country. The program’s students used this linguistic and creative opportunity to connect with other students.
Writing En Caliente is the first bilingual creative writing workshop hosted by UTEP’s MFA creative writing students to teach others how to express their identity through English and Spanish. With UTEP being a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI), the demographic is 85% Latino as it relates to the student population.
For many it is more than just a class, it’s a space to celebrate their heritage and challenge the idea that creativity belongs to only one language.
Many come from Spanish-speaking households and prefer speaking and writing in that language which could become a barrier as a student in the U.S.
Mariana Riestra, creative writing professor, MFA student
and one of the instructors for the workshop believes there is enrichment in bilingualism with creative expression and personal stories, broadening narrative possibilities and challenging traditional academic norms.
“I know there are students at UTEP who feel threatened to take a class in English, and I hate the idea of them feeling like they’re not a part of our community because they don’t speak English,” Riestra said.
“Letting them decide however they want to write broadness their opportunities and lets them know that their education is important to us and we’re going to do the best we can so they feel that their voices are heard whether that is in one language or another.”
The workshop is taught with a mix of English and Spanish, allowing students to explore the language that resonates most with them. The UTEP community continues to build upon itself, creating a supportive and inclusive environment for students to express their cultural identities...
The passport offers coffee lovers 25% off at select locations, such as Mas y Menos. Photo by Ximena Cordero/The Prospector
A student listens attentively to the class surrounded by her peers eager to learn. Photo by Evelyn Palma/The Prospector EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
KAHRI
Summer Shots
Photos by Ximena Cordero, Jesie Garcia, Kandice Gutierrez, Kristian Hernandez, Iziah Moreno, Devin Nava, Evelyn Palma /The Prospector
Iziah Moreno, editor
Sports
Undeafeted records fall as Ring Wars XVIII packs a punch
Ring Wars XVIII took place on July 12 at the El Paso County Coliseum. The event was organized by King’s Promotions and showcased notable boxers such as Ivy “Poison Ivy” Enriquez, Nayeli Rodriguez and Jorge “El Jaguar” Tovar looking to maintain their undefeated records.
First Bout
Out of the blue corner, hailing from Las Cruces, New Mexico, Devon Garcia made his pro debut where he faced Fort Worth, Texas, boxer Avante Kamara, who was also making his pro debut. This welterweight bout did not make it through all four scheduled rounds as Garcia was able to land a solid right where Kamara was against the ropes. Garcia kept attacking as Kamara was stuck and not countering with any punches. The referee intervened and called the fight to give Garcia the win by technical knockout (TKO). Kamara looked visibly frustrated after the match.
“[I’m] here to take out the whole welterweight division,” Garcia stated in his postfight interview.
Second Bout
Las Cruces fighter D’Angelo Sanchez faced Rondarius Hunter of Atlanta, in a four-round super flyweight matchup. Sanchez started strong in the first round, landing clean shots. As a result, Hunter attempted multiple clinches with varying results forcing the referee to break up the clinches multiple times. Sanchez’s constant pressure paid off in the third round, with the referee calling off the fight and Sanchez taking the win via TKO.
Third Bout
The four-round heavyweight matchup featured El Paso boxer Marcos Duran (2-0) with all his victo-
ries coming by way of knockout (KO) and Vercell Webster (2-6-1) from Dallas, Texas. Round one witnessed both fighters trading hits yet Duran landed some key punches. This bout had a slower pace with a technical showing of both competitors. In the fourth round, Webster landed big hits that sent Duran to the ground twice. After the fight, the judges would score the match 38-37 unanimously in Webster’s favor.
“He was the better man tonight,” Duran said eaning his first loss.
Fourth Bout
This six-round lightweight matchup included Andres Rey from New Mexico with an undefeated record of 5-0 against Gary Hampton from Fort Worth, Texas with a record of 5-2.
Although both opponents were trading punches, Hampton got the best out of the trades and got precision hits on Rey. Hampton won by unanimous decision, giving Rey the first loss of his career.
Fifth Bout
Making her pro debut, hailing from Liverpool, New York, Damiana Andrello fought Enriquez from El Paso, Texas.
The first round heard chants of “Ivy” from the crowd, with both fighters getting good hits. Round two was where Enriquez took over the momentum of the fight. Andrello struggled to gain control as her opponent did not stop the pressure. After all four rounds, it would be Enriquez’s hand that would be raised as the unanimous winner.
The Team USA participant looks to keep her perfect record
that is now 4-0.
Sixth Bout
The Queen of the Ring Championship belt would go for all six rounds featuring El Paso fighter Rodriguez against Alexis Mones from Fort Worth, Texas. The fight had a technical pace from the
start with both opponents getting good hits. Rodriguez would swing the momentum in her favor with key hits. The bout was a constant battle with Mones clinching and later bleeding from the nose. Rodriguez won unanimously.
Seventh Bout
Undefeated fighter Tovar from
El Paso would fight Joaquin Murrieta Lucio of Sonora, Mexico in the King of the Ring Championship match. During the fight, Tovar was the one getting the most out of the trades in punches with Lucio trying to get in clinches with some success.
While Lucio was able to land big hooks, he fell first with one knee to the ground in the third round. The referee would stop the fight in the third round which gave Tovar the win by TKO to keep his perfect record.
Eighth Bout
The main event was Albuquerque’s rising star Abaraham “Hammer” Perez who was undefeated and Angel Geovanny
Morales from Baja California, Mexico with a record of 9-3-3. Perez would earn some combinations with decent contact while Morales would get some key hits. The Hammer took control over the bout that left Morales struggling. While the pace of the fight was not as fast as the other one, the technique seen in the main event was notable. After eight rounds, the Hammer would be given the unanimous decision to earn his 12th victory with no losses.
While many fighters, including Enriquez, Perez, Tovar and Rodriguez, add another win to their perfect record, Duran and Rey will have a “one” on their professional records.
D’Angelo of Las Cruces wins against and Atlanta’s Rondarius Hunter fight in the Super flyweight matchup at the El Paso County Coliseum. Photo by Iziah Moreno/The Prospector
Fort Worth boxer Gary Hampton gave New Mexico fighter Andres Rey his first loss of his career on July 12. Photo by Iziah Moreno/The Prospector
Kristian Hernandez is the sports editor
Ivy Enriquez remains undefeated after Ring Wars July 12. Photo by Iziah Moreno/The Prospector
Kristian Hernandez, editor
El Paso’s ‘Crazy Train’ forced to a screeching halt by San Antonio
El
The El Paso Locomotive’s turnaround from the 2024-2025 is one only comparable to a ‘Crazy Train’, as just last year they had won only three matches midway through the United Soccer League Championship’s (USL) season. Despite a rally late in the year, the Locomotive ended up with eight wins, earning them last place in the USL’s Western Conference. One season later, the Locomotive has revved up and are in the fight for a spot at the top of the USL table, holding six wins halfway through the season. Yet the Locomotive’s attempt to go from worst to first came to a screeching halt after suffering a 2-1 defeat to in-state rival San Antonio FC, knocking them down from second place in the Western Conference, to third.
Crognale. Acquired by San Antonio this past offseason, Crognale aimed for the far-right post and finished, quieting the record breaking 8,432 fans in attendance, the largest crowd the Locomotive has ever drawn in their seven-year franchise history. The pressure was back on El Paso, but what unfolded in the final minutes were missed shots and a red card given to Moreno.
“Some players were really below the level that we are used to,” Cabrera said after the game.
“I think today is one of those days that the team, in fairness, didn’t play well. Now we have to somehow forget about this game. We need to prove to ourselves that we are a better team,” Head Coach Cabrera said.
The El Paso Locomotive will play away, July 12 against Sacramento Republic FC, who is currently fifth in the USL’s Western Conference.
“Today was in my opinion the worst game that we have played of the season,” Head Coach of the El Paso Locomotive William Cabrera said. “[We] continued making individual mistakes in the back. It’s sad, with the ball we were unrecognizable.”
San Antonio FC came into the match sitting at fourth place in the Western Conference trailing El Paso in the table only by goal difference. That stat quickly changed, as in the 10th minute of the match, striker and Major League Soccer (MLS) veteran Juan Agudelo took advantage of an inaccurate pass by Alvaro Quezada to knock the ball through the top of the left crossbar to earn San Antonio a 1-0 advantage. At the 41st minute San Antonio FC had another chance to score off the leg of former MLS player Luke Haakenson, but Locomotive defender Wahab Ackwei’s challenge denied Haakenson the opportunity to
score. Trailing by a goal right before the end of the half, Head Coach Cabrera’s son, William Cabrera Jr., formerly drafted by MLS club Chicago Fire in 2023, took a chance with a shot from the top of the penalty box but was rejected by means of a leaping save by San Antonio goalkeeper Daniel Namani, protecting San Antonio’s 1-0 lead through halftime. Arriving at the 66th minute, Locomotive midfielder Frank Daroma decided to shoot outside the penalty box, causing Namani to make another leaping save to the left of the goal. Right after the shot, speeding in came Amando Moreno, a former MLS and Liga MX player. Moreno shot to the right post while Namani was attempting to get back up to challenge the shot but it was too late,
as Moreno claimed the Locomotive’s first goal of the night to draw both teams at one. At the 82nd minute a costly foul committed by the Locomotives set up San Antonio with a free kick to the right of the goal. Initially, El Paso cleared it out of the goal box, but the clearence sent the ball right to San Antonio midfielder Dominick Hernandez, who in one touch made a high pass across the goal and into the possesion of a wideopen teammate Alex
“Today was a really poor performance by the team.” San Antonio FC now sits at second place in the USL Western Conference with seven wins as well as an easier path to claiming the division two Copa Tejas– a trophy that is given out to the best Texas team in the USL. The cup also has a division one trophy given to the best Texas team in the MLS. As fireworks crackled through the night sky overlooking Southwest University Park on the USA’s 249th Independence Day, all that occupied the minds of the Locos was how to respond after their loss.
Leveling Up: The rise of esports in El Paso
Competitive gaming is gaining momentum in El Paso, with UTEP’s Honey Badgers and Damascus Game Center pushing for the lead.
The Honey Badgers, UTEP’s official esports club, and Damascus Game Center, a West Side gaming hub, are working together to build a stronger gaming culture. Through shared resources, community events, and competitive tournaments, they are proving that esports can create real opportunities for students and local gamers alike.
At the Shoppes at Solana, Damascus Gaming has become a hotspot for both casual and competitive gamers. Opened in October 2024, the space features high-tech gaming PCs, direct-line internet and a strong focus on esports development.
Daniel Teske, CEO of Damascus Gaming explained that the
company is working to spread esports throughout the city of El Paso.
“We want to turn El Paso into a hub for esports,” Teske said.
“It’s not just about gaming, it’s about creating real futures through this industry.”
Teske and his team, made up of experts in law, IT and business, see esports as more than just a hobby. They believe it teaches leadership, focus, teamwork and lifelong skills.
Luis Ballester, COO of Damascus Gaming explains their esports gaming experience, in not only El Paso but across the globe. “We’ve traveled around the world to run events,” Ballester said. “Now we’re using that experience to build something great in El Paso.”
As Damasucs builds its reputation in the local gaming scene, Edgar Medina, president of the UTEP Honey Badgers, is leading efforts to grow esports initiatives
on campus.
“We finally secured a room in the Undergraduate Learning Center with gaming chairs, PCs, and space for Nintendo Switch players,” Medina said. “That was a big step forward.”
The Honey Badgers are also partnered with Damascus to use their space for team training and competitions.
Damascus has also decided to promote the Honey Badgers by displaying the team and their upcoming matches on TVs throughout the facility.
“This gives our players a real stage,” Medina said. “It helps us reach more people and build a real community.”
Medina said he hopes to change the way people view gaming, because for him, Honey Badgers has been more than a club, but a pathway and a place to grow connections
“There’s a stigma that gaming is a waste of time, but esports offers real skills, career paths and ways to connect with others,” Medina said.“Gamers are often introverted, but through this club, we’ve built a family. We hang out, compete and grow together.”
He added that esports can prepare students for careers in tech, broadcasting, event planning and countless other opportunities available.
“You learn time management, how to stay calm under pressure, and how to work as a team,” Medina said.
With growing support and new resources, both Damascus Game Center and the Honey Badgers are shaping the future of gaming in El Paso. As the esports scene continues to grow, players are finding not just competition, but community and opportunity.
Devin Nava is a contributor at The Prospector and may be reached at dnava8@miners.utep.edu
Photo by Kristian Hernandez/The Prospector
Locomotive forward Amando Moreno scored the game-tying goal, yet San Antonio scored their second to win.
Photo by Kristian Hernandez/The Prospector
UTEP’s esports team is now working with Damascus Games to access equipment. Photo by Devin Nava/The Prospector
Multimedia
Sebastian Perez-Navarro, editor
Picking up on The Prospector Podcast!
The Summer spin-off, episode three Picking up on 600 ESPN El Paso
aaTo conclude The Prospector’s venture into summer apodcasting, episode three used alot of “imagination.” The Summer spin-off finale focuses on coffee passports and runs down summer blockbusters. Finally, a true star, Patrick Star is introduced. He goes over how The Spongebob Musical is bringing its underwater magic to The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP).
Behind the scenes is where multimedia shines brightest
Two weeks into the spring 2025 semester, it was time for me to host The Prospector Podcast for the first time ever. I had just been promoted to the role of multimedia editor and was still finding my footing, so walking into the studio I knew two things.
First, what we were going to talk about. Second, that I’d have my friend from high school Cameron Mason, a contributor that semester, by my side as a co-host, but what I didn’t know is that an unplanned member would be joining us on that first episode. Before going into the studio that day in early February, I was running down the plans with Cameron, who just so happened to be sitting next to Kristian Hernandez. Kristian, also a contributor at the time, happily offered to help us film the podcast. We didn’t really need help with camera work, after all the studio we used already had one, so I did the next best thing I could to include him. I asked if he wanted to co-host.
Despite it being last minute, Kristian said yes. Since that day he’s co-hosted 11 podcast episodes with me and has served as the best ying to my yang that I can ask for. Whether it was him swiftly shooting down my request to be friends on episode six of season 12, helping me and
and Cameron properly tie our 10 anniversary balloons, or allowing me to compare him to a Minecraft Enderman after saying “because no one looks me in the eye,” in episode seven of season 12.
Most importantly, Kristian has been my support system for the podcast. No matter the day, or time, he’s always there, ready to work and help make the podcast as best as it can be by pitching topics or skit ideas, such as trying matcha in episode three of The Summer Spin-off.
I attribute Kristian and his attitude for giving The Prospector Podcast a feel-good view around the office. His willingness to participate spread like wildfire, as staff members and editors gained those emotions and always
My first time filming, reporting and editing a video independently at the collegiate level was in January of this year, but I was lucky not to be alone. By my side was Ximena Cordero, former audience and engagement editor and current web and copy editor. Ximena helped me with my vision for said video, pitching locations for my standup and running around campus with me to get interviews. She also made sure my framing was right and that the audio was working.
To this day, I know that every time I set off to make a video I can always count on her to help...
Radio personalities Steve aaKaplowitz and Adrian Broaddus from 600 ESPN El Paso joined The Prospector Podcast to discuss everything UTEP and El Paso sports. Adrian Broaddus is a Prospector alumnus, who has worked with UTEP Student Media and Publications for four years, serving in positions such as sports editor, web and copy editor and even editor-in-chief. A special congratulations to legend Steve Kaplowitz for his 30 year radio anniversary.
Summer Rewind
Coldplay brings ‘Sparks’ to El Paso!
aaaThe world’s biggest alteranative rockband brought their “Music of the Spheres,” World Tour to El Paso, Texas. The concert marked the only stop that Coldplay made in the lonestar state, putting all eyes on the Sun Bowl. Having the opportunity to live a once in a lifetime experience El Paso sold out the two nights that Coldplay performed.
The Prospector Podcast Summer Spin-off moved to the Education Building due to ongoing renovations at the regular studio. Photo by The Prospector