Student Senate meets to discuss the impact of hurricanes

...Award-winning newspaper for The University of Texas of the Permian Basin...
Friday, October 14, 2005
Volume 24 · Issue 3
Student Senate meets to discuss the impact of hurricanes
by Jason Navarette
Editor-in-Chief
The Sept. 23 UT Permian
Basin Student Senate Meeting
opened with an address from UT
Permian Basin Student Senate
President Paymon Kamali, who remarked on the impact of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. On the
evening of Sept. 22, the university
Gymnasium was transformed into
a makeshift emergency shelter capable of housing about 800 victims
displaced by the hurricanes.
He said, “We’re in a state of
emergency right now . . . Yesterday,
there was a traffic jam [in Texas]
for hundreds of miles.”
Kamali remarked that the
Student Senate should consider the
perspective of the incoming Gulf
Coast evacuees.
“In an emergency situation, people have to respond quickly.
Our role is to help in any way possible . . . We’re talking about millions of people fleeing a section of
the [U.S.]. These people are at the
most vulnerable point in their lives.
This is a great opportunity for [the
Student Senate] to take a leadership
position.”
One concern that Kamali
focused on was campus safety.
Vice President of Student
Services Dr. Susan Lara stated that
the issue of safety should be addressed by the university.
She said, “We have a lot of
security here on campus . . . we are
concerned with student safety.”
School of Business Student
Senator Mike Wheeler delivered a
presentation regarding campus
safety and student security. The
presentation focused on security
issues raised due to the influx of
hurricane victims onto the university campus.
In response, UT Permian
Basin President Dr. W. David Watts
offered his perspective on the safety
and security of the university campus.
“I observed at least a dozen
police officers,” Watts stated, adding, “I’ve been impressed with the
security that the police have
brought to bear.”
Another issue the presentation focused on was the quality of
education at UT Permian Basin.
Watts remarked on this as
well, stating, “The quality of education you get here, I think, is second-to-none.” He went on to say
that he believes UT Permian Basin
exceeds many of its peers in education.
Following the presentation, Kamali reiterated his position
Photo by Jason Navarette
University President Dr. W. David Watts swears in the 2005-2006 Student
Senators during the Sept. 30 Senate meeting.
on the role that the Student Senate
should play in the emergency situation.
He said, “This is the time to
show our school spirit . . . . This is
the time to show what [the Student
Senate is] all about.”
After a short recess, the
Student Senate reconvened near the
UT Permian Basin Gymnasium so
History Club makes university
cleaner through recycling
The Red, White and Blue
by Tabitha Overby
Staff Writer
Photo by Isidro Gonzales
A little girl stands by a flag during the 2005 Sept. 11 Memorial.
Call for compositions for
UT Permian Basin Alma Mater
The UT Permian Basin Athletic Band is announcing a contest open
to anyone with interest to compose an original alma mater for the
choir to sing or band to play for the UT Permian Basin athletic
teams. The winning composer or composers will receive a one-time
$300 cash prize for their contribution to university history.
All submissions must meet the following prerequisites: The song
must have original lyrics and original/public domain music; must
be at least one minute in length; must be written for the piano (the
winning composition will be scored for band performance by Dr.
Dan Keast); must have opportunity for crowd participation; and
must have appropriate lyrics reflecting on the falcon and/or UT
Permian Basin or campus traditions.
To enter the competition, include lyrics under the melody or on a
separate sheet of paper. A cover letter should be included to introduce a contestant, contact information, the inspiration for the alma
mater and any other necessary information pertaining to the contestant or composition. Submissions are due Nov. 14 by 5 p.m. to
Keast’s office, located in room MB4146, or the Humanities and Fine
Arts Office in room MB4103. All selections will be recorded by a
pianist and vocalist for anonymous review by a panel of students
and faculty. The winning entry will be announced at the home basketball game on Jan. 9 between the women’s and men’s game.
that members of the American Red
Cross of Southwest Texas could give
senators a glimpse into the security
features offered on campus and at
the emergency shelter.
Many have noticed
the recycling bins around
campus—bins in place due to
the UT Permian Basin History Club, a branch of Phi
Alpha Theta (PAT) National
History Honor Society.
History Club Advisor Dr. Jaime Aguila, along
with club President Leslie
Coughran, club Vice President Deandra Martinez and
club Secretary and Treasurer
Eric Garcia, began the recycling campaign to help keep
the campus clean, provide
learning opportunities outside the classroom, impress
a value of recycling on the
campus and provide scholarships to members.
Aguila said that recycling is a life priority for
him and Coughran grew up
in Oregon where recycling is
big.
As far as getting
help, Aguila found someone
from Keep Odessa Beautiful
willing to provide informa-
tion about a recycling program. Aside from the information, the club has not received help from the City of
Odessa.
The History Club
has a few plans for the year
including: 30 new recycling
bins, getting more students
to help, increasing the
project’s size, becoming more
efficient with the program,
becoming more directly involved with Keep Odessa
Beautiful, including more for
plastic bottles and expanding club functions. Aside
from recycling, the club is
also working toward regular
movie nights and with other
organizations on campus for
hurricane relief efforts.
The History Club
wants to make people aware
of the recycling bins (the
white bins, not the gray or
black trash cans) and not
throw trash in them. Another request is that students
spread the word so everyone
can help keep UT Permian
Basin beautiful. Also, Aguila
would like to see people show
courtesy, campus pride and
appreciation by recycling.
UT Permian Basin Information
Colors
Burnt orange, black & white
Mascot
Falcon
Established
1969
Campus features
Mesa Building
Mesa Courtyard
Dunagan Library
Founders Building
Visual Arts Building
Falcon Dome (sports center)
Duck pond
Campus loop (roadway)
Stonehenge
Mesa Deck
Roden Field
Parker Ranch House
Prairie dogs, jack rabbits, burrowing owls
Aguila recognized
the efforts of Stacey Fuqua
from the institutional advancement office. By contacting Coca-Cola and SAM’S
Club, she has helped to get 43
bins donated for the recycling program.
The History Club is
a branch of PAT and, as
Coughran noted, many
people are intimidated by the
History Club because of this
affiliation, but it is also just a
club. Although PAT has high
requirements for its members, anyone interested in
joining the History Club
needs only to have taken
three history courses—a history major is not necessary
to join.
History Club member Brandon Young noted
that students do not need to
be a club member to help recycle or participate in club
events.
He said, “People
should keep their eyes peeled
for events.”
For more information about PAT or the History
Club and its functions, email
utpbhist@yahoo.com.
Inside
The MJ
Gonzales rants about
politics...
page 2
Testerment
reviews Tim Burton’s
Corpse Bride...
page 3
Falcon Sports Fall
2005 schedule...
page 4
Page 2, The Mesa Journal
Into the Wilderness
What is the Student Senate?
For the past few weeks, I
have attended the UT Permian
Basin Student Senate meetings.
Although I was not sure exactly
what to expect at first, I must
admit that I have thoroughly
enjoyed each of the sessions.
What exactly is the Student Senate?
The student body of UT
Permian Basin votes to elect
Jason
members to the Student Senate.
Navarette
The officers and Departmental
Editor-in-Chief Senators are elected during the
Spring Semester; the Class and
School of Business and Education Senators are elected
during the Fall Semester.
Within the Senate proper are five committees—
specialized groups of Senators who focus on a particular aspect of the university. The five committees are the
Student Affairs Committee, the Academic Affairs Committee, the Rules Committee, the Student’s Rights
Committee and the Public Affairs Committee.
What does the Student Senate do?
* The Student Senate represents the student
body of UT Permian Basin. Sure, this may sound obvious, but there’s more to it than that. Not only do Senators represent the student body, they also represent the
university as a whole. That’s a big responsibility.
* The Student Senate can allocate funds to
students, clubs and organizations. Clubs and organizations can request funds from the Senate, anywhere
up to $500 can be allotted to these groups. According
to Student Senate President Paymon Kamali, students
can also make a request for funds before the Student
Senate—the request cannot exceed $50.
* The Student Senate volunteers to help at
various activities and events. Student Senators volunteer yearly to lend a hand with Keep Odessa Beautiful, Adopt-A-Highway, the Feast of Sharing and Christmas in Action, just to name a few.
I tip my hat to the Student Senate. As a whole,
its members work hard within the Senate and the committees in order to serve the students of UT Permian
Basin. This cannot be an easy task.
I encourage students to take a more active role
in their university by learning more about the Student
Senate, as well as other facets of the university. Who
knows? Maybe you have what it takes to be a Student
Senator.
Opinion/Editorial
My Rant
What’s good for the goose
is good for the gander
Friday, October 14, 2005
Column by Isidro Gonzales
Assistant Editor
Something odd happened on the way to the U.S. capitol—a member of the Republican House
leadership team was indicted on criminal conspiracy in a campaign fundraising scheme. That person
was Tom Delay, Republican of Texas. This was the same man that “hemmed and hawed” over the Texas
redistricting plan until he got his way (as well as a majority of Republicans in the Texas delegation).
Never mind that it took making odd shaped districts to do this. Minutes after the indictment, Representative Delay accused the Democrats of playing partisan politics. But, wait a minute; was Delay not
placing his two cents in the redistricting battles of two years ago playing partisan politics?
Along those lines, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, Republican from Tennessee, is under investigation for suspected insider trading. Yet the line of corruption does not stop in Congress. Take a look at
Karl Rove and a suspected leak of sensitive information—it was recently revealed that a top aide to Vice
President Dick Cheney was allegedly the source of the leak. What I find odd is how a top aide that is
suspected of leaking information could do so without his boss knowing or authorizing . . . but I digress.
The very funny part of this whole mess is that each and every time there is a suspicion of corruption on
the part of the Republicans and they are called on it, they succinctly cry foul. Granted, this age-old ploy
has been done throughout the history . . . anyone remember the “Vast Right-wing Conspiracy” during
the Clinton Administration. But ultimately what I find very odd is that these same people (namely Delay
and Frist) were on the forefront to accuse, blame and point fingers for every flub or alleged misdeed the
Clinton Administration did. Now that the shoe is on the other foot, they don’t like the notoriety.
So, in short, I say, “What’s good for the goose is good for the gander.”
The UT Permian Basin Mesa Journal seeks an Assistant Editor to
work with the Editor in the production of the student newspaper.
The successful candidate will help the Editor develop story ideas;
manage the news content; analyze readership; write, coordinate,
edit and layout stories; update the newspaper website when
necessary; ensure writers meet deadlines; and represent the
newspaper at UT Permian Basin events. The Assistant Editor will be
expected to facilitate the newspaper production in the absence of
the Editor. The candidate must be an enrolled student either in an
undergraduate or graduate program at UT Permian Basin.
Applications for The Mesa Journal Assistant Editor can be picked up
in the UT Permian Basin Career Services Department located in the
PASS Office, MB1160 or online at http://www.collegecentral.com/utpb.
Please submit current résumé and a writing sample with application
by Oct. 17, 2005. Please call the Career Services Department at
(432) 552-2633 for additional questions.
UT Permian Basin is an Equal Opportunity Employer
Your Award-Winning Student
Newspaper
The Mesa Journal
e-mail: mesajournal@utpb.edu
PLACE YOUR
CLASSIFIED AD
FOR ONLY
$5.00 AN ISSUE
PER EDITED
COLUMN INCH
4901 E. University Blvd.
Odessa, TX 79762
Phone: (432) 552-2659
Fax: (432) 552-2660
STAFF
Editor-in-Chief: Jason Navarette
Assistant Editor: Isidro Gonzales
Adviser: Becki Murphy
Staff Writers: Ben Campbell, Alex Carpenter, Martin Chabarria, Luke
Garrett, Courtney Goheen, Jay Gorania, Malissa Greenwood, Monica
Murguia, Amber Navarette, Tabitha Overby, Marcella Pettus, Alex Smith,
Jhared Thomas, Owen Wallace-Servera, Veronica Villarreal
Layout and Design: Jason Navarette
Page Two Design: Isidro Gonzales
Photographers: Jay Gorania
General Information
The Mesa Journal is a student publication that provides information, commentary and entertainment for The University
of Texas of the Permian Basin community. Editorial statements and advertisements do not necessarily reflect the
opinion of the UT Permian Basin administration.
Letter Policy
All contributions, in good taste, will be edited for grammar, spelling, length (250 minimum), libel, profanity and
personal attacks. All letters must contain the author’s name, major, academic classification and contact information.
This information can be withheld upon request. Electronic copies of articles and letters are preferred.
Mission Statement
The Mesa Journal is designed to inform, entertain, educate and heighten awareness of students, faculty and
administrators at The University of Texas of the Permian Basin. Staff members will be responsible journalists by
maintaining high ethical standards with fairness, accuracy and balance.
Friday, October 14, 2005
O’Shea tickles funny
bone of university
by Jason Navarette
Entertainment Reviewer
Comedian
Eric
O’Shea brought chuckles and
laughter to UT Permian Basin on Sept. 29. Throughout
the year, O’Shea travels to
college and university campuses nationwide—in fact,
he has been twice-nominated
for “College Comedian of the
Year.” When not on tour, he
often performs stand-up at
various New York City clubs
including Caroline’s, the
Comic Strip and Boston
Comedy Club. He has also
been featured on NBC and
VH1. The UT Permian Basin
Student Program Board
hosted the event in the Student Union Multipurpose
Room.
“I perform at about
50 to 60 schools each year,”
O’Shea noted, adding, “I especially enjoy visiting the
south . . . . Everyone is so laid
back down here.”
O’Shea’s prepared
material tickled the funny
bone of the audience. Some of
this material consisted of his
confusing the giant jackrabbit sculptures throughout
the City of Odessa as a drivethrough restaurant window
(“Yeah, I’d like to order a
cheeseburger and a large
fry”) and playing off of UT
Permian Basin’s moniker
(“UTPB? What does that
stand for, the University of
Texas of the . . . Peanut Butter?”).
Freshman
Mark
Allen compared O’Shea’s
comedy act to that of a
rollercoaster ride of entertainment.
Allen remarked, “It
took a while for him to warm
up [the audience] . . . . He
would have funny moments
followed by awkward si lence.” Chuckling, he added,
“[O’Shea] was really good
with
improvisations ,
though.”
O’Shea transformed
any possible obstacle into a
comic moment. Without hesitation, he would play off audience remarks, ringing cell
phones and laptop computer
use, bringing to life audience
“characters” like Alex “Sexy
Guy” Carpenter, Jay “Go On”
Gorania and Amanda “Corpus Home” Jackson.
The audience par ticipation surprised O’Shea.
He stated, “It’s very
rare to have so much energy
with a crowd so small . . . .
The audience was great .
Very sharp.”
Audience membe r
Heather Anderson enjoyed
the comedy performance.
She remarked, “I t
was fun. I liked the impersonations.”
Toward the end of the
performance, O’Shea acted
out impersonations of various television characters ,
both filmed and animated. He
impersonated characters like
Peter, Lois and Stewie Griffin
of the animated television
series “Family Guy” and
Robert Barone of “Every body Loves Raymond.”
After the event, audience members entered into a
drawing for door prizes—
prizes in the form of tickets
for the Oct. 5 Dos Amigos
concert featuring Cold, Smile
Empty Soul and Flyleaf.
The Student Pro gram Board brings various
events and entertainment to
the UT Permian Basin campus. Some of the events include comedy acts, musical
performances and magica l
acts. For more information
about the Student Program
Board or upcoming events,
call (432) 552-2658.
Arts & Entertainment
The Mesa Journal, Page 3
Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride to die for
Entertainment Review
by Tony Testerment
Take a 19th century Russian-Jewish folktale, a bit
of history and the dark humor of Tim Burton (The Nightmare
Before Christmas, Edward Scissorhands and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory) and you have the Corpse Bride. Set in a 19th century European village (when arranged marriages were common and expected among the elite of society), the film focuses on the non-traditional love triangle between Victor,
Victoria and Emily (the Corpse Bride). Victor (voiced by
Johnny Depp), the son of fish merchants, is betrothed to
Victoria (voiced by Emily Watson), the daughter of landrich (but bankrupt) aristocrats. Corpse Bride is more than a
story of old money versus new money—it is a story of reflection between being alive and truly living, it is a story of
romance lost and found and it is a story that teases the
viewer into examining their own lives.
Failing miserably at the recitation of his wedding
vows during the wedding rehearsal, Victor flees to the
woods surrounding the village, determined to learn his vows
before his wedding the next day. After several attempts, he
finally gets them right, even to the point of placing the ring
on an exposed root of an oak that looks suspiciously like a
hand. And the adventure begins. Rising out of the frozen
ground, with the ring on her skeletal hand, is Emily (voiced
by Helena Bonham Carter) to say, “I do,” claiming her new
husband.
There is historical content to Emily’s fate that serves
as the basis for the Russian-Jewish folktale. Anti-Semitism
was rampant in Eastern Europe during the 19th century.
Massive violent attacks known as Pogroms (a Russian word
meaning “wreaking of havoc”) were heavily directed at Jewish wedding parties in an absurd attempt to curb Judaism.
During these attacks, the brides, being the ones to bear future generations, would be slaughtered and buried in their
wedding dresses. In this case, the reality of history is darker
than fantasy of Burton’s film.
The story takes place in both the Land of the Living
(a gray world where money and betrayal exist) and the
Land of the Dead (a colorful dynamic world where loyalty
and “living life” are all important). It is in contrasting these
two realms that Burton gives the viewers second thoughts
as to what is the difference between living life and just living. Supporting the fantastic settings is the musical score
by Danny Elfman, who has provided the music for several
other Burton films.
In the end, the audience is torn, just like Victor, in
choosing a wife. Both heroines are likeable in their own
respective ways, making the choice ever so difficult. The
theme of Corpse Bride is change and rebirth told in a bittersweet fairy tale worth seeing over and over.
Corpse Bride is more than a fantastic voyage through
fantasy and reality—it is a technical marvel. Burton’s mastery of stop-motion cinematography has soared to a new
level in his latest production. Making another first in the
film industry, Burton was the first to use digital still cameras instead of traditional film in the production of Corpse
Bride.
Career Corner with Tony Love
I’m thinking about switching my major, but I need to talk to an advisor about the different options I have. Here’s the dilemma…
I’d like to be a high school swim coach. The usual requirement for a
coach is that they have to teach as well. Is it possible to be a counselor/
advisor instead of a teacher? If so, what did you major in to be a counselor
and coach? I see that counseling is a graduate program at UT Permian
Basin, but I don’t know what I’d have to major in to be eligible for that
program. If I major in Kinesiology as an undergraduate would I be able to
go into the counseling graduate program? Or do you have to major or minor in Psychology or Education Administration to be eligible to go into
that Graduate Program?
If you can’t answer these questions, please let me know who I should
call or email.
- F.A.
I’m not sure I can answer all your questions, but I’ll try. Unless you’re fortunate enough to be hired by a very large school district with a full-time swim coach,
then chances of you coaching at the high school level without having teaching
duties would be very slim.
Counseling has many avenues outside of public school counseling. If your
goal is to become a public school counselor in Texas, then “yes” you’d have to have
a master’s degree in school counseling, pass the Texas Examinations of Educator
Standards (TExES) exam for school counselors and have two years of classroom
teaching experience in an accredited public or private school.
Obviously, to pursue this pathway, you’re going to have to get some teaching experience along the way. You would first need to secure teacher’s certification
so that you can get your teaching experience requirement out of the way.
As for your grad school aspirations at UT Permian Basin, I checked with
graduate school personnel and my source indicated that you can enter graduate
school on a provisional basis for this major if the GPA of the last 60 hours of undergraduate school multiplied by 200 plus your GRE score fell into the 1300-1599
range. You could enter on regular status assuming your cumulative (from above)
fell into the 1600 and above range. If you fall below regular status range, there are
still possibilities. Students accepted into programs with other than regular status
may be assigned special conditions by which they may attain regular status. I was
told that the areas of Special Education, Reading, Early Childhood and the graduate MBA/MPA program are a bit more stringent and the conditions above are not
necessarily applicable to these particular areas.
Al Milliren, who lectures in educational school counseling, indicated that
your undergraduate major would not be a hindrance in entering the graduate
counseling program here. He can be contacted at (432) 552-2136.
Tony Love is the Director of Career Services at UT Permian Basin and a UT
Permian Basin alumnus. If you have a career-related question, you can email
him at careerservices@utpb.edu.
Photo Courtesy 20th Century Fox
Release Date: Sept. 16
Directed by: Tim Burton
Distributed by: Warner Bros.
Total U.S. Gross: $33 Million
MPAA Rating: PG
(for some scary images and action, and
brief mild language)
UTPB Job Fair
When:
10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Oct. 19
Where:
UT Permian Basin Gymnasium
4901 East University
Open to the General Public!
Bring Plenty of Résumés!
Some of the employers who have already committed to the fair include:
A.G. Edwards
Bobby Cox Companies
Coldwell Banker
Desert Springs Med Center
Grande Communications
High Sky Children’s Ranch
KPEJ-FOX 24
Seven-Eleven
Office Team
Petro-Hunt LLC
Texas Comptroller’s Office
TX Dep. of Criminal Justice
Univision 18
US Filter Recovery
Walgreens
West TX MHMR
American Auto
B.J. Services
Dallas ISD
Enterprise Rental-Car
Hastings
Kelly Services
KWES-TV
Midland ISD
Panacore Corp.
Security State Bank
Telvista
Town & Country
TYC (Pyote)
U.S. Food Service
Western National Bank
Wells Fargo Financial
ACP
Buckle
Dallas Police Department
Fort Stockton ISD
H.E.B.
Key Energy Services
Office of Attorney General
Nationwide Insurance
PBCC
Sitel
Sodexho
Trugreen Chemlawn
TYC (Sheffield)
U.S. Navy
Workforce Network
Ysleta ISD
Some of the positions that will be available include:
Financial Consultants
Restaurant Managers
Realtors
Therapists
LVNs
Cust. Service Assistants
Treatment Coordinators
Well Service Technicians
Account Executives
American Sign Language
Teachers
Telemarketers
Prison Guards
Store Managers
Production Assistants
Credit Managers
Marketing Representatives
Management Interns
Police Officers
LCDCs
Grande Communications
Foster Parents
Document Preparers
Floor Crew
Special Education Teachers
Credit Analysts
Tax Auditors
District Managers
Photographers
Supply Officers
Accountants
Oilfield Trainees
Elementary Teachers
Mental Health Technicians
Registered Nurses
Cashiers
Mechanics
Master Controllers
Bilingual Teachers
Mathematics Teachers
Technical Support Representatives
Juvenile Officers
Production Specialists
Cryptologists
Landmen
Page 4, The Mesa Journal
Campus News . . .
Literary and visual arts magazine calls for
submissions for its 2006 journal
Sandstorm, the literary and visual arts magazine of UT
Permian Basin, is seeking submissions for its 2006 journal. Drop off your work at the Humanities and Fine
Arts office (MB4102). Your submission must include
an electronic copy (a floppy disk) of your work along
with your name, address, email address and phone
number. Also include a hard copy without your name.
The deadline for submissions is Oct. 14.
Student Life
Falcon Sports
Fall 2005 Home Game Schedule
Volleyball
Date
Time
Opponent
Oct. 28
1:00
7:00
3:00
7:00
7:00
2:00
7:00
Jarvis College *
Houston Baptist Univ. *
Wiley College *
Lubbock Christian Univ.
Bacone College *
Midwestern State Univ.
Wayland Baptist University
Oct. 29
UT Permian Basin to hold annual
Halloween Carnival
The UT Permian Basin Halloween Carnival will be held
in Gymnasium from 6 to 10 p.m. on Oct. 22. There
will be a 50 cent admission fee for all children, plus 25
cents per ticket (usable for Carnival events). There will
be many Carnival activities and entertainment will be
provided. The Carnival is being hosted by the Student
Program Board.
Friday, October 14, 2005
Nov. 4
Nov. 5
Nov. 8
Men’s Soccer
Date
Time
Opponent
Oct. 14
Oct. 18
Oct. 24
Oct. 29
4 p.m.
4 p.m.
4 p.m.
2 p.m.
St. Gregory’s
College of the Southwest *
Bacone *
Wiley *
Women’s Soccer
Date
Time
Opponent
Oct. 14
Oct. 18
Oct. 24
2 p.m.
2 p.m.
2 p.m.
St. Gregory’s
College of the Southwest *
Bacone *
* Red River Athletic Conference Match