by James Buckly
Most crimes reported at smaller institutions of higher education usually involve a parking violation or other lesser infractions. Unfortunately, recently there was a terrible crime at the McAllen South Texas community College. By now, many of you may of heard about the armed robbery by 2 masked men that resulted in the death of a security guard and the serious injury of 3 other innocent bystanders. This happened the first week of school Tuesday evening during registration.
McAllen is about one-hundred and sixty miles from Texas A. & M. International University but the gun shots fired still affected us. TAMIU late registration began on the same Tuesday as the robbery. The news of the crime prompted the University Police here to make changes to reduce the possibility of such an event happening at TAMIU. Some of the changes included a shuffling of officers so that more would be visible and about during registration hours. Also, there has been discussion within the administration about new policies regarding the handling of the cash students bring to pay their tuition. Even before this horrible scene at STCC, the University Police department had been hiring more officers. Since last semester, there has been more than a doubling of the number of officers hired by TAMIU.
It is hard to imagine how people here would react to that kind of violence. The assistant cashiers that everyone visits at the cashier next to the registrar found it difficult to think of what they could do if they were the one being robbed at gun point. One cashier said, ÒWhat do we do? Where do we go? Do we go under the desk? By the time we get out the door...forget it!Ó Another felt bullet proof glass or at least thicker glass should be installed. Regardless, they would all feel more comfortable if security was more visible.
One of the students working for TAMIU went so far as to suggest a security guard in each building and a camera in each hall. She also said, ÒWatch-out, definitely there are a lot of copycats out there.Ó
Chief Stege of the University Police also worried about copycats and sent out a global e-mail describing what had happened at STCC along with some of the measures TAMIU police have taken to prevent the same thing from happening here. He assured The Bridge that there are more officers on duty and even displayed me some of the new equipment being considered to help increase security on campus. He warned, however, that Òany level of security depends upon a lessening in freedom so the more security you have the more people will have to give up....Ó While students may not understand the importance of some of the security measures like parking permits, for example. Chief Stege said, ÒOne of the reasons we have parking permits is to account for strange vehicle.Ó
Texas A&M International University has approximately half the population of STCC, and TAMIU is located on the outskirts of town as STCC in McAllen. Even so, we are growing and idiots toting guns are a threat anywhere. If you see anything strange or out of the ordinary on campus please call the University Police. Use a blue phone box on campus if you have to or call 326-2311 or 326-2911 for an emergency.
Judge Elma Salinas Ender provided the Commencement Address for the 150-plus Fall 1997 graduates of Texas A&M International University at Commencement Exercises on Saturday, Dec. 20.
A&M International president Dr. Charles Jennett said graduates will benefit from the sage words of one of the cityÕs most respected leaders.
ÒJudge Salinas-Ender is one of our cityÕs treasures. We believe that her life will provide a shining inspiration to our Fall 1997 graduates, and we are most appreciative that she joins us for this special day in the lives of our graduates,Ó he said.
District Judge of the 341st Judicial District, Salinas-Ender is the first Mexican-American woman appointed and elected to a District Court bench in the history of the State of Texas and the United States. She was first appointed by Gov. Mark White in 1983 and subsequently elected in 1984,1988, 1992 and 1996.
Salinas-Ender holds her Juris Doctor from St. MaryÕs University School of Law. Her BBA in Accounting was earned at the University of Texas at AustinÕs College of BusinessÕ Honors Program of Study.
Appointed by Governor George Bush to serve on an Ad Hoc Committee to rewrite the Code of Criminal Procedure in 1995, she has also served on the Texas Supreme CourtÕs Task Force on Foster Care, and as president, vice president and fourth adm. district representative for the Texas District JudgeÕs Association.
A charter member of the Laredo Business and Professional WomenÕs Association and that organizationÕs first ÒWoman of the YearÓ for 1992, she is also a member of the first class of Leadership Texas and a Leadership Laredo program initiator.
She participated in the National Hispana Leadership Institute in 1992 at the Harvard John F. Kennedy School of Public Affairs and Center for Creative Leadership.
She has served on a number of boards including the St. MaryÕs University Law School Alumni Board and a number of Statutory Boards, including the Webb-Zapata Adult Probation, Webb County Juvenile Board, Webb County AuditorÕs Board, Webb County Community Justice Council, Texas Lyceum Association, Inc. and the Laredo Communities in Schools Advisory Board.
Named one of the 75 most Influential Hispanics in Texas and recipient of a 1996 Brillante Award from Texas Hispanic Magazine, Judge Salinas-Ender was one of the first 10 women inducted into the Laredo Commission for WomenÕs Hall of Fame and is a recipient of the Rosewood Gavel Award from St. MaryÕs University School of Law.
She received the National Mexican American WomenÕs AssociationÕs Las Primeras Award and was featured in the book Texas Women: A Pictorial History from Indians to Astronauts by Ruth Winegarter.
On Monday, January 18, 1998, the federal government got authorization to construct a road along the river bank to better control the flow of illegal immigration into this country. The project will cost over 10 million dollars. Uncle Sam is footing the bill. This sounds well enough, but the militaryÕs additional objective is to police this area against the threat of illegal drug running and perhaps the taking over of ranch lands by these drug barons that have plagued ranch owners upriver.
As a citizen of Laredo, I stand committed to the fight of the war on drugs. We all have limits, however, to what we are willing to sacrifice for whatever cause it is we wish to support. Let us turn it up a notch.
The smoothing out of the pavement for the helicopter pads, as seen on local TV, has already dried. There is a large military presence at a nearby ranch with, of course, the land ownerÕs permission. A convoy of military trucks have been spotted on our local highways.
We cannot afford to be naive as to think that the governmentÕs military presence will not be enhanced. With their increased visibility, drug lords and their organizations might try to tease the tiger. Heaven forbid that this should ever happen, lest we disrupt the civil order of our community and endanger the lives of all men, women, and children.
The action taken by city council, our elected representatives, stipulated to the government in a document signed by them that authorizes the military to enter any property within the cityÕs jurisdiction. There is also a deadline for them to leave in March. One of the councilmen made a motion to table the matter, a prudent move, but it did not pass. If this matter gets out of hand, we will have to find out who on the city council voted for such authorization and hold their feet to the fire at the election booth.
Respectfully,
[signed]
Ernesto Davila
by Francisco Cipriano
Ever since Ian Wilmut cloned the sheep Dolly, questions regarding the ethnics of human cloning have been raised— even though Wilmut did not mention cloning in his article that introduced Dolly and experiments in human cloning have been banned by Congress for the next 3 to 5 years— when Congress will review this issues and decide whether to remove the ban or not cloning animals and human DNA sequences will continue. As of today, we do not know whether cloning a human is possible, since it has never been tried; but we know that the individuality of the person cloned will not exist in the clone, since it is derived from the experience; thus, a human clone will not be a perfect copy. Since a decision on allowing human cloning will be reached in the near future, a decision must be reached whether or not human cloning is worth pursuing, if human cloning is possible at all.
By stating that human cloning is impossible using the excuse that humans cannot be cloned— since the identity of the human cloned will not be copied, the development of the brain will be different due to the environmental factors, and genetically identical organisms can exhibit very different patters of protein production- we avoiding the dilemma at hand (should humans be reproduced asexually?) because if human cloning is impossible, why should experiments with human cloning be banned? Before this question can be answered the problems posed by experiments in human cloning must be analyzed.
Human cloning raises ethical issues. Since information about human cloning is limited to hypotheses, whether or not a cloned human embryo will develop in a safe environment is unknown, but if it is not safe, would the risks be acceptable. Even if human cloning would be safe and allowed, will the clone effect the child? A cloned child may experience Òpsychological harm associated with a . . . diminished sense of individuality and personal autonomyÓ as Jeff Selingo noted in the Chronicle of Higher Eduction; for example, the cloned child may soon ask whether he has a soul or not. Other potential harm that human cloning may cause is susceptibility to disease.
If human cloning is deemed ethical, and if the psychological risks from to cloned humans are acceptable, we still face other problems. By cloning humans we eliminate the genetic shuffling that sexual reproduction exhibits. At the same time, the cloned humans—like presently cloned crops— will become much more vulnerable to disease. As David Stipp, author of ÒThe Real Biotech Revolution,Ó states ÒSex is our brilliant countermeasureÓ against diseases due to constant novel DNA combinations it provides. According to Buckhard Bilges, a similar problem was faced by corn geneticists in 1969 and 1970. By breeding corn Òto male sterile, and therefore easier to hybridize,Ó the geneticists made corn susceptible to disease which was responsible for destroying 15 percent of the U.S. Corn crop, and as Bilger noted Ògeneticists found that the same gene that made the corn male sterile. . . made it susceptible to a mutant strain of the blight fungus.Ó However, a massive epidemic on human clones would happen only if large numbers of the same human are cloned, but this could also happen if organs for transplantation are cloned from the same gene.
Experimenting with human cloning could prove to be beneficial. The benefits of producing human organs— if they are not cloned with the same gene—would be dramatic since, as Bilger explains Òin the United States alone, eight people die every day for [need] of transplant organs, and worldwide demand for organs grow by 15 percent annually.Ó Whether or not experiments in human cloning would produce enough benefits to out weigh the risks is a hotly debated topic, but if Òthe experimentation that produced Dolly could lead to new treatments for ParkinsonÕs disease, cystic fibrosis, and other illnesses,Ó experiments in human cloning may one day prove to outweigh the risks.
By Ismael Hinojosa
Education was not always as widespread, or as readily accepted, as it has now become in our society. Before the dawning of the Industrial Revolution, when the United States was still an agrarian society, the typical American family saw little use for an education. In fact, if anything, education served only to detract from the familyÕs lively hood because the time children spent at school was time they could be spending out in the fields. Distance was another obstacle which education could not overcome. During Pre-Revolutionary days and up to the Industrial Revolution, people lived in small communities, nearly isolated from society. Gathering children together under one roof was simply not a feasible option. Industrialization brought the masses into one central location, usually in the inner city, and significantly lessened the distance between families and their neighbors. The centralization of large populations, coupled with the increasing technicality of jobs, and the growing complexity of corporate organizational structures made a well-trained and well-educated workforce a necessity. Thus, it is no surprise that as the Industrial Revolution plowed forward, reshaping the social and economical landscape, education has risen to great importance to our society. Education has now become so engrained in our moral fiber that Halsworth and Wray have deemed it a, ÒSecuIar Religion.Ó
The road from obscurity to ÒSecular ReligionÓ has been at times tumultuous and turbulent, but never has the sanctity of education been so impudently debased as it has been during this decade. Before the advent of Reganomics, when answering the oft asked question, ÒWhy should I go to college?Ó students would toss around answers such as Òto better myself,Ó Òto enrich my mind,Ó Òexpand my horizons,Ó Òopen my mind to new thoughts and ideas,Ó Òexperience new things,Ó etc. Ask that same question to any student, in any city, in any University, today and the answer that will most likely be given is Òto make more money,Ó or, Òto get a better job.Ó Education has become nothing more than a pointless four-year seminar that must be endured to satisfy the boss. It has become just another monotonous exercise in our highly routinized lives.
While it is true that a good education often results in a good salary, this should be seen as a benefit of and not the result of that good education. If educationÕs only purpose is to provide financial security, then what role do those little awakenings, that moment of enlightenment when, after re-reading Out of the Cradle Endlessly Rocking, My Last Duchess, or My life had stood a Loaded Gun, that moment when you Ôget it,Õ that moment when you realize that every word has a purpose and every word serves it purpose, what purpose do those moments serve? Are they merely welcome breaks from the daily drudge that is college life?
What about professors, what purpose do they serve in this warped view of education? If education serves to provide more money, then these professionals, who have devoted their lives to education, must be allowed to seek out that money. Unfortunately that money lies not in the classroom or lecture hall but in their office or lab. Professors do not make all that much money by teaching. Rather, a substantial amount is to be made by obtaining grants to fund research and publishing the results of that research in a book. The more time a professor spends in and preparing for class, the less time he has to do research or write and make more money.
Likewise, Universities do not make much money from the tuition charged to students. Their big prizes also come from grants that professors receive to conduct their research, athletics, and marketing their name, which becomes popular through athletics. If students attend universities to make more money, then who is to deny these institutions the opportunity to make more money themselves? All non-essential (i.e. non-profitable) programs will be cut either entirely out of the budget or operate at a bare minimum. The student center will be demolished in favor of a new, state-ot-the-art, sports facility.
This becomes a viscous, self-perpetuating, cycle that serves to slowly erode the original purpose of education. Students act as workers and attempt to obtain as much knowledge with as little work as possible. Instead of vigorously seeking answers, they will be content to let their professors and an occasional peer tell them what to think. This aloof approach will surely frustrate professors, who will eventually stop caring if their student actually learn or not and consistently devote more and more time to outside research and less to class preparation. As professors devote more time to research and the publication of their findings, universities will obtain more grants to fund that research. Classes once taught by PhDs will now be handed over to graduate students, many of whom have just recently completely their undergraduate studies. Less attention will be devoted to the undergraduate student and the quality of education will decrease overall. When it comes time for that undergraduate to begin graduate studies he/she will find that their undergraduate work has left them grossly unprepared to meet the demands of their professors. Eventually, the entire system will collapse upon itself and individual corporations will assume the responsibilities of educating their workforce. This process has already been set in motion in many major universities today.
Tragedy, as defined by Aristotle, is when a great man falls from grace because of a flaw in his character: a flaw that most likely helped him rise to lofty heights. If education, as a monotonous exercise that leads to more money, becomes internalized in our collective psyche, this will inevitably lead to the downfall of the great and once proud institution of education. So horrible is this tragedy that he stories of Oedipus and Othello pale in comparison. Capitalism and industrialization made education feasible and eventually necessary, but they have also served to bring it to its knees.
by Sgt. Peter Bak
As I walk around the Campus, I hear and I am told, Òall this Police Department does is give tickets and hassle people about parking permits. You guys donÕt do anything else.Ó A question most frequently asked is Òcan you give me a ticket on the loop?Ó I also have questions. Why, with the number of vehicles entering and exiting the campus, do we have a comparatively low accident rate? Yes, we give tickets... to keep the numbers low on fender benders and, through traffic enforcement, ensure that something more serious than a fender bender does not occur. Your Police Department enforces Texas Laws, traffic and criminal. Without enforcement, your police department would become full-time traffic accident investigators. Officers here have seen some really bizarre driving practices when this campus was first opened: good drivers trying to stay clear of________ (you fill in the blank). If you do not want to meet with the judge, obey the traffic laws.
Which brings me to another question, can we give tickets on the Loop. Yes, on the Loop, downtown Laredo, out in the County of Webb and 252 other counties in the State of Texas. We also will serve warrants, make arrests, etc.
Student parking and parking permits are high on the list of questions. To walk in the parking lots opens a world of mystery and suspense. To watch people drive around and around looking for that perfect parking space in the front row. They will ask me Òwhere can I park?Ó and I say we have an empty parking lot by the Physical Plant building. The accompanying look is similar to saying ÒAlaskaÓ. This is really a small campus, nothing is farther than a brisk 3 minute walk. Moving along, Parking Permits are just that, permits to park. No permit = parking ticket. Parking Permits aid in controlling access to this campus. Permits hung from the rear view mirror or placed on the dash help us identify who belongs here. When we notice the absence of the permit then our attention is drawn to that car. We would not want to see a repeat of the incident in McAllen. The majority of students purchase their permits at the beginning of the semester, and some think that they got away with not getting a permit. You wonÕt hear from the people that had five to ten outstanding tickets with late fees and ALL tickets and fees had to be paid before the ÒBOOTÓ was removed from their vehicle. Fees are set by the Board of Regents, not Your Police Department.
ÒThey donÕt do anything.Ó From the Police stand point, we handle domestic calls, assault, sexual assault, harassment, threats, warrants, DWI/DUI, court appearances. From the Security side, we open and secure buildings, escort services, provide motor assistance (not maintenance). We offer classes or literature on Personal Safety. We have an Explorer program to introduce young adults to both the Law Enforcement profession and the University. We have a DARE Officer, and two Crime Prevention Specialists. We have referral services for almost any problem you can imagine. We have information on Crime Victims Rights, whether the crime was committed on or off campus. We have officers who attend Student Government meetings so that they are available to answer questions concerning Your Department. We have an officer as a representative to the University Village, and the Chief is the Department representative to the Faculty Senate.
Texas A&M International University Police Department is YOUR POLICE DEPARTMENT. We want to have an environment conducive to learning, that is safe for faculty/staff and students, walking or driving. Your Police Department is here to help you. And yes, your police department gives tickets.
AAA Texas and the Higher Education Center for Alcohol and Other Drug Prevention are seeking entries for their first annual College and University Drinking and Driving Prevention Awards.
This new award program recognizes college and university programs in Texas that reduce campus drinking and driving and prevent campus alcohol or drug use that can result in impaired driving.
Two awards of $1,000 will be presented in April for exceptional student programs and campus and community efforts. Programs by student groups, sororities, fraternities and athletic teams are eligible for the student award. Administration, faculty leadership and other campus-community partnerships are eligible for the campus and community program award.
AAA Texas plans to recognize post-secondary institutions annually for programs addressing drinking or drug use problems in an effort to draw attention to the national problem of excessive and binge drinking among college and underage students.
ÒOur plan is to reward colleges and universities and student groups for their efforts, and to publicize information nationally about innovative and effective programs,Ó said Bill Noble, group manager of public and government affairs for MA Texas.
Campus and college-age drinking is associated not just with impaired driving but also with serious illness, injuries and death. Over the past year, alcohol-related deaths of college students have been national news leading college officials around the country reexamining the prevalence of heavy binge-style campus drinking.
A 1995 report published in American Journal of Public Health called binge drinking the number one public health hazard and the primary source of preventable injury and death for more than 6 million full-time American college students.
Entries should be a maximum of four single-spaced typewritten pages describing the particular problem the college or university is attempting to solve and include a summary of the program, its history, limitations and challenges faced and results.
Other materials such as posters, brochures, videotapes, news stories, published articles and photographs may accompany the submission.
Entries should be sent by January 30, 1998 to: Bill Noble, Public and Government Relations, AAA Texas, 3000 Southwest Freeway, Houston, Texas 77098.
More information about the prevention awards program can be found at the Higher Education CenterÕs web site (http://www.edc.org.hec).
AAA Texas maintains a variety of ongoing DUI and traffic safety programs, including school alcohol education; Designated Driver; Tipsy Tow; DUI and traffic safety education; and legislative advocacy.
The Higher Education Center, funded since 1993 by the US Department of Education, is the nationÕs primary source for assisting college and universities in developing and initiating alcohol and drug prevention on campuses and in surrounding communities.
AAA Texas, an affiliate of the American Automobile Association, has been serving Texans since 1905. Today, AAA Texas offers its more than 850,000 members emergency road service, public safety programs, complete travel services, highway and transportation safety programs, insurance services and legislative advocacy.
Taking notes on a university campus is standard, but students at Texas A&M International University can now make notes as part of the UniversityÕs new band.
The Texas A&M International University Band, as the newly-formed band is known, serves as a performance group for people of varied musical backgrounds. While many members are former All State Band members, others play their favorite instruments just to revel in the joy of producing music.
Dr. Ray Keck, chair of the English, Spanish and Fine Arts department, said that the idea of forming a band came after Elmo Lopez Sr., a veteran musician and former band director with Laredo Independent School District, offered to help put the band together.
ÒWe have seven high schools in Laredo and we have excellent players in those schoolÕs bands. But as soon as they graduate, they donÕt have anywhere to play. The Texas A&M International University Band gives them an opportunity to continue playing,Ó Keck said.
According to Lopez, who is the director of the 40-member group, the band has not only attracted members who are part of the A&M International community but also high school students and several band directors for LISD and United Independent School District.
ÒEverybody is welcome to join the band. There is room for everybody. Anyone from the community can come and play,Ó Lopez said.
The most important role that the band plays is that of providing entertainment and joy to members and the audience, Keck said.
ÒMusic is a universal language and it sees no borders,Ó Keck said.
Peter Astudillo, a band member, said the band offered a perfect chance to practice the base trombone, his favorite instrument.
Astudillo, the nephew of Tejano artist Pete Astudillo, said that practicing his instrument is especially important to him since he aspires to become a band director some day.
ÒItÕs a lot of fun. It helps you build up your skills,Ó said Astudillo, referring to the Texas A&M International University Band.
Like Astudillo, Noemi Dominguez, another band member and freshman accounting major at the University, said that the band gives her an opportunity to continue playing the flute, an instrument she has been playing for the past six years.
Dominguez said she has advice for those considering joining the UniversityÕs band.
ÒIf they really like it, they should keep on playing. Why should you waste the four years that you spent practicing in high school? DonÕt let it go to waste,Ó Dominguez said.
Meanwhile, Keck said he hopes that the University band would also play the role of a city band in the future. He added that from the band, the university also plans to form jazz and mariachi groups.
A lifetime Laredoan who has made a career of working on the issues that face our families and our city. Betty Flores is the only candidate for Mayor with the values and experience to make a difference for our future.
Betty began her career as a secretary and thought hard work and determination became the first woman to be Senior Vice President of one of the areaÕs oldest and strongest financial institutions.
A Lifetime of Service
Throughout her career, Betty dedicated her efforts to the issues that face hard working Laredoans every day, like access to adequate health services, education, affordable housing, international trade, community development and small business expansion.
Her hard work and commitment to our community earned her:
¥1989 Laredo Morning Times Laredoan of the Year.
¥The Laredo Junior
College Humanitarian Award.
¥Membership in the WomenÕs Hall of Fame.
Committed to Family
Betty Flores is dedicated to the family values that form the backbone of our community. SheÕs committed to her family and ours!
Betty is the daughter of Eloy and Bonnie Garcia. She is married to Antonio Flores, and they have one daughter, Cristina Flores Guevara, the public information officer for the eight county Laredo regional office of the Texas Department of Transportation.
Government and Community Service
Appointed by the Governor. Sponsored by State Senator Judith Zaffirini and confirmed by the Texas Senate.
Betty Flores served at the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs, an agency with a $258 million programming budget.
Betty has served our community in many ways, including:
¥Member of the Federal Reserve BoardÕs Consumer Advisory Council in Washington, D.C.
¥President of the Laredo Housing Finance Corporation, resulting in $24.2 million for Laredo.
¥Vice President of the Webb County Housing Finance Corporation resulting in $13.2 million for Laredo.
¥President of Leadership Laredo.
¥Co-chair of American Youth 2000
¥Member of the GovernorÕs Skill Development Task Force
BettyÕs Vision for LaredoÕs Future
Betty Flores will put City Hall politics aside and unite City Council to address the issues that matter most to us.
Betty Flores will work to protect our families from crime and drugs. She will commit all necessary resources to our police department and crack down on the drug dealers who threaten our families.
Betty Flores will work with City Council to find positive solutions to our growing traffic.
Betty Flores will protect the interests of all businesses and work to bring to Laredo the high paying jobs that will keep our children here and our city moving forward.
Mayoral candidate, Fausto Sosa, an attorney and a former first assistant Webb County district attorney, said that, given LaredoÕs prominence as a key player and a portal to the NAFTA agreement, the city has not gotten its fair share of federal funds for much needed infrastructure. ÒWe need to ask for this aggressively. As Mayor, I want to be part of the asking,Ó he said, adding that he envisioned the position of Mayor of the City of Laredo as Òthe number one lobbyist and promoter of the city in Austin, in Washington, in Mexico City, and now in Ottawa.Ó
Sosa, a native Laredoan, is a 1978 graduate of Martin High School and a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. He holds a law degree from Texas Southern University. Sosa was a staff attorney for the Laredo National Bank for three years, and he is a former prosecutor and assistant district attorney under D.A. Joe Rubio. He was city attorney for the City of Laredo for two years. He resigned that position earlier this year several months after allegations arose that he had conducted private law practice business from his city office, using city telephone lines and equipment to fax documents.
Sosa is married to maria Magdalena Martinez Sosa. Their son Fausto Abraham Sosa, 8, is a student at Matias de Llano Elementary. Fausto Sosa is the son of Oralia Sosa, whom Sosa said stressed the importance of an education to all of her children.
The importance of exposure to your fieldÕs practice cannot be overstated. Internships are the best way to gain experience if you are willing to accept the challenge. As a student, you must be willing to invest time in your future that may include taking the risk to test out your future career. One of the best ways to do this is by participation in your CollegeÕs internship program or searching for a National or International internship program that fits your interests. Although competition is at a much greater level, the rewards are worth the effort.
Mitsubishi Motors has a new program specifically geared toward Young Entrepreneurs. In association with the United Negro College Fund, Mitsubishi MotorsÕs Young Entrepreneurs Program offers preparation to selected students for a career in the automotive industry through a five-week Summer Institute, a dealer mentor assignment, and the possibility of a fellowship. To qualify, a student must be currently enrolled at a HACU institution (which Texas A&M International University is), be a junior with at least 18 to 20 hours in business-related courses, and have a minimum grade point average of 2.5. Students successfully completing the Summer Institute are awarded a $5,000 scholarship and a $2,500 stipend for his or her senior year. The deadline to apply has been extended to February 16, 1998. But, maybe you do not have an entrepreneurial bent; maybe becoming a public servant is more your liking.
The NALEO (National Association of Latino Elected Officials) Educational Fund and Shell Oil Company are committed to providing a behind-the-scenes look at how policy is developed and implemented at all levels of government. The Summer Legislative Intern Program selects 14 Latino/a students to participate in a six-week experience of working closely with legislators and their staff. A stipend for expenses is provided. You might qualify if you are a resident of Texas, are currently enrolled in a two or four-year institution, are a US Citizen or legal permanent resident of Latino/a origin, demonstrate leadership potential, and possess a sense of commitment to the Latino/a community. Deadline is February 27, 1998.
The HACU (Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities) National Internship Program is also worth considering. It selects university students for summer and semester-long internships at federal agencies and corporations in the Washington, DC area and throughout the country. In the recent past, TAMIU students have been well represented. The four qualifications that must be met in order to be eligible are: 1) to be permanent residents or U.S. citizens 2) to have completed freshman year of college before internship begins 3) to have a minimum 3.0 GPA and 4) to be currently enrolled students. Stipends for expenses are determined by class status and round-trip airfare is covered by HACU. This year, Career Planning and Placement is taking care to collect and send all applications as a group by February 25, 1998.
Still didnÕt spark your interest? How about People to People International, Overseas Internships? Started in the mid-fifties through President Eisenhower and currently managed by the University of Missouri-Kansas City, People to People has been providing a unique experience in a number of different fields and a possible six credit hours (need approval from your dept.) through a two month, full-time, unpaid assignment during the Summer (Fall and Spring also available). To qualify, you must be an upper level student in good standing and a commitment to learning from different cultures.
These examples may not be what you seek; but the right program for you can be found with some research. Also, applying to programs is fairly simple but does require timely preparation and attention to detail. All have an application process involving an application form, official college transcripts, letters of recommendations, and sometimes a personal statement or a resume or other requirement. Career Planning and Placement (CPP) carries a few sources for internship information: announcements in binders, internship books, and internet sites. You can find detailed information (and applications for the HACU internships) for all the above examples in CPPÕs Career Resource Center in Killam Building West 157.
Project initiation for the next stage of Texas A&M International UniversityÕs development, Phase III, began December 17 as University officials met with representatives of the firms selected to lead the projects.
University officers and A&M Facilities Planning and Construction representatives discussed the facilitiesÕ design process, construction, schedule and budget with project architects in two meetings held at the University in Bullock Hall 101.
Aguirre Corporation of Dallas and Sepulveda Associates Architects, Inc. of Laredo were selected project architects for the Student Development Center and Intramural Complex respectively by The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents earlier this month.
The Student Development Center, supported by a generous $5 million anonymous donation, and the Intramural Complex will further enhance the UniversityÕs campus, University president Dr. Charles Jennett said.
ÒThis is an exciting time for our University. We are looking forward to bringing these projects on line and providing facilities to expand student life functions, augment our dynamic learning environment and provide greater dedicated student events and sports programming consistent with a University setting,Ó Dr. Jennett said.
The Student Development Center and the Intramural Complex are the cornerstones of the UniversityÕs Phase III expansion which will add in excess of 230,000 square feet to the campus site at a construction cost of approximately $41 million.
Aguirre Corporation is headquartered in Dallas. Recent projects have included the new Student Service mall at Eastfield College, Dallas; a new student high school in the Dallas Independent School District and new technology buildings at Northlake College and Eastfield College for the Dallas Community College District.
Sepulveda Associates Architects, Inc. is Laredo-based. Recent projects have included involvement in A&M InternationalÕs University Village student housing, the Fort McIntosh Park and Recreation Complex, L. J. Christen Middle School Library Complex, the Lamar Bruni Vergara Youth Center and the United Independent School District School Service Center.
Other Phase III initiatives include the completion of the Sue and Radcliffe Killam Library Collection, construction of a Fine Arts Center, Center for the Study of Western Hemispheric Trade and additional infrastructure.
For more information, please contact the Office of Public Affairs at 326. 2180 or visit offices located in the Sue and Radcliffe Killam Library, Suite 268.
By Ismael H. Hinojosa
June 14, 1983 was just like any other day in the City of Houston, a city riddled with crime and poverty. The two daily newspapers, possibly wanting to deflect attention from the cityÕs glaring problems with crime, ran stories concerning a five-alarm fire in a Ft. Worth Hotel and the building of yet another toll road in Houston. Tucked away in the dark recesses of the papersÕ police blotter were quick blurbs heinous crimes and most lauded murderers in recent memory. There, in a paragraph or two, were the accounts of the murders of Deborah Thorton and Jerry Lynn Dean. Little to no attention was given to the unorthodox murder weapon that was to later define the case and the woman who wielded this instrument of death.
Late in May of 1983, Karla Faye Tucker left her then husband, Stephen Griffith, to work out her Òwild streak.Ó Mr. Griffith remembers thinking at the time that she was either going to be killed or would end up killing someone. Stephen Griffith proved clairvoyant that day as merely three weeks after their separation Karla Faye Tucker was arrested by Houston Police for having murdered Deborah Thorton and Jerry Lynn Dean with a pickax. During her trial, jurors were subjected to the prosecutionÕs re-enactment of the pickax murders. A stunned silence fell over the courtroom as Karla FayeÕs vile deed came to life in the words of prosecution. The vivid portrait of a bloodthirsty woman, who took near sexual pleasure in slicing into Deborah Thorton as Jerry Dean look on in a terrified stupor from under the bloody sheets. Certainly such horrific acts and blatant disregard for human life must have left some people doubting the exsistance of God.
During the course of more than a decade on Death Row, any doubts that Karla Faye Tucker may have had replaced with an unbending faith in the exsistance of an all powerful creator, or at least she led us to believe as much. With her pretty words and coquettish smile she captivated the hearts of a good portion of our society. Among them were celebrities and more than a few influential Washington types. They pleaded that Gov. George W. Bush stay her execution at least long enough for a new jury to hear her story of reformation and affirmation. Many even went a stepped beyond this asked that her sentence be changed to life in prison. Whether Karla Faye Tucker found God while on Death Row is truly of no consequence to me (although it does make me wonder whether there is an inmate on Death Row who hasnÕt found God). What bothers me most about this entire ordeal is not Karla Faye or her gruesome murders. I have come to simply accept the face that the desecration of human life is an inborn trait of humanity that most strongly manifests itself in the occasional disturbed individual. What bothers me most is that people readily accept the argument that Karla Faye TuckerÕs life should have been spared because she found God in Prison. Has our society become so shallow and narrow minded as to lend credibility to such a obviously flawed argument? The reason that Karla Faye Tucker should have avoided execution is not because she found God, but rather because we, as a society, never lost Him.
Capital punishment is not something that is unique to our country, society, or historical period. Capital punishment can trace it roots way back to the immortal words of Hammorabi, which have come be known as HammorabiÕs Code, ÒAn eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.Ó Also, we have taken the golden rule twisted, warped, and cajoled it to mean, ÒDo unto others as they have done unto you or those close to you.Ó There are quite a few justification for capital punishment but they all boil down to one undeniable fact, they are justifying murder. Karla Faye Tucker took the life of two human beings, therefor it is our responsibility to take hers? Have we, as a deeply religious society and zealotÕs of the Ten Commandments forgotten one of the most important? ÒThou shalt not killÓ was clearly etched upon MosesÕ stone tablets. These words were not of MosesÕ creation, he simply inscribed what the Lord had told him. Who are we to say that these Commandments do not apply in certain situations?
It is largely agreed upon in religious circles that God shall take men and women from this earth when their time has come. Who are we then to decide when a personÕs time on this planet has expired? If violating that commandment meant that their right to life had expired then why does God not take their life at the time that they take the life of their victim? Why must he wait for an executionerÕs axe, a knotted rope, or a rifleÕs bullet to do the job that He could so easily do? In short, we are not the people who should be deciding how long a man should live or when he should die.
Capital punishment is only employed when the life of another human being(s) has been taken. We call these men murderers, kick them out of society, and send them to the afterlife. Yet we elevate returning soldiers to the status of heroes and applaud their actions. Audie Murphy, the most decorated soldier of the Second World War and in U.S. history, once said that there is no romance or glory in war, ÒYou kill Krauts by shooting them in the back, throwing a grenade at them, or blowing them up with a mine. You try to kill them by placing yourself in as little risk as possible.Ó Here again we see that our society has decided that not only is breaking this Commandment for the glory of land and country acceptable, it is to be applauded. Audie Murphy took the lives of some 500 German and Italian soldiers during the war and we turned him into a movie star.
I realize that the taking a life in war is completely different from cold blooded murder and I am in no way saying that war veterans are cold blooded murderers. Most of these men were ordered to fight on foreign soil and were I in their shoes, I would do the same. I am simply trying to point out the double standard that exists in our society. We feel ourselves righteous and pious enough to decide when and where these rules, literally written in stone can be broken.
In April of 1920 two gunmen entered a shoe factory in South Braintree, Massachusetts. They proceeded to rob the payroll, getting away with over $15,000 and killing one of the guards. The public outcry all around the state of Massachusetts was enormous and they clamored for quick justice. Police scoured the streets of South Braintree and setup a trap for the assailants. Two men, who were not suspects in this crime were arrested and charged with murder and robbery, Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti.
The Summer of 1920 was also during the height of the Red Scare and the fear of Communism began spreading like wildfire all across the country side. Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti were two Italian immigrants, who held anarchists beliefs. The trap that they fell into was believed to have been set for a friend of theirs who had been labeled a Ôforeign radicalÕ. Never the less, the police, in the publicÕs and in their own mind, apprehended the culprits and at the same time taken two radicalÕs off the streets.
The court trial that proceeded has been called everything from a grave injustice, to the greatest debacle in U.S. History. The judge preceding over the case behaved in a blatantly biased manner and lacked even the slightest glimmer of objectivity that judges are suppose to have. He referred to Sacco and Vanzetti as, ÔThose anarchist bastardsÕ and commenced to lead the jury to a swift conviction.
Both Sacco and Vanzetti were convicted and sentenced to death. Bartolomeo VanzettiÕs quiet dignity and calm demeanor drew the respect and admiration of much of the American public. On the day that he was to be sentenced, he stood before judge and jury saying that he was innocent of the crimes of which he had been convicted. He stated that, ÒI am so sure that I am right, that you could kill me twice so that I could be reborn two times and go about my life in the same way as before.Ó To this day, Sacco and Vanzetti stand as grim reminders of the dangerous inherent in a system of capital punishment.
Another drawback of capital punishment is the always present possibility of executing an innocent man. Until recently, both Sacco and Vanzetti were believed to have died innocent men. Later forensics studies on Nicalo SaccoÕs gun led historians to believe that he was the gunman. However, Bartolomeo VanzettiÕs only crime was not being a staunch advocate of democracy. In April of 1927, an innocent man was executed in Massachusetts. If we take the life of an innocent man, does that make us any better than the actual murder?
We have no right to decide when a man or womanÕs time on this planet has expired. I also believe that our sense of righteousness has led us to believe that we can decided when the Ten Commandments can be broken or bent either in retribution or for a ÒgloriousÓ cause and have created a double standard in our society. Finally, if an innocent man dies at our hands what is to differentiate us from the actual murderer? By our laws, shouldnÕt our society be tried, convicted and sentenced to the same grizzly fate as the man we just killed?
by Jaime Loera
Imagine you are trying to fall asleep in the cold pavement, and the only thing you got to look forward to is the kindness of strangers. Strangers that can make or break your day. Try to keep an open mind and let this reporter tell you a true story about the events that took place on the 21st of December. The individuals who chose to be interviewed are residents of Laredo, they are a part of our social order, the only difference is that they lack a place to call a home. This interview was conducted to educate the minds of ignorant individuals who choose to judge these people before they understand their story.
The following individuals were interviewed.
Rhymer——Originally from Ga.
Wiskey ——-Originally from Tenn. Nitro ———Originally
from San Antonio Buckweed-??
Alaskan Polisher ——Alaska
To conduct the interview, The first thing needed was to look for a homeless person. On the crossing of Del Mar Street next to McDonalds there was Wi ski asking for money. He agreed to conduct the interview in return for money. Burgers were purchased for the interview but even then he was extremely uncomfortable, it was as if he thought violence was going to be forced upon him. He began to answer several questions when he asked this reporter Ò Do you really wanna know the truth ?Ó Ò there are five others just like me.. ..theyÕll tell you what its really like.Ó The area where the others were at was not far, it was were the Kettle used to be, next to Ernies BBQ. They were shocked when they saw us drive up, having one of them in a car was not a pleasant site because usually when in a vehicle it belongs to law enforcement. Getting off the car was a scary feeling, seeing them with torn dirty shirts, worn out shoes( if any), and Rhymer was wearing a ragged old SantaÕs hat. As the introductions were being made, this reporter noticed a rusted knife right next to him. Paying no attention to the obvious danger, the interview commenced. Santa was the obvious leader, he took over the conversation, making it perfectly clear that the answers were going to be directed by him. Rhymer and the rest of them had arrived at this position in different ways, but now as a group they are one unit. One unit because as soon as we got there Whiskey let everyone know that there were burgers in the bag, he had not taken a bite until he was with his family. They rely on this phrase, Òyou gotta look out for each other, cuz nobody else will.Óas Nitro put it. The idea of being selfish is unacceptable, they do not need to deal with that kind of problem because they canÕt afford alienation amongst the group. Regardless of their label they are without a doubt generous, they told me two stories where they saved up pennies in a gatorade bottle and gave it to a family here in Laredo that needed it. They are homeless but they are all adults they do recognize that there are bigger family poverty problems. The idea of family for them is forgotten, they have family but there family in many instances is unaware of there homeless state. Wether it be embarrassment or pride they do not let on to their dilemma. In many cases they prefer to be homeless. Nitro says that Òhey, this is the best, you donÕt work , you donÕt have the govt. taking money from you, and you can go anywhereÓ . In his case he is homeless by choice. As for Rhymer and the rest they are not there by choice, the sad thing is they have family that loves them but has no idea where they are. When asking the question about their family they freaked, telling this reporter that they call but thatÕs about it. As for how they feel Laredo treats them ,they say Laredo has been great. They see the people as being very friendly, although they still say that some walk away in disgust. The most important question was Ò what did they do with the money?Ó Sadly enough it is used for beer and marijuana. Looking at this realization first hand was amazing, knowing that your money is going toward drugs is hard but understand that this is only a fraction of the thousands of homeless people around the world. One groups decision is the decision of all homeless. Trying to survive everyday is hard enough for the average person with all commodities and luxuries now imagine that you have none but still have all societal problems.
At a larger scale the according to the NCH stats Of 1997 there are two trends that are largely responsible to the rise of Homelessness over the past 15-20 yrs. One being a growing shortage of affordable rental housing and a simultaneous increase in poverty. Additional factors are poverty, eroding work opportunities,decline in public assistance, housing, mental illness, and chemical dependency. Of course there are other factors that compound each situation and make it different. There are several things we can do in society to help these individuals. These are the 3 most important ways TAMIU and Laredo can help the homeless,
1. Understand who the homeless are
2. Educate yourself about the homeless
3. Respect the homeless as individuals
If we live by these 3 small rules in how we treat the homeless. We will be a more morally based society, less biased and more prone to acceptance.
It is clear that homelessness is often a result of a complex set of circumstances which push people into poverty and force impossible choices between food, shelter and other basic needs. Only a concerted effort to insure jobs with livable wages and adequate benefits for those who cannot work or afford health care will bring an end to homelessness.
During the interview Rhymer recited two great poems, they were profane but they were truthful ,if any student wants a copy write to the bridge.
In interviewing the whole group I got an idea that needs the students help. IÕve decided that I will run a pole in the bridge to better understand the homeless, if the pole at the end of the month has more people wanting me to spend a whole day a homeless person, I will. This was already discussed with the group I interviewed, So it is up to TAMIU to see if we can better understand how homeless people feel.
____YES _____NO
Your answer will also have to be based on wether or not it is justifiable to invade their area or wether it is for the science of journalism. Please email your responses to journalism@tamiu.edu or fax them to 326-2471.
Antiguamente en el Callejon del Beso, vivieron dos enamorados que se Ilamaban ÒDoña AnaÓ y ÒCarlosÓ un pobre minero, Al Padre de Ana no le convenia que su hija se casara con un pobre minero, sino que se casara con un rico español para juntar sus fortunas y ser felices.
Una noche su padre los vio besandose de un balcon a otro y les dijo que si los volvia a ver juntos la iba a matar, pero ella siendo su unica hija no le tomo en serio.
A la siguiente noche su Padre ya no le dijo nada, sino que al sorprenderlos de nuevo besandose, tomo una daga y la enterro en la espalda de su hija Dona Ana, el pobre Carlos viendola morir le dio un ultimo beso en el dorso de la mano y asi nacio la Leyenda del Callejon del Beso.
Carlos no pudiendo soportar el vivir sin el Amor de Doña Ana, se suicido tirandose desde el brocal del tiro principal de La Mina de La Valenciana.
Guanajuato, Gto., Mexico
by Angelica Hinojosa
Ever had one of those days when nothing seems to go right?
When all possible life forms are set against you and no matter how objective and reasonable you try to be, EVERY BODY IS OUT TO GET YOU? And not only that, they all plot it out—where and when theyÕre going to congregate to make your life a living hell. Guess where all convene—at the international bridge. So, whatÕs the big deal? You are just going from one country to another. ItÕs not like youÕre going to bombard someone or someplace. But no, they canÕt just let you pass and leave on your merry way; they have to rid themselves of all their frustrations, and guess who the target of the day is—YOU, YOU, YOU. It all comes down to the experience I am about to relate: the transition between life and eternal damnation.
Imagine being stranded in the middle of congested traffic—more like constipated traffic—with the flaring sun staring at you in the face, 112ÕF weather, and no A/C. Literally, all hell breaks loose: weather-wise, ATTITUDE-wise. Being from the once- small city of Laredo, TX, and having relatives across the border, I commute between my city and Nvo. Laredo, Mex. a couple of times a week.
It may be difficult for anyone who has not lived in a border town as hot as Laredo to relate to my experiences in crossing the border. You see, not only is Laredo a victim of scorching weather, but also, it has recently begun to grow at an astonishingly rapid pace. This change has been caused increased traffic, new customs rules and regulations, and the Òwho are you-where are you coming from/going to-who the hell do you think you are-car stripping dog-shock.
To better acquaint you with my experience, allow me to introduce some of SatanÕs little helpers who make the journey of crossing the border a living hell: the Deviated Fool, the Hallucinator, the ÒI canÕt believe itÕs not butterÓ air-head, Mr. Òtanned butt, and the Horny Dog.
First, thereÕs the Deviated Fool on the other side (and I mean that in more ways than one). This idiot has no perception of direction. All he knows how to do is raise his stupid hand—five fingers spread—and punch that evil button that makes the light go red. He makes it seem like itÕs all a matter of luck. If the green light turns on, you pass, youÕre approved, youÕre in the Òin crowd,Ó you are it, you fooled the suckers, but If the red light turns on, it can mean one of three things: (1) you look like youÕre loaded with cash, (2) you own a late model car, or (3) youÕre just plain ugly. Of course we all know he controls it, but heÕs still in denial. All you have to do to figure this out is mention his mother and, BOOM, red light. But he doesnÕt just do this out of the blue, oh no. He tests you first. On a particular occasion, I was on my way to a funeral, and the officer asked me if I was bringing anything into Mexico. I answered, ÒNo.Ó I pretty much figured that was it, you know, ÒBringing anything into Mexico?Ó ÒNo.Ó Question and answer...end of story. He raised his hand and, thinking he had signaled me to proceed, I left. Soon enough I found out what that hand meant: GO TO INSPECTION or get your tires perforated, your car taken away, and your life basically screwed up. I did not have any cash on me, for GodÕs sake. I drive an 1977 Impala Chevrolet, so that only left one other option—IÕm ugly. IÕm a moneyless, careless, ugly person with an ulcer the size of Alaska.
Next, thereÕs the Hallucinator or wishful thinker. This is simply the guy who thinks he owns the bridge because he drives an eighteen-wheeler and no matter how isolated he is, he imagines a million cars getting in his way and starts to pull that horn like he is milking a cow in time of hunger. Sometimes I feel sorry for this character; heÕs been in the sun too, too, long. Nonetheless, I get in front of him just to piss him off. I pay my dues, and he owes me half. For some reason he keeps shooting up his middle finger. Now, he has a sense of direction; he knows where to go when be kicks the bucket.
Now, IÕm sure weÕve all come across the ÒI canÕt believe itÕs not butterÓ air-head. This is the idiot that is stranded in the middle of the bridge. Why, you ask? He forgot to make a stop at the gas station—for GAS. How do you forget to fill up your car with gas? You forget to do your homework or your laundry—you might even forget to put on your underwear (on a bad day—or a good one—it all depends); but how can a person forget to fill up his car with gas? How can you possibly get from point A to point B without gas? Once, I drove by one of these Òairies,Ó and she had asked me to give her a ride to the gas station for GAS (typical, first they wipe their butt and then they sit and ponder). Well anyway, she had her seven-year-old son with her. The poor child was dehydrating, and we all know what happens when a person dehydrates. Yes, in my car.
Also, there dwells the Mr. ÒTanned Butt.Ó Now, this guy is confused, in denial, or something. He cannot make up his mind about his ethnicity, but IÕm sure we can clear that up by taking a look at his rear end. Of course, we all know what he is going to say: ÒItÕs a tan.Ó This sucker pins you down and asks the most stupid questions. And what makes the whole situation even more pathetic is that he asks questions you have already answered. You: ÒU.S. citizen.Ó He: ÒWhat country are you a citizen of?Ó Hellooooo. Oh, it gets better. He also asks, ÒAre you bringing in any items from the Òprohibited items list?Ó Like IÕm going to tell him! ÒYeah, Beavis, I brought a couple of avocados, sugar canes, and liquor for the whole tribe!Ó But what surprises me is that there are people who actually confess. Now why would anyone go through the hell of crossing the bridge and spend their money on goods that theyÕll eventually hand over to someone else? This is beyond me. Even ÒairyÓ would have enough sense not to do that, but then again, by the time makes it to the U.S. customs, she probably already forgot what she had gone to Mexico for.
Last but not least, thereÕs ÒHorny Dog.Ó ItÕs bad enough that we humans, involve ourselves in these rituals, but we just couldnÕt leave the dog alone. After all, he is manÕs best friend. Now, this dog goes after anything it can get. IÕve always been paranoid about someone placing any illegal substances in my car and watching me until I cross to the U.S. to steal my car and recover their drugs (too many Oprah shows). Well, the other day, I became extremely tense because the dog made a fuss over my car, and I was pulled into inspection. Then the idiot there asks, Òso, miss, uh, why do you think our little canine might have stopped you?Ó I was extremely nervous, and when IÕm nervous, I either laugh hysterically or cry like a baby who wants her mama. I opted for the earlier approach due to a flashback. I remembered I had seen a dog answering natureÕs call beside my carÕs tire earlier that day. Now, I donÕt know what thrill that dog got out of sniffing anotherÕs leftovers (waste), but I wouldnÕt want to smell anybody elseÕs anything. After laughing for what seemed a mighty long time, I straightened myself up and said, in the most lady-like manner possible, ÒIt wants me.Ó These are the kinds of people you should expect to meet when you enter purgatory, so if I were you, IÕd start repenting for my sins NOW. Going through such a hectic experience drains you out, but at least, you can unbuckle your seat belt and turn up the radio after obeying the rules for the five seconds you were dealing with Mr. ÒTanned Butt.Ó
by Barbara Sullivan
A visit to Seminole Canyon State Historical Park is a pleasantly unique experience. Located about forty miles northwest of Del Rio, Texas, Seminole Canyon State Park is a very educational, as well as entertaining, place to visit.
The terrain around the park could be best described as a semi-desert. The reasons for the lack of trees are primarily because the average rainfall in that area is low, but also because there is very little soil.
As you arrive at the headquarters of the park you are greeted with a very friendly staff. The headquarters consists of a gift shop, and a small museum. The museum contains artifacts found only in the park relating to the archaic Indians that were inhabitants of the area. The museum also contains other information on the area and surrounding county and information about the history of families who pioneered the area.
The park provides guided tours two times daily, except Mondays and Tuesdays, into what is known as ÒFate Bell Shelter.Ó This is a shelter that contains pictographs found in North America and are believed to have been approximately 4,000 years ago. Approximately 7,000 years ago the area experienced a change in climate that changed the terrain into what it appears to be today, arid and dry. This is presumably part of the reason that the large animals are extinct from the area. There is little vegetation around; however, there are three rivers nearby, the Pecos River, the Devils River, and the Rio Grande River. The terrain is very rugged, containing many canyons and hills.
Seminole Canyon is thought to be named for the Black-Seminole Army scouts who were stationed at Fort Clark during the 1870s. Fort Clark is currently located in present-day Brackettville, which is about 30 miles est of Del Rio. Seminole scouts, who were the descendants of African-Americans and Seminole Indians who intermarried in the early 19th century in the southwestern United States, began coming to Texas during the middle of the nineteenth century. Some of the Seminoles came to this area from Florida; some were moved by the United States government to reservations; and others migrated to Coahuila, Mexico and subsequently migrated to this area.
It is not clear why this state park was named after the Seminole scouts when the park is predominantly geared toward the preservation and preservation of native Indian artifacts. One would think that the park would have been named for those native Americans rather than the Seminole Scouts. Even though the Seminole Scouts did not patrol this area in the mid 1800s, the fascinating evidence of the art left behind by the archaic Indians is much more impressive.
The hike into the canyon to view the artifacts is not that strenuous of a hike. Inside the headquarters there is a sign warning visitors that they need to be in good physical condition to go on the hike into the canyon. While talking to our guide we asked him questions such as, ÒWho has the most trouble walking up and down the trail to and from the canyon?Ó We assumed it would be the elderly or physically challenged.
In addition to the Indian artifacts and the history of the Seminole scouts, there were interesting sights nearby.
A short drive from the park on Highway 90 there is an area that has been purchased by a foundation in an effort to preserve the land. The foundation, known as The Rock Art Foundation , has also erected a monument of an Indian shaman. The monument was imported from another area. The limestone used for the monument is whiter in color that the local limestone. On the walkway surrounding the monument there are bricks that are citizens have purchased and had the names of their families or ancestors carved in them.
There is a minimal charge to enter this area that is owned by The Rock Art Foundation. It is only open on certain week-ends of each month, the principle reason is because the directors of the foundation are all from other areas such as Dallas and San Antonio and apparently they do not have anyone available locally to provide tours on a daily, or even weekly, basis.
As I wish upon a star, I often wonder where
you are. Are you far, or are you near? Where will
I go? What will I do? I have no clue.
To feel you, to touches you, is something I would
have liked to do. In love is what I was, and what I
want to be. Between you and me, there was never destiny.
Living in you, breathing with you, to me, seems so
much real.
As I turn from the star, I cannot breathe, I
cannot think, and you never being here, is something
that I will always come to fear.
By Gabriel Rivera
No! He was no God!
He was a man of conviction
Whose sheer frustration seeped from
the pores of his very soul.
He craved for divinity, but immortal he
was not
He was as human as blood runs through the
veins of man.
A creature of self-wallowing pity,
Yearning for everlasting eternity.
By Carina Aguirre
AS I LOOKED INTO YOUR EYES
I FROZE AS HARD AS ICE, I SAW A MESMERIZING SMILE
AND I KNEW iT WAS WORTHWHILE
THEN SUDDENLY WHEN I WALKED BY
I HEARD A SWEET SENSUOUS VOICE SAY ÒHIÓ,
AS I TURNED AROUND TO SEE ONE MORE TIME
I SAW A NICE YOUNG GIRL THAT WAS FINE
AS WE DANCED OUR FIRST SONG
WE WERE GETTING VERY ALONG,
AS WE TALKED THE NIGHT AWAY
I REALLY WANTED YOU TO STAY
AS I WAVE GOOD-BYE I
FELT LIKE I HAD TO CRY,
WHEN YOU LEFT
DEEP DOWN I WEPT
THINKING TO MY SELF
WHEN WILL I SEE HER AGAIN
AND REALLY NOT KNOWING WHEN!!
BY: REYMUNDO RAMIREZ III