Online content Photography Blog Vol. I, Issue 15 The student voice of the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Monday, January 18, 2016 New year, new issues 2 courses with same number = no credit Oscar Castillo take care of this issue.” THE RIDER She said about 200 courses had the same course number T Rio Grande Valley’s as others in the UTRGV legacy first semester ended institutions, UT Brownsville Ulast month, but not and UT Pan American. without a few hiccups because Therefore, some students who once grades were posted, some took a UTRGV course that had students noticed that they didn’t the same course number in get credit for certain courses. either UTB or UTPA did not Communication senior Sylvia receive credit. Rendon said that although she “We kind of entered new received an A in a course, her territory with creating UTRGV,” academic record showed zero Gilchrist said. “It’s not that credit hours completed for that things were overlooked, it’s just class. that we didn’t know; and now “My credit hours did not show that we know that this caused up for one class because both an issue, we’re trying to find a that class, [Writing for Mass solution.” Media] and [Communication Rosa Peña, Office of the Law and Ethics], that I took Deputy Provost senior program in Spring 2014, had the same coordinator, said the course course number,” Rendon said. numbers were decided by “So, it was giving me credit for faculty members from both law and ethics, but not writing UTB and UTPA before the for mass media.” consolidation. Debbie Gilchrist, interim “Both campuses at that point, registrar and undergraduate both departments, they worked admissions director, said that together,” Peña said. “They fixing this issue has a lot of reviewed what was offered at ramifications. UTPA back then, they reviewed “We’re looking at a lot of what was offered at UTB, and scenarios, but we don’t have a MICHELLE ESPINOZA/THE RIDER then they worked together to solution to it yet,” Gilchrist said. have only one course inventory.” UTRGV Financial Aid Mentor Ana Estrada directs business sophomore David Gonzalez to assistance at the U Central office “But, it is high priority on our Jan. 7 in Brownsville. See CREDITS, Page 2 list to try and figure out how to Deadline nears The campus passage for voter registration Deputy registrar training on campus this week More shuttle trips available Ena Capucion NEWS EDITOR Of the 25,000 students attending UTRGV, 15,000 use the shuttle system. This spring, Parking and Transportation Services is adding more Vaquero Express Campus Connector trips. At the end of the fall semester, a transportation survey was emailed to UTRGV affiliates and about 1,800 students and staff participated. Rodney Gomez, UTRGV director of Parking and Transportation, said the biggest MARIO GONZALEZ/THE RIDER GRAPHIC issue among the student body GABRIEL MATA/THE RIDER was the lack of transport across Cameron and Hidalgo counties One of the 11 UTRGV shuttles is parked outside the visitors center on the Edin- Trisha Maldonado campuses between 9 a.m. and THE RIDER to conduct deputy registrar burg campus, ready to transport students, faculty and staff. 3:30 p.m. due to a shortage training this week. Feb. 1 is the last day to register of staff. This would require Volunteer deputy registrars are in the process of getting their depart at 9 a.m., 10:30 a.m., to vote for the March 1 primary students and staff to take the may distribute and accept license. We’re training them 1:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. from each election, when Texas voters will early morning route between voter registration application [and] teaching them. Hopefully, campus. select their party’s nominees either of the two campuses and forms from any resident of their they should be good to go in the UTRGV student Luis Flores for the presidential and local return later in the afternoon. respective county. next couple of weeks to provide will commute twice a week county races. “Since then, we’ve been In Edinburg, the training additional support. So, now that from Brownsville to Edinburg The University of Texas Rio able to hire several part-time will take place from 12:30 to we have that, we can provide this semester. The Campus Grande Valley is partnering with drivers,” Gomez said. “We’ve 1:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Bronc [four services] during that gap.” Connector will be his only the Texas Freedom Network actually got two students who The four new shuttles will and the elections offices of See VOTING, Page 10 See SHUTTLE, Page 2 2 THE RIDER on campus Monday, January 18, 2016 ANNOUNCEMENTS Graduation application deadline organizations and businesses, is seeking an information session at 12:30 p.m. Students who are set to graduate this volunteers for the Point-in-Time count Jan. 26 in ARHU 185 on the Edinburg The Rider is the official student summer must submit their application on Thursday. The Point-in-Time count is campus. The session is open to all majors. a survey of homeless persons on a single Refreshments will be provided. For more newspaper of the University of Texas by Feb. 1. Students who will graduate in Fall 2016 must turn in their application night in January, conducted to identify information, email christine.severn01@ Rio Grande Valley. The newspaper is by May 1. For more information, contact the number of homeless individuals in utrgv.edu. widely distributed on and off cam- the Graduate College at 665-3661 or the community and provide resources to Blue ribbon 5k run/walk email [email protected]. assist them. For more information, call The American Marketing pus in Brownsville and Edinburg, the office of Grant Management and Association-Edinburg will host a Texas. Views presented are those Piano performance Community Development at 548- Blue Ribbon 5K run/walk at 8 a.m. Mark Fouxman, a concert pianist, 6167. Feb.20 at the Edinburg Municipal Park, of the writers and do not reflect teacher, inventor and owner/chief 714 S. Raul Longoria Rd. AMA-Edinburg designer of a microphone production Community health fair those of the newspaper or university. Doctors Hospital at Renaissance has teamed up with the RGV Diabetes company, will perform at 7:30 p.m. will host its 10th annual DHR Association to raise awareness of this EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Tuesday in the Performing Arts Complex Community Health Fair from 8 disease as it continues to grow in the on the Edinburg campus and Wednesday Jesus Sanchez a.m. to noon Saturday in the Edinburg lower region of South Texas. All proceeds in the Texas Southmost College Arts Conference Center at Renaissance, 118 will go to the RGV Diabetes Association. Center in Brownsville. Tickets are $15 NEWS EDITOR Paseo del Prado. The fair will provide free Early registration is $20 for adults, $25 for adults, $10 for senior citizens and health screenings for cholesterol, vision, for an adult with a child and $10 for Ena Capucion children, and $5 for students with a valid glucose and blood pressure, as well as children between the ages of 13 and 17. ID. For more information, call 882-7025 medical information and education. For For more information, contact Jolene SPORTS EDITOR or 665-3471. Arellano at (512) 785-0145 or email Nathaniel Mata Seeking volunteers more information, call 388-8204. Sigma Tau Delta info sessions [email protected]. The City of Brownsville, in --Compiled by Monica Gudiño PHOTO EDITOR collaboration with the Cameron County The Sigma Tau Delta-International English Honors Society will host Mario Gonzalez Homeless Coalition, local nonprofit SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR Rick R. Ramirez POLICE REPORTS REPORTERS The following are among the incidents reported to University Police between Dec. 22 and Jan. 6. Jacqueline Arias December 22 December 29 fire alarm system and University Police 10:22 p.m.: A family member of a 10:41 p.m.: Three suspicious individuals assisted with the building evacuation. Andrea Torres student contacted University Police to were reported seen in the UTRGV Sports January 5 Monica Gudiño report her brother was having problems Complex. Two were issued a written 11:57 a.m.: An athletics staff member with alcohol. She wanted to refer her criminal trespass warning. One was reported $300 missing from his Trisha Maldonado brother to University Counseling Services issued a citation for minor in possession office desk in the Health and Physical Felipe Zamorano to receive assistance. of alcohol and the other for furnishing Education building. The cash stolen from December 24 alcohol to a minor. The remaining his desk was not secure and was reported PHOTOGRAPHERS 1:10 p.m.: University Police patrolling individual was a minor who was released to be stolen between Dec. 17 and 31. Michelle Espinoza the Edinburg Sports Complex reported to the custody of her mother. January 6 seeing several empty beer cans January 4 2:34 p.m.: A University bookstore Lesley Robles underneath the bleachers and two metal 9:01 a.m.: A staff member reported a staff member reported that video Ana Cahuiche trash cans that had been removed from broken window in a Mobile Science Lab, surveillance showed a student in a their base. Both trash cans were damaged. which had been parked for an extended wheelchair grabbing some headphones Gabriel Mata The Sports Complex supervisor was period of time in the Physical Plant and placing them between his back and Jesus Esparza notified. Compound. The estimated $150 damage the wheelchair. The student then left December 28 appeared to have been caused by rocks the premises.