dania's posterous

From Street Smarts to Office Smarts

Linda Chavez-Thompson may become the first female Lieutenant Governor of Texas if she wins the 2010 elections. Self-educated and fiercely outspoken, she has become the spokesperson for labor workers around the state. 

Born and raised in Lorenzo, Texas as a second generation Mexican-American, she hoed and picked cotton at the age of ten until she was 19-years-old. Being one of ten children, she had to drop out of high school as a freshman to help support her family. 

 

However, that did not stop her from teaching herself to read and write Spanish as well as learn public speaking skills. "I always yearned and literally craved an education. It was always something I wanted to do but was never able to do," says the politician. 

 

Education and reforms to the current education system are the main platforms she pushes for. "The educational system is not what it should be. We are not dedicating the kind of monies that we need to change our children's education."

 

If elected, she plans to ensure that the money will not be cut from the education system because of the budget deficit. "They are planning to cut 3 to 5 percent, and that should be going into the education system, not taken out."

 

Unlike her opponent David Dewhurst, whose main focus is health care, Chavez-Thompson did not attend college. However, she began working at a labor union and discovered her love for helping others in public sector organizing. 

 

From there, she became the first Hispanic woman to be elected Executive Vice-President of the National American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations. After that, she was elected to serve as Vice Chair of the Democratic National Committee and in 1997 was appointed to President Bill Clinton’s Race Advisory Board. 

 

When asked if she thought her lack of a college degree seemed a positive or negative for her voters, she replied, "A positive. I may not have a Bachelor of Science, but I do have a good BS degree. I have street smarts and I have been called every name in the book, but I never folded...Not for something I believed in. I've learned from people and I have felt what they felt."

 

With the possibility of becoming the first woman to hold the office of Texas Lieutenant Governor,  Chavez-Thompson claims that being a woman has nothing to do with the kind of person you are. "I made it a point to men to never talk down to me as a woman. I had to develop a thicker skin, and yes there were difficult years but the only one that can tear those barriers down is you. In the end, all that matters is people's ability to connect with other people."

 

She has come from a humble background and managed to achieve goals that people with multiple Bachelor degrees never have. When asked how she feels about being considered a great leader, she says, "I have seen the humiliation others have suffered and worked the same labor fields. If I can prevent just one person from suffering the same humiliation and people consider that great leadership, then so be it."

 

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A Town Named Progress in Regress

Ever since soldiers of the Mexican army were stationed at the border bridge of Nuevo Progreso, Tamaulipas, Mexico two years ago, there have been countless rumors and speculation as to why this peaceful tourist town is under heavy observance by the Mexican government. American tourists do not know what to make of these soldiers. Are they here to protect or to endanger? Will they protect American citizens or just the town natives? Is there a reason to be afraid to enter this border town? Are they involved with the infamous Mexican drug cartels? With so many unanswered questions, only one thing remains certain: The economy of this once thriving tourist town has plummeted drastically with the arrival of these soldiers. 

Nuevo Progreso is a colorful Mexican tourist destination. Unlike most border towns, El Centro, or the main shopping street, is only a few blocks and people can walk everywhere. This border town also lacks a "Red Zone"-a zone indicating danger- making this town family friendly and for the most part, extremely safe. There is no daily count of missing women or alarmingly high casualties as there is in other Mexican border cities. Only one shooting has ever occurred here on the main street, yet people associate the town with the daily shootings that happen in the nearby cities of Rio Bravo and Reynosa (which are both about an hour away) with Nuevo Progreso.
 
Nuevo Progreso's streets were once filled with Winter-Texan tourists and American citizens from the neighboring border cities to the point where it was impossible to get through a sidewalk. However, today Nuevo Progreso resembles a ghost town. Shops remain empty for days at a time, street vendors do not cheerily yell out prices anymore, and there is more than enough walking space. 
 
It does not help that the soldiers stand with weapons in hand, as if ready to attack, on the entrance block of Nuevo Progreso. Although they hardly speak to the tourists or natives, they are required to do random car checks, which sometimes frightens or confuses people.  

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One of the main sources of tourist attraction was the nightlife that Nuevo Progreso provided. Alvaro Pulido, previous owner of Dania's Disco Bar, once made $800 a night just on cover charges, excluding the drinks he sold per night. He also charged cover entrances only for the males. The streets thrived with people the same by night as they did by day, and the economy prospered on the young people who crossed the border from the United States every night for a good time. 
 
Today Pulido owns Ground Zero Bar and has been forced to shut down his three other locations. There is no more nightlife, and just enough people to get by during the day.
 
Pedro Vega, a 21-year-old resident of the city of Weslaco, Texas, which borders with Nuevo Progreso, was once a frequent visitor of Dania's Disco Bar and other nightlife locations. "I used to go to Progreso to party every single weekend. Now I haven't gone in a few months. It's not as packed as it once was because no one goes anymore. I'm scared of the soldiers and the shootings that go on down there. I feel like the cartel is going to get me," says the Weslaco resident. 
 
Pedro's fear is commonly shared among residents of the neighboring border towns. According to Alvaro Pulido, these fears do not have a basis to support them. "These soldiers are here to protect us from the drug cartels, and they are doing an amazing job. People think that we are the only tourist town who has to endure this because they do not keep themselves informed. Every country from Mexico to Venezuela to Spain has to deal with drug cartels, and the United States is the No. 1 consumer of those drugs. Instead of embracing the protective army, people fear them and create stories for their entertainment. They do not see that their words are hurting entire businesses," says the 44-year-old entrepreneur. 

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There are both good and bad aspects to having these soldiers stand vigilant. The Mexican army has hurt the economy of Nuevo Progreso in more than one way. In hopes of protecting the natives and local business owners from the drug cartels, about a year and a half ago the army ordered all bars to close at 10 p.m. Nuevo Progreso is heavily populated with bars who had to shut down early. Hours of operation are currently back to normal and bars are able to stay open as long as they please, but the damage has been done and the nights remain empty of young consumers.  
 
While some business owners like Alvaro have seen and survived the worst of Progreso's struggling economy, others are doing their best to keep pushing forward as well.

Sara Hernandez is a 42-year-old owner of three hair and nail salons located throughout Nuevo Progreso. Although she has not had to shut any down, business has declined dramatically. However, she tries to see the light in the situation. "I feel that we will not run out of business because women are so aware of their looks. It does not matter if the economy is completely down the drain, a woman just has to have her hair and nails done to keep appearances," she says.

As her laugh fades, she says on a serious note that the salons have gone from being full every day to having one packed weekend a month. "I had to start working at an American nail salon across the border aside from keeping up with these three, just in case anything happens. I do not want my kids to have to suffer if things keep getting worse in this town," says the mother of two. 
 
Hernandez is not the only one who has had to migrate her business to the United States. Antonia Castillo, who owns Galerias, a curios and liquor store, has been forced to run her business from across the border. "After the shooting and all the talk of drug cartels, I became fearful for my life. They say if you do not mess with the cartels, they will not get involved with you. I would not like to risk it anyway. And I do not know how people can be expected to shop at my store when even I am deathly afraid to go in," she says. "It is like having to abandon a child. You spend all your life investing in a business only to have it taken away out of pure evil." 
 
At the rate of economic decline that this border town is going, it is hard for people to remain hopeful. However, Pulido keeps an optimistic outlook. "Last year the economic decline was at 70 percent for Nuevo Progreso, and this year it is at a 40 percent." Although it may seem like a vague light in the distance, these entrepreneurs are all hoping to return to their normal way of life and business. 
 
"La vida tiene que seguir," says Alvaro. Life must go on.  
 

Proposal

Growing up on the Mexican-American border, life was always peaceful and colorful. My parents as well as many other family members own businesses in this tourist town. However, lately this place looks more like a ghost town. Due to the increasing number of dangerous drug cartels, as well as the new law that requires passports, this busy tourist town is anything but. My parents and family have all been severely affected by this change. I want my story to be about how drug cartels have affected the economy on the Mexican-American border. This is important because people hear all kinds of stories about the dangers in these towns, but none have actually experienced it first hand like I have. People should know how drug cartels are affecting borders and people, no matter their nationality. I plan to add videos and photos of current shootings caught on tape as well as before and after photos of the population in this town. To start researching I will probably interview my parents and family and look up articles or videos on the incidents occurring here. Two open-ended questions would be, “How have these drug cartels affected your businesses?” and “Tell me about an encounter you had with one of these drug cartels personally?”

Veronica Lourdes "Music Luna-tic"

"Can't talk! I'm driving to Austin for a show, I'll contact you soon!"

This is the response I received from Veronica Lourdes Luna when I asked her when would be a good time to set up an interview. It had merely been an hour since we had been dismissed from class and she was already on the road to catch another band's performance. I don't know why I was surprised at this fact. One doesn't have to personally know Veronica to learn that she is absolutely crazy about music. A quick glance at her Posterous blog will be sufficient proof of this, since every other blog contains pictures and articles about her favorite bands. "I spend all my money on shows. I love all kinds of rock music," she explains. 

Because her parents worked in the oil industry, Veronica moved frequently with her family and lived in hotels until age seven. She was home-schooled until the second grade, when she explained to her mom that she would like to have "real friends" and "go to a real school". At this point, her parents finally settled in Houston, the place she considers her real hometown. 

Now an English-Communication Arts major, Veronica is set on establishing a career in the media industry. "I'm not sure what exactly I want to do, but I want to work with photography and film. I love the idea of putting people in situations that you have been in, making them feel what you felt. I just know I want to write about what I want to, not what someone is telling me to. Music, photography, and writing are my obsession," she says. 

Music seems to be her topic of choice, judging from her Posterous blogs, but that doesn't mean photography is far off. After taking some photographs at SXSW last year, Veronica was contacted by Rolling Stone magazine asking if they could use some of her pictures in the magazine. I expect this to be her response when I ask what she considers to be the most interesting thing that's ever happened to her, but she does not even bring it up. Instead she explains to me how she once followed her favorite band, Brand New, from San Antonio to Austin, then to Dallas and Houston- all within the course of four or five days. "I wouldn't do it again for any other band except them because it was so exhausting. I'll do anything for something I'm really passionate about," she says. After a stunt like that, I find that last statement very easy to believe.

Going, going, gone Greek

Greek life at St. Mary's University is big. Really big. 

It is no great kept secret that StMU has an immense and spirited Greek life. These "Greeks" are easy to spot around campus because they are usually sporting their letters on an article of clothing, laptop, or vehicle. If you still can't point them out, then just take a walk through the Quad on Friday mornings when all the fraternities and sororities display their letters and socialize.

About 13% of females and 10% of males at St. Mary's University are Greek members, according to the University's online statistics. But what exactly is the big deal with Greek life on this particular campus? Most college students in general are hesitant to join fraternities and sororities because of the stereotypical idea that they are closely associated with hazing, alcohol, and partying. This, however, is not the case at our small liberal arts institution. 

According to the College Panhellenic Council, which is the governing body of the four social Greek Letter organizations on campus, hazing is strictly prohibited and in order to be eligible for recruitment a student must have 12 hours of University classroom work and at least a 2.0 GPA. However, most organizations require a higher GPA to be able to pledge and the student must maintain that GPA throughout his membership. 

Another characteristic that is highly stressed by these Greek Letter organizations is community service. The mission of Greek life is for its members to become active leaders in their community, and Greeks account for most community service hours in relation to the rest of the students on campus. 

As for the social aspect of it all, it is clearly visible to all students just how dedicated these Greek members are to their letters. Claudia Charbel,senior english communication arts major says, "Being part of a Greek sorority has truly made me a better person. People think that it's all partying but in reality, you learn so much about yourself, your community, and your peers. I would recommend anyone to go Greek!"

Believe in Change

"These struggles are the reason I ran for president..."


It comes as no surprise that President Barack Obama is a great orator. More important than that, however, were the contents of his State of the Union speech on January 27, 2010. 
He began by addressing poverty in the United States, claiming the millions of jobs that were restored while simultaneously addressing those that still exist. He did this several times throughout his speech, creating a pattern between his accomplishments over the past year and then acknowledging the issues that still need to be faced and improved. 

As a college student, one of the more appealing parts of his speech was his remarks towards reforming college tuition and loans. He spoke about a bill that would "end the unwarranted taxpayer subsidies that go to banks for student loans" and instead "take that money and give families a $10,000 tax credit for four years of college and increase Pell Grants...tell another one million students that when they graduate, they will be required to pay only 10 percent of their income on student loans, and all of their debt will be forgiven after 20 years -- and forgiven after 10 years if they choose a career in public service." To make those kinds of promises is bold, but President Obama has a way of giving the American public hope. With his many accomplishments this past year, such as the Recovery Act that saved several businesses and the infrastructure plan that provided several new jobs for unemployed Americans, I would think it is safe to say that he can back his promises up. 

President Obama also addressed the rest of the obvious issues, like health care, budgeting and the economy, ending the war in Iraq, and even ending the production of nuclear weapons. However, the issue with the most profound effect, in my opinion, was his argument for Americans to regain their trust in the American government. To address the Washington politics that do not actually help in governing the people is exactly what we the citizens want to hear. Obama provided the public with reassurance about Congress making the right decisions for the well-being of the country and not their political party. Their job is, as Obama stated, to govern and to do so with equality. It was with equality in mind that President Obama also reminded us that all citizens, and even immigrants in the United States, should be treated as Americans as long as they "follow the rules" and abide by the law. He reminded us that "America must always stand on the side of freedom and human dignity" and that in and of itself should be what his speech should be praised for and every one of his words made believable. 
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