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Assayer of Student Opinion.

The Prospector

Assayer of Student Opinion.

The Prospector

Assayer of Student Opinion.

The Prospector

Amanda Guillen

Amanda Guillen, Editor-in-Chief

Amanda Guillen is a senior multimedia journalism major with a minor in women's studies. She was born and raised in El Paso, Texas and graduated from El Paso High School in 2011.

She has been a part of The Prospector since summer 2013 and is currently Managing Editor.

She has always had a passion for journalism and plans to become a television news reporter upon graduating from UTEP. In addition to being a full-time student and reporter, she is a part of two honor societies on campus, Alpha Lambda Delta and the National Society of Leadership and Success where she participates in community service regularly. Amanda also interns for KVIA Channel 7 the El Paso affiliate of ABC.

Her love for the city of El Paso is something that led her to choose UTEP as her school of choice. She has enjoyed her past 3 years at the university and looks forward to an eventful school year.

All content by Amanda Guillen
Students pass the September 11 memorial in the Union Breezeway.

[Photo] A day of remembrance- UTEP reflects on September 11

Amanda Guillen, Managing Editor/Multimedia Editor September 11, 2014

Students pass the September 11 memorial in the Union Breezeway.

In front of the Centennial Museum flags were placed in remembrance of each life lost on September 11.

In front of the Centennial Museum flags were placed in remembrance of each life lost on September 11.

The university on the border

Amanda Guillen and Nadia Garcia September 9, 2014

UTEP is one of the few universities with a close connection to another country with Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, located right in its backyard. UTEP is so close that at the height of the drug war in 2010 a stray bullet from a shootout that took place in Juárez...

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Campus transformation closer to completion

Amanda Guillen and Lorain Waters September 9, 2014

Beginning in spring 2013, UTEP began a campus-wide construction project that will ultimately make the university a more pedestrian-friendly campus. Since that date, the campus has been divided up into sections, all with  varying completion dates. The...

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Tier One: The definition of success

Amanda Guillen, Editor-in-chief September 9, 2014

For many years after its inception, the university solely offered a degree that was called an Engineer of Mines. Now, 100 years later, the university offers 71 bachelor’s degrees, 76 master’s degrees and 20 doctoral degrees. With the university expanding,...

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The Prospector News Weekly

Amanda Guillen and Kimberly Valle September 5, 2014

This week in news, sleep deprivation takes over college students, media coverage varies when covering controversial cases in national news, the Miner Metro App helps students track their shuttle, and students get the opportunity to expand their knowledge...

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The Prospector Daily August 29, 2014

Amanda Guillen, Managing Editor/ Multimedia Editor August 29, 2014

This week in news, Opera Bhutan will take place at the Don Haskins Center on Saturday Aug. 30, UTEP ranked #8 in this years Washington Monthly national college ranking, and Minerpalooza will be held on Sept.5.

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Natalicio delivers speech regarding Washington Monthly ranking

Amanda Guillen, Multimedia/managing editor August 26, 2014

Confetti filled the air of the Union Breezeway Tuesday morning as President Diana Natalicio gathered the UTEP community to announce Washington Monthly’s annual national college and university rankings for 2014. This year UTEP went down one spot from...

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Estudiantes se reunen en Summit Hall para ver los partidos de la Copa Munial.

[Photo] La Copa Mundial en la frontera

Héctor Bernal, Staff Reporter July 8, 2014

Estudiantes se reunen en Summit Hall para ver los partidos de la Copa Munial.

World Cup invites all types of life

Javier Cortez, Sports Editor June 24, 2014

Soccer does not see race, gender, social class or language. Anyone can try to play it and everyone can certainly watch it. Charlie Gibbens, director of housing at UTEP, has been trying to create that sense of inclusion over the past two weeks. The timing...

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Neon Desert Music Festival 2014

Michaela Roman and Amanda Guillen May 26, 2014

With only two main stages and thousands in attendance, Neon Desert Music Festival serves its fourth year of bringing live entertainment to the borderland. NDMF became a two-day event for the first time this year. The festival brought music from a variety...

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Library accommodates for finals week

Amanda Guillen, Multimedia Editor May 6, 2014

Every semester the library and its staff prepare for finals week by opening its doors for 24 hours so that students can prepare for their upcoming exams and projects. Starting on Sunday and ending on Friday, the library will serve as a temporary home...

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The Prospector News Weekly April 25, 2014

Amanda Guillen and Luis Barrio April 25, 2014

The Prospector News Weekly covers all the top stories that affect the students at The University of Texas at El Paso. This week in news, the Baja SAE will take place from the 24th to the 27th of April,Sexual Assault Awareness month leads to unity through...

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The Baja SAE competition tasks engineering students with designing a dune buggy that can withstand harsh terrains.

[Photo] Engineering students participate in international off-road extreme challenge

Helen Yip, Staff Reporter April 22, 2014

The Baja SAE competition tasks engineering students with designing a dune buggy that can withstand harsh terrains.

Jaime Picks Up Gender Wage Gap

Jaime Quesada April 18, 2014

Jaime goes out to question how the student body feels about the gender gap problem in America.

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The Prospector News Weekly April 17, 2014

Amanda Guillen and Luis Barrio April 17, 2014

The Prospector News Weekly covers all the top stories that affect the students at The University of Texas at El Paso. This week in news, UTEP student Leo Aguirre will showcase his short film at The Cannes Film Festival,The High Noon Music Series allows...

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The Prospector News Weekly: April 11, 2014

Amanda Guillen and Luis Barrio April 11, 2014

The Prospector News Weekly covers all the top stories that affect the students at The University of Texas at El Paso. This week in news, UTEP hosted a tuition forum, a screening of Ruben Salazar: Man in Middle was held at the Union, and a full week of...

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Love is art, couple lets their paintings be the driving force of their success

Amanda Guillen, Multimedia Editor April 8, 2014

When walking through the Stanlee and Gerald Rubin Center for the Visual Arts you’ll encounter walls covered in student art work. Standing tall on opposite ends of a gallery space hang two pieces of art that coincide with one another. They seem to...

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Bringing sexy back to health

Bringing sexy back to health

Amanda Guillen, Multimedia Editor April 1, 2014

Sex may still be considered taboo to talk about, but it may be just the thing you need to hear about when it comes to keeping healthy. Some surprising health benefits of sex include a stronger immune system, minimized pain, weight loss, improved sleep,...

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The Prospector News Weekly March 28, 2014

Luis Barrio and Amanda Guillen March 28, 2014

The Prospector News Weekly covers all the top stories that affect the students at The University of Texas at El Paso. This week in news, The Indian Student Association will host the second annual Holi The Festival of Colors, Wendy Davis makes a stop in...

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[Video] Candidate Wendy Davis talks equal pay at Café Mayapan

Jasmine Aguilera and Maria Esquinca March 26, 2014

Gubernatorial candidate Texas Sen. Wendy Davis, D-Fort Worth, spent Wednesday morning speaking to media and volunteers at Café Mayapan, in El Paso, Texas. She focused her discussion on gender and economic equality. El Paso Sen. Jose Rodriguez...

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The Prospector News Weekly:March 21

Amanda Guillen and Luis Barrio March 21, 2014

The Prospector News Weekly covers all the top stories that affect the students at The University of Texas at El Paso. This week in news, UTEP will host its annual TCM event, this is the longest running tradition here at the university, and a student organization...

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The Prospector News Weekly: March 7

Amanda Guillen, Multimedia Editor March 7, 2014

The Prospector News Weekly covers all the top stories that affect the students at The University of Texas at El Paso. This week in news, UTEP will host two events the Baja Buggy Race as well as the 2014 C-USA Basketball Tournament. Students talk about...

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The Baja SAE competition tasks engineering students with designing a dune buggy that can withstand harsh terrains.

[Photo] International engineering competition returns to UTEP

Maria Esquinca, Staff Reporter March 5, 2014

The Baja SAE competition tasks engineering students with designing a dune buggy that can withstand harsh terrains.

The Prospector News Weekly: February 28

Amanda Guillen, Staff Reporter February 28, 2014

The Prospector News Weekly covers all the top stories that affect the students at The University of Texas at El Paso. This week in news, UTEP became a tobacco-free campus, and Mardi Gras festivities will take place Tuesday March 4th. Students gave their...

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‘Self-governance’—the method of tobacco-free enforcement

‘Self-governance’—the method of tobacco-free enforcement

Maria Esquinca and Amanda Guillen February 25, 2014

Maintaining a tobacco-free campus may prove difficult to enforce as some students are choosing not to follow the “self-governing” method officials have proclaimed. UTEP’s Environmental Health and Safety Department enacted the tobacco ban on Feb....

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Daniel Rios visits the Career Closet to get fitted for a suit.

Career Closet rents brand-name professional clothing, free to students

Amanda Guillen, Staff Reporter February 25, 2014

UTEP’s Division of Student Affairs, in partnership with the Career Center, is working to provide students with professional business attire that can be used for interviews, career fairs and networking events. Students will be able to borrow these...

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The Prospector News Weekly Feb.21

Amanda Guillen, Staff Reporter February 21, 2014

Students expressed their opinion about this weeks top stories. UTEP will be celebrating Peace Corps week starting Feb. 23, the Career Closet is offering students a new service that will allow them to rent business professional attire, and the Baptist...

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The Campus Master plan involves demolishing Benedict and Bell Hall to be transformed into one large facility proposed to be a Behavioral Sciences building.

Old buildings to be demolished for new behavioral sciences

Amanda Guillen, Staff Reporter February 18, 2014

Editor’s note: this is part three of a three-part series that explores the 2011 Campus Master Plan. According to the Campus Master Plan 2011, two of the university’s oldest buildings are on their way to being demolished. Benedict Hall, which...

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[Video] The Prospector News Weekly Flappy Bird/Valentine’s Day

Amanda Guillen, Staff Reporter February 17, 2014

Students at The University of Texas at El Paso react to the video game Flappy Bird and talk about their Valentine's Day plans.

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UTEP ranks low in Trojan Sexual Health Report Card

UTEP ranks low in Trojan Sexual Health Report Card

Amanda Guillen, Staff Reporter February 11, 2014

The Sexual Health Report Card, a study conducted by Trojan, the condoms company, ranked UTEP in the bottom 20 of 140 universities across the country. Ranked at 124 in the 2013 study, UTEP has not fared well in the past three years. In 2011 the university...

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Amanda Guillen, staff reporter

No valentine? Let it go.

Amanda Guillen, Staff Reporter February 11, 2014

Is it the feeling of love in the air around this time of year? Or the anticipation of preparing something amazing for that special someone? Or is it the way that the love is displayed for everyone to see? I know that this holiday can be annoying and controversial...

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Bhutanese theme still an influence

Bhutanese theme still an influence

Amanda Guillen, Staff Reporter February 4, 2014

Editor’s note: This is part of a three-part series explores the 2012 Campus Master Plan.  The current campus transformation has led the beauty of UTEP’s architecture to be masked by fences, bulldozers and hard hats. The construction has left the...

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The Grand Scheme of Things

The Grand Scheme of Things

Amanda Guillen, Staff Reporter January 28, 2014

Editor’s note: This is part one of a three-part series. Cranes, bulldozers and jackhammers have taken over campus. The invasion of machinery is a part of a plan put in place by the university to transform the campus and The Prospector will be dissecting...

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UTEP officially released the Blackboard app in fall 2013. It is available to download in the App Store and Google play.

Students on the fence with new Blackboard app

Amanda Guillen, Staff Reporter January 28, 2014

This past fall, UTEP officially provided access to the Blackboard mobile application. Although the app is designed to work like the desktop version, a few differences might not convince some to download it. When logging on to your play store or App...

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Jose Martinez, president of SHEP/MAES, junior mechanical engineering major.

Registered student organizations to participate in centennial celebrations

Amanda Guillen, Staff Reporter January 21, 2014

Registered student organizations are preparing for a busy schedule of traditional and new events with a centennial spin. According to Catie McCorry Andalis, associate vice president of Student Life, a myriad of campus organizations will take part in...

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Centennial begins with kickoff celebration at basketball game

Centennial begins with kickoff celebration at basketball game

Amanda Guillen, Staff reporter January 9, 2014

Centennial year kicked off today when students took part in a birthday celebration before a basketball game against the Charlotte 49ers. An email was sent out to students regarding the Centennial kickoff celebration. Director of Marketing and...

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Students react to UT’s ‘Catch an Illegal Immigrant’ game

Students react to UT’s ‘Catch an Illegal Immigrant’ game

Amanda Guillen, Staff Reporter November 26, 2013

What started as a game to spark conversation about illegal immigration led to countless heated discussions and debate across the country. UTEP students and faculty have chimed into the conversation. The Young Conservatives of Texas, a registered student...

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Albert Reaux, freshman criminal justice major, does squats.

Rec center voted best gym in EP, some disagree

Amanda Guillen, Staff Reporter November 19, 2013

In this year’s survey for the Prospector’s Pick Awards, students chose the Student Recreation Center as the No. 1 best gym in El Paso, but this new and improved facility isn’t something that all students take advantage of. Each semester, students...

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UTEP Police officers talk to eye-witnesses on the scene.  Sitting in the center is sophomore volleyball player Madison Morris.

Foreign exchange student hit by automobile at Miner Village

Amanda Guillen and Kristopher Rivera November 15, 2013

A freshman exchange student was hit by a vehicle on the southwest side of Miner Village on Friday afternoon. The victim was identified by a group of friends as Achim Schweighofer from Austria. Patrick Heinsch, a freshman exchange student from Germany,...

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Claudia Boyd in a classroom at the Liberal Arts building.

Campus prepares for World Diabetes Day, disease rampant in EP

Amanda Guillen, Staff Reporter November 12, 2013

Claudia Boyd is always on the move as a full-time communication graduate student, teaching assistant, mother and wife. You would never guess that she is one of 21 million Americans who suffer from diabetes. According to diabetes.org, each day approximately...

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Students writing 50k-word novel in 30 days for national competition

Amanda Guillen, Staff Reporter November 12, 2013

To 514 El Pasoans, completing a 50,000-word novel in 30 days is a daunting, but achievable task. November is National Novel Writing Month and a national nonprofit organization called NaNoWriMo is helping aspiring novelists achieve a finished tangible...

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The Latina Dance Project wil offer a workshop open to public at 7 p.m. on Nov. 8-9 at the Fox Fine Arts room A452.

‘Slumber of Reasons’ casts the spotlight on social issues

Amanda Guillen, Staff Reporter November 5, 2013

The Latina Dance Project will be at UTEP to conduct a workshop for any students, faculty and staff who are interested in multidisciplinary projects. The project titled Latinos Over the Top Collaborative Arts will be held Nov. 8 and 9. The company will...

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College Republicans, county GOP join forces

Amanda Guillen, Staff Reporter November 5, 2013

Students have the chance to work with the county of El Paso in collaboration with the Republican Party. The Republican Party of El Paso has teamed up with the College Republicans in order to fill the positions of election clerks for the county’s...

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Union Services hosted the annual Halloween costume contest today at noon.

Halloween costume contest held at the Union

Javier Cortez and Amanda Guillen October 31, 2013

Today, UTEP Union Programs hosted their annual Halloween costume contest at the Union Plaza stage. For some the Halloween costume competition took precedence over going to class. Junior mechanical engineering major Italia Valles, who dressed up...

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Special to The Prospector

Smithsonian collaborates for Día De Los Muertos online exhibit

Amanda Guillen, Staff Reporter October 29, 2013

The Smithsonian Latino Center has partnered with UTEP to create a Día de los Muertos-themed online exhibit and will celebrate the collaboration on Nov. 1. The center will be using the Smithsonian Latino Virtual Museum to create an avatar-based 3-D...

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East El Paso Menchie’s location featured in CBS ‘Undercover Boss’ episode

East El Paso Menchie’s location featured in CBS ‘Undercover Boss’ episode

Amanda Guillen, Staff Reporter October 26, 2013

On October 25th CBS aired an “Undercover Boss” episode that focused on the yogurt chain Menchies. The episode featured the East side Menchies location here in El Paso, which is located on 1355 George Dieter. CEO and co-owner of Menchies Amit Kleinberger...

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Abuse at parking garage causes complaints

Amanda Guillen, Reporter October 22, 2013

Individuals using the visitors’ areas of campus garages as free parking are causing upset for staff and students. Faculty, students, staff and visitors are all allowed to park in a specific section of the Sun Bowl garage, which is located next to the...

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Crime worries students around campus

Amanda Guillen, Staff Reporter October 15, 2013

Three incidents, including robbery and assault, recently occurred on or near campus within a month’s time span, which has led to safety concerns among students.. At approximately 4:30 p.m. on Sept. 23, a student was walking by Mundy Park, located...

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Amanda Guillen, staff reporter

Sexual assault on campuses cannot be ignored

Amanda Guillen, Staff Reporter October 15, 2013

Given that El Paso is considered the safest city in the country by the 2013 Press Ratings from FBI Uniform Crime Reporting, many UTEP students feel very safe when walking around campus. Although many crimes and incidents that require police services...

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Defensive lineman and UTEP student Isaac Tauaefa wows the judges of the X-Factor

Former football player a finalist on X Factor

Amanda Guillen, Staff Reporter October 8, 2013

UTEP senior media advertising major Isaac Tauaefa is making his mark on this season of Fox’s hit talent competition The X Factor. Tauaefa also played football for the Miners for two seasons before suffering a knee injury. “Playing football in front...

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Freshman pre-engineering major Robert Portillo is one of many students that have opted to ride their bicycles in order to efficiently get around campus construction.

Students say more bike lanes needed around campus

Amanda Guillen, Staff Reporter October 8, 2013

Bike lanes have been added to El Paso’s streets in recent years. This has led to the presence of more bike riders around the city. Although more bike lanes have been added, bike riders say there is still need for more, especially around UTEP and surrounding...

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Campus brings Disney homecoming theme

Campus brings Disney homecoming theme

Amanda Guillen, Staff Reporter October 1, 2013

Disney characters will roam the campus this week in honor of this year’s homecoming theme–Minerland. Students will be able to participate in Disney-themed events and activities during homecoming week from Sept. 29 to Oct. 5. Sam Rodriguez, Student...

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Distinguished Alumni, Gold Nuggets awards to stall for centennial year

Amanda Guillen, Staff Reporter October 1, 2013

This year’s Distinguished Alumni and Gold Nuggets will be the last selected for the next two years. Next year, in honor of the university’s centennial, the Alumni Association and the university will host a reunion of all past nominees. The traditional...

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UTEP senior Isaac Tauaefa has made it through the first round of competition on the X Factor. He is a former UTEP football player who played defensive line.

Former UTEP football player competes on the XFactor

Amanda Guillen, Staff reporter September 26, 2013

UTEP senior Isaac Tauaefa has made it through the first round of competition on the X Factor. The media advertising and communications major auditioned back on May 14 and the episode aired Wednesday night on Fox. Tauaefa sang James Morrison’s...

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veronica enriquez/the prospector 
 UTEP commemorated the 100-day countdown to 2014 by unveiling the new Welcome Center on Mon. Sept 23 from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. that took place on the Cnetennial Museum’s front lawn.

Countdown to 2014 begins with kick-off event

Amanda Guillen, Staff Reporter September 24, 2013

The university opened a new Welcome Center and hosted a centennial kick-off party Sept. 23 on the front lawn of the Centennial Museum to commemorate the 100-day countdown to 2014. Students, faculty and staff were invited to attend the event and free...

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President Diana Natalicio delivers a speech on the upcoming centennial year at the UGLC.

Natalicio delivers speech on upcoming countdown to centennial

Amanda Guillen, Staff Reporter September 19, 2013

President Diana Natalicio spoke Thursday at the Undergraduate Learning Center patio to discuss the upcoming centennial year and the festivities that are to follow. Guests at the event got a sneak peak of the Welcome Center, presented by Maribel Villalva,...

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Graduate school reps from around the U.S. to visit UTEP for fair

Amanda Guillen, Staff reporter September 18, 2013

Students interested in graduate school will have the chance to speak to representatives at the Graduate and Professional Schools fair hosted by the University Career Center. The fair will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 2 at the third floor of Union...

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Visión México helps Mexican and other international students find a career in their home country.

Students find job opportunities in Mexico through campus organization

Amanda Guillen, Staff Reporter September 17, 2013

Students of Mexican nationality are being guided through the job-hunt process with the help of a student organization, Visión México. David Garcia, co-founder and president, said that the organization helps students who are losing networking opportunities...

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The 9/11 exhibit will feature the front pages of The Prospector from Sept. 12 and Sept. 19, 2001.

Exhibit to open at Union Gallery in honor of 9/11 anniversary

Amanda Guillen, Staff Reporter September 10, 2013

The Union Gallery in the Union Building East will launch an exhibit in memoriam of the 12th anniversary of Sept. 11, 2001. Event Services Coordinator Alexandra Garcia said that the Union Gallery is glad to have an event like this at the university. “This...

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Miner Maniacs

[Photo] Miner Maniacs hold kick-off party

Amanda Guiilen, Staff Reporter September 5, 2013

Students cheering on the Miners at a men's basketball game.

Miner Maniac’s participation on the rise

Amanda Guillen, Staff Reporter September 5, 2013

UTEP’s student fan group, Miner Maniacs, had close to 500 students sign up during the Welcome Back Week, held Aug. 26-28. In May, the group had 550 students signed up. As a member of this group, students receive free tickets to all athletic events,...

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File photo

Minerpalooza relocates due to construction

Amanda Guillen, Staff Reporter September 3, 2013

The university’s biggest pep rally of the year, Minerpalooza, being held at 6 p.m. Sept. 6, will be relocated to the P-9 parking lot North of the Sun Bowl stadium due to campus construction. Although the location will be different from years past,...

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The centennial museum where the incident occurred in the restroom.

Campus museum prepares visitor’s center for centennial

Amanda Guillen, Staff Reporter September 3, 2013

A visitor’s center at the Centennial Museum is scheduled to open Sept. 23, in honor of the 100-day countdown to 2014, the beginning of the celebration of UTEP’s 100-year anniversary. In addition to being a visitors’ one-stop shop for information...

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Senior electrical engineering major Edith Mejia glances through the Women’s Studies website although the degree is not yet available to students.

Women’s Studies Major Approved

Amanda Guillen, Staff Reporter August 27, 2013

Women’s and gender studies is now on the list of 71 majors students can choose from. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board approved UTEP’s request of offering a Bachelor of Arts in Women’s and Gender Studies on July 31 after noting it’s...

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Laboratory Uses Innovative 3D-Printing Method to Aid in Health

Amanda Guillen, Staff Reporter August 27, 2013

Advances in 3D-printing technology at UTEP have led to innovations in health, according to university specialists. Mahesh Tonde, project analyst for the W.M. Keck Center for 3D Innovation, said printing technology helps with organ implants that...

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